USDA has announced a multi-year partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the health forest ecosystems across the nation. Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie made the announcement this week in Helena, Montana, near the site of the Red Mountain Flume/Chessman Reservoir, one of the first areas to be addressed through the partnership. Another area to be targeted is the San Bernardino/Riverside County area of California which experienced catastrophic wildfires a decade ago.

“NRCS and the Forest Service have the same goal in this partnership – working across traditional boundaries and restoring the health of our forests and watersheds whether they’re on public or private lands,” said Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie.