This project aims to implement a landscape-scale approach to restore forest health in Inyo National Forest near the headwaters of the Owens River. Ecological forest management practices will be employed across 1,302 acres that have suffered greatly due to bark beetle infestation and are now highly at risk of destruction from catastrophic wildfires. The outcomes of this project aim to support watershed resilience, improve forest health, and restore natural ecological variation.
Project Partner: National Forest Foundation (NFF)
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Tuolumne River Reforestation
In partnership with the National Forest Foundation, we funded the restoration of approximately 200 acres in the Stanislaus National Forest that burned during the 2013 Rim Fire. A large portion of the Stanislaus National Forest is in the Tuolumne River Watershed, which is the primary drinking water supply for Bay Area residents. The Rim Fire burned over 257,000 acres of forest, making it the third largest wildfire in California history at the time. Restoring this land reduces the risk of future fire by removing the dead trees, brush, and plants that can act as fuel. It also reduces erosion, improves water quality, maintains habitat for local wildlife, and provides outdoor recreation opportunities.
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Ladybug Project Forest Health
The Ladybug Forest Health Project, led by the National Forest Foundation (NFF), spans 2,500 acres in the Truckee Ranger District of the Tahoe National Forest. Located near Stampede Reservoir, the project focuses on hazardous fuels reduction through forest thinning, biomass removal, and other treatments to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk. The project will improve water supply and quality by removing encroaching conifers, enhancing snowmelt infiltration, and restoring degraded roads in the Hoke Valley drainage. It is supported by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) and has catalyzed the Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership to address watershed restoration.
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Caddo-LBJ Grasslands Habitat Restoration
The National Forest Foundation (NFF) is facilitating the restoration of Cottonwood Creek Watershed on the Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland in Wise County, Texas. The watershed spans 5,700 acres, including 4,000 acres of National Forest land and 1,700 acres of private land, with 29 miles of mapped streams. This project will be completed in phases, with phase 1 focusing on two stream reaches totaling 80 acres and 1.3 miles of primary stream channel. Restoration will bring stability to the ecosystem preserving it for future generations to reconnect with nature.