2019-2021
The House Bill 1784 pilot project directed the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to, “Prioritize, to the maximum extent practicable…forest health treatments that are strategically planned to serve dual benefits of forest health while providing geographically planned tools for wildfire response.”
DNR convened a technical team to develop methods that included information on forest restoration needs, wildland fire behavior modeling, and community values at risk to fire. This information was used to identify fuel break lines and prioritize treatment areas across all land ownerships.
Three pilot landscapes were identified to test the method: Cle Elum, Leavenworth and Methow Valley. Ultimately, the method is now being used across all DNR 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan planning landscapes. Check out the project map, here.
WRCD partnered with Methow Valley Fire Adapted Communities, Cascadia Conservation District, and Kittitas Fire Adapted Community Coalition to ensure community member and organization engagement and input. This inclusion of local stakeholders supported deeper conversations around community values at risk to wildfire, ownership in development of the products and plans, and pathways for implementation.
