Public Input Meetings Announced for Jackson Demonstration State Forest Management Plan

Cal Fire has announced another round of public input meetings for the Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) Management Plan.

In September, Cal Fire released drafts of Chapters 1 and 2 of the Forest Management Plan (FMP). These early sections outline the goals and guiding principles for the forest, but do not represent the full plan. It remains unclear when the remaining chapters will be released. At the most recent Jackson Advisory Group (JAG) meeting, Cal Fire indicated that there will be another opportunity for public comment—both written and oral—once the finalized draft is available. For now, these meetings appear focused on discussing the framework and direction of the plan.

A key concern is that no new California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review is being conducted as part of this update. The last comprehensive Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for JDSF was completed back in 2007, and since then, environmental conditions and regulatory requirements have changed significantly. A new CEQA review is critical to ensure public transparency, updated analysis of environmental impacts, and proper mitigation measures, including those required under AB 52 for tribal cultural resources.

This raises an important question: How can the public provide meaningful feedback without access to the full draft plan and without adequate environmental review?

Another major concern is that Timber Harvest Plans (THPs) continue to be approved even though the new management plan has not yet been finalized. Both Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Chris Rogers have urged Cal Fire to pause approval of new THPs until the updated plan is complete.

EPIC will continue to monitor this process closely and provide updates as new information becomes available.

Register to provide public input here. 

Public Meeting Schedule:

Monday, October 20, 2025 — 5:00–7:00 PM

Virtual (Zoom) 

Monday, October 27, 2025 — 5:00–7:00 PM

Caspar Community Center – North Room

15051 Caspar Road, Caspar, CA

Monday, November 3, 2025 — 5:00–7:00 PM

Saturday Afternoon Clubhouse

107 S. Oak Street, Ukiah, CA

Monday, November 10, 2025 — 5:00–7:00 PM

California Natural Resources Agency, Room TBA

715 P Street, Sacramento, CA

Here are some potential talking points for these public input meetings:

• Lack of CEQA Review and Outdated Environmental Analysis: The Forest Management Plan update lacks a new CEQA review, even though the last comprehensive Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was completed in 2007. Since then, regulatory requirements and environmental conditions have changed substantially. A new EIR is essential to ensure public transparency, updated environmental impact analysis, and appropriate mitigation measures.

• The FMP must acknowledge slowing tree growth rates under climate change, potentially reducing sustainable harvest levels.

• The FMP must include a “Plan Goals and Potential Actions” subsection focused on:

  • Increasing carbon sequestration and storage.

  • Recruiting and retaining large and old trees.

  • Reducing fuel loads to improve forest resilience.

• The FMP must include restrictions and clear criteria for new road construction, emphasizing active road decommissioning to reduce erosion and habitat fragmentation..

• The FMP must explicitly acknowledge that canopy removal and sediment deposition can impact water temperature and quality.

• The FMP must describe risks to special status plant species from logging, invasives, herbicides, and other disturbances.

• The FMP must include explicit goals and actions to protect native and special-status plants in the FMP.