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Alameda County accepts $685,000 CAL FIRE grant to develop unincorporated urban forest plan
Summary
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to accept a $685,000 CAL FIRE Urban and Community Forestry Program grant to fund a comprehensive urban forest plan and the county’s first public tree inventory for unincorporated areas, prioritizing low‑income AB 1550 communities.
Alameda County accepted a $685,000 grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to develop a comprehensive urban forest plan and the county’s first public tree inventory for unincorporated areas.
Ally Avers of the Community Development Agency told the Board that CDA applied in May 2024 and CAL FIRE declared intent to award $685,000 in September, part of federal Inflation Reduction Act funds administered through the state. The project must be completed by March 31, 2028, and CDA aims to finish the plan by late 2027, Avers said.
The grant requires that 100% of program benefits reach AB 1550 priority populations; Avers identified target low‑income tracts in unincorporated Ashland, Cherryland, Hayward Acres, San Lorenzo and southwestern Castro Valley. Project deliverables include contracting qualified consultants; forming a tree advisory group of partners and county staff; a communitywide tree inventory; planting‑priority lists; workforce development partnerships with the Hayward Area Recreation and Parks District; Spanish interpretation and stipends for community participation; a tree canopy and urban‑heat analysis; and a fire‑risk analysis to reduce wildfire vulnerability associated with increased canopy.
Avers said the project supports board policies—including the county’s Environmental Justice element, which adopted a goal of at least 20% canopy cover in each unincorporated community by 2050—and that CDA has engaged Public Works, Public Health, UC Cooperative Extension, local school districts and community organizations as partners.
On questions from board members, Avers said the county will assess existing advisory structures (including the Urban Forestry Council) and work with Public Works to coordinate bodies that should participate, noting that some advisory groups have not convened for several years. She also confirmed that the grant reimburses the county up to $685,000 and that staff will return to the board to authorize consultant agreements after an RFP process.
The board moved, seconded and approved the staff recommendation by roll-call vote to accept the grant, retroactively approve the application filing, and authorize the Community Development Agency director to execute the grant agreement with CAL FIRE.
The next procedural step will be CDA’s RFP for consultants and a return to the board to authorize an agreement with the selected consultant team.
