Countywide : Ranchers May Apply for Reseeding Grants
Farmers and ranchers whose land was burned during the October fires may apply for reseeding grants from the Department of Agriculture.
The goal of the grant program is to reseed barren hillsides before heavy rains cause erosion and possible mudslides, officials said.
Owners of farms and ranches can receive as much as $3,500 from the federal government to pay for planting grass and trees on the burned land. Each grant application must be approved by a USDA regional committee before funds for reseeding are allocated.
USDA officials said they hope the grants will encourage owners to quickly reseed their land.
Rudy Perez, spokesman for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, said that the USDA is also working in Laguna Beach, Altadena and Malibu to identify areas that present a mudslide danger.
Perez said federal officials are concerned that the burned hillsides could cause sediment to get into the water runoff, decreasing water quality.
For more information about the grants, call (805) 942-9549 or (805) 945-2604.
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