McKinleyville Community Forest Gets One Million Dollar Federal Boost

The McKinleyville Community Services District announced on November 14, 2025 that it has received a one million dollar Congressionally Directed Spending award to begin implementing the management plan for the 599 acre McKinleyville Community Forest. The award was secured with assistance from Representative Jared Huffman, and the district said the funds will be applied immediately to on the ground work that aims to improve habitat, reduce wildfire risk, and expand public access.

The funding will support several specific priorities identified in the district plan. Work will include habitat restoration across the property, targeted projects to lower wildfire risk, purchases of specialty equipment for stewardship activities, restoration along sensitive stream corridors, and early construction of trails to provide safe public access. The district framed the award as the kick off of a phased implementation effort intended to translate years of planning into visible improvements for neighbors and visitors.

For Humboldt County residents the grant carries practical significance. Reducing wildfire risk in the forest can lower the chances of a dangerous fire spreading into surrounding neighborhoods, and stream restoration can improve water quality and aquatic habitat that local wildlife rely on. The planned early trail construction will expand recreational opportunities for walkers and families while allowing resource managers to guide public use in ways that protect sensitive areas.

The funding also reflects the mechanics of federal support for local projects. A Congressionally Directed Spending award is a federal appropriation that directs money to specific community priorities, and the district worked with its congressional representative to secure the investment. Locally administered projects such as this one can create short term work for contractors and equipment operators while laying the groundwork for longer term stewardship and recreation management.

The McKinleyville Community Forest sits within a region that has experienced heightened wildfire dangers in recent years, and local leaders have emphasized proactive landscape scale management as a strategy to enhance resilience. The award enables the district to move from planning to action, purchasing the tools and starting the field work needed to meet ecological and safety goals.

Next steps include mobilizing crews, acquiring the listed equipment, and initiating restoration and trail projects across the 599 acres. The district published details in its press release and will likely provide updates as work gets underway. For residents interested in progress and opportunities to engage, monitoring MCSD communications will be the best way to learn about community meetings, volunteer chances, and trail openings as the project unfolds.