September 2024

Touring the Trails of JDSF: Collaboration is Key 

Earlier in August, JDSF and CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit staff were joined by California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Staff for a tour of the trail and recreational resources at the forest. The Tour highlighted collaborative efforts between JDSF staff and the Mendocino Coast Cyclist organization in the building, sanctioning and maintenance of many of the great trails at JDSF, including the Observatory trail. Check out the short video that CNRA put together on the tour and amazing recreation opportunities available at JDSF by following the link above and view the forest’s full trail map by following the link below.  

Forest Health Management in the WUI: Lessons Being Learned at Jackson Demonstration State Forest 

On August 8, 2024, CAL FIRE staff, Cal Poly Swanton Pacific Ranch staff, partners, and the public met at JDSF for a field workshop to learn about forest health management at the forest. Participants increased their understanding of how using different management options and tools can affect forest health in a wildland urban interface (WUI) with examples from multiple sites in the Forest.  Learn more about what the tour by reading the full writeup below.  

Exploring Drought Effects at the Caspar Watershed Experiment  

A new study from Caspar Watershed draws on 60 years of data to look in depth at how droughts effect streams and forests. Liz Keppler of USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, Caspar Watershed has worked with JDSF for decades to sustain and build the Caspar Watershed study. The 60 years of research data from the Caspar Watershed in western JDSF recently was evaluated by Liz and others for focusing on how rainfall patterns, and in turn streamflow has shifted during droughts. The study evaluated over 50 factors to untangle the complex pattern of drought and streamflow over 60 years in Caspar watershed.

Get to Know the New World-Class Research Happening at JDSF

With the installation of a flux tower and the cooperation of a multiagency team, researchers are now able to gather continuous measurements of how much carbon, water, and energy are entering and leaving an ecosystem over time. The new tower will also monitor how changes in weather are affecting the health of an ecosystem. Over the long run the tower can estimate how climate change is affecting an ecosystem. This is the first time a flux tower has been installed in California’s redwood forest ecosystem, joining a national network of towers across an enormous variety of forest types to provide critical climate change and forest health information.  

Firewood Permit Sales at JDSF 

Firewood permit sales recently went on sale at JDSF and, due to high demand, sold out fast!  Firewood permits have a limit of two cords per household at a cost of $20.00/permit, and were sold at the CAL FIRE Fort Bragg Office, located at 802 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA. Permit holders can collect their wood until October 1, 2024, or when wood supply is gone, a significant rain event happens, or other constraints force closure, whichever occurs first.     

Get to Know Our Neighbors: Russian Gulch State Park 

Have you been to Russian Gulch State Park? The California Department of Parks and Recreation a.k.a. State Parks operates this beautiful property that shares a border with the Jackson Demonstration State Forest.  Like JDSF, Russian Gulch has a waterfall and campground, including a horse campground.  

Get out and explore more!  Future articles will continue to spotlight the wealth of experiences Mendocino County has to offer from a variety of oversight agencies, including more from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the County of Mendocino, and the City of Fort Bragg.