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Difference between revisions of "United States Forest Service (CA)"

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Revision as of 22:50, 25 August 2014

U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region (R5) Radio Systems Information

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION

The Pacific Southwest Region covers most of California with the following exceptions: the California portions of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, on the Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts located in the Intermountain Region (R4) at the eastern boundary of California and two small portions of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in the Pacific Northwest Region (R6) at the northern boundary of California north of the Klamath River. It extends into Nevada in two places, first the Nevada portion of the Inyo National Forest north of Bishop and the eastern portion of the Lake Tahoe Basin on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit west of Carson City and Reno Nevada. It also extends into Oregon in one location west of Interstate 5, southwest of Grants Pass, Oregon.

The workload of Region 5 is heavy and complex. Its fire management program is well known, with approximately 50% of the U.S. Forest Service budget for fire management being spent in the region and the total budget for wildland fire management by all fire agencies in California is more than the rest of the United States combined. Southern California has the most wildland-urban interface land area of any locality in the U.S. and California has more wildland-urban interface than any other state. The interrelationship and juxtaposition of direct protection areas for the federal, state, county and municipal fire agencies is exceedingly complex in California, not because of land ownership alone, but because of the presence of some of the most volatile vegetation in the world. The climate is a huge factor and the lower elevation of California is characterized as a "Mediterranean Climate," with relatively mild winters and hot, dry and long summers with heavy chaparral, which includes drought resistant, evergreen bush species that contain oil like sap that is explosive. It is prone to "area ignition," where large areas of fuel ignite like a pool of gasoline,

California has the highest population for a state in the U.S., estimated to be 38 million people in 2014. More money is spent on tourism in California than any other state. Public land recreation use is very heavy, the most for any state in the western U.S. This results in the most human caused wildland fires for any state. The state has the most homes, over 3.8 million, in wildland-urban interface areas than any other state. From the standpoint of property damage the most destructive in U.S. history occurred in California in 1991, the Oakland Hills fire only burned 1,520 acres, but destroyed 3,354 single-family dwellings and 437 apartment and condominium units. There were 25 people killed and 150 injured. The economic loss has been estimated at $1.5 billion (2.5 billion in 2012 dollars). In terms of economic loss 7 of the top 10 fires in U.S. history have occurred in California. Unfortunately, 31% (330) of the wildland firefighter fatalities (1075) in modern U.S. history (1911 to present) have occurred in California, the most of any state. The state has the most human caused fires of any in the country, averaging close to 7,400 per year.There are 10 Geographical Area Coordination Centers (GACCs) in the U.S. and the workload in California is great enough that two of them exist, Operations Northern California and Operations Southern California.

Fire management is not alone in the region's heavy workload., the many other resources and functions of the agency face heavy pressure as well. California is the nation's most populous state and tourism spending is highest of any state. Recreation on National Forest lands is heavy, between 20-25% of the recreation use for the U.S. Forest Service nationwide. This volume of visitor use necessitates a large law enforcement program, with more Forest Service law enforcement officers per National Forest than any region. In addition to fire management, recreation and law enforcement all National Forests also manage timber, grazing, watershed (protection and use), wildlife (includes fisheries), soils, roads and trails, facilities (ranger stations, fire stations, lookouts and communication sites), minerals (exploration and extraction) as well as land use (exchanges, purchases and special uses). These vary by National Forest due to differences in location, topography, vegetation, precipitation, proximity to urban areas, etc. In California management of watersheds, roads and trails, facilities, minerals and land use management have the highest or close to the highest workload of any Forest Service region.

Surface water run-off in California averages 71 million acre-feet per year. Annual water use is about 37 million acre-feet, of which 80 percent is used to irrigate crops. National forests supply 50 percent of the water in California and form the watershed of most major aqueducts and more than 2,400 reservoirs throughout the state. Managing watershed to insure high quality water is a major focus of the U.S. Forest Service and saves billions of dollars in potential construction and maintenance costs for water treatment plants.

RADIO SYSTEMS

This complexity, size and pressure on all the management functions on the National Forests in Region 5 have resulted in the most complex radio systems in the agency. Region 5 uses the most radio frequencies of any Forest Service region. Each National Forest has a "forest net" and an "administrative net," both utilizing repeaters. The forest net is usually the main communication channel for a National Forest, although on some forests fire and law enforcement are on forest net and all other functions use the admin net. Some forests have a separate "fire net." Most forests have a "service net," which is used for communications between the incident command post and forest dispatcher with most of that being logistical in nature. Cell phones have replaced this net where coverage is available, but service net is still used in cell phone dead zones. The service nets are also available as a command for initial attack for large incidents or for portions of National Forests during multiple fire starts on a forest. Two National Forests, the Klamath and Shasta-Trinity, have management unit or ranger district nets. Some forests link repeaters and remote bases with UHF radio (406-420 MHz) only, microwave only and some use a combination of both. Region 5, like most regions, has a dedicated project net (168.6625 MHz), which is one simplex channel for the entire region. This frequency can be used for both fire and non-fire day to day uses. The region is also building a state wide Forest Service law enforcement repeater network as well, that at this time will be a single frequency pair. Some forests already have multiple repeaters on this net and more will be built to provide nearly the same coverage that the forest and admin nets provide now. The buildout of this system could take decades given the budget climate of the federal government.

FREQUENCY USE

The region also has three unique tactical frequencies. These have been used as supplements on extended attack and large, national, incidents for over 25 years and NIFC Tacs 1-3, especially Tac 2 have been used for initial attack for as long they have existed. The federal wildland fire and land management agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) are beginning to phase out the use of the NIFC tacticals for initial attack. The BLM and U.S. Forest Service are getting frequency allocations so that each Forest Service region and each BLM State Office have a least three unique tactical frequencies separate from the 6 NIFC tacticals. The future use of the NIFC frequencies will be reserved for use on "National Fires." only. These are fires where a National Type I or Type II incident management team is in command. Less complex and smaller incidents are managed by Type III, IV, and V command organizations and use locally available communications systems. Type III teams can request use of NIFC frequencies and equipment if needed. In Region 5 the complexity and number of simultaneously occurring large incidents in proximity to each other creates a high potential of interference on tactical frequencies. The 6 NIFC and 3 regional tacticals are sometimes insufficient to provide clear and effective communications for all incidents. Unlike other regions that now have regional tactical frequencies the predominate use of R5's tacticals has been to supplement the NIFC system on large incidents. Although a few forests have been using them as additional tacticals in the last 5-10 years, the demand for these continues to be for large "national incidents." At some point in the future additional tactical frequency assignments may be in the picture for R5.

NIFC has a goal to provide 2 air to ground frequencies for each of the 105 interagency dispatch centers in the country and in the west has met this goal everywhere except California.. California has been assigned 7 air to ground frequencies to provide 2 for each of 4 zones configured from north to south. These frequencies are for use by all of the federal land management agencies in those zones. These 7 frequencies have been assigned from the list of 73 national air to ground frequencies. All other Geographical Area Coordination Centers use the 5 original air to air FM tactics. In California each National Forest has been assigned 2 unique air tactics frequencies. It is not confirmed, but it is believed that these frequencies can be used by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well.

