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Caldor Fire Restoration Project

Restoration work on Eldorado National Forest lands burned by the 2021 Caldor Fire and nearby areas. It reduces wildfire risk, restores severely burned areas, and repairs fire-damaged infrastructure, with fuels, reforestation, watershed and recreation work.1

Facts from USDA Forest Service public records, each linked by number to its source; checked November 13, 2026. Section notes by ePlan.

At a glance

Where
Within and adjacent to the Caldor Fire burn area, Amador, Pacific and Placerville Ranger Districts, Eldorado National Forest; Alpine, Amador and El Dorado Counties, California1
Size
Phase 1 covers 72,523 acres; the Caldor Fire burned 221,835 acres in total, about 170,057 on national forest land3
Lead agency
USDA Forest Service, Eldorado National Forest (Placerville, Amador, and Pacific Ranger Districts)2
Review
Environmental assessment, with a decision notice and finding of no significant impact2
Legal citation
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Section 40807 emergency situation determination (Forest Health and Fuels ESD); exempt from 36 CFR 218 objection process2
Status
Maximum Extent Scenario decision signed December 12, 2025; Phase 1 decision signed March 25, 20251

Timeline

  1. Scoping Start1
  2. Virtual public meetings2
  3. Comment Period1
  4. Draft EA comment period2
  5. Decision signed1
  6. ESD approval2
  7. Draft decision notice emailed2
  8. Decision signed1

Documents USDA Forest Service published

What the documents say

20251212 CaldorRest MaxExtentDN Final-dpf

Introduction
Covers the Maximum Extent Scenario, not in Phase 1, for long-term landscape recovery from the 2021 Caldor Fire, with actions organized into subprojects under an Implementation Plan.2
Emergency Situation Determination
The Forest Health and Fuels ESD, approved October 20, 2025, removes the 36 CFR 218 objection process for this decision.2
Decision and Reasons for the Decision
Selects the Maximum Extent Scenario, with treatments including hazard tree abatement, fuel breaks, reforestation, herbicide, prescribed burning and road work; Silver Fork Road thinning is expected soon.2
Other Alternatives Considered
Only the Proposed Action and No Action were required; No Action was rejected because it would not meet the purpose and need for fuels, restoration and safety.2
Public Involvement and Scoping
Describes scoping, a 2023 field tour, twenty-one comment letters on the EA, three responses to the draft decision, and tribal consultation with 13 tribes.2
Finding of No Significant Impact
Concludes the environmental effects are not significant, as disclosed in the EA.2

20250325 CaldorRest Phase1 DN signed

Introduction
Phase 1 covers 72,523 acres responding to the 2021 Caldor Fire, which burned 221,835 acres, with four purposes covering safety, fire risk, ecological processes and recreation sites.3
Emergency Action Determination
Phase 1 used an Emergency Action Determination signed July 5, 2024, skipping the 218 objection process, prioritizing areas near communities, Highways 50 and 88 and water infrastructure.3
Decision and Reasons for the Decision
Approves the Phase 1 Proposed Action with changes to design features, monitoring and variable reforestation planting densities after comments, and responds to concerns about EIS need, alternatives and trail access.3

20250326 CaldorRest Phase1 Letter signed

Notification letter
Notifies parties that the Phase 1 DN/FONSI is available, covering burned lands and wildland urban interface fuels treatments; implementation may begin on signing.4

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More examples

Forest Service NEPA · Eldorado National Forest projects · All Forest Service projects

Sources

  1. Caldor Fire Restoration Project: Forest Service project pagefs.usda.gov
  2. 20251212 CaldorRest MaxExtentDN Final-dpfusfs-public.app.box.com
  3. 20250325 CaldorRest Phase1 DN signedusfs-public.app.box.com
  4. 20250326 CaldorRest Phase1 Letter signedusfs-public.app.box.com