Forest Management
The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
The overriding objective of the Forest Service's forest management program is to ensure that the National Forests are managed in an ecologically sustainable manner. The National Forests were originally envisioned as working forests with multiple objectives: to improve and protect the forest, to secure favorable watershed conditions, and to furnish a continuous supply of timber for the use of citizens of the United States. Forest management objectives have since expanded and evolved to include ecological restoration and protection, research and product development, fire hazard reduction, and the maintenance of healthy forests.
Guided by law, regulation, and agency policy, Forest Service forest managers use timber sales, as well as other vegetation management techniques such as prescribed fire, to achieve these objectives.
Topics
Successful vegetation management ensures that our National Forests are conserved, restored, and made more resilient while enhancing our water resources. Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) is a component of the forest management program that utilizes silvicultural practice overseeing the genetics, growing of seedlings in nurseries, reforestation, and restoration of our National Forests.
The natural infrastructure from each of California's 18 National Forests provides multiple Nature's Benefits to people and populations, plants, animals, and habitat.
Ecosystem services are the benefits people receive and value from nature—or "Nature's Benefits." This comprehensive suite of benefits provided by healthy ecosystems includes, but is not limited to:
- clean air
- water filtration
- carbon sequestration
- cultural heritage
- pollination
- flood control
- jobs, commerce, and value to local economies
- recreational opportunities and open space for communities
- renewable and non-renewable energy
- increased physical and psychological wellness
- wood products
Find out how the Eldorado National Forest positively impacts your daily life!
Endangered species on National Forest System lands are managed under the National Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species (TES) program, in coordination with Regional Offices, national forests and our partners. The goals of this program includes the recovery of threatened and endangered species and their habitats, conservation of sensitive species and their habitats, and providing for the diversity of plant and animal communities on National Forest System lands.
The California Endangered Species Act (CESA) is a California environmental law that conserves and protects plant and animal species at risk of extinction. Originally enacted in 1970, CESA was repealed and replaced by an updated version in 1984 and amended in 1997. Plant and animal species may be designated threatened or endangered under CESA after a formal listing process by the California Fish and Game Commission. Link includes Animal and Plants lists.
Invasive Species Program
Invasive species have been identified by the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service as one of the four significant threats to our Nation’s forest and rangeland ecosystems.
In response to this identified threat, a multidisciplinary team of specialists, managers, and researchers has worked together to produce a National Strategy and Implementation Plan for Invasive Species Management.
The goal of the USDA Forest Service invasive species program is to reduce, minimize, or eliminate the potential for introduction, establishment, spread, and impact of invasive species across all landscapes and ownerships.
Invasive Plants
Invasive plants are a threat to forest ecosystems. On National Forest System lands, invasive plants are documented, treated, and surveyed whenever possible using the Early Detection/Rapid Response (EDRR) system, and an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.
Invasive plant species in California
Invasive Insects
Priority invasive insect species in California include goldspotted oak borer, polyphagous shot hole borer, gypsy moth, and more.
Invasive Insects of California
Invasive Forest Diseases
Priority invasive plant disease species in California include sudden oak death, Port-Orford-cedar root disease, white pine blister rust, and pitch canker.
The Forest Service has multiple tools in its kit for creating Timber Contracts.
What do the terms “timber sale,” “service contract,” and “stewardship contracts” mean?
- A Timber Sale is the sale of commercial forest products, always with return of receipts to the U.S. Treasury.
- Service Contracts are contracts for services (such as pre-commercial thinning, trail maintenance, and fuel reduction), that are funded with appropriated dollars, and do not return revenues to the U.S. Treasury.
- Stewardship Contracts are contracts by the FS and BLM for services (such as pre-commercial thinning, trail maintenance, and fuel reduction) in which some of the costs may be offset by the value of vegetative material removed and may not return revenues to the U.S. Treasury. In addition, any excess receipts could be used for other stewardship contracts.
