The Dixie Fire Canopy Project announces a celebration of Arbor Day April 26 at The Spot in Greenville. In this fundraiser, guests can choose from a variety of types of trees to plant to help heal the burn scar resulting from the 2021 Dixie Fire that destroyed over 1 million acres and destroyed the towns of Greenville and Canyon Dam.
A $14,000 grant was received from State Farm partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation for the Arbor Day celebration. The giveaway will include a selection of urban trees along with coniferous saplings provided by the Feather River Resource Conservation District. The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. or until all trees have been given out. More information is available from [email protected].
The Dixie Fire Canopy Project was started in September 2023 to help with reforestation of the land. Since then, the group has planted approximately 655 trees and 380 shrubs. “Our work still remains to return the natural beauty of our forests in Plumas County,” says founder Michaela Trammell.
The project’s goal in its first year was to raise $50,000. This was more than met when $297,000 was acquired from grants and through Alliance for Workforce Development, which paid for three crew members and two administrators to run the nonprofit. The project also partnered with The Almanor Foundation funding support platform so management of fundraising was less time consuming. Nevertheless, planting trees is not an inexpensive endeavor, said Trammell; the project is always seeking funding opportunities and donations.
The long-term goal of the Dixie Fire Canopy Project is not limited to just reforestation of the burn scar. The group’s long-term plan is to receive capital grants to purchase property for a nursery that would provide trees and shrubs available for planting at no cost to individuals or businesses in the process of rebuilding. Anyone living within the burn scar who is rebuilding would receive four trees and two shrubs at no cost.
The second goal is to include a community garden of herbs, vegetables and fruit trees on the property. The final piece of the plan is to operate a for-profit nursery to support the economic rebuild of the community, which organizers say is essential to bringing Greenville back as a viable community.
In 2024, 8,000 saplings were donated for a giveaway by Sierra Pacific Industries and The Sugar Pine Foundation. Boxes of 250 plants each were also donated to Plumas Charter School and planted around Bucks Lake and Meadow Valley within the burn scar. “Whenever we receive trees, we find ways to get them distributed for planting. We are a small team so having schools and recreation areas participate and support the effort is essential for the project,” said Trammell.
Those interested in donating to the Dixie Fire Canopy Project can visit https://almanorfoundation.org/dixie-fire-canopy-project-fund/. The Almanor Foundation also serves as the fiscal sponsor for The Plumas Sun.
Information provided by Dixie Fire Canopy Project
