Recovery Act of 2009: Wildland Fire Management

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service is no longer accepting applications under the Recovery Act of 2009: Wildland Fire Management program (CFDA 10.688), as all funds have been awarded and the program is closed to new solicitations.

The program funded hazardous fuels reduction, forest health protection, and rehabilitation activities on federal, state, and private lands, along with wood-to-energy grants promoting biomass utilization. Representative funded projects included the Ashland Forest Resiliency Stewardship Project ($6.4 million), the Integrated Pest Management Program for invasive species including goldspotted oak borer and sudden oak death ($1.7 million), Eastern Washington forest health work ($1.2 million), and Northeast Oregon ecosystem and riparian restoration ($1.8 million). Work also encompassed community protection planning, youth employment and education in forest management, habitat restoration, noxious weed treatment, and prescribed burning support across multiple states and territories.

The program distributed $323.1 million in federal grants across 289 awards between March 2009 and August 2011, predominantly through Project Grants (280 awards, 97 percent) with a smaller share of Cooperative Agreements (9 awards, 3 percent). The Forest Service was the sole funding agency. Award magnitude varied considerably; recent awards ranged from under $40 thousand to over $6 million, with typical hazardous fuel reduction and forest health projects falling in the $200 thousand to $500 thousand range. The recipient non-federal share contributed an additional $7.2 million against the federal total, reflecting modest matching requirements across awards.

This program is historical; no new grant opportunities are available. All Recovery Act funds have been expended, and the Forest Service is not accepting further applications.