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:
Middle Rogue Watershed Council
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541/474-6799
541/955-9574
mrwa@cpros.com
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
576 NE “E” Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Donna K. Chickering, Executive Director
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Middle Rogue Watershed Council
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541/474-6799
541/955-9574
mrwa@cpros.com
Project Information
Project Title:
Fire-Safe Residential Design & Maintenance Education for New Residents
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
October 2003
September 2005
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$13,475
$20,175
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
No
Brief Project Description:
Josephine County exhibits one of the most extreme at-risk environments in the state with regard to
fire potential and associated risk to landowners and residents in the wildland urban interface.
Unfortunately, many of the county residents, being relative newcomers to both the state and the
county, are not familiar with design and maintenance requirements associated with keeping their
property relatively fire-safe. This project is designed to disseminate educational materials regarding
such practices to new residents locating in the wildland urban interface area. The educational
materials will be a mix of currently produced materials (e.g., FireFree, FireWise, Cooperative
Extension publications) and one new brochure specifically designed for the Josephine County
situation. Dissemination will be facilitated through several different avenues, including the local
“Welcome Wagon” organization, local realtors and homebuilders, OSU Cooperative Extension,
Josephine County Planning, local insurance agencies, as well as the Middle Rogue Watershed
Council, the Josephine Soil and Water Conservation District, and Oregon Department of Forestry.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
County:
Congressional District:
Northern Josephine County
Josephine
4; 2
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1)
Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project
(2) [X] Wildland Urban Interface Education and Prevention Project
(3)
(4)
Community Planning for Fire Protection Project
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:
Josephine County, because of its steeply sloped terrain, heavily forested landscape (82 % of the landbase is
zoned forestry type), change in historical fire regime, and overstocked and dense forest stands, is at high risk
for catastrophic fire. This is particularly true in several distinct areas of the northern part of the county as
new housing developments and population growth are becoming more concentrated there. Furthermore, the
population growth is primarily from outside the state, and many of these new residents are unfamiliar with the
potential for fire danger that is inherent in living in this type of wildland urban interface environment. This
mix of environmental and sociological factors only increases the risk for fire danger.
This project calls for the development of an educational brochure, targeted at new residents, with information
detailing design and maintenance practices that can be employed to reduce the risk of fire in and around their
WUI property. This brochure will also have Josephine County specific information included, such as
contacts for additional information, other fire reduction programs that they may want to enroll in, and other
educational listings, such as web-sites and other references. The brochure will be directly disseminated by
the local “Welcome Wagon,” home builders, realtors, and planning office to new home buyers and residents
new to the area. Other agencies and participants will also have the brochures available on request. In this
brochure will be a suggestion for calling the local watershed council for additional materials, which then
would be mailed out upon request. These materials would include some of the already existing excellent
materials available through other programs (e.g., OSU’s “Fire-Resistant Plants for Oregon Home
Landscapes,” FireWise, FireSafe, etc.). The program will be promoted by several partnering agencies and
organizations, and will also receive extensive local media coverage. As such, the non-targeted population
may also avail themselves to the educational materials. By following this strategy, we hope to reach
approximately 500 new residents and 500 current residents each year. Records will be kept on who receives
direct dissemination of the materials, and follow-up contact will be made with these individuals to assess the
impact of the program.
Agencies and organizations already contacted about this program have been extremely positive in their
support and have agreed to participate is partners, as technical reviewers, advisors, promoters, or
disseminators. Such agencies include: Oregon Department of Forestry, Josephine Soil and Water
Conservation District, Josephine County Home Builders Association, Grants Pass Association of Realtors,
Western Welcome Hostess, and OSU Cooperative Extension. Individual insurance companies, realtors,
consulting foresters, and landscapers have also agreed to participate.
This project is slated to be carried out in two years, with a review of the program allowing us to see the merits
of continuing and/or adapting its design and delivery. Furthermore, this program could be adopted by other
areas, with minor (and hence inexpensive) changes in the primary educational brochure.
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:
A. The objective of this program is to get information in to the hands of new WUI residents, encouraging
them to follow the provided recommended practices designed to reduce wildfire risk, as well as seek out
additional information through avenues suggested in the area-specific information brochure.
B. The individuals targeted for receiving the educational materials will be individuals building in or moving
into northern Josephine County outside of the Grants Pass urban growth boundary. Most of the residences in
this area are located in heavily forested areas relatively close to either BLM or USFS lands, and often times in
clustered developments or mini-suburbanized types of communities.
C. The dissemination model of this project was one of the top 3 key suggestions that arose from a previous
(2002) area FireWise workshop that looked at community fire strategies.
D. Representatives of affected community organizations will be attending an upcoming FireWise workshop
whereby the development of a local strategy will be discussed. The plan for dissemination of the proposed
project’s educational materials will involve many of these affected community organizations and agencies.
E. All design and maintenance practices suggested in the educational materials will lead to the mitigation of
hazardous fuel conditions, both in and around the targeted residential areas.
F. An evaluation of the project and actual participation rates by individuals receiving the educational
materials will be carried out at the end of the 2-year project. The future of the program will be decided then.
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 toher 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:
A. This project, by encouraging local homebuilders and residents to employ fire-safe building, landscaping,
and maintenance practices, may generate some additional employment for landscaping companies as well as
forestry professionals hired to carry out the recommended practices and procedures.
