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Spotlights
Bishop Pride Event
On June 4 and 5, a rainbow flag flew above Bishop's Tri-County Fairgrounds –a first-of-its-kind festival for this small California town celebrating the local LGBTQIA+ community.
Building Legacy on the Mendocino National Forest: Hinda Darner and Joseph Chow
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Fuels Specialist Hinda Darner and Biologist Joe Chow discuss the paths that led to careers with the Forest Service.
Searching for Bonsai on California’s National Forests: “Every Tree Has a Story”
Californians love the ancient practice of bonsai – and the Forest Service supports these traditions with special use permits that allow a bit of the forest to come into towns and cities.
Urban Forests: Health, Wealth and Resilience
An Interview with Miranda Hutten by Steve Dunsky. Miranda Hutten manages the Urban and Community Forest Program for the Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5) of the U.S. Forest Service.
Fuels Specialist Receives Leading In A Natural Resource Environment Award
Fuels Specialist receives Leading In A Natural Resource Environment Award, impacts own backyard.
Hollywood’s National Forests
They may not be listed as the credits roll, but California’s national forests make cameo appearances in many Oscar-nominated films.
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Gloria Brown
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Region 5 gives tribute to Gloria Brown – the first female African American to become a forest supervisor in the U.S. Forest Service.
Hotshot Robby Burns competes in winter Olympics
Shasta-Trinity National Forest hotshot Robby Burns competed as part of the U.S. Olympic Snowboarding Team at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
In Memoriam – Lorraine Macebo (1922-2022)
Los Padres National Forest was saddened to that our beloved retiree Lorraine Macebo died at age 99 in Arroyo Grande on Jan. 19, 2022. Lorraine began her U.S. Forest Service career in 1947.
Partnerships in Hawai’i Making Progress Against an Invasive, Dangerous Beauty
To the untrained eye, the albizia framing Hawaiian highways and horizons are an attractive sight. Although they have appealing aesthetics, these trees are an invasive, dangerous beauty.
Guzzlers: Watering Holes for Thirsty Wildlife
Precipitation catchment systems, called Guzzlers, have become crucial during harsh drought years in ensuring species persistence to the multitude of wildlife living in this arid valley.
Celebrating Public Service with the Resource Assistance Program
Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the life and legacy of an inspiring civil rights leader. On this official day of service read how a few people are doing their part.
Shared Stewardship Produced Abundant Benefits on the Modoc National Forest
The Modoc National Forest and Modoc County Farm Bureau had a fruitful year of shared stewardship.
U.S. Forest Service in California Receive Elk Country Partnership Awards
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) presented three awards to the Forest Service for roles in finalizing the Sanhedrin Land Acquisition this past summer.
2021 Pacific Southwest Region & Research Station Honor Awards
The 2021 Honor Awards took place virtually on December 9. The theme “Achievement in Adversity” recognizes the accomplishments of many during a year of challenges.
The Survival of the Redwood Canoe
Along the Klamath River near the northern coast of California, the Forest Service is working with the Yurok Tribe to preserve the rich tradition of carving redwood canoes.
A Plus Tree hosted US Capitol Christmas Tree stop in Vallejo
Our partners A Plus Tree hosted the US Capitol Christmas Tree Vallejo Visit in early November and produced this fun video!
Firefighter protects the home of the president who granted him US citizenship
A stretch of U.S. Highway 101 was closed as crews raced to extinguish an active fire, which threatened historic ranchettes, like Ronald Reagan’s 688-acre property.
New Facebook Page for California National Forests!
Region 5 has a new Facebook page! Like and follow us at: www.facebook.com/CaliforniaNationalForests
Crews take mule train into Sespe
On April 14, 2021 two strings of pack mules of eight animals apiece left a trailhead north of Ojai, carrying tools and supplies for a major trail project in Sespe Wilderness.
Inyo National Forest’s Michael Morse Honored as Ranger of the Year
The Inyo National Forest is pleased to share that Michael Morse has been honored as the 2020 Ranger of the Year by the National Forest Recreation Association (NFRA)!
Redding Hotshots Gather For 50th Anniversary Reunion
The Redding Hotshots hosted their 50th anniversary reunion Nov. 4-5 in Redding, California, and had more than 125 alumni in attendance.
Generation Green Helps Teenagers Trade Ice Cream Scoopers For Shovels And Saws
High schoolers spent the summer backpacking through the Eldorado National Forest fixing trails and cutting brush as part of the USDA Forest Service’s Generation Green program.
