BASTROP COUNTY TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY PREPARED BY BASTROP COUNTY COMMUNITY REFORESTATION PROGRAM TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE YEAR I PLANTING SEASON TABLE OF CONTENTS MISSION STATEMENT STATEMENT OF NEED PURPOSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES KEY COMPONENTS YEAR 1 PLANTING SEASON (January 2012 through March 2013) YEARS 2 THROUGH 5 PLANTING SEASONS (NoVember 2013 through March 2017) YEAR 1 PLANTING SEASON (January 2012 through March 2013) EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH POST-PLANTING EVALUATION YEARS 2 THROUGH 5 PLANTING SEASONS (NoVember 2013 through March 2017) LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1. ESTIMATED OVERALL TREE AVAILABILITY FOR REFORESTATION OF THE LOST PINES FOREST IMPACTED BY THE 2011 BCCF TABLE 2. BCCRP PLANTING AND EVENT SHEDULE LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. IMPACT AREA OF 2011 BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX FIRE (BCCF) FIGURE 2. PARCELS SENT APPLICATIONS FIGURE 3. PARCELS WITH RETURNED APPLICATIONS ON FILE (AS OF FEB 15, 2013) FIGURE 4. PARCELS SERVED THROUGH TREE PLANTING VENDOR FIGURE 5. PARCELS SERVED THROUGH COMMUNITY PLANTING EVENTS FIGURE 6. PARCELS SERVED THROUGH TREE PLANTING WORKSHOPS LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX A. APPLICATION FOR REFORESTATION SERVICES APPENDIX B. TREE PLANTING SITE PLAN APPENDIX C. TECHNICAL GUIDELINES FOR TREE ESTABLISHMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE APPENDIX D. LANDOWNER’S HANDBOOK APPENDIX E. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS APPENDIX F. PROGRAM OVERVIEW PAGE | I BASTROP COUNTY COMMUNITY REFORESTATION PROGRAM TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE YEAR I PLANTING SEASON PAGE | II BASTROP COUNTY COMMUNITY REFORESTATION PROGRAM TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE YEAR I PLANTING SEASON MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is to promote recoVery and restoration of Bastrop County, its communities, and residents affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) by proViding reforestation services to eligible program participants through the utilization of Volunteers and large-scale, community-based education and outreach opportunities focused on planting available natiVe, drought resistant loblolly pine seedlings. PAGE | 1 BASTROP COUNTY COMMUNITY REFORESTATION PROGRAM TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE YEAR I PLANTING SEASON PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) is a multi-year reforestation initiative whose mission is to promote recovery and restoration of Bastrop County, its’ communities, and residents affected by the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF) by proViding reforestation services to eligible program participants through the utilization of Volunteers and large-scale, community-based education and outreach opportunities focused on planting available natiVe, drought resistant loblolly pine seedlings. The BCCRP is designed to proVide qualifying landowners with free reforestation services, opportunities for Volunteerism and community engagement, and an increased awareness and understanding of forest succession and best tree planting and care practices. STATEMENT OF NEED The wildfires that occurred in Bastrop County oVer Labor Day weekend, 2011 were deVastating. Over 34,000 acres of woodland burned in the Lost Pines area of the county; of that 11,360 was privately owned land classified as moderate to seVerely burned. Due to the intensity of the Bastrop County Complex Fire (BCCF), the subsequent erosion and soil loss, and the ongoing drought, it is Very unlikely that the unique Lost Pines ecosystem will recover without facilitated reforestation. Through the existing capacity of state and private agencies, reforestation plans were initiated on Bastrop State Park, Griffith League Ranch, and large private tracts for the 2012 planting season. HoweVer, no reforestation assistance was available for the majority of private tracts. This catalyzed the formation of a public – private partnership to develop a free reforestation program to address the gap in serVice for priVate landowners while considering the unique ecosystem and habitat considerations associated with the genetically unique Lost Pines loblolly pine tree (Pinus taeda) and the federally endangered Houston toad (Bufo hustonensis). The result is the establishment of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program (BCCRP) and development of the ComprehensiVe Plan. This Plan proVides a roadmap for tree planting and community engagement actiVities focused on healing the environmental and emotional scars of the community. PURPOSE The purpose of the BCCRP ComprehensiVe Plan is to share the Vision and implementation strategies needed to reforest the Lost Pines Region of Bastrop County, Texas, while balancing the