ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST – The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency has come to the rescue by contributing the water that will allow TreePeople’s forest restoration program in San Francisquito Canyon to continue through the summer.

TreePeople and crews of local volunteers have been working to restore healthier and less fire-prone forest in an area of the canyon damaged by the Copper Fire a few years ago.

“Our small donation of non-potable water is providing so many benefits – watershed protection, erosion control, plus the forest restoration with native plants,” said Steve Cole, assistant general manager for SCV Water. “We are glad to partner with TreePeople in such an important effort.”

“We are so grateful that SCV Water jumped right in to contribute water to the forest restoration work we are doing upstream in the Angeles,” said Thierry Rivard, TreePeople’s Angeles Restoration Program Manager. “The whole community in Santa Clarita is really coming together to help, and we’re glad to have the water agency as a partner, leading by example.”

It’s a cruel reality that those areas hit by major wildfires often become even more dangerous in the future, as invasive species rush in and grow vigorously, only to become dense masses of tinder as they dry out.

This is why TreePeople has made this area of the Angeles National Forest a priority for forest restoration, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and donors led by Boeing. Now SCV Water has joined the partnership.

Restoration efforts in San Francisquito Canyon had hit a snag recently, as previous water sources became unavailable. Thankfully, SCV Water stepped in as soon as they learned of the need, and their donated water will now allow TreePeople and their teams of volunteers to care for the native forest species planted earlier in the year.

TreePeople’s truck will now roll up to SCV Water and fill its tanks before heading up the canyons for each of their restoration events.

More help is needed. TreePeople and their partners can use all the volunteer help the Santa Clarita Valley region can muster.

To find out about upcoming volunteer events and how to get involved, register at www.treepeople.org/calendar, email volunteer@treepeople.org, or call 818-632-4879.