Forest Management Plan Update
The Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeño Indians needed an updated Forest Management Plan (FMP) that reflected current forest conditions, Tribal priorities, federal requirements, and emerging forest health concerns. Trihydro updated the Tribe’s previous 2013 Forest Management Plan in 2025, incorporating current forest inventory information, GIS data, forest metrics, pest and disease concerns, road conditions, forest protection needs, and implementation priorities.
The update was needed because significant changes had occurred since the prior FMP and inventory. The plan identified epidemic levels of mortality to Coast Live Oak and Black Oak due to Goldspotted Oak Borer as one of the major changed conditions affecting Reservation forestlands.
Trihydro’s work included a review of the prior forest management plan, updates to the BIA Indian Affairs Manual, GIS data and inventory plots, inventory design considerations, forest metrics, and coordination with project partners.
The updated plan included a forest description, inventory analysis, forest protection, forest land management, implementation planning, road analysis, and appendices to support future management actions. The implementation plan identified priority actions, including road improvement, thinning, hazard tree removal, dead and dying tree removal, timber harvest, and boundary marking, with defined priority levels, timelines, and required resources.
By updating the FMP, Trihydro helped the Tribe document current forest conditions, identify priority actions, and maintain a planning framework that supports stewardship, resilience, and future funding opportunities. The plan also provides a practical foundation for addressing wildfire, pests and diseases, access, and long-term forest management needs.
