WENATCHEE - Applications are sought for projects designed to improve national forest lands and the rural economies of counties within the boundaries of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests.
     Project proposals must be submitted to forest headquarters in Wenatchee by Aug. 1 to compete for funding through the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. Congress and President Bush recently agreed to a one-year extension of the act.
     "Although many project proposals funded in fiscal year 2007 were developed by local ranger districts, project applications may also be submitted by other agencies, local governments, organizations or individuals," said Jim Boynton, Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests supervisor.
     By law, projects must benefit national forest lands, directly or indirectly. Projects are to enhance forest ecosystems, restore and improve land health and water quality, or improve the maintenance of existing facilities within the forests, according to a Forest Service announcement.
     A citizen resource advisory committee reviews project proposals and recommends to Boynton which should be funded, according to the announcement.
     In the six years since the special funding became available, about $4.1 million has been allocated to projects on national forest land in Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas and Yakima counties.
     Projects ranged from culvert replacement to facilitate fish passage, noxious weed control, roadside brush cutting, mountain weather data collection, relocation of campsites out of sensitive streamside areas, fire risk reduction, forest road resurfacing, and youth-oriented outdoor recreation project work.
     The law provides payments to counties as compensation for the impact of large federal land acreages within their boundaries.
     More information is available at www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee or www.fs.fed.us/r6/okanogan; forest headquarters at 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, or the Okanogan Valley, 1240 S. Second Ave., Okanogan.
     Information also is available from Shannon O'Brien, 486-5186 or slobrien@fs.fed, or Debbie Kelly, 826-3396 or dlkelly@fs.fed.us.