Funding will be distributed by DNR to four successful applicants in Central and Eastern Washington
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Tuesday that $200 million in funding is being invested in the federal Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program nationwide – approximately $29 million of which is earmarked for Washington state.
Those funds will pass through the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Community Resilience program to four projects around the state, the largest award of which is more than $9 million for the Columbia Land Trust to use for reducing hazardous fuel conditions and restoring fire-adapted forests within the Yakima Indian Reservation.
“Securing this funding is a big win for wildfire mitigation and forest restoration projects in Washington,” said George Geissler, DNR’s State Forester and Deputy Supervisor responsible for Forest Resilience and Wildland Fire Management. “Community resilience and forest health are integral parts of our strategy to mitigate wildfire’s destructive impacts on people and public lands.”
Launched in 2022 and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Community Wildfire Defense Grants are intended to help at-risk communities and tribes plan for and mitigate wildfire risk to communities and critical infrastructure. This round of funding for the federal CWDG grant program received 573 applications from 40 states, three US territories and 48 Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations. The awarded projects benefitted 58 proposals in 22 different states and two Tribes.
Projects funded through the program follow recommendations and contribute to goals of DNR’s 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan, which has a goal of restoring 1.25 million acres of forest to healthy conditions.
“At a time when belts are tightening and Washington state is facing a budget shortfall, receiving these grant dollars is even more meaningful,” Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said. “Investing in wildfire prevention can reduce the severity of fires and potentially save money in wildfire suppression, and I’m thankful for our federal partners’ continued contributions through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program.”
With $28,641,990 awarded, Washington ranked first in funding received. Oregon came in second, with $28.5 million in grant money.
Grants have been awarded to:
- Columbia Land Trust
- Spokane Conservation District
- Spokane Valley Fire Department
- Okanogan County Electric Cooperative
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MEDIA CONTACT
Thomas Kyle-Milward
Wildfire Communications Manager
360-529-7184
