Mariposa County experienced devastating fires in the Telegraph Fire during the summer of 2008 and lost 34,000 acres of timber land. California often faces damaging wildfires in the summer when hot, dry conditions turn flare-ups into prolonged fire fights. The Telegraph Fire was triggered by a target shooter. Erosion becomes a serious problem for fire damaged areas because the natural shrubs, trees, and grasses are not present to hold the soil in place.
One 4-H member in Mariposa County, Sydnie Edwards, inspired by the 4-H Million Trees Project, decided to take action and do something about it. She decided to plant trees on the fire-ravaged areas as her Emerald Star Project. She gave several presentations locally and caught the eye of the local Fresno TV station, KFSN, Channel 30. She rallied other 4-H’ers to join her and together they successful turned this effort into a long term project. Her original goal was to plant 200 trees but with the assistance of a Bob and Pat Dean Memorial Award and funds from the Service-Learning RFP program, they were able to plant 1,729.
News Coverage from KFSN-TV in Fresno
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6625880