Lower Guayenas land grant describes wildfire damage, FEMA settlement and member compensation

Antonio Benavides, president of the Lower Guayenas Land Grant Merced, told the Land Grant Interim Committee his community is rebuilding after severe wildfire damage and explained how it used a federal disaster settlement.

Benavides said the land grant was heavily burned in the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire series and that much of the landscape remains scarred. “By now, most of the wood is pretty beyond saving. So just clear it so that it’s down,” he said, describing plans to remove dead trees and debris to reduce hazards and enable recovery work.

He discussed a FEMA settlement the land grant received for fire damage. “Recently, we received the settlement from FEMA and I believe the total amount was $33,000,000,” Benavides said. He said the land grant paid approximately $5,000,000 to lawyers and retained about $29,000,000 to use for recovery and member compensation. Benavides said the board met members individually to solicit compensation requests and set a payment formula; the board decided on $175,000 per member and reported about $13,000,000 remaining in its accounts after distributions.

Benavides described other priorities for the settlement funds: road repairs and access improvements, clearing dead timber, property purchases for meeting space, and scholarships to keep local youth in area schools and Highlands University. He said private contractors will present estimates at a July 19 meeting and that road and access work is a pressing concern: “Our roads are in pretty sad shape,” he said.

Benavides also described governance and membership questions. He said the land grant opened membership rules after earlier closed, family-based practices created scarcity; that change increased membership and created new pressures on governance and elections; and that the land grant is working to build a multi-member board and find volunteer leaders.

Committee members offered assistance and suggested coordinating with neighboring land grants and state agencies on road and recovery work. Representative Miguel Garcia recommended coordination with the Los Vigilias land grant, which has pursued capital equipment and road work, and Representative Anita Gonzales offered help connecting the land grant with local service providers and county resources.

Benavides said he will engage more regularly with the legislature and requested assistance identifying legal and financial advisors to manage large settlement funds safely.