Intra-crew communications in the Pacific Southwest Region take place on the region's project net or on one of the 4 frequencies on the National Intra-crew Communications Plan. The Primary, Secondary and Tertiary crew net frequencies are restricted to incident scenes and National Crew net can be used on the crews home unit. Intra-crew communications must be logistical and not tactical in nature. The 6 NIFC and 3 regional tactical frequencies may not be used for intra-crew communications.

RADIO OPERATION

The brand of handheld radio used by the U.S. Forest Service (and most wildland fire agencies as well) is Bendix King. These model of BK radios most commonly used have a capacity of 16 groups of 16 channels each. "Command" models with greater capacity are available as well. These radios allow the users to select a CTCSS tone independently for each channel by selecting a number on the radio's keypad. In Region 5, for the purposes of brevity and efficient use of repeater nets the name of the repeater is not voiced, rather the CTCSS tone number is announced (e.g., "Tone 9" instead of "Pine Mountain"). Cal Fire uses the same procedure. Other federal agencies in the state and other areas of the country use the name of the repeater in most cases, although the announcement of the tone only is beginning to catch on in other areas.

UNIT IDENTIFIERS (aka "Call Signs")

Unit identifiers in R5 use two systems, the function name, district number, position number. system (e.g "Recreation 21" and "Wildlife 32"); and the district number, function number and position number - system (e.g. "261" and "631"). Function numbers vary from forest to forest. A directive was issued for all forest to use the first system, but some forests did not follow this and are using the second. Fire management on all National Forests use the first with Chief, Division, Battalion, Superintendent, Captain, Engineer, Fuels, Engine, Patrol, Water Tender (large water trucks) Prevention, Dozer, Crew, Boat (patrol boat, Lead (plane - 5 plus pilot number), Air Attack (plus National Forest number), Recon (air patrol plane - each forest issued a series of numbers), Tanker (aircraft dumps retardant), Jumper (5 plus number assigned to aircraft) and Helicopter (500 series numbered north to south). Dispatch centers identify by the National Forest name (e.g. "Plumas") when the center is not co-located with Cal Fire, with the exception of the Sierra National Forest. Those co-located with Cal Fire identify with the city the center is located in (e.g. "Redding"). Call signs are the FCC license format (even though the federal government is not issued licenses by the FCC, example "KMB670" for the Inyo National Forest communications center.

RADIO PROCEDURES

All functions use "clear text" and not the 10 codes ("10-4") except law enforcement officers who use the ten code, eleven code and the California Penal and Vehicle codes. This allows them to interface with state/local officers.

U.S. Forest Service voice procedure is to speak the unit being called first, followed by the unit that is calling. the net name or channel is then given and finally the repeater tone being used if applicable. The unit called will then answer the call with its identifier only. When the conversation ends each unit signs off with their unit identifier. Example: "Wildlife 2. Recreation 21 (usually abbreviated as "Rec 21), North, Tone 3," "Wildlife 2" "be advised I heard a spotted owl call near Inyo Craters last night" "Copy, I will send Wildlife 23 and 24 there tonight," "Copy, Rec 21," "Thanks Wildlife 2." The channel is not considered clear for someone else to use until both units clear by announcing their unit identifier. Dispatcher centers will announce the time and use the assigned call sign to clear, example "1536, KMB660."

This background information should allow the reader to understand the systems of each National Forest as listed below.

Angeles National Forest (ANF - Forest #01) KME 2-2

The Angeles National Forest is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, southern California, United States. It was established on July 1, 1908, incorporating the portions of San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel National Forests. It covers 655,387 acres and is located just north of the densely inhabited metropolitan area of Los Angeles.

The Angeles National Forest manages the habitats, flora and fauna ecosystems, and watersheds of the largest open space in Los Angeles County. Some of the rivers with watersheds within its boundaries provide valuable non-groundwater recharge water for Southern California. The existing protected and restored native vegetation absorb and slow surface runoff of rainwater to minimize severe floods and landslides in adjacent communities. The land within the Forest is diverse, both in appearance and terrain. Elevations range from 1,200 to 10,064 feet. Many people do not realize the ruggedness of the San Gabriel Mountains and its dangers due to its proximity to the huge southern California metro area. The residents of Los Angeles County are located within a two hour drive of the forest and the 16 million residents of the five county southern California metro area are within a half day drive of the Angeles. This is an extraordinarily difficult forest to manage. It is divided into the Los Angeles River (District 1), the San Gabriel River (District 2), and the Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers (District 3) Ranger District, with the Forest Supervisor's Office in Arcadia.

RADIO SYSTEM

Most radios on the forest have 9 frequencies in common: ANF Channels 1 and 2 (Forest Net), ANF Channels 3 and 4 (Admin Net), two National Air to Ground frequencies and NIFC tactical channels 1 through 3. Each ranger district, and crews within each ranger district, may have different channel lineups, but they will usually have these nine in common. The variations between ranger districts and crews involve frequencies belonging to other agencies such as Los Angeles County Fire, San Bernardino County Fire, Cal Fire, and the Bureau of Land Management, as well as frequencies of adjacent National Forests. The agencies and areas that each ranger district interact with for mutual aid are different for each district.

ANF Channels 1 and 2 are called "Forest Net" and are used primarily for fire and emergency traffic. ANF Channels 3 and 4 are called "Admin Net." Channels 1 and 3 are simplex frequencies and channels 2 and 4 are repeated.

When users transmit on channels 1 and 3 using tone 8 (103.5 Hz) their transmission can be received by dispatch on the forest's 9 microwave linked remote bases. These remote bases are linked to dispatch located at Fox Field near Lancaster and the Forest Supervisor's Office in Arcadia. Most of these remote bases are co-located with repeaters and some are not. When someone communicates to dispatch on these channels it is not picked up by a repeater and receiving them requires being close enough to receive simplex traffic. On the other hand, if users transmit on channels 2 and 4 , the tone in use must match a repeater within range or their transmission will not be heard.

The 9 remote bases are located at: Fox Field (dispatch office), Arcadia (Forest Supervisor's Office), Frazier Peak, Warm Springs, Magic Mountain, Mt. Lukens, Blue Ridge, Johnstone Peak and Santiago Peak. Those remote bases that are not co-located with a repeater are: Fox Field, Arcadia, Warm Springs and Blue Ridge.


Repeaters

The Angeles National Forest (ANF) radio system is comprised of 13 repeater sites situated on various mountain peaks in and around the forest which are linked to the dispatch center at Fox Field near Lancaster. Each repeater site functions as both a repeater and as a receiving antenna for dispatch.

The input or repeater selection tone is not transmitted on the repeater output frequency, rather all repeaters transmit Tone 8 (103.5) on the output.

Other

The unit identifiers follow the function name, district, and position number system. The Angeles Interagency Dispatch Center provides dispatching for the National Park Service - Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. It is a 24 hour operation. Its identifier is "Angeles."