California Conservation Corps Finds New Home on the Cleveland
The California Conservation Corps (CCC) has returned to the Cleveland National Forest as the new occupant of the Los Pinos Conservation Camp on the Trabuco Ranger District.
Partnerships, Volunteers Help Wetland Restoration
The Inyo National Forest, working with partner agencies and volunteers, has restored water flow to the DeChambeau Ponds, in what is a “win for the Mono Basin.”
Pacific Southwest Region Recognizes Employees Amid Challenging Year
The Regional Forester and Research Station Director 2020 Honor Awards took place virtually to highlight the honoree's tremendous accomplishments during a year of extraordinary challenges.
Forest Service Scientists Highlight Hawaiiʻs Human And Forest Connections
When asked what of value comes from a forest, people say timber. Timber only scratches the surface, saying nothing about the vital connections humans have to forests.
Renewable Energy Project In California Earns Forest Service Wide Recognition
After years of hard work, a team from the PSW Region 5 received a Federal Energy and Water Management Award for its Southern California Energy Savings Performance Contract ENABLE Project.
Region 5 Pilots Contracted Recycling on Delta Fire
Region 5 tried out a recycling service on the Delta Fire and the results will shock you. Well they shouldn't considering the amount of waste produced at a fire incident command post.
California Consortium Youth Shine In Banquet And On The Trail
The USDA Forest Service PSW's Outreach, Recruitment and Workforce Diversity Program has added a few more reasons to feel proud about their California Consortium.
Saipan Crew Travels 8,000 Miles To Work On Northern California Fires
There are 541 wildland hand crews available each year to fight fires across the U.S. One crew traveled 8,000 miles from their home in Saipan to assist on fires in California.
Jackhammers Used To Battle Back Invasive Plants
Pu`u Wa`awa`a State Forest Reserve, about 15 miles northeast of Kailua Kona on Hawaii Island contains some of the best remaining dry and mixed mesic forest left in the Hawaiian Islands.
Collaborative Project Set To Bring "Good Fire" Back To Klamath Mountains
Surrounded by Western Klamath Restoration Partnership, Six Rivers National Forest leadership signed a decision to bring “good fire” back to the Klamath Mountains.
Cartographer Wins Award For Wild And Scenic Map
If you go exploring with Daniel Spring you might never get lost. Spring is a cartographer with 18 years of map making experience at the USDA Forest Service.
A Vision for the Future: First Revised Forest Plan Released in California
The first forest plan in the Pacific Southwest Region revised under the 2012 Planning Rule is on-line! The Inyo NF plan will guide the management of the forest’s 2 million acres.
Prescribe Burning On The Green Mountain
Fire managers on the Shasta Lake Ranger District of the Shasta-Trinity NF took advantage of fair weather and continue prescribed burn operations in the Green Mountain area.
Six Rivers NF Sends Employees To Assist In Hurricane Relief
Two employees from the Six Rivers NF heard the call for help from the USDA Forest Service to assist Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands in the aftermath of Hurricane’s Irma and Maria.
New Wildland Fire Investigators Complete Training
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire- and fire investigators. The U.S. Forest Service investigates all human-caused wildfires on National Forest System lands.
Portugal Sends Delegation To PSW To Observe Wildland Fire Management
In April of 2018, officials from Portugal visited the U.S. After a brief stop at the National Interagency Fire Center, the delegates made their way to the Pacific Southwest Region.
Women in Wildfire Training Camp 2017
The Los Padres National Forest hosted its 4th Annual Women In Wildfire Training Camp, Dec. 10-15, 2017, in the shadow of the Thomas Fire.
Denny and Jim Jam Reclaimed From Illegal Grows
In 2016 and 2017, several large public land trespass marijuana cultivation complexes were discovered on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest managed by the U.S Forest Service.
Lilac Fire Provides Employee Chance To Help Humans And Horses
When a wildfire starts, a call to action is sounded. Firefighting personnel converge to manage the incident. However, supporting a fire doesn’t always mean working the fire line.
Mantra Gives Employee Structure For Amazing 38 Year Career
“If you work hard you can become anything you want in the Forest Service. Anything is possible.” Kubota said these words and practiced that mantra during his 38 year career.
Role of Resource Conservation Districts in Promoting Cross-Boundary Restoration
There are 97 districts throughout California that coordinate conservation work in their communities and accomplish thousands of practical, hands-on conservation projects annually.
GROWorkshop Engages Attendees On Topic Of Unconscious Bias
Thirty years ago the PSW led the nation in addressing gender discrimination with the “women’s conference.” Today it's called the GROWorkshop.
