ID Number 2007-63
Fuels Treatment Projects Application
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Dave Anderson/City of The Dalles
Type of Applicant:
C (Municipal)
Email:
danderson@netcnct.net
Phone:
541-298-1242 Ext. 5000
FAX:
541-298-2129
Please Call Ahead for FAX:
Off
Please Call Ahead for FAX:
Off
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
6780 Reservoir Road The Dalles, OR 97058
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Mr. Dave Anderson, Water Quality Manager
Organization/Jurisdiction:
City of The Dalles
Email:
danderson@netcnct.net
Phone:
541-298-1242 Ext. 5000
FAX:
541-298-2129
Project Information
Project Title:
The Dalles Municipal Watershed Fuels Reduction
Project Location:
The Dalles Municipal Watershed, Wasco Co, Oregon
County:
Wasco
Congressional District:
2
Latitude:
45.48
Longitude:
-121.45
State the desired outcome in relation to NFP Goals and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Project Objectives:
Project will reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire in The Dalles Municipal Watershed, source of 90% of the City’s water supplies. The Watershed is managed
for the protection of water quality. The School Marm Fire (1967) demonstrated that wildfire within The Dalles Watershed poses a tremendous risk to Cityowned water-control infrastructure and public health. The area is currently at extreme risk of high-intensity wildfire due to declining forest health and
increased fuel loadings; contributing factors include drought, root disease, insect infestations and the encroachment of Grand Fir into drier ecosystems. The
School Marm Fire burn is currently over-stocked with scrub oak. Columbia Gorge winds create extreme fire behavior in this area (Sheldon Ridge Fire,
2002). From Wasco Co CWPP: "Apply for a grant to do hazard fuel treatment on City-owned lands in The Dalles Municipal Watershed. PriorityHigh." This project ranked 22nd in 2006 for recommended funding (ID# 2006-119).
Name of CWPP:
Wasco County, Oregon CWPP
Name of Communit(y/ies) at Risk:
Mill Creek Municipal Watershed (The Dalles Municipal Watershed)
Proposed Project Start Date:
04/01/2007
Proposed Project End Date:
12/31/2009
Federal Funding Request:
$200,000.00
Total Project Cost:
$250,509.00
Are you submitting multiple projects?
No
If YES indicate the relationship of the projects to one
another:
If YES, please list the titles of projects by priority and briefly explain their relationship.
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Organization/Jurisdiction:
1) David Jacobs, Unit Forester
ODF, Central Oregon District
Phone
541-296-4626
USFS, Barlow Ranger District
2) Mike Hernandez, District Ranger
Phone
541-467-5101
3) Larry Potts
Phone
Email DJACOBS@ODF.STATE.OR.US
Email mhernandez@fs.fed.us
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
541-553-1131
Email
Project Planning Information
Name of Local Coordinating Group:
Columbia Gorge LCG
For this project, explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning, through a "Local Coordination Group." If you have not worked with a
local coordination group, why not?
Coordinated project development w/ 2 LCG members, presented project to LCG, recommended for funding.
List federal lands that are adjacent to the project and proximity.
USFS Barlow Ranger District within The Dalles Municipal Watershed
A) Is there a current hazardous fuels treatment or one that is planned in the next three years on federal land that is adjacent to this project?
Yes
B) Specifically is this project adjacent to a current prescribed burn project or one that is planned in the next three years on Forest Service lands?
Yes
Please indicate planned treatments and associated acres:
Treatment
Thinning
Acres
264
Treatment
Acres
Treatment
Hand Pile Burn
Acres
256
Treatment
Acres
Treatment
Acres
0
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Treatment
Lopping/pruning
Acres
256
Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following criteria. Be sure you address every one briefly, yet thoroughly.
1. Reducing Hazardous Fuels (40 points)
A. Describe the community infrastructure that will be protected. This should include how this project implements all or part of the CWPP strategy. (15
points)
Response:
Project will reduce the risk that wildfires on City-owned lands within The Dalles Watershed will develop into highintensity fires which can increase sedimentation & turbidity due to reduced vegetative interception, exposed mineral
soils & elevated peak flows. Project reduces fire intensity, rate of spread & spotting by reducing access to fuels.
Values protected include public health, drinking water availability, adjacent lands (USFS, State & private), spotted
owl activity centers & winter steelhead habitat. Project is identified in Wasco Co. CWPP as Strategy 5 for Zone 1.
B. Explain how the proposal reduces fire behavior in high hazard areas by describing the fuels to be disposed or removed, the techniques and timing of the
treatments, and the treatment location relative to the values to be protected. (15 points)
Response:
Project includes pre-commercial thinning in younger stands, thinning from below in more mature stands where
overstocking occurs & encroaching Grand Fir can be selectively removed, removal of dead/dying trees
(predominantly Grand Fir), & pre-commercial thinning of oak stands. Pruning will reduce ladder fuels, piling/burning
will reduce downed fuels. Most work will be done in spring & fall months, recognizing seasonal restrictions for
northern spotted owls as appropriate, with any burning being done in winter. Highest priority areas are mixed conifer
stands within US Forest boundary.
C. Explain how the project is designed to reduce smoke production impacts that affect public health. (10 points)
Response:
Needed burning will be minimized by evaluating local opportunities for biomass utilization at the time of the project.
The City has contacted Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to explore potential for biomass utilization from this
project. The Confederated Tribes are developing a generation facility that burns biomass to power a lumber mill.
