As we approach nearly one year since the start of the devastating Central Texas Wildfires, we’re taking a moment to reflect.  We’re proud of our role in the recovery of Bastrop County and Bastrop State Park and of all the individuals and agencies who’ve worked endlessly these last ten months.  Here’s a collection of memories, a digital scrapbook of photos, quotes and media stories, that remind us of how far the effort has come.

Carter Smith, talks about Bastrop, the CCC and American YouthWorks in the Aug/Sept. Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.

He said, “Given the extent of the fire’s damage and the limits of staff capacity, our parks team called in a modern-day version of the former ‘soil soldiers’ of the CCC to aid in the recovery. We found them in the talented young men and women of the American YouthWorks Environmental Corps. This exemplary nonprofit conservation program focuses on job creation and service programs designed to help build and restore the natural environment.”

Also mentioned in the same issue, an article about the return of Bastrop State Park.

This recent article in the Austin American Statesman describes how much work Bastrop still needs.

Did you see this KXAN story by Jim Swift after the big rains in May?

Thanks to YNN for visiting us during our big push to control erosion earlier this year.  Click here for the story.

This story came out just weeks after the wildfires started.

Roy Neely, Texas Environmental Corps Member had this to say about one of his days in Bastrop: “Hiking the red trail after the storm was a very interesting experience that illustrated the intense power of water and it’s impact on trail and soil erosion. As we traveled along the ravaged landscape, we were able to witness first hand the forces of nature that we, as a crew, would have to take into account as we continued to work towards the restoration of Bastrop State Park.”