State unveils ongoing post-fire rehab funding; Deer Creek restoration funded in part

SALT LAKE CITY — Matt McKetrick, southeast area manager for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, told the Utah Watersheds Council that a new, ongoing post-fire rehabilitation funding program is available for local partners and state agencies to stabilize soils, reduce runoff and protect critical watersheds after large wildfires.

The program, which the presenter linked to recent state legislation (HB307), is intended to support severe ecological and hydrological recovery work, McKetrick said. "The funding cycle for this is ongoing. So it's not going to be open for a certain period of time — it's going to keep going," he said during the council's meeting.

Why it matters: High-severity fires can strip vegetation and change soil chemistry, producing rapid erosion, debris flows and long-term losses of habitat and infrastructure. McKetrick said early erosion control and targeted revegetation can limit downstream damage and reduce the need for much costlier repairs later.

What the program supports: McKetrick listed common post-fire treatments the division funds or implements — aerial or hydro seeding, targeted seed mixes for riparian and upland zones, erosion-control structures (logs, small rock dams, contour trenches), mulching and slash application (including aerial delivery for remote terrain), bioengineering such as willow wattles, and beaver-dam analogs to slow and capture runoff.

Case study — Deer Creek fire: McKetrick described a recent Deer Creek fire in Southeast Utah that began in July and burned just under 18,000 acres, affecting a mix of U.S. Forest Service, BLM and state lands and damaging some structures. He said the total suppression and response costs for that incident were about $24,000,000. A joint restoration proposal involving state forestry, state lands, Division of Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, San Juan County and local nonprofits requested roughly $1,300,000 for an initial phase of work. McKetrick said his team expects an initial allocation of about $400,000 and plans to begin work this fall, continuing through July 1 of next year.

Who can apply: McKetrick said eligible applicants include counties, municipalities and fire districts participating in the cooperative wildfire (CWS) program; the division itself can apply and partner on projects for communities and private landowners. He also encouraged partnerships that combine state funds with Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI) and other grant sources to scale projects.

Questions from council members focused on eligibility and cost apportionment after large incidents. McKetrick noted that suppression and recovery costs are typically divided by land ownership percentage on each event and that agencies sometimes negotiate alternative cost-sharing arrangements for aviation or other shared expenses.

Next steps: McKetrick invited watershed councils and local governments to contact the division about project ideas and partnerships. He emphasized the division's willingness to write proposals in partnership with local groups and to point applicants toward other funding streams when appropriate.

The council discussion closed with several members thanking the division for the practical guidance and with follow-up offers to coordinate on local priorities and technical assistance.