Arnold, CA…California State Parks and CAL FIRE Plan Prescribed Burn at Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Work expected to begin next Tuesday. May 10. California State Parks, in cooperation with CAL FIRE, plan to conduct prescribed burning at Calaveras Big Trees State Park starting next Tuesday, May 10. The planned treatments will cover approximately 250 acres in the North Grove area and along Highway 4. If weather, air quality or vegetation conditions are not conducive for burning or smoke dispersal, the department will reschedule the treatment.

Visitors should expect closures during the prescribed burning. Closures may include the Grove Overlook Trail, a section of the North Grove Trail a section of the River Canyon Trail, area fire roads. and the Walter W. Smith Memorial Parkway. The units have been prepared for treatment.

Although prescribed burns produce significantly less smoke than wildfires, communities near Calaveras Big Trees State Park, including Arnold, Darlington, Big Trees Village, White Pines, Blue Lake Springs, and Love Creek may experience smoke from the burning operators. The department plans and coordinates these burns with the Calaveras and Tuolumne County Air Districts to minimize the smoke in surrounding communities.

The protector and stewardship of the giant sequoia groves has been a priority to State Parks since the park’s creator. Prescribed burning is one of the tools used by the department for vegetation management to increase the resilience of the forest and promote new giant sequoia growth. Forest management and prescribed fire help restore and maintain a complex forest community, reduce hazardous fuel loads, improve wildlife habitat, restore nutrients to the soil, protect park infrastructure, and reduce the chance of a catastrophic wildfire.

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Califomia State Parks and the recreational programs supported by its divisions of Boating and Waterways, Historic Preservation and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide the opportunity for familles. Mends; and communities to connect Off-highway motor vehicle recreation, boating activities; horwbac k riding; cycling hiking camping rock climbing tours; hike, scrod group enrichment and special events are just some of the activities enjoyed in 280 park units organized into 21 field districts throughout the state. Learn more at www.parks.ca goy.