Western Oregon Cascadia Recovery Effort 2020 Labor Day Wildfire
Forest Landowner Post-Fire Recovery Assistance Program Information & Application.
Forest Landowner Post-Fire Assistance Program Terms & Requirements
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This program provides financial asistance for post wildfire recovery to small forest landowners in the western Cascades who were impacted by the 2020 Labor Day fires. Eligible applicants will receive forest management planning and funding to implement conservation practices that improve the natural resource conditions of their burned forestland.
This financial assistance is provided through federal sources including the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Sustainable Northwest is the lead partner of this RCPP project and administers it with the help of local partner organizations throughout the western Cascades. These partners provide technical assistance to landowners/applicants during all stages of the project (eligiblity screening, conservation planning, and implementation), and bring considerable cash and in-kind contributions to the project. -
The applicant must be a non-federal or non-industrial forest landowner in western Oregon and within at least one of the following fire footprints from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires: Lionshead, Beachie Creek, Holiday Farm, Riverside, Dowty Road, Unger, Wilhoit Springs, South Obenchain, and Archie Creek. Additionally, landowners will need to complete forms and establish a farm record with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and have an environmental review by the NRCS (CPA-52) to be determined eligible to receive funding for assistance.
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There is no minimum acreage required to apply for post-fire reforestation assistance.
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The applicant must own no more than a total of 5,000 forested acres in the state of Oregon. Non-profit organizations are exempt from the maximum acreage limitation.
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No landowner match is required to receive these funds. These funds cannot be used as match for other federally-funded programs, such as the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP). Federally funded assistance or financial incentive programs not administered by this program cannot be used to fund the same practices on the same acres as the assistance from this program.
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The acreage within the application must be assessed through a simple NEPA analysis - a CPA-52 environmental evaluation - at no cost to the landowner. This is a standard part of the eligibility process.
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The acreage within the application must have a developed and approved Forest Management Plan prior to receiving assistance. Forest Management Plans are not required during the time of initial application. Assistance funding from this program can be used to develop FMPs for proposed post-fire recovery acres.
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Post-fire assistance is limited to non-commercial operations in which there was a net cost to the landowner to complete the work. In mixed forest stands, containing both commercial and non-commercial sized trees, only that portion of the acreage occupied by non-commercial trees is eligible for financial assistance.
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The applicant is required to comply with all appropriate legal requirements, including obtaining appropriate permits (e.g., approved Forest Practices Application and burn permits) when required. No assistance funds will be paid for any practice implemented without proper permits or for any practice which is out of compliance with regulatory requirements at the time of completion.
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The applicant (producer/landowner) and/or identified RCPP AFA partners must provide Sustainable Northwest (SNW) with acceptable written documentation (e.g., receipts from contractors and suppliers and/or time logs for do-it-yourself work) of costs incurred for each practice category for which post-fire assistance is to be paid.
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Applicants/landowners agree to allow NRCS staff, SNW staff, or staff partners authorized by SNW, access to the property to determine assistance needs, feasibility, and specifications; certify the completion of work; and confirm compliance with the practice requirements. There is no requirement to allow public access to your property. Landowners will be notified before entry into property by staff associated with this funding assistance.
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Applicants/landowners agree to review the boundaries of post-fire assistance approved projects and certify that they own the property on which the assistance work is to be performed. The NRCS, SNW, and/or any of the identified partners claims no legal accuracy in delineating property boundaries and will be held harmless of any potential trespass.
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The landowner acknowledges and agrees that SNW is not responsible and is held harmless against all claims and suits by the landowner or against third parties for damages, injuries to person (including death), property damages, losses, and expenses including court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees, arising out of site assessments, environmental evaluations, management planning, and all post-fire remediation activities supported by this funding opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This program is intended to assist eligible non-federal forest and non-industrial landowners to implement practices which address post-fire recovery and damage from wildfire on forest lands in western Oregon within the Lionshead, Beachie Creek, Holiday Farm, Riverside, Dowty Road, Unger, Wilhoit Springs, South Obenchain, and Archie Creek fire footprints.
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Many NRCS conservation practice are fundable through this program - however, you are most likely to use the following: Forest Management Plan (106), Brush Management (314), Herbaceous Weed Control (315), Conservation Cover (327), Woody Residue Treatment (384), Tree and Shrub Site Prep (490), Tree and Shrub Establishment (612), Forest Stand Improvement (666).
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The program is funded by a federal Regional Conservation Partnership Program Alternative Funding Arrangement (RCPP AFA) from the USDA NRCS administered by Sustainable Northwest and identified partners within this application.
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Clackamas Soil & Water Conservation District, Marion Soil & Water Conservation District, North Santiam Watershed Council, Glide Revitalization, American Forests, Pure Water Partners: (McKenzie Watershed Council and Upper Willamette Soil and Water Conservation District), Oregon Department of Forestry, and Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District.
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Generally, non-federal and non-industrial owners of forest land in western Oregon who are within listed 2020 Labor Day wildfire footprints are eligible to apply. Examples of eligible parties include individuals, families, tribes, non-profit organizations, and homeowners associations.
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Yes. We will accept applications during specific time periods until 2027, or when the available funding has been fully commtitted to eligible landowners.
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No. There is no minimum ownership size or treatment acreage.
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Yes. Applicants must own no more than a total of 5,000 acres of forest land in the state of Oregon to be eligible to apply for assistance funds. (SNW and NRCS reserves the right to waive this requirement on a selective basis. Non-profit conservation organizations are exempt from this acreage requirement).
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No. Forested land qualifies, regardless of its property tax classification status.
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No. A Forest Management Plan is not required to apply for post-fire assistance. However, an FMP is required to be developed to receive funding for post-fire assistance through this program. Funding from this program can be used to develop an FMP for the treatment area applying for assistance.
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No. The applicant is still required to comply with all appropriate legal requirements, including obtaining appropriate permits (Forest Practices Application, Burn Permits, etc). Legal requirements are extended to hired labor.
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A CPA-52 is a simplified NEPA analysis that identifies and weigha potential impacts of proposed activities on soil, water, air, plant, animal, energy resources, and human social and economic concerns. All projects funded through this program will require a CPA-52 environmental evaluation as part of the planning process.
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Yes. A CPA-52 survey must be completed to determine eligibility for financial assistance. No cost for the survey will be incurred by the landowner regardless of determination of eligibility.
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No. All post-fire assistance plans and projects must receive written approval from the NRCS and SNW before any funding can be applied to pay for any post-fire recovery activities. Any previous work completed cannot be reimbursed through this program. Any eligible post-fire recovery management activities moving forward can be funded through this program once approved.
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This program may NOT be used as match for other federal programs such as the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP).
Other federally funded programs not administered by the NRCS or SNW cannot be used to pay for the same practices on the same acres as this program.
Other federally-funded programs (e.g., The Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) may be used on this treatment area for future management activities if assistance is available at the time and you qualify for those activities through the supporting agency. -
Approved applicants may be reimbursed up to 100% of the NRCS not-to-exceed reimbursement cost for the approved conservation practices, which in some cases may cover the actual costs or may be less. Total financials will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
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BE SURE TO READ ALL TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION. You will need to sign the application verifying that you have read, understand, and agree to these terms, conditions, and requirements.
Special thanks to Anderson Schultz LLP for their pro bono legal assistance with this project!
Questions?
We can help!
Fill out this contact form to reach Becca Shively, SNW Senior Wildfire Program Manager.
Glossary & Resources
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Forest Management Plan: A site-specific plan developed based on the landowner’s management objectives and the professional expertise of a skilled forester to achieve long-term forest management goals.
NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act
EQIP: Environmental Quality Incentive Program
NRCS: Natural Resource Conservation Services
RCPP AFA: Resource Conservation Partnership Agreement, Alternative Funding Arrangement
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Forest Management Plan (106): A site-specific conservation plan that contains planned forest-related conservation treatment activities for one or more resource concerns.
Applicable Land Uses: applies to non-industrial private forest land and other land uses where the participant’s objective is to engage in forest-related and/or agroforestry conservation practices.
NCRS USDA Forest Management Plan
Brush Management (314): The management or removal of woody (non-herbaceous or succulent) plants, including those that are invasive and noxious.
CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES: On all lands except active cropland, where the removal, reduction, or manipulation of woody (non-herbaceous or succulent) plants is desired.
Herbaceous Weed Control (315): Herbaceous weed treatment is the removal or control of herbaceous weeds, including invasive, noxious, prohibited or undesirable plants. This practice applies to all lands—except active cropland— where herbaceous weeds need to be removed, reduced, or otherwise manipulated.
Conservation Cover (327): Conservation cover is establishing and maintaining perennial vegetative cover to protect soil and water resources on lands needing permanent protective cover that will not be used for forage production.
Woody Residue Treatment (384): Woody residue treatment reduces or otherwise addresses the management of woody plant residues created during forestry, agroforestry, or horticultural activities or resulting from natural disasters. This practice applies to areas with quantities of woody slash and debris requiring treatment.
Woody Residue Treatment Overview
Tree and Shrub Site Prep (490): Treatment of sites to enhance the success of natural or artificial regeneration of desired trees and/or shrubs.
CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES: On all lands suited to growing woody plants where current site conditions are not suitable for the natural or artificial establishment of desired trees and shrubs.
Tree and Shrub Establishment (612): Tree/shrub establishment involves planting seedlings or cuttings, seeding, or creating conditions that promote natural regeneration.
Forest Stand Improvement (666): The manipulation of species composition, stand structure, or stand density by cutting or killing selected trees or understory vegetation to achieve desired forest conditions or obtain ecosystem services.
CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES: All land where the quantity and quality of trees can be enhanced.
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