Lake Tahoe Basin partners with hospital to promote “Nature as Medicine"
The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and their local area health care system, Barton Health, signed a partnership agreement to use the national forest for at-risk populations.
New FireWorks Program for Sierra Nevada: Igniting a Passion for Science
Plumas Unified School District science teachers are using a new fire science curriculum, the Sierra Nevada FireWorks, to ignite students’ passion for science.
What is a Fire Incident Buying Team?
When a wildfire gets beyond initial efforts to suppress it, a series of actions begins involving multiple agencies and thousands of federal, state and community employees and volunteers.
Paiute Cutthroat Trout Return to Silver King Creek for First Time in 71 Years
Fish and Wildlife Service biologists, Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, conducted Paiute cutthroat trout population augmentation in mountain streams.
National Public Lands Day Celebrated in Northern California
National Public Lands Day, devoted to conservation and improvement of our nation’s public lands, drew nature lovers to the Mendocino National Forest Red Bluff Recreation Campground.
Forests Bridge Gap To Reach Wildfire
As a wildfire rages across a forest, fire equipment travels along forest roads until they find a bridge out. This problem faced firefighters on a Modoc National Forest fire.
Great American Eclipse and Fire Prevention
On Aug. 21, the event known as The Great American Eclipse, traveled along its path of totality through the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
French Fire Commander Visits Region
The USFS entered into a MOU with the French government to conduct Incident Command System training regarding how large fire incidents are managed in the U.S.
Concrete Evidence Cellulose Nanotechnology Works
The process of moving cellulose nanomaterials from a research endeavor to a commercial application took a big step forward in late July 2017.
Trash Talk: Fire Hoses in Northern California Get a Second Life
On average an estimated 15 tons of waste is generated annually by fire suppression efforts in Northern California. Our fire cache personnel did an audit to find ways to reduce that number.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Project Showcased at Convention
In August, a Hydrologist and a Civil Rights Service Center member represented the Region and Agency in an outreach booth at the Organization for Chinese Americans (OCA) National Convention.
Pacific Island Firefighting Crew Heads Home
A 15-member Saipan crew from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) arrived in California and was assigned to help with the wildfires on the Modoc National Forest.
Six Rivers National Forest Youth Program Promotes Inclusiveness
The Six Rivers National Forest hosted a Youth Conservation Corps program that is one of two residential projects funded in the region this summer.
Youth Conservation Corps Summer Program On National Forest Changes Lives
The Mount Shasta McCloud Management Unit of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest is proudly hosting its 42nd year of the Youth Conservation Corps program for local area youth.
Mendocino NF Intern Receives Forest Service Accessibility Accomplishment Award
The U.S. Forest Service honors an individual who shows commitment and leadership for the advancement and integration of accessibility in Forest Service facilities and programs. And we won!
Circle V Ranch Camp Rescue
The weather forecast for Saturday, July 8, had all the ingredients for a wildland fire start – unseasonably hot temperatures had been building since mid-week.
Lake Tahoe Basin Defender Retires After 38 Years in Forest Service
After 38 years, I can retire knowing I’ve been a part of change and growth in the wildland fire community.
Wilderness Ranger Academy Prepares New Hires To Survive And Be Successful
MaGuire, a seasoned wilderness ranger for the U.S. Forest Service, was prepared to answer any and all questions newly hired employees had at the 2017 Interagency Wilderness Ranger Academy.
Aloha and Kuleana: A Hawaii-Based Global Sustainability Initiative
Imagine the longest trip you’ve taken? How long did it last? How far did you travel? Chances are it was shorter and closer to home than that of the Hōkūleʻa.
2017 Fire Science Class At Frazier Mountain High School Concludes Its 19th Year
The Mt. Pinos Ranger District concluded its annual wildland fire training course, on April 29, for high school upper-class students and local young adults in Frazier Park.
Angeles NF Graduates Eleven Students from Women in Wildland Fire Training Camp
The Angeles National Forest held its inaugural Women in Wildland Fire Training Camp, June 5-9, 2017, at the Angeles Crest Christian Camp.
Solar Arrays Power Ranger Stations in the Los Padres National Forest
At selected U.S. Forest Service facilities and ranger stations across California, progress in saving tax dollars and energy efficiency is expanding into the 21st century.
Large Scale Replanting Effort Restores Damaged Forest
The San Bernardino National Forest contracted GE Forestry, a forestry service company out of Medford, Oregon, to assist in a planting project on the Mountaintop Ranger District.