Channel Plan

Angeles National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description
1 8 172.3750 172.3750 ANF 1 Frst Dir Forest Net Direct
2 1-14 172.3750 169.9500 ANF 2 Frst Rpt Forest Net Repeat
3 8 164.9375 164.9375 ANF 3 Adm Dir Admin Direct
4 1-14 164.9375 170.0750 ANF 4 Adm Rpt Admin Repeat
5 169.1125 169.1125 ANF 5 A/G 59 Southern California Primary Air to Ground National AG 59
6 168.4875 168.4875 ANF 6 A/G 53 Southern California Secondary Air to Ground National AG 53
7 168.0500 168.0500 ANF 7 N Tac 1 NIFC Tac 1
8 168.2000 168.2000 ANF 8 N Tac 2 NIFC Tac 2
9 168.6000 168.6000 ANF 9 N Tac 3 NIFC Tac 3


Tones

ANF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
1 Mt. Waterman 110.9
2 Santiago Peak 123.0
3 Mt. Hawkins 131.8
4 Frost Peak 136.5
5 Not Assigned 146.2
6 Oat Mountain 156.7
7 Josephine Peak 167.9
8 Frazier Mountain 103.5
9 Pine Mountain 100.0
10 Burnt Peak 107.2
11 Magic Mountain 114.8
12 Mt. Lukens 127.3
13 Johnstone Peak 141.3
14 Grass Mountain 151.4

Cleveland National Forest (CNF - Forest #02) KME 2-3

The Cleveland National Forest is the southern-most National Forest in California. Consisting of 460,000 acres, the forest offers a wide variety of terrains and recreational opportunities. On July 1st, 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt signed a declaration that created this National Forest. Now, more than 100 years later, the Cleveland National Forest provides habitat for native wildlife, as well as a natural refuge and playground for many of the 3 million plus residents in the greater San Diego area. This forest consists of mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry Mediterranean climate prevails over the Forest. A major issue on the forest is illegal immigration in the form of abandoned campfires, trash and user built trails. The forest is divided into the Descanso (District 2), Palomar (District 3) and Trabuco (District 4) Ranger Districts with the Forest Supervisor's Office in San Diego.


RADIO SYSTEM

Repeaters

The input or repeater selection tone is not transmitted on the repeater output frequency, rather all repeaters transmit Tone 8 (103.5) on the output. The forest does not have direct or simplex channels for its 3 repeater nets.

Other

The unit identifiers follow the function name, district, position number system. Employees assigned to the Forest Supervisor's Office have identifiers beginning with the number 1. The Cleveland National Forest Emergency Communications Center (ECC) is co-located with Cal Fire's Monte Vista Interagency Communications Center (MVICC). The ECC also dispatches for the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex, the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge and the Sycuan Indian Reservation. It is a 24 hour operation. The ECC's call sign is "Monte Vista."

Channel Plan

Cleveland National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description
1 1-12 168.7500 171.4250 CNF 1 Forest Forest Repeater Net
2 All excp. 1,6,8 168.1500 169.7250 CNF 2 Admin Admin Repeater Net
3 2,5,10 164.1250 164.8250 CNF 3 Service USFS Southern CA Service Repeater Net
4 168.6625 168.6625 CNF 4 Prjct Region 5 Project Net (Note: R5 2014 listing did not show a channel 4, this channel is assumed from past years)
5 168.2000 168.2000 CNF 5 NIFC T2 NIFC Tac 2
6 166.5500 166.5500 CNF 6 R5 T4 R5 Tac 4 Palomar Ranger District Initial Attack
7 167.1125 167.1125 CNF 7 R5 T5 R5 Tac 5 Trabuco Ranger District Initial Attack
8 168.2375 168.2375 CNF 8 R5 T6 R5 Tac 6 Descanso Ranger District Initial Attack
9 151.1900 151.1900 CNF 9 CF Loc Cal Fire MVU Local Direct (Note: Tone 3 - 131.8 Rx Side)
10 151.3550 159.3000 CNF F10 CF C1 Cal Fire Command 1 (Note: Tone 8 - 103.5 Rx Side)
11 151.2650 159.3300 CNF 11 CF C2 Cal Fire Command 2 (Note: Tone 8 - 103.5 Rx Side)
12 151.3400 159.3450 CNF 12 CF C3 Cal Fire Command 3 (Note: Tone 8 - 103.5 Rx Side)
13 151.2500 151.2500 CNF 13 CF T5 Cal Fire Tac 5 (Note: Tone 16 - 192.8 Rx Side)
14 151.4600 151.4600 CNF 14 CF T12 Cal Fire Tac 12 (Note: Tone 16 - 192.8 Rx Side)
15 151.4750 151.4750 CNF 15 CF T13 Cal Fire Tac 13 Tone 16 Rx Side (Note: Tone 16 - 192.8 Rx Side)
16 169.1125 169.1125 A/G 59 CA4 (P) National Air-Ground 59 CA Zone 4 Primary


Tones

CNF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
1 Sierra 110.9
2 Santiago Peak 123.0
3 Elsinore 131.8
4 High Point 136.5
5 Cuyumaca 146.2
6 Ortega 156.7
7 Los Pinos 167.9
8 Boucher 103.5
9 Lyons Peak 100.0
10 Portable Repeater 107.2
11 Black Mtn. 114.8
12 Sitton Peak 127.3

Eldorado National Forest (ENF - Forest #03) KMB 6-6-0

Established in 1910, the Eldorado National Forest encompasses 596,724 acres and is located on the west slope of the central Sierra Nevada. It ranges in elevation from 1,000 feet in the foothills to more than 10,000 feet above sea level along the Sierra crest. A complicated ownership pattern exists. The parcels of other ownership (private or other Agency land) are mostly isolated and surrounded on all sides by National Forest land. An opposite pattern occurs outside of the main forest boundary where several small scattered pieces of National Forest lands are separated from the main body and surrounded by lands of other ownership (private and other government agencies). The area within the boundary of the forest is 786,994 acres of which 190,270 acres is private or in other government agency ownership. The remaining 596,724 acres is National Forest land.

The mountainous topography is broken by the steep canyons of the Mokelumne, Cosumnes, American, and Rubicon rivers. Plateaus of generally moderate relief are located between these steep canyons. The principle vegetative types found on the forest are woodland, chaparral, mixed conifer, true fir, and subalpine. A wide variety of hardwoods, brush, grasses, and forbs are mixed in with each of these forest types. Water is a major resource of the Eldorado National Forest. The average acre on the Forest receives about 56 inches of precipitation annually. Average annual runoff is about 29 inches. This is roughly equal to a yield of 2.4 acre-feet of water per acre of land per year; therefore National Forest lands yield an estimated 1,444,000 acre-feet annually An acre foot of water is equivalent to 325,850 gallons of water, the amount consumed in one year by the average household of 4 people.

The forest is located within 3 - 4 hours driving time from the San Francisco Bay Area, a metropolitan complex of 4.5 million people. Sacramento is located within 1 - 1 1/2 hours driving time from the forest with a population of over 1,000,000 people. The forest is divided into the Placerville (District 6), Pacific (District 5), Georgetown (District 3), and Amador (District 1) Ranger Districts with the Forest Supervisor's Office in Placerville.

RADIO SYSTEM

The Eldorado National Forest does not use channel numbers to describe the frequencies it uses, rather it describes them by name. Channel plans vary based on the ranger district and function to which they are assigned. The names are shown below under "Description" for each channel.

Direct or simplex communications are not conducted on the forest's repeater nets such as Forest Net. Tactical frequencies are used instead. Almost all handheld radios in use by the Forest Service are the Bendix-King. These radios have 16 groups and 16 channels per group. Only one group can be used at a time. By eliminating the simplex operation of the 5 Forest Service repeater nets the forest uses, 5 channels are available for other frequencies.