There may be other utilization opportunities also available by the time this project is undertaken
(chips,poles,firewood,etc). Any pile burning that is required will occur after piled fuels are dry; piles are currently
anticipated to be covered.
2. Increasing Local Capacity (20 points)
A. How would the implementation of the proposed project improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and sustainable
economic activity assuming that these grant funds would be used as "seed monies" for future projects. i.e. How many community supported jobs would be
created and for how long would they expect to last? (10 points)
Response:
The project will emphasize hiring of local contractors as needed and is estimated to employ 6 to 15 people seasonally
for 1–2 years. In addition, one contractual forest management consultant will be hired to design & lay-out the project,
ensuring that the project objectives are achieved while protecting water quality. The project will also result in
augmented local employment and increased use of forest resources that would otherwise be unavailable to local forest
products companies.
B. Will biomass that is produced by the project be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much? (10 points)
Response:
The potential for biomass utilization as fuel for electrical generation is being determined as of this writing. The
opportunities for utilization of biomass as chips, poles, &/or firewood will all be evaluated at the time of the project,
given mill, trucking and market conditions at that time, and will be the preferred method of disposal. Some on-site
burning will be conducted. Though not yet quantified, the amount of biomass available from this project for utilization
could be significant.
3. Demonstrating Community and Intergovernmental Collaboration (20 Points)
A. Describe how this project has been collaborated and coordinated with adjacent landowners, local/state/Tribal/federal agencies, and community groups
such as neighborhood associations. (10 points)
Response:
The City & USFS jointly manage The Dalles Watershed for protection of water quality; both parties support reducing
the risks of catastrophic wildfire. USFS recently completed a collaborative public planning process that recommended
fuels reduction activities in TD Watershed. The other major landowner in the Watershed, an industrial forestland
owner, supports fuels and fire-risk reduction activities in the watershed. Project is supported by The Dalles Area
Watershed Council and ODF.
B. Describe the communities/partners contributions to this project such as: cash or in-kind contributions, cost share agreements, equipment, or labor
(including volunteer work). (10 points)
Response:
City of The Dalles, utilizing a contractual forest management consultant and consulting with ODF, will design, layout,
contract and manage the project. Project will go through ESA Section 7 consultation with USFS and USFWS.
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have been contacted to explore potential for biomass utilization from this
project.
4. Managing Cost Efficiency (20 points)
Discuss the process you used to arrive at your cost structure for the main Project Budget areas such as personnel, equipment, supplies and other (i.e.
overhead). In your response please justify: cost per acre, purchase of equipment, percent of overhead, percent of partner or matching funds, and portion of
administration cost. (20 points)
Response:
Stand maps and inventories from the City of The Dalles Forest Management Plan were utilized to identify forest
stands that warrant fuels reduction treatment. ODF staff advised, based upon their experiences with fuels reduction
projects under the NFP Community Assistance Grant Program, that the types of fuels reduction treatment activities
planned by the City (pre-commercial thinning/hauling, pruning, chipping/hauling, piling/burning) normally cost about
$600/acre; this was the cost estimate used for treatment of mixed conifer stands in this project. Since the thinning
proposed for the scrub oak stands in the School Marm Fire burn will likely be easier, more accessible, and largely
machine-based operations, a cost of $450/acre was estimated. A cost estimate was obtained from the City's contractual
forester to assist with the design, layout, contracting and management of the project; that cost estimate was $25,000.
The City's in-kind contributions were estimated using the hourly wage rate of the primary employee implementing the
project plus 26%, the City's multiplier to account for benefits. The project is anticipated to take about 20 weeks to
complete, possibly over 2 work seasons. Anticipating 2-3 site visits/week when work is occurring, it was estimated
that the City would be contributing approximately 400 hours to the completion of this project. Mileage @ $0.37/mi.
Revenues generated from project, estimated to be $10,000, will be put back into the project.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Submit project for ESA Section 7 consultation.
Time Frame
Upon notification of award
Responsible Party
City, contracted forester. USFS & USFWS to
assist.
Layout project, mark units and trees.
4/1/07 thru 12/31/09
City, contracted forester.
Develop contract bid packets, bid project, award
contracts.
4/1/07 thru 7/31/07
City
Precommercial thinning, commercial thinning from
below, pruning, piling, cover piles.
Chipping/hauling if feasible.
7-1-07 thru 12/31/09(spring, early summer, fall)
7-1-07 thru 12/31/09
Burn piles in winter.
Dec 07, 08, 09
Grant administration
4-1-07 thru 12-31-09
Contractors. Project supervision by City and
contracted forester.
Contractors, Confederated Tribes(?)
Contractors, contracted forester.
City
Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Partner 3
Total
Personnel
Contracted forester
Subtotal
$230.00
$24,770.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$25,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$230.00
$24,770.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$25,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$740.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$740.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$740.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$740.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$199,770.00
$10,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$209,770.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$199,770.00
$10,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$209,770.00
$0.00
$14,999.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$14,999.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$14,999.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$14,999.00
$200,000.00
$50,509.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$250,509.00
$0.00
$10,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$10,000.00
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
Travel
City
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Fules reduction/thinning
Subtotal
Other
In-kind services by City
Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program) Income 1
(using deductive alternative)
1 Program income is the gross revenue generated by a grant or cooperative agreement supported activity during the life of the grant. Program income can be
made by recipients from fees charged for conference or workshop attendance, from rental fees earned from renting out real property or equipment acquired
with grant or cooperative agreement funds, or from the sale of commodities or items developed under the grant or cooperative agreement. The use of Program
Income during the project period may require prior approval by the granting agency.