Rep. Panetta Secures Federal Funding to Assist Swanton Pacific Ranch Debris Removal

Santa Cruz, CA - United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) secured federal funding to assist Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo to remove wildfire debris at Swanton Pacific Ranch in Santa Cruz County. The $3.6 million federal grant supports the removal of thousands of hazardous trees damaged by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires.

The 3,200-acre Swanton Pacific Ranch is a Cal Poly educational and research facility providing graduate students and undergraduates opportunities to study sustainable land management practices in the forest, rangeland, and watershed ecosystems. In 2020, the Lightning Complex fires damaged or destroyed most of the structures at Swanton Pacific Ranch. While Cal Poly has continued to utilize the ranch for student and faculty learning and research, an estimated 2,688 hazardous trees were identified as dead or dying and in need of removal. Rep. Panetta kept the pressure on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to deliver federal funding after years of delay.

"Our community continues to recover from the devastating CZU Lightning Complex fires which destroyed lives, livelihood, and thousands of acres of California wilderness," said Rep. Panetta. "This federal funding will support Cal Poly's stewardship of the Swanton Pacific Ranch, its land, and its critical role as a local hub for research and education. I am continuing to keep the pressure on the federal government to provide the resources our community needs to fully recover, rebuild, and return to a sense of normalcy following devastating fires and floods."

"Safety is our first priority and the financial support to remove hazardous trees from Swanton Pacific Ranch has allowed crucial learning and research to continue at Swanton Pacific Ranch by Cal Poly students, faculty and staff," said Interim Dean Bill Hendricks. "We have worked with FEMA for the last four years seeking public assistance to recover from the devastating CZU Lightning Complex fires in 2020 and are grateful for the support as we work to reenvisionand rebuild the incredible learning facilities there."

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