Areas damaged by the 2024 Davis Fire are being restored this month as Washoe County and the St. James Village community join forces to plant 300 new trees.
Davis Creek Regional Park will receive 150 Jeffrey pine trees, while another 150 will be planted in St. James Village, the neighborhood adjacent to the park that sustained heavy fire damage.
The trees, along with soil additives and fertilizer, were donated by Moana Nursery.
“Jeffrey pines are a resilient and ecologically valuable choice for restoring fire-damaged high-desert landscapes,” said Deanna Gescheider, Director of Community Engagement at Moana Nursery. “They’re naturally adapted to the region’s dry, rocky soils and can withstand harsh temperature swings, making them ideal for long-term recovery and stabilization after wildfire.”
Forty pre-registered volunteers will plant trees at Davis Creek, and additional volunteers have signed up to work in the community areas of St. James Village.
“The outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming,” Washoe County Park Ranger Nick Steuer said. “We have had numerous individuals lined up to help with this replanting project for months, and we were just waiting for the right weather and season to get these trees in the ground. Davis Creek will be well on its way to recovery after this incredible project.”
According to Moana Nursery, fall planting gives young trees the strongest start, as cooler temperatures and seasonal moisture help roots establish before the summer heat returns.
Visitors were allowed back into parts of Davis Creek Regional Park in September, including the day-use area and the Ophir Creek trailhead.
The campground remains closed until further notice. The Nevada Division of Forestry has helped clear dangerous fire-damaged trees, while volunteers have replanted native seedlings and replaced burnt fencing.
Park Ranger Andy Brown, whose home in Davis Creek Regional Park was lost to the fire, has since been restationed at nearby Bowers Mansion Regional Park.
No additional volunteers are needed at this time. To learn more about Davis Creek Regional Park, visit washoecounty.gov/parks
