Project Summary Form
Id Number 2006-159
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Community Risk Assessment and Mitigation Planning
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Deschutes County
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
B
541-330-4627
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
541-385-3202
Please Call Ahead For FAX
H. Independent School District
I. State-Controlled Institution of Higher Learning
J. Private University
K. Indian Tribe
L. Nonprofit Organization
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 200 Bend, OR 97701
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Mr. Joe Stutler Forestry Specialist
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Deschutes County
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
541-322-7117
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
541-388-2719
Call Ahead For FAX
Email:
joe_stutler@co.deschutes.or.us
Project Information
Project Title:
Comprehensive Community Fire Plan
Proposed Project Start Date:
07/01/2006
Federal Funding Request:
$
250,000
Proposed Project End Date:
06/30/2008
Total Project Funding:
$
318,132
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Deschutes County is submitting five stand alone applications to the Community Assistance Grant Program, one under the Education and
Prevention category, one under the Community Planning category, and three under the Fuels Treatment category. This project is the first
priority among all five of the applications and the only priority among the community planning projects.
Brief Project Summary: Who, What, Where, Desired Outcomes in relation to NFP Goals and Community Risk Assessment and
Mitigation Plans (This should summarize page 2).
The Deschutes County Comprehensive Community Fire Plan project will accomplish three goals: 1] Create a Community Wildfire
Protection Plan that addresses all communities, neighborhoods, and unincorporated areas within the County. 2] Incorporate plans
developed independently by various community planning groups. 3] Coordinate with neighboring counties to address areas of
overlapping responsibility within the Wildland-Urban Interface.
This project will mitigate the risk of fire in the WUI, protect public safety, improve forest health, and reduce structural loss by
identifying risk factors, outlining action plans, allocating funding sources, and serving as a resource to local agencies, communities,
and individuals within Deschutes County. The County-wide plan will also identify priority fuel treatments on public land consistent
with the HFRA, addressing Condition Class III treatment on a landscape scale for both Deschutes Forest and the Prineville BLM.
Project Location:
Latitude: 44.09278
Longitude: 121.293
County:
Deschutes
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Lisa Clarke
Federal Congressional District:
2
Telephone number of Contact:
541-416-6864 Ext.
Ext.
Ext.
Applications for funding must include a narrative response that describes the proposal. Please do not submit responses longer than
one page, single space, 12-pitch font.
Describe project including, but not limited to:
x change fire behavior
x WHO are your collaborators - are they current or potential collaborators?
Address these
through fuels reduction
x describe the relationship of this plan’s desired outcome to NFP Goals
items as
x increase community
and to any existing community fire protection plan.
applicable:
education and awareness
x project time frames and matching or contributed funds
x enhance fire protection
x tools and/or skills needed to complete project
capability
x specific project location, geographic extent, and fire risk assessment
x desired outcome
methodology
For this project, explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning, through a “Local Coordination
Group.” If you haven’t worked with a local coordination group, why not?
The Deschutes County Comprehensive Community Fire Plan project will create a County-wide Community Wildland Protection Plan [CWPP] that
addresses all communities, neighborhoods, and unincorporated areas currently without a CWPP; provide a single source document for all
CWPPs that have been or are currently under development by individual community groups within Deschutes County's boundaries; and facilitate
coordination between Deschutes County and neighboring Crook, Jefferson, and Klamath Counties to address areas of overlapping responsibility
within the Wildland-Urban Interface [WUI]. These goals are consistent with the objectives of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act passed by
Congress in December of 2003 which encourages community planning for wildfire management and assigns a higher priority to fuels reduction
projects on public lands that have been identified in a plan.
Although the Deschutes County Forestry Program will lead the Comprehensive Community Fire Plan project, it will be accomplished through a
collaboration of local and regional fire prevention and suppression agencies, forest managers, public safety professionals, community
organizations, businesses, and private citizens to ensure that the plan is complete and that all identifiable interests are addressed. The planning
process will be facilitated through a contractual relationship with a person, group, or organization that is experienced in developing community fire
plans, soliciting public involvement, directing meetings, conducting research, communicating with industry experts, and working with diverse
communities. The project will be accomplished over a two-year period at a total cost of $318,132, $250,000 from the Community Assistance
Grant Program and $68,132 of in-kind support from Deschutes County and its project partners. At the conclusion of that period, the County and
its partners will have a single-source printed and bound document that outlines wildland fire management strategies for all lands within its
boundaries.
The project will be implemented in Deschutes County, a 3,055 square mile region of Central Oregon notable for its arid high desert climate,
abundant sunshine, strong winds, dry stands of timber and other vegetation, and frequent summer lightening strikes that often result in large, fastmoving, and devastating wildfires. Compounding these problems, Deschutes County's population is growing at a much faster pace than
elsewhere in the state and in most of the nation. Currently estimated at 130,500, the population has grown by 13% since 2000, a rate nearly 4
times Oregon's average of 3.5%. Many of these new residents moved to the region specifically to experience the blend of city and country life that
can be found in the marginal forest and farmland of the WUI. Additionally, there are approximately 145,000 acres of unprotected lands in
Deschutes County without either wildland or structural fire response capability. The Oregon Department of Forestry has identified Deschutes
County as one of two pilot counties for implementation of the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997 ensuring that
replicability to other "wildland-urban interface areas" as defined by statute will be built into the proposed project.
As proposed, this project will greatly enhance fire protection capability by providing a precise list of high-risk areas; detailed plans for treating
those areas with fuels reduction, land management, or other effective strategies; specific mechanisms for allocating scarce resources toward
high-priority projects; and a clear roadmap for communicating with potential funding agencies and other interested partners. In addition, the
project offers opportunities for increasing community education and awareness through related public participation, citizen involvement, and
replication efforts.
Applications for funding, must include narrative responses that address the following four criteria. Be sure you address every one
briefly, yet thoroughly.
1. Planning for Action. (40 Points)
A. Describe your desired plan outcome and how the outcome will be measured.
B. How will the plan address :
x Fire behavior changes through fuels reduction
x Community education and awareness
x Enhanced suppression capability
C. How will the completed plan be implemented, and by whom? OR How does this plan enhance or complete
previous fire planning by the community?
D. How will the plan address landowner responsibility for implementation of this plan?
Describe your ability to complete project in one year of receipt of funds
Response:
At the conclusion of the Comprehensive Community Fire Plan project, the County and its partners will have a single-source document that
outlines wildland fire management strategies for all lands within its boundaries. Success of the project will largely be measured by delivery of the
document and by its quality in comparison to contractual expectations. However, the project will also be periodically assessed to ensure that it is
achieving its secondary outcomes of fully involving the public, local agencies, and neighboring counties in the planning process and by the degree
to which the needs of individual communities are represented in the plan document. These efforts are consistent with HRFA objectives and
facilitate the premise not only to have a community fire plan, but to continue planning efforts as treatment occurs.
Although the intended outcome of the project is a plan document, the higher goals of the project are broader - to reduce wildland fire risk
throughout the County, improve conditions for fighting and preventing the spread of wildland fires, and protect community infrastructure, health,
and safety. The Comprehensive Community Fire Plan project will address these goals by providing a mechanism to reduce fuels in high-risk
communities, educate the public and raise community awareness, and increase communities' abilities to suppress fires when they do occur. The
plan will provide a precise list of high-risk areas; detailed strategies for treating those areas with fuels reduction, land management, or other
effective approaches; specific mechanisms for allocating scarce resources toward high-priority projects; and a clear roadmap for communicating
with partner agencies, potential funding sources, citizens, and other interested stakeholders.
The proposed planning process complements, enhances, and augments efforts already underway within Deschutes County, across the State,
and on a national level. The County-wide CWPP will be prepared pursuant to the U.S. Healthy Forest Restoration Act, the Oregon ForestlandUrban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997, Deschutes County's Resolution 2004-093 which establishes minimum standards for CWPPs as
modeled in "A Handbook for Wildland-Urban Interface Communities" developed by the Society of American Foresters, National Association of
Counties, and the National Association of State Foresters. The document will incorporate all communities, neighborhoods, and unincorporated
areas within Deschutes County, and will be coordinated with Crook, Jefferson, and Klamath Counties due to overlap in several WUI areas.
Additionally, the plan document will contain sections for local fire plans already completed by the Upper Deschutes Coalition and those currently
under development in other localities.
2.
Enhancing Community Collaboration and Local Capacity. (30 points)
A. Describe your strategy for collaboration to develop this plan across multiple ownerships.
B. Identify the interested partners and members of the community who are involved in this project, and
the level of their involvement.
C.
D.
How will this project enhance local community collaboration and local capacity for cooperative action?
Describe skills or experience the community will gain through development of this plan.
Response:
The Comprehensive Community Fire Plan project is designed to involve partner agencies, neighboring jurisdictions, community groups,
businesses, and members of the public. To initiate the planning process, Deschutes County will convene a leadership team comprised of
regional government agencies, fire and safety professionals, and community organizations with knowledge and experience not only in wildland
fire and resource management issues, but also in public relations, education, and community outreach. This team will be responsible for guiding
the project and outlining goals, activities, and timelines, as well as evaluating and communicating results. During the planning process, the
project facilitator will hold meetings in each affected community within the County to solicit participation and collaboration from residents,
business-owners, and others interested in reducing the risk of wildland fire.
3.
Expanding Community Participation. (30 Points)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Explain the level of cooperation, coordination and/or involvement of the Local Coordination Group. List the
cooperators/members (in a broad way) of the local area coordination group.
Describe your strategy for leveraging funding. Who are the partners and what is their commitment to the
plan’s completion, including any existing or proposed cost-share agreements and their status.
Describe the extent of local support or opposition for the project.
Describe your strategy for post-plan marketing and collaboration for the successful implementation of the
next steps described in the plan.
To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities in your sub-geographic
area, state-wide area?
Response:
The project was developed in collaboration with the Project Wildfire Committee, an inter-disciplinary group that acts as the Local Coordination
Group within Deschutes County. Members include representatives from the Deschutes County Forestry Program, Bureau of Land Management,
Bend, Sisters, SunRiver, and La Pine Rural Fire Protection Districts, the City of Sisters, Oregon State University, Central Oregon Community
College, Bend Chamber of Commerce, neighborhood associations, the insurance industry, and small businesses.
The project will be accomplished over a two-year period at a total cost of $318,132, $250,000 from the Community Assistance Grant Program and
$68,132 of in-kind support from Deschutes County and its project partners. Deschutes County will provide staff, facilities, and supplies necessary
to manage, administer, and organize the project and the partners will contribute their time for meeting to plan, coordinate, strategize, review, and
evaluate the project as outlined in the budget section. Although the planning process will be completed within a two-year period, the CWPP will
need to be updated over time to ensure long-term value, particularly as wildland fire events occur and fuels reduction treatment projects are
implemented. Keeping the document current will be the responsibility of the Deschutes County Forestry Program and will be sustained through its
future budget appropriations.
The proposed project will also seek to create new opportunities for duplication in other communities throughout Oregon and the U.S. that are
facing similar challenges. All phases of the project will be documented and the final outcomes will be made available to others through site visits,
speaking engagements, and published reports.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Preparation: Convene leadership team of
collaborative partners. Hire contractor through
public process. Develop project workplan and
design format.
Research: Assess environment and identify
high-risk areas. Obtain copies of model plans.
Communicate with industry experts and model
communities.
Public Involvement: Hold public and
community meetings. Participate in existing
community planning efforts. Coordinate with
neighboring counties.
Develop Plan: Identify resources. Establish
strategies, priorities, and timelines. Compile
community plans. Create, print, and bind plan
document.
Follow-Up: Evaluate project progress and
outcomes. Communicate results. Make
project available for replication.
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Deschutes County Forestry Program
& Project Partners.
Months 1-3
Deschutes County Forestry Program
& Contractor.
Months 4-9
Deschutes County Forestry Program
& Contractor.
Months 10-18
Deschutes County Forestry Program
& Contractor.
Months 19-22
Deschutes County Forestry Program
& Project Partners.
Months 23-24
Deschutes County Forestry Program.
Maintenance: Update plan document as
needed.
Ongoing
Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
Partner 3
Personnel
Forestry Specialist
Subtotal
$20,140
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$20,140
$0
$0
$0
$20,140
$0
$0
$10,072
$0
$20,140
Fringe Benefits
Forestry Specialist
$0
$10,072
$0
$0
$0
$10,072
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$10,072
$0
$2,920
$0
$0
$0
$2,920
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$2,920
$0
$0
$0
$0
$2,920
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$4,000
$0
$0
$0
$4,000
Operation/Office/General
$0
$6,000
$0
$0
$0
$6,000
Subtotal
$0
$10,000
$0
$0
$0
$10,000
$250,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$250,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$250,000
Subtotal
Travel
Auto Use/Mileage
$0
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Printing/Paper
Contractual
Fire Plan Development
Subtotal
$250,000
Other
Facilities
$0
$5,000
$0
$0
$0
$5,000
Partner Participation
$0
$0
$0
$0
$20,000
$0
$20,000
$25,000
$0
$0
$0
$25,000
$250,000
$68,132
$0
$0
$0
$318,132
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program)
Income1
___________________________________
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.