Repeaters

The repeater's input tone is transmitted on the output frequency. Remote base stations are located on Bald Mtn., Big Hill and Leek Springs and each also has a repeater installed as well.

Other

The unit identifier system is unknown. The Eldorado National Forest Dispatch Center is co-located with Cal Fire's Camino Interagency Dispatch Center. It also dispatches for the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. It is a 24 hour operation. The Center's call sign is "Camino."


Channel Plan

Eldorado National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description
*** 1-11 171.5250 169.9500 ENF Forest Forest Net
*** 1-11 172.3250 173.7625 ENF Admin Admin Net
*** 1-11 164.1250 164.8250 ENF Service Service Net
*** 1,2,3 172.3750 164.9625 TMU Fire Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Fire Net (Commonly referred to as "Basin Fire")
*** 1,2,3 171.5750 165.4125 TMU Admin Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Admin Net (Commonly referred to as "Basin Admin")
*** 1-8 151.1900 159.2250 AEU Local Cal Fire Amador-Eldorado Local Net Tone 5 (145.2) Rx Side
*** 1-16 155.9025 159.2275 Eldr Cmd Eldorado County Command
*** 2,4 153.9350 158.880 Amdr Cmd Amador County Command (Note: Tone 2 - 123.0 Rx Side)
*** 168.0500 168.0500 NIFC T1 NIFC Tac 1
*** 168.2000 168.2000 NIFC T2 NIFC Tac 2
*** 168.6000 168.6000 NIFC T3 NIFC Tac 3
*** 166.5500 168.5500 R5 T4 R5 Tac 4
*** 167.1125 167.1125 R5 T5 R5 Tac 5
*** 168.2375 168.2375 R5 T6 R5 Tac 6
*** 168.6625 168.6625 R5 Project R5 Project Net
*** 151.1600 151.1600 CF T2 Cal Fire Tac 2 (Note: Tone 16 - 192.8 Rx Side)
*** 151.3700 151.3700 CF T8 Cal Fire Tac 8 (Note: Tone 16 - 192.8 Rx Side)
*** 151.3850 151.3850 CF T9 Cal Fire Tac 9 (Note: Tone 16 - 192.8 Rx Side)
*** 151.2200 151.2200 CF A/G Cal Fire Air to Ground
*** 167.5000 167.5000 CA 2 A/G 14 (P) National Air Ground 14 - CA Zone 2 Primary
*** 169.1125 169.1125 CA 2 A/G 59 (S) National Air Ground 59 - CA Zone 2 Secondary


Tones

ENF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
1 Alder Ridge 110.9
2 Leek Springs Hill 123.0
3 Bald Mtn. 131.8
4 Big Hill 136.5
5 Pine Hill 146.2
6 Echo Summit 156.7
7 Mt. Reba 167.9
8 Bunker Hill 103.5
9 Hawkins Peak 100.0
10 Walker Ridge 107.2
11 Sourdough Hill 114.8

Inyo National Forest (INF - Forest #04) KMB 6-7-0

Located in California's beautiful Eastern Sierra, the Inyo National Forest offers clean air, crystal blue skies, mountain lakes and streams, challenging trails, high mountain peaks and beautiful views. The Inyo National Forest extends 165 miles near the California and Nevada border. It covers about 2 million acres, mostly on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. Elevations range from 4,000 feet in the Owens Valley to 14,505 feet at Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States. The forest is home to many natural wonders including Mt. Whitney, Mono Lake, the Mammoth Lakes Basin, and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. More than 800,000 acres are in nine Congressionally-designated Wilderness Areas. Among them is the John Muir Wilderness, which receives the most use per acre per year of any wilderness area in the western United States. The Mt. Whitney trail corridor is the most challenging trail to manage in the National Forest System and has the only day use quota and permit requirement on any National Forest. The Inyo consistently ranks in the top 5 National Forests in recreation use and its developed recreation sites (campgrounds, picnic areas, nature trails interpretive and historical sites, visitor centers, etc. receive the most use of any one National Forest, approximately twice that of the number 2 National Forest in this category. The Forest is divided into the Mono Lake (District 1), Mammoth (District 2), White Mountain (District 3) and Mt. Whitney (District 4) Ranger Districts with the Forest Supervisor's Office in Bishop. Employee working in or out of the Supervisor's Office use identifiers that start with the number 5.


RADIO SYSTEM

The Inyo National Forest does not have direct, or simplex channels on its Forest Net frequencies. The Forest is divided into two geographical nets, Forest Net - North and Forest Net - South. The Mono Lake and Mammoth Ranger Districts are on the North Net. The White Mountain Ranger District uses the North Net for those areas north of the bottom of the Sherwin Grade on U.S. 395 (McGee and Rock Creek Canyons and the Casa Diablo areas east of Crowley Lake) and the South Net south of that point (Buttermilk Country, Bishop Creek and Big Pine Creek to Division Creek as well as the White Mountains (Westguard Pass north). The Mt. Whitney District uses the South Net only (from Division Creek south to the Kern Plateau and the Inyo Mountains - south of Westguard Pass). Some areas of Bishop Creek and the north end of the White Mountains are covered by Glass Mountain only (Tone 3) and are exceptions to this North Net/South Net configuration. Silver Peak, northeast of Bishop in the White Mountains is the only electronic site with repeaters on both nets and is the location of the North Net remote base. The North Net remote base is on Silver Peak and the South Net remote base is on Mazourka Peak northeast of Independence. The links for the remote bases utilize UHF only. Channels have not been provided for direct (simplex) communications on the 3 nets.

Other

The fire organizations of the Inyo National Forest and Bishop Field Office of the BLM's Central California District are integrated, with an Inyo National Forest Fire Management Officer (Chief 1) managing the combined organization. The Assistant Forest Fire Management Officer (Chief 2) is a BLM employee. Both work from the jointly located Forest Supervisor's Office/Field Office in Bishop, California. The Mono Basin Interagency Fire Station located west of Mono Lake, houses Type III engines from each agency and a USFS patrol unit. The Topaz Interagency Fire Station, located on U.S. 395 near the Nevada state line, at the north end of the Bishop Field Office jurisdiction, houses one Type III BLM engine and a Type 4 engine and patrol unit from the Toiyabe National Forest. The BLM units at both stations as well as the Inyo National Forest units on the Mono Lake Ranger District are supervised by a USFS division chief and BLM battalion. This organization uses the two Inyo National Forest nets for its primary nets. The BLM net is used as an alternate dispatch or command net when multiple fire starts/large incidents occur.

The State Responsibility Area (SRA) inside the Inyo National Forest is in the direct protection area of the Inyo National Forest and the SRA outside the National Forest boundaries in Mono County is in the direct protection area of the BLM. In exchange the BLM land in Inyo County is in the direct protection area of Cal Fire's San Bernardino Unit, Owens Valley Division.

