MCCLOUD, CA – Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick (R-Alturas) joined a bipartisan group of California legislators on May 15–16 for a two-day forest policy tour in Siskiyou and Shasta counties, organized by the California Forest Foundation. The 2025 Mount Shasta Legislative Forest Tour brought together rural and urban lawmakers to see firsthand the environmental, economic, and wildfire mitigation benefits of active forest management across Northern California’s working landscapes.
The tour, which took place in and around the historic McCloud Basin and Shasta-Trinity National Forest, provided a rare opportunity for California legislators—many of whom represent dense, urban districts—to experience the beauty and complexity of the North State’s forests while learning directly from foresters, scientists, and local stakeholders.“Policy should be shaped by reality, and that means seeing the land, the people, and the challenges up close,” said Assemblywoman Hadwick. “These immersive experiences are vital for legislators making decisions on California’s forests, climate, and wildfire strategies—especially those who’ve never stepped foot in a working forest.”Day 1 began with a visit to Sierra Pacific Industries’ Burney Sawmill, where attendees witnessed the intersection of traditional wood product manufacturing and cutting-edge sustainability. The sawmill, which employs 275 people and generates enough power for 23,000 homes through its on-site cogeneration plant, exemplifies how nothing goes to waste—from timber to energy.Day 2 included guided tours of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and Hearst Forests’ actively managed lands, where legislators learned how thinning, selective harvesting, and shaded fuel breaks support wildfire prevention and ecological resilience. Experts emphasized how decades of fire suppression and lack of management have led to dangerously dense forests—and how proactive stewardship can reverse this trend.Participants also visited Sierra Pacific Industries’ Conifer Nursery and Seed Center, a state-of-the-art facility that grows millions of seedlings annually for reforestation and climate resilience. By 2025, the nursery is projected to produce over 10 million seedlings per year, with expansion goals reaching 25 million—enough to reforest 125,000 acres annually.“From forest floor to sawmill to seedling, we saw the full lifecycle of sustainable forestry,” Hadwick added. “These forests aren’t just about timber—they’re about clean water, carbon storage, jobs, and community safety.”The tour fostered meaningful dialogue between lawmakers from all corners of the state, strengthening bipartisan understanding of forestry’s role in wildfire prevention, rural economies, and long-term environmental health. Assemblywoman Hadwick represents the 1st Assembly District, which includes portions of Amador, El Dorado, and Placer counties, along with Alpine, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.
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The tour, which took place in and around the historic McCloud Basin and Shasta-Trinity National Forest, provided a rare opportunity for California legislators—many of whom represent dense, urban districts—to experience the beauty and complexity of the North State’s forests while learning directly from foresters, scientists, and local stakeholders.“Policy should be shaped by reality, and that means seeing the land, the people, and the challenges up close,” said Assemblywoman Hadwick. “These immersive experiences are vital for legislators making decisions on California’s forests, climate, and wildfire strategies—especially those who’ve never stepped foot in a working forest.”Day 1 began with a visit to Sierra Pacific Industries’ Burney Sawmill, where attendees witnessed the intersection of traditional wood product manufacturing and cutting-edge sustainability. The sawmill, which employs 275 people and generates enough power for 23,000 homes through its on-site cogeneration plant, exemplifies how nothing goes to waste—from timber to energy.Day 2 included guided tours of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and Hearst Forests’ actively managed lands, where legislators learned how thinning, selective harvesting, and shaded fuel breaks support wildfire prevention and ecological resilience. Experts emphasized how decades of fire suppression and lack of management have led to dangerously dense forests—and how proactive stewardship can reverse this trend.Participants also visited Sierra Pacific Industries’ Conifer Nursery and Seed Center, a state-of-the-art facility that grows millions of seedlings annually for reforestation and climate resilience. By 2025, the nursery is projected to produce over 10 million seedlings per year, with expansion goals reaching 25 million—enough to reforest 125,000 acres annually.“From forest floor to sawmill to seedling, we saw the full lifecycle of sustainable forestry,” Hadwick added. “These forests aren’t just about timber—they’re about clean water, carbon storage, jobs, and community safety.”The tour fostered meaningful dialogue between lawmakers from all corners of the state, strengthening bipartisan understanding of forestry’s role in wildfire prevention, rural economies, and long-term environmental health. Assemblywoman Hadwick represents the 1st Assembly District, which includes portions of Amador, El Dorado, and Placer counties, along with Alpine, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.
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