MEMBERSHIP:
39 Current paid members

FINANCES:
Ending balance of $946.54

Comments about membership: We continue to hand out brochures and copies of newsletters or copies of articles contained within our newsletter whenever we can in an effort to spread the word about the FFLA. Several agency fire managers received complimentary copies in an effort to inform them of our good deeds. Although our membership is up in this chapter, we are looking at losing several old-timers. Therefore my goal is to personally contact each member of this chapter hoping to entice them into staying and to help recruit new members. Other goals include listing lookouts to the NHLR when possible.

Discussion: The FFLA is promoted locally through continued participation in special events in conjunction with the Buck Rock Foundation, including country fairs, Buck Rock Lookout Annual Open House, Celebrate Sequoias Festival, and the Bioregions Festival. Interest in the formation of "chapters" is out there - several Forest Service personnel who have links to lookouts have expressed interest in utilizing the FFLA to promote local lookout preservation. However, none have formally formed their "chapter." I am hopeful! We need expand and promote participation in chapters in North/Central California. The FFLA website is promoted on several websites in our area including the BRF (www.buckrock.org), Sequoia Fire Lookouts (www.sequoialookouts.com), and the official website for the Sequoia National Forest (www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/lookouts/lookouts).

Of greatest concern within the Central CA/Nevada Chapter is the growing trend by most of CDF and several Forests (Tahoe in particular) to stop staffing lookouts. When lookouts are not staffed there is very little impetus to save the facility from deterioration. In a recent interview for the San Francisco Chronicle, Chris Matthes, USFS Public Information Officer for Region 5, made comments that satellites have replaced fire lookouts for the purpose of fire detection. We all know this is not true! If the highest ranking PR person gets it wrong, it is no wonder that the general population believes that fire lookouts have no current purpose and are relics of the past.

The good news is we continue to receive some positive exposure as exemplified by two articles written by Susan Spano, writer for the Travel Section of the LA Times. Susan's articles "California For Sky Huggers" and "She's Poised and Perched for Trouble" were picked up by the Associated Press and continue to circulate nationwide in various publications. While working on the Day Fire in Southern California, National Public Radio "stopped by" and interviewed me about what it was like to be a fire lookout for a segment on "Weekend Edition." From both of these experiences we can assume that people must be interested in fire lookouts, right?

Other News:

o In October, a huge tragedy occurred when veteran fire watcher/volunteer Joe Knowles was fatally injured after a fall from Miami Lookout (Sierra National Forest). The accident is under investigation.

o One of our lookouts, Mt. Danaher (CDF Eldorado) was a recipient of a $500 restoration grant from the FFLA.

o Baltic Peak (Eldorado National Forest) was decommissioned and is slated to be removed and placed at a nearby fairground.

o Oak Flat Lookout (Sequoia National Forest) suffered major damage during an unusual wind storm which occurred during the winter months in early 2006. The entire cab was lifted off the tower and shifted several feet while several windows were blown-out. The tower also suffered from vandalism, all of which put this recreation rental out of commission for 2006.

o In September, BRF Volunteer Coordinator Wendy Garton and I attended the FFLA Western Regional Conference in Big Bear California (hosted by the SoCa Chapter of the FFLA).

o In November, I was invited to attend the Sierra Lookout End of Season gathering in Oakhurst, California where I presented NHLR certificates to Miami Lookout, Mt Tom Lookout, Fence Meadow Lookout and Goat Mountain Lookout.

o Volunteers are (slowly) working on an inventory list of California fire towers both past and present.

o The Needles Lookout (Sequoia National Forest) is scheduled to begin restoration beginning Summer 2007. Replacing the steps, catwalk, part of the roof, make repairs on the outrigger shutter system, and update the lightning protection system are part of the planned rehab.

For more information regarding the status of all of the lookouts in this chapter, please see the attached reports.

Kathy Ball
Director

Status of Lookouts In Central California 2006

FFLA Central California Chapter Area Covers the Territory South of I-80 and North of the Tehachapi Mountains, West to (but not including) the Los Padres National Forest.

ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST
1. Alder Ridge - 2004 restoration of lookout residence. Recreation Rental Placerville RD
2. Armstrong Hill- Abandoned. Amador RD
3. Bald Mountain - Staffed 7 days GS employee Georgetown RD
4. Baltic Peak - Abandoned. Decommission granted through Forest Service channels. Still being consider for removal to a local Fairgrounds Placerville RD
5. Big Hill- Staffed 7 days GS employees Pacific RD
6. Bunker Hill - Emergency Staffing Pacific RD
7. Leak Springs - Staffed 7 days a week. Amador RD
8. Lookout Mountain - Removed recently
9. Robbs Peak - Recreation Rental Pacific RD
10. Slate Mountain- Removed 2003 Georgetown RD

INYO NATIONAL FOREST
1. Bald Mountain - Not staffed fire season 2006

SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST
1. Baker Point - Abandoned - Talk of rehab. Tule/Hot Springs RD
2. Bald Mt - Staffed 7 days with 2 GS employees. Kern River RD
3. Breckenridge - Staffed 5 days with 2 GS employees. Kern River RD
4. Buck Rock - Staffed 7 days: 5 days w/GS employee and 2 days with BRF volunteers
Hume Lake RD
5. Delilah - Staffed for emergency purposes only. Use BRF Volunteers Hume Lake RD
6. Jordan Peak - Staffed 5 days with GS employee. Tule/Hot Springs RD
7. Mule Peak - Staffed 5 days with GS employee paid by Tule Indian Reservation Tule/Hot Springs RD
8. Oak Flat - Recreation Rental. Kern River RD (Reservations: 760-379-5646 x-514)
9. Tobias - Staffed 5 days with GS employee. Tule/Hot Springs RD
10. The Needles - Staffed 5 days with FS employee. Tule/Hot Springs RD

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST
1. Bald Mountain - Abandoned and vandalized. No plan for rehab
2. Fence Meadow - Staffed 5 days with GS employee
3. Goat Mountain - Abandoned. Talk of turning it into a Recreation Rental or Volunteer staffing program OR removing it.
4. Miami Mountain - Staffed 7 days a week with Volunteers
5. Mt. Tom - Staffed 5 days with GS employee
6. Musick Mtn - Emergency use only. Heavily laden with communications equipment
7. Shuteye - Staffed 7 days with GS employees
8. Signal Peak - Staffed 7 days with GS employees. Currently being restored by FS

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST
1. American Camp - Abandoned
2. Duckwall - Emergency Use Only (Needs repair) Miwok RD
3. Mt Elizabeth - Staffed 7 days with GS employees. Miwok RD
4. North Mountain - Abandoned. Cabin and tower standing, not in use. Groveland RD
5. Pilot Peak - Staffed 5 days a week with GS employee. Groveland RD
6. Smith Peak - Staffed 7 days GS employee. Groveland RD
7. Trumbull - Abandoned but slated for restoration for rec rental. Groveland RD
8. Woods Ridge - Abandoned. Cabin and tower standing, not in use. Groveland RD

TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST
1. Babbitt Peak - Staffed 7 days with GS employees. Needs repair Sierraville RD
2. Calpine - Restoration completed. Now available for Recreation Rental Sierraville RD
3. Duncan Peak - Staffed 7 days with GS employee
4. Martis Peak - See CDF Truckee (Truckee RD)
5. Grouse Ridge - Abandoned. Talk of decommissioning
6. Sardine - Abandoned. In bad disrepair. Sierraville RD
7. Saddleback - Staffed 7 days with contract lookout. Downieville RD
8. Sierra Buttes - Abandoned. Talk of decommissioning - At Truckee conference we had word that they had received a RAC Grant for Restoration
9. Verdi - Abandoned. Truckee RD

TOIYABE NATIONAL FOREST
1. Leviathan - Not staffed, but still standing

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
1. Milk Ranch - Abandoned for fire detection 1996. Utilized for communications links

KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK
1. Park Ridge - Re-opened September 1 2004. Staffed for fire detection utilizing Buck Rock Foundation volunteers as often as possible.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
1. Crane Flat - Emergency use only.
2. Henness Ridge - Abandoned. External rehab has recently been done.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE
(Historically CDF has had as many as 77 lookouts located statewide. Due to budget cuts and "people driving through with cell phones and hampered visibility due to air pollution" CDF has stopped staffing most of its lookouts in Central California.)