The unit identifiers follow the function name, district, position number system. The Owens Valley Interagency Dispatch Center is located in the joint Inyo National Forest-BLM Bishop Field Office facility in Bishop. It also provides dispatch for the BLM Central California District - Bishop Field Office with 1700 series identifiers, 1700 is the field office manager, 1710 is real estate, 1720 is the assistant field officer manager, 1730 is resource management, 1740 is recreation, 1750 is range management, 1760 is minerals management, 1760 is archaeology. Law enforcement officers identify with the field office number, followed by "R" for ranger and then by the officer number. example "17R1." It provides fire function dispatching for two National Park Service units: Devils Postpile National Monument and the Manzanar National Historic Site. Law enforcement dispatching for Devils Postpile is provided by Yosemite National Park using a link to its law enforcement net located on Mammoth Mountain. This center is not a 24 hour operation, but is open 7 days per week, year long. When the Owens Valley Center is shut down the San Bernardino Federal Interagency Communications Center ("San Bernardino") provides dispatching as it is able to control the entire Inyo/BLM radio system. The center's identifier is "Inyo."


Channel Lineup

Inyo National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description
1 1-3, 8-9, 10 168.1250 173.8000 INF Frst N North Forest Repeater Net
2 168.2000 168.2000 NIFC T2 NIFC Tac 2
3 4-8 168.7250 173.8375 INF Frst S South Forest Repeater Net
4 3-4, 8 171.5000 172.4000 INF Serv Service Repeater Net
5 167.4750 167.4750 A/G 41 CA3 P National Air to Ground 41 - California Zone 3 Primary
6 168.6625 168.6625 R5 Proj Region 5 Project/Fire Net
7 4, 5, 8, 10 169.7125 163.1250 BLM Bshp FO BLM Bishop Field Office Net


Tones

INF North Forest Net Tones
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
1 Mt. Warren 110.9
2 Mammoth Mtn. 123.0
3 Glass Mtn. 131.8
8 Silver Peak 103.5
9 June Mtn. 100.0
10 Sweetwater* 107.2
  • Located on the Toiyabe NF near the U.S. 395/California State Route 108 junction. It provides radio coverage for the northern portion of the Bishop Field Office jurisdiction.


INF South Forest Net Tones
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
4 Mazourka Peak 136.5
5 Cerro Gordo Peak 146.2
6 Olancha Peak 156.7
7 Piper Peak 167.9
8 Silver Peak 103.5


INF Service Net Tones
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
3 Glass Mtn. 131.8
4 Mazourka Peak 136.5
8 Silver Peak 103.5


BLM Bishop Field Office Net Tones
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
4 Potato Peak 136.5
5 Cerro Gordo Peak 146.2
8 Silver Peak 103.5
10 Sweetwater 107.2

Klamath National Forest (KNF - Forest #05) KMB 6-8-0

The Klamath National Forest encompasses nearly 1.7 million acres of land straddling the California and Oregon border with the majority in California and a small portion in Oregon. The Forest is divided into two sections separated by the Shasta Valley and the I-5 corridor. In the mountains to the west, the terrain is steep and rugged and is arguably the most rugged in the Pacific Southwest Region. The east-side has the relatively gentler, rolling terrain of volcanic origin. Here the Goosenest Ranger District also administers the Butte Valley National Grassland, the only National Grassland in Region 5. With elevations ranging from 450 to 8,900 feet above sea level, the Klamath National Forest is one of America’s most biologically diverse regions. It is situated in a transitional region between the hotter and drier areas to the south and the colder, wetter climate to the north.

The forest includes 5 Congressionally designated wilderness areas, Marble Mountain, Russian, Trinity Alps, Red Buttes and Siskiyou. In the lower elevations, you'll find park-like stands of Ponderosa Pines, while in the higher elevations, the Douglas fir, sub-alpine fir and mixed conifer stands beg to be explored. There are 200 miles of river system for rafting and 152 miles of wild and scenic rivers on the forest. The Forest also helps to meet local and national needs for timber, gold, and other natural resources. The forest is divided into the Oak Knoll (District 1), Happy Camp (District 2), Salmon River (District 4), Scott River (District 5) and Goosenest (District 7) Ranger Districts, with the Forest Supervisor's Office in Yreka.

RADIO SYSTEM

The Klamath National Forest is unique in that it has a separate repeater net for each of the 5 ranger districts on the forest. The Black Net covers the Oak Knoll Ranger District, the Orange Net is provided for the Happy Camp Ranger District, the Salmon Net is used on the Salmon River Ranger District,, the Sage Net is assigned to Goosenest Ranger District and finally the River Net is for the Scott River Ranger District. A simplex channel is included for each net. The R5 project/fire net is not used on this forest due to conflicts with frequency use in the Pacific Northwest Region (R6 - Oregon and Washington).

OTHER

The unit identifier system is unknown. The Yreka Interagency Dispatch Center provides dispatching services for the Klamath National Forest is co-located with Cal Fire's Siskiyou Unit dispatch center located in the California Siskiyou Unit headquarters. It is a 24 hour operation. The center's identifier is "Yreka".


Klamath National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description
1 7 164.175 164.175 KNF Frst Dir Forest Net Direct
2 1-12 164.175 164.975 KNF Frst Rpt Forest Repeater Net
3 168.2000 168.2000 NIFC T2 NIFC Tac 2
4 167.6000 167.6000 A/G43 CA1 P National Air-Ground 43 CA Zone 1 Primary
5 166.8750 166.8750 A/G08 CA1 S National Air-Ground 08 CA Zone 1 Secondary
6 7 168.1750 168.1750 KNF BlkNet Dir Black Net Direct - Oak Knoll RD
7 1,2,10 168.1750 171.5250 KNF BlkNet Rpt Black Net Repeater - Oak Knoll RD
8 7 168.7750 168.7750 KNF OrngNet Dir Orange Net Direct - Happy Camp RD
9 2,4,11 168.7750 170.5750 KNF OrngNet Rpt Orange Net Repeater - Happy Camp RD
10 7 171.5000 171.5000 KNF SlmNet Dir Salmon Net Direct - Salmon River RD
11 5,6 171.5000 172.4000 KNF SlmNet Rpt Salmon Net Repeater - Salmon River RD
12 7 172.3250 172.3250 KNF SageNet Dir Sage Net Direct - Goosenest RD
13 8,9 172.3250 173.3625 KNF SageNet Rpt Sage Net Repeater - Goosenest RD
14 7 172.2500 172.2500 KNF RvrNet Dir River Net Direct - Scott River RD
15 2,7,10 172.250 171.5500 KND RvrNet Rpt River Net Repeater - Scott River RD
KNF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
1 Oak Knoll 110.9
2 Lake Mtn. 123.0
3 Baldy Lookout 131.8
4 Ukonom 136.5
5 Orleans 146.2
6 Orleans 156.7
7 Bolivar 167.9
8 Ball Mtn. 103.8
9 Orr Mtn. 100.0
10 Collins Baldy 107.2
11 Slater 114.8
12 Paradise Craggy 127.3

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (TMU - Forest #19) KMB 6-6-4

In 1973, this most unique area of America's National Forest System was established. The establishment of the LTBMU was not really the creation of a "new" National Forest, but rather a re-organization of National Forest Lands that had already existed in the Tahoe Basin since 1899. In the last year of the 19th century, President McKinley created the "Lake Tahoe Forest Reserve" to conserve the remaining forests of the basin following the decades of logging for the Comstock mining boom. National Forests were beginning to be established over the years since 1891, and the Lake Tahoe Forest Reserve would officially enter the National Forest System when the U.S. Forest Service was established in 1905. Creation of the Lake Tahoe Forest Reserve was the first official step in a process of conservation at the Tahoe Basin that is now over a century in development. As the years rolled on, the reserve lands of the basin were divided between three large and separate National Forests that surrounded the basin on three sides. These three National Forests were divided between two Forest Services regions, one based in San Francisco (R5) and one based in Ogden Utah (R4). To the east was the Toiyabe, to the south and west was the Eldorado, and to the north the Tahoe National Forest. Each of these separately managed forests had land reaching into the basin, yet most all of the shoreline land was privately held.

