Guest Columnist: Out in the forest with your forest supervisor

First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers are with the communities and forests affected by the destructive and tragic wildfires across California, Nevada, and the West. Our Lake Tahoe Basin firefighters are responding to both local and national wildfires and providing assistance to those in need. I am very proud of each one and know their families go through added stress during their absence.

This time of year, wildfire suppression can overtake our thoughts and activities, however, a great amount of work is occurring around the Lake Tahoe Basin to create more resilient forests.

Last week’s grand opening celebration at Round Hill Pines Beach Resort allowed us to stop and celebrate the success and effectiveness of public/private partnerships and what we can accomplish when we work together. We have many examples of these types of partnerships here in the Basin, and each year they are becoming more critical to our abilities to meet the demands, especially on the National Forest System lands here at Lake Tahoe.

Given how important it is that you are aware of what is going on in your National Forest, I am planning to host a series of forest outings to share our plans and answer your questions about the way we manage the forest.

I know it can be challenging to understand how Forest Service land management and forestry programs work. I hear questions about our procedures, what it means to increase the pace and scale of healthy forest restoration, and what roles (if any) do the other Agencies have when we conduct work. With that in mind, I want to engage you, the owners of these Public Lands, in a series of field trips and public forums where you can learn about our practices, projects, laws, and the Forest Plan which governs the work we do. Through these sessions, I expect to visit some of the operations currently underway and give the opportunity to ask the questions you have. I would also like to share with you some of the initiatives we’re engaging in with our partners, as well as our efforts to explore new methods that increase project efficiencies.

I plan to kick-off the first field trip in late August with details sent out as we get closer to a scheduled date. Thank you for continuing to be engaged in the management of your public lands here in Lake Tahoe.

Jeff Marsolais
Forest Supervisor
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit