 A solo horseback rider surprised a yearling bear on one the Lone Grave area trails north of Nevada City on the Highway 20 corridor. The young bear who upon seeing the rider quickly left the area. Another rider has seen a mama bear and two cubs in the Skillman Camp area. Do be aware that bears are active at that elevation. If trail users talk or use bear bells, the bears normally leave the area.
 Nevada City, Calif. June 26, 2020 – The Tahoe National Forest is increasing access to the public by providing additional developed recreational opportunities. We encourage visitors to check our website and social media pages for the most up-to-date information on what is open so that you can plan your visit.
All visitors are encouraged to recreate responsibly and to practice self-sufficiency during while visiting the Tahoe National Forest. This includes: • Maintaining at least six feet distancing from others • Do not gather in groups and please follow the latest guidance from officials • Communicate with others as you pass. Alert trail users of your presence and step aside to let others pass • Pack out your trash and leave with everything you bring in and use. • All services may not be available, so please plan accordingly. The Tahoe National Forest will continue to phase in opening of facilities and services as county policies and facility preparations allow. For complete list of current updates, please see below. Campgrounds The following campgrounds are open. All campgrounds are 90% reserved unless indicated:
The following campgrounds are closed for the upcoming weekend, June 26-28, 2020. Closing any site for any reason is not an action we take lightly, but protecting our visitors and employees remains our highest priority. In addition, reservations have been temporarily canceled for the following closed campgrounds. If you previously made a reservation for one of the following closed campgrounds, and the campground opens before your current reservation date, your reservation will be honored. If a closed campground does not open before your reservation date, you will be refunded. Please check back in for weekly campground opening updates.
Day Use Sites, Trailheads, Boat Ramps, and Staging Areas All developed recreation sites on the Tahoe National Forest are now open. Trash removal services remain limited – please pack out all trash and waste. Toilet facilities remain limited, please plan accordingly.
Motorized Routes and Trails Trash removal services remain limited at many motorized trailheads – please pack out all trash and waste. Thank you for helping to keep the Tahoe National Forest safe and clean. Happy riding! Westside of the Tahoe National Forest
Eastside of the Tahoe National Forest
Non-motorized Trails Generally non-motorized trails are open, but high elevation trails may be inaccessible due to late season snow and other factors: Below 5000’: Trails may not have been cleared. Potential for down trees and rough conditions on trails below in this elevation. This applies to:
Tahoe National Forest and Virtual Services The Tahoe National Forest has closed all offices to in-person visits and is implementing virtual services to protect the health and safety of employees and members of the public during the COVID-19 outbreak in accordance with guidance from federal and state authorities. Many services traditionally offered in our public offices are available online. To access these virtual services, please visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe/. We will continue to update our website with current virtual service information as conditions change. To email the Tahoe National Forest, please use the ‘Contact Us’ function on our website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/tahoe/about-forest/contactus. Firewood Cutting Permits The Tahoe National Forest Firewood Cutting permit process has changed. Please refer to our ‘permits’ page for more information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tahoe/passes-permits/?cid=stelprdb5212195  PRESS RELEASE - AUBURN, Calif.— California State Parks and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) today released the final environmental impact report/environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) for the general plan/resource management plan (GP/RMP) that will guide the future development and management of Auburn State Recreation Area (Auburn SRA) and Auburn Project Lands (APL).
CLICK HERE to access the Plan. Auburn SRA/APL is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, northeast of Sacramento. It includes about 30,000 acres of public land situated along nearly 40 linear miles of the north and middle forks of the American River. State Parks currently manages the Auburn SRA through a managing partner agreement with Reclamation. The GP/RMP alternatives include resource protection and land use strategies that will serve the communities and recreating public in the long term. The two agencies released a preliminary GP/RMP and draft EIR/EIS in July 2019 for public review and comment. More than 350 letters and comments were received during the comment period. State Parks and Reclamation have carefully considered all of the comments in preparing the Final EIR/EIS. Reponses to all comments received are included in the final EIR/EIS. These responses include comprehensive master responses addressing common elements among comments including: purpose of GP/RMP, public engagement, wildfire risk, traffic circulation, parking and access. As part of the evaluation of the public comments, State Parks and Reclamation have made some changes to the proposed action for the GP/RMP that are also documented in the Final EIR/EIS including:
The next steps in the process are for each lead agency to follow its decision process regarding the GP/RMP and EIR/EIS. For the state, the California State Park and Recreation Commission (Commission) is responsible for the review of the GP and certification of the EIR. The Commission is required to hold a public hearing when considering the approval of a GP and EIR. Following certification of the EIR and approval of the GP by the Commission, State Parks would file a notice of determination with the State Clearinghouse. In the federal decision process, Reclamation will complete a record of decision (ROD), which will document Reclamation’s decision to choose one of the alternatives as its preferred alternative and the final EIR/EIS will be used to support this decision. The California Great Basin Regional Director will approve the ROD. Contacts: Jim Micheaels I CA State Parks (916) 988-0205 Mary Lee Knecht I Reclamation (916) 978-5100 Plan.General@parks.ca.gov -- The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit us at www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR and @ReclamationCVP.  Reported on June 23, large tree blocking Gerle Loop at Magnolia Trailhead, Pilot Hill. Hikers will have a difficult time going around because the area is surrounded by poison oak. Trail was hiked the day before and was clear, so the tree must have come down June 22.
To find out more about this BLM public land, CLICK HERE.  Nevada City, Calif. — The Tahoe National Forest is increasing access to the public by providing additional developed recreational opportunities. We encourage visitors to check our website and social media pages for the most up-to-date information on what is open so that you can plan your visit. You can also call your local ranger station during normal business hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
We continue to recommend that you recreate locally. All visitors should practice self-sufficiency during your visits to national forests. Recreating responsibly will help ensure that expanded access to recreational facilities, services, and opportunities continues. Responsible recreation practices should be maintained at all times, including: • Maintaining at least six feet distancing from others • Do not gather in groups and please follow the latest guidance from officials • Communicate with others as you pass. Alert trail users of your presence and step aside to let others pass • Pack out your trash and leave with everything you bring in and use. • All services may not be available, so please plan accordingly. The Tahoe National Forest will continue to phase in opening of facilities and services as county policies and facility preparations allow. For complete list of current updates, please see below: Campgrounds The following campgrounds are open All campgrounds are 90% reserved unless indicated
The following campgrounds are closed for the upcoming weekend, June 19 - 25, 2020. Closing any site for any reason is not an action we take lightly, but protecting our visitors and employees remains our highest priority. We are working with our state and local partners to determine the best path forward to safely reopen all campgrounds. Reservations have been temporarily canceled for these campgrounds through June 19. If these campgrounds open before June 19, your reservation will be honored and camping will be available. If these campgrounds do not open before your reservation date, you will be refunded. Please check back in for weekly campground opening updates.
All developed recreation sites on the Tahoe National Forest are now open. Trash removal services remain limited – please pack out all trash and waste. Toilet facilities remain limited, please plan accordingly.
All motorized roads and trails across the Tahoe National Forest opened May 1, 2020. Trash removal services remain limited – please pack out all trash and waste. Toilet facilities remain limited, please plan accordingly. Remember to tread lightly on north-facing trails and in higher elevations. Thank you for helping to keep the Tahoe National Forest safe and clean, and for preventing further restrictions by recreating responsibly. Happy riding! Please be aware that conditions are subject to change due to weather. Snow at higher elevations may be possible and not always reflected in updates. Westside of the Tahoe National Forest
Local County Roads within the Tahoe National Forest
Please be aware that conditions are subject to change due to weather. Snow at higher elevations may be possible and not always reflected in updates. Generally non-motorized trails are open, but may be inaccessible due to late season snow and other factors: Below 5000’: Trails may not have been cleared. Potential for down trees and rough conditions on trails below in this elevation. This applies to:
Tahoe National Forest and Virtual Services The Tahoe National Forest has closed all offices to in-person visits and is implementing virtual services to protect the health and safety of employees and members of the public during the COVID-19 outbreak in accordance with guidance from federal and state authorities. Many services traditionally offered in our public offices are available online. To access these virtual services, please visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe/. We will continue to update our website with current virtual service information as conditions change. To email the Tahoe National Forest, please use the ‘Contact Us’ function on our website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/tahoe/about-forest/contactus. To see complete release of updated openings, CLICK HERE.  From June 15 through June 19, visitors to the Tahoe National Forest near French Meadows, Foresthill, and/or Rocky Peak may see a large, low-flying, military C-130 aircraft performing water drops. But this isn’t an early-season wildfire –it’s a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) training flight.
