Neches River and Cypress Basin Watershed Restoration - Prescribed Fire Grant

The Neches River and Cypress Basin Watershed Restoration Prescribed Fire Grant is administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service to support landowners in East Texas in implementing prescribed fire as a land management tool. The program is designed to reduce hazardous fuel loads near communities while simultaneously enhancing ecological conditions across the Neches River and Cypress Basin watersheds. By targeting areas where wildfire risk intersects with populated regions, the grant seeks to improve both public safety and environmental resilience through strategic fire application. The primary objective of this grant is to encourage the use of prescribed burning to restore native ecosystems and improve watershed health. Funded projects are expected to contribute to improved water quality and quantity, control invasive species, and enhance wildlife habitat. Priority is given to projects located in high-risk wildfire zones, near public lands, and within designated watershed protection areas. The program emphasizes outcomes that balance ecological restoration with community protection. Funding is structured as a reimbursement program based on actual per-acre costs incurred during the prescribed burn, with a maximum reimbursement rate of 22.50 dollars per acre. The grant does not require any cost share or matching contribution from applicants. However, funding is limited strictly to the execution of prescribed burns and does not cover ancillary costs such as equipment work, firebreak construction, or the preparation of burn plans by contractors. All burns must be conducted by a Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager, ensuring adherence to professional and safety standards. Eligibility is limited to private landowners located within communities in the specified watershed regions of East Texas. Applicants must either be the landowner or have explicit permission from the landowner to apply. Certain restrictions apply, including the ineligibility of landowners who are also certified burn managers conducting burns on their own property, and exclusion of land tracts that received funding in the previous grant cycle. Multiple applications per individual are allowed, though awards are competitive and based on program priorities. The application process is conducted entirely online, with submissions accepted annually from June 1 through July 14. Applicants must provide comprehensive documentation, including landowner and contractor information, a detailed burn plan signed by the burn boss, geographic coordinates, and a boundary map of the proposed burn unit. Applications submitted after the deadline or through non-approved methods are not considered. Following submission, applicants receive notification of approval or denial, and approved applicants must complete all required documentation before receiving authorization to proceed. Once approved, recipients must wait for an official approval-to-burn letter before conducting any prescribed fire activity. The Texas A&M Forest Service may conduct pre- and post-burn site inspections to verify conditions and treatment outcomes. Contractors are required to notify the agency prior to and after the burn, providing details such as treatment acreage. Reimbursement is issued only after verification of completed work. The program operates on an annual cycle, with consistent deadlines and a structured review and approval process designed to ensure accountability and effectiveness.

Prioritize projects near communities and within watershed protection zones; ensure burn plan is complete and signed; align proposal with ecological restoration goals including invasive species control and habitat improvement