- Integrated Resource Service Contracts (IRSC) = Integrated resource service contracts are to be used when the cost of the services exceeds the value of the timber.
- Integrated Resource Timber Contracts (IRTC) = Integrated resource timber contracts are to be used when the value of timber exceeds the cost of the services.
What is the Stewardship Authority?
Congress created the stewardship program to give the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) the authority “to perform services to achieve land management goals for the national forests and the public lands that meet local and rural community needs.” The seven land management goals include:
- Road and trail maintenance or obliteration to restore or maintain water quality.
- Soil productivity, habitat for wildlife and fisheries, or other resource values.
- Setting of prescribed fires to improve the composition, structure, condition, and health of stands or to improve wildlife habitat.
- Removing vegetation or other activities to promote healthy forest stands, reduce fire hazards, or achieve other land management objectives.
- Watershed restoration and maintenance.
- Restoration and maintenance of wildlife and fish habitat.
- Control of noxious and exotic weeds and reestablishing native plan species.
What is Stewardship Contracting?
The Forest Service and the BLM received an authority to implement stewardship contracting and agreements in the 2003 appropriations act (P.L. 108-7). Ultimately, these contracts and agreements will help make forests and rangelands more resilient to natural disturbances, such as wind, flood, fire, insects, and disease. New provisions under this authority include:
- allows exchange of goods for services
- facilitates land restoration and enhancement efforts by using value of traded goods for important work on the ground
- requires contracts to be awarded based on “best value”
- contracting period of up to 10 years may be utilized; this should help prospective contractors qualify for and obtain loans and equipment opportunities for local communities to respond to contract proposals
How is the Stewardship Authority implemented?
The USFS or BLM can award both stewardship contracts and stewardship agreements. This overview describes the process and details within the U.S. Forest Service.
Stewardship End Result Contracting includes natural resource management practices seeking to promote a closer working relationship with local communities in a broad range of activities that improve land conditions. Stewardship contracting is a means for federal agencies to contribute to the development of sustainable rural communities, restore and maintain healthy forest ecosystems, and provide a continuing source of local income and employment.
Stewardship Contracting (Washington Office )
The Eldorado National Forest has taken advantage of stewardship contracting authorities since 2004 to treat fuels, protect communities, and improve forest health and resiliency to wildfire.
How are Stewardship Contracts different from Timber Sale Contracts?
First, all stewardship contracts and agreements include both forest product removal and service work items. Stewardship work is also awarded on a “best value” basis, and excess funds remain on the forest as “retained receipts,” whereas timber contracts go to the highest bidder and excess funds are returned to the U.S. Treasury or collected in trust funds.
What do we mean by "Best Value?”
Best value is the basis for evaluating all proposals for stewardship contracts based on price criteria and non-price criteria. Non-price criteria may include, but are not limited to, past performance, work quality, experience, and benefits to the local community. Some criteria are unique to the Forest Service. For example, Forest Service stewardship agreements also take into account mutual benefit/mutual interest.
What do we mean by "Retained Receipts?”
Stewardship contracts and agreements involve trading goods (usually timber) for services (stewardship work). When goods and services are traded, receipts or credits are generated. If a contractor is awarded a stewardship contract and builds two miles of new roads, he will receive credit for the work. The contractor can then be reimbursed for the work by removing timber equal in value to the credit he received and then selling the timber to a mill. Alternatively, if a contractor removes timber from a forest as part of a stewardship contract, he will then be responsible for performing stewardship work equal to the value of the receipts. If the value of the timber exceeds the value of the service work the remaining funds are kept by the forest as retained
receipts which can be used on future stewardship contracts.
Does Stewardship Contracting replace other programs, like the Timber Sale program?
No. Stewardship contracting is not a program, but a tool for the contracting toolbox to accomplish work on the land as part of the Healthy Forests Initiative and to achieve broad land management goals.