By the 1960s development around Lake Tahoe was in high gear, while early attempts at regional planning were being forged. By the early years of the 1970s, it became clear to Forest Service managers that the divided forest management of the basin hindered a unified approach to public land management. The Forest Service and the National Forests they managed were changing. Science and ecosystem-management were becoming more important tools for the Rangers and Foresters. Urbanization and development were clashing with a growing environmental awareness of the public. The National Forest land of the basin needed its own unique "management unit." Two regions and three National Forests managed by three different Ranger Districts fragmented the management of National Forest lands in the Basin. In April of 1973, the National Forest lands of the basin were consolidated into the new Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU). This new and unusual sort of forest area would be small, just 154,000 acres, but the issues and public use of these lands is large. As of 2014 over 78% of the area around the lake is public land managed by the Forest Service. A core job for this unit would is comprehensive watershed protection and restoration, as part of an ecosystem approach to management. The forests, the wildlife, the soil, as well as the recreational values and uses would be managed as a dynamic system. As the largest land manager of the basin, the Forest Service has, and will continue to play a key role in managing, conserving and improving the lands that contribute so much to the quality of Lake Tahoe, its special communities, lifestyle and experiences.

There are no ranger districts dividing this "forest," the LTBMU is headed by a Forest Supervisor, with the Forest Supervisor's Office in South Lake Tahoe. Several bills to establish the Lake Tahoe National Forest have been introduced in the U.S. Congress using the LTBMU boundary, however none have passed so far.

The input tone of each repeater is transmitted on the output frequency.

There are 3 fire stations on the LTBMU, Meyers, William Kent and Spooner Summit. As there are not any ranger districts on this "forest" every identifier, for an unknown reason, begins with the number 4. The LTBMU is dispatched by the Cal Fire - Eldorado NF co-located communications center in Camino, just east of Placerville. The center's identifier is "Camino."


Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description
1 172.3750 172.3750 TMU Fire Dir Basin Fire Net Direct
2 1-3 172.3750 164.9625 TMU Fire Rpt Basin Fire Net Repeater
3 171.5750 171.5750 TMU Adm Dir Basin Admin Net Direct
4 1-3 171.5750 165.4125 TMU Adm Rpt Basin Admin Net Repeater
5 168.6625 168.6625 R5 Proj R5 Project Net
6 168.2000 168.2000 NIFC T2 NIFC Tac 2
7 6 154.2650 154.2650 V Fire 22 V Fire 22 (Note: Tone 6 - 156.7 Tx & Rx)
8 6 154.2950 154.2950 V Fire 23 V Fire 23 (Note: Tone 6 - 156.7 Tx & Rx)
9 6 154.3025 154.3025 V Fire 26 V Fire 26 (Note: Tone 6 - 156.7 Tx & Rx)
10 9 153.9500 154.4450 SLT FD South Lake Tahoe FD (Use Tone 9 - 100.0)
11 4,9 154.3400 153.8900 Lk Vlly Cmd Lake Valley FD Command (Use Tone 4 - 136.5 or Tone 9 - 100.0)
12 8,9,11,13 154.1300 159.495 CF NEU East Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer East (Use Tone 3 - 131.8 Rx Side)
13 154.2350 154.2350 N Lk Tahoe FPD North Lake Tahoe FPD - Incline
14 7 155.0250 158.7750 TahDoug FD Tahoe Douglas FD (Use Tone 7 - 167.9)
15 1-11 171.5250 169.9500 ENF ForNetRpt Eldorado NF Forest Net Repeater*
16 162.5500 NWS WX National Weather Service
17 167.5000 167.5000 A/G 14 CA2 P National Air Ground 14 - CA 2 Primary
18 169.1125 169.1125 A/G 59 CA2 S National Air Ground 59 - CA 2 Secondary
  • See the Eldorado NF listing for repeater tones.


TMU Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
1 Snow Valley 110.9
2 East Peak 123.0
3 Scout Peak 131.8


Cal Fire NEU East Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
8 Mt. Rose 103.5
9 Snow Valley 100.0
11 Mt. Pluto 114.8
13 Northstar 141.3

Lassen National Forest (LNF - Forest #06) KMB 6-9-0

The forest was formed in 1905 when it was named one of the National Forest Reserves, which evolved into the National Forest system. It is named after pioneer Peter Lassen, who mined, ranched and promoted the area to emigrant parties in the 1850s. The Lassen National Forest is a total of 1.2 million acres or 1,875 square miles. The Forest lies at the heart of one of the most fascinating areas of California, called the Crossroads. Here the granite of the Sierra Nevada, the lava of the Cascades and the Modoc Plateau, and the sagebrush of the Great Basin meet and blend. It is an area of great variety, greeting visitors and residents alike with a wide array of recreational opportunities and adventures. Fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, bicycling, boating, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and just exploring and learning about nature are among the many popular pastimes.

Within the Lassen National Forest you can explore a lava tube or the land of Ishi, the last survivor of the Yahi Yana Native American tribe; watch pronghorn antelope glide across sage flats or an osprey snatch fish from lake waters; drive four-wheel trails into high granite country appointed with sapphire lakes or discover spring wildflowers on foot. The Forest is divided into the Almanor (District 1), Hat Creek (District 3) and Eagle Lake (District 8) Ranger Districts, with the Forest Supervisor's Office in Susanville.

RADIO SYSTEM

Repeaters

The Lassen National Forest has a Forest Net with 8 repeaters and an Admin Net with 4 repeaters. Channels allowing direct (simplex) communications on each net. There are channels for the fire net of the BLM Northern California District and the local net for the Lassen-Modoc Unit of Cal Fire. The first 11 channels listed are common to all the radios of the Forest, regardless of function or location.

Other

The unit identifier system for non-fire personnel used on the Lassen National Forest is unknown. The Susanville Interagency Fire Center provides dispatching for the Lassen National Forest, the Northern California District of the BLM, the Lassen-Modoc-Plumas Unit of Cal Fire, and the fire function of Lassen National Park. Law enforcement services for Lassen National Park is provided by the dispatch center at Yosemite National Park. The unit identifier for this center is "Susanville."


