Rim Fire Tree Replanting-Volunteer!

Stanislaus National Forest/Tree Planting Information and Guidelines  January 2016

Hello Fellow Volunteers

Thank you for your interest in helping the Stanislaus National Forest reforest after the catastrophic Rim Fire of 2013. In collaboration with the Tuolumne River Trust and Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions, we are looking to replant over 7 million trees in the Rim Fire footprint over the next five to seven years and your help is needed! The Rim Fire burned over 257,000 acres, of private and Federal lands, with nearly 158,000 acres on the Stanislaus National Forest alone. We have over 25,000 acres in need of your help.

Learn how you can help with reforestation by reading this packet of information and sign up for a Community Tree Planting Day. In order to better coordinate these efforts you MUST sign up for a Community Tree Planting event before the day(s) you plan to volunteer.  To help go to https://goo.gl/YyTiyU to sign up. Contact Seth Connelly at Tuolumne River Trust, seth@tuolumne.org, 949-533-2346 to confirm your spot. You also need to fill out a Volunteer Agreement Form and bring it with you on the day you are volunteering. The form can be found on the Stanislaus National Forest website at:  Tree Planting

For further information contact Seth Connelly at Tuolumne River Trust,

 seth@tuolumne.org, 949-533-2346 or Clare Long, clong@fs.fed.us, 209-532-3671, ext 438.   Thank you again for being willing to help us build a better future for your public lands.

 The future of the forest is in YOUR hands!

*You MUST sign up before the day(s) you plan to volunteer. Please go to:  https://goo.gl/YyTiyU .

*We also need you to fill out a Volunteer Agreement Form and bring it with you on the day you volunteer. You must have confirmation of your registration or we may not have the number of tools and equipment for everyone to use. Go to the Stanislaus National Forest website and download the Agreement Form, fill it out and bring it with you when you come to plant trees. We have attached a copy of the agreement to the back of this packet for your convenience.

*Please check out the Community Tree Planting General Information Sheet in this packet. Contact Seth Connelly at volunteer@tuolumne.org or Clare Long at

cclong@fs.fed.us, 209-532-3671 ext 438 with any questions or concerns.

Community Tree Planting General Information  1/2016

Background Info

The Rim Fire of 2013 burned over 158,000 acres on the Stanislaus Nation Forest. We are in the process of re- planting 25,000 of those acres with volunteers and contractors. We have to wait until the Reforestation Environmental Impact Statement is signed in order to start engaging contractors. Volunteers will be part of the planting effort until we get all the trees in the ground. We plan on planting for the next  5 to 7 years.

Why are we replanting ?  We are looking to return trees to the landscape and some areas of the forest needs a little help. The Forest Ser- vice manages public lands for current and future generations and we plan and take action in ways that consider the forest, water quality, air quality, wildlife, economy and jobs outlook 60 to 100 years out.

Why are we only replanting conifers?  Hardwoods (for example Oaks) naturally regenerate from stump sprouts or roots. Conifers have a harder time regenerating so we give them a little help by planting using Best Management Practices and keeping in mind the current conditions and possible Climate Change effects.

What tree species are we planting? Ponderosa Pine —Pinus ponderosa Sugar Pine— Pinus lambertiana White Fir— Abies concolor – Douglas Fir— Pseudotsuga menziesii Incense Cedar— Calocedrus decurrens

Where are we planting?  We are planting conifers in the areas of the Rim Fire on the Groveland Ranger District that burned so severely the seed bank has been removed. There are six different administrative sites that have been chosen for this year’s planting. Some tree species are better adapted to certain areas, like north facing slopes, so we are look- ing at what will best suit the environment. We are reducing plantings near ridge tops and roadsides in order to address fire management issues.

When are you planting?  Planting starts mid-February and goes through the end of March. We plant regardless of the weather unless it is snowing. We plant only when the soil temperature is above 45 degree Fahrenheit and the average daily temperature stays above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Soil moisture levels also have an impact on when we plant trees.

