COMMUNITY NEWS
Resource Conservation District Gets $390,000
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By Angie Gruys
al Fire has awarded the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts a “Wildfire Resilience” block grant to support 10 Resource Conservation Districts statewide in helping both public and private landowners with forest management planning and project implementation. More than $390,000 will be coming to the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County over three years to provide technical assistance to support the development of forest management plans, forest health and fuels management project design. Resource Conservation Districts are in a unique position of being well integrated and trusted in their communities to equip and prepare landowners with in-depth and place specific knowledge and are ideally situated to help landowners across California develop management plans and implement stewardship practices that reduce overall fire severity. Yet, Resource Conservation Districts need support to fulfill this critical need of FireSafe Council of Santa Cruz County was awarded $720,169, targeted for 12 fuel reduction projects close to homes and escape routes in Firewise communities. Also, 37 water infrastructure sites will get defensible space treatments, and a new defensible space assistance program will help 20 disadvantaged households with fuel reduction. Existing chipping programs will be promoted in underserved areas to serve 300 more homes. The goal is to increase recognized Firewise communities from 23 to 54, and provide education, motivation, and technical assistance to over 5,300 homes or 25% of residences in the Wildland Urban Interface. Home ignition zone assessments will grow from a volunteer pilot to a staff-supported program, and a pilot home hardening rebate program will be developed. Planning and compliance will be initiated for a large future priority project. Santa Cruz City Fire was awarded $150,000 foe vegetation management of Moore Creek Preserve and Pogonip open spaces, both designated as Wildland Urban Interface. Forestry Educators Inc. was awarded $114,136 for the 2022 Forestry Challenge, a high school competition at multiple sites including Santa Cruz Oct. 12 to 15.
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Forest health specialist Angie Richman will be working on these programs. assisting landowners. The primary challenge we face is that the financial and logistical burden of developing forest management plans for private landowners discourages participation. This grant will help decrease those barriers for landowners and the Resource Conservation Districts and foster greater involvement. Resource Conservation District Santa Cruz County staff will work directly with communities in developing projects, including further exploration to determine feasibility, discover proper permitting pathways, and to identify specific funding. Our team will be supported by an “oncall” Registered Professional Forester and other experts in related fields, who are not tied to a specific project. They will provide services on an as-needed basis which means meeting the high-quality standards of Forest Management Plans and a faster timeline. One-on-one assistance will be available to landowners in the process of developing forest management and fuel reduction plans or projects and will include identification of funding sources for implementation if needed. This award will also be used to fund community-based fuel load reduction through the No-cost and Neighborhood Reimbursement Chipping Programs. This resource allows residents in high-fire risk areas, and particularly underserved populations, access to much-needed incentives to create defensible space around their homes. n ••• For information on the RCDSCC’s Forest Health and Wildfire Resiliency program and available services, visit https://www. rcdsantacruz.org/forest-management-andstewardship. For information on the RCD’s Chipping program visit https://www.rcdsantacruz.org/chipping-programs.
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