Federal funding will help reduce wildfire risk in San Bernardino Valley

Last month Rep. Pete Aguilar announced federal funding would be made available make the Inland Empire more resilient to deadly wildfires.

Aguilar joined U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and other officials to share that more than $800,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will go to support the San Bernardino Valley Community Wildfire Risk Reduction project.

The resources will help to reduce the wildfire risk in the San Bernardino Valley and support recovery of federally listed species in Areas of Critical Environmental Concern managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

The group toured the Santa Ana River Wash, which is a regionally significant area for wildlife habitat, flood control, groundwater recharge, cultural resources, recreation, and an important source of sand and gravel. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District cooperatively steward the cultural native flora of the Wash, including yucca, white sage, dog bane, acorn, cactus, and juniper berry. The area was recently impacted by a 16-acre wildfire, including impacts to habitat for threatened and endangered species.

“As wildfires in our region become more frequent and dangerous, it is crucial that we do everything in our power to mitigate the damage they cause,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “This new funding – that’s made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – will further enhance our resiliency against wildfires and make our East Valley communities safer.”

“Mindfully collaborative stewardship of natural resources is too often an anomaly,” said Betsy Miller Vixie, General Manager of the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District. “We’re honored that the Bureau of Land Management recognizes the power of our collaborative partnerships to protect the ecosystem and natural processes of this land.”

In 2023 alone, over 500,000 acres of land were burned in Southern California due to wildfires, and fire suppression efforts in the region cost the federal government nearly $100 million.