Rogue/Siskiyou gets fuel reduction funds
From our weekly issue dated July 08, 2009
The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has received funding for $22 million to reduce hazardous fuels as part of $224 million in funding for hazardous fuels projects by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Funding was announced on Friday, July 3 by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. The forest’s “fuel reduction” money is part of an Eight-County Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project in Oregon.
The eight counties in the fuels reduction project are Josephine, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson and Jefferson.
In economic stimulus funds, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has received funding for $22 million in the next phase of the Eight-County Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project ARRA of 2009. This funding is in addition to the forest receiving $3 million of new funding in March which provided for private sector jobs and that benefits Oregonians in Josephine and Curry counties in a first phase of forest service funding of this project.
“I see this as an amazing opportunity to employ a large number of people in addition to getting a substantial amount of much needed on-the-ground work done on the Forest,” said Scott Conroy, supervisor of Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
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“This work will reduce fire hazards and assist fire managers in making every effort to minimize the effects of large-scale, intense wildfires to our communities in Southwestern Oregon and the forest,” said Conroy.
Treatments reduce fire hazards by removing vegetation on the ground, in turn slowing the progress and escalation of a wildfire. These treatments are designed to protect surrounding communities. They also can create a safety zone for firefighters to battle a wildfire by building hand lines around it.
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