News Release Archive

Reclamation Joins Forest Service in Hosting Tree-Planting Event for Fire-Damaged Area

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100

For Release: March 03, 2009

The Bureau of Reclamation is joining forces with the U.S. Forest Service to help plant 6,000 trees in an area west of Shasta Dam devastated by last summer's Motion Fire.  The event, called "Scouting for Trees," is an annual event in which 300-400 youth, including Boy and Girl Scouts and others from youth organizations in Shasta, Tehama, and Trinity Counties, assist in replanting public areas that have been damaged by wildfires.

The event will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chappie-Shasta Off Highway Vehicle Staging Area.  The program, in its 5th year, encourages youth to take an active role in conservation and is intended to build a greater conservation ethic in area young people.

"This event helps raise the awareness of young people regarding tree planting as a vital part of the restoration of land impacted by severe wildfire," said Bob Ramirez, Vegetation Management Specialist of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.  "It's a real cooperative effort, and everyone has fun planting the seedlings!"   

The area west of Shasta Dam is a popular area for off-highway vehicle users, which has been closed since the fire.  Federal land agencies that manage the area have been working on getting the area revegetated so they can safely reopen, and this tree planting will help in that effort.

Reclamation is supporting the effort as part of "Take Pride in America," a national partnership program authorized by Congress to promote the appreciation and stewardship of public lands.  "We are thrilled to be a part of this event and to see the area come back after the fires," said Sheri Harral, Public Affairs Specialist at Shasta Dam.

For more information, please contact Sheri Harral with Reclamation at 530-276-2030 or Kathleen Jordan with the U.S. Forest Service at 530-226-2523.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.