May 2024
A Quick Guide to Hiking the Waterfall Grove Trail

Located equal distance between Fort Bragg and Willits, the Waterfall Grove Trail is one of the finest that JDSF has to offer. Majestic redwoods and beautiful waterfalls make this one of the most popular trails in the forest. View the video above for more information or follow the link below for other notable trails in the forest.
Redwood Resiliency Project in Caspar Creek Watershed Leading the Way for Redwood Ecosystem Research at JDSF 

At multiple positions along the hillslopes in the Caspar Creek watersheds, transects measure ecosystem changes before and after timber harvest. The Redwood Resiliency Project, a collaboration between the University of Arizona, UDSA Forest Service, and CAL FIRE, aims to expand existing study sites from four to six transects, collecting additional data to broaden the research. This project is part of the Caspar Creek Experimental Watershed Study (CCEWS), established in 1961 by CAL FIRE and the Pacific Southwest Research Station. As the longest continuous research project at JDSF, the CCEWS highlights JDSF’s unique role as a living laboratory with global forest implications.   
Photo credit: Mendocino Coast 50K
JDSF Welcomes Ultra Marathon Runners as Part of Mendocino Coast 50K Trail Run 
 
On Saturday, April 20, 2024, Mendocino County witnessed the seventh running of the Mendocino Coast 50K Ultra Marathon. Hosted at the scenic Big River State Park just south of Mendocino Village, the race charted a challenging yet captivating course through the region's diverse landscapes. 

Commencing from Big River State Beach, just south of Mendocino, over 150 eager participants embarked on a grueling journey that traversed the banks of the Big River, delved into the depths of the surrounding forests, including JDSF, and ventured westward towards Russian Gulch—a route accentuated by the presence of a striking waterfall. 
Redwood Practical Shooter and JDSF Staff Team Up for Spring Cleaning 

Spring cleaning is in the air and the Redwood Practical Shooters recently returned to the forest to join forces with JDSF staff for a cleanup. The Road 408 gravel pit remains a popular spot for target shooting. Once an excavation site for pit-run rock used in road surfacing, it has become a popular spot for recreational target shooting. However, over the years, it has become notorious for its unsightly appearance due to litter and debris left behind by target shooters and illegal trash dumping.

Target shooting is permitted in JDSF, except in specific areas near Parlin Conservation Camp, Chamberlain Creek Fire Center, and Woodlands State Park. 
NEWS:
JDSF Campgrounds are Open and Seasonal Road Closures Now in Effect 

JDSF’s busy season is here as local and not-so-local users flock to the forest during the summer months. Most JDSF Campsites will be open on May 23. There are also several road closures throughout the forest. Roads are often closed to reduce erosion or for public safety during forestry or maintenance operations.  
Upcoming JDSF Flux Tower Research Featured at European Geosciences Union Assembly 

This spring, California's climate change science and policy initiatives prominently feature the state's iconic redwood forests and in particular, JDSF. At the annual European Geosciences Union (EGU) Assembly, UC Davis assistant professor Kosana Suvocarev and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientist Housen Chu presented "An Integrated Observatory for Redwood Forest Health and California Carbon Neutrality." The project, supported by various state and academic institutions, will launch this summer with funding for two years and includes the installation of advanced monitoring towers in the Jackson Demonstration State Forest. 

Read the full article below to learn more about this study and how redwood forests are at the center of California’s climate change policy.
60 Years of Defensible Space

Protecting your home from wildfires has evolved since the 60s! In this video, we’re taking a look back in time and reminding you how defending your home has changed. Defensible space now extends up to 100 feet from your property, divided into three zones. This space is key to slowing or stopping wildfire spread and protecting your home from embers, flames, or heat. It also gives firefighters a safer area to defend your property. 
Stay up to date with everything happening at JDSF by following the Forest on Facebook and Instagram.