Is there a group size or age limit?  There is no group size limit, though there needs to be supervision for every nine adults and every five children. Families and school groups are encouraged to participate. Our Volunteer Agreement Form has a section for Parental Consent which has to be completed in order for youth to participate. We encourage folks of all ages to participate though children under the age of seven should be accompanied by an adult.

How do we sign up to help plant?  You need to sign up, fill out a Volunteer Agreement, and bring it with you on the day you are volunteering. Please go to: https://goo.gl/YyTiyU to sign up for tree planting. You must have confirmation of your registration or we may not have the number of tools and equipment for everyone to use. Go to the Stani- slaus National Forest website and download the Agreement Form, fill it out and bring it with you when you come to plant trees. Contact Seth Connelly at Tuolumne River Trust, seth@tuolumne.org, 949-533- 2346 to confirm your spot. You can contact Seth or Clare Long at cclong@fs.fed.us, 209-532-3671 ext. 438 with questions or concerns.

Where do we meet?  We meet at the Groveland Ranger District Office, 24545 Highway 120, Groveland, CA, at 8am every day of the week from Mid-February through March. Check in at the front desk and they will direct you to the meeting room. The District Office number is 209-962-7825, in case you need to contact them direct- ly. Cell phones do not work well up on the Groveland District so keep that in mind when making your plans.

Are there bathrooms available?  We will have Port-a-Potties and handwashing stations available at all sites.

Will there be water available?  We will have large jugs of water available for you to fill your water bottle or cup. We suggest you bring your own water if available.

Who is Tuolumne River Trust and what is their role?  Founded in 1981, the mission of Tuolumne River Trust (TRT) is to serve as the voice for the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River, promoting stewardship of the Tuolumne through:

• Education, community outreach and adventures;
• Collaboration with a diverse array of stakeholders;
• On-the-ground restoration projects: and
• Advocacy and grassroots organizing to demonstrate public support for our

TRT is a major partner in this reforestation effort. They are helping recruit and coordinate volunteers, assist in field management, and educate about the importance of the watershed.

Who is YSS and what is their role?  The Yosemite-Stanislaus Solutions (YSS) collaborative group is a highly diverse coalition of interests who share the common goal of restoring and maintaining healthy forests and watersheds, fire-safe communities, and sustainable local economies using a science-based approach. The Stanislaus National Forest works very closely with this group in many aspects.

FAQS

• Seedlings are taken from cones from trees in the same area, elevation and climate that they will be planted.
• Seedlings are started in a Forest Service nursery where they are grown to be especially
• It takes over a year from when seeds are sown to when they are ready to
• Seedlings come as either Container Stock (with soil) or Bare Root (no soil).
• The tree species we are planting include: Ponderosa Pine, Sugar Pine, Douglas Fire, White Fir and Incense
• Hardwood trees grow back naturally from stumps and
• Seedling are planted following Best Management Practices and keeping in mind possible future fire regimes.
• Seedlings are planted in sites that best suit the species growing needs and future climate
• Trees are planted when the soil moisture and temperature is ideal for seedling growth. In the Sierra Foothills it is around 40 Degrees
• Seedlings are usually planted in February and March on the Stanislaus National Forest, depending on the soil moisture content and soil
• Seedlings are planted to meet their habitat needs— food nutrients from soils, water, shelter from exposure to sunlight, wind and abrasion; and space to grow without
• Not all seedlings survive, so the number of seedlings planted is adjusted to take that into
• Not every area on the Forest is suitable for
• Forestry is not like gardening—we don’t’ pull weeds, we don’t water, we don’t We let that happen naturally.
• Planning and management needs to consider and plan for the impacts of Climate Change, fuel loading (dead wood and woody material), and fire return
• When seedlings survive that are too close together, we have to manage for growth by thinning the crowded
• Seedling growth is monitored early in their growth cycle by returning to the site at 6 months, 1 year, 3 year, and 5 year intervals and evaluating the growth and health of the
• Adopt-A-Forest programs provide an opportunity for individuals and groups to perform Citizen Sci- ence projects that help the Forest monitor and manage the growing forest. Contact Clare Long at the Stanislaus National Forest, cclong@fs.fed.us, if you are interested in becoming involved in this Citizen Science