U.S. Forest Service

The annual seasonal closure of native surface roads, also known as dirt roads, will go into effect on the Eldorado National Forest on Monday, January 1, 2021. These roads will remain closed at least until at least April 1.

El Dorado County RAC Virtual Meeting Thursday Dec. 17 to Welcome and Orient New Members The El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a virtual meeting on Zoom this Thursday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. to welcome and orient new members to the committee. The RAC is a 15-person committee that is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) and is guided by the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to im...prove collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with SRS legislation. Any member of the public is welcome to attend the RAC meeting via internet or phone: Join ZoomGov Meeting: https://usfs.zoomgov.com/j/16026278780 Meeting ID: 160 2627 8780 Dial-in: 669-254-5252 or 669-900-9128 All RAC meetings include time for members of the public to make oral statements of three minutes or less. Individuals wishing to make an oral statement this week should request in writing by noon on Dec. 17 to be scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who would like to bring related matters to the attention of the committee may file written statements with the committee staff before or after the meeting. Written comments and requests for time to make oral comments can be sent to Jennifer Chapman, El Dorado County RAC Coordinator at [email protected]. If you have questions, you may also contact the RAC Coordinator by phone at (530) 957-9660. This week’s RAC meeting will welcome and introduce new committee members; provide an overview of What is a Resource Advisory Committee (RAC)?; summarize the history, guidelines, mission and projects of the El Dorado County RAC; establish a chairperson; and discuss topics for the next meeting. The purpose of the SRS RAC program includes making investments and providing employment opportunites through projects that: improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure; implement stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems; and restore and improve land health and water quality; SRS RAC funds may be used for projects that enjoy broad based support and have objectives that may include: road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration; soil productivity improvement; improvements in forest ecosystem health; watershed restoration and maintenance; the restoration, maintenance, and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat; the control of noxious and exotic weeds; and the re-establishment of native species. Please visit the forest website for more information, www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado. ### Photos of RAC Projects in progress: 1) Forest Trash Clean Up / PLINK (Please Leave it NRA Klean) 2) King Fire Archaeological Site Restoration

CLOSURE UPDATE - Dru Barner Campground will be closed for all use on December 11, 2020. The Regional Forester has issued an order to prohibit entering or using developed campgrounds on the Eldorado, Plumas and Tahoe National Forests and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. This order is in alignment with the Governor’s COVID-19 Stay at Home order that triggered when the Greater Sacramento Region’s ICU capacity dropped below 15%. ... Thank you for your cooperation. Stay healthy and safe.

6 FOOT LILY Did you know that on the Eldorado National Forest you can find a lily that can grow 6 feet tall?! The Washington Lily which was name after Martha Washington and not the state of Washington can grow up to 2 meters tall. It is typically found in chaparral, open woods and recently burned areas.... The flower typically blooms between July and August on the Eldorado National Forest depending on elevation. The flowers a fragrant, large white or pinkish that are often decorated with purplish spots. Photo by Luis Vidal, Forest Restoration Fellow - Sierra Corps Forestry Fellowship: Washington Lily found in the King Fire scar #EldoradoNF #KingFire #washingtonlily

WHITEBARK PINE - The United States Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to list Whitebark pine as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Populations have been declining across much of its range in the West from several stressors, including white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetles, altered wildfire patterns, and climate change. Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a keystone species found in high elevation subalpine forests. In California, >95% of white b...ark pine stands are on public lands, with about 81% occurring within wilderness. On the Eldorado National Forest, whitebark pine is found in the Mokelumne and Desolation Wilderness areas typically above 7,000 feet. Associate Central Province Ecologist Shana Gross has been monitoring whitebark pine populations as part of a Forest Service Region 5 Ecology Program. According to Gross, Losing whitebark pine could cause a loss of overall biodiversity because many other species depend on the habitat whitebark pine creates. Gross adds, In the harsh high elevation, whitebark pine habitat shades snowpack from melting and stabilizes the soil thus reducing erosion and protecting watersheds. However, the story doesn’t stop here as nature is interconnected. Whitebark pine is unique from other five-needle pines, because its cone does not open at maturity and its seed is wingless; consequently, they are solely dependent on Clark’s nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana) for seed distribution and future seedling recruitment. The birds open the cone, collect the seeds, and cache them. Inevitably, around 20% of the seeds are forgotten or moved by other animals and, in the years following, clumps of whitebark pine saplings grow from these forgotten caches. These two species are keystone mutualists, where the loss of one species would have a profound impact upon the ecosystem as a whole. The Eldorado National Forest has been participating in whitebark surveys and monitoring since the early 2000s with a variety of partners including the California Native Plant Society, and the Region 5 Ecology Program to map and monitor whitebark pine distribution and forest health. Next time you are hiking the wilderness areas on the Eldorado NF, and you spot a whitebark pine tree stand or a Clark’s nutcracker? Send us a photo. We would be curious to see what you discover. Send photos to [email protected], please include when and where you took the photo. USDA Photo: Close up of whitebark pine needles and also a cone that shows signs of Clark’s nutcracker foraging USDA Photo: Whitebark pine stand, Mokelumne Wilderness area ***Link to proposed listing and leave a comment during the open comment period.*** https://www.fws.gov//12012020-USFWS-Proposes-Protections-W

ROAD CONDITIONS AS OF 12/2/2020 - The snow line on the MET is at Alder Creek Road. Roads are very wet and slippery. The snow is deep off the road and people are getting stuck. North South Road is clear all the way through. Silverfork Road is snowed out and Wrights Lake Road has a hard snow line at Granite Springs Road junction about 5 miles in from Hwy 50. #EldoradoNF #RecreateResponsibly #winterrecreation #PlacervilleRD #pacificrd

FIRES CONTAINED, EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS LIFTED - The Eldorado National Forest has lifted the emergency restrictions on campfires and dispersed camping that were put in place months ago due to exceptional fire danger conditions this year. As a result of the precipitation received this past weekend, both the Fork Fire and the Point Fire have been declared 100% contained. Please note that these fires are not yet fully extinguished. The Fork Fire Closure Area remains in effect to... ensure public safety while interior smoldering and suppression repair operations continue. Once again, the public can make wood and charcoal campfires after obtaining a California Campfire Permit. Campfire permits are are required for all types of campfires including gas stoves, and are available online at www.preventwildfiresca.org. For more information about campfire permits, visit the forest website. Dispersed camping up to 10 days per district per year is also allowed, in accordance with forest regulations. Please review the "Pick Your Own Spot Camping" guide for safety tips and rules that apply to dispersed camping. Overnight camping permits for Desolation Wilderness will be available again on Recreation.gov starting tomorrow, Nov. 10, 2020. At this time of year, wilderness camping permits can be booked online both in advance and day of entry. The maximum group size of 12 still applies. Visitor information specialists are available to answer questions and assist with with travel planning, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM: Forest Supervisors’ Office 530-303-2412 Georgetown Ranger District 530-334-6477 Pacific / Placerville Ranger District 916-500-4712 Amador Ranger District 209-259-3774 Thank you for your patience during the emergency restrictions this year. Enjoy your forest! ### USFS photo - Union Valley Reservoir on Sunday November 8, 2020 after the first snowfall of the season.

RESERVOIR FOREST HEALTH PROJECT 30-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD - A preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared for the Reservoir Forest Health Project which is now available for public review and comment. The Reservoir Project proposes to implement forest health, fuels reduction, resource protection, and ecological restoration activities on a maximum of 16,649 acres within the 20,364 acre project boundary. The project area is located within the Crystal Basin, no...rth of Highway 50, and includes portions of both the Pacific and Placerville Ranger Districts of the Eldorado National Forest in El Dorado County, CA. The preliminary EA and supporting documentation are available online on the project webpage, under the Analysis Tab, at the following link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=54828. The public notice in the Mountain Democrat is anticipated on November 9, 2020. The Forest Service will accept comments on the preliminary EA for 30 days following the publication of the Mountain Democrat public notice. For more information, contact environmental planner Nancy Nordensten at [email protected]

FIRE & CAMPING RESTRICTIONS STILL IN EFFECT WITH RECORD DRY FUELS - Although the Eldorado National Forest is set to receive moisture this weekend, fire and camping restrictions are still in effect to prevent an unwanted wildfire. "We've been setting records for dry fuel conditions for more than 2 months," said Forest Supervisor Jeff Marsolais. "Each day, we measure the dryness of the fuels which gives us an indication of how ready they are to burn. This measurement is compare...d against the same day for all previous years. Even last week, we hit 100% on 3 days which set a new all time record. As soon as we have enough moisture to make a difference in the fire potential, I will lift the restrictions." If you are planning to visit the Eldorado National Forest this weekend, here are some important things you should know: Emergency Fire Prohibition - Regional Order 20-24 is in effect until midnight, and will be replaced by Forest Order 03-20-16 which prohibits smoking and all fires except using a gas stove at least 3 feet away from any flammable material. Emergency Camping Prohibition - Forest Order 03-20-15 is in effect and prohibits camping forestwide except for in developed campgrounds. No overnight camping is allowed in dispersed areas, including Desolation and Mokelumne Wilderness areas. This order will be assessed after we receive precipitation this weekend. Camping is only allowed in open developed campgrounds. Most campgrounds have closed for the season, but reservations can still be made at www.recreation.gov. As of November 6, 2020, six developed campgrounds are still open. See news release: https://conta.cc/3k5abQQ

AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH: The month of November is designated as American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month. This year's theme is Achieve ~ Inspire ~ Support ~ Explore ~ Succeed, which encourages us to celebrate the rich culture, tradition, history and contributions of Native American people in our nation. The Eldorado National Forest Pacific Ranger District installed 14 interpretive panels last summer with the support from SMUD at Gerle Cree...k Reservoir along the Summer Harvest Trail telling the story of the people before us and how this land is vital to the past and present. While exploring the trail you can learn about how the people before us thrived on the resources that this beautiful area provided. Our Story: Stories have been told about places that are meant for people. We know these places because they call to us. Like Gerle Creek, we return here again and again. You are now part of our story

Check out the live U.S. Capital Christmas Tree cutting ceremony!

FIRE UPDATES - Information Officer Suzi Johnson and Incident Commander Will Harris talk about the Point Fire and the Fork Fire during a virtual community meeting on October 29, 2020.

UAS operator Chris Mariano talks about the use of unmanned aircraft on the Point Fire in the Eldorado National Forest. This tool reduces risk to firefighter safey such as the numerous hazard trees in the King Fire burned area where the Point Fire and Fork Fire are still burning.

Questions, Answers & Forest Supervisor's Closing Comments during this week's Virtual Community Meeting on Zoom.

PACIFIC, PLACERVILLE & AMADOR RANGER DISTRICT UPDATES: Karl Goodwin, Kristi Schroeder and Linda Wadleigh shared recreation updates during this week's Virtual Community Meeting.

Resource Officer Jon Jue talks about recreation opportunities on the Georgetown Ranger District during the Virtual Community Meeting on Thursday afternoon.

USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Emergency Fire Restrictions have been extended until November 6,2020. To view current regional order of the emergency fire restrictions visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Inte/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd836593.pdf