WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is sending $38 million to Oregon to improve wildfire resilience, U.S. senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today.
Funding will go to projects in Central Oregon, the Klamath River Basin and Mount Hood Forest Health and Fire-Resistant Communities, the senators said in a news release.
“These (are) critical investments to reduce the threat of wildfire to our communities. The importance of these preventive resources is evident as we head into what is expected to be another especially dry summer in the Pacific Northwest,” Wyden said. “Not only does this funding help protect Oregon communities from deadly infernos, it preserves intact landscapes that provide drinking water, recreation opportunities and climate resilience for millions of Oregonians.”
Amounts are as follows:
- $18.2 million to Central Oregon
- $15.47 million to the Klamath River Basin
- $4.97 million to Mount Hood Forest Health and Fire-Resistant Communities.
“The investment will allow national forests—in collaboration with Tribes, communities, and other partners—to build local capacity for projects to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health to protect communities, infrastructure, water quality, and adjacent landowners,” the release said.
This funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the release said, which is going to 21 landscapes in Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and South Dakota.
Another $100 million will be allocated under a new program — the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program, the release said. This funding will go towards “expand(ing) work in high-risk wildfire areas outside the 21 priority landscapes, including those in Oregon.”
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