Jan. 13, 2016
— COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership
is providing $60,000 to landowners near the Sam Houston National Forest for
prescribed burning.
The funds
reimburse eligible landowners who have taken measures to reduce grass and
brush, enhance ecosystems and protect homes and communities from wildfire
through strategically-planned prescribed burning.
“Overgrown
vegetation contributes to wildfires that damage the ecosystem. Using prescribed
fire helps return the ecosystem back to its natural state,” said Andy McCrady,
fuels coordinator for Texas A&M Forest Service.
Through
prescribed fire, landowners contribute to community safety.
“Wildfire behavior
is more problematic and harder for firefighters to control when there are
excessive dry fuels. This is even more problematic when these hazardous fuels
are near homes and communities,” McCrady said.
Texas A&M
Forest Service offers grants directly to landowners to reimburse the cost of
certified and insured prescribed burn managers conducting the burn treatments.
“This program
allows trained specialists to conduct effective, cost-efficient methods to
remove dangerous fuel loads,” McCrady said.
This year,
Texas A&M Forest Service signed agreements with 50 landowners in East
Texas, allowing them to take advantage of $263,755 in funding. The additional
$60,000 is made available by the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration
Partnership to support fuel reduction in and around the national forests of
Texas.
The Joint
Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership brings together Texas A&M Forest
Service, USDA Forest Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
Eligible
landowners must live within 10 miles of the Sam Houston National Forest.
Priority areas consist of Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto and Walker
counties.
For more
information and to apply for the prescribed burning grant visit http://www.tfsweb.tamu.edu/jointchiefs.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 15.
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Texas A&M
Forest Service Contacts:
William “Andy”
McCrady; Fuels Coordinator; wmccrady@tfs.tamu.edu;
936-689-9393
Tammy Russell;
Business Associate; trussell@tfs.tamu.edu;
936-273-2261