CDF Amador/El Dorado
1. Mount Danaher - Received FFLA Grant - In process of restoration to be used for emergency fire detection and public information.
2. Mt. Zion - Staffed 7 days for fire detection
3. Pilot Peak - Staffed 7 days for detection
4. Pine Hill - Abandoned, Heavily vandalized

CDF - Fresno/Kings
(No active lookouts)
1. Bear Mountain - Abandoned
2. Black Mountain - Abandoned
3. Cottonwood Pass - Abandoned
4. Owens Mountain - Removed

CDF - Madera/Mariposa/Merced
(No active lookouts)
1. Basalt Peak -
2. Deadwood - Abandoned, still standing. Talk of restoration for rental or detection
3. Greenwood - Abandoned,
4. Penon Blanco - Abandoned, still standing. Used to house radio equipment
5. Red Top - Dismantled
6. Williams Peak - Abandoned

CDF - Nevada/Yuba/Placer
1. Banner Lookout - Staffed by volunteers
2. Mount Howell - Staffed by volunteers
3. Oregon Peak - Staffed by volunteers
4. Wolf Creek Mountain - Staffed by volunteers
In high fire danger times, PG&E, SPI or Chi pay for professional staffing of lookouts.

CDF San Benito/Monterey
(No active lookouts)
1. Call Mountain
2. Calandra - Targeted for preservation
3. Chalone Peak
4. Sid Ormsbee - Targeted for preservation
5. Smith Mountain

CDF Tahoe/Truckee
1. Martis Peak - Owned by Tahoe National Forest, managed by CDF 7 day staffing, 5 with Paid employee (paid by North Star Community) and 2 with volunteers.

CDF - Tulare County
(No active lookouts)
1. Blue Ridge - Abandoned, Still standing, in disrepair.
2. Shadequarter - Abandoned, Still standing in good repair

CDF - Tuolumne/Calavaras
1. Blue Mountain - Staffed 7 days for fire detection. Calavaras County
2. Fowler - Abandoned. Tower is still standing, not in use. Targeted for preservation.
3. Rushing (Big Hill) - Abandoned
4. Sierra Vista (Quiggs Mountain) - Abandoned
5. Valley Springs - Removed

TAHOE BASIN MANAGEMENT UNIT

1. Angora Ridge - Abandoned
2. Stateline - Recently torn down

B - Status of Lookouts In Nevada 2006

Notes: 5 total lookouts, 3 still standing, and 2 still actively staffed.


ELLA MT. LO - BLM, Ely, NV District - built 1964 - 2 story -Built 1964; T 6S R 67 E Sec 2; still actively staffed

MCCLELLAN PEAK LO - Built early 1930s by USFS, transferred to BLM in 1963, last staffed 1970, destroyed 1971.

PEAVINE PEAK LO - Built originally by Tahoe NF, later staffed by Nevada Division Of Forestry for a while, then abandoned in 1964 - was still standing in 1972 - likely gone by now, but unable to confirm this for certain - it's remotely possible that the old LO still remains and is used to house electronic equipment.

YELLOW PEAK LO - BLM, Susanville, CA District, Washoe County NV - T45S R 21E Sec 9; Built in 1981, 9x9; still actively staffed

ZEPHYR POINT LO - Built 1931 by Eldorado NF, later transferred to Toiyabe NF, later loaned to Nevada Division of Forestry then returned to Toiyabe NF, then later transferred to Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit - now unused for fire, but still standing.