July 30, 2023 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has awarded agreements with CAL FIRE, Caltrans and the California Conservation Corps, to increase restoration work, fuels reduction and forest health projects on BLM-managed public lands in California. The three cooperative agreements are being funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also known as BIL).

CCC Inland Empire Fuels Work|     Photo courtesy of CCC

Within the next five years, the Department of the Interior will receive $1.5 billion in BIL funding to invest in wildfire preparedness, fuels management, post-fire restoration and fire science — with BLM California receiving more than $15 million to date. From that amount, the BLM will provide $800,000 of BIL funding to our partner agencies to complete the restoration work near important infrastructure such as roads, recreation areas and private homes. These agreements were made through the Good Neighbor Authority, which enables the BLM to collaborate with state agencies to complete projects on BLM-managed lands statewide.

“We are excited to partner with CAL FIRE, Caltrans and the California Conservation Corps on important projects on BLM-managed public lands throughout California,” said BLM California State Director Karen Mouritsen. “These agreements will result in better coordination for activities to reduce fuels that feed wildfires, protect wildlife habitat, improve forest health, and restore important watersheds.”

The BLM has used BIL funding for diverse projects throughout the state and will continue to add funding from other sources like appropriated, in-kind partnerships or donated funds, for restoration. The BLM is excited to improve upon cross-jurisdictional coordination with partners for landscape-scale restoration. Good Neighbor Authority projects have a five-year project period and a lifetime funding cap of $12.8 million.

• The California Conservation Corps agreement allows up to $4.2 million of funding to be added for restoration work. Activities will include adding fuel breaks, planting, post-fire burned area rehabilitation, prescribed fire, proactive forest and range restoration to improve wildlife habitat and livestock forage, noxious weed and invasive species treatments and wildland-urban interface fuels reduction.
   
• The California Department of Transportation agreement allows up to $4.2 million of funding to be added to the agreement. In partnership with Caltrans, the goals of this project are to scale up forest management, reduce wildfire hazards, and enhance wildlife habitats on BLM-managed public lands near highways.
   
• The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection agreement allows up to $4.5 million of funding to be added to the agreement. This project focuses on ecological resilience on BLM-managed lands. The restoration work includes treating insect and disease-infested trees, reducing hazardous fuels, and other activities to restore and improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health, including fish and wildlife habitat.

For more information about the BLM’s restoration efforts under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, visit www.blm.gov/infrastructure.
Source: BLM