Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Resiliency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Amador RCD outlines chipping, defensible-space and grazing plans; seeks regional grants
Summary
Amanda Watson, executive director of the Amador Resource Conservation District, updated the board on chipping and defensible-space work (2,393 residents assisted; ~1,300 acres treated), a proposed prescribed-grazing/prescribed-fire pilot and upcoming grant applications for healthy-soils and water-efficiency funding.
The Amador Resource Conservation District (RCD) presented a multi-pronged update to the board, describing completed and planned work on fire resiliency, working-lands support and regional grant efforts.
Amanda Watson, the RCD’s executive director, said the RCD assisted 2,393 residents and estimated it treated roughly 1,300 acres through chipping and related programs to date. The RCD also exceeded demand for a defensible-space pilot targeted at vulnerable residents and has raised its goal to help 125 households. Watson described a pilot to fund a half-time prescribed-burn coordinator and training on prescribed grazing and grazing prescriptions; she said the RCD is applying for multiple regional grants and is coordinating with neighboring RCDs to pursue several million dollars in technical-assistance and implementation funding.
Watson also noted CEQA per-acre planning costs for some forest-health projects (approximately $3,500 per acre under current requirements) and said the RCD is working to increase local contractor participation and workforce development for chipping and treatment work. The board and members praised the RCD’s work and asked staff to keep them informed on grant outcomes and rights-of-entry progress for a Jackson Creek watershed project.
Next steps: the RCD will track grant application outcomes and follow up with the board on rights-of-entry, project scheduling and contractor engagement.
