$471,650 in grant funds available for
prescribed burning
COLLEGE STATION,
Texas – Some Texas landowners may be eligible for funding to help with
prescribed burning costs on private lands.
Now through Sept.
28, 2018, Texas A&M Forest Service is accepting grant applications to cover
prescribed fire costs for private landowners that use professional prescribed
fire services.
“Since 2006,
Texas A&M Forest Service has offered several types of grants to offset up
to 100 percent of costs for prescribed burning on private land,” said Andy
McCrady, Fuels Coordinator II with Texas A&M Forest Service. “Eligible
landowners can apply if they are willing to strategically plan the burn using a
certified and insured burn manager.”
Prescribed
fire is an effective and controlled method to reduce wildfire risk by
eliminating brush, weeds, dried vegetation and downed trees. Benefits from
prescribed fire include wildlife habitat improvement, seed and plant
regeneration, reduction of invasive plants, and restoration of soil nutrients.
“This year landowners
can complete the application entirely online,” said McCrady. “Texas A&M
Forest Service continues to look for ways to improve our grant programs and
improve service delivery. We hope landowners will take advantage of the new
online application process and the increase in available funds.”
A total of $316,449 of Community Protection Program-Prescribed
Fire Grant funding is available for property owners within 10 miles of a
National Forest in East Texas.
A total of $54,000 in National Fire Plan-Prescribed Fire Grants is available to 33
eligible counties with a city- or county-wide Community Wildfire Protection
Plan.
A total of $101,201 is available through the Neches River and Cypress Basin Watershed
Restoration Program-Prescribed Fire Grant for prescribed burning in
priority East Texas watersheds. Treatments will help improve water supply and
quality, control invasive species and enhance wildlife habitat by restoring
ecosystem function.
This year up to $50,000 is available through the Texas Longleaf Conservation Assistance Program-Prescribed Fire Grant for burn treatments on
private land in East Texas to enhance longleaf pine ecosystems.
Texas A&M Forest Service does not conduct the
prescribed burns. Grant recipients will select a certified and insured prescribed
burn manager to reimburse costs from $15 to $30 per acre, depending on program
eligibility.
Application deadline is Friday, September
28, 2018. Please apply online at http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/cppgrant/or print, complete and mail a hard copy
to:
Texas A&M Forest Service
Mitigation & Prevention Department
2127 S. First Street, Lufkin, Texas 75901
Attn: Fuels Coordinator.
Learn more by visiting the Prescribed Burning Board.
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Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:
William “Andy” McCrady, Fuels
Coordinator, 936-689-9393, wmccrady@tfs.tamu.edu
Hughes Simpson, Program Leader, 979-458-6658,hsimpson@tfs.tamu.edu
Texas
A&M Forest Service Communications, 979-458-6606, newsmedia@tfs.tamu.edu