Curry County officials discuss joining $6M–$10M wildfire stewardship grant, urge adoption of local plan

Curry County officials and a representative of the Wild Rivers Coast Forest Collaborative discussed Feb. 21 how the county could participate in a USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grant to fund wildfire stewardship on nonfederal lands.

Tabitha, a representative of the Wild Rivers Coast Forest Collaborative, told Curry County leaders the grant opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and focuses on “private and state lands only, non federal public land.” She said the collaborative’s proposal currently budgets about $6,000,000 to address 12 recommendations in the community wildfire protection plan and that the application window has been extended to March 14.

The discussion centered on how the county could be included in the collaborative’s bid as a fiscal partner and a potential recipient of grant-funded positions and equipment. Patrick, a…