Enclosure 3A - Project Summary Form
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Wildland Urban Interface Fuels / Education and
Prevention / Community Planning for Fire Protection Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization: City
Phone: (541)
of Ashland
482-2770
FAX: (541)
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
482-5318
Email: woodleyk@ashland.or.us
455 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title): Keith
Organization/Jurisdiction: City
Phone: (541)
552-2217
E. Woodley, Fire Chief
of Ashland
FAX:
(541) 482-5318
Email: woodleyk@ashland.or.us
Project Information
Project Title:
Ashland Wildfire Mitigation Project
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
Ongoing since Sept. 1, 2001
December 31, 2007
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$250,000
$333,333 (includes private matching money)
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
No.
Brief Project Description:
Project continues work to mitigate wildfires on 1,500 acres of private urban interface land in and
adjacent to the City of Ashland through fuels reduction, cost sharing with private land owners,
community involvement, and education. The project area borders federal BLM and Forest Service
lands and includes the municipal watershed, the water treatment plant for the City of Ashland, and
approximately 3,000 homesites. Project partners include the Oregon Department of Forestry,
Ashland Parks and Recreation, and private landowners.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
County:
Congressional District:
City of Ashland and surrounding area
Jackson
2
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1) x Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project
(2) x Wildland Urban Interface Education and Prevention Project
(3) x Community Planning for Fire Protection Project
(4)
Fuels Utilization and Marketing Project
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Enclosure 3B (Page 1 of 3) - 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:
 project location
Address these
 project implementation
items as
 anticipated outcomes
applicable:
 measures and reporting
 interagency partners





project relationship to community or natural landscape fire plans
project time frames and income
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
Response:
Project Area: The project area begins at Ashland Mine Rd. north of town and stretches south across the city
interface to Tolman Creek Road to the south. Legal coordinates are: T39S R1E Sections 5,6,7,8,9,14,
15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22, and 23. The wildfire vegetation map shows the project area. The link is:
http://www.ashland.or.us/Files/fire_map_sm.PDF
Project Implementation: The project seeks to reduce fuel loads on private lands in and adjacent to the City of
Ashland in order to reduce the risk of wildfire and damage to the municipal watershed.
Anticipated Outcomes: The project will continue a program of cost sharing treatment on private and City
land in the interface. It will contribute to a comprehensive strategy of fire hazard reduction necessary for the
area and result in greater protection of lives, wildlife habitat, private and public property, the municipal water
supply, and the economic vitality of the region.
Measures and Reporting: A database is kept listing all landowners who participate in the project. The City
has thinning specifications which are the goal of each project. Projects are inspected afterwards for
compliance. A tally of acres treated is kept along with costs and photo plots.
Interagency Partners: Private landowners would benefit and be financial partners. The City of Ashland has a
history of community activitism relative to the environment. The Friends of Ashland, Ashland Watershed
Stewardship Alliance and the Ashland Watershed Partnership are examples of citizen based groups. The City
of Ashland and the U.S. Forest Service have been in cooperation dating to a 1929 Memorandum of
Understanding. The MOU outlines the rights and responsiblities shared by the entities. The City performs
fuel hazard reduction treatments on City owned land on an on-going basis and works with private land
owners on education efforts. The Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Mangement have jurisditions in the
project area. Additionally, the area outside the city limits is served by Jackson County Fire District #5 and
Oregon Department of Forestry. A public forum on wildfire reduction was sponsored by various community
agencies such as Southern Oregon University, the Chamber of Commerce, Ashland School District, Ashland
Daily Tidings, Ashland Community Hospital, and Lomakatsi Restoration. The resulting action of the forum
was that private property owners were brought together to receive and share information.
Urgency: The Bear Watershed Analysis in 1995 described the project area as an extreme fire risk. 90 years
of fire suppression and persistent drought conditions make the area vulnerable. Fires in 1901, 1910, 1959,
1973, and the 1980’s began in the popluated interface and moved into the forest and across ridge tops. Recent
drought has quadrupled tree mortality in the interface zone, compounding the existing fuel loads and forest
health problems. The impacts of fire on the local and tourist based economy, the municipal watershed, and
the Late Successional Reserve would be devastating.
Project Relationship to Community Fire Plans: The City contracted a consulting forester to map the
vegetation types across our interface and lower watershed. These vegetation types are used as hazard classes
for prioritizing fuels reduction work and financial resources. In addition, GIS maps were made which outline
previously treated areas as focal points for suppression activities. Another map indicates priority
management zones where fuels reduction will create opportunities for suppression around neighborhoods and
on key ridges. This coincides with a written interface fire plan. Much of this area is on private land where
projects are financially impossible without assistance for the owner.