Channel Plan


Lassen National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description
1 172.2250 172.2250 LNF Frst Dir Forest Net Direct
2 1-8 172.2250 171.4750 LNF Frst Rpt Forest Net Repeater
3 7 169.9500 169.9500 LNF Admin Dir Admin Net Direct
4 2-5 169.9500 164.9125 LNF Admin Rpt Admin Net Repeater
5 4 171.6250 171.6250 BLM NOD Fire BLM Northern California District Fire Net Direct
6 168.6625 168.6625 R5 ProjNet R5 Project Net
7 168.2000 168.2000 NIFC T2 NIFC Tac 2
8 167.6000 167.6000 A/G 43 CA1 P National Air to Ground 43 CA1 Zone 1
9 151.2200 151.2200 CF A/G Cal Fire Air to Ground
10 151.2500 151.2500 CF LMU LocDir Cal Fire Lake-Modoc-Plumas Unit, Local Net Direct
11 1-7 151.2500 159.4050 CF LMU LocRpt Cal Fire Lake-Modoc-Plumas Unit, Local Net Repeater

Tones


LNF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
1 Dyer Mtn. 110.9
2 Widow Mtn 123.0
3 West Prospect 131.8
4 Antelope Mtn. 136.5
5 Turner Mtn. 146.2
6 Bald Mtn. 156.7
7 Little Antelope 167.9
8 Lassen Peak 103.5


The Forest Net (Channel 2) works on all of these repeaters. The Fire Net (Channel 4) is installed at 4 of these repeater sites as listed in the channel line up table above.


Cal Fire Tones

LMU Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
1 Beckworth 110.9
2 Dyer Mtn. 123.0
3 Likely 131.8
4 Fredonyer 136.5
5 Widow Mtn. 146.2
6 Happy Camp 156.7
7 Roop 167.9

Los Padres National Forest (LPF - Forest #07) KME 2-1

The Los Padres ("the Fathers") National Forest encompasses approximately 1.762,400 acres of central California's scenic Coast and Transverse Ranges. The forest stretches across almost 220 miles from north to south and is divided between two noncontiguous areas. The northern portion, on the Monterey Ranger District, includes the beautiful Big Sur Coast and scenic interior areas. It contains the Ventana Wilderness, a home to the California Condor. The southern portion of the forest contains several mountain ranges including the Santa Lucia Mountains, La Panza Range, Caliente Range (a small part), Sierra Madre Mountains, San Rafael Mountains, Santa Ynez Mountains, and Topatopa Mountains; the highest parts of the forest are not within named mountain ranges, but are adjacent to the western San Emigdio Mountains and include Mount Pinos, Cerro Noroeste, and Reyes Peak. The forest is also adjacent to the Angeles National Forest and is nearby Carrizo Plain National Monument, on the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley and managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The Los Padres holds the distinction of being the only National Forest whose boundary reaches an ocean. Many rivers in southern and central California have their points of origin within the Los Padres National Forest, including the Carmel, Salinas, Cuyama, Sisquoc, Santa Ynez, Sespe, Ventura, and Piru. These rivers supply a substantial portion of the water needs of several downstream communities. There are 10 wilderness areas on the Los Padres covering 48% of the forest. The Los Padres serves an enormous population base including the San Francisco Bay Area, the greater Los Angeles Metropolitan area, the southern San Joaquin Valley and the many communities along the south and central coast. The Forest provides the scenic backdrop for many communities and plays a significant role in the quality of life in this area.

The Los Padres National Forest is a key area that is essential in the recovery efforts for the endangered California condor. The Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,471-acre refuge was established in 1974, is surrounded by the Los Padres. The Forest manages two condor sanctuaries, the 1200-acre Sisquoc Condor Sanctuary in the San Rafael Wilderness and the 53,000-acre Sespe Condor Sanctuary, north of the Hopper Mountain refuge..To protect the condor these sanctuaries are closed to the public

There is a considerable risk of wildfire in Los Padres National Forest resulting from a combination of weather, vegetation, terrain and human use. Intense wildfires, fed by accumulation of dead vegetation, cause substantial resource damage and are difficult and expensive to suppress. Wildfire burned over 2.3 million acres in Los Padres National Forest since 1912, for a historic average of 25,000 acres per year. Most wildfires in the forest are human-caused, the balance are lightning-caused. The average annual wildfire occurrence has increased steadily over the last 60 years. This increase is attributed to urban encroachment, expanded recreational use of the forest, and old-age chaparral. Chaparral accounts for over 95 percent of the acres burned annually by wildfire.

The forest is divided into five ranger districts, Monterey (District 1), Santa Lucia Ranger (District 3), Santa Barbara (District 4), Ojai (District 5) and Mount Pinos (District 7) Ranger Districts, with the Forest Supervisor's Office in Goleta. Employees working in and from the Supervisor's Office use identifiers starting with the number.

RADIO SYSTEM

The Los Padres National Forest has two repeater nets, Forest Net and Admin. For tactical communication two frequencies are utilized that are not assigned for tactical purposes anywhere else, . The two were frequencies originally assigned to the Los Padres for an admin net. The Forest gained two tactical frequencies, but was left without an admin net. The Forest is using its assigned Service Net frequency pair as an Admin net. The Los Padres has provided channels to enable direct or simplex communications on each repeater net. There are 16 repeaters on the Los Padres, numerous due to the distances involved and ruggedness of the terrain. One of the repeaters is located offshore on Santa Cruz island, the only repeater of this type in the Forest Service. There is one remote base, on Santa Ynez peak. The two Los Padres tactical channels, Channel 3 (170.475 MHz) and Channel 4 (172.350 MHz) can be configured for use in a portable command repeater with (Tone 15 - 162.2). When units arrive on the scene of an incident they are instructed to switch to Channel 3. If simultaneous incidents occur in proximity of each other the Communications Center will assign tactical frequencies to each incident, which may involve use of Channel 4.

Other

The Los Padres Communications Center provides All-Risk Dispatching services to the Los Padres National Forest, the Hopper Mountain and Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuges, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians, and initial attack and expanded dispatch services for "fire related" incidents occurring on Channel Islands National Park (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, San Nicholas, and Santa Barbara Islands), Bureau of Reclamation managed reservoirs Lake Casitas and Lake Cachuma, Vandenberg Air Force Base and Fort Hunter Ligget Army Training Base. This communications center is located in Santa Maria. Its identifier is "Los Padres."


Channel Plan

Los Padres National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description
1 170.4625 170.4625 LPF FrstDir Los Padres N.F. - Forest Net Direct
2 1-15 170.4625 164.9125 LPF FrstRpt Los Padres N.F. - Forest Net Repeater
3 170.4750 170.4750 LPF T3 Los Padres N.F. - Tac 3
4 172.3500 172.3500 LPF T4 Los Padres N.'F. - Tac 4
5 168.2000 168.2000 NIFC T2 NIFC Tac 2
6 167.4750 167.4750 A/G 41 CA03 P National Air-Ground 41 - CA03 Zone Primary
7 171.5500 171.5500 LPF ServDir Los Padres NF - Admin Net Direct
8 All but 7 171.5500 164.1500 LPF ServRpt Los Padres NF - Admin Net Repeater


Tones

Mendocino National Forest (MNF - Forest #08) KMB 7-1-0

The 913,306 acre Mendocino National Forest straddles the eastern spur of the Coastal Mountain Range in northwestern California, just a three hour drive north of San Francisco and Sacramento. It is 65 miles long, 35 miles across and is 913,306 acres in size. First set aside as a "forest reserve" by President Roosevelt on February 6,1907, it was originally named the Stony Creek Forest Reserve and later the California National Forest on July 1, 1908. This designation proved to be confusing with relation to the state itself, and President Herbert Hoover renamed it the Mendocino National Forest on July 12, 1932. This National Forest takes its name from Mendocino County which was named for Cape Mendocino in Humboldt County. In 1542 explorer Roderiques de Cabrillo named the cape in honor of Don Antonio de Mendoza, first viceroy of New Spain.

