Category Archives: National Forests

2 men plead guilty to cultivating pot in Sequoia forest

I firmly believe that cannabis has been unfairly demonized by those who seek to control it.  I also believe that the plant should be legalized and regulated, and that this is just an other example of what happens when criminals – rather than farmers – grow this crop.  our national forests get destroyed.

Cannabis is legal in California.  It should be grown legally.  One of the shining examples of how to grow and regulate the crop was Mendocino County’s zip-tie program.  No forest lands were destroyed or poisoned when that plan was implemented.

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Open houses slated for second phase of Rim Fire Recovery Project

Press release from the U.S.D.A.:

The Stanislaus National Forest will be hosting two open houses on Friday, December 13 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 14, 9 a.m. to noon at the Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor’s Office (19777 Greenley Road, Sonora, CA 95370).

“We invite the public and stakeholders to the open houses to provide an opportunity to visit with staff regarding the Rim Fire proposed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) project details, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. It offers those with questions on how to comment prior to the end of the public comment period that begins on December 6, 2013, and ends on January 6, 2014,” Maria Benech, Rim Fire Recovery ID Team Leader said.

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Federal charges likely in Rim Fire

A deer hunter — not pot growers, as some politicians with an agenda publicly stated — started the Rim Fire that burned through over 237,341 acres of land in the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park before firefighters finally got the upper hand.  The 402 square mile fire blazed through more than $127 million of taxpayer money just fighting it.  It began in the steep hills of the remote Jawbone Ridge area to the east of Groveland on August 17, 2013 and quickly spread out of control.  Losses are estimated to be in excess of $50 million.

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Rim Fire Recovery Project Announced

Press release from the USDA:

Stanislaus Forest Supervisor Susan Skalski today announced the second phase of the Rim Fire recovery, Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will appear in the Federal Register December 6. The proposed action will include:

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Prescribed burns planned for Mount Pinos Ranger District

Firefighters in the Los Padres National Forest are launching a series of prescribed burns over the next several months to get rid of brush on the Mount Pinos Ranger District.

That area includes a small portion of Santa Barbara County.

Firefighters will be burning piles of brush that have already been cut down.

The prescribed burns could start as early as Monday.

The burns are taking place near the Pine Mountain Club, Frazier Park, and Lake of the Woods.