EASTERN WASHINGTON SERVICE FORESTRY COST-SHARE PROGRAM
Improve your forest's health and minimize the risk of damage from wildfires, pests, and diseases.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. What is the purpose of this cost-share program?
A. This program is intended to encourage eligible non-federal forest owners to implement practices which improve forest health and reduce the risk of damage from wildfire and insect infestation on forest lands in Eastern Washington. Our program encompasses two separate project categories that are eligible for cost-sharing: forest health improvement and wildfire hazard reduction practices, as well as forest stewardship plans.
Q. What kinds of things are eligible for cost-sharing?
A. Eligible forest health improvement/wildfire hazard reduction practices include flammable brush control, noncommercial thinning, pruning, slash disposal, prescribed burning, and creation of wildfire “defensible space” around structures. There is no minimum acreage requirement to be eligible for this cost-share.
For forest stewardship plans, cost-share funds may be available for landowners with at least 20 acres of forested land who wish to hire a private consulting forester to prepare this plan for their property for a fee.
Q. Do I need to apply for cost-share funds to receive forest management advice from the DNR?
A. No. Service Foresters and a Statewide Wildlife Biologist, from DNR’s Forest Stewardship Program, are available to provide forest management advice statewide. Forest owners can request assistance by contacting the DNR Region Service Foresters Program.
Q. Who qualifies for cost-sharing?
A. Generally, non-federal owners of forest land in eastern Washington are eligible to apply. Examples of eligible parties include individuals, families, tribes, organizations, companies not in the wood processing business, non-profit groups, youth camps, homeowners associations, and state, county, and local government entities. See additional information below.
Q. Is there a minimum acreage requirement?
A. For forest health improvement/wildfire hazard reduction practices, there is no minimum ownership size or treatment acreage requirement for brush control, thinning, pruning, and/or slash disposal projects. You can choose to treat only a portion of your property based on your forest health and wildfire hazard priorities.
For forest stewardship plans ONLY, there is a minimum acreage requirement of 20 acres.
Q. Is there a maximum acreage requirement?
A. Yes. Applicants must own no more than 5,000 acres of forest land in the state of Washington to be eligible to apply for cost-share funds. (DNR reserves the right to waive this requirement on a selective basis. Public agencies and non-profit conservation organizations are exempt from this acreage requirement.
Q. Does land need to be in a “forestry” property tax classification to qualify?
A. No. Forested land qualifies regardless of its property tax classification status.
Q. How much cost-sharing can a landowner receive?
A. Approved applicants are reimbursed for 50% of their total actual cost, not to exceed the maximum reimbursement rate. Reimbursement is made at the rates in effect at the time the application was originally approved, regardless of the current rates in effect at the time the work is actually completed. During the site assessment, the DNR Service Forester will determine the rates that are appropriate for the treatment area.
Q. Do I need to have a DNR-approved Forest Stewardship Plan to receive cost-sharing?
A. No. A Forest Stewardship Plan is not required to apply for cost-share funds for forest health improvement, wildfire hazard reduction practices (brush control, thinning, pruning, slash disposal, and prescribed broadcast burn treatments), or to update/create a new forest stewardship plan for your land.
Q. Does a cost-share approval from the DNR waive my permit and regulatory requirements?
A. No. The cost-share applicant is still required to comply with all applicable legal requirements, including obtaining the necessary permits. Legal requirements are extended to hired labor.
For information on frequent regulatory restrictions for cost-share projects, see the following websites:
Burn Permits - https://www.dnr.wa.gov/programs-and-services/wildfire/outdoor-burning/burn-permits Burn Restrictions - https://www.dnr.wa.gov/burn-restrictions Industrial Fire Protection Levels - https://www.dnr.wa.gov/ifpl
Q. How do I apply?
A. You can request a free consultation at https://www.dnr.wa.gov/cost-share
Q. Is there a designated application period?
A. No. You can apply anytime, year-round, for either category (forest health improvement/wildfire hazard reduction practices or forest stewardship plans). Applications are approved continuously throughout the year as long as funds are available.
Q. If I’ve already started or completed a project, can I still qualify for funding?
A. No. All cost-shared forest health improvement and wildfire hazard reduction practices, as well as forest stewardship plans, must receive written approval from the DNR prior to commencing any work.
Q. Can I use cost-share funds from this program in conjunction with other federal cost-share or financial incentive program funds for the same project?
A. Other federally funded programs, e.g., the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), not administered by the DNR, cannot be used to pay for the same practices on the same acres as this program. These other federally-funded programs may be used on other parts of your ownership and/or to fund practices entirely different from those funded by this program.
Q. Who funds and administers the program?
A. The program is funded by federal wildfire hazard reduction and forest health grant funds from the USDA Forest Service and state forest health restoration funds appropriated by the Washington State Legislature. The program is administered by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Q. Is funding available throughout Eastern Washington?
A. Owners of eligible forest land in all eastern Washington counties may apply. However, the cost-share program is supported by a variety of different underlying federal and state funding sources. Grant funds that support the cost-share program are typically available for a limited period and often restricted to a specific geographic area. Therefore, the availability of funding may vary by location and is subject to change over time.