WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Friday the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a total of $679,690 to five projects, primarily in Eastern Oregon, that boost habitat restoration and build community resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The projects will support management of invasive grasses, reduce wildfire risks and restore sagebrush habitat.
“Restoring and conserving Oregon’s sagebrush ecosystems is critical to protecting biodiversity, mitigating the dangers of invasive species, and making our landscapes more resilient to climate chaos and wildfires,” said Merkley, who used his position as Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to secure this funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “This crucial funding will support collaborative conservation efforts and help ensure our rural economies and important rangelands are strong long into the future.”
“Oregon’s sagebrush ecosystems are critical to ensuring resilience against the disastrous effects of the climate crisis like wildfires and drought,” Wyden said. “This federal funding will help regions on the frontline of this fight use a proven approach of ecosystem restoration and conservation. I applaud this federal investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I fought to secure, and will continue to push for more resources to support restoration projects across Oregon.”