Community Benefits

Northern Rocky Mountain RC&D - Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program

Allocation Period: 2008-2009
Allocation Amount: $15600.00

The Program
The Northern Rocky Mountain Resource Conservation & Development Area NRM-RC&D)and Gallatin County Extension have joined forces to assist landowners with creating a survivable space around their homes to reduce the risk of wildfire and provide management practices that increase forest health. The program provides technical assistance for landowners to develop and implement a hazardous fuels mitigation plan. The cost share assists landowners with paying for fuels reduction work clearing, thinning, and trimming vegetation). County professionals provide direct technical assistance to guide landowners through this process.

NRM-RC&D uses Big Sky Resort Area District grant funds in the Big Sky area to fund outreach, education, and awareness on structure protection from wildfires in the wildland urban interface. The education program demonstrates to the public that the implementation of hazardous fuels reduction practices around your home does not remove all vegetation, but will landscape and open up the property for defense against wildland fires, further enhancing the property.

With the 2008-2009 BSRAD Tax Resort funding of $15,600, the Big Sky Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project was able to leverage $47,057.00 for hazardous fuels reduction work on private property. $23,528.75 of the money came from federal and state grant funds and the other $23,528.75 was the landowners cost-share match. During the 2008-2009 BSRAD grant period 45 acres were treated and over 150 homes better protected.

Successes to Date
The Northern Rocky Mountain Resource Conservation & Development Area and Gallatin County Extension offices have produced the following results through this program:

Treated 125 acres Assisted 27 organizations/landowners financially

Provided 156 people with technical advice

Attended 18 community events

BSRAD has contributed $31,200.00 to date for the Big Sky Hazardous Fuels Reduction Grant Program.

$140,000.00 has been spent on-the-ground for fuels reduction work in the Big Sky area. $70,000.00 is Federal and State grant funds $70,000.00 is landowner cost share match

Landowner Feedback
“Keep it going for at least another year so more properties can be included.”

“Good program, thank you.”

“Continue and expand the program. It is better to prevent a fire than fight one!”