In response to the devastating wildfires that swept through California’s North Bay Counties in October 2017, local partners including the Napa Resource Conservation District (RCD) created the North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP). The NBFIP is a collaboration between Napa RCD, Mendocino RCD, and Sonoma RCD, along with the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC) and Rebuild North Bay Foundation. This program targets private non-industrial small forestland owners and managers, covering parcels ranging from 5 to 500 acres. Its primary goal is to incentivize non-commercial forest improvement activities to promote forest health and wildfire resilience, such as thinning, planting, pruning, and fuel hazard reduction. The NBFIP draws inspiration from CAL FIRE’s California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), with the goal of creating a regionally appropriate, accessible, and nimble program to support private forested landowners and land managers.

In 2020, NBFIP secured a $1.5 million grant from CAL FIRE’s Proposition 68, providing a three-year funding base. The program received further financial backing in 2022 through a block grant from CAL FIRE’s Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force’s Small Private Landowner Working Group, highlighting the recognition of NBFIP’s success in addressing wildfire risk and enhancing forest health. The NBFIP partnership commits to supporting at least 100 projects across Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa, and Lake Counties, treating over 1,500 acres of land. The range of treatments includes planting site preparation, tree planting and protection, forest thinning, pruning, and woody fuels reduction. Additionally, the program aims to facilitate the creation of 40 forest management plans to guide sustainable forest practices.

The collaborative structure and efficiency of scale achieved through partnerships with neighboring RCDs have proven instrumental in navigating challenges and maximizing the impact of fire management activities. Napa RCD’s involvement in the region extends to the Department of Conservation’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program, where it serves as the block grant administrator, overseeing a collaborative effort that includes Napa, Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC) and four other counties including their associated resource conservation districts—Colusa, Solano, Yolo, and a portion of Sonoma. The RCDs play a crucial role in day-to-day outreach, technical assistance, and project oversight within their service areas.

Ali Blodorn, Napa RCD Principial Program Manager Forestry, said that these initiatives have been an immense help in building regional priority plans and outlining a more collaborative structure towards addressing these resource concerns. By connecting and collaborating with neighboring districts and local and regional partners, these programs are creating additional opportunities for engagement, the ability to identify landscape scale projects, work cross jurisdictionally, and avoiding duplication of efforts while maximizing funding opportunities. When asked, what should other districts consider if they are seeking to engage in similar efforts, Blodorn said, “Reach out to your state agencies and funders and don’t be shy about making connections and engaging in those conversations.” She also added that if there are opportunities for block grants, Napa RCD has seen great possibility with this type of funding mechanism. “Block grants offer an opportunity of efficiency of scale. Collaborating with neighboring districts offers even more funding potential and positions the district to be more competitive, especially with some of the larger state and federal grants,” said Blodorn.

The North Bay Forest Improvement Program and Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program successes underscore the value of sharing experiences, avoiding duplications, and maximizing regional engagement opportunities.

Through innovative partnerships, these initiatives not only address wildfire risks but also lay the groundwork for sustainable forest management practices. As other districts consider similar initiatives, the lessons from Napa RCD emphasize the importance of collaboration, flexibility in funding, and a regionally tailored approach to ensure long-term success in mitigating the impact of wildfires.

To learn more about Napa Resource Conservation District, their regional collaboratives, and ongoing work please visit their website at naparcd.org.

Tags: California, Forestry, Forestry Notes