Putting America to Work

National Forests in California

ARRA in California

Under the language of the ARRA, the Forest Service is creating as many jobs as possible to get money flowing through local communities hard hit by unemployment. Contracts, and competitive grants and agreements with local communities and youth corp organizations are the method being used to get these funds into local communities that have been greatly impacted by the economic downturn.

Many of the communities most affected by the economic downturn are located near national forests. These projects provide jobs throughout California while making improvements in our national forest.

Overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression, and includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.

Implementation

The Pacific Southwest Region has received $185.2 million under the ARRA to fund projects involving hazardous fuels reduction, forest health, construction and maintenance of facilities and roads and trails, abandoned mines, and Wood-to Energy Projects.

• $ 71.3 million is being used to fund Facilities Projects (water/wastewater system health and safety, fire barracks, recreation site reconstruction).
• $ 35.6 million is being used to fund State & Private Forestry Hazardous fuels mitigation and reduction projects (clearing brush and dead trees along roads and fire lines) and providing grants to assist other agencies with projects of this type.
• $ 26.9 million is being used to fund Maintenance on forest roads, decommissioning, storm proofing, bridge maintenance and paving.
• $ 18.8 million is being used to fund Trails Projects (wilderness trails, trail bridges, signing/interpretation).
• $ 14.1 million is being used to fund Forest Health Cooperative Projects (Invasive plant removal/biomass and thinning).
• $ 10.7 million is being used to fund Forest Health Federal Projects (thinning/biomass, insect & disease).
• $ 4.5 million is being used to fund Wood-to-Energy Projects (Renewable Energy Cogen Facilities in northwest California).
• $ 2.8 million is being used to fund Abandoned Mine Projects (to address safety hazards and environmental damage caused by abandoned mines).

More information

• View the list of funded projects in California (Updated January 21, 2010)
• USDA Recovery Act Projects Map