On Thursday, the USDA Forest Service announced $20.5 million in grants to help states or federally recognized tribes establish temporary bridge programs to protect water resources during forest-related operations and to assist wood processing facility owners to establish, reopen, retrofit, or expand. These funds include $12.5 million through the 2022 Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Program to provide financial assistance for owners of facilities that purchase and process byproducts from forest restoration projects including thinning, wildfire resilience activities and habitat management based on the high priority fire sheds identified in the Forest Service 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy , the Wildfire Risk to Communities and National Insect and Disease Risk Map . The 2022 Temporary Bridge Funding Opportunity allocates $8 million to states and tribes to support the establishment of temporary bridge rental, loan or cost-share programs to protect water resources and reduce water quality degradation during forest-related operations. The deadline to apply for financial assistance is December 20, 2022. For additional information, including the Notice of Funding Opportunity and application details for both programs, visit USDA Forest Service website here.
