Forest Service invests $131M of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds into 10-year wildfire strategy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week that the Forest Service’s 10-year wildfire strategy will benefit from $131 million of investment provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, resulting in funds for 10 states initially.
The 10-Year wildfire strategy seeks treatment of up to 20 million acres of national forests and grasslands and up to 30 million acres of other federal, state, Tribal, and private lands.
Those that stand to benefit immediately are Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. In all, this will provide wildfire risk reduction treatments for about 208,000 acres, chosen by what areas were at the highest risk. According to the Forest Service, around 80 percent of wildfire risk to communities comes from less than 10 percent of fireshed regions. Some investments will expand existing efforts, while others will begin from the ground up.
“Thanks to the investments made in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, USDA is taking the next step in reducing wildfire risk, especially in western states where communities, infrastructure, and resources are at the most risk,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “The people of Colorado need no reminding of the dire threat wildfire presents to states across the West. In 2020, Coloradans saw three of their largest fires on record. With the investments we’re announcing today, USDA will do its part to make your communities safer and our forests more resilient to our changing climate.”
Over the past 20 years, wildfires have killed hundreds and caused billions of dollars in damage across numerous states. In 2015, 2017, and 2020, each year saw more than 10 million acres burn.
According to Forest Service Chief Randy Moore, with each successive year, more plans and funds will be implemented, with an eye on reducing risks associated with extreme wildfires in vulnerable areas. Vilsack and Moore made and highlighted the announcement through a Rural Infrastructure Tour to Colorado this week, joined by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, as well as U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse. They also met with federal and state officials, along with wildland fire leadership, as part of the annual Joint Operational Wildfire Briefing focused on local, state, and federal wildland fire preparedness and response efforts.
“Climate change continues to drive the devastating intersection of extreme heat, drought, and wildland fire danger across the United States, creating wildfires that move with a speed and intensity previously unseen,” Haaland said. “Funding provided by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support the Interior Department’s ongoing efforts to invest in the science and research that is needed to better understand the impacts of climate changes on wildland fire in order to better safeguard people, communities, and resources. With so little room for error, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to wildland fire preparedness, mitigation, and resilience.”
In Colorado, one of the states hard hit by fires in recent years, $18 million of initial funding will provide treatments for up to 10,000 acres of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and the Pike-San Isabel National Forests.
