When Leadership Fails, Forests Burn
For decades, we’ve watched our forest decline: roads overgrown, campgrounds closed, and fuel loads left to build until the next megafire erupts. The Creek Fire in 2020 burned nearly 380,000 acres and should have been the turning point — but nothing changed.
Now, in September 2025, the Garnet Fire has destroyed the Teakettle Experimental Forest, a crown jewel of old-growth trees and scientific research. This was not just bad luck — it was the result of years of delay and leadership unwilling to act with urgency.
We cannot wait another generation. The time is now to demand change.
Sign the Petition to Remove Dean Gould
Dean Gould has served as Forest Supervisor for nearly 20 years. Under his watch:
Roads critical for firefighting access have been left impassable for decades.
Campgrounds and recreation sites remain closed year after year.
Fully funded fuels projects have been delayed until catastrophic fires destroyed the very areas they were meant to protect.
Communities face skyrocketing insurance rates and repeated evacuations.
Wildlife habitat has been obliterated by preventable megafires
We need a leader who will act decisively, support proactive fuels management, reopen access, and pro
Why It Matters
Community Safety
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection
Blocked roads delay firefighting response and threaten lives. Faster access means faster containment.
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection
True management is a balancing act. Without active treatment, we lose entire habitats in one fire season. Mega-fires wipe out endangered species and destroy watersheds for generations.
Economic Impact
Environmental Protection
Economic Impact
Local economies rely on recreation. Closed campgrounds and destroyed forests mean fewer visitors and declining revenues for mountain towns.
Heritage
Insurance and Housing Stability
Economic Impact
We are losing the forests we grew up exploring. Our children deserve a Sierra National Forest that’s safe, accessible, and thriving.
Insurance and Housing Stability
Insurance and Housing Stability
Insurance and Housing Stability
Repeated megafires have caused homeowner insurance premiums to skyrocket, pricing many families out of the foothills and creating a housing crisis in rural communities.
Accountability and Trust
Insurance and Housing Stability
Insurance and Housing Stability
Decades of promises with little follow-through have eroded public confidence. A change in leadership is necessary to restore transparency, rebuild trust, and get projects done.
What We’re Asking For
We are calling on the Regional Forester of Region 5 and the US Forest Service Chief to remove Dean Gould and appoint new leadership. See their contact information here (https://deanmustgo.com/decision-makers)
Reopen and maintain critical roads needed for firefighting response, community evacuation, and forest access — ending decades of overgrowth and inaction.
Immediately complete funded and approved thinning, pile burning, and prescribed fire projects to reduce catastrophic fire risk and protect habitat before the next megafire.
Balance species protection with proactive management. Inaction destroys entire habitats during megafires, wiping out wildlife populations that policies were meant to save. A new plan must reduce fuels, protect sensitive ecosystems, and keep the forest healthy and resilient for the future.
Develop and publish a timeline to safely reopen long-closed campgrounds and recreation areas, revitalizing local tourism and reconnecting the public with their forest.
Provide clear project timelines, measurable goals, and regular public updates so residents and stakeholders can track progress and hold leadership accountable.
Apply lessons from the Creek Fire and Garnet Fire by prioritizing proactive, science-based management — not delay — to safeguard both people and wildlife habitat for future generations.
PLEASE REACH OUT TO US
DeanMustGo@gmail.com
This movement is powered by residents, researchers, and families who love the Sierra. We’ve built this site after receiving overwhelming support and frustration from the community. Every signature strengthens our voice and shows decision-makers that we will no longer accept delay and excuses.