When wildfires or beetle infestations slash through Washington’s forests, they don’t stop to ask permission as they cross private property or lands managed by government agencies. A $2 million federal grant will help reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health on across boundaries on private and public lands in northeast Washington.
“Small, up-front investments in reducing fire hazards can save us all from suffering terrible damages to resources and communities,” said State Forester Aaron Everett. “We want to commend the U.S. Forest Service and the NRCS for their leadership in working across all boundaries.”
The grant initiative, called the Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership, is a collaboration between the chief of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) worked with federal sponsors to propose funding that will help reduce wildfire threats in Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties in 2015.
Through the Washington grant award, DNR will receive $500,000 to provide financial assistance for private woodland owners to reduce fire hazards. The NRCS will receive $500,000 to support grants for similar activities through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The Colville National Forest will also receive $1 million for hazardous fuel reduction activities on high-priority sites within its boundaries.
The national initiative brings a total of $37 million in funding, selecting 15 proposals from 15 different states have been selected. Each selected project had joint sponsorship from USFS and NRCS, including land treatments on public (federal or state) and private lands, and was ready to be rapidly implemented. The northeast Washington effort focuses on reducing wildfire threats, as well as benefitting water and wildlife resources.
In 2014, more than 315,000 acres burned in wildfires under DNR protection. Homes, developments and communities are increasingly interspersed within fire-prone landscapes, compounding fire impacts and presenting a danger to public safety. By working together to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health across property lines, communities and the surrounding watersheds can be better protected.
