Summit County awarded $4.6 million for wildfire fuels reduction and watershed restoration projects

Project locations range from Parley's Summit and Weber Canyon to the Provo River watershed and the north slope of the Uintas. Photo: TownLift

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative (WRI) recently awarded Summit County $4.6 million in grant funding for seven major watershed restoration and fuel reduction projects.

“This funding will help support the restoration of the Weber Watershed which is the source of clean water for 700,000 people and home to wildlife that are dependent on healthy forests,” the county said in a press release.

Project locations range from Parley’s Summit and Weber Canyon to the Provo River watershed and the north slope of the Uintas. All projects will be funded on July 1 and completed by June 2023.

“These are true private-public partnerships working cross-boundary and interagency to accomplish common goals in wildfire fuels reduction and watershed restoration,” Summit County Public Lands Manager Jess Kirby said in a statement.

“In the face of a changing climate, projects like these are necessary to promote wildfire adaptive communities and resilient forests for future generations and the natural systems that rely on them. Ensuring the viability of our watersheds is crucial to maintaining a healthy future for Utah’s natural resources.”

Funding Allotments by Project:

• $3.2K Public Land Wildfire Fuel Reduction – USFS, State and Basin Recreation Open Space
• $680K Stream Restoration – Weber River, East Canyon Creek, McLeod Creek, Chalk Creek
• $520K Community Cost-Share Wildfire Fuel Reductions Programs:
  • $264K Pinebrook Masters Association
  • $105K Summit Park HOA
  • $150K Weber Canyon
• $150K Weed Abatement and Amphibian Monitoring
• $60K Summit County Green Energy Biomass Facility Analysis
• $36K Staffing and Project Management