BLM: Unique Partners Come Together to Plant Trees Near Indian Creek Campground

Carson City, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District, American Forests, Nevada Conservation Corps, and Alpine County are partnering to rehabilitate the Airport Fire area by planting trees starting Tue., March 10 and concluding on Sun., March 15, 2015.  This fire burned 81 acres of BLM and Alpine County land during the 2011 fire season and is located near the Indian Creek Recreation Area and the Alpine County Airport along Airport Road.

The planting of 25,000 Jeffrey pine seedlings will be completed by a Nevada Conservation Corp (NCC) crew and is expected to take two weeks, weather permitting. These crew members are AmeriCorps volunteers engaged in national service to earn money for student loans or future coursework. For many of these volunteers, this will be their first large scale reforestation project.

In fall 2011, the BLM and Alpine County developed an agreement which allowed for consistent reforestation of the fire area across the two ownerships. The BLM will use federal funds to plant 30 acres of BLM-managed land, while the planting of the Alpine County portion of the fire (51 acres) will be funded from a Global ReLeaf grant from American Forests.

American Forests is the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the country and is a strong advocate for the protection and expansion of America’s forests. Since 1990, they have planted more than 43 million trees. The Global ReLeaf program selects lands where additional funding can help create a new forest that would not be possible under existing programs and budgets.

This unique project leverages funds and partners to insure the reforestation of this highly visible, economically important, and ecologically challenging site. An interpretive sign will be installed at the site this summer describing the efforts between these partners in creating this future forest for all to enjoy.

The public is invited to assist with the planting and/or the installation of protective mats around each seedling on March 13 and 14, starting at 10:00 am. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Coreen Francis, District Forester, at 775-885-6161 or c1franci@blm.gov.