Sequoia Trails Newsletter February 2025
Forest Service Hiring Freeze
The Forest Service recently announced a hiring freeze. We have been told the Kern River District Ranger and Western Divide District Ranger will not be replaced, instead leaving existing staff who took the position temporarily. Also the Forest Service will
not be hiring any seasonal workers this year. Permanent staff will be doing some of this work now.
With looming budget cuts across all agencies and government offices, Forest Chief Randy Moore has stated the agency will do what it can with less, but cannot do as much work as it has in the past.
What Does This Mean For Recreation?
Trail maintenance and campground maintenance are done by seasonal workers who will not be hired this year due to the freeze. However, they only work on close in single-track trails leaving about 80% of trail maintenance undone or backlogged.
Twenty years ago Stewards of the Sequoia recognized that most single-track trails were deteriorating because they were not being maintained. Since then Stewards members stepped up and performed 80% of all trail maintenance in the Sequoia each year, eliminating
a huge backlog of unmaintained single-track trails.
What Can You Do?
The Forest hiring freeze is probably going to hit recreation hard. However, we are extremely fortunate that Stewards have a trail maintenance program in place to ensure Sequoia trails are maintained and prevent closures.
Stewards needs to continue doing trail work, especially with the hiring freeze reduction in trail maintenance. We do it at the lowest possible cost, but it still takes money. Many thanks to the 4% of members who donated last year. You are what has made Stewards
work possible. However, member donations fell short of covering expenses by 50% last year. Without more support Stewards will not be able to continue much of the needed trail work. If you have not yet donated please
DONATE
now to help keep your Sequoia trails open. We need more Stewards members to do their part and donate.
You can also help out by volunteering with Stewards on the Sequoia trails you love.
These projects will be on motorized trails and we will be using dirt bikes to access the project areas
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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