MAFFS are portable fire retardant delivery systems that can be inserted into military C-130 aircraft to convert them into firefighting air-tankers when needed. These systems are capable of dropping up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in six seconds. The system slides into the back of the aircraft and retardant is released through a nozzle on the rear left side. The MAFFS program is a joint effort between the US Forest Service and the Department of Defense (DOD). The Forest Service owns the MAFFS equipment and supplies the retardant, while the DOD provides the C-130 aircraft, flight crews, maintenance, and support personnel to fly firefighting missions. Since the program was created in the 1970s, the role of MAFFS has been to provide a “surge” capability that can be used to boost wildfire suppression efforts when commercial air-tankers are fully committed or not readily available. During the week of June 15-19, 2020, the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing, the Nevada National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing, the 153rd Airlift Wing from Cheyenne, Wyo. and the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. along with the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and other state and federal firefighting agencies are convening at CAL FIRE’s McClellan Reload Base in Sacramento for the MAFFS training exercise. Scheduled overflights will occur on both the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and the Tahoe National Forest. During these training overflights, water will be dropped to simulate retardant in pre-selected locations. To see more information at YubaNet CLICK HERE.  State Parks thanks all who purchased annual passes last past year and have been unable to use them during the last three months due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic and its statewide impact. The department is extending annual passes for three (3) months to those pass holders meeting the below criteria.
Annual Pass Expired or will Expire: Extension through: Expired March 1, 2020 - June 30, 2020. September 30, 2020 Expires July 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021 +3 months This extension applies to the following annual passes:
If you have any questions, please contact the Park Pass Sales Office at ParkPassInfo@parks.ca.gov or (800) 777-0369 ext. 2 or (916) 653-8280. You may also contact your nearest State Park District Office. Thank you for your continued patronage to the State Park System. For more information on other COVID-19 restrictions and extensions, CLICK HERE.  Following the release of additional guidance from the California Department of Public Health last Friday, additional businesses and activities from Stages 2 and 3 may reopen in Placer County as soon as June 12, after implementing guidance and developing safety plans to address COVID-19.
Businesses and activities eligible for reopening include:
“While more businesses will come back online at the end of this week, I implore county residents to continue following practices that can slow the rate of infection, such as regular handwashing, staying six feet apart from others and wearing face coverings in public settings where physical distancing is not possible,” said Placer County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson. “Personal responsibility is a hallmark of Placer County, and our individual actions will go a long way to determining how well we are able to reduce the spread of coronavirus in our community.” The state has not released guidance for a handful of other businesses still closed, such as nail salons, tattoo parlors and body waxing; indoor playgrounds such as bounce centers, ball pits and laser tag; live theater; saunas and steam rooms; nightclubs; concert venues; festivals; theme parks; and higher education. Nor has guidance been provided for youth sports. If the state has not yet released guidance for a sector, then that sector cannot yet be reopened at the local level. Officials in counties with attestations determine when specific sectors of their economy can reopen if state guidance has been posted. It is up to the local jurisdiction to make decisions regarding reopening specific sectors based upon the epidemiology and readiness of the county. Placer County’s COVID-19 cases have increased recently, including a 35% rise in the past week. The 7-day average testing positivity rate has increased from 1% to 3% as of the latest reporting period, indicating that increased cases are not merely the result of increased testing, but this rate remains below a threshold of 8% that has been identified by the California Department of Public Health. Placer County hospitals continue to have adequate capacity, including available critical care beds, ventilators and personal protective equipment. Placer County’s other data have not met any of the triggers outlined in the local attestation, nor the state’s new monitoring indicators, as shown in today’s health officer presentation. The vast majority of new cases have been in people younger than 65. There have been a few clusters of cases – several in one family related to international travel, several in fast-food workers as well as cases in the Auburn Jail. In an environment of community transmission, it is difficult to pinpoint where and how someone became infected with a virus that has an incubation period of up to two weeks and that can be transmitted by people without symptoms. For most cases, a precise infection source cannot be determined. “We knew before reopening began that cases of COVID-19 would increase as the county reopened. We made clear in our attestation in May that our goals were to avoid overwhelming the health care system and to protect vulnerable populations,” said Sisson. “My team will watch the case rate metric closely in the coming days and weeks, as it is cause for concern. Should Placer County’s data not meet the state-defined cutoff, I will engage our Board of Supervisors and the California Department of Public Health to identify what is driving increases and identify action steps for addressing issues that impact areas of concern.” While county health officials continue to monitor data, the Board of Supervisors directed County Executive Officer Todd Leopold to prepare a letter to the governor and state health officials requesting guidance be released for the remaining businesses in stage 3 that don’t have permission to open at the end of this week. “We are hopeful the governor will provide us with the guidance we are