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NRCS and Forest Service partner to improve forest health

Press Office

HELENA, Mont., -

Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie announced today a multi-year partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the health and resiliency of forest ecosystems where public and private lands meet across the nation. The Under Secretary made the announcement in Helena, Mont., near the site of the Red Mountain Flume/Chessman Reservoir, one of the first areas to be addressed through the partnership. Another area to be targeted is the San Bernardino/Riverside County area of California which experienced catastrophic wildfires a decade ago.

"NRCS and the Forest Service have the same goal in this partnership – working across traditional boundaries and restoring the health of our forests and watersheds whether they're on public or private lands," Bonnie said.

Today's announcement is part of the Obama Administration's Climate Action Plan to responsibly cut carbon pollution, slow the effects of climate change and put America on track to a cleaner environment.

The project, called the Chiefs' Joint Landscape Restoration Partnership, will invest $30 million in 13 projects across the country this year to help mitigate wildfire threats to communities and landowners, protect water quality, and supply and improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species.

The 13 priority projects will build on existing projects with local partnerships already in place. By leveraging technical and financial resources and coordinating activities on adjacent public and private lands, conservation work by NRCS and the Forest Service will be more efficient and effective in these watersheds.

"Wildfires and water concerns don't stop at boundaries between public and private lands," NRCS Chief Jason Weller said. "By working together, we can provide more focused and effective assistance to help public and private landowners and managers put conservation solutions on the ground nationwide."

"The Chiefs' Joint Landscape Restoration Partnership is an opportunity for our agencies to pool resources and get better results for the American people," U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell added. "Restoring the health of our nation's forests and grasslands is a critical effort, and it's going to take partnerships like this to see the job through."

The list of the 13 projects:

Montana – Red Mountain Flume/Chessman Reservoir: $865,000 for restoration of the watershed is critical to protecting communities, watershed health and drinking water, contributing 80 percent of the water supply for Helena, Mont. Successful implementation of this project will protect public health and safety, reduce the risk of decades of erosion and flooding that could result from a wildfire, and potentially save millions of dollars in mitigation costs.

California - San Bernardino and Riverside County Fuels Reduction Project: In October 2003, Southern California experienced catastrophic wildfires that burned over 750,000 acres, destroyed 3,500 homes, and resulted in 22 fatalities and over $3 billion in losses. Since then, multiple partners have committed time and resources to planning and implementing forest health and wildfire hazard reduction projects on private land and working with the owners within San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Reducing forest fuels on 30,000 acres will provide additional protection for community safety, wildlife habitat, watershed health, recreation opportunities and cultural resources.

California – Mid-Klamath River Communities Project: The partnership has yielded numerous implementation-ready projects and treatments on some high priority federal and private lands are underway or complete. These treatments include fuel breaks, thinning, broadcast burning, and improved fire suppression infrastructure such as water tanks and ingress/egress routes. Although these projects are focused on communities, most of these projects have identified wildlife, water, and economic stability benefits.

Minnesota – Upper Mississippi Headwaters Restoration

New Mexico – Isleta Project

New Hampshire – New Hampshire Drinking Water Improvement

Wisconsin – Lake Superior Landscape Restoration Partnership

West Virginia – West Virginia Restoration Venture

Kentucky – Triplett Creek

Arkansas – Western Arkansas Woodland Restoration

New York – Susquehanna Watershed Riparian Buffer Enhancements

Mississippi – Upper Black Creek Watershed

Oregon – East Face of the Elk Horn Mountains

Summaries of all projects selected can be found here.

The agencies are reviewing additional sites for the partnership to collaborate in the future and will continue to capitalize on NRCS and Forest Service overlying priorities and programs.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/newsroom/releases/nrcs-and-forest-service-partner-improve-forest-health