Time Frame and Income: March 2004-June 2007. A project coordinator is on staff funded by $60,000 in
County funds over two years. The City provides benefits and technical assistance to the position.
Activities and Equipment Used: Thinning is performed by hand crews who manually cut, pile and burn or
chip the biomass. Larger acreages may be treated mechanically.
Amount or Extent of Actions: The Ashland interface zone covers 2600 acres in and around the city.
Approximately 3,000 structures are within this zone as well as parks and businesses.
Environmental, Cultural Resources: The Ashland watershed is a nationally significant watershed containing
western spotted owls, late successional habitat, a research natural area, and providing residents with drinking
water. Ashland’s tourism economy is centered on the world renowned Shakespearean Festival.
Enclosure 3B (Page 2 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following four criteria. Within each criterion, subcriteria are listed in descending order of importance. Limit your responses to the areas provided.
1. Reducing Fire Risk. (40 points))
A. Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas or communities, or natural landscapes.
B. Describe how the proposed project benefits resources on federal land or adjacent non-federal land, or how it protects the safety
of communities.
C. To what extent does the project implement or create a cooperative (1) fuels treatment plan or (2) community fire strategy
(include evidence of the plan if it already exists)?
D. Explain to what extent the affected community or proponent has been involved or plans to involve the affected community in a
qualified fuels education program (e.g., FIREWISE).
E. Explain how the proposal (1) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (2) mitigates or leads to the
mitigation of hazardous fuel conditions.
F. How will the proposed treatments or programs be maintained in future years?
Response: The grant money will be spent treating defensible space around homes and fuels within neighborhoods first.
Homes within the City’s extreme hazard area have been identified and will be approached for cost share work and
education. Areas away from homes will then be treated to create fuel reduction zones to provide suppression
opportunities and watershed protection.
The project decreases the likelihood of a fire spreading from the community to adjacent, upslope BLM and Forest
Service lands by creating suppression opportunities on City-owned and private lands. Decreasing extreme fuel loads in
the City will limit extreme fire behavior, increasing the likelihood of control before reaching structures or federal land.
This project implements a fire plan submitted in 2002 by the City’s contract forester. This plan is available online at:
http://www.ashland.or.us/Files/Fire%20city%20Plan%202002.htm This plan also fits with the Forest Service’s efforts
to create fuel breaks on adjacent land and a future project on a landscape scale in the Ashland Creek Watershed.
As of February 2003 the City has met with FIREWISE staff and plans to cooperate to the extent that the program can
offer help. A state representative will be trained within a month.
The project will significantly aid in forest restoration efforts. The ponderosa pine ecosystem has been devastated by
increases in Douglas-fir and shrub competition. Stocking levels are far above historic levels along with bark beetle
populations. Conifer mortality has quadrupled in the last year due to dense stands, drought, and insects. Fuel loads
have increased over the last 90 years of fire suppression to current levels. Whiteleaf manzanita, madrone, oak, and
other species often form impenetrable thickets that could lead to devastating fire intensity. Grant money will go
directly to treatment of these areas within the interface.
The City dedicates significant funding each year for fuels treatment on public land. Maintenance costs will be much
lower than the initial treatments. Private landowners are educated regarding maintenance of defensible space during the
initial treatment.
2. Increasing local capacity. (30 points)
A. How would the proposal improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and sustainable economic
activity? How many jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long (please distinguish between essentially yearround and seasonal jobs)? How will this proposal link to together projects (or proposed projects) to create year-round jobs?
B. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities or natural landscapes?
C. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response: Current funding has allowed a crew of four to be employed throughout the year (excluding a 2-3
month shutdown during fire season). Other larger crews will participate including local youth corps and a
restoration group. These crews will not depend solely on this project but this project work is an important part
of their income. This level of employment will continue for 3-4 years if grant funding is stable. After this time
maintenance will become the main issue and employment will be less than full time. In combination with the
proposed treatment of federal land in the Ashland Creek watershed over the next ten years there will be ample
work for local crews.
Ashland’s planning and continued action on City-owned forestlands make the community a model for fire
prevention. Public input is a key to our management process, a model that could apply to other communities
with diverse interests.
