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More than 300 western leaders call on Trump Administration and Congress to protect, fully fund public lands

3/30/2025

Report from the Tahoe Daily Tribune newspaper - March 29, 2025
More than 300 current and former Western local elected officials, including mayors, county commissioners, and city council members, today sent a letter to the Trump Administration and Congressional offices urgently calling for a more balanced approach to the management of our public lands; calling on them to oppose the sale of public lands in the Budget Reconciliation Package; and asking them to reject any attempts to change the Antiquities Act or reduce the size of our national monuments.

“Local elected officials know firsthand that protected public lands sustain our communities, power our economies, and serve as the cornerstone of our outdoor way of life,” said Anna Peterson, executive director of The Mountain Pact. “Protected public lands are the backbone of our mountain communities – but right now they are under threat. That’s why The Mountain Pact and more than 300 local elected leaders from across the Western U.S. are fighting back, so we can ensure these critical resources are protected and preserved for generations to come.”

Included in the list of signatories are several leaders representing the Truckee-Tahoe region, including Nevada County District 5 Supervisor Hardy Bullock, Placer County District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, Truckee Mayor Jan Zabriskie, Truckee Vice Mayor Anna Klovstad, Truckee Councilmembers Courtney Henderson and David Polivy, Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill and Washoe County School District Board President Beth Smith.

The local officials also called on President Trump and Congress to increase support for public land management which would improve access and help protect some of our most important wildlife habitat, migration corridors, treasured recreation areas, critical water resources, and Indigenous cultural sites.

“Our town council rarely involves itself in federal matters, but we have unanimously adopted resolutions expressing our strong opposition to recent federal funding and staffing cuts affecting public lands and essential services. Our community is surrounded by the national forest. The funding cuts and staffing reductions put our local economy and safety at risk. Our community members are deeply concerned about federal wildfire responses, campground closures, reduced monitoring of dispersed campfires, the availability and cost of property insurance, tourism impacts, and reduced services on public lands. We oppose the funding and staffing cuts for public lands and urge the federal administration to reverse course,” said Mayor Zabriskie.

The letter comes as the Trump Administration has made several moves to decrease funding and staffing for public lands, including at National Parks and key scientific agencies like the EPA and NOAA. Last month, Secretary Burgum issued secretarial orders targeting America’s national monuments and positioning drilling and mining interests as the favored users of America’s public lands. Trump has also fired thousands of employees and slashed millions in funding from public land agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, and waged an all-out assault on renewable energy in favor of more drilling and resource extraction.

“Mountain communities depend on healthy and accessible public lands to survive,” the leaders wrote in their letter. “But increased fossil fuel development on public lands, weakened environmental regulations, and fast tracking or eliminating environmental reviews for proposed projects jeopardizes both our public lands and public health while contributing to the climate crisis by causing the release of vast amounts of potent greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Now more than ever we must continue to take and support meaningful actions to both address the climate crisis and protect our public lands. We urge you to continue to support the protection of healthy public lands and take strong climate action. We ask you to fully fund our public lands, oppose the sale of public lands in the Budget Reconciliation Package, and oppose any attempts to change the Antiquities Act or reduce the size of our national monuments.”

Protected public lands are important economic drivers for Western communities. A recent report from the National Park Service found that “325 million park visitors spent an estimated $26.4 billion in local gateway regions while visiting National Park Service lands across the country. These expenditures supported a total of 415,000 jobs, $19.4 billion in labor income, $32.0 billion in value added, and $55.6 billion in economic output in the national economy.”

The threat to national monuments is pressing: on March 14, a White House fact sheet said Trump had signed an executive order that terminated proclamations declaring two new national monuments designated in the waning days of the Biden Administration, Sáttítla Highlands and Chuckwalla. However, the line disappeared by the afternoon of March 15, and the final status of these new monuments remains uncertain.

Polling has consistently shown protections for public lands hold overwhelming support from both the public and local elected officials. According to the 2024 Conservation in the West Poll, 72 percent of Western voters oppose removing protections on existing national public lands to allow more drilling and mining. The same poll found that 85 percent of voters in the West – including 74 percent of Republicans, 87 percent of Independents, and 96 percent of Democrats – say issues involving clean water, clean air, wildlife and public lands are important in deciding whether to support an elected official.

