Becerra seeks to join a lawsuit filed last August by the Center for Biological Diversity and the California Native Plant Society challenging the environmental impact report (EIR) for the Guenoc Valley Mixed Use Planned Development project.

According to a press release from Becerra’s office, the EIR certified by the Lake County Board of Supervisors last July “fails to adequately analyze and mitigate the increased wildfire risk associated with the project, as well as the greenhouse gas emissions and other adverse environmental impacts.

“Lake County residents have borne the brunt of many of the recent wildfires that have ravaged our state,” Becerra said. “They deserve to know that the increased wildfire risks resulting from any new development in their area have been properly considered — and mitigated.”

Located on 16,000 acres in southeast Lake County, the Guenoc project’s first phase includes five hotels with 127 hotel units, 141 resort residential units, 385 residential estate villas, two wineries, and various resort amenities and infrastructure.

According to Becerra’s office, the project site is designated as a “very high fire hazard severity zone,” and was affected by wildfires in 1952, 1953, 1963, 1976, 1980, 1996, 2006, 2014, 2015, 2018 and most recently in 2020 during the LNU Lightning Complex fire.

Becerra raised similar concerns in two comment letters during the environmental review process. Becerra said the project would exacerbate wildfire risk and lacked adequate opportunities for evacuation during a wildfire.

The project would include a new fire and emergency response center, advanced fire detection and notification system, and a floatplane dock and emergency helipads that could be used by firefighting aircraft.

In approving the project, Lake County supervisors said it would transform Lake County and generate a massive economic boost through increased property and hotel taxes.

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