The US Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) competitive grant program for FY 2023 opened on August 10, 2022 for the Northeast-Midwest, South, and Federally recognized Tribes. The announcement for the West Region was on August 22. Grant objectives include reducing wildfire risk and maintaining or improving water quality and watershed function (including drinking water source protection). Eligible applicants include state forestry or appropriate agencies, nonprofit organizations, universities, local units of government, and federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native corporations. To access the funding announcement, please visit the LSR website.
LSR grants are available in all states. The closing date for applications varies, depending on the region. For details about the application requirements, please see the requirements for your Forest Service Region: Northeast and Midwest Region, South Region, West Region, and for Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations. The LSR program funds collaborative, science-based restoration of priority rural forest landscapes on non-federal land, leverages public and private resources, and supports State Forest Action Plans.
State source water programs are encouraged to reach out to your state forester’s office to consider opportunities to protect drinking water that align with your State Forest Action Plan. State forester sponsorship is required and each state forester can recommend up to five applications. The states are divided into the forestry regions as follows:
- West (western regions): Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Territory of American Samoa, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Territory of Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
- Northeast and Midwest (Eastern Region or R9): Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
- South (Southern Region or R8): Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, and for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Visit the LSR webpage for the West to register for their webinar on August 30, from 2:00 – 3:00 pm (Mountain Time).
Visit the SWC Source Water Protection Through Forestry Partnerships Learning Exchange web page to view the recording of the August 4th webinar that provides information about how to work with partners and the current Merrimack River Watershed LSR project.
For another source of funding for fire prevention, check out the Community Wildfire Defense Grants.