The canceled Fort Bragg public meeting on the topic of Restoration Ecology, set to be held at the Town Hall building from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, has been rescheduled for Monday, December 16, at the same time and location.

Anyone who registered for the cancelled meeting will receive notification of the rescheduled date and all those who would like to attend should register at https://jacksonstateforestplan.com/register

All documents and the presentations from the Ukiah Restoration Ecology public meeting, which was held on Monday, November 18 in Ukiah, are posted on www.jacksonstateforestplan.com. Those who wish to provide input on this topic but cannot attend the meeting can review the presentation materials and offer comments by emailing JDSF@fire.ca.gov. Please put “Restoration Ecology Meeting” in the subject line.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Jackson Demonstration State Forest has held six public input meetings to date in advance of the release of the Jackson Demonstration State Forest Management Plan Update Draft. Once the draft is complete, there will be a public comment period and additional public meetings. The full series of facilitated meetings, expected to last until the end of 2025, early 2026, help inform the development of our new 10-year Forest Management Plan.

The Forest Management Plan is prepared by CAL FIRE and reviewed and approved by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board). The Board requires CAL FIRE to review Forest Management Plans (MP) for JDSF every 10-years with the current plan last approved by the Board in 2016. Once approved, CAL FIRE is responsible for managing JDSF in accordance with the plan. The Jackson Advisory Group advises both CAL FIRE and the Board. They regularly conduct public meetings and review CAL FIRE projects for compliance with the Forest Management Plan.

One pre- Draft Management Plan public meeting topic remains. The topic of Restoration Economy will be held in mid-December. After public meetings conclude, Clifton Environmental LLC, a Mendocino County based forestry and environmental consulting firm, will work with CAL FIRE to prepare an updated draft MP before seeking additional public comment in the late Spring and early summer of 2025 to create the final draft.

These meetings will be facilitated by Clifton Environmental, LLC and will include presentations from experts and activities for public engagement.

The remaining Public Meeting Topics, Schedule, Locations and Times are as follows:

Topic: Restoration Economy
Thursday, Dec. 12: 6-8 PM: Ukiah - Senior Center
Friday, Dec. 13, 5-7 PM: Fort Bragg - Veterans Hall

Topic: Restoration Ecology
Monday, Dec. 16, 5-7 PM: Fort Bragg – Town Hall

Pre-register for any or all meetings at https://jacksonstateforestplan.com/register

The JDSF Management Plan, which was last updated in 2016, will provide direction to the next decade of activities on the forest. The process of updating the Jackson Demonstration State Forest Management Plan will also include concurrent engagements with local tribes, consultation with the Jackson Advisory Group, and other stakeholders, and will conclude with a presentation to the Board of Forestry, for final approval, in 2026.

CALFIRE values public input on the process and is grateful for continued local interest in the stewardship of Jackson Demonstration State Forest.

Pre-register for any or all meetings at: https://jacksonstateforestplan.com/register
More information www.jacksonstateforestplan.com