Project abstract summary: this project scales up current efforts in stream and meadow restoration by forming a collaboration between fire and stream restoration programs in three counties to reduce…

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded a $550,000 Project Grant to The Sierra Fund, a non-profit organization, under the National Fire Plan-Wildland Urban Interface Community Fire Assistance program (CFDA 15.674). The grant will fund a collaborative effort to scale up stream and meadow restoration work in three counties in the Sierra Nevada region. Specifically, the project aims to reduce wildfire fuels and use the resulting slash to increase water storage and soil moisture for three stream restoration projects. These efforts will restore an estimated 90 wetted-acres of floodplain and meadow habitats, 2.5 miles of stream, and accomplish 115 acres of fuels reduction. The project involves partnerships with one tribe, two county governments, six private landowners, and multiple NGOs, and is intended to benefit migratory bird and amphibian species. The grant period runs from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2028.

Project abstract summary: this project scales up current efforts in stream and meadow restoration by forming a collaboration between fire and stream restoration programs in three counties to reduce wildfire fuels and use the slash to increase water storage and soil moisture for 3 stream restoration projects in sierra watersheds. Specific areas are targeted to reduce fuel loads in priority fire hazard areas that are near degraded stream corridors and meadows. When combined these practices will reduce fuels and raise the water table or increase soil moisture resulting in wider wetted riparian stream and natural wetland or moist soil buffers on the landscape. These efforts will also provide for more fine sediment capture proceeding and following future wildfires further benefitting downstream infrastructure such as culverts or reservoirs. The partners programs in auburn is working with one tribe, two county governments, six private landowners and multiple ngos on these efforts with the dual purpose of applying fuels management practices that target the restoration of habitat for key migratory bird and amphibian species. This project will expand ongoing meadow restoration efforts in northern californias butte, and plumas counties by restoring an estimated 90 wetted-acres of floodplain and meadow habitats, 2.5 miles of stream, and accomplishing 115 acres of fuels reduction. Project planning will involve an interdisciplinary team of professionals experienced in forest health and stream restoration. Projects have initiated planning and implementation will begin in 2024 with the remaining implemented in 2025 and 2026. The U.S. Fish wildlife service has been working with key partners including sierra fund, occidental arts and ecology center, mountain maidu tribe, maidu summit consortium, and sierra pacific industries.using forest fuels reduction materials for stream restoration has multiple benefits including better wildfire defensible space replenishing wood in streams and greater base-flow water storage on the landscape during fire season.