Mount Shasta Interagency Search and Rescue Helicopter Training
Multiple federal and state agencies gathered at the Weed Airport, in Northern California, May 3, 2017, for the annual Mount Shasta search and rescue helicopter training.
Pacific Southwest Region Travels The State To Promote Wildfire Awareness Week
For the fourth year in a row, the Pacific Southwest Region, joined Cal Fire and other state and federal partners for a series of fire season preparedness events across the state.
Pacific Islands Spring Fire Training a Success
The Pacific Southwest Region, through the Cooperative Fire Program, provides technical assistance to enhance firefighting capabilities to our island partners in the Pacific.
California Conservation Corps Helps Forest Clean Up Hazard Trees
A 12-person crew from the California Conservation Corps conducted hazard tree mitigation and fuels reduction work alongside Forest Service crews on Sequoia National Forest.
Shasta-Trinity National Forest Hosts Leadership Days
The Shasta-Trinity National Forest hosted its annual “Leadership Days” meeting for all employees, Feb. 28 to March 1.
Bear and the Bats: Smokey Bear Gets New Roommates
Smokey Bear shows us he is one of the friendliest, most approachable bears there is by letting some unique forest friends stay in his cabin at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop.
Trabuco Dam Removal to Begin in Silverado and Holy Jim on the Cleveland NF
The U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Marine Corps will be removing 10 man-made dams from Silverado and Holy Jim Creek in March.
Stanislaus NF, local high school students share their community spirit
Students from Tioga High School spent four hours at the site of the July 2015 Big Creek fire on Stanislaus National Forest in Groveland, Calif., March 3, 2017, planting trees.
Forest Service Region Wins Award for Cutting-Edge, Off-Grid Solar Project
A team from the Region received a Federal Energy and Water Management Award, which recognizes projects that cut energy waste and promote energy independence, resilience and security.
Forests Dealing With Visitor Surge and Trash
Piles of trash, overflowing pit toilets, and damage to trails and roads are just a few issues Forest Service staff are addressing on many of the 18 National Forest across California recently.
Region 5 Dam Specialist Wins Technical Engineer of the Year
Stephen Romero, P.E., Regional Geotechnical, Dams, and Dam Safety Engineer for Region 5, has been named the 2016 “Technical Engineer of the Year” for the U.S. Forest Service.
Outreach and Role Models
The USDA Forest Service is promoting diversity, equity and inclusion programs to be more reflective of our national demographics.
Sierra Nevada Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment & Adaptation Strategy
In 2018 we initiated a Recreation and Infrastructure Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Strategy for the Sierra Nevada.
USFS Patrol Officers and K9 Units Assist in Apprehension of Homicide Suspect
U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers need to be ready at a moment’s notice for any incident. Earlier this month, Region 5 officers answered that call.
Paul Johnson named Division Chief of the Year
Paul is the first recipient of the award from the Six Rivers National Forest, which is located in northwest California.
Forest Service Team Wins EPA Federal Green Challenge Innovation Award
In June 2020, the Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region and the National Greening Fire Team won an Innovation Award from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Interior Secretary, Forest Chief lead ceremony to dedicate Berryessa
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell led a ceremony to dedicate the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, March 19, 2016.
Blue Waters Exchange: Connecting ideas and cultures across the Pacific
How far would you travel to follow your passion? Four students from the Lake Tahoe Basin recently crossed the Pacific Ocean for the U.S. Forest Service’s Blue Waters Exchange.
California Tree Mortality Numbers Released: 18 Million Trees Died In 2018
The Forest Health Aerial Survey numbers for 2018 were released in February and despite being down from the drought, the numbers remained high relative to background mortality rates.
San Bernardino National Forest Celebrates 39 Years of Bald Eagle Program
The Mountaintop Ranger District has long worked to share the thrill of seeing bald eagles with the public while also managing the public lands to protect eagles and their habitat.
4H Volunteers Give Campground an After-Fire Facelift
Volunteers from a 4H organization arrived at the Gray’s Peak Campground like a breath of fresh air swooping over the San Bernardino National Forest, April 8, 2017.
Los Padres NF Wins Award for Women In Wildland Fire Training
In 2014 the Los Padres National Forest received a Washington Office diversity grant to fund a project designed to engage and recruit under-represented groups into the Fire Program.
PARC Receives USFS-BLM Conservation Leadership Partner Award
On March 8, 2017, Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation was selected as the recipient for the Forest Service-Bureau of Land Management Conservation Leadership Partner Award.
One Region, One Program of Work. Many Successes.
Region 5 is improving how we manage the public’s national forests by sharing people, skills and resources to meet restoration goals. We call it 1R1POW.