By-products from this project could be utilized in many different ways. The City has marketed commercial
timber from its lands where accessibility is not limited. We are currently preparing a helicopter-logging sale to
address overstocking issues on City land in the interface. Material taken from private land is often chipped and
used by the Parks Department for mulching or trail covering. Firewood is utilized by a local group who
distributes it to low income citizens for heating. The small diameter log market in southern Oregon has not been
developed to the point where utilization is economical. Accessibility, stable supply, and market forces presently
limit the commercial viability of small diameter conifers. If these factors change in the future we would gladly
contribute any by-products to this cause.
Enclosure 3B (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
3. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (15 Points)
A. Describe how this project implements a local intergovernmental strategy or plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if it
already exists.
B. Explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning through a “Local Coordination Group” for wildland fire
activities, or among federal, state, tribal, local government and community organizations. List the cooperators (a detailed list
of cooperators will be required for projects that are funded).
Response:
The City’s interface plan (link provided in previous section) ties in with existing and proposed fuel
breaks and treatments on U.S. Forest Service land. We also share responsibilities with the Oregon
Department of Forestry for planning and implementing fuels reduction on lands bordering the City
limits. State foresters and City staff work together to identify high priority areas for thinning projects.
The City, State Department of Forestry, Forest Service, citizens, and local environmental groups work
together as a planning group who meets each month to coordinate projects and discuss proposals. The
Ashland Watershed Stewardship Alliance (AWSA) is a citizen group who working closely with Forest
Service and the City. AWSA played a key role bringing government, citizens, and environmental
groups together to create the Ashland Watershed Protection Plan (AWPP) on federal land.
Collaboration between these groups continues during our interface fuels project and coinciding with
future treatments on adjacent federal land in the Ashland Creek Watershed.
4. Expanding Community Participation. (15 Points)
A. To what extent have interested individuals, groups, and communities been provided an opportunity to become informed and
involved in this proposal?
B. Describe the extent of local support or opposition for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements.
C. What are the environmental, social and educational benefits or concerns of the project?
Response:
Current activity in the interface has been well publicized in local media, town-hall meetings, and on the
City web site. Local environmental groups, citizens, and the City Council have reviewed the planning
process.
There is a high level of public support for this project. Because the City has taken the time to include a
diverse range of groups in the planning process over the years there has been widespread support for
reducing fire danger in the interface. Private residents cost share with the City for fuels treatment on
private land. The City Parks Department also pays a share for work done on parks land in the City.
Grant funding for these projects has been and will continue to be the decisive factor to accomplish fuel
treatment on private land, the most critical piece in our fire hazard reduction plan.
The local fire-dependent ecosystem has been in a downward trend for decades. Thinning provides an
opportunity for forest restoration and movement toward a more resilient forest ecosystem. The social
benefit gained through public outreach is difficult to measure. Private landowners benefit greatly
when a professional explains the fire danger and the ecosystem processes which have lead us to this
point. This benefit is carried over to a greater acceptance of federal land management in the local
area. Local youth groups (the REAL Corps, Northwest Youth Corps) gain educational benefit by
working with landowners and government on fuels reduction and forest restoration. Landowners also
learn important concepts of forest ecology, defensible space, and fuels maintenance.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Landowner Outreach and Education
Ongoing at present time until
Grant Expiration Date
City of Ashland Project
Coordinator
Fuels Reduction Projects on private
and City-owned lands in Interface
Ongoing at present time until
Grant Expiration Date
City of Ashland Project
Coordinator
Project Monitoring
March 2004 or Grant Award Date
until December 2007.
City of Ashland Project
Coordinator
Project Status Report
Bi-annually Starting March 2004
or Grant Award Date until
December 2007.
City of Ashland Project
Coordinator
Project Completion
December 31, 2007
City of Ashland Project
Coordinator
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Personnel (Includes coordinator
and support services provided to
program by the City, i.e. GIS)
2004
2005
Subtotal
Federal
Agency
City of Ashland
Jackson County
Title III Grant
Fire Plan Grant
$5,000
$30,000
$5,000 (awwawarded
$30,000
$10,000 (awwawarded
$60,000
Total
$12,500
$12,500
$25,000
$47,500
$47,500
$95,000
Fringe Benefits
2004
2005
Subtotal
$12,700
$12,700
$25,400
$12,700
$12,700
$25,400
Fuels Reduction
2004
2005
Subtotal
$112,500
$112,500
$225,000
$112,500
$112,500
$225,000
$41,700
$41,700
$83,400
$41,700
$41,700
$83,400
Landowner Matching Funds
2004
2005
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Subtotal
Other
Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program) Income1
(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.
$428,800