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:
Pend Oreille County (WSU/Pend Oreille County Cooperative Extension)
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
(509) 447-2401
(509) 447-2402
cmack@wsu.edu
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
PO Box 5045, Newport, WA 99156
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Carol Mack, Agriculture Program Coordinator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
WSU/Pend Oreille County Cooperative Extension
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
(509) 447-2401
509) 447-2402
cmack@wsu.edu
Project Information
Project Title:
WSU/Pend Oreille Master Gardener Forestry Educators
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
January 1, 2003
December 31, 2003
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Brief Project Description:
The Master Gardener volunteer program is an established and effective community outreach program
coordinated at the county level. WSU/Pend Oreille County Cooperative Extension currently has 21 active
Master Gardener volunteers, and anticipates training an additional 25-30 this fall during a 40-hour basic
training. This project will train this volunteer force to become firewise landscape educators. It will integrate
an understanding of the role of wildfire in forested regions into Master Gardener curriculum, publications,
programs and and pactices. It will expand the current Master Gardener program to create a core, grassroots
force of active community members who will spread the word about the urgency of creating defensible