Wenatchee, WA (Date) – A collaborative landscape restoration proposal from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and the North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative (NCWFHC) has been selected for a $1.4 million initial investment through the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) with the potential of $30 million over 10 years, depending on future appropriations.
CFLRP is a federal program designed to reduce the risk of severe wildfires while supporting local economies, creating jobs and enhancing forest and watershed health by providing multi-year funding for large, landscape-scale forest health and resiliency projects planned collaboratively with local communities, environmental organizations, business groups, and other stakeholders.
“We are delighted that our CFLRP proposal for national forest lands in North Central Washington has been approved for long-term funding,” said Mike Anderson, Senior Policy Analyst for The Wilderness Society and co-chair of the NCWFHC. “We look forward to working closely with the Forest Service over the next 10 years to increase the pace and scale of much-needed forest restoration work in the North Central WA region.”
Funding received for the North Central Washington Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program Project will go towards treating a project area of 1.1 million acres to align with Washington state’s 20-year Forest Health Action Plan. The approach strategically places treatment to reduce wildfire risk for some of the most vulnerable cities and communities in the Pacific Northwest so that multiple tools and tactics can be used to manage the fires safely and appropriately. Work will include fuels treatments, stream and fisheries improvements, and wildlife habitat restoration. This project is also a component of the broader strategy to address the wildfire crisis through the Central Washington Initiative, which was announced in April.
“The selection of this proposal as one of just 15 across the nation reinforces the importance of this landscape and the need for restoration to address the growing wildfire crisis. I’m thankful for our partnership with NCWFHC, whose members helped us develop this successful proposal,” said Forest Supervisor Kristin Bail.
The NCWFHC is composed of 22 member organizations that represent a broad range of interests. Their focus is forest health on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Lands north of Blewett Pass.
“The collaborative partnership between the NCWFHC and the Forest has achieved many successes working together,” said Chris Branch, Okanogan County Commissioner and co-chair of the NCWFHC. “This CFLRP award is another great opportunity for us to progressively increase forest health restoration achievements that reduces wildfire risks and benefits our local communities in so many ways.”
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