Background
Senate Bill 762 is comprehensive legislation passed with bipartisan support that will provide more than $220 million to help Oregon modernize and improve wildfire preparedness through three key strategies: creating fire-adapted communities, developing safe and effective response, and increasing the resiliency of Oregon's landscapes. The bill is the product of years of hard work by the Governor's Wildfire Council, the Legislature, and state agencies.
During the 2023 Legislative Session, ODF was allocated $2.5 million dollars through House Bill 5020 for the Small Forestland Grant Program. This was a new project funding allocation, continuing work described in Section 24 of SB762 (2021) that directs the Oregon Department of Forestry to administer a grant program for the purpose of providing competitively awarded grants to support small forestland owners’ properties by reducing wildfire risk and creating resiliency on the landscape.
Program components
Project eligibility: Projects must support “small forestland owner(s)" defined as an individual, group or federally recognized Indian tribe in Oregon, who owns up to 160 acres west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains or up to 640 acres east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains. Projects may treat multiple private ownerships exceeding the above acreage as long as each forestland owner receiving treatment does not violate the definition above. Project submissions must also meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Project reduces the risk of high severity wildfire by treating hazardous fuels,
- At least 75% of project costs fund fuel reduction treatment activities on small forestland owner properties,
- Total other expenses for the project, including indirect and service costs are not to exceed 25%,
- Requested funding is more than $10,000 and up to $300,000,
- 25% leverage is strongly suggested. Sponsor in-kind expenses, landowner labor rates, fuels mitigation, other state funds are eligible with the exception of the Landscape Resiliency Grant Program. Leverage must be activities or expenses directly comparable to project grant funding activities or expenses and performed within the same timeline as the grant contract is effective. All leverage activities will need to be accounted for via mapping or narrative, depending on the activity.
- Project does not generate net revenue.
- Equipment costs (over $5,000 are applicable if it meets the intent of the grant to support small forestland owners in reducing wildfire risk through the restoration of landscape resiliency and the reduction of hazardous fuels on the owners' property, prescribed fire equipment is applicable, however fire suppression equipment is not applicable.) Anything under $5,000 are considered supplies.
Small Forestland Grant applications
Call for applications period closed on Nov. 3, 2023.
Funds will be allocated for work performed in the current 2023-2025 biennium and
reimbursed as work is completed. Project work
MUST BE COMPLETED BY May 30, 2025, with final invoices received no later than June 30, 2025 (due to financial closeout timelines). Final report and final mapping will be required by June 9, 2025. Project work completed after May 30, 2025, will not be reimbursed even if the project budget has not been expended in full. Details of proposals, scoring, and awards will be provided after funds are obligated and scoring is complete.
Senate Bill 762, Section 24 bill language
SECTION 24. (1) As used in this section, “small forestland owner” means an individual, group, federally recognized Indian tribe in Oregon or association that owns:
(a) Up to 160 acres of nonindustrial private forestland west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains; or
(b) Up to 640 acres of nonindustrial private forestland east of the crest of the Cascade
Mountains.
(2) The State Forestry Department shall establish a Small Forestland Grant Program for the purpose of providing grants, on a competitive basis, to support small forestland owners in reducing wildfire risk through the restoration of landscape resiliency and the reduction of hazardous fuels on the owners’ property.
(3) In consultation with partners and stakeholders, the department shall set criteria for
assessing grant applications and awarding grants. The criteria may include, but need not be limited to:
(a) Prioritization of projects on forestland in extreme or high wildfire risk classes described in section 7 of this 2021 Act.
(b) Owner commitment to maintaining fuel reduction treatments.
(c) Owner possession of a forest management plan.
(d) Project proximity to current or past fuel mitigation efforts, supported by any owner
or funding source, that would contribute to cross-boundary, landscape-scale forest resiliency.
(e) Whether the project addresses additional resource concerns, such as insect and disease management.
(f) Whether critical facilities and infrastructure may receive enhanced protection due to project outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
View the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Archived 2021-23 biennium information