A-C-T Forest health Assistance Program

Central Sierra RCDs, the California Association of RCDs, and the NRCS have partnered together to provide financial and technical assistance for landowners dealing with tree mortality and forest health issues. The tree mortality crisis has affected landowners and communities in the Central Sierra; the NRCS and RCDs in 10 counties were awarded $10 million to provide assistance to private landowners to address these issues over the next 3 years. 

To make this funding go even farther the Amador RCD, Calaveras RCD, and Tuolomne RCD (ACT) have partnered together to provide assistance to all 3 counties. If you live in any of these three counties and have beetle kill trees and forest health related issues contact Amador RCD Natural Resource Specialist Gordon Long to learn more about this assistance. 
Click Here to download the ACT Forest Health Assistance Fact Sheet
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​For more information and to sign up for the program contact:
Gordon Long; via email : Gordon@AmadorRCD.org or by phone: 209-791-0286
The RCD will help you to produce a forest management plan at no or low cost to you. The management plan will include practices aimed at hazard tree removal, fuel reduction, forest stand improvement, and reforestation where appropriate. Unlike other NRCS EQIP projects this work can be done within the 100 foot defensible space around a structure. Eligible landowners will be submitted to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for ranking by NRCS. Landowners that have plans that rank high enough will be eligible to enter into a contract with NRCS for partial cost reimbursement for work that addresses identified forest health issues. Reimbursements average about 50% of the cost to the landowner. ​
Tree mortality at this magnitude takes on-going cooperation between public, non-profit and private entities
Staff is available in all 3 counties; staff spends many days in the field and out of the office; please call in advance to schedule a visit to make sure we will be in the office to assist you. 

Jackson Creek FOrest Health Project

In 2021, the Amador Resource Conservation District (RCD) was awarded funding from the CAL FIRE Forest Health Grant Program to implement fuel load reduction activities in the Jackson Creek Watershed. This program funds projects that improve the resilience of California’s forest and communities from the effects of wildfire. The Jackson Creek Forest Health project was funded specifically to implement three forest health and fuel-load reduction tools on private land within the Jackson Creek watershed. These three tools are 1) prescribed grazing, 2) mastication, and 3) prescribed fire. Over the next three years, the Amador RCD will conduct community outreach and solicit landowner engagement to implement these three fuel load reduction treatments and build community support for the on-going implementation of these treatments to sustain their benefits. In the coming months, the Amador RCD will be hosting a series of workshops to provide additional information about the project, solicit feedback from landowners and answer any questions about the project. 
 
FAQs: 
  • What is fuel load reduction? Fuel refers to vegetation that contributes to the threat of wildfire. These activities will minimize that risk by removing the vegetation that acts as fuel. 
  • What is prescribed grazing? Prescribed grazing is the targeted use of sheep and goats who eat brush reducing fuel load. 
  • What is mastication? Mastication is the use of heavy machinery to mulch vegetation in place. 
  • What is prescribed fire? Prescribed fire is the intentional use of fire in a safe way to protect landscapes from the possibility of an intense, much hotter and more dangerous fire in the future. 
 
PROJECT POINTS:
  • Treatments will be provided completely free of cost to participating landowners 
  • Amador RCD will be responsible for contracting and organizing all fuel load reduction treatments
  • Landowners will need to sign an initial Right of Entry for planning purposes. Treatments will only begin once a landowner has signed an additional Right of Entry.
  • Treatments will be chosen based on prescriptions created by a Registered Professional Forester or Certified Range Manager and with final approval by landowner
  • Treatments (apart from prescribed grazing) will only occur when it is deemed that there is limited fire threat, such out of fire season. No work will occur on Red Flag Days.
  • Only landowners that fall within the project boundary (indicated in yellow on the attached map) are eligible to receive these treatments on their property
  • Properties will ultimately be selected to receive treatments based on the following criteria: A) willingness of landowner to participate, B) comparative need based on existing fuel load, and C) proximity to adjacent participating landowners for efficient implementation 
  • All activities related to the project will be completed by March 2025
 
Questions? Please contact:
Gordon Long, Natural Resource Specialist, gordon@amadorrcd.org
Molly Taylor, Project Coordinator, healthysoil@amadorrcd.org

Jackson Creek Forest Health Presentation (December 2021)

No Cost Chipping Assistance

The Amador Resource Conservation District (ARCD) is implementing a residential fuels treatment project. There are two ways that Amador County residents can participate, either roadside chipping or a community chipping day.  The ARCD will administer the chipping services program through a grant awarded by the California Fire Safe Council.  This chipping program is open to all Amador County residents that first pile vegetative slash along roadsides or driveways, then submit a request for chipping service. Or residents can bring their green waste to one of six community chipping days through out the county. 

For more information visit the 'Chipping Project' Page.​

CalFire - CFIP Financial Assistance

The purpose of the California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) is to encourage private and public investment in, and improved management of, California forest lands and resources. This focus is to ensure adequate high quality timber supplies, related employment and other economic benefits, and the protection, maintenance, and enhancement of a productive and stable forest resource system for the benefit of present and future generations.
The program scope includes the improvement of all forest resources including fish and wildlife habitat, and soil and water quality. Cost-share assistance is provided to private and public ownerships containing 20 to 5,000 acres of forest land. Cost-shared activities include:
  • Preparation of a Forest Management Plan by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF)
  • RPF Supervision of the reforestation, forest stand improvement and Forestland conservation practices.
For more information visit CalFire's CFIP website 
Click Here to view the CFIP User Guide. 

NRCS - EQIP Technical & FINANCIAL Assistance

The Amandor RCD provides works with the the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement Farm Bill Programs, such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The two partners work closely together on a variety of tasks, such as:  Outreach and Education, Workshop Facilitation, and Technical Support. The Amador RCD worked with NRCS to create a series of videos to show how these funds can help on all types of properties in Amador County.
Click here to download a guide to the Environmental Quality Incentive Program. ​
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). EQIP was created to assist eligible farmers and ranchers to address conservation concerns affecting soil, water, air, and related natural resources. Through EQIP, farmers and ranchers can apply for financial assistance, information, and training to implement eligible conservation practices on their farms. 
If you’re interested in applying for EQIP funding visit the NRCS Office is Jackson; 12200 B Airport Road Jackson, CA 95642 or contact the District Conservationist Bobette Parson at Bobette.Parsons@ca.usda.gov
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