Pictured are staff discussing/planning the prescribed burn.
Regional Forest and Fire Capacity (RFFC) Program
The Watershed Center is one of the Department of Conservation’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity grantees. While many of the other RFFC grantees work in a specific region of the state, our program is statewide in nature. We focus on technical capacity building (including prescribed fire, see below), peer networking to advance the dissemination of best practices, advancing state policy and programs, and coordinating the other RFFC grantees. Some our technical capacity building is focused on offering workforce development opportunities to underrepresented and underserved communities in California, who we refer to as ‘priority populations.’ Read more about our Priority Populations work here. Our Priority Populations work is also supported by a grant from CAL FIRE’s Workforce Development grant program.
RFFC Reports, Research, and Media:
October, 2023—Article: The Watershed Research and Training Center Partners with Local Conservation Corps to Build California’s Wildfire Resilience Workforce
July, 2022—Press Release: The Watershed Research and Training Center Awards $1,000,000 to Support Local Prescribed Burning Capacity
June, 2022—Blog Post: Equitable Workforce Development in Fire Resilience: Creating Pathways for Priority Populations
July, 2020: Review and Synthesis of Regional Priority Planning Processes in California
Full Report I Executive Summary
January, 2020: Investment Opportunities for Increasing Forest and Fire Management Capacity in California: A Capacity and Needs Assessment of Local Groups, Nonprofits and Tribes
The work upon which this publication is based was funded in whole or in part through a Regional Forest and Fire Capacity grant awarded by the California Department of Conservation, and by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Business and Workforce Development Grants.
Prescribed Fire Training
Did you know that the Watershed Center has a team of prescribed fire practitioners dedicated to increasing the use of prescribed fire across the State of California through training, coaching, and mentoring?
Andrea and José are our Prescribed Fire Training Specialists. They travel all over the State working with community groups to scale up the use of good fire.
Hannah is our Northern Sierra Prescribed Fire Training Coordinator. She provides access to training and supports inclusive burn opportunities in 8 counties in northeastern California.
They also support the development and growth of local Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs), where community members help each other manage the land with fire. The WRTC Fire Team also supports new and existing TREX (Prescribed Fire Training Exchange) events by providing coaching for the hosting Incident Management Team and leading training during events.
Our team hosts hands-on prescribed fire trainings, supports our partners during burns with leadership and mentorship, and travels the State with two Type 6 demonstration fire engines.
Here are a few links to learn more about our Statewide Prescribed Fire Training Program:
Revista de Incendios y Riesgos Naturales (Spanish TREX Feature in Fire and Natural Hazards Magazine)
Bringing People Together Across Languages: California’s First TREX in Spanish
Building A Global Fire Family: An Interview with Andrea Bustos and José Luis Duce Aragüés
Story Map: North Coast All Hands All Lands Prescribed Fire Team
Fire is for Everyone (featuring WRTC’s Co-Director of Fire Management, Erin Banwell)
Our team believes that “fire is for everyone” and that you can serve a role in bringing good fire back to the landscape, regardless of ability or experience. Please contact Andrea at abustos@thewatershedcenter.com or José at: jose@thewatershedcenter.com to learn more about how to get involved in your community.
Learn more about our local Trinity County prescribed fire program.
Pictured are woodchips that have been put through a woodchipper.
California Forest Biomass Working Group
The Watershed Center is a leader and co-founder of the California Forest Biomass Working Group (CA Forest BWG). The CA Forest BWG was founded to encourage biomass development, related policy, and economic opportunities in California. Composed of a variety of wood energy interests, the CA Forest BWG includes organizations with diverse perspectives that gather and distribute information and data about forest biomass energy use in California.
If you are interested in attending a CA Forest BWG meeting, contact our Biomass Utilization Program Manager, Martin Twer at martin@thewatershedcenter.com.