SALT LAKE – The US Forest Service announced 18,648 acres of private forested lands in Utah will be preserved with an investment of $14.4 million as a part of the Forest Legacy Program. Funding for the projects comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, and the investment will ensure these forestlands will continue to benefit the public and surrounding communities. “The …
State, federal and local officials tour Utah forest management projects
SALT LAKE CITY– Today state, federal and local officials visited forest management projects to see how Utah’s land managers are proactively addressing the wildfire crisis. Gov. Spencer Cox hosted Deputy Chief Chris French and Intermountain Regional Forester Mary Farnsworth with the U.S. Forest Service; Regional Conservationist Astor Boozer and State Conservationist Emily Fife with the Natural Resource Conservation Service; Legislators; …
Utah Companies Receive Wood Innovation Funding from Forest Service
SALT LAKE – The USDA Forest Service has awarded $475,000 to two Utah-based organizations through the Wood Innovation Funding Opportunity. Last Chance Lumber Sawmill will use the grant funding to retool its existing setup, and the University of Utah will use the funding for research on the safety of mass timber buildings. “It’s exciting to see increased federal investment in …
Interagency wildfire fuel treatments continue in Parleys Canyon to address watershed health
SALT LAKE CITY (June 1, 2023) — The multi-agency treatment of wildfire fuels (mulching) in Parleys Canyon will resume with mechanical treatments beginning on June 1 on the south side of I-80. It will continue up to Lambs Canyon as a part of more extensive fuel reduction work to improve watershed health and wildlife habitat. Due to the impacts of …
Twin Peaks Handcrew Honored for Heroic Actions on the 2022 Moose Fire
SALT LAKE CITY – The Twin Peaks Handcrew were honored with the USDA Secretary’s Act of Valor Award and the Intermountain Regional Foresters Award today for their role in the Moose Fire Aircraft Response Group and for their willingness to risk personal injury in an attempt to perform lifesaving actions during a disaster response. “It is an honor to see …
2022 Invasive Phragmites Management Success on Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake
SALT LAKE CITY – The ongoing work of controlling the spread and mitigating the impact of an invasive plant species, Phragmites australis, on the shoreline of Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake continued to see success in 2022. This year a total of 6,312 acres of phragmites-infested shoreline were treated around Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake by the Division …
State of Utah Establishes Advisory Council for Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust
SALT LAKE CITY (January 31, 2023) – Today, the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust announced the membership of its new Trust Advisory Council. Establishing the council is an essential element in formalizing the Trust structure and advancing the Trust’s mission to bring more water flows to Great Salt Lake and its wetlands. The Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Program …
2022 Fire Program Awards Handed Out at Annual Meeting
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands honored a Fire Warden of the Year and a Cooperator of the Year from the state of Utah. These awards are given to groups or individuals that have been an integral part of the wildfire suppression efforts within the state during the calendar year. Fire Warden of …
2022 State Forester’s Stewardship Awards Announced
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands honored two individuals with forestry stewardship awards as a part of the 2022 Utah Association of Conservation Districts. Matthew Zierenberg was honored with the Forest Stewardship Achievement Award. The Mark Blake Family received the Forest Landowner of the Year. Forest Stewardship Achievement Award – Matthew Zierenberg, Wasatch …