TUD Receives Grant to Protect Valuable Infrastructure from Wildfire by Tuolumne Utilities District Sep 28, 2021 Member Submitted News The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) was notified by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) that it will receive $297,869 in grant funding to protect nine water and wastewater facilities situated in high hazardous areas within Tuolumne County from the threat of wildfire. In May 2021, the District applied for the Cal Fire Climate Investments (CCI) Fire Prevention Grant for the TUD Critical District Facilities Fuels Reduction Project. The TUD Critical District Facilities Fuels Reduction Project provides protection and resiliency to vulnerable infrastructure facilities throughout the TUD service area. To protect life support and public health and provide reliable service to these rural communities, the District will implement a hazardous fuels reduction and vegetation management project to protect eight (8) critical water storage facilities (tanks) and the Twain Harte Wastewater Treatment Facility by using a combination of hand thinning and mastication fuel treatments under the direction of a licensed forester. “It is always exciting to receive grant funding for important district projects. The District works aggressively to seek grant funding in order to fund much needed projects with a minimum impact to our ratepayers. With this funding, the District can protect valuable water and wastewater infrastructure in very high prone wildfire areas. If these facilities were destroyed by a wildfire, it would be catastrophic as we have seen happen to other foothill communities.” states Don Perkins, Interim General Manager. The District will begin implementation once the funds are available in January 2022 with the goal of completing the project by March 2024.