Forest Service Invites Input on Caldor Fire Restoration Plans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is actively seeking public input on its draft environmental assessment related to the Caldor Fire Restoration Project. This initiative focuses on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and aims to revitalize approximately 11,700 acres affected by the catastrophic Caldor Fire.
Public Comments Open for Caldor Fire Restoration Plans
The public can submit comments for 30 days following the announcement in the Tahoe Daily Tribune on December 5, 2025. The feedback will inform the restoration activities proposed for this critical area.
Objectives of the Restoration Project
The primary goals of the restoration plans are to:
- Enhance watershed health
- Increase forest resilience
- Restore wildlife habitats
Forest Supervisor Erick Walker highlighted the urgency of these efforts. He stated, “Without intervention, the Caldor Fire area could take decades to recover.” The proposed actions aim to:
- Re-establish forested areas
- Reduce hazardous fuels around communities
- Improve ecological integrity of affected streams and meadows
Proposed Restoration Activities
Among the specific activities under consideration are:
- Removal of fire-damaged and dead trees
- Elimination of live trees affected by insects or disease
- Preparation for planting native seedlings
- Thinning of surviving tree stands and adjacent unburned trees
- Potential application of approved herbicides to facilitate reforestation
- Implementation of prescribed burning techniques
- Restoration of stream channels and aquatic habitats
- Enhancement of wildlife habitats, including Protected Activity Centers
- Restoration of aspen tree habitats
Expedited Implementation and Emergency Action
Due to the urgent nature of these proposals and the ongoing decline of the forest conditions in the Caldor Fire area, an Emergency Action Determination will expedite implementation and site preparation actions starting in January 2026. This emergency authority allows the project to bypass pre-decisional administrative reviews, ensuring a swift response to the pressing needs of the environment.
How to Submit Comments
The draft environmental assessment is available for public review on the project webpage or via Pinyon Public. Interested individuals can submit comments through the designated comment form on the project webpage or send them via the U.S. Postal Service.
For further inquiries, contact Brian Garrett at [email protected] or Rob Lorens at [email protected].