“In Washoe County public lands are a key driver of our economy, and the backbone of our outdoor way of life. They provide our communities with clean air and water, create and support good-paying jobs, and give people space to be with nature. We should be doing more to protect and support our public lands, instead of starving them of badly-needed resources and exploiting them for short-term gain,” said Commissioner Hill.

Similarly, national monuments that maintain public access to public lands and protect ecosystems and wildlife for future generations are also exceptionally popular with the American people. The same poll found that more than four-in-five western voters support the creation of additional public lands like national monuments, and that 89 percent of Westerners believe existing national monuments protected over the last decade should be kept in place.

“Sufficient funding and thoughtful management are key to successfully balancing conservation, access, and enjoyment of our public lands. By gutting our public land agencies and starving them of resources, the Trump Administration is putting our most cherished public spaces at risk. Make no mistake: if these actions aren’t reversed, our communities will face severe consequences. I urge President Trump to stand up for our public lands before it’s too late,” said Supervisor Bullock.

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.

To see the complete article and photos in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, CLICK HERE.

Bike shop owner wants the Hwy 20/Pioneer Trail system to be the bike hub for all of California

3/29/2025

Quotes from the article in The Union newspaper today:
"New ownership of bicycle shop in Nevada City preserves the passion for cycling culture"
"Electric bikes or e-bikes make up approximately 70 percent of sales at Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop located at 457 Sacramento Street in Nevada City."

“We have what we call the Outpost, and originally it was kind of a few rental bikes, but we just invested in 30 plus bikes up there to turn it into a demo center,” Greene said. (Map below)

"A lot of bikes Greene sells are high performance, full suspension mountain bikes, and most of them are electric."

“The Outpost is sitting right at the trailhead … It’s one of only two places I know of in North America where you can try out a whole variety of full suspension bikes and actually get immediately on the trail.”

“We’re really tightly involved with the local bike team, the Miners, which are the NICA team. They’re a great development program,” Green said. “They’re incredible. These kids are ten times faster than I ever was at their age."

"BONC, which is the Bicyclists of Nevada County, maintains the trail system has got such passion and effort put into it, according to Greene." **
** Note from MLT: It's not just the bicyclists of BONC who maintains the Pioneer Trail, but also the equestrians from Gold Country Trails Council who established the Pioneer Trail in 1981. Their 700+ active members continue to maintain it with other trails groups, including Nevada County Woods Riders, with oversight from Tahoe National Forest.

“The Bay Area doesn’t even have anything that touches this,” Greene said. “I think this is going to be a hub for cycling in all of Northern California, if not all of California. We get people coming over from Nevada, Oregon, Washington. They’re traveling all over the place to get here these days.”

To see the complete article and photos in The Union newspaper, CLICK HERE.

Cronan Ranch Regional Trails deliver solitude and epic scenery on the American River

3/28/2025

Pilot Hill, Calif. – Expansive vistas of California’s gold country, rolling hills, mountain lions, horseback riders, and Class IV rapids along the South Fork of the American River offer a glimpse of what makes Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park, a California treasure.

Located in Pilot Hill, just off scenic Highway 49, Cronan Ranch is an idyllic place to get away from it all in our estimation, at least for a few hours of outdoor bliss. A singular, modest sign marks the rather nondescript rutted dirt entrance to the park. We are always taken aback at the display of immense beauty that at times reminds us of vast central coast ranches and East Bay Area hikes.

The undulating green hills of spring that soon give way to golden hues of summer are dotted with majestic oaks and patchworks of greenery. Seasonal creeks babble and wildlife coalesce in celebration. It feels like classic California. Trails sprawl up and down in all directions. Hikers and horseback riders stage here before disappearing into the wild.

Springtime
As the weather begins to warm and snowmelt flows intensify, Cronan Ranch shines brightest as the hills and trees light up in full, green grandeur. The powerful growl of the South Fork offers a reminder of the importance of our region’s sustaining natural resource as it weaves it way toward Folsom Lake. There is much to appreciate here.

Weekdays
Like most places, weekday visits offer the best opportunity for some solitude. With the exception of the infrequent hiker or horseback rider, you’ll have plenty of time and space all to yourself. In the distance, you may catch a sheepherder on horseback managing his singing flock.

