Information Portal

CalTREES is the online timber harvest permitting system that will streamline the submission and review processes for timber harvesting documents. The system is used by CAL FIRE staff and Review Team agencies (State and Regional Water Boards, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Geological Survey) to process and review timber harvesting documents submitted on paper or online.
Features of CalTREES
The CalTREES system has several features that are available to the public:
- Ability to search for timber harvesting documents and related information
- Run reports online and get the most up to date information
If you register for an account in CalTREES, there are more features available, such as:
- Submission of Notification Requests to receive email notification about timber harvesting documents
- Ability to submit Public Comments online
- Registered Professional Foresters, Licensed Timber Operators, and Landowners have the capability to electronically submit, track, and update Emergency and Exemption timber harvesting documents
Benefits of CalTREES
- Easy-to-use timber harvesting forms, including reminders for RPFs, LTOs, and Landowners of regulatory requirements while entering their information
- Easy-to-follow processes for submitting and reviewing timber harvest documents
- Ability for public to request automatic notifications based on selected criteria (e.g., County, Watershed, Legal Description, Notice of Submission, Notice of Filing)
- Better accountability of review timelines
- Efficient collaboration for Review Team Agencies
- Reduce the amount of manual, paper-based processes
- Electronic notifications and two-way communication between the State and document/plan submitters
- Search and review of timber harvesting documents and related information
- Streamline monitoring efforts
- Replace outdated, 20+ year old technology
Online Submission of Emergency and Exemption Notices
Online submission of Emergency and Exemption harvesting documents is available in CalTREES. The system is designed to guide you through the online submission process. CalTREES will indicate required fields on each form and provide you with reminders about regulatory requirements. Navigate to the user guide and training video in the Training Materials section of this page to view all of the CalTREES features.
Visit the CalTREES website to sign up for your CalTREES account. If you are a RPF, you should have received additional information regarding the online submission process. Please contact the CalTREES Help Desk at CalTREES.support@fire.ca.gov or (916) 704-7579 with any questions.
Please Note: Emergency and Exemption Notices will still be accepted via paper submission to the Review Team offices listed in the Questions/Support on this webpage.
Revised Timber Harvesting Forms
To improve efficiency, CAL FIRE has released revised CalTREES forms that both conform with the Forest Practice Act and Rules and align with the new CalTREES software. To view the revised forms, please visit the Timber Harvesting Forms page.
Additional information about Licensed Timber Operators
Use this link to access additional information about Licensed Timber Operators: https://www.fire.ca.gov/programs/resource-management/forest-practice/timber-harvesting/licensed-timber-operators-ltos/.
CalTREES Events
There are many opportunities to learn about CalTREES. Our project team has been working diligently to spread the word about the new system, help understand how it works, and demonstrate what it can do for you. Contact the CalTREES Support Desk at CalTREES.Support@fire.ca.gov if you or your organization would like to host a group training session or live demonstration of CalTREES. Join the CNRA_AB1492 email list to receive notifications about upcoming CalTREES events and training sessions.
Questions/Support
Please refer to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), or contact one of the following resources, based on the type of assistance you require.
For technical questions about the CalTREES online system, please contact the CalTREES Help Desk at CalTREES.support@fire.ca.gov or (916) 704-7579.
For any other questions about the Forest Practice Program or timber harvesting in general, contact the Regional Office nearest your location.
Address:
135 Ridgway Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Phone Number:
(707) 576-2959
Counties Served:
Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, western Trinity, Yolo
Address:
6105 Airport Road
Redding, CA 96002
Phone Number:
(530) 224-2445
Counties Served:
Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, eastern Trinity, Yuba
Address:
1234 East Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93710
Phone Number:
(559) 243-4107
Counties Served:
Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Imperials, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Tulare, Ventura
Training Materials
Navigation through CalTREES without logging in
Register and log into CalTREES
Navigation through CalTREES after logging in
Submission of Public Comment
Submission of Exemptions and Emergency Notices
Submission of Notification Request
CalTREES Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is CalTREES?
The California Timber Regulations and Environmental Evaluation System (CalTREES) is an online system that will streamline the submission and review processes for timber harvesting documents. The system will feature easy-to-use forms and real-time reporting and analytics.
Who will be impacted by CalTREES?
The system impacts multiple State entities, including CAL FIRE and Review Team Agencies (i.e., the State and Regional Water Boards, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Geological Survey). Additionally, Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs), Licensed Timber Operators (LTOs), and landowners can electronically submit, track, and update Emergency and Exemption timber harvesting documents online via CalTREES. The public has access to CalTREES to search and review timber harvesting documents, submit comments online, and sign up for notification pertaining to timber harvesting plans.
