DATE: March 17, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Retroactive Grant Applications and Revenue Agreements with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively approve and authorize the Department of Public Works and Planning’s previous submittal of an online grant application to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for FY 2025-26 Wildfire Prevention Grant Program funds for the removal and disposal of hazardous trees along Huntington Lake Road, Camp Sierra Road, and Huntington Lodge Road in the amount of $950,000.
2. Retroactively approve and authorize the Department of Public Works and Planning’s previous submittal of an online grant application to CAL FIRE for FY 2025-26 Wildfire Prevention Grant Program funds for the maintenance of the Auberry Road and Peterson Road Shaded Fuel Breaks, in the amount of $950,000.
3. Retroactively approve and ratify the execution of a Revenue Agreement No. 5GG25211 with CAL FIRE for FY 2025-26 Wildfire Prevention Grant Program funds for the removal and disposal of hazardous trees along Huntington Lake Road, Camp Sierra Road, and Huntington Lodge Road, in the amount of $950,000, effective upon execution through February 15, 2029.
4. Retroactively approve and ratify the execution of a Revenue Agreement No. 5GG25210 with CAL FIRE for FY 2025-26 Wildfire Prevention Grant Program funds for the maintenance of the Auberry Road and Peterson Road Shaded Fuel Breaks, effective upon execution through February 15, 2029.
5. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Governing Body Resolutions.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions would allow the Department of Public Works and Planning (Department) to receive FY 2025-26 Wildfire Prevention Grant Program funds for the treatment of approximately 470 acres of roadside clearance and the maintenance of two shaded fuel breaks. This item pertains to locations in District 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the County would not be eligible for funding. However, the Wildfire Prevention Grant Program is the only available grant funding source, at this time, that allows for fuel break maintenance treatments and removal and disposal of dead or dying trees along roads and on private property.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended revenue agreements represent two grant awards totaling $1,900,000 ($950,000 each award). The competitive grant applications do not require matching funds. The grants allow for full reimbursement of direct costs $1,696,429 ($848,214 each award) but limits administrative cost recovery to 12% or $203,571 ($101,785 each award) of total direct costs. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 55125205 FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests. Costs incurred by the Department are submitted to CAL FIRE for reimbursement.
DISCUSSION:
On August 7, 2025, the Department submitted two on-line competitive grant applications to CAL FIRE requesting a total of $1,900,000 for the treatment of approximately 470 acres in roadside clearance and for the maintenance of two shaded fuel breaks. On December 29, 2025, the Department was notified that both grant applications were selected for funding. CAL FIRE required submittal of signed agreements prior to January 29, 2026, to remain eligible.
One revenue agreement focuses on treating approximately 470 acres in roadside clearance along Huntington Lake, Camp Sierra, and Huntington Lodge Roads. Treatments include removing and disposing of dead, dying, or diseased hazard trees that pose a threat to safe ingress and egress. Approximately 2,200 dead, dying, or diseased hazardous trees and 15,000 cubic yards of ground fuels have been identified for removal and disposal in the project area. The roads identified for roadside clearance are County maintained and are adjacent to private and U.S. Forest Service property. Roadside clearance and removal of dead or dying trees proved to be a beneficial tool to 2020 Creek Fire first responders. Roadside clearance also provided additional egress for safe evacuations and slowed the 2020 Creek Fire at several locations and allowed for additional time for resources to be staged.
The second revenue agreement would fund the maintenance of two shaded fuel breaks. The Auberry Road Shaded Fuel Break totals 263 acres and the Peterson Road Shaded Fuel Break totals 234 acres in Eastern Fresno County, centrally located in Very High Hazard Severity Zones. The Shaded Fuel Breaks were constructed to create a 400-foot gap in fuel continuity while providing safe ingress and egress for first responders and safe egress to the public and evacuees. The project area is a high priority to the CAL FIRE-Fresno Kings Unit for fuel break maintenance treatments. The location of the project is very strategic and is part of a network of fuel breaks that will protect many of the foothill and lower mountain communities along Auberry Road, Peterson Road, and Highway 168 from potential wildfires.
The fifth recommended action authorizes Department staff to execute and submit documents, in a limited fashion, as required by CAL FIRE to administer the agreements.
The County has utilized General Fund, State Responsibility Area, Local Assistance for Tree Mortality, Wildfire Prevention Grant Program, and California Disaster Assistance Act funding for the removal and disposal of dead or dying hazardous trees since April 2016. To date, approximately 60,000 hazardous trees and approximately 47,000 cubic yards of ground fuels have been removed and disposed along County and private roads, near homes and infrastructure.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - CAL FIRE Application/Agreement No. 5GG25211
On file with Clerk - CAL FIRE Application/Agreement No. 5GG25210
On file with Clerk - Hazardous Fuel Reduction Resolution
On file with Clerk - Shaded Fuel Breaks Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Maria Valencia