August 6, 2024 – The Task Force launched its newest work group which focuses on a critical aspect of the CA Wildfire & Forest Resilience Action Plan – the intersection between watershed health and landscape resilience to wildfire. 

It’s well known that wildfires adversely impact watersheds. But it’s important to also recognize that healthy watersheds play a key role in mitigating catastrophic wildfires. The Watershed Work Group promotes fire resilience and watershed health programs that share these important priorities. 

Visit the Healthy Watersheds Work Group webpage to learn more about the Work Group partnering organizations and to access a list of programs, plans, and strategies focused on California’s water supply and security. 

July 31, 2024 – California’s wildfire season has been off to a quick start with above average acres burned. However, recent investments and innovations have improved the state’s wildfire response and show how California is adapting with increased response capacity. The revamped Redding Air Attack Base has increased wildfire suppression capacity for the region. Additionally, for the past year, CAL FIRE and UC San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia has been analyzing camera feeds across California, alerting Emergency Command Centers and first responders to potential fire. Leveraging unprecedented federal and state investments in landscape resilience, California is making strides to protect communities in the face of climate change and increased wildfire activity. 

On June 6, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) approved a new 2024 Strategic Plan that will guide the development of programs, policies, and actions to improve the environmental, economic, and social well-being of California’s Sierra-Cascade region. Additionally, SNC is awarding $6 million to four different projects to help with the planning and implementation of forest health efforts. All four projects will promote recovery and resilience to disturbances, such as wildfire, in the Sierra-Cascade.

CAL FIRE’s Forest Health Research Program has awarded $4.4 million to support 13 scientific research studies that will improve our understanding of fire severity, post-fire restoration, and effectiveness of forest treatments. The scientific information generated from the program will support the efforts of the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force and is critical for effective forest and fire management. 

Small private landowners often lack the funding, expertise, or time to undertake restoration work. To address these barriers, California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan called for the establishment of Emergency Forest Restoration Teams (EFRTS). In June 2024, a report on lessons learned was released from three pilot EFRTs that were developed in late 2021 in response to the Dixie, Tamarack and Caldor Fires. The report provides key recommendations for future EFRTS to be successful. 

On April 25, the US Forest Service and partners, including the Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Redding, will celebrate the completion of Phase 1 in a five-year, $28 million project to expand airtanker loading capabilities by 132% at the Redding Interagency Air Attack Base. The upgrades allow for simultaneous loading of five aircraft, up from two, and increases the base’s fire-retardant loading capacity from 3 million to 6 million gallons. This base is vital in providing initial and extended attack for wildfires across California and the western United States.

The Task Force FAC Work Group released a Baseline Assessment as part of the FAC Roadmap and Dashboard Project. The purpose of the project is to provide a strategic plan for fire-adapted and resilient communities, based on a holistic and shared vision for FAC. The Baseline Assessment documents a broad sampling of the FAC-related research, actions, and efforts being taken across California to identify and address critical gaps to achieving the FAC vision and goals which will be considered for the ultimate Roadmap and Dashboard deliverables to be developed later in the project.

On January 10, 2024, the Governor introduced a budget proposal that closes a $37.86 billion shortfall while protecting key investments in education, public safety, addressing homelessness, mental health care reform, and climate action. PENDING approval from Dept of Finance With regard to wildfire and forest resilience, the budget proposal maintains most of the previously available $2.8 billion in funding from last year, with a reversion of $100.7 million General Fund for various wildfire programs and an increased funding timeline from 4 years to 5 years.