To implement fuels mitigation actions on non-federal lands that complement and enhance federal efforts to reduce wildfire risk to communities and surrounding landscapes by decreasing hazardous fuel…

The Idaho Department of Lands received a $442,800 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Northern Region (Region 1) on August 1, 2025, under the State & Private Forestry Hazardous Fuel Reduction Program (CFDA 10.697). This award funds fuels mitigation actions on non-federal lands in Idaho's Forest Service Region 1, specifically targeting two priority landscapes identified in Idaho's Forest Action Plan and the Governor's Shared Stewardship Priority Landscape. The project strategically addresses wildfire risk reduction across jurisdictional boundaries, including areas within two Forest Service Wildfire Crisis designated landscapes extending into neighboring Montana and Washington.

Implementation activities, scheduled to begin in late spring 2026 and conclude by winter 2029, include hand treatments, mechanical thinning, and prescribed fire to reduce hazardous fuel loads in forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands. These treatments are designed to create defensible zones around vulnerable landscapes while complementing ongoing federal efforts and building upon past mitigation work. The County of Bonner, Idaho, received a sub-award effective February 6, 2026, to conduct hazardous fuel treatment work on non-federal lands in Bonner County, linking county efforts with U.S. Forest Service initiatives to achieve landscape-level wildfire hazard abatement.

To implement fuels mitigation actions on non-federal lands that complement and enhance federal efforts to reduce wildfire risk to communities and surrounding landscapes by decreasing hazardous fuel loads in forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands. Project work will take place within the united states forest service region 1 portion of idaho, specifically within two of idahos forest action plan priority landscapes. Additionally, implementation will occur within the governors shared stewardship priority landscape for region 1. This work is strategically planned in areas that also intersect with two united states forest service wildfire crisis designated landscapes that fall into idaho from eastern and western neighboring states (montana and washington) ensuring a broader, cross-boundary impact aligned with regional wildfire risk reduction goals. Project implementation is scheduled to begin in late spring 2026 and will involve a combination of hand treatments, mechanical thinning, and prescribed fire. The timeline for project completion is contingent on site-specific conditions, contractor availability, and fire restrictions. Full project completion is anticipated by winter 2029. There is a significant and ongoing wildfire risk in idaho. By bridging work across jurisdictions, the projects protect both communities and valuable timber resources, creating more resilient forests and safer conditions throughout priority areas. The treatments are strategically designed to build upon past and ongoing work, creating continuous and defensible zones around the most vulnerable landscapes. Implementing fuels mitigation on these lands not only addresses immediate threats but also advances the forest service's mission by contributing to treatment accomplishments and accelerating the pace and scale of risk reduction.