On April 11, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Forest Service would invest $131 million in FY 2022 to treat 208,000 acres on 10 landscapes in western states at high risk of wildfire. The projects were selected based on the level of wildfire risk and the ability to quickly scale up the proposed projects in the coming years as part of USDA’s initiative to treat 50 million acres of federal and non-federal land over the next ten years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“The first-year investments are a part of a 10-year strategy to reduce the exposure of communities and infrastructure to the risk of catastrophic wildfire,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “With each successive year we will plan and implement more, continuing to reduce the risks associated with extreme wildfire for communities in these vulnerable areas.” These investments will take place in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. Forest management projects on these landscapes may include mechanical thinning, controlled burns and reforestation.

Wildfire season is a year-round issue for public lands counties. Wildfires destroy public lands, endanger access to vital resources, decrease biodiversity, hinder economic opportunity, decimate municipal watersheds, and negatively impact public health and safety. County officials believe federal, state and local governments must work together to combat this growing threat to communities, livelihoods and the environment. Counties support forest health initiatives that include fuels reduction, fuel breaks and managing for diseases and pests, while maintaining the multiple use mandates and utilizing the best available, peer-reviewed science.