B. This project will be promoted to the other 7 watershed councils operating in the Rogue Basin,
encouraging them to adopt both the educational materials as well as the dissemination strategy for enlisting
new residents in fire-safe design and maintenance of their homes and landscapes. The educational brochure
that will be designed to be Josephine County specific, will be designed such that the county specific
information will be confined to one brochure panel, enabling other watershed councils or other agencies to
minimize costs in the production of their own area-specific brochure.
C. Although information regarding local contacts for biomass utilization businesses as well as other
suggested uses for small diameter wood will be provided in the educational materials, the project itself will
not be utilizing biomass or forest fuels.
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:
A. There is no current local intergovernmental strategy. This project, although not creating such a strategy or
plan, will be carried out by involving several different governmental agencies (county, state, federal levels),
in terms of technical review and oversight, and dissemination and promotion of the project’s materials.
B. There is no current “Local Coordination Group” operating in this area. Through an upcoming local
FireWise communities workshop there will be an opportunity for all local “players” to get together and
discuss local strategic planning. All of these agencies and community organizations will be asked to take
some type of partnership role in this particular project, even if it’s just in advertising, promotion, or display.
Other entities will partner more closely, as they will be disseminating the educational materials through their
own avenues. Dissemination partners for this project will include:
Western Welcome Hostess (“Welcome Wagon”) (in new resident packets)
Josephine County Planning Office (with building permit applications; on display)
Home Builders Association of Josephine County (to members to include at completed new homes)
Grants Pass Association of Realtors (to home buyers)
OSU/Josephine County Cooperative Extension (in response to relevant requests; on display)
Josephine Soil and Water Conservation District (to landowners participating in their fuels reduction program)
Individual nurseries, landscape designers, consulting foresters, insurance agents; Oregon Dept. of Forestry
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:
A. Representatives of all the above identified partners have been contacted about their interest and level of
support for such a program. In addition, there will be an opportunity at an upcoming FireWise communities
workshop for additional input into this project. There are also plans to keep all partners involved along the
way in terms of getting their input on educational text and dissemination strategy.
B. The response to this proposal has been overwhelmingly positive, in terms of endorsing the overall idea and
in promoting the program, as well as disseminating the educational brochures. All entities contacted to date
have resoundingly expressed the need for such an educational program that is targeted at area newcomers.
With regard to cost sharing arrangements, although none of the agencies or organizations feels that they have
the ability to contribute to the overall cost of brochure production and/or acquisition, they all have expressed
interest in helping disseminate the information.
C. A minor concern associated with this project is the potential unnecessary duplication of effort in terms of
already existing educational materials. However, this project proposes to supplement existing information
with a new brochure specifically targeted at new residents to northern Josephine County. As such, there will
be information provided in this brochure that a) is not available in other materials, and b) will be pertinent
only to the targeted population (e.g., contacts for local sources of additional information; environmental
specific information). The benefits will be reduced fire hazards and fuel loads, a more informed and active
public, a safer community, and better inter-agency/organization cooperation and communication.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Acquire and review existing
educational materials
October – November 2003
Middle Rogue Watershed
Council project manager and
volunteer
Middle Rogue Watershed
Council project manager
Assemble a technical review and
advisory committee
October – November 2003
Develop annotated bibliography of
educational materials for inclusion on
web-site
Select and purchase existing materials
for promotion and dissemination in
program
November 2003 – February 2004
Middle Rogue Watershed
Council project manager
December 2003
Middle Rogue Watershed
Council project manager with
review and input from technical
review and advisory committee
Develop text and select art work
(photos and graphics) for new
brochure
November 2003 – January 2004
Middle Rogue Watershed
Council project manager and
volunteer with review and input
from technical review and
advisory committee
Design and production of brochure
January – February 2004
Locally hired offset printer
Posting of materials on web-site
January 2004
Rogue Basin Coordinating
Council web master
Develop evaluation strategy
December 2003 – January 2004
Middle Rogue Watershed
Council project manager with
review and input from technical
review and advisory committee
Contacting local partners to develop
dissemination plans; distributing
brochures and reporting forms to
partners
February 2004; ongoing as needed Middle Rogue Watershed
Council project manager
Distribution of new brochure and
existing materials
February 2004 – September 2005
Ongoing evaluation of project
February 2004 – September 2005
All participating partners,
including Middle Rogue
Watershed Council
Middle Rogue Watershed
Council project manager
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Personnel
Project manager
Volunteer assistant
Review/advisory committee
Disseminators
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
Project manager (15%)
Federal
Agency
Applicant
$6000
$6000
Partners
$2000
$1200
$3200
$2500
$1000
$3500
Total
$8000
$1200
$2500
$1000
$12,700
$900
$900
Subtotal
$900
$900
Travel
Project manager
Subtotal
$100
$100
$100
$100
Supplies
Reference materials
Educ. materials to distribute
Postage
Subtotal
$350
$1500
$400
$2250
$350
$1500
$400
$2250
Contractual
Brochure design & production
$3000
$3000
Subtotal
$3000
$3000
Other
Admin/overhead (10%)
Subtotal
$1225
$1225
$1225
$1225
$13,475
$20,175
Equipment
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.