The Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative was awarded a $6,336,790 Cal Fire Forest Health Grant to continue work in the watershed, incorporating new treatment areas with Aldercroft Heights Firewise and Lupin Lodge, the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council announced May 2.
This forest health project focuses on creating ecosystem resilience, mitigating the risk of, and reducing the severity of potential wildfire, while enhancing the safety of the surrounding communities, according to the council. The new funding round serves to protect sensitive native and endemic species and habitats, and protect the drinking water in Lexington and Elsman reservoirs which supply more than 100,000 residents.
The original group was awarded a $7,500,000 Forest Health Grant in 2021. It was originally formed in 2020, and now includes San Jose Water, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Santa Clara FireSafe Council, Santa Clara County Parks, Lupin Lodge and Aldercroft Heights Firewise.
The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council will serve as the grant recipient and administrator for Phase Two of the collaborative’s latest implementation of forest health and wildfire mitigation treatments, covering 841 new acres in the Los Gatos Creek Watershed and incorporating Aldercroft Heights Firewise and Lupin Lodge in the treatment areas. This brings total funding for the LGCWC’s Forest Health Grant projects to $13,836,790.
“The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Mission and Vision Statements both include the mandate to protect and enhance California’s rich natural resources,” Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit Chief George Huang stated in a press release. “The Santa Clara Unit is very pleased to support these goals through a continued partnership with the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council and the many stakeholders involved with this Forest Health Program grant.”
The goals of the funding include:
• Protect upper watersheds where important regional water supplies originate.
• Promote the long-term storage of carbon and reduce the severity of potential wildfire, thereby increasing community and forest ecosystem protection.
• Establish healthy, resilient fire-adapted ecosystems to protect and conserve natural resources.
“We thank Cal Fire for this new award and the confidence they have in the collaborative’s work over the last 18 months,” stated Seth Schalet, chief executive officer of the Santa Clara FireSafe Council. “This new funding enables the collaborative to expand its footprint, treating 841 new acers in sensitive ecosystems at risk for wildfire. With our existing partners, and our new Phase Two partners, each with a deep commitment to the Los Gatos Creek Watershed and experience serving the local community, we look forward to enhancing forest resiliency and helping keep communities safer from wildfire.”
The Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaborative Forest Health Grant is a collaboration between these public and private entities, and is a part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment.
The project is expected to be completed by March 31, 2029.
For information, visit lgwatershedhealth.com.
