Community Workdays

The Sierra Resource Conservation District (SRCD) in partnership with multiple organizations hosts various community workdays for you to get involved in! On this page, you can view past community workday events, photos, learn how to get involved, and more!

Overview

Over the past few years, the Sierra Resource Conservation District has assisted in the facilitation of community workdays. The forestry program, in partnership with many organizations, co-hosts these workdays. They have diligently served Eastern Fresno County by invitation from private landowners on Highway 168 and Highway 180 since 2020. Community workdays involve wildfire debris clean-up, fuel reduction, fire prevention, storm readiness, vegetation/woody debris management, tree planting, plus more! Three main partners that keep the workdays going at the local level are The Central Sierra Resiliency Fund and Creek Fire Recovery Collaborative for HWY 168 and the Oak to Timberline Fire Safe Council for HWY 180. Many partners volunteer time and resources to continue supporting the needs of residents in the mountain communities for resiliency and conservation. We are thankful for our partners who keep us going and look forward to future community workdays. Let us know if a new partner could be you!

During these community workdays, snacks and water are provided. There is no age requirement unless otherwise specified. Typical workday attire includes closed-toe comfortable shoes, gloves, and comfortable clothes. So, bring out your families, put your working hat on, and have some fun. Everyone is welcome to get involved, and we encourage you to join us! See the “How To Get Involved” section of this page.

2022 Community Workdays

01/22/22 → Shaver Springs: 65 volunteers, 5 hours, and a total of 325 combined volunteer hours

02/26/22 → Mile High: 70 volunteers, 5 hours, and a total of 350 combined volunteer hours

03/24/22-03/27/22 → Cedarbrook: 110 volunteers, 19 hours, and a total of 2,090 combined volunteer hours

06/04/22 → Peterson Road

06/11/22 → Lower Cressman Road

2021 Community Workdays

01/09/2021 → Alder Springs: 52 volunteers, 315 combined volunteer hours, and 8 properties on a total of 5 acres

01/16/2021 → Auberry Road: 50 volunteers, 217 combined volunteer hours, and 5 properties on a total of 10 acres

02/20/2021 → Peterson Road: 50 volunteers, 360 combined volunteer hours, and 7 properties on a total of 91 acres

03/20/2021 → Shaver Springs: 52 volunteers, 315 combined volunteer hours, and 13 properties on a total of 80 acres

04/22/2021 → Shaver Springs: 32 volunteers, 202.5 combined volunteer hours, and 4 properties on a total of 80 acres

04/24/2021 → Mile High: 30 volunteers, 202.5 combined volunteer hours, and 3 properties on a total of 13 acres

05/07/2021 → Shaver Springs: 5 volunteers, 20 combined volunteer hours, and 4 properties on a total of 80 acres

06/19/2021→ Pinehurst: 32 volunteers and 256 combined volunteer hours, 2 acres treated on a total of 21 acres

06/26/2021 → Dunlap: 20 volunteers and 160 combined volunteer hours, 2 acres treated on a total of 9 acres

06/27/2021 → Pinehurst: 20 volunteers and 100 combined volunteer hours, 2 acres treated on a total of 21 acres

07/17/2021 → Peterson Road: 30 volunteers and 150 combined volunteer hours, 2 acres treated on a total of 24 acres

07/31/2021 → Glenwood Road: 38 volunteers and 190 combined volunteer hours, 1 acre treated on a total of 10 acres

08/01/2021 → Pinehurst: 5 volunteers and 25 combined volunteer hours, 2 acres treated on a total of 11 acres

08/21/2021 → Peterson Road: 18 volunteers and 108 combined volunteer hours, 3 acres treated on a total of 29 acres

09/24/21 – 09/26/21 → Cressman Road: 100 volunteers and 2,400 combined volunteer hours, 9 acres treated on a total of 114 acres

10/16/2021 → Alder Springs: 21 volunteers and 105 combined volunteer hours, 1 acre treated on a total of 24 acres

10/30/2021 → Pinewood Lane: 20 volunteers and 100 combined volunteer hours, 3 acres treated on a total of 8 acres

11/09/2021 → Miramonte: 23 volunteers and 161 combined volunteer hours, 5 acres treated on a total of 32 acres

12/04/2021 → Pine Ridge Elementary: 40 volunteers and 200 combined volunteer hours, 1 acre treated on a total of 3 acres

The 2021 work year was filled with a total of 18 workdays, 638 volunteers, and 5,640 hours. Ranging in 12 different locations, these days were spent aiding the local communities to help maintain the state of the land. During the 2021 year, debris, brush, and vegetation were removed from properties, to reduce wildfire fuel and reduce the risks and damage from potential wildland fire. Storm readiness, including erosion control and prevention, was also completed during these workdays. The importance of these workdays is ever-growing. The hospitality and welcoming environment provided by the people and communities we serve are what make these days enjoyable and easy despite all the hard work put into each day. Without the communities and our partners, these days would not be possible.

2020 Community Workdays

10/24/2020 → Cressman’s: 1 property and 1 acre

12/05/2020 → Pine Ridge: 45 volunteers, 315 combined volunteer hours, and 10 acres treated

2020 kick-started community workdays for the Sierra Resource Conservation District. Beginning in October, the year 2020 included 45 volunteers and 315 hours. The devastating effects of the 2020 Creek fire left communities and properties destroyed. Once deemed safe to return to these properties affected by the Creek fire, the Sierra Resource Conservation District and its partners diligently stepped in to start the recovery process. Before the fire was 100% contained our hard workers and volunteers began aiding the communities, as the foothill floors were still cooling off.

Partners

Significance

The Sierra Resource Conservation District and its partners work to aid private landowners and their properties. They inform others about the need and actions necessary for proper stewardship and land management. The goal is to conserve California’s natural resources for future generations. Occasionally community workdays include public lands, such as the Pineridge Elementary School community workday event, for disaster recovery. The priority is to assist the elderly, disadvantaged, and people with disabilities, but the Sierra Resource Conservation District is available and willing to provide a free evaluation for any property requesting assistance or a second opinion. Including survivors of the Creek Fire looking to rebuild and landowners who are looking to prepare for wildfire and who are at risk. As long as SRCD’s forestry team is invited out and welcomed, they are happy to be of great assistance and serve the community. Community workdays are essential because they provide the framework for impact from a single landowner to benefit everyone, including the land, community, and environment.

Impact Statements

“The forestry team & volunteers, who worked on a portion of our property that was devastated by the Creek Fire, made a HUGE difference to us! We could have never recovered without them! My husband has two forms of cancer and I have a lifelong disability. Ian, Chelsea Hutchens, and the Ameri and Conservation Corps gave us hope and a future. They saw, they cleaned up, and they conquered by felling, clearing & chipping 200,000-300,000 pounds of dry dead material. This team rocks and there are no words to express how grateful we are and how much we are indebted to them!”

– Jeannie & Wayne Coe

“Many thanks to the Sierra Resource Conservation District who coordinated a community effort to remove fuels and debris surrounding Cedarbrook and Mill Creek. Their efforts in conjunction with the Oak to Timberline Fire Safe Council have helped protect us from wildfire. Individual property fire risk assessments were provided ahead of time, and a crew of 30+ volunteers from Americorps, Team Rubicon, Dunlap Band of Mono Indians, and others did a fantastic job of cleaning up years of undergrowth. They were hard working and effective. The landscape now looks like it did 30 years ago–beautiful! We will be forever grateful for their efforts. Thank you!”

– Donna McBrien, President of the Cedarbrook Cabin Owner’s Association