SDORC TREE PLANTING PARTY
January 19th
OCOTILLO WELLS SVRA!
By Roy Denner

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On Sunday, January 19th, San Diego Off-Road Coalition members supported by members of the Los Pretots Desert Club met at the Ocotillo Wells Ranger Station in the Anza Borrego Desert at 8:00 AM. SVRA employees were waiting with shovels, picks, gloves, and great chocolate chip cookies baked by Marilyn Murphy, a park employee. State park trucks were loaded with thorny, unforgiving palo verde trees in 15 gallon containers.

Our first stop was at Holmes Camp, a popular camping spot within the SVRA. About two dozen trees had already been placed around the area and a friendly park employee had augured holes where the trees were to be planted. For this we were very thankful! It's hard to believe how hard the desert sand can be when you're not bogged down in it with your off- road vehicle or your motor home. Everyone dug right in! (No, it's not true that Harold Soens was practicing for a job with Caltrans by leaning on his shovel most of the day.) Lots of kids were on hand to make sure that we handled the sand with approved sandbox etiquette. In about two hours time we had all of the trees in their own holes with berms circling them. The SVRA water truck followed along behind offering the trees their first drink in their new location. The water truck may still be working there since its progress was determined by how many kids wanted to "help" with the watering.

Then the group moved on to the San Filipe Wash. Another dozen or so trees were planted between Wolfe Well Road and Devil's Slide Road. Digging proceeded here without any pre-augured holes. It's not as soft as it looks! Finally, with the help again of the auguring tractor, volunteers planted another half dozen of the green beauties along Morton Road.

After the workout, everyone was invited to a delicious homemade shredded beef Chili dish made into Sloppy Joes provided by the SDORC for lunch.





Last Updated March 1, 1997