Assistance For Private Landowner Fire Recovery

Davis, CA — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today that private landowners in California may submit applications for assistance if they were affected by wildfires in the last 18 months.

The applications will be accepted for primary consideration and ranking through November 15, 2013. Financial assistance for implementing specific conservation practices may be available to applicants through the Environmental Qualify Incentives Program (EQIP).

California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez says, “I encourage landowners who have private forestlands and rangelands that were damaged by the recent catastrophic fires to visit with their local NRCS field office about how this initiative can provide assistance to protect their natural resources.”

The purpose of the Catastrophic Fire Recovery EQIP Initiative is to provide immediate resource protection in areas with priority concerns such as erosion protection, minimizing noxious and invasive plant proliferation, protecting water qualify, fish and wildlife habitat, and bringing back forests and restoring livestock infrastructure necessary for grazing management.

Priority applications will include things that can be done within one year. Participants interested in implementing practices beyond the scope of this special and limited initiative are encouraged to apply under regular EQIP funding opportunities.

NRCS has been helping America’s private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water and other natural resources since 1935. For more information visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov or call 530-792-5600