Moonlight Fire Area Restoration Project
Within the past 15 years, Plumas County has seen several devastating wildfires. In September of 2007, the Moonlight fire burned approximately 65,000 acres within the Plumas National Forest (PNF) and just twelve years later the Walker fire burned 55,000 acres in the PNF. The U.S. Forest Service and partners began the reforestation process in the Moonlight footprint by planting trees in 2009 and 2010; currently the Feather River RCD, along with partners including the USFS, Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and One Tree Planted, are continuing the multi-year reforestation project in both the Moonlight and Walker fire footprints.
After devastating fires such as Moonlight and Walker, burned areas tend to repopulate with shrubs such as Ceanothus (deerbrush, snowbrush, mahala mat) and Arctostaphylos (various manzanitas). The goal of our reforestation project is to establish a cohort of conifer species that would otherwise be unable to grow in a severely burned landscape lacking mature adult seed trees. Species such as Douglas Fir, Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Incense Cedar, and Sugar Pine were planted by contract planting crews in 2019 and 2020 and will continue to be planted throughout the duration of this project. These species were historically present in the burned areas but would be unlikely to regrow without our intervention.
Prior to planting, units in the Moonlight burn scar were cleared of competing vegetation through mechanical site prep. This work, which is currently part of a multi-year contract, ensures that there will be ample space for the seedlings to be planted in the following spring. Our contractors aim to prepare 1,073 acres in 2020, with about 1,600 acres to be completed in 2021 and 2022. Our planting season typically begins in March, or as soon as snow has melted and the weather is favorable for the survival of our seedlings. Contract crews work quickly through the units, planting seedlings of varying species at proper depth with individual shade structures placed next to them. 90% survival of the seedlings is ideal after one year, but there is always variation based on weather, precipitation, and other reasons.
While planting is the main focus of the Moonlight Area Restoration, we have several other projects in the works. In the 2020 field season, RCD staff began thinning competing conifers from aspen stands. 10 acres have been completed so far with more to be worked on in the future. RCD staff also assisted the Plumas National Forest with collecting Sugar Pine cones for the USFS nursery in Placerville, CA, and in 2021 we will be experimenting with ungulate grazing on roughly 130 acres as an alternative to mechanical site prep.
This project is funded through a Good Neighbor Agreement with the USFS and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, as well as with a grant from One Tree Planting. Estimated completion of the project is November 2023.
After devastating fires such as Moonlight and Walker, burned areas tend to repopulate with shrubs such as Ceanothus (deerbrush, snowbrush, mahala mat) and Arctostaphylos (various manzanitas). The goal of our reforestation project is to establish a cohort of conifer species that would otherwise be unable to grow in a severely burned landscape lacking mature adult seed trees. Species such as Douglas Fir, Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Incense Cedar, and Sugar Pine were planted by contract planting crews in 2019 and 2020 and will continue to be planted throughout the duration of this project. These species were historically present in the burned areas but would be unlikely to regrow without our intervention.
Prior to planting, units in the Moonlight burn scar were cleared of competing vegetation through mechanical site prep. This work, which is currently part of a multi-year contract, ensures that there will be ample space for the seedlings to be planted in the following spring. Our contractors aim to prepare 1,073 acres in 2020, with about 1,600 acres to be completed in 2021 and 2022. Our planting season typically begins in March, or as soon as snow has melted and the weather is favorable for the survival of our seedlings. Contract crews work quickly through the units, planting seedlings of varying species at proper depth with individual shade structures placed next to them. 90% survival of the seedlings is ideal after one year, but there is always variation based on weather, precipitation, and other reasons.
While planting is the main focus of the Moonlight Area Restoration, we have several other projects in the works. In the 2020 field season, RCD staff began thinning competing conifers from aspen stands. 10 acres have been completed so far with more to be worked on in the future. RCD staff also assisted the Plumas National Forest with collecting Sugar Pine cones for the USFS nursery in Placerville, CA, and in 2021 we will be experimenting with ungulate grazing on roughly 130 acres as an alternative to mechanical site prep.
This project is funded through a Good Neighbor Agreement with the USFS and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, as well as with a grant from One Tree Planting. Estimated completion of the project is November 2023.
