The mother tree of this sugar pine seedling withstood years of drought and bark beetle outbreaks, suggesting resiliency to such threats. Scientists hope that resiliency was passed along to the seedlings.
Credit: Kat Kerlin, UC Davis

April 3, 2021 - NORTH FORK, CA. - The Bass Lake Ranger District is set to begin its 2021 reforestation program. During the next six weeks, contract and Forest Service crews will be planting approximately 620 acres focusing on the areas of the 2020 Creek Fire. Approximately 200 to 260 seedlings per acre will be planted, totaling up to 156,000 seedlings on the district during this period. Openings will be planted with a mixture of ponderosa pine, incense cedar and ponderosa pine trees.

Foothill residents in the North Fork/Oakhurst/Mariposa area are welcome to participate in the spring planting program by planting ponderosa pine seedlings on their private property. The Bass Lake Ranger District North Fork office has bare root one-year old ponderosa pine seedlings available for adoption. These seedlings are excess to the district reforestation program this year.  Persons wishing to adopt seedlings may obtain up to 20 at a time while supplies last, from the Sierra National Forest’s Bass Lake Ranger District office in North Fork, California. 

To minimize moisture and heat stress, seedlings should be kept cool and transported in an ice chest with the roots covered with a moist towel and planted the same day, when possible. Instructions on how to plant the seedlings will be included during your pickup. Seedlings offered for adoption are meant to be planted on private property only, not on the national forest. Go Green! Plant a seedling today!

Seedlings are grown from seed stock picked a number of years in advance by the Forest Service and stored at Forest Service nurseries. To be able to accomplish large reforestation objectives, seedlings are ordered one to two years in advance of planting. Trees being planted were grown at the Placerville nursery. The blister rust resistant sugar pine being planted is grown as one-year old containerized stock. These seedlings are grown in tubes measuring about 1” by 6” in green houses.

Seedlings can be obtained at the Bass Lake Ranger District office in North Fork, 57003 Road 225 North Fork, CA, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 am and 4:30 pm. For more information on seedling adoption, please contact the North Fork office at 559- 877-2218. 
Source: SNF