Our Grants!
During the last two years, the Orange County Fire Authority's (OCFA) Wildland Resource Planning department has been combating an infestation of Invasive Shot Hole Borers (ISHBs) in Modjeska Canyon using grant funding from CalFire. Now the OCFA, in collaboration with the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) has discovered Gold Spotted Oak Borers (GSOBs) in Trabuco, Modjeska, and Silverado canyons.
Due to COVID restrictions, the March 15, 2022 deadline for this project has been extended to March 15, 2025. The OCFA and the UCCE have begun canvassing the canyons in an attempt to determine where the GSOBs are in order to stop the them from spreading. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM MOVING FIREWOOD IN THE CANYONS, as this is the primary vector for the spread of these pests and is quite possibly the reason all three canyons have recently been infested with GSOBs.
The OCFA will not enter any property where the owner/property controller has not filled out and signed a Form 719, but many of you have already done so. The OCFA also will not proceed with any tree removals/treatments unless authorized to do so by the property owner. The protocol is, all oak trees within 300 feet of an infected tree should be treated for GSOBs. In most cases, these pests can be contained without tree removals.
As before, FireSafe Council project manager Mike Boeck will be acting as the community liaison for the OCFA concerning this project. If you see dead branches on any of your Coast Live Oak trees (lots of brown leaves instead of green), please contact him at:
714-649-2662
or write him at:
rockdad@cox.net
Mike will work with the OCFA to set up a schedule for visitations from the OCFA and the UCCE. We need this done ASAP, since we want to finish surveys by mid December in order to begin tree treatments next spring. As you know from the previous program, there was quite a delay between surveys and actual contractor work performed. This time we want to reduce that substantially, but to do so, we need to immediately implement surveys.
. With major drought already stressing our trees, they need all the help we can give them. Thank you for your cooperation.
The Intercanyon League has been assisting us with grant funds from the California Fire Foundation. We are using this help on Chipper Days and Healing Arts for children.
Grants in Action
Fire Safe Council East Orange County Canyons is an independent organization and is responsible for research and application for grants specific to our mission statement that will help our community.
2021-2022
APPLY FOR TREE REMOVAL: Please download and print both of these PDFs and mail them to our PO BOX or email them to info@fsceocc.org
Instructions: Most of the form has already been filled out for you. All that is required is your name, address, date, and your signature. Fill it out as follows.
In the empty box just to the right of the form entry "Designated Licensor: (Controls/owns property)", print your name (you are the licensor).
To the right of "This Agreement", put the date you filled out and signed the form.
In the empty box just to the right of the form entry "Property Description", put your address. If you have access to your parcel number, please add that under your address.
In the box located in the lower-left corner, where it says "Licensor", print your name on the first line and sign your name on the second line. Under "Property Control, Type" put either "owner" or "renter". If you are a renter, you will need the permission of the property owner in writing before inspection/work can commence. On the last line in this box, put the date you filled out and signed the form.
That's it! No witness name or title is required.
GRANT DOCUMENTATION
2019-2020
We received a large grant from Cal Fire and California Climate Investments to reduce vegetation and remove dead and dying trees in our area. Part of this grant is also to improve the fuel modification around the Santiago Estates Community. More info to come!
Firesafe Council East Orange County Canyons and Santiago Canyon Estates Project is part of the California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing the GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment - particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: http://www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov/
2019
2019 Southern California Edison and the California Fire Safe Council sponsored our Chipper Days event held in Silverado on Sept 21st. Every Chipper Days event we hold are tons of vegetation removed and recycled.
2016-2017
OCFA received a grant from Cal Fire to reduce fuel loads. The name of the grant is Vegetation Reduction and Emergency roadside clearance ORC Canyon Communities. This grant is funded from the High Fire Danger Fee homeowners pay every year. Our Firesafe Council is assisting in locating areas for the grant to operate. Volunteer matching hours are needed to complete the work. Update March 2017. We are helping OCFA to acquire homeowner permissions to reduce fuel loads for this grant. We are having the permission forms filled out so homeowners can allow access to fuel clearance for private roads and long driveways. The clearance will not happen until bird nesting season is complete towards the end of 2017. Postcards with info and neighborhood canvassing have started in March 2017. kimbrown@ocfa.org is the contact for more info. FSCEOCC is a partner in education and getting permission forms signed.
2013
California Fire Safe Council
Grant awarded to perform fuel reduction work along Santiago Canyon Road SR-18. Funding for this project is being provided by a grant from the Cooperative Fire Program of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture Pacific Southwest Region through the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC). Work completed in 2015.
2012
Orange County Community Foundation
Received from the Orange County Disaster Relief Fund of the Orange County Community Foundation for general operating support.
The grants identified below were awarded to the Fire Safe Council while it was under the Inter-Canyon League umbrella.
Canyon Perimeter Defense Grant
Administered under the California Fire Safe Council the Canyon Perimeter Defense Grant was awarded in the Fall of 2008. Coordinated by Mary Schreiber and Jim Fainer of Silverado, this grant allowed the FSC to host six Chipper Day Events. Provided as a community service to encourage residents to keep their properties clear of overgrown brush by providing chipper equipment and manpower the funds from this grant resulted in the disposal of approximately 567 loads of brush and was in excess of 110 tons of hazardous burnable vegetation.
Dead and Dying Tree Removal Grant
The Inter-Canyon Emergency Hazardous Fuels Removal Grant, managed by Leslie Paskus-Amador, was awarded in 2009 in the amount of $ 250,150.00 by the California Fire Safe Council. After receiving 94 resident applications, Leslie accompanied a wildlife biologist authorized for field studies on local endangered species on visits to each and every property. After a thorough and exhaustive analysis, 64 properties ultimately qualified for work to be completed, although all the residents from Silverado to Trabuco Canyon received indirect benefit by an overall reduction of hazardous brush in our communities.
Red Cross 2007 Southern California Recovery Planning & Assistance Program — CERTS Kits Grant
In February 2010 the Inter-Canyon League received 100 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) backpack kits to be awarded to graduates of the CERT academy. In partnership with the Orange County Fire Authority, the Modjeska Canyon Fire Department conducts an annual six-week CERT training course. Residents completing the course will be able to perform CPR, know how to perform basic home search and rescue operations, understand and know how to access the canyon emergency radio system, know how to make a home and family better prepared for emergencies and how to help a community prepare for and deal with larger emergencies.
Red Cross 2007 Southern California Recovery Planning & Assistance Program — Family Radio Service Grant
In March of 2010 the Inter-Canyon League was the recipient of a grant that provided 520 Family Radio Service (FRS) radios. These radios are available to any canyon resident and will the ability to communicate with each other during disaster events. FRS radios are compact, quality transceivers, similar to walkie-talkies. Distributed by the Fire Safe Council and Canyon Watch groups these FRS radios are a great way to keep in constant touch with neighbors offering the ability to talk, hear, and ring other radios within a short-range.