Action Alert: Attend the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors meeting next Tuesday to support AB 2494

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors will discuss whether to support AB 2494 at its regular Board meeting next Tuesday. AB 2494 (Rogers) is a bill sponsored by EPIC to modernize management over Demonstration State Forests statewide. The bill would transition these forests from demonstrating commercial industrial logging to achieving conservation goals under 30x30 with tribal co-management while supporting rural economic development through forest restoration and increased ecotourism. At the end of last year the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors approved their 2026 Legislative Platform, which explicitly included supporting “policies to advance tribal stewardship, ecological restoration, and outdoor access at State Demonstration Forests.” Despite the Board’s clear intent to support legislation that advances a modern vision for Demonstration State Forests and the majority of the Supervisors submitting individual letters of support in favor of the bill, Supervisor Bernie Norvell failed to sign a letter on behalf of the entire Board in support of AB 2494. This inaction not only conflicts with the 2026 Legislative Platform and the majority of the Board, but it also contradicts years of community pushes to change the commercial logging mandate at Jackson Demonstration State Forest. Years of community and grassroots support for a mandate change has spurred the Board into action previously, in approving a resolution in 2021 calling for JDSF management to align with climate change commitments by the State while enhancing scientific, recreational, and economic opportunities. Your voice is needed once again to demand the Board take a stance to support healthy forests and tribal sovereignty in forest management. 

Tell the Mendocino Board of Supervisors to send a letter of support in favor of AB 2494 to the State Legislature!

When: March 24, 2026 starting at 9:00 AM 

Where: Board Chambers, Room 1070, County Administration Center, 501 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA 95482

How: Make a public comment in person or virtually on March 24, 2026 at 9:00 AM. Agenda and the zoom meeting link will be posted on the County website. 

• If you cannot attend the meeting, write a message to the Board by Monday March 23, 2026 at 5PM. Email your Supervisors: bos@mendocinocounty.gov or submit an online via the eComment platform. See a sample message below. 

• Don’t forget to share this action alert on social media and within your community!

Other ways to support AB 2494:

• Sign the petition to Help Pass the State Demonstration Forest Legislation - AB 2494 

• Come to Sacramento: On March 23rd at 2:30 p.m. in the State Capitol (1021 O Street, Room 437) the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources will meet to vote on the bill. As a member of the public, you will be able to voice your support for the bill at the committee hearing. If you can’t make it in person you can watch the hearing HERE.

• Subscribe to EPIC’s newsletter and social media (epic_wildcalifornia) to stay up to date!   

Subject: Public Comment on AB 2494

Dear Supervisors,

I am writing to request that you send a letter of support for AB 2494 on behalf of the Board of Supervisors for Mendocino County. 

According to Mendocino County’s legislative platform, the county aims to "support policies to advance tribal stewardship, ecological restoration, and outdoor access at State Demonstration Forests." Given that AB 2494 aligns directly with these stated goals, I believe a formal letter of support from your office is a necessary step in advancing these priorities.

For several years the Mendocino community has urged CAL FIRE to adopt a management approach that centers tribal co-management, biodiversity, climate mitigation and resiliency, and outdoor access as opposed to profit-driven logging. This bill provides a clear pathway to providing a much needed update to the framework of management for all Demonstration State Forests. AB 2494 would also provide a stable source of funding for CAL FIRE’s Demonstration Forest operations through the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund and allow lands to count towards California’s 30x30 conservation goals. Finally, the bill would stimulate rural economic development by increasing tourism through enhanced recreation opportunities and increased restoration projects.

This is a bill with great support from many of us living on the Mendocino Coast. I hope you can join us in support of this bill by submitting your letter of support.  

Thank you for your time and for your dedication to our community.