For Immediate Release: Sept. 10 2004 CA-N-04-101
Contact: Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332, or Francis Berg (530) 224-2120

FIRE RECOVERY PROJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED AT COMMUNITY MEETING

Fire recovery and watershed stabilization projects will be reviewed in a French Gulch community meeting Wednesday, Sept. 15, starting at 7 p.m., at the French Gulch-Whiskeytown School on Cline Road.

Representatives from the Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Western Shasta Resource Conservation District and the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area will be present to provide an overview of the fire situation and rehabilitation plans. They will answer questions and address public concerns.

Specifics on the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team's assessment and recommendations, along with plans for watershed rehabilitation efforts, will be discussed.

The U.S. Department of the Interior's BAER Team was dispatched to the French Gulch Fire to assess the watershed damage and recommend projects to protect against winter flooding and landslides. The multi-disciplinary team of natural resource specialists and scientists recommended a variety of projects including installation of water control devices and culverts, seeding, mulching and other actions.

The BLM has committed $1.9 million in federal funding to help with the work. Agency resource managers are working to secure other funding sources as well.

The French Fire burned more than 13,200 acres and destroyed 28 homes after breaking out Aug. 14.

For more information or the meeting or BAER Team projects, contact Francis Berg at the BLM, (530) 224-2120.

-- BLM--

Redding Field Office 355 Hemsted Drive Redding, CA 96002