ARCADIA, Calif. - This Saturday,
May 15, Interior Assistant Secretary Lynn Scarlett, along with U.S.
Forest Service Associate Chief Sally Collins, Deputy Chief Chris Pyron
and Angeles National Forest Supervisor Jody Noiron, will kick-off a
major Take Pride in America volunteer effort to help restore fire-damaged
public lands in southern California.
The kick-off event begins
at 7:30 a.m. at Rainbow Canyon Ranch in the Angeles National Forest's
San Gabriel Canyon and will be linked via audio to other sites throughout
the region. Following a volunteer appreciation breakfast and awards
presentation, workers will head out at 8:45 a.m. to undertake various
fire-restoration projects.
At 22 "Take
Pride" locations on public lands throughout southern California,
hundreds of volunteers will help with hillside stabilization and replanting,
seed collection, dead tree and brush removal, sign repair and painting,
and trash clean-up. Senior citizens, youth groups, off-road-enthusiasts,
recreational vehicle owners, conservationists and others are expected
at four national forests, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation
Area, and the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management public
land sites.
WHAT: Kick-off of volunteer fire restoration projects on Southern
California public lands
WHEN:
May 15, 2004 at 7:30 a.m.
WHERE:
San Gabriel Canyon in the Angeles National Forest
Rainbow Canyon Ranch
2350 San Gabriel Canyon Road (Hwy 39)
Azusa, Calif.
From the 210 Freeway, exit at Azusa Avenue and go north. Go past the
entrance station to San Gabriel Canyon (Angeles National Forest), cross
the San Gabriel River bridge, make a right and follow the signs.
WHO:
Lynn Scarlett, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Sally Collins, Associate Chief USDA Forest Service
Chris Pyron, Deputy Chief USDA Forest Service
Jody Noiron, Angeles National Forest Supervisor
Take Pride in America is a national partnership that aims to seek, support
and recognize volunteers who work to improve our national parks, wildlife
refuges, public lands, cultural and historic sites, playgrounds and
other recreation areas. With close to 100 partners, Take Pride involves
federal, state and local government, conservation and recreation organizers
and top national corporations and organizations. Together, we protect
and enhance the special legacy all Americans share - our public lands
that cover one in every three acres across the nation. Find out more
about volunteering and Take Pride in America at www.TakePride.gov.
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