Blog Archives

Where to Find the Best Spring Wildflower Bloom in California State Parks

2/10/2023

At this point in the season, California’s desert state parks are cautiously optimistic in expecting a “good” to “better than average” wildflower bloom this late winter and spring seasons depending on the continued weather conditions.

CLICK HERE to get the best wildflower information in our state parks.
The unique combination of sun, rain, temperature and wind define the stage for the later winter and early springtime arrival of desert wildflowers. Some areas in the extreme southern part of San Diego County are currently already blooming, and future desert weather and temperature shifts, especially in the month of February, may help or hinder the expansive wildflower spread. If the weather shifts to warmer and drier days, the winter annual bloom may be over in a few short weeks.
Additionally, State Parks asks visitors to respect the wildflower bloom and vegetation by taking only photos and walking on designated trails when possible. California State Parks welcomes all to enjoy the wildflowers, and, in the interest of safety and conservation, asks visitors to please respect the iconic landscapes and be knowledgeable of the area, weather and their body limitations. Please visit the park unit webpages and follow the COVID-19 guidelines.
California State Parks recommends visitors to continue to visit this webpage for updates on what to expect this wildflower season.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FLOWER BLOOM UPDATES AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Tahoe Nat'l Forest Collaboration Protects Truckee from fire

2/8/2023

After years of planning and implementation of fuel reduction treatments, the Glenshire-Brockway project was completed in late 2022. The 1,175-acre project was aimed at reducing hazardous fuel loading between the neighborhood of Glenshire and Brockway summit, southwest of the Town of Truckee.

Originally identified by Mike Cartmill of the Tahoe National Forest, this project aimed to treat dense forest stands across public and private lands with a patchwork of ownership. To accomplish the fuel reduction work, the Forest Service connected the National Forest Foundation (NFF) with the Truckee Fire Protection District (TFPD), which was well-positioned to implement work on private lands. With funding secured by NFF through Cal Fire and the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, both NFF and TFPD got to work planning and treating their respective project areas.
Several treatment prescriptions were used across the project depending on the slope and accessibility of the areas being treated. All treatments focused on the cutting or mastication of brush and small trees to reduce forest density and ladder fuels while maintaining the larger, more fire-resilient trees. In areas where mechanized treatment was difficult or impossible, fuels were cut into short lengths and constructed into large piles.
The final phase of the Glenshire-Brockway project was the burning of piles by the Tahoe Hotshots. The Hotshots ignited and chunked just over 200 acres of piles in a single day, consuming all the remaining cut fuels within the project area.
With the project complete, Truckee now has a strong wildfire buffer to its southwest. This buffer could provide a critical advantage for firefighters trying to slow or stop an approaching wildfire. The project should also improve overall forest health and wildlife habitat across this important ecological area adjoining Martis Valley.
This project would not have been possible without the collaboration of The Tahoe National Forest, Truckee Fire Protection District, Vail Resorts (Northstar), Truckee Tahoe Airport District, Teichert Aggregates, Sierra Pacific Industries, McDonald, and the Truckee Donner Land Trust.

Special thanks to Jeff Dowling, formerly with the TFPD, for his role in bringing private landowners together to get this important work completed.

CLICK HERE to see complete article and photos by Dan Alvy in National Forests.org

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Joe Stout new supervisor of Eldorado National Forest

2/4/2023

Joe Stout is the new Eldorado National Forest supervisor. His first day on the job was Jan. 17. Based in Sacramento, Stout has served as the associate state director for the Bureau of Land Management in California since May 2015. Stout replaces Jeff Marsolais, who accepted an associate deputy chief position in Washington, DC.

“I am excited to take on this new leadership role with the Eldorado National Forest and look forward to actively engaging with our staff, partners, organizations and local communities in the shared stewardship of the forest,” Stout states in an Eldorado National Forest news release.

His leadership experience includes serving as acting BLM California state director from fall 2018 to early 2020.

Prior to coming to California Stout spent six years in BLM’s Washington Office as the acting chief of staff for the Director’s Office, chief of the Decision Support, Planning and National Environmental Policy Act Division and as a legislative affairs specialist. He also worked in Colorado as the acting associate state director, state office planning and NEPA coordinator and acting assistant field manager in the Kremmling Field Office.

As forest supervisor, Stout will lead a team that oversees four ranger districts and manages programs in natural resources, fire and aviation management, public services and engineering.

The Eldorado National Forest includes more than 600,000 acres within major watersheds of the American, Consumnes and Mokelumne rivers. These lands provide many ecological, economic and recreational benefits.

Stout holds a master’s degree in public administration (environmental policy, management and law) from the University of Colorado in Denver. His undergraduate work was in sociology and environmental studies at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

Along with his wife and two boys, Stout loves spending time in the outdoors, including backpacking, fly fishing and skiing.

CLICK HERE to see the original article in the Gold Country Media.
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Tahoe National Forest welcomes new Fire Management Officer Kyle Jacobson

2/4/2023

NEVADA CITY, CALIF. (Feb. 2, 2023) — Tahoe National Forest is proud to welcome Kyle Jacobson as Forest Fire Management Officer. Jacobson most recently served as Assistant Fire Management Officer on the United States Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
“I have known Kyle for over a decade and am excited that he is joining our team on the Tahoe in this critical leadership position,” said Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Eli Ilano.
“This past summer, Kyle helped us all navigate through the Mosquito Fire in addition to leading our fire, fuels and aviation programs. He brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise and passion to the Tahoe.”
Jacobson began his career on the Los Padres National Forest while completing his graduate education in Forestry Management. He also worked for the USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station studying fire behavior and fuels.
Jacobson joins the Tahoe after spending the last 15 years on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit in a variety of fire and fuels management roles.
Jacobson also serves as a member of California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 as a Type 1 Operations Section Chief.
Jacobson has been temporarily detailed in the Forest Fire Management Officer role on the Tahoe National Forest since July 2022 and succeeds Jason Withrow, who retired summer 2022.
CLICK HERE to see the complete article and photos in Yubanet.com.

Cars parking illegally at Olmstead Loop trailhead

2/4/2023

Here is a photo taken this morning at the Olmsted Loop equestrian parking area. This area is clearly marked for horse rigs but all these CARS are parked there illegally. If CARS fill up this area, then, after people may have driven with their horses and trailer for an hour, the horse folks have no where to park. Ruined day.

Please be considerate! CARS have access to dozens of areas to park in the Auburn and Folsom Lake State Recreation Areas. Also, be aware that the Park Rangers do patrol these areas and you may get an expensive ticket which will ruin YOUR day.

Gold Country Trails Council announces new GPX trail resource library

2/1/2023

Gold Country Trails Council (GCTC) is excited to announce the GPX trail file library has now gone live and even includes a video tutorial. You can start riding trails with the confidence knowing exactly where you are in real time!

To access the new GPX Trail Resources page from the GCTC Home Page:
www.GoldCountryTrailsCouncil.org -> go to ‘Equestrian Resources’ tab
select ‘GPX Trail Resources’ in the drop down menu.

CLICK HERE to go directly to the GPX file page
http://www.goldcountrytrailscouncil.org/gpx-trail...

By downloading tracks to your phone and favorite GPS app while you still have cell service or wifi, they’ll be ready to use on the trail even in the most remote areas. Unlike paper maps, you’ll know whether you’re on or near the trail interactively.

Gratitude goes out to the GCTC Board for seeing the important value in this project, the GCTC GPX committee and Punk Rock Web Design who is responsible for the GCTC website.

Forward>>

Where to Find the Best Spring Wildflower Bloom in California State Parks

Tahoe Nat'l Forest Collaboration Protects Truckee from fire

Joe Stout new supervisor of Eldorado National Forest

Tahoe National Forest welcomes new Fire Management Officer Kyle Jacobson

Cars parking illegally at Olmstead Loop trailhead

Gold Country Trails Council announces new GPX trail resource library

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