Special Forest Products are products or natural resources that are not the traditional timber and fiber products. Another name for special forest products is non-convertible products, because they are products that are not converted into board foot or cubic foot measure. Examples include such products as floral greenery, Christmas trees and boughs, mushrooms, transplants (trees, shrubs or herbaceous plants), cones, medicinal plants, cuttings, herbs, nuts, berries, decorative wood, and pitch. For information on obtaining a Forest Product permits on the Eldorado National Forest.
Forest Products (off site link)
A glossary of Fire, Timber, and Forest Health related terms.
Project Implementation Pages
Recovery after a major wildfire is a long term process. The first steps involve repairing areas damaged by fire suppression, and mitigating safety hazards such as fire weakened trees, burning stump holes, damaged utilities, and hazmat concerns. Recovery also includes the Burned Area Emergency Response, information on access to recreation residences and the forest, debris cleanup, the rebuilding process for recreation residences, and future Caldor Fire restoration and management activities.
Background:
The Caldor Fire was reported the evening of August 14, 2021 in the Middle Fork Cosumnes canyon. This fire was driven by winds and an extremely receptive fuel bed due to an extended drought. It expanded rapidly north and east and threatened over 30,000 structures and closing 3 major highways (50, 88 and 89). At over 219,000 acres the Caldor Fire encompassed or impacted the communities of Omo Ranch, Grizzly Flats, Sly Park, Pollock Pines, Strawberry, Kyburz, Phillips, Echo Summit, South Lake Tahoe, and Kirkwood and heavily impacted surrounding communities with evacuations and economic losses. Grizzly Flats was the most heavily impacted community with the loss of more than 600 primary residences. After burning for over 60 days, the Caldor Fire reached 100 percent containment on October 21, 2021. The Caldor Fire was declared "controlled" on November 17th, 2021 at 5:00 pm.
On Sunday September 12th, 2021 President Biden declared the Caldor Fire as A Federal Disaster area. This is the first Federal Declared wildfire in El Dorado County. The Caldor Fire is the largest fire in Eldorado National Forest history and the 2nd fire in California (after the Dixie Fire) to cross over the Sierra Nevada crest and burn into the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Affected Forest Service Administrative Units:
- Eldorado National Forest (approximately 167,000 acres) within the Placerville, Pacific and Amador Ranger Districts
- Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (approximately 10,000 acres).
Post Fire Restoration
The Caldor Fire Restoration Project will restore severely burned areas, repair fire damaged infrastructure, and reduce the risk of uncharacteristic or catastrophic wildfires.
Caldor Fire Restoration Project
General Technical Report PSW-GTR-270: Postfire Restoration Framework for National Forests in California (pdf)
BAER - Burned Areas Emergency Response
After a large wildfire, special actions may be necessary to provide for public safety and protect critical natural and cultural resources on National Forest System (NFS) lands. For example, loss of vegetation exposes soil to erosion, runoff may increase and cause flooding, and sediment may move downstream damaging roads and infrastructure or put endangered species and cultural resources at-risk. The Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program addresses these situations on NFS lands with the goal of guarding the safety of Forest visitors and employees and protecting federal property, and critical natural or cultural resources from further damage.
Recreation Residence Rebuild Determination FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
This series of FAQs answers questions about each rebuild determination:
- Not Suitable for Rebuild
- Suitable for Rebuild
- Rebuild - alternative location on lot
- Rebuild – hazard mitigation plan required
- The Eldorado National Forest Rebuilding Guidelines for Recreation Residences provides design guidelines for the rebuilding process.
Links
- Video Series: Caldor Fire: One Year Later. A four-part video series was developed to introduce the fire restoration efforts. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
- Video - Forest News Episode 2: Fuel Treatment Areas
- Video - Forest News Episode 1: California Fire Intensity
Background
The Mosquito Fire started Tuesday September 6, 2022 on the Tahoe National Forest near Oxbow Reservoir, just north of the Eldorado National Forest boundary; by September 8, it was also on the Eldorado National Forest. The fire was declared 100% contained at 76,788 acres on October 22, 2022.
