Purpose
Cost-share reimbursement grant for private Texas landowners to protect surrounding communities at risk of wildfire through accepted mechanical fuel reduction.
Practices
Create defensible space and/or fuel breaks with hand cutting tools, chainsaws, chippers, and/or forestry mulcher/masticator.
Eligibility
Landowners in the indicated 33 Central Texas counties:
Austin, Bastrop (partial), Bell (partial), Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Coke, Coleman, Colorado, Concho, Ector, Fayette, Glasscock, Grimes, Irion, Kimble, Lampasas, Lee, Llano, Madison, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Midland, Mills, Runnels, San Saba, Sterling, Tom Green, Travis (partial), Waller, Washington, and Williamson (partial) counties.
Application
The online application period for the fall will be open from August 1 to September 12, 2025.
About
The Mechanical Fuel Reduction grant is funded through the USDA Forest Service. The grant reduces the risk of home loss to wildfire through accepted mechanical fuel reduction practices.
Landowners will be reimbursed for actual costs up to the listed thresholds for conducting mechanical fuel reduction projects on their property. Project work will be conducted by a hired contractor of the landowner’s choosing. The contracting service hired must not be affiliated with the landowner. Work cannot be conducted by the landowner. Previous work conducted before pre-inspections will not be accepted.
Individual landowners may submit more than one application per project location. Landowners may be approved for more than one application.
Treatment options
These treatments aim to remove flammable vegetation within the home ignition zone to create defensible space around homes and structures. They also help reduce the vertical continuity of “ladder fuels”—from grasses to shrubs to trees—which can slow wildfire spread and improve firefighter access. Priority will be given to projects that create defensible space within 0 to 100 feet of a home or structure, though treatments may extend up to 300 feet in all directions.
Another effective method for slowing wildfire progression is the creation of fuel breaks—linear areas of reduced vegetation, typically at least 66 feet wide, designed to protect homes and structures. These may also be implemented as broader landscape treatments within wildland areas between homes in a community. All treatments should be placed in strategic locations across the property to maximize effectiveness.
The following requirements apply to all treatment options:
- Treatments will be subject to post-inspections to ensure compliance with these guidelines.
- Each treatment must be a minimum of 66 feet wide.
- All resulting debris—including dead woody material, cut limbs, and brush—must be either removed from the property or mechanically reduced.
- Mature native Texas trees that remain must have their lower branches pruned (limbed up) or reduced to limit ladder fuels.
- Burning of any kind is not allowed under this grant and will result in disqualification.
Hand-cutting Treatment ($750/Acre)
Vegetation and trees are removed, thinned, pruned, or cut using hand tools only—such as shears, pole saws, and chainsaws. Hand-cut fuel breaks are typically placed in strategic locations like property lines, access roads, or between unmanaged wildland areas and maintained landscapes.
Mulching Treatment ($2,000/Acre)
Trees and other vegetation are thinned or reduced using a forestry mulcher (masticator) to disrupt continuous fuels and reduce wildfire spread.
Combination Treatment ($1,500/Acre)
Vegetation is removed or thinned using hand tools or a forestry mulcher (masticator), depending on site conditions and treatment goals.
After mulching treatment
Reimbursement per recipient
This grant is intended as a cost-share program and funds may not cover 100% of project expenses. All work must be completed by a contractor hired by the landowner. The selected contractor must not be affiliated with the landowner, and the landowner may not perform the work themselves. Any work completed prior to the required pre-inspection will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Applicants may select only one of the three treatment options per application. However, landowners are allowed to submit multiple applications for different project locations and/or treatment types. Multiple applications may be approved, but treatment areas on separate applications must not overlap.
Grant recipients will be reimbursed for actual costs up to the following limits:
- $750 per acre for hand-cut treatments
- $1,500 per acre for combined hand-cut and mulching
- $2,000 per acre for mulching
Reimbursable costs are limited to those expenditures listed on a contractor’s invoice that are directly related to fuel reduction actions that create defensible space around a structure, the installation of the fuel breaks to protect structures, and/or the rental of equipment that is directly related to the fuel reduction activities or installation of the fuel break. The purchase of equipment is not reimbursable.
Invoices paid in full are required documentation prior to reimbursing actual costs.
Application process
This is a competitive grant, with selections based on how well the project aligns with the goal of reducing wildfire risk to homes. The online application period for the fall will be open from August 1 to September 12, 2025. Applications will be reviewed by our fuels team and either approved or declined based on the intent of the grant. Notification letters will be mailed to applicants by October 17, 2025. Please note that approval is not guaranteed, regardless of previous year outcomes.
Applicants must:
- Complete all questions on the online application to be considered.
- Create a map of the proposed project area displaying property owner’s boundary, location of proposed fuel treatment or fuel break, dimensions of treatment, and landowner name with aerial imagery as map background. An incomplete map may result in disqualification.
- Submit contractor information and an estimate of the cost of service. The last section of the online application will help calculate the estimated reimbursement using the entered project type and dimensions.
Pictures of the landscape, topography, and overall vegetation may be submitted for consideration.
Approved applications
If approved, the approval letter will include a W-9 Tax Form, a Terms of Conditions Form, and the submitted application for the landowner to sign and return to us within five weeks to accept the grant.
A signed application with current contractor information is required. Contractor changes may only be permitted under extenuating circumstances. If a contractor change is approved, a new signed application must be submitted with the updated contractor’s information.
Once all required documents are received, the landowner will be sent a letter to schedule a pre-inspection. Work may not begin until the pre-inspection is completed. Any work started prior to the pre-inspection will not be eligible for reimbursement. During the pre-inspection, we will take photos, verify the dimensions of your project, and answer any remaining questions about the grant process.
If the contractor declines or fails to complete the work by the deadline, then the applicant may re-apply the following grant cycle. This is only available on the first occurrence. Failing to complete the work two years in a row will result in automatic disqualification the 3rd cycle/year.
All debris generated from the project must be removed from the property or dispersed as mulch or chips. Burning of any kind is not allowed under this grant and will result in disqualification. If any debris generated from this project is left on landowner’s property, we may not cover reimbursement.
The hired contractor will have up to 180 days to complete all the work. If work is not completed by the end of the 180-day term, the landowner can be reimbursed for the acreage that was completed. The landowner may also apply again next year for any acreage missed. No extensions will be granted.
After the contractor completes their work, the landowner will contact us to schedule a post-inspection visit which will verify any work completed. The post-inspection will calculate acreage and verify dimensions were met in the approved location.
After the post-inspection, the landowner must submit their receipts and invoices for reimbursement. Invoices must have the project address and county, description of work conducted, acreage completed, and show the balance paid in full or zero balanced to be reimbursed. Once the post-inspection is conducted and the reimbursement forms have been submitted, we will process all documentation and mail your reimbursement check which can take 4-6 weeks.