Investigator’s report blames tree-trimming practices for exposing weak trees to a nearby power line. CAL FIRE plans to seek $90 million in suppression costs from PG&E. Calaveras County to sue as well, estimates county losses at more than $1 billion.
USGS economists evaluated 21 Department of the Interior restoration projects and found that for each dollar invested in ecosystem restoration, there was a two- to three-fold return in economic activity that rippled through local, regional and national economies. Case study projects include restoration activities associated with Natural Resource Damage Assessment sites and Bureau of Land Management sagebrush and sage-grouse habitat restoration, fuels reduction and post-fire restoration projects.
Unless action is undertaken to confront the problem of deepening frustrations by many citizens’ collaborative groups, it is likely that the collaborative outcomes envisioned by the USDA Forest Service will not be achieved. It is the hope of the authors that this paper will be instrumental in beginning a national dialogue concerning this growing trend of frustration among citizens’ collaborative groups working with the Forest Service and that actions can be taken to strengthen citizen collaboration.
A new comprehensive report analyzing potential wood business innovations and market within California is now available.
Map showing Central Sierra Forest Drought Effects in 3D
Photo Credit LA Times Science Now article, “New maps show spread and impact of drought on California forests” 31 December 2015