As of April 2024, HCD is proud to share the following project updates:
Forest and Watershed Health Program
The U.S Forest Service/Stanislaus National Forest will complete all work under the NDR grant by mid-May and will close out their NDR grant by September 30, 2024. Forest and Watershed Health Program Toolkit coming soon!
Some accomplishments to date:
- Recovery and Reforestation:
- 7,620 acres of fuels treatment. 1,375 of those acres included biomass removal.
- 2,743,894 seedlings planted across 7,945 acres, plus an additional 1,915 acres of fill-in or replant.
- 3,042 acres of noxious weeds treated (1,602.5 unique acres)
- Rangeland Restoration
- 13.85 miles of corral fencing 1 corral, 3 cattle guards, 1 trough with solar pump reconstructed/installed.
- Fuel Breaks
- 750 acres of new or expanded shaded fuel breaks.
- Additional outcomes: The reforestation and recovery work has been so successful that the USFS has rolled out work on other national forests using the NDR model.
The Community Resilience Centers
Both the centers in Tuolumne City and Groveland are complete and in operation. Community Resilience Center Toolkit (PDF)
Some accomplishments and outcomes to date:
- 2 fully functioning resilience centers constructed and in operation.
- Uses so far: Warming and cooling centers, charging station for medical equipment during power outages, commercial kitchen uses for local small business product production, local meetings, non-profit group meetings, trainings, and preparation for use for satellite college classes. FEMA rented the Tuolumne City CRC for their Disaster Assistance Center.
- The CA Strategic Growth Council has set up a state funded CRC funding program across all of California, based on the NDR model.
- Other, rurally focused, entities are researching options for their own funded CRC programs based on the NDR model.
Biomass Utilization Fund
Two projects are underway and will be constructed and operational by late summer, 2025. Biomass Utilization Fund Toolkit (PDF)
- Tuolumne Biomass, LLC, developed by Heartwood, Inc.
- This project will vertically integrate with multiple product lines that upscale the value of every part/piece of biomass that comes through its doors. From firewood (currently available for sale at Save Mart stores) to posts, poles, wood straw, and potentially biochar product lines.
- This business is anticipated to create about 20 new full-time jobs.
- Tuolumne Biomass, Inc, developed by Force Energy
- This project will produce premium wood pellets for heating and cooking from non-merchantable woody biomass and other biomass waste.
- This project will produce its own power and heat through a biomass clean-burning system.
- This business is anticipated to create about 17 new full-time jobs.
HCD anticipates it will closeout the full NDR grant with HUD by mid-2026.