Summer scorchers
Summer heat in Gold Country can be unforgiving, be well prepared. Much of the trails are exposed to the sun, the ridge hikes and Up and Down Trail can be extra strenuous during summer, yet offer some of the parks most stunning views. The roundtrip to the South Fork of the American River is under 5-miles and you’ll be exposed to the sun. A good hat, sunscreen, and water are essentials.

American River Cool Down
The stroll down to the river offers an ideal midway break point for modest hikes. You’ll often find you have the place to yourself. During summer, when the water temps warm and flows slow, use extra caution to seek out safe spots for a cool down. It’s quite the reward on a hot summer day.

Always be on the lookout for mountain lions who use the same paths to grab a drink. Fresh scat on top of rock pilings is a telltale sign a mountain lion is near and likely aware of your presence.

A treasured locationCronan Ranch is a splendid place to hike and explore, all within a relatively, short drive from Roseville and South Placer County. Soak in the beauty and enjoy the cool waters of the roaring South Fork of the American River. Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park bursts with excitement during spring and throughout the year and remains one of our most treasured destinations.

For the complete article, photos and map in Roseville Today, CLICK HERE.

Auburn State Recreation Area trail closures March 18-19, 2025

3/14/2025

Upcoming Temporary Trail Closure Alert
Due to overhead powerline work by PG&E in the area of No Hands Bridge, the following areas of Auburn SRA will be closed to all public access on March 18 & 19, 2025 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.:

- Stagecoach Trail from Russel Road to Old Foresthill Road
-Upper Stagecoach Trail
-Flood Trail
-Manzanita Trail
-Tinkers Cut Off Trail
-Mossy Rocks Trail
-Western States Trail from Robie Point to Cool Staging Area
-Shortcut Trail
-Cool Staging Area Parking Facilities (LONGER CLOSURE: 3/17-19 ALL HOURS)
-Northern portion of Olmstead Trail from Salt Creek to Cool Staging Area
-Pointed Rocks Trail (Training Hill)
-No Hands Bridge Trail
-Mt. Quarries Bypass Trail

This closure is for the protection of the public at Auburn State Recreation Area. These closures will expire at 4:00 PM on March 19, 2025, at which time all areas listed will return to normal access.

We suggest checking out the China Bar area or the Foresthill Divide Loop as alternatives during these closures. Please reach out to our sector office or go to our website for additional information.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=954209763463938&set=a.268959168655671

Navigating Uncertainty and Ensuring the PCT’s Future

3/13/2025

From the Pacific Crest Trail Foundation:
As we face financial and operational challenges because of uncertainty around federal funding for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), I want to be transparent with our community about the impact this may have on our mission. The U.S. Forest Service has let us know that our future federal grant funding may be delayed while it is under review as part of the new administration’s efforts to reduce federal spending and staffing. We are unsure when or if this funding will be cut, reduced or fully restored.
...
This possible funding disruption is deeply concerning, as without it, we risk losing the capacity to fund essential projects and crews needed to care for the 2,650-mile PCT. As a result, we’ve already significantly reduced our 2025 program of work.
We’ve canceled 56 weeks of planned projects--more than one full year’s worth of trail crew maintenance—and likely cancelled hiring six seasonal trail crew leaders who are experts in trail building and repair and provide crucial support and supervision for trail crews. Cutting back needed trail maintenance will directly affect the PCT experience this year and in the future, and surely will increase the amount and cost of work we will need to address later. Hikers, equestrians and local trail communities will feel this as they traverse the magnificent lands through which the trail passes.
...
Contact your Senators and Representatives in Congress and voice your support for the trail. Tell them how much you love the PCT and how trails impact your life, health and well-being. Voice support for our federal land management agencies and the public lands we all care about. Remind them that making America great also means taking care of our beloved outdoor spaces, which improve American lives by creating jobs, supporting rural economies, generating clean air and water, and providing places for rest and reflection.
...
Uncertainty can be challenging, but like PCT adventurers, we at the PCTA always adapt to change. We are deeply grateful to be able to do this work alongside such a passionate community of members, volunteers, hikers, equestrians, agency partners, advocates, supporters, and so many more. Together, we will continue to protect and maintain the Pacific Crest Trail for generations to come."
To read the complete blog post from the PCTA, CLICK HERE.

