MODOC STORIES
WHY IS
STORYTELLING IMPORTANT?
Public infrastructure and resource management projects represent more than just technical milestones; they are generational investments in our nation’s economic and environmental future. Effectively communicating these multi-layered impacts is essential for maintaining public trust, honoring tribal and stakeholder partnerships, and providing clear visual proof of ROI to stakeholders. At Modoc Stories, we specialize in 'lifecycle storytelling'—documenting high-stakes missions from groundbreaking to completion to ensure that the profound human, ecological, and economic benefits of your work are not just achieved, but seen and understood.
MODOC STORIES
THE NARRATIVE.
At Modoc Stories, we believe the most important narratives aren't found in studios—they are found in the field, on the ranch, and in the quiet corners of rural America. For over a decade, we’ve specialized in cinematic film, photography, and writing that bridges the gap between complex organizations and the people they serve. We don't just "capture content"; we build the trust necessary to tell honest stories in environments where outsiders aren't always welcome.
WHO WE ARE.
A Mission-Critical Partner. We are filmmakers and multimedia communicators, but we are also a vetted, long-term partner to the agencies that manage our nation’s resources. Since 2018, we have worked alongside USDA-APHIS, documenting the multi-layered impacts of feral swine management on public and private lands.
Expanding this legacy of trust, we recently completed a multi-year engagement with the Bureau of Reclamation, documenting the $34 million infrastructure modernization and fish passage project at Derby Dam. This project required a sophisticated storytelling lens—capturing a milestone 100 years in the making while balancing the voices of federal leadership, tribal partners, and conservation engineers.
This dual-agency experience defines our approach: we excel at navigating the complexities of federal missions—from sensitive wildlife management to massive infrastructure investments—while maintaining "boots-on-the-ground" agility. Whether it’s interviewing a third-generation landowner, a Tribal leader, or a Bureau Commissioner, we produce high-end, 508-compliant media that meets the rigorous standards of government communication.
COMPANY DATA
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GSA Schedule: [47QRAA19D003L]
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UEI: [U1JPJ5KKDUF3] | CAGE Code: 854E1
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Socio-Economic Status: Small Business
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Primary NAICS: 512110 (Video Production) | 541820 (Public Relations)
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Secondary NAICS: 541922 (Photography), 541810 (Advertising), 541430 (Graphic Design)
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FAA Part 107 Licensed Drone Pilot
CASE
STUDY
ONE
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION | Derby Dam Modernization ($34M Project)
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Strategic Communications: Documented the full lifecycle of the largest horizontal fish screen in the U.S. through a multi-year video series and digital newsletters.
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Inter-Agency Storytelling: Facilitated cohesive messaging between the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District, and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.
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National Significance: Captured the return of the Lahontan cutthroat trout to its native spawning grounds for the first time in a century, providing the agency with a high-value public relations asset.
Agency: Bureau of Reclamation (Interior) and Farmers Conservation Alliance
Infrastructure Project Value: $34 Million
Location: Truckee River, Nevada
Timeline: Multi-Year Lifecycle Documentation
THE CHALLENGE
The Derby Dam project was more than an engineering feat; it was a 100-year-old environmental milestone. The Bureau of Reclamation needed to document the construction of the nation’s largest horizontal fish screen while managing a complex narrative involving Tribal sovereignty, ESA-listed species recovery (LCT), and $34M in federal infrastructure spending. The mission required a partner who could translate technical milestones into a cohesive, high-stakes story for Congress, stakeholders, and the public.
OUR STRATEGIC APPROACH
Modoc Stories, working as the Communications Contractor for Farmers Conservation Alliance, implemented a Lifecycle Documentation Strategy, ensuring that the project’s momentum was captured from the initial groundbreaking through final commissioning.
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Executive & Tribal Voice: Conducted high-level interviews with the Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leadership, and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe to ensure all partners were represented in the "milestone" narrative.
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Technical Translation: Produced the "Derby Dam Stories" video series, simplifying the complex engineering of the "Farmers Screen" technology for public consumption while maintaining technical accuracy for agency reporting.
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Boots-on-the-Ground Production: Navigated active, heavy-machinery construction zones and remote desert terrain to capture 4K cinematic footage without interrupting project timelines.
"This day is 100 years in the making. It's a milestone for the history of Reclamation... we are very proud of what everyone is working on."
- Brenda Burman, former Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation
CORE DELIVERABLES
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"Derby Dam Stories" – Multi-part cinematic video series.
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Modernization Newsletters – Recurring digital updates for regional stakeholders.
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Executive Media Kit – Photography and interview clips for national outreach.
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Technical Explainer Content – Documentation of the "Farmers Screen" installation.
- Brenda Burman, former Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation
USDA-APHIS | National Feral Swine Damage Management Program
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Mission-Critical Lifecycle Documentation: Executed a 6-year continuous visual communications strategy to document the multi-state effort to manage invasive species and protect American agriculture.
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High-Stakes Stakeholder Engagement: Successfully navigated sensitive interviews and production on private lands, building trust with multi-generation landowners, state wildlife agencies, and federal biologists.
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National Awareness & Policy Support: Produced a comprehensive library of 508-compliant video and photographic assets used for national outreach, congressional briefings, and public education on the $2.5 billion in annual damages caused by invasive swine.
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Rugged Field Agility: Demonstrated mastery of "boots-on-the-ground" production, operating in remote and challenging environments across the U.S. to capture scientific fieldwork and management operations without disrupting agency activities.
CASE
STUDY
TWO
THE CHALLENGE Feral swine represent a significant threat to U.S. agriculture and native ecosystems, but the management of this invasive species is often a sensitive topic for private landowners and the public. USDA-APHIS required a communications partner who could document the technical success of the program while maintaining a high level of empathy and discretion in the field.
OUR STRATEGIC APPROACH Modoc Stories focused on the "Human Impact." We traveled to active management sites to capture the reality of the damage and the expertise of the federal agents. We focused on the science and the "Why" behind the program, ensuring that every piece of media served a specific educational or policy goal.
THE IMPACT Over six years, we moved from being a vendor to a trusted partner, providing a visual backbone for the program's national outreach. Our work helped "humanize" the agency's mission, making complex wildlife management understandable and justifiable to a broad audience of taxpayers and policymakers.
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CORE DELIVERABLES
Video Series: As of now we have produced 10 Chapters documenting feral swine management efforts and success stories in eight different states.
Library of Images: Developed a broad catalog of still images captured in the field with Wildlife Services rangers, ag producers, and other stakeholders.
Earned Media: Multiple feature articles published in national agricultural trade magazines were pitched, written, and shot by Modoc for the purpose of reaching a broad audience.