The Mendocino National Forest is the only one of California's 18 National Forests not crossed by a paved road or highway. Elevations in the Forest range from 750 feet in the Grindstone Creek Canyon in the Sacramento Valley foothills on the Forest's eastern edge to the 8092 feet of South Yolla Bolly Mountain in the northern part of the Forest. The average elevation is about 4000 feet.

There are two units managed by the Forest which are not located within the Mendocino boundary. The Chico Genetic Resource and Conservation Center is located on 209 acres, in Chico, CA. Development started in 1904 when the site was assigned to the Agricultural Research Service for the purpose of plant breeding research and plant introduction from all over the world. The facility was originally named the Plant Introduction Station. Two of the station's early accomplishments included introducing the pistachio in 1917 and the kiwi in 1934. The "mother" and "father" kiwi are still at the Center and are the oldest producing kiwi in the country. The Forest Service acquired the station in 1974. The Center's program gradually changed to developing and producing genetically improved plant material for the reforestation program of the Pacific Southwest Region. In 1992, the Center's name changed to Genetic Resource and Conservation Center which reflects the broader scope and role of genetics in the management of forest ecosystems. The propagation function has evolved including over 130 species of trees, shrubs, grasses, and other native species which are of great importance for the productivity, health, diversity and sustainable use of our forest ecosystems.

The Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area is located along sparkling Sacramento River, which bisects 488 acres of riparian forest, flowering grasslands, wetlands, and oak woodlands providing very diverse Naturewatch experiences, which can include gazing at animals from a viewing site, searching for spring wildflowers, observing the changing seasons, or immersing oneself in the clear waters of a national forest stream, among other activities. Engaging in NatureWatching activities leads to greater personal connection to the environment and the natural resources we all share. Birds literally flock to this variety of habitats over the course of the year, with over 125 species observed to date. It was originally one of many Bureau of Reclamation recreation areas on the Sacramento River in the area between Shasta Lake and the city of Sacramento. It was transferred to the Mendocino National Forest in the late 1980s.

The Mendocino National Forest is divided into the Grindstone (District 3), the Upper Lake (District 4) and the Covelo (District 5) ranger districts, with the Forest Supervisor's Office in Willows. The Grindstone Ranger District shares the Willows facility with the Forest Supervisor's Office.

RADIO SYSTEM

The forest has three repeater nets, Forest Net, Fire Net and Service Net. There are 8 repeater sites. All the nets have a channel for direct communication. The Forest Net has repeaters at all of the sites, the Fire Net has repeaters on all but one of the sties and the Service Net has repeaters at 6 of the sites. At one time the Service Net was used by the engineering and maintenance organization. They had to move off of this net when a fire necessitated its use. The radios of all the management functions share the first 9 channels.

Other

The Forest uses the function number identifier system. Identifiers of employees assigned to the Supervisor's Office begin with the number 1. The Mendocino Interagency Dispatch Center is located in the Forest Supervisor's Office. It dispatches for the Mendocino and the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Refuge Complex uses unit identifiers in the 8400 number series. The center serves as a channel or ordering point for logistics coordination with the Operations Northern California Geographical Area Coordination Center. It serves in this capacity for the Forest and Refuge Complex and for the following units it does not provide radio dispatch for: Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Round Valley Indian Reservation. The center uses the identifier of "Mendocino.".


Channel Plan

LPF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
Mendocino National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description
169.1750 169.1750 MNF Frst Dir Forest Net Direct
2 1-7,9 169.175 169.9750 MNF Frst Rpt Forest Net Repeater
3 171.5500 171.5500 MNF Fire Dir Fire Net Direct
4 1,2,5-7,9 171.5500 164.5000 MNF Fire Rpt Fire Net Repeater
5 171.7000 171.7000 MNF Serv Dir Service Net Direct
6 1,2,4-6,9 171.7000 172.4000 MNF Serv Rpt Service Net Repeater
7 168.2000 168.2000 NIFC T2 NIFC Tac 2
8 168.0500 168.0500 NIFC T1 NIFC Tac 1
9 168.6000 168.6000 NIFC T3 NIFC Tac 3

Repeater Tones


MNF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
1 St. John Mt. (E) 110.9
2 Anthony Peak (W) 123.0
3 Round Mtn. (E) 131.8
4 Sanhedrin Mt. (W) 136.5
5 Tomhead (E) 146.2
6 Goat Mtn. (E) 156.7
7 Mt. Konocti (W) 167.9
8 Not Assigned 103.5
9 Alder Springs (E) 100.0

The forest lists those repeaters to be used depending on what side of the mountain range crest the radio user is on.

Modoc National Forest (MDF - Forest #09) KMB 700

Modoc National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description


MDF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone

Plumas National Forest (PNF - Forest #11) KMD 7-8-0

Pluman National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description


PNF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone

San Bernardino National Forest (BDF - Forest #12) KME 2-0

San Bernardino National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description


BDF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone

Sequoia National Forest (SQF - Forest #13) KMB 7-4-0

Radio System

Channels

Sequoia National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description
1 8 168.6750 168.6750 SQF F1 Emergency Net Direct
2 1-14 167.67500 170.5750 SQF F2 Emergency Repeater Net
3 8 168.7750 168.7750 SQF F3 Fire Net Direct
4 1-14 168.7750 170.6000 SQF F4 Fire Repeater Net
5 8 168.1750 168.1750 SQF F5 Admin Net Direct
6 169.7250 169.7250 SQF F6 BLM Central CA DIstrict Admin Net Direct
7 4,5,8 169.7250 165.450 SQF F7 BLM Central CA District Admin Repeater
8 169.7750 169.7750 SQF F8 BLM Central CA District Fire Net Direct
9 2-8 169.7750 163.0250 SQF F9 BLM Central CA District Fire Repeater Net

Tones

CNF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone
1 Delilah Lookout 110.9
2 Buckrock Lookout 123.0
3 Mule Peak Lookout 131.8
4 Baker Point 136.5
5 Oakflat 146.2
6 Piute BM 156.7
7 Chimney Peak 167.9
8 Jordan Peak Lookout 103.5
9 Sherman Peak 100.0
10 Tobias Peak 107.2
11 Breckenridge 114.8
12 Parkridge 127.3
13 Converse 141.3
14 Olancha 151.4

Shasta-Trinity National Forests (SHF - Forest #14) KME 2-5

Shasta-Trinity National Forests Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description


SHF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone

Sierra National Forest (SNF - Forest #15) KME 2-6

Sierra National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description


SNF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone

Six Rivers National Forest (SRF - Forest #10) KMB 7-5-5

Six Rivers National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description


SRF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone

Stanislaus National Forest (STF - Forest #16) KME 2-4

Stanislaus National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description


STF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone

Tahoe National Forest (TNF - Forest #17) KMB 7-6-0

Tahoe National Forest Channel Lineup
Channel Tone(s) Rx Tx Alpha Tag Description


TNF Repeaters
Tone Location CTCSS Tone

Wiki Links




Return to DB page: United States Forest Service (CA)
Return to Wiki page: California (US), US Forest Service