March 29 through April 6, 2025 - Spenceville closed for annual turkey hunt

3/8/2025

A reminder to all Spenceville visitors...unless you have a hunting permit, you can't access Spenceville Wildlife Area from March 29 through April 6 CLICK HERE for more information on this area from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife..
(Nestled in the Sierra Foothills of Northern California, Spenceville Wildlife Area consists of roughly 11,900 acres of blue oak and gray pine woodland and riparian forest. Among the many popular activities here are fishing, hiking and equestrian trail riding.)

'There is literally no one': The fallout coming to Lake Tahoe after forest service gutted

3/8/2025

From wildfires and water clarity to Fourth of July tourism, Tahoe is in trouble
March 8, 2025 --
“As of right now, all of the wilderness staff for the [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit] side of Desolation Wilderness is completely gone,” she said. “There is literally no one on the [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit] side at all.”

The U.S. Forest Service manages 78% of the land in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Yet, a hiring freeze on seasonal workers and recent firings of key staff have gutted an already-stretched-thin agency, putting on hold critical work in water quality, environmental restoration and forest fuels reduction projects while also diminishing the forest service’s capacity to manage the millions of visitors who come to Lake Tahoe every year — especially on the Fourth of July.

Eleven people who work at the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit lost their jobs last month in the so-called “Valentine’s Day Massacre” led by Elon Musk’s U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, according to former employees.

The job losses compound chronically low staffing, plus a hiring freeze on seasonal workers that went into effect last fall. In all, the management unit has lost a third of its recreational staff...

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit sees more visitors than any of the state’s national parks. The management unit’s 156,335 acres are a fifth the size of Yosemite National Park, yet data shows the management unit welcomes almost twice as many visitors as Yosemite. But the forest service has gone dark in communications about how Lake Tahoe will be impacted by the Trump administration’s mass firing of forest service employees last month.

The only news coming out of the management unit since the firings have been public notices about prescribed burns. An inquiry sent by SFGATE in February to the management unit about how many people were fired went unanswered. On Monday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent SFGATE an emailed statement that said 2,000 forest service employees had been fired but did not give any further information about how the firings were spread forest by forest or how many people had been let go at the management unit.

In that information vacuum, two former forest service employees and South Lake Tahoe residents — Nadia Tase and Kelly Bessem — have organized a small resistance to make known the full weight of the impacts coming to Lake Tahoe, aligning with similar rogue initiatives led by people who work on public lands. Tase worked for the forest service in Lake Tahoe for 13 years before she took another job on Election Day in 2016. Bessem was a hydrology technician and seasonal employee until she was let go last fall, due to budget cuts.

“I have to speak up for my colleagues [who] can’t speak for themselves because they’re afraid of losing their job,” Tase said in a phone interview with SFGATE this week. “It’s a very strange world right now, and things are not happening the way they typically do. They are just very scared.”

Both Tase and Bessem say they have been in touch with current and former forest service employees, some of whom hold high-ranking positions. Tase published a letter to the editor in South Tahoe Now on Feb. 23 that detailed the jobs lost — and what Tahoe should expect in the coming months as a result.

“If this purge were truly about government efficiency, these would not be the individuals to target,” Tase wrote in the letter on South Tahoe Now. “These are some of the hardest working people, the most dedicated, the most productive worker bees that simply put, get stuff done.”

From picking up trash to forest thinning — critical work that just won’t get done The Trump administration fired people who built trails. They managed aquatic invasive species efforts and led creek and meadow restoration projects that play into Lake Tahoe’s vitally important water quality goals — the projects that, to borrow from the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s tagline, quite literally “keep Tahoe blue.”

The cuts mean fewer people to pick up trash left by tourists on beaches, put out illegal campfires in the backcountry and enforce rules about bear canisters. Tahoe’s popular Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Tallac Historic Site will have reduced hours. While many forest service beaches and campgrounds are operated by concessionaires, places that are run by the forest service, including Luther Pass Campground and Watson Lake Campground, will also see shorter opening seasons.
The loss also represents decades of experience, Tase said. Some of those people had more than 20 years of experience working for the management unit.

“We lose these positions. We lose that ability to serve the public,” Tase said.

Two people who worked on aquatic invasive species projects were also fired. Tahoe has seen recent success with projects eradicating aquatic invasive species. Last fall, the forest service joined the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to remove heavy, sunlight-blocking mats that eradicated a 17-acre infestation of aquatic weeds in Tallac and Taylor creeks.

Monitoring needs to continue so the weeds don’t return, said Bessem, the former hydrology technician. Yet the two employees fired in February were both leaders on the aquatic team.

