March 24, 2023 - SONORA, California  – Stanislaus National Forest officials report with the recent deluge of storms finally subsiding, the Stanislaus National Forest is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying damaged roadways and other hazards that may now be present on the forest.

     Across California, national forest’s have seen extensive damage with much of it still unknown as roads are inaccessible due to snowpack – the true scope of the damage is still unknown in many areas, the Stanislaus included. Forest engineers are already aware of significant damage in lower elevation areas and working on remediation plans with appropriate stakeholders but limited resources across the region mean the full scope of the damage is still unknown.

     “While we are asking for the public’s help, I want to stress that no one, my staff included, should put themselves in a dangerous situation on National Forest Roads,” said Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor, Jason Kuiken. “While it is always the case, especially during this period, we ask the public to pay attention to locked gates and to any road closures that may become necessary. The closure of any forest service road is an extremely deliberative process, but the public’s safety is always our utmost concern.”

     Residents who encounter damage on the forest are encouraged to send an email to Forest Assistant Engineer, Kat Baker, Kathryn.Baker@usda.gov. In addition please include a photo showing the damage with something for scale (car, person, dog, lunchbox) and a location.
Source: Stanislaus National Forest