What CalTREES features are currently available?
- Ability to search for timber harvesting documents and related information
- Run reports online and get the most up to date information
If you register for an account in CalTREES, these additional features are available:
- Submission of Notification Requests to receive email notification about timber harvesting documents
- Ability to submit Public Comments online
- Registered Professional Foresters, Licensed Timber Operators, and Landowners have the capability to electronically submit, track, and update Emergency and Exemption timber harvesting documents
What are the remaining CalTREES features and when can I begin using them?
- The ability for Registered Professional Foresters and Licensed Timber Operators to submit THPs and NTMPs.
What training and support is available?
To ensure that new users have the tools and support they need during the onboarding process, the following are available:
- The CalTREES User Guide which includes step-by-step instructions.
- Access to pre-recorded training videos and webinars.
- Opportunities to practice and receive guided instruction in group sessions.
- Contact information for additional support (i.e., CalTREES Help Desk for technical support and CAL FIRE Regional Offices for Forest Practice Program and general timber harvesting questions.)
Why have the timber harvesting forms been updated?
To improve efficiency, CAL FIRE released revised harvesting document forms that both conform with the Forest Practice Act and Rules and align with the new CalTREES software.
Where can I submit comments about the new timber harvesting forms?
Please send all technical and Board rule-related issues to Shawn Headley at Shawn.Headley@fire.ca.gov
Where can I find the CalTREES application to search for timber harvesting documents?
The CalTREES application is located at the following url: https://caltreesplans.resources.ca.gov/caltrees
Am I able to search submitted timber harvesting documents?
Yes, CalTREES provides the ability to search for specific fields within the database, as well as review PDF timber harvesting documents that have been submitted.
How do I search for timber harvesting documents?
For detailed instructions, please refer to the CalTREES User Guide and/or training videos listed in the Training Materials section of this webpage.
What is a “wildcard” and how can this help me narrow my search criteria?
The CalTREES application has a wildcard character (%) that can be used to assist with searching for plans in CalTREES. The wildcard is used to take the place of any other character or string of characters in the field (e.g., the name of a Region or County). The wildcard can be used multiple times in a search field to assist in narrowing down the search results. Additional details can be found in the CalTREES User Guide.
Is there a dropdown list of Counties to help narrow my search?
Not currently within CalTREES, but you can use the “wildcard” feature and a three-letter identifier for each County. A list of all counties and their abbreviations is listed in the CalTREES User Guide.
What criteria can I search by?
See Appendix A of the CalTREES User Guide for a complete list of Search Criteria.
Can I receive notifications about timber harvesting documents?
Yes, you can register to receive email notifications based on selected criteria (e.g., County, Watershed, Legal Description, Notice of Submission, Notice of Filing).
Am I required to submit timber harvest documents online?
Not at this time. Currently, CalTREES has the ability for Emergency and Exemption harvesting documents to be submitted online. Hard copy submittal require the use of the updated timber harvesting forms.
What are the benefits of submitting timber harvest documents online?
CalTREES offers many benefits for Registered Professional Foresters, Licensed Timber Operators, and landowners:
- The system is designed to guide you through the process by using updated timber harvesting forms.
- The system will indicate required fields on each form and provide you with reminders about regulatory requirements.
- Because you can electronically track progress, there will be better transparency and accountability of review timelines.
- The system will provide electronic notifications and two-way communication between the State and document/plan submitters.
- The system improves the efficiency of the collaborative review process, to allow faster approvals of timber harvest documents.
When I submit timber harvest documents online, where will the data be stored?
The CalTREES application and database are stored in a secure data center managed by California Natural Resources Agency.
If I save my progress on a partially-completed timber harvest document in CalTREES, is my data visible to the public?
No; You will have an opportunity to save progress towards a completed document and preview the document prior to confirming your electronic submission. Emergency and Exemptions are only visible after they have been electronically submitted AND CAL FIRE has validated them. THPs, NTMPs and Substantial Deviations are visible once they have been electronically submitted to CalTREES.
How can I track the progress of my timber harvest document once submitted?
If you submit the document electronically via CalTREES, you can log in at any time to see the document status and designate how to receive correspondence from State reviewers (i.e., system notifications, email notifications, or mail). For those who submit paper timber harvest documents, all correspondence and status notifications will be sent via mail and be available in CalTREES for review.
Will CAL FIRE and other Review Team Agencies collaborate online using CalTREES?
Yes; one of the main goals of CalTREES is to improve the collaborative review process for timber harvesting documents. CalTREES will enable reviewers to communicate, expedite, and track comments from each State entity involved.