requesting,” said District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson. “Our county leadership has demonstrated prudence and wisdom throughout this crisis, and has complied with the state’s guidance throughout the stay-at-home order and reopening.” Youth sports stirred many members of the community to provide public comment during the board discussion. Most advocated on behalf of allowing the outdoor activity that is currently not permitted by the governor. “It’s very frustrating to tell our parents their kids cannot go outdoors and play soccer and baseball or participate in organized sports. We are taking precautions to protect our vulnerable populations, but we also need to protect the health of our young people and being cooped up inside all day long is not healthy for anyone,” said Board Chair Bonnie Gore. “Our residents need to contact the governor to let him know our kids need to be playing outside. He needs to hear from all of us.” Go here to read the original information on the Placer County website: https://www.placer.ca.gov/6645/Placer-moves-into-Stage-3  Nevada City, Calif. June 11, 2020 – The Tahoe National Forest is increasing access to the public by providing additional developed recreational opportunities. We encourage visitors to check our website and social media pages for the most up-to-date information on what is open so that you can plan your visit. You can also call your local ranger station during normal business hours Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
We continue to recommend that you recreate locally. All visitors should practice self-sufficiency during your visits to national forests. Recreating responsibly will help ensure that expanded access to recreational facilities, services, and opportunities continues. Responsible recreation practices should be maintained at all times, including: • Maintaining at least six feet distancing from others • Do not gather in groups and please follow the latest guidance from officials • Communicate with others as you pass. Alert trail users of your presence and step aside to let others pass • Pack out your trash and leave with everything you bring in and use. • All services may not be available, so please plan accordingly. The Tahoe National Forest will continue to phase in opening of facilities and services as county policies and facility preparations allow. For complete list of current updates, please see below: CampgroundsThe following campgrounds are open All campgrounds are 90%-100% reserved unless indicated
Reservations have been temporarily canceled for these campgrounds through June 19. If these campgrounds open before June 19, your reservation will be honored and camping will be available. If these campgrounds do not open before your reservation date, you will be refunded. Please check back in for weekly campground opening updates.
Please be aware that conditions are subject to change due to weather. Snow at higher elevations may be possible and not always reflected in updates. Westside of the Tahoe National Forest
Below 5000’: Trails have not been cleared. Expect down trees and rough conditions on trails below in this elevation. This applies to:
Many services traditionally offered in our public offices are available online. To access these virtual services, please visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe/. We will continue to update our website with current virtual service information as conditions change. To email the Tahoe National Forest, please use the ‘Contact Us’ function on our website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/tahoe/about-forest/contactus. Firewood Cutting PermitsThe Tahoe National Forest Firewood Cutting permit process has changed. Please refer to our ‘permits’ page for more information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tahoe/passes-permits/?cid=stelprdb5212195  At this time, 28 state park units (see list below) have limited campground availability until June 21, 2020.
Those in bold are our local campgrounds.
The State of California recognizes the benefits of the outdoors during this challenging time of COVID-19. As such, State Parks is working with local officials on a phased and regionally-driven approach to increase access at park units where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved. To date, limited public parking is available at 164 park units and 21 park units remain temporarily fully closed. Some campgrounds have started to reopen with modifications using this phased and regionally driven approach. State Parks is working with local health agencies across the state to determine when campgrounds may reopen and whether they can open at full or reduced capacity. At this time, 28 state park units (see list) have limited campground availability until June 21, 2020. Visitors with existing campground reservations for June 22 or later will be notified via email in the case that their reservation must be cancelled in compliance with local and public health orders. The stay-at-home modifications do not mean things are going back to normal. Governor Newsom’s Stay-at-Home Order asks Californians to stay close to home, maintain physical distancing and avoid congregating with others outside their immediate household. The operations of the park system have been modified to provide an outdoor experience that reduces the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and modifications at each park may vary. Consequently, the public is advised to plan ahead—check the webpage of their local outdoor destination before leaving home to find out if it is open, what new guidelines are in effect and if parking is available. Guided tours, many campgrounds, and indoor facilities like museums and visitor centers remain closed until further notice to prevent overcrowding and maintain physical distancing. For more than 150 years, State Parks has provided opportunities for people from all over the world to connect with families, friends and communities in the nation’s largest state park system. This is the first time in the history of State Parks where safety measures such as vehicular access closures, full closures and cancellation of reservations have been implemented at this large of scale and in response to a pandemic. State Parks thanks visitors for their partnership as we collectively enable responsible recreation that protects the health of visitors and the dedicated parks staff. For more information on the California State Parks website, CLICK HERE. |
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