Planting trees in Pike National Forest

Tens of thousands of trees burned in the Waldo Canyon fire in 2012.

And after the fire, we’re dealing with the threat of flooding.

To lessen the chance for flooding, the U.S. Forest Service is trying to help nature recover from the fire.

Crew started working today on planting pine seedlings in the Pike National Forest.

Each person can plant hundreds of trees in an eight-hour shift.

But they know that getting the trees to take hold will take some time.

“For the area to look green again it typically takes on the order of 20 years. To see these trees above the grass line we’re looking at four or five years,” said Christopher Kuennen from the U.S. Forest Service.

The Forest Service plans to plant seedlings on around 100 acres of burned forest this year.