Pacific Southwest Region
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94592
707.562.8737
TTY: 707.562.9240
FAX: 707.562.9130
Pacific Southwest Region
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94592
707.562.8737
TTY: 707.562.9240
FAX: 707.562.9130
Archived information is provided as a courtesy for use by individuals interested in researching the backgrounds of specific projects, or those wanting to learn more about the Region's history. Please note a document's date to determine its current relevance and contact us for further information.
January 14, 2011
With the move to digital map development and printing, the Geospacial Services group had several hundred pounds of old Forest Service map negatives. Photographic film, like map negatives, contains silver which can be recycled and recovered. A local company, Photo Waste Recycling CO. in San Rafael, CA had the capability of recovering the silver and recycling the negatives. As part of this effort, the USDA National Finance Center will get a check for the recovered silver and this waste material will not go into a dumpster and to the landfill. A total of ten, 55 gallon barrels of old map negatives were collected and sent off for silver recovery and recycling.
January 18, 2011
Los Padres National Forest Visitor Information Assistant Jennifer Gray was recently nominated by the Pacific Southwest Region as the 2010 Gifford Pinchot Excellence in Interpretation and Conservation Education recipient for her work enhancing community awareness of the Forest's vast natural and cultural resources. More »
January 31, 2011
John Glenn from the Bass Lake Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest is the recipient of the 2010 National Volunteer Program "Individual Award." Nominees for the Volunteer Awards exemplify the commitment and dedication of many citizen stewards that support the work of the Forest Service and assure the continuity of the public lands legacy. This is John's tenth year as a volunteer. More »
February 25, 2011
In the twelfth episode of "Forest Focus", John Heil of Pacific Southwest Region Public Affairs talks about the film Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time with filmmakers Steve Dunsky, Ann Dunsky and Dave Steinke. More »
February 25, 2011
The Elks Lodge in Santa Maria recently recognized Los Padres National Forest's Curt Schwarm as the Santa Lucia Ranger District's Outstanding Firefighter of the Year. Firefighters from northern Santa Barbara County are nominated by their home units and recognized by the Santa Maria Elks Lodge, which hosts an annual barbeque dinner. More »
February 25, 2011
The Business Operations Awards recognize outstanding achievements of individuals and groups in the Business Operations program areas. This year Region 5 received recognition in three of the five categories. These employees have demonstrated commitment, innovation and tangible improvements to their programs. Congratulations to all the winners. More »
March 1, 2011
The Pacific Southwest Regional Office of the U.S.D.A. Forest Service is developing its draft Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant application that will be submitted to the State of California by March 7, 2011. The public is invited to comment on any changes or improvements to the program, and to assist with the development of the grant application. The application will be available for public review from March 8, 2011 through April 4, 2011. Final applications are due to the State of California on May 2, 2011. More »
March 4, 2011
A unique outreach effort is connecting Los Padres National Forest employees with local Girl Scouts seeking to learn more about fire ecology, fire suppression, natural resources, and career opportunities in the U.S. Forest Service. The first of five sessions billed as an "Open House" was held Jan. 29 at Camp Arnaz in Oak View, Calif. More »
March 4, 2011
In October of 2010, Fabian Garcia, the director of the US Forest Service Southern California Consortium (SCC) proposed the idea of starting an "Outdoor's Club" on Santee Educational Complex's campus as an initiative to get urban youth reconnected with nature as well as to promote higher education and build interest in a possible career in wild land resources. Soon after the proposal was approved, Jonar Rodrigo, the Urban Outreach Coordinator for the SCC and Fabian Garcia began a grass roots outreach effort in recruiting students to form and build the "Outdoors Club." More »
March 14, 2011
Each year the 2010 National Forest System Invasive Species Program Awards are given to honor individuals and groups for outstanding work against aquatic and terrestrial invasive species threatening the National Forest System. Region 5 received two awards recently at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on March 2. More »
March 14, 2011
If you are interested in a career in fire and live locally in Willits, Ukiah or Covelo you may be interested in the Willits Organized Crew program. The opportunity for training and experience with the crew can prepare an aspiring firefighter for a future career in the field. More »
March 18, 2011
Our goal for the Pacific Southwest Region is to retain and restore ecological resilience of the National Forest lands to achieve sustainable ecosystems that provide a broad range of services to humans and other organisms. This goal is based on a commitment to land and resource management that is infused by the principles of Ecological Restoration and driven by policies and practices that are dedicated to make land and water ecosystems more sustainable, more resilient, and healthier under current and future conditions. More »
March 21, 2011
United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner and U.S. Forest Service Special Agent in Charge Scott Harris announced on March 21 that Saul Jimenez-Ayala was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring to cultivate marijuana on public land in Madera County and was ordered to pay restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for cleanup costs.
Agents seized propane tanks, 900 pounds of fertilizer, thousands of feet of black plastic irrigation hose, hose fittings, debris, and Malathion, a federally regulated pesticide. It took eight U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers, one California Fish and Game Warden, and four volunteer crew members to return the site to its natural condition at a cost to American taxpayers of $14,152. View flickr photos »
March 30, 2011
Visitors to Los Padres National Forest are noticing widespread wilderness trail improvements thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that funded additional project work across the Forest. Nearly $2.3 million was allocated to the Forest for wilderness trail rehabilitation and maintenance which was divided among the five ranger districts. More »
April 7, 2011
Here in California's forests, our goal is to restore ecological resilience to make land and water ecosystems more sustainable, more resilient, and healthier under current and future conditions. The 2010 Sheep Fire provided another step toward a sustainable ecosystem for the long term protection of municipal watersheds, aquatic species and giant sequoia groves. More »
May 19, 2011
On May 19, 2011, officials signed a Joint Forestry Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) in Hawaii to strengthen cooperation for the delivery of forestry–related conservation assistance to private landowners and managers of the land. More »
May 20, 2011
On May 19, an ecotourism delegation visited the Regional Office from Tajikistan. Most of the delegates are connected with parks and environmental divisions of the government in their country. The Berkeley-based nonprofit, Center for Safe Energy (CSE) of Earth Island Institute hosted the group. They have been organizing two-way exchange programs with environmental leaders from the former Soviet Union for more than fifteen years. Deputy Regional Forester Ron Ketter presented an overview of the FS, the administrative structure, how decisions are made and funding, then introduced Regional Office staff who presented information on ecological restoration, recreation and more. The delegation also traveled to the Lake Tahoe Basin on May 20 to learn more about ecotourism.
May 23, 2011
Jeanette Granger of the San Bernardino National Forest has been awarded the 2010 Partner Agency Employee Award by the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA). The Partner Agency Employee Award is given to an agency employee who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to advance the mission of the PCTA and care for the Pacific Crest Trail. More »
May 25, 2011
Update: this session has been postponed until October 13th, 2011, due to far lower registration than previous meetings. Please join us in a series of Dialogs over the coming years to discuss a range of critical issues that affect the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades and people who live, work and recreate there. The third session—"Improving Social and Economic Conditions in Rural Forest Communities"—is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Sutter Creek, CA. More »
May 25, 2011
San Bernardino National Forest Tribal Relations Program Manager, Daniel McCarthy, has received the National Office of Tribal Relations Lifetime Achievement Award for 2010. Daniel has been on the forest for the past 15 years and has worked with Tribes at a local and statewide level for the past 30 years. More »
May 31, 2011
In response to a 2010 court decision, the U.S. Forest Service released a draft environmental impact statement on May 13 that will help inform the agency's decision whether to continue aerial application of fire retardant and, if so, under what conditions. The release of the draft impact statement kicks off a 45-day public comment period. More »
May 31, 2011
Nine out of ten wildfires are preventable. In other words, nine out of ten wildfires are caused by people from carelessness. But homeowners and others are not powerless against wildfires. In fact, homeowners who exercise common sense tactics, such as clearing brush and debris away from structures, play a vital role in slowing the spread of fire and protecting their property. More »
May 31, 2011
U.S. Forest Service Associate Chief Mary Wagner announced on May 27 that a Woodland Hills, Calif., elementary school student is the 2011 Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl Poster Contest winner during a special ceremony at the annual meeting of the National Garden Clubs Inc., a Forest Service partner that organizes the contest. More »
June 6, 2011
Under a sparkling morning sky, residents of King City gathered along with elected officials and a throng of singing schoolchildren to break ground for the Los Padres National Forest's new Monterey District Office. Funded through the 2009 Recovery Act, this $4 million project will employ local subcontractors, inject spending in community businesses, and replace a 1930s-era office with a Silver LEED certified building. More »
June 10, 2011
Using funds allocated under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, Los Padres National Forest accomplished critical safety closures recently at two abandoned mine locations on the Forest that posed a risk to visitors. The two sites on the Santa Lucia Ranger District represented two distinct challenges for the Forest. More »
June 13, 2011
TSPN (Tom Slivick Production Network) TV news anchor Tom Slivick interviewed Michael Chapel, the Regional Forester's Representative on the Sierra Cascades Dialog Friday, June 10. Other topics of interest to TSPN was fire and timber. TSPN TV is a local independent network operated out of Jackson, Calif. that covers issues in Amador and Calaveras counties. For the complete interview see: www.tspntv.com/
June 16, 2011
Placer County's Forest Resource Sustainability project received the 2010 Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Excellence Award in the Community Action category at a ceremony in Washington on June 7th. The Clean Air Excellence Award Program annually recognizes and honors outstanding and innovative efforts to achieve cleaner air. More »