Affected Forest Service Administrative Units:
- Eldorado National Forest (approximately 23,678 acres) within the Georgetown Ranger District
- Lake Tahoe National Forest (approximately 28,655 acres)
Mosquito Fire Restoration
Previously planned projects that were partially burned in the Mosquito Fire include the Vulcan Forest Health Fuels Treatment Project and the Blacksmith Ecological Restoration Project. The environmental analysis for these projects has been updated to reflect the changed condition after the fire. Removal of fire killed trees within portions of these project areas began in 2023. Associated pile burning, site preparation, and reforestation will also be completed.
Mosquito Wildfire Resilience Project
Harvest and/or disposal of fire-killed trees and brush, establishment of shaded fuel breaks, fuels reduction, landscape level natural fuels prescribed burning and post-fire rehabilitation activities including planting and site preparation.
The Great American Outdoors Act gave the USDA Forest Service new opportunities to deliver benefits to the American public through major investments in recreation infrastructure, public lands access, and land and water conservation. These investments will also contribute to the economic growth and job creation in rural America. GAOA provides permanent full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and establishes a new National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) to address the deferred maintenance backlog for 5 federal agencies over the next 5 years.
Over the next few years, many of the facilities will be upgraded, and several new features added for your future enjoyment. The work will require some sites to be temporarily or completely closed during construction within designated timeframes.
The rapid expansion of off-highway vehicle (OHV) use on national forests is impacting the natural and cultural resources of federal lands and, in some cases, causing use conflicts. The Forest Service identified unmanaged recreation, especially impacts from OHVs, as one of the key threats facing the nation's forest. OHV impacts have created unplanned roads and trails, erosion, watershed and habitat degradation, and impacted cultural resource sites.
Improved management of motor vehicle use on national forests are allowing the Agency to enhance opportunities for public enjoyment of the national forests, including motorized and non-motorized recreation experiences.
California national forests are following the 2005 Travel Management Rule which has three parts.
Subpart A - Administration of the Forest Transportation System
The Travel Analysis Process (TAP) is required by the 2005 Travel Management Rule and requires that forests provide a safe, financially, and environmentally sustainable road system that can realistically be maintained. Due to increased use, aging infrastructure, and decreasing budgets, the forest cannot maintain all roads to standards for safety and environmental protection. TAP fulfills the requirement in Subpart A of Travel Management that states each forest uses a science-based roads analysis is to help identify the minimum road system. Travel Analysis was completed in September 2015.
- FINAL Travel Analysis Report
- Appendix A: Existing System Roads Risk and Benefit Analysis, Table 1: By Road Number
Subpart B - Designation of roads, trails and areas for motor vehicle use
Routes designated in Travel Management Subpart B are included as part of the current road system. The designation of these roads was the result of considerable analysis along with public involvement in the site-specific environmental analysis using NEPA with a decision by the responsible official. These roads are part of the designated National Forest Road System. Over 1,800 miles of roads and trails across the Forest are designated for wheeled motor vehicle travel. Vehicle travel off these designated roads and trails is prohibited. Subpart B was completed in 2008 and the Supplemental EIS was completed in 2013
- Record of Decision
- Volume 1: Final Environmental Impact Statement (with maps)
- Volume 2: Appendices
- Motor Vehicle Use maps (includes information about the seasonal road closure).
- SOPA Project page for Supplemental EIS
Subpart C - Use by over-snow vehicles
Subpart C provides for regulation of use of over-snow vehicles on National Forest System roads, National Forest System trails and in areas on National Forest System lands. The purpose of Subpart C is to define requirements governing designation of National Forest System roads, National Forest System trails, and areas on National Forest System to allow, restrict, or prohibit snowmobile use on a discretionary basis. Project not completed.