Horticulturist, volunteers aid 12,000-tree reforestation effort

Residence Life Association teamed up with CSC Horticulturist Lucinda Mays on Sunday afternoon to plant trees on C-Hill. The group of student volunteers and RLA members, armed with tree planting dibble bars, travelled up to the surrounding area of C-Hill and watched Mays give a demonstration on proper tree-planting technique.

Mays said that only five to 10 percent of the planted saplings would survive. Approximately 12,000 saplings have been planted around C-Hill in the reforestation effort following the 2006 Spotted Tail Forest Fire that ravaged areas of the Pine Ridge. The highly used recreational area south of campus has a projected ability to sustain around 1,200 trees, Mays said.

The tree saplings planted were donated and are projected to reach maturity in roughly 65 years, Mays said.