Funding Forest Stewardship

Fuel reductions and forest health

For the second installment in the Funding Your Forest series, we're focusing on fuel reduction and woody debris treatments as a means to improve forest health. We've identified cost-share programs, funding, and other resources, as well as information on how to do-it-yourself.

We’re timing this series with the cutoff for 2018 funding from NRCS's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).The EQIP deadline in Oregon and Washington is March 16, 2018.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps landowners access technical expertise and financial resources to develop and complete conservation practices that improve the health and productivity of their land. If you are interested in applying for EQIP, contact your local NRCS office to discuss the projects you have in mind.NRCS has also provided a handy quick guide for basic information on slash treatment options, eligibility and more. We realize EQIP may not be the right fit for everyone’s needs, so we’ve included additional resources.

Is fire risk a concern for your forest?

Prevent a tragedy before it occurs

Forest slash treatment is becoming a necessity in many forests due to historic fire suppression and the trees and vegetation that have grown since (more dense, often comprised of more species less resistant to fire). Fire suppression has led to many overstocked forests that become serious fire hazards during the increasingly dry summer season. Applying slash treatments as a means to reduce forest fuel can be very successful, and methods range from removal of problematic understory vegetation by hand, thinning your forest, or even prescribed fire.

Applying slash treatments can...

• Reduce hazardous forest fuels that can cause devastating forest fires
• Reduce the risk of disease and harmful fuels
• Protect fire-resilient species of tree
• Preserve air-quality by reducing fire risk
• Improve the soil and organic matter
• Encourage natural regeneration and healthy understory growth
• Enhance aesthetics
• and more!

Following is a list of resources available to woodland owners that will assist them in implementing a fuels reduction in their forests.

If you have more questions about implementing a fuels reduction or slash treatment practice for your forest after reviewing these resources, feel free to contact us.

Programs in Oregon

Grants/Cost-share

• Fuels reduction/Defensible space - Landowners seeking financial assistance for fuels reduction and creating defensible space around their homesites may be eligible for a rebate of $400 per acre through the Oregon Department of Forestry or their local rural fire district. Generally, funds are available for the 1-acre homesite; in some cases, funds may be provided for non-commercial thinning and slash reduction beyond the 1-acre homesite. Those interested should contact the Department of Forestry prior to beginning work to arrange for a site visit.
• Slash treatment/pre-commercial thinning grants - Through a grant to the Oregon Department of Forestry, cost share assistance is also available for pre-commercial thinning and slash treatment designed to mitigate insect and disease problems. There is a five-acre minimum project size and the cost share rate is 50%/$230 per acre. Contact Lee at 541-664-3328 for more information.
• Local and state-wide Firewise Grants/Assistance - Contact Oregon's Firewise Liaison for more information:

Cindy Kolomechuk, National Fire Plan Coordinator
Phone: 503-945-7444
ckolomechuk@odf.state.or.us

Do-It-Yourself

• General information on slash treatments and their benefits
• Forest Slash Burning Guidelines - These are guidelines that are used by forest landowners, land managers, and fire department personnel in planning and conducting safe and effective forest slash burning in woodland situations. Guidelines are for Colorado but general practices are still relevant to the PNW.
• OSU Fuels Reduction - Great article by OSU that explains all of the different methods of fuel reduction and how to do them.

Programs in Washington

Grants/Cost-share

• Cost-share application through DNR and US Forest Service for Eastern Washington forest landowners - Landowners interested in having a forester assess their forest or applying for cost-share practices such as thinning, pruning, or slash disposal can have up to 50% of total costs covered.
• King Conservation District cost-share funding - The District’s Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) provides landowners with cost-share assistance to support implementation of conservation practices on private property. Landowner expenses associated with pre-approved conservation practices are matched with KCD cost-share funding at a ratio of 50% to 90% of the total cost of projects - LIP funds 75% of forest management practices.
• Washington's Firewise program - Firewise is a nation-wide organization that provides cost-share incentives for fire prevention, holds community workshops and trainings, and develops county-wide wildfire protection plans. The Firewise grants are administered to individual conservation districts who then choose landowners. Check back in March for grants available in your area, and contact your local conservation district to learn more.
• State-wide Firewise Grants/Assistance - There may be state-wide funding opportunities available as well. Contact Washington Firewise staff for more information.

Do-It-Yourself

• General information on slash treatments and their benefits

• Forest Slash Burning Guidelines - These are good guidelines that are used by forest landowners, land managers, and fire department personnel in planning and conducting safe and effective forest slash burning in woodland situations. Guidelines are for Colorado but general practices are still relevant to the PNW.
• OSU Fuels Reduction - Great article by OSU that explains all of the different methods of fuel reduction and how to do them.