FLEP grants for forest management cost-sharing from WA state

We qualified in 2006 for a cost-sharing grant from the State of Washington. The Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) covered half the cost of a professional Forest Stewardship Plan, which cost us $900 and the state paid half. That plan was a major step toward attaining sustainable forest certification for our property, but a tiny portion of the money we've received through the grant.

 

Our FLEP was also for thinning and slash disposal. Last year we extended it to include pruning. We had major pruning work done last year and we completed a claim. We spent $7,000 on ~15 acres, and received $3,500 from the grant.

 

We had hoped for a commercial harvest this year, but our "leave the best" strategy and the road access challenges make it impossible to find a logger interested in 20 acres at today's timber and fuel prices. So we have taken matters (and saws) into our own hands.

 

We are doing a considerable amount of work ourselves this summer, removing trees to release stands and create fuel breaks. We plan to claim the owner hours at the allowed FLEP rate.

 

The grant makes it possible to conduct management practices we wouldn't otherwise consider because of the cost. One caveat: the check comes with a Form 1099. We offset the income with the documented costs, so there was no income tax impact for us.