recoVery and reforestation needs within the year 1 service area with the land use goals and objectiVes of eligible property owners. The BCCRP is a component of the Lost Pines Forest RecoVery Campaign and is designed to proVide free reforestation services for private landowners, educational actiVities, and Volunteer coordination through a public-private partnership between several local, state, and national organizations. PAGE | 2 BASTROP COUNTY COMMUNITY REFORESTATION PROGRAM TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE YEAR I PLANTING SEASON Bastrop County, in conjunction with TreeFolks, Inc., an Austin based urban forestry non-profit organization, and Loomis Partners, a Bowman Company, a local Engineering, Land Surveying & Environmental Consulting firm, will be responsible for the deVelopment and implementation of the year 1 Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program from NoVember 15, 2012 through April 30, 2013. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The oVerall goals and objectiVes of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program include: 1. DeVelop a ComprehensiVe Plan to share the Vision and implementation strategies required to achieve the BCCRP mission. 2. ProVide for the fair and equitable distribution of Lost Pines loblolly pine trees and hardwoods for the year 1 planting season. 3. Ensure trees are planted properly and all participants understand basic tree planting principles. 4. Engage program partners, the community and volunteers in tree planting events. 5. Balance recoVery and reforestation needs within the year 1 serVice area with the land use objectiVes of eligible property owners. KEY COMPONENTS Key components of the Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program include: 1. ProVide coordination between partner groups to ensure resources are maximized 2. Present landowners with clear, courteous, and effectiVe communication 3. ProVide quality control for tree planting 4. Ensure the BCCRP process is transparent, fair and environmentally sound 5. ProVide for feedback from partners and landowners 6. ProVide Volunteer opportunities 7. ProVide data management and analysis 8. Ensure the program has the resources needed to accomplish the mission PAGE | 3 BASTROP COUNTY COMMUNITY REFORESTATION PROGRAM TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE YEAR I PLANTING SEASON TABLE 1. ESTIMATED OVERALL TREE AVAILABILITY FOR REFORESTATION OF THE LOST PINES FOREST IMPACTED BY THE 2011 BASTROP COUNTY COMPLEX FIRE. Annual Planting Season (November – March) Estimated Total Tree Availability Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Per Program Reforestation Program (2012-2013) (2013-2014) (2014-2015) (2015-2016) (2016-2017) (2012 -2017) Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) 282,627* 600,000 0 0 0 882,627 Bastrop State Park (BSP) 227,950* 500,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 1,927,950 Bastrop County Community Reforestation Program 63,000 125,000 200,000 170,000 120,000 680,000 (BCCRP) Griffith League Boy Scout 50,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 250,000 1,050,000 Ranch (GLR) Total Estimated Trees Available Annually: 625,577 1,475,000 950,000 820,000 670,000 4,540,577 * Actual number of loblolly pine seedlings planted during the Year 1 planting season YEAR 1 PLANTING SEASON (January 2012 through March 2013) The year 1 planting season (January through March 2013) will focus primarily on efficiently and effectiVely planting 63,000 loblolly pine and 2,100 mixed hardwood seedlings on privately owned land and parks affected by the Bastrop County Complex Fire. Community engagement and landowner education are key components of the BCCRP. TreeFolks will proVide information about forest succession, general tree planting and care, and how to Volunteer or support the BCCRP to all applicants, neighborhood and community groups and to the general public. Individual Volunteers and community groups will be actiVely recruited to assist with planting eVents and BCCRP actiVities as feasible. YEARS 2 THROUGH 5 PLANTING SEASONS (NoVember 2013 through March 2017) Upon completion of the Post Planting Analysis (page 8) this plan may be updated to include improVements that may improVe the deliVery and success of this program. It is anticipated that at least 125,000 trees will be aVailable to the BCCRP each planting season for the next four years to accelerate recoVery of the Lost Pines loblolly pine. The total estimated quantity of loblolly species available for the BCCRP through 2017 is 680,000. PAGE | 4 BASTROP COUNTY COMMUNITY REFORESTATION PROGRAM TOGETHER we are the tools for RECOVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE YEAR I PLANTING SEASON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN YEAR 1 PLANTING SEASON (January 2012 through March 2013) Program Duration, Availability, and Qualifying Criteria Year one of the Bastrop County Community