Heroic Forest Service K-9 survives injuries during raid on forest property
Ice, a highly decorated USDA Forest Service law-enforcement K-9, played a lead role during an August 27 marijuana raid in the Klamath National Forest.
Biocultural Blitz Inspires Tomorrow’s Stewards Today
More than 200 fourth graders, 100 teachers and 20 biologists came together during the third annual Biocultural Blitz at the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest on the Big Island.
Connecting On-the-Ground Work, Online
The Stewardship Mapping & Assessment Project helps to understand, highlight, and support community groups that care for special places in Oʻahu, like its eastern and southern watersheds.
Humanitarian Crisis Spurs Forest Service Ecologist to Action in Micronesia
Super Typhoon Maysak pounded Micronesia devastating the food supplies on Chuuk and the outer islands of Yap. Support efforts soon discovered a potential problem with food security.
Tallac Site Gives Visitors A Stroll Back In Time
Historic area offers a rich experience — and a quiet respite from a busy Tahoe summer.
Interagency Wilderness Interpretation and Education Workshop
Robert Hamm attended his first Interagency Wilderness Interpretation and Education Workshop and learned how to better explain, understand and share what exactly is a wilderness.
USDA Forest Service Responds to Super Typhoon Yutu
On Oct. 25, 2018, Super Typhoon Yutu made landfall on the shores of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); the most significant storm to impact U.S. soil since 1935.
Forest Service Hosts A Booth At The Girl Scouts Central Area's Adventure Camp
The USDA Forest Service hosted a booth at the Girl Scouts Central Area's Adventure Campout at Lake Camanche. More than 600 girls, troop leaders and volunteers attended.
Forest employee earns Certification as Silviculturist
In July, Pacific Southwest Regional Forester Randy Moore had the proud honor of awarding Sequoia National Forest employee, Marianne Emmendorfer, with the title of Certified Silviculturist.
At The Chinese New Year Community Street Fair
For the second year in a row, the USDA Forest Service’s Asian Pacific American Association hosted an outreach booth at this Chinese New Year event and Smokey Bear helped share his story.
Forest Service’s PSW Recognizes Generation Green Interns
In September a Generation Green youth panel, which included nine youth from throughout California and one parent representative, presented to the RLT of the R5 Pacific Southwest.
Forest Service Law Enforcement Use D.A.R.E., Other Strategies To Combat Drugs
Recently the Office of National Drug Control Policy sent guidance to the Department of Agriculture on addressing the President’s strategy on confronting drug control challenges.
Northern California Consortium Host Youth Conservation Corps
The Northern California Consortium hosted two Youth Conservation Corps crews recently where they learned various classroom and outdoor skills, camped, and had a chance to grow as leaders.
Region 5 Program Manager Receives Local Award
On Dec. 11, 2019, James Trevino Oftedal was one of three State Center Community College District (SCCCD) alumni who were honored as a Muro de Honor (Wall of Honor) Honoree.
A Lasting Legacy
Tahoe National Forest, the 1882 Foundation, and the US-China Railroad Friendship Association jointly hosted the second Return To Gold Mountain Tour.
Urban Meets Wild Trail
The USDA Forest Service designed the “Urban Meets Wild Trail,” an interactive experience at the America’s Great Outdoors site at the Los Angeles County Fair.
Connecting the Sierras to the Hmong Community at Hmong New Year Celebration
The USDA Forest Service hosted an outreach and information booth at the annual Fresno Hmong New Year celebration in Fresno, California, Dec. 26, 2019 to Jan. 1, 2020.
Forest Service Community Forest Program Continues Agroforestry In Hawai’i
The Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Kealakekua is Hawaii’s first “Community Forest!” The beloved garden has been closed to the public since 2016, until now.
Honor Guard Takes Care Of Our Own
An important group of Forest Service employees trained in Redding last week. The Forest Service Honor Guard takes its mission of “Taking Care of Our Own,” very seriously.
Bear and the Bats: Smokey Bear Gets New Roommates
Smokey Bear shows us he is one of the friendliest, most approachable bears there is by letting some unique forest friends stay in his cabin at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop.
Videos Released by California ReLeaf, Save Our Water & U.S. Forest Service
You can watch two “Save Our Water AND Our Trees” videos that show California residents how to best care for their trees during this historic drought.
Student Trail Crew assists in Moonlight Fire Restoration
High above the floor of Indian Valley, in the Plumas National Forest, the rhythmic sound of picks and shovels displacing earth echoes across the slopes of Keddie Ridge.