June 17, 2011
On Saturday, June 11, the Forest Service partnered with the East Bay Regional Parks for a Healthy Parks Healthy People Festival at Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area. "This is the first year we've celebrated Get Outdoors Day in the Bay Area and we hope to continue to do it," said Tim Williams, Conservation Education Coordinator for Region 5. More »
June 22, 2011
On December 20, 2010, severe winter storms caused California State Highway 330 to collapse in three locations. State Highway 330 is important artery for residents, visitors and interstate commerce to communities in the San Bernardino mountains, southern California's premier mountain getaway for 24 million residents. More »
June 22, 2011
On Friday, June 17, representatives from key public lands agencies gathered in Sacramento to address the outlook for the 2011 wildfire season in California and provide important reminders for homeowners and outdoor recreationists. More »
June 27, 2011
"You can do it. You're doing great. Just a little bit more and you've got this one!" Words of encouragement surrounded the pond as all the little "Buckaroos" tried their hand at the age–old practice of fishing. Fourteen young fishermen and women, assisted by Forest Service fishing partners participated in a fishing derby June 13 at Wonder Valley Champ Camp, a program of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation for children who have suffered burn injuries. More »
July 14, 2011
Jerry Mosier from the Klamath National Forest was the recipient of the "Outstanding Stewardship of River Resources" award from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Program. He has worked for more than 10 years on Wild and Scenic River analyses associated with potential removal of Klamath River dams. More »
July 18, 2011
Each year the Forest Service recognizes volunteer organizations, individual wilderness stewards, and others for their efforts to preserve wilderness character in the national forests. This year, the Forest Service, through its National Wilderness Awards Program, selected the Stanislaus Wilderness Volunteers (SWV) for the prestigious Aldo Leopold Award for Overall Wilderness Stewardship Program. More »
July 21, 2011
"We're very excited to announce the reopening of some of our most popular recreation sites. Recovery Act funding provided an outstanding opportunity to create jobs, improve public recreation sites, install additional safety features and increase access for the disabled to some of the most beautiful scenery in the country," said Forest Supervisor Susan Skalski. More »
August 8, 2011
A pack train of 30 horses and mules is helping to supply firefighters who are working to contain the Lion Fire in the Golden Trout Wilderness. The animals are hauling food and supplies into the Lion Meadow area where 55 firefighters are based. Animals from seven national forests in California are part of the packing effort, which is being coordinated by the US Forest Service's regional pack stock program. More »
August 9, 2011
The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region (USFS) invites all interested persons to a meeting on September 15, 2011, to organize a permanent panel of stakeholders and tribal representatives to review and provide comments on the USFS water-quality management program. More »
August 12, 2011
On July 8, lightning struck in the Golden Trout Wilderness. Historically, fire would have occurred every 15-20 years in this forest type; however in this area there is no record of a large fire occurring within the last 90 years. This year the high snowpack and cool temperatures of spring and early summer have provided a rare opportunity to re-introduce fire into this area of the wilderness. By taking advantage of managing this wildfire in a wet year, risks are reduced for future large, destructive, and smokier fires. More »
August 12, 2011
The 2011 Esri International User Conference in San Diego attracted thousands of participants from around the world to explore how the geographic information systems (GIS) community can advance better understanding and create a better world. At this Conference, the Forest Service participated to showcase the diversity of geospatial products and talents to this worldwide audience, really highlighting how the Forest Service applies geospatial technologies to "Caring for the Land and Serving People." More »
October 15, 2011
On June 9, highlighting the United Nation's International Year of Forests, the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Wyland Foundation, U.S. Forest Service, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association and the local community joined together at Sea Life Park in Hawaii for the formal launch of the Hawaii Environmental Education Alliance (HEEA) and the culmination of Hawaii FOCUS (Forest, Ocean, Climate and US). Murals of the children's art work is currently being displayed in the Regional Office and will be featured at the next annual Society of American Foresters meeting this November in Honolulu. More »
October 21, 2011
Forest Service personnel collaborated with BLM and the Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Division for the Great America's Great Outdoors exhibit at the Los Angeles County Fair. An estimated half-million people poured through to learn about fire prevention and the nation's public lands. The site had more than a dozen activities, including a transplanted lookout tower, a magic show, a beanbag toss, and a Smokey Bear spinning wheel similar to "Wheel of Fortune.' More »
October 31, 2011
Through a 2009 Western Competitive Grant with State and Private Forestry, Region 5, funding was provided to the Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership to reforest leeward east Maui. Volunteers have manually controlled weeds over 43 acres, cleared fireweed from the road surrounding the eastern exclosure perimeter, and outplanted 24,949 native seedlings of 24 different species since June 2010. Survival rates continue to remain well above 90 percent. More »