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Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration in the Northern Blues
Following a highly competitive national application process for funding under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP), the US Department of Agriculture awarded $3 million to implement the Northern Blues CFLRP Proposal in fiscal year (FY) 2021, which started October 1, 2020. The project is approved for funding for up to ten years, depending on appropriation levels from Congress and reauthorization of the CFLRP program in 2023.
The proposal was developed by the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests with diverse partners who bring a strong record of cross-boundary restoration spanning Northeastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington.
Because of the long‐term suppression of naturally occurring wildfires and past management that removed fire-tolerant trees, the forests and communities of the northern Blue Mountains face increasing risk of severe wildfires. Therefore, the partners united around two common goals:
(1) improve wildfire resilience
(2) restore more natural processes to forests and watersheds
The objective of this work, whether through thinning or prescribed fire, is to enhance forest health and resilience. These projects will benefit many areas on the National Forests that are not commercially viable and contain small diameter trees. In addition, some projects may also provide economic benefits and products. Work would occur in areas that are at risk from wildfires, such as areas adjacent to private lands and municipal watersheds, and other important locations. Treatments would maintain and enhance old trees and existing old-growth stands.
Initial funding will allow the Forest Service to implement thousands of acres of already planned projects to reduce the risk of destructive wildfires. In future years, strategic landscape treatments will be designed to take advantage of existing features (roads, ridges, and other barriers) to extend treated areas and further reduce wildfire severity. If fully funded and implemented over 10 years, the partners could treat up to 900,000 acres of National Forest, Tribal, State, and private lands – roughly 20 percent of the Northern Blues forested landscape.
This effort builds on CFLRP restoration accomplishments in the Southern Blue Mountains, including the Malheur National Forest. It is also informed by analyses conducted by the Northern Blues Cohesive Wildfire Strategy Partnership and the Forest Service’s Eastside Restoration Program. The Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests plan to continue working with partners to prioritize and implement projects based on available capacity and funds, both from CFLRP as well as other funding opportunities.
Latest Updates
- National Forests and partners commit to projects that will improve forest resilience across northern Blue Mountains (October 8, 2020)
Additional information about CFLRP
Congress established CFLRP to encourage the collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority forest landscapes. The program supports work with partner agencies, organizations, and landowners in an all-lands approach to forest restoration.
National CFLRP Program Information
For more information contact us:
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest