Amador Aspen Restoration Project

The Amador Aspen Restoration Project aims to restore and sustain 728 acres of aspen stands in California by addressing critical threats including conifer encroachment, overtopping, intense herbivory, and the suppression of natural fire regimes. The project will target five clusters of aspen totaling 604 acres for active restoration through selective conifer removal, girdling, temporary fencing to protect vulnerable suckers, and prescribed burns to mimic natural ecological processes. An additional 124 acres with high deer browse pressure will receive targeted temporary fencing to shield young aspen regrowth. Designed by the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority in collaboration with the Eldorado National Forest and the Amador Calaveras Consensus Group, the effort seeks to reestablish historic aspen dynamics, improve age-class diversity, and reverse declines caused by decades of ecological suppression. The project is coordinated through a partnership focused on long-term watershed health and resilient forest structure. The initiative is managed by the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority, with program direction led by Karen Quidachay, Program Director, who can be reached at 530-903-0116 or karenq.landmark@outlook.com. Although the solicitation is listed as a forecast with no formal solicitation number or set-aside details, the project is actively planned for implementation with a posted date of June 2, 2026, and the place of performance is confirmed within California. The work is site-specific and ecologically focused, prioritizing the recovery of aspen ecosystems through evidence-based, low-impact interventions that support native biodiversity and landscape resilience.