Activities will include reducing fuel loads in degraded forests, and removing unhealthy or dying trees, such as those affected by forest disease like Sudden Oak Death or drought. A focus will be to remove hazardous fuel loads to change extreme fire behavior across the landscape. Long-term maintenance and monitoring efforts will also be included in management plans to ensure sustainable benefits for the region.
The two projects, designed to enhance each other, are among 17 awarded statewide by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for landscape-scale land management intended to restore and maintain healthy forests, conserve working forests, and enhance carbon storage. Funding for the grants comes from California's Cap-and-Trade Program, a component of the state's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Support for preparing the grant application was provided by San Mateo County Measure K funds, Peninsula Open Space Trust, and the California Department of Conservation forest health watershed coordinator grant program.
“This multi-million-dollar grant leverages our San Mateo County Measure K funds, promotes forest health at the landscape level, and addresses fire risk reduction for our communities,” states San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley. “I see the benefit of working with the Resource Conservation District on resiliency in terms of carbon benefits and greenhouse gas reduction and appreciate the partnership with CAL FIRE, private property owners, and public land managers like state and county parks."