The Central Texas Fuels Reduction Grant has officially opened! This an opportunity for Central Texas Landowners to apply for the SFAM Mechanical Fuels Reduction Grant to help reduce risks posed to their property by wildfire.
“Historically, fire has been part of the natural process in Texas, however with the rapid increase in population coupled with fragmentation of wildland areas, fire has been taken out of its normal interval pattern. Mechanical fuels reduction provides an alternative, reducing the overall wildfire threat.” – Victoria Wenkman, Texas A&M Forest Service Fuels Program Specialist.
This grant is an opportunity to provide landowners wildfire mitigation and protection. Funding is provided to eligible public and private landowners for reimbursement of costs associated with hand-cut breaks using chainsaws or mechanical mulching.
Fuel breaks are modified sections of vegetation that can decrease the intensity of fires and provide effective fire breaks to manage wildfire situations. As well as advantageously provide perimeter protection from adjacent county roads, highways, and unintended ignitions.
There are currently thirty-two counties in Central Texas that are eligible for this funding with costs not to exceed $750 per acre for hand-cut fuel breaks or $2,000 per acre for mulched fuel breaks. The maximum allowed reimbursement per landowner is $10,000 regardless of which method is used.
Applications for this grant are due April 30th!
For more information on this grant and an eligibility map click here!
For additional information be sure to read the full article on Morning Ag Clips.