DATE: February 6, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director
Department of Public Health
Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Application for Tree Mortality Grant Program Funds
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Department of Public Health to submit a grant application to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the Local Assistance for Tree Mortality Grant Program, effective July 1, 2017 through January 31, 2020 ($880,133).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will authorize the submittal of a non-competitive grant application to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal FIRE) to continue the identification, removal, and disposal of dead and dying trees that pose a threat to public health and safety. In addition, the Local Assistance for Tree Mortality Grant Program (LATM) funds will be a part of the County’s 25% cost share requirement under the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA), with no Net County Cost. This item pertains to locations in District 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the County would not be eligible to draw down additional CDAA monies using the LATM funds to continue contracting for the identification, removal, and disposal of dead and dying trees.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. If the application were approved, Cal FIRE would provide $880,133 in LATM funds that would allow the County to drawdown an additional $2,640,399 in CDAA funding to support the County’s Tree Mortality Program. CDAA requires a cost share of 25% of project activities; California Office of Emergency Services will allow LATM funds to be a part of the cost share requirement. Awards are expected in April 2018, and if awarded, the Departments would return with an agreement for your Board’s consideration.
DISCUSSION:
On September 22, 2015, the Board approved a resolution requesting a state of emergency be proclaimed in the County due to the degraded forest conditions and imminent threat from catastrophic fires and extreme drought. Forest degradation conditions have not improved as the tree mortality disaster has continued and escalated in eastern Fresno County. Mountain communities continue to be threatened by potential falling trees and wildfires.
On November 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the U.S. Forest Service had identified an additional 36 million dead trees statewide since its last aerial survey in May 2016. The increase brought the total number of dead trees since 2010, to over 102 million on 7.7 million acres of California’s drought stricken forests. Fresno County currently has approximately 1,279,000 dead trees that pose an increased hazard to roads, critical infrastructure, communities, and watersheds within private, State, and local areas.
Fresno County is one of ten high priority Counties dealing with tree mortality and eligible to apply for LATM Grant Program funds. The objective of the program is to increase the pace and scale of tree mortality projects by providing supplemental funds to help meet the CDAA 25% cost share of projects and allow for the drawdown of additional CDAA funding. Fresno County is eligible for $880,133 in LATM funds, allowing the County to drawdown an additional $2,640,399 in funding.
The County has utilized General Fund, State Responsibility Area, and CDAA funding for the removal of dead and dying trees since April 2016. Approximately 8,500 trees have been removed along County roads, near homes and infrastructure, and private roads. The Departments Public Health and PWP propose to continue contracting with Registered Professional Foresters and Licensed Timber Operators for the removal of dead and dying trees.
Cal FIRE requires program applications to be submitted by February 28, 2018 and anticipates awarding in April 2018, with an agreement that is effective July 1, 2017 through January 31, 2020. If your Board approves the submission of the application, and should funding be awarded, an agreement would be brought to your Board for consideration to accept the funds.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #37, January 31, 2017
BAI #13, May 24, 2016
BAI #21, September 22, 2015
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Local Assistance for Tree Mortality Grant Application
On file with Clerk - Local Assistance for Tree Mortality Procedural Guide
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa