Project Summary Form
Id Number 2006-001
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Treatment Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
State of Oregon Department of Forestry, COD, The Dalles Unit
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
A
503-945-7341
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
503-945-7416
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):
2600 State Street Salem, OR 97310
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Ms. Mary Helen Smith Federal Grant Coordinator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Oregon Dept. of Forestry/COD-The Dalles Unit
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
503-945-7341
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
503-945-7416
Call Ahead For FAX
Email:
msmith@odf.state.or.us
Project Information
Project Title:
Seven Mile Hill Continuation
Proposed Project Start Date:
10/01/2006
Federal Funding Request:
$ 253,670
Proposed Project End Date:
12/31/2008
Total Project Funding:
$
552,040
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
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).
Provide financial assistance to landowners in the Seven Mile Hill, Browns Creek and Mosier areas located west of The Dalles and south of the city
of Mosier. Funds will be utilized as a cost share incentive to allow landowners to make a single entry into stands for vegetation management to
create defensible space, reduce fire hazard, and improve forest health. This area is at extreme risk from wildfire due to the increase in rural interface
residences, and the signifant role that the Gorge winds play in creating extreme fire behavior and potentially disasterous wildfires. This grant will be
a continuation of ongoing grants in the area where at least 40 landowners are still interested in the program, however, all available funding has been
allocated. Additional funding would aid in treating an additional 350 acres at risk. This project is in line with Wasco County's Community Wildfire
Plan that is being developed for spring of 2006, and will rank as a high priority project.
Project Location:
Latitude: 45.65176
Longitude: -121.32
County:
Wasco
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Federal Congressional District:
2
Telephone number of Contact:
Mike Ferris - Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
541-308-1702 Ext.
Rod Altig - Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
541-308-1731 Ext.
Rico George - USF&WS
509-538-2672 Ext.
Project Narrative Description
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 project relationship to the community risk assessment and
x project location (e.g., Watershed,
Address
mitigation plan
neighboring community)
these items
as applicable: x anticipated outcomes
x amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc.)
x project timeline and matching or contributed funds
x community partners and their
role(s)
x proponent’s ability to complete project
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?
Proposed project has been coordinated with the Gorge Wildfire Local Coordinating Group.
Is this project adjacent to a current prescribed burn project on federal lands or to one that is planned within the next
three years? (Yes/No) Yes
Please indicate planned treatments and associated acres:
* Treatment Thinning
Acres 350
Treatment Hand Piling
Acres 200
Treatment Hand Pile Burning
Acres 200
Treatment Mastication/Mowing
Acres 50
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Machine Burning
Other 1 Machine Piling
Acres 250
Other 2
Acres 250
Project Location: The area is located in and around Seven Mile Hill, Browns Creek and Mosier Creek. Seven Mile Hill and Browns Creek lie south
and west of the city of The Dalles and the Mosier Creek project lies south, southwest and southeast of the town of Mosier. The Seven Mile Hill and
Mosier Creek projects lie adjacent to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area [CRGNSA]. These areas are at significant risk from wildfire
due to the population density and influence that Gorge winds have on creating extreme fire behavior and potentially catastrophic wildfire. This
project will mirror plans the CRGNSA has to treat acres of their Scenic Area lands in the Rowena Drainage immediately adjacent to this project.
Anticipated Outcomes: The anticipated outcome from his project will be a landscape approach to fuels management treatments and forest health in
and around these communities at risk. In addition this project and others like it in Wasco County will further improve the relationships between all
agencies within the County through coordinated treatment projects.
Community Partners/Roles: This grant proposal fits into the draft strategy in the Wasco County Community Wildfire Protection Plan [CWPP] to apply
for grants to cover identified communities at risk. Currently other grants are ongoing in the area, and all of these grants were coordinated with the
local County Fire Chiefs in Wasco County as well as representatives from the CRGNSA. The CRGNSA is planning to connect their fuel hazard
mitigation projects to the work that is being done on private lands within Wasco County. The current grants in this area have been funded and
supported by the USFS, USF&WS, and BLM requiring close coordination and cooperation, in addition to the coordination that exists between Wasco
County, CRGNSA, and the Mid Columbia Fire Prevention Coop as well as the local fire districts. Additionally there exists a bi-state, four county
Gorge Wildfire Local Coordinating Group [GWLCG] which consists of members from WSU Extension, WDNR, ODF, USF&WS, 3-National Forests,
Mid Columbia Fire Chiefs Assoc., Klickitat Interagency Fire Assoc., and representatives from each of the four county government agencies of
Skamania, Klickitat, Hood River and Wasco Counties.
Project Relationship to Risk Assessment Plan: Wasco County is currently working on their Community Wildfire Protection Plan, anticipating to have
it completed by late 2005 or early 2006. There is an effort underway by the Gorge Wildfire Local Coordinating Group [GWLCG] to help develop a
four countywide community risks assessment and mitigation plans. These plans once developed will aid in the determination of the best and highest
use of future resources. Additionally there is a high level of coordination and cooperation with the GWLCG in the strategic planning and
implementation of all projects in the four County and two state area in the Mid Columbia Region.
Extent of Actions: The actions of this grant will effect approximately 350 acres and directly or indirectly protect 515 rural lots and full time residences
in the Mosier Creek, Rowena and Browns Creek drainages, and Seven Mile Hill area. The population in these treatment areas is estimated to be
around 2500 people.
Timeline/Funds: This project, if funded will begin landowner signups at mid-year 2006 and continue into late summer or early fall of 2006. Once
landowners are signed up they will be expected to hire a contractor to do the on ground fuels mitigation or do the work themselves. Monitoring will
take place throughout the project and all landowner completions and payments should occur prior to the end of 2008. Matching funds will be a
combination of ODF's and supporting agencies in-kind work on the project planning and implementation and the landowners that will be required to
commit up to 20% of the project costs themselves.
Proponents Ability to Complete Work: Past experience shows that ODF-The Dalles has been quite successful in obligating funds to landowners and
accomplishing the work in a timely manner. To date ODF-The Dalles has 217 landowners participating in the NFP program for a total of 1575 acres.
Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following three criteria. Be sure you address every one
briefly, yet thoroughly. Limit your responses to the area provided.
1. Reducing Hazardous Fuels (50 points)
A. Describe the community infrastructure that will be protected.
B. Explain how the proposal reduces fire behavior in high hazard areas by describing the fuels to be disposed or
removed, and the techniques and timing of the treatments.
C. How will the proposed treatments be maintained in future years?
D. How will you use multi-party monitoring to improve this and future projects?
Response:
A. This project will support the continuation of existing grants, allowing landowners who were not previously funded due to lack of
funds, to participate in the program. If funded, this grant will continue to aid landowners in getting contiguous tracts of property
treated. The first priority will be to create defensible space around structures. The second priority is to work in the area directly
beyond defensible space, which will reduce the stand density to a level consistent with the given site class. Reducing the fuel
loading and improving forest health will allow the residual stand to withstand a moderate to high intensity fire. This direct reduction
in the risk of high intensity fire will significantly reduce the risk to surrounding communities. This effort will in effect create a
community fuel break significant enough to minimize the future risk of wildfires. The potential infrastructure that will be protected
includes homes, businesses, personal property in addition to the Mosier Creek watershed. This project in conjunction with ongoing
grants will create a fuel reduction zone that will protect rural lots and residences as well as create a fuel break for the communities
of Mosier, Rowena, Seven Mile, and The Dalles, all considered communities at risk.
B. Commercial harvest in this area provides little in the way of economic benefit to the landowner, mostly due to the size of timber
and mill access. The landowner can sometimes make a small profit by doing a commercial thinning but this leaves activities such
as precommercial thinning and fuel reduction of any remaining fuel hazard undone. The result is a continued natural fuels
buildup, too many stems per acre that results in poor forest health due to overcrowding, disease and in many cases infestation by
the Mountain Pine and Western Pine Beetle. These grant stimulate the landowners to explore alternatives for the treatment of their
land. These funds would be used to cost share with the landowner for the total treatment of the site with the objective of reducing
the fuel hazard and improving forest health. This project will reduce the hazard by reducing the amount of fuel in the affected area.
The fuel types in this area generally consist of Ponderosa Pine and Douglas fir mix with considerable brush and dead and down
material from years of infestations from the pine beetle. Reducing the fuel loading and improving forest health will aid in reducing
catastrophic wildfire. Work will be done throughout the year but fire season and adverse weather in the winter will effect progress.
C. It is estimated that the treatment of dry site Ponderosa Pine and mixed conifer stands will last about 10 years. Landowners will
be encouraged to keep their properties clear of debris and brush by treating with low intensity burns and/or the use of mechanical
or herbicide treatments. Senate Bill 360 [Oregon Urban-Forestland Fire Protection Act] will be established in Wasco County within
the next few years. This legislation requires that landowners in high hazard areas maintain a defensible space around their
structures or accept a potential liability in the event of a wildfire. Senate Bill 360 will provide further incentives for the landowners
to maintain defensible space around their residences.
D. This community has been involved in the Firewise and defensible space triage programs. Public meetings, demonstrations,
newspaper articles and fair displays have all recently publicized the issues. Annual triage programs have been held in the area.
By using the Local Coordinating group and their multiple partners this and other projects will be monitored for ways to assist in
improving any future projects in the Mid Columbia Region. The local Gorge Wildfire Local Coordinating Group has been and will
continue to monitor existing and future projects for development of possible improvements to the program.
Project Evaluation Criteria
2.
Increasing Local Capacity (25 points)
A. How would the proposal improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and
sustainable economic activity?
B. How many jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long? (Please distinguish between
essentially year-round and seasonal jobs).
C. What tools and skills will be gained or utilized as a result of this project?
D. Will biomass be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response:
A. This project will help a depressed economy in Wasco County, especially the timber industry and has the potential to support other
forest related jobs within the area. This is a sustainable economic activity due to the ability to utilize smaller material and assist to
make it economical to treat these private non-industrial lands. This will in effect create jobs where none existed before.
B. This project would potentially be the seed money to keep 25-35 people seasonally employed for approximately 3 years. Currently
other grants in the area are supporting approximately 20 part time jobs which this grant would continue to support as well.
C. The tools and skills gained will be local economic stimulation, bio-mass utilization and local government coordination. These
projects have proved a stimulus to getting local agencies to work together. Hood River and Wasco Counties are economically
depressed and will directly benefit from this project.
D. The potential for removal of bio-mass will depend on the specific site. Estimates range from 25-75 tons per acre. Possible
methods of treatment will be to haul chip logs to the chip mill. Additionally there is a commercial firewood yard located in Dallesport
that can utilize a significant amount of the product and the use of poles will be encouraged. Utilization will be the preferred and
recommended method of treatment for all the wood products produced, however in some cases burning will the accepted practice.
3.
Demonstrating Community and Intergovernmental Collaboration (25 Points)
A. How will this project implement a community risk assessment and mitigation plan? Include name of plan, date
it was prepared, and local contact to get a copy of the plan if requested.
B. How has this treatment been coordinated with adjacent landowners and local/State/Tribal/Federal agencies?
C. Identify the cooperators/partners involved in implementation of this project.
D. Describe the extent of current local support for the project, including any cost-sharing agreements.
Response:
A. Wasco County is currently working on their Community Wildfire Protection Plan [CWPP] utilizing Title III funding. Wasco County
hopes to have their plan completed by the end of 2005 or early in 2006. This proposal has been identified as a high priority project
for the area. This plan when completed will help to legitimize the extensive mitigation work already being done on the ground. This
wildfire plan will be available from the Wasco County Court [County Judge, Dan Erickson 541-506-2520] who have funded the plan
through Title III allocations.
B. Coordination exists between landowners, Wasco County, CRGNSA, USF&WS, Mid Columbia Fire Prevention Coop as well as
the local RFD's in the implementation of this grant through community meetings and personal contacts with the various agencies.
C. Wasco County is currently administering a home hazard assessment grant. Information from tis grant has been made available
to all interested parties for aid in prevention and response to all risk disasters in addition to wildfires. This data will be invaluable for
use in this and future grant proposals. In addition this project fits well with the WSU Extension funded NFP [USF&WS] grant
designed to assist in the overall coordination and cooperation of NFP grants and identify high risk sites in four counties in Oregon
and Washington. Title III grants are also in place in Wasco, Hood River and Skamania Counties.
D. This project has received local support from the various funding agencies including the USF&WS, USFS and BLM. In addition
the project has the support from the Gorge Wildfire Local Coordinating Group. Cost sharing agreements exist between WSU
Extension and Wasco County for other NFP grants.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Identify specific landowners and direct mail
the grant information and set up a meeting for
landowners in the grant area
Sign up landowners in the program and
arrange for a site visit. Do a hazard
assessment, determine what activities need to
take place, sign agreement.
Monitor projects, document activities for future
educational opportunities, check for
compliance, verify work accomplishment,
process final payment.
Use project as an example of fire hazard
reduction and improved forest health.
Develop public prevention displays for
continuous use in public events
Time Frame
June/December 2006
Responsible Party
Unit Forester
Asst Unit Forester
NFP Grant Coordinator
Stewardship Forester
NFP Grant Coordinator
October/December 2006
NFP coordinator
Stewardship Forester
Oct.2006/Oct. 2008
Oct 2006/Oct 2008
Stewardship Forester
Asst Unit Forester
NFP coordinator
Project Budget
Landowners
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
County/RFDs
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
Partner 3
Personnel
Stewardship For./NFP Co
$19,250
$244,370
$0
$3,400
$0
$267,020
$1,950
$3,400
$0
$0
$0
$5,350
$21,200
$247,770
$0
$3,400
$0
$272,370
$8,250
$2,900
$0
$1,300
$0
$12,450
$0
$0
$2,900
$0
$0
$0
$0
$8,250
$0
$1,300
$0
$12,450
$4,000
$500
$0
$0
$0
$4,500
$0
$0
$500
$4,500
$0
$500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$5,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$1,000
$500
$0
$0
$0
$1,500
$500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$500
$1,500
$500
$0
$0
$0
$2,000
$200,000
$0
$40,000
$0
$0
$240,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$200,000
$40,000
$0
$0
$240,000
Indirect Costs @ 10% PS
$3,000
$2,000
$0
$0
$0
$5,000
Salem 6% (Prot & Finan)
$15,220
$0
$0
$0
$15,220
Subtotal
$18,220
$0
$2,000
$0
$0
$0
$20,220
$253,670
$253,670
$40,000
$4,700
$0
$552,040
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Admin Support
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
OPE @ 38.9%
Subtotal
Travel
Vehicle Mileage/Rental
Travel
$500
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Office supplies/postage
Field Equipment S/S
Subtotal
Contractual
Landowner CS Agreemen
Subtotal
Other
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.