Bill Overview
Title: Fire Recovery Improvement Act
Description: This bill authorizes the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the Department of Agriculture to address post-wildfire flooding in certain communities adjacent to or downstream from Forest System land. Specifically, the service may carry out watershed protection and flood prevention measures to address the effects of flooding in communities that are (1) located on land not under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, and (2) threatened by post-wildfire flooding due to a post-wildfire burn scar on adjacent or upstream Forest Service lands. Upon receiving an independent hydraulic study that shows that severe and repetitive flooding is likely in such communities, the service may also carry out activities to mitigate potential effects of that flooding.
Sponsors: Rep. O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1]
Target Audience
Population: People living in communities downstream or near forest lands prone to post-wildfire floods
Estimated Size: 4000000
- Wildfires are a significant issue in many forested areas, often leaving burn scars that increase flooding risks.
- Forest System lands are often federal lands, and many communities are situated in proximity to these.
- The bill targets watersheds downstream or adjacent to these burn scars, focusing on mitigating flood risk post-wildfire.
- While the specific impact falls on communities near U.S. Forest Service lands, wildfires and their aftereffects can impact broader populations.
- An independent hydraulic study is required to trigger the bill’s measures, indicating a focused, data-driven approach.
Reasoning
- The policy will directly impact communities near Forest System lands prone to post-wildfire flooding, primarily benefiting small to medium-sized communities in western states.
- The budget constraints suggest that only a limited number of projects can be undertaken each year, concentrating efforts in the most severely affected areas first.
- Individuals not directly living in the flood-prone areas but nearby may see indirect benefits, such as an overall increase in community safety and potentially property values.
- Some individuals might not see any immediate change in their wellbeing scores if they are not in the direct path of any floods or if they did not perceive flooding as a threat to begin with.
- Given the policy's dependency on hydraulic studies, not all communities might receive help initially, as studies need to be conducted and results analyzed before action is taken.
Simulated Interviews
Elementary School Teacher (Santa Barbara, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad to see measures being taken to prevent the flooding we've dealt with in the past.
- It won't fix everything, but anything helps at this point.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Firefighter (Flagstaff, AZ)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the proactive measures; anything to reduce our load during emergencies is a win.
- This policy will probably help lower the immediate fears of residents when a fire breaks out.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Freelance Writer (Eugene, OR)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I report on these issues, and I'm curious to see how effective these measures will be.
- Even if it doesn't affect me directly, it's good to know rural areas are being prioritized.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired Engineer (Denver, CO)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our neighborhood has been pushing for more preventive measures, so this is a welcome change.
- Hopefully, this can save us from some major future expenses regarding damage repairs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Tech Support Specialist (Portland, OR)
Age: 39 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't directly impact me, but it's a positive step for the region.
- It's good to see resources being allocated to where they're needed most.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Redding, CA)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Flooding has affected my business in the past, so I'm hopeful for these new measures.
- I just hope it gets implemented quickly enough to make a difference soon.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Student (Bend, OR)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's exciting to see policies like this take shape while I'm studying about them.
- I hope to be involved in this kind of work in the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Nurse (Bakersfield, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Flooding hasn't been a huge issue for our town yet, but it's good they're taking precautions.
- I hope the health sector is considered in the planning phases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Park Ranger (Helena, MT)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Integration of federal policies with local efforts is crucial. I hope this doesn’t duplicate what's already being done.
- Any help in maintaining natural landscapes and preventing disasters is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Lawyer (Boise, ID)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's about time federal policies catch up to address these downstream effects of wildfires.
- Legal frameworks often need these precedents to better handle future disasters.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $35000000)
Year 3: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $35000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $25000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $10000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The project serves as a preventive measure, so immediate benefits are mitigated risk rather than quantifiable economic gains.
- Costs are concentrated in initial years due to infrastructure and study implementation, with benefits spread over multiple years.
- Wildfire patterns and affected areas can vary significantly, making precise cost estimation challenging.
- Dependent on the effectiveness of studies and subsequent mitigation actions, the actual costs and savings could vary markedly.