Wildfire defenses are hit on multiple fronts
Three people who were fired worked on fuels reduction projects that protect Lake Tahoe communities from wildfire danger — all the more prescient in Lake Tahoe, since forest-thinning projects saved hundreds of homes in Christmas Valley from burning in the Caldor Fire.

The Trump administration has frozen funding for partner nonprofits the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has traditionally relied on to lend extra hands and support critical work, such as fuels reduction projects that buffer Tahoe’s forest-dense neighborhoods from wildfire risk.

In Tahoe, the Great Basin Institute has partnered with the management unit on a large-scale forestry project to reduce the risk of wildfire across the Tahoe Basin. But the institute nearly had to furlough staff because, at the start of the Trump administration, it stopped receiving payments from the federal government for work completed months ago, said Great Basin Institute CEO Peter Woodruff.

Payments have resumed for work completed months ago, and the institute avoided furloughs, Woodruff said. However, all new work that doesn’t have funding already committed has been suspended.

“The forests are being asked to do heroics or shutter critical facilities and recreation,” Woodruff said. “Typically, we’d be a solution in these circumstances when they reach their own limitations, they reach into whatever backup funding they may have and shift to our labor force, but that’s not possible this time around.”

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit also lost employees who held fireline qualifications, Tase said. They might not be firefighting personnel, but they still do firefighting work in the Tahoe Basin, during a fire and after. These were the people who rehabilitated the fire breaks that crews cut through the forest during the Caldor Fire, she noted, reducing erosion and sediment flows into Lake Tahoe.
A U.S. Forest Service control burn kicks up smoke on Jan. 25, 2018, in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

And then there’s the Fourth of July -
Last summer, Bessem worked at Kiva Beach on the Fourth of July, handing out trash bags and patrolling for safety. The forest service was part of a basinwide effort to staff up for Tahoe’s busiest holiday weekend of the year, after thousands of pounds of trash was strewn across the lake the year before. And it worked. Last summer, thanks to the enforcement and education efforts on the holiday, on the morning of July 5, 2024, volunteers found beaches in much better condition than the year prior. The total amount of trash picked up was a quarter of what it was in 2023.

Uniformed staff made a big difference in that enforcement, Bessem said. That’s not something that can be easily replicated by volunteers.
“As someone in uniform, you have a radio. You can go up to people, tell them you know the rules and regulations. You can call for backup law enforcement,” she said.

She doesn’t know if the forest service can muster the same kind of response this coming Fourth of July.

Desolation Wilderness — one of the most heavily visited wilderness areas in the country — has also been hit especially hard, Bessem said. With a medical issue, an earlier layoff and seasonal job losses, she said the management unit currently has no staff for Desolation.

“As of right now, all of the wilderness staff for the [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit] side of Desolation is completely gone,” she said. “There is literally no one on the [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit] side at all.”

The damage is not done
However, more job losses are likely imminent. Politico reported on Thursday plans to lay off 7,000 more workers in the forest service.

“Certainly a grim picture,” Tase wrote in an email to SFGATE on Thursday night. “And despite the apparent good news with the reversal of the illegal firings, I fear those positions are ultimately still on the chopping block.”

To see the complete article and more photos in the San Francisco Chronicle SFGATE, CLICK HERE.

Cuts Could Close Campsites and Trails in California, Forest Service Memo

3/5/2025

March 5, 2025 - New York Times
A government spreadsheet lists almost 4,000 campsites and thousands of trails that could shutter for the summer because of federal government staff reductions and budget freezes.

In California, summer could be on the chopping block.
Almost 4,000 campsites across many of California’s 18 national forests could close for part or all of the summer season, according to an internal United States Forest Service spreadsheet viewed by The New York Times on Friday. These potential shutdowns follow a wave of federal government firings and budget freezes last month that have led to staffing shortages and stalled contracts for basic services like pumping toilets.

While national forests are sometimes less well-known than national parks, they’re often more accessible, with a wider variety of uses and lower fees to enter and camp. They attract motorcyclists, day hikers, ATV users, horseback riders, boaters and backpackers, as well as ranchers who graze cattle, foresters who log trees and even miners who prospect for gold.

In an internal email from the Forest Service on Feb. 18, forest supervisors for Region 5, which oversees California, were instructed to list public facilities that could close this year as a result of budget cuts and staff shortages. The United States Forest Service did not respond to a request for comment for this article.

The email noted that “unforeseen impacts and changed conditions, as well as financial limitations may render some sites unsafe, or too challenging to open to full capacity in 2025.” It was sent less than a week after at least 2,000 employees were terminated by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk.

With a diminished work force, not only will scientific research at these sites suffer, but visitors will struggle to find clean and accessible facilities. And, a heightened risk of wildfires could put nearby communities at risk.

Almost a dozen current and recently fired staff members in Region 5 who spoke to The Times confirmed that firings and an inability to pay contractors had affected the majority of their forests.
At Inyo National Forest, where 26,000 people visit the tallest peak in the contiguous United States each year via the Mount Whitney trail, a 75 percent reduction in staff would result in less removal of human waste, a reduced capacity to respond to search-and-rescue calls, and difficulty maintaining trail signs, according to the spreadsheet. Kennedy Meadows, a campground with 37 sites near the Mount Whitney trail — one of the culminating experiences for thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail — could close for the season.

The team that manages the Lake Tahoe Basin area noted a 33 percent reduction in recreational staff and the “termination of the only permanent wilderness ranger position” for Desolation Wilderness, one of the most popular wilderness areas in the United States, according to the Forest Service.

Andrew Peterson, a 31-year-old biologist, was fired with just 10 days left in the probationary period for his position leading a fisheries crew.

“People will definitely see impacts to services, particularly around overall cleanliness,” Mr. Peterson said. Plus, research would be diminished, increasing the risk to species that help these forests thrive. “Every year that we don’t actively work to help our threatened and endangered species,” he said, “the more threatened and endangered they become.”

Last year, Mr. Peterson earned roughly $46,000. As a seasonal worker in years before, he made about half that. He and his wife live with two roommates to afford the high cost of living around Lake Tahoe.

Budget issues at the Forest Service predated the terminations last month. Employees said their forests in California’s Region 5 had been underfunded for at least a year. The Tahoe management unit typically employ up to 50 temporary workers every summer, but, with a series of budget cuts and a hiring freeze, it is unclear if any will be hired this summer.

These closures could also limit visitor access to information and permits for backpacking and firewood collection. At least three visitor centers in Eldorado National Forest, which borders the Lake Tahoe region, could close because of low staffing, including the “loss of all administrative staff” at the district office, according to the spreadsheet. Almost a dozen visitor centers in Lassen, Shasta Trinity, San Bernardino and Sequoia were also at risk of closing.

At Six Rivers National Forest in Northern California, four of the five front desk staff members were fired, according to former employees. The front desks at the region’s four district offices will have reduced days or hours, according to the spreadsheet. Former employees said only one office remained fully open in February because a public affairs specialist agreed to work the front desk in addition to performing the duties of another full-time job.

Poorly maintained trails could contribute to increased risk from wildfires. Adam Forsell, a 27-year-old Marine Corps veteran who helped maintain trails at Six Rivers before he was terminated, said firefighters depend on trails to contain fires, helping workers to suppress fires more quickly.

“A well-maintained trail can be the difference between a fire staying relatively small or becoming the next campaign fire,” Mr. Forsell said, using the term for large and long-term wildfires.

Many Forest Service workers who are not full-time firefighters are still trained to fight fires and coordinate firefighting efforts through a certification program known as Red Card. At least five terminated staff members from Six Rivers interviewed for this article are certified.

Joey Gallagher, 32, and her husband, Tyler Padian, 33, worked as archaeologists at Six Rivers before they were fired on Feb. 14, about a month before their probationary periods were to end.

“With all these staff terminated out of nowhere, we can’t do the thinning and prescribed burns that keep forests healthy and keep fires from becoming catastrophic,” Ms. Gallagher said. Last summer, she and Mr. Padian helped on the Boise and Hill fires that burned more than 20,000 acres near the small, rural communities of Orleans and Willow Creek.

“Both fires were heading toward very populated areas and without the Forest Service’s wildland firefighters, they could’ve destroyed towns,” said Scott Williams, a 32-year-old botanist for Six Rivers who also has Red Card certification. He was halfway through a two-year probation period, and had just received a performance award, when his boss called him, in tears, to tell him he had been fired.

To see the complete article and more photos in the New York Times newspaper, CLICK HERE.

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