CA AB2551

Authorizes the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection director to enter into agreements with landowners, public agencies, and nonprofits to conduct joint prescribed burning operations that serve the public interest and are beneficial to the state.

Requires each prescribed burn to serve purposes including prevention of high-intensity wildfires, watershed management, range improvement, vegetation management, forest improvement, wildlife habitat improvement, or air quality maintenance.

Modifies forestry assistance program loans by allowing the director to establish reasonable terms for loan length and interest rates (rather than fixed 20-year terms at prevailing rates) and permits advance funding for eligible landowners with a lien on their property for uncompleted work.

Authorizes the Natural Resources Agency and California Environmental Protection Agency to jointly develop a forest and watershed restoration plan for drainages supplying the Oroville, Shasta, and Trinity Reservoirs and propose a pilot project for coordinated multiagency permitting of restoration activities.

Establishes the Headwaters Restoration Account in the General Fund for forest and watershed restoration purposes upon legislative appropriation.