All images photographed and edited by Beth Hotchkiss unless otherwise stated.
Beth Hotchkiss, a Public Information Officer with the California Conservation Corps (CCC) and a Girls Who Click Ambassador, recently joined a massive response to protect the burned areas of Los Angeles County from taking another hit. This time, from winter storms.
“Even though the wildfires were contained, the emergency was not over. All of the hazardous debris from burnt cars and structures threatened the local water supply,” Beth said. “My job was to highlight how young adults were taking swift action to protect LA communities and wildlife.”
More than 400 CCC Corpsmembers, ages 18 to 25, were mobilized by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to the Palisades and Eaton Fire burn scars. Under the direction of engineers and environmental scientists, 32 crews placed more than 116 miles of compost socks and countless gravel bags to filter out contaminants from rainwater runoff.
“For this assignment, I helped news stations connect with CCC crews. I also created content for state agencies to use in their communications,” Beth said. “The most rewarding part was interviewing Corpsmembers who, despite being away from home and working overtime, were all grateful to serve California and protect the environment at a moment’s notice.”
Leveraging the skills she learned through the Girls Who Click Ambassador Program, Beth used her camera to document the emergency response. Although this assignment was time-sensitive and short-notice, she readily applied lessons from past workshops and mentorship sessions.
“A big takeaway I learned from GWC is to think not only about my main subject but also to be mindful of the surrounding environment,” Beth said. “While in the field, I tried to frame my images in a way that emphasized both elements of the story.”
With more than 13,800 structures in need of runoff mitigation, the scale and urgency of this mission was unprecedented, requiring all hands on deck. Through the Cal OES Watershed & Debris Flow Taskforce, the CCC joined forces with the Department of Water Resources, Caltrans, the Department of Conservation, and CAL FIRE. More than 30 public information officers and audio-visual specialists were directly involved in the response. This work ensured the public could receive timely and accurate information about the ongoing effort.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside other agencies! Before working for the CCC, I had no clue that the government even hired photographers,” said Beth. “I thought my only options were to partner with nonprofits or go freelance. In actuality, there are many positions within state service that are perfect for folks who are passionate about environmental communication!”
Beth works for the CCC, a State of California department offering paid training to young adults with the goal of empowering the next generation of conservationists while helping California prepare for, respond to, and recover from environmental challenges exacerbated by climate change. With this watershed protection mission now complete, Beth looks forward to the next assignment.
“Whether it’s photographing CCC crews in the forests, on the trails, knee-deep in creeks, or on another emergency response, I’m ready,” said Beth. “This experience has honed my coordination and time-management skills, so I’m better positioned to photograph not just long-term conservation efforts but also short-notice environmental emergencies!”
For more information about the CalOES Watershed Protection & Debris Flow Taskforce, visit news.caloes.ca.gov. To learn more about CCC’s mission and opportunities to join, visit ccc.ca.gov. To explore careers with the State of California, visit calcareers.ca.gov.
