Who's who in Applegate's wildfire resilience efforts
Written by:
Nathan Gehres
As wildfire risk continues to rise across Southern Oregon, an increasing number of organizations are working in the Applegate to strengthen community safety and restore forest health. Over a century of wildfire exclusion has left our forests stressed and our communities more vulnerable, prompting a surge of coordinated efforts aimed at reducing fuels and improving resilience. Applegaters are fortunate to benefit from a strong network of partners dedicated to protecting residents and caring for the landscape. Still, the growing list of groups— and the alphabet soup of acronyms attached to them—can be confusing. The summary below is not exhaustive, but it highlights the major organizations and projects currently active, or soon to begin, in the Applegate.
1. Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council (APWC)
APWC manages several active project focused on improving home defense and ingress/egress safety on private lands.
Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP): Better known as the Applegate Fire Plan update, this plan is essential for wildfire-risk reduction for several reasons:
An updated CWPP is required for most wildfire-related grants and will provide eligibility in both Jackson and Josephine counties.
Once completed, it will offer strategic prioritization across private and public lands, informed by 15 community meetings and a watershed-wide survey.
The project has already leveraged more than $250,000 in federal and state investments.
Completion is expected by the end of 2026.
Upper Applegate All-Lands Wildfire Resiliency Project (UAAWRP): A long term effort focused on private lands between Humbug Creek Road, the eastern boundary of the Applegate Watershed, and Applegate Lake. Now in its fourth year, the project has completed extensive fuels-reduction work.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Implementation Strategy (CIS): Written by APWC and funded through NRCS, this project partnered with six landowners to treat 262 acres, with two additional landowners planning treatments on 215 acres.
Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Small Forestland Grants (SFG)
2025: $269,000; treated 186 acres and 822 hazard trees across 45 properties, employing 11 local contractors.
2026: Two additional grants awarded: $296,034 to treat 70 acres of dead Douglas-fir along China Gulch Road, and $165,485 to treat 67 acres within the Kubli Road and Wagon Trail Drive Firewise Communities.
US Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act Subaward (via Sustainable Northwest):
A $2 million investment supporting UAAWRP. In the first year, 336 acres were treated, and 1,716 hazard trees were cut and processed. This three-year effort will complete a minimum of 750 acres. For more information on these projects, please contact Nathan Gehres, nathan@ apwc.info, 541-890-9989
2. Applegate Fire District (AFD) and Williams Fire District (WFD)
AFD and WFD provide several resources to residents and are a key partner in wildfire-preparedness planning. • Chipper and Haul Trailer Program (no cost to residents)
Property assessments
AFD Planning, Infrastructure, and Economic Revitalization (PIER) Grant for fuels treatments on Humbug Creek Road (available late 2026)
Title II funds for ingress/egress fuels treatments throughout the service area
Josephine County Emergency Management Grant Dollars for Williams residents: josephinecounty.gov/departments/ emergency_management/prepare_ (activities_before_an_emergency)/ defensible_space_project.php
Essential partners in CWPP development
3. Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative (SOFRC)
Prescription for Safety roadside buffer treatments along Thompson Creek Road (no cost to residents)
Key partner and contractor in CWPP development
4. Rogue Forest Partners (RFP)
Cedar Flat fuels-reduction treatments on BLM lands adjacent to private properties in the Williams area
Upper Applegate Watershed Restoration—2,648 acres treated through Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and USFS Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program grants
5. NRCS Conservation Implementation Strategy—Williams Area
Fuels-reduction treatments on private lands in the Williams community
6. Firewise Community Development in the Applegate Watershed
Firebrand Collective: Supports Firewise formation in Jackson County
Prescription for Safety roadside buffer treatments along Thompson Creek Road (no cost to residents)
Key partner and contractor in CWPP development
4. Rogue Forest Partners (RFP)
Cedar Flat fuels-reduction treatments on BLM lands adjacent to private properties in the Williams area
Upper Applegate Watershed Restoration—2,648 acres treated through Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and USFS Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program grants 5. NRCS Conservation Implementation Strategy—Williams Area
Fuels-reduction treatments on private lands in the Williams community
6. Firewise Community Development in the Applegate Watershed
AFD & Williams Rural Fire Protection District: Rachel Couch assisting Williams residents with Firewise formation
Josephine County Firewise Coordinator (Mike McLaughlin): Supports Firewise development in Josephine County communities
I hope this overview of the organizations and projects working across the Applegate watershed is helpful. The momentum behind these efforts—and the progress already made— reflects a shared commitment to reducing wildfire risk and protecting the landscapes and communities of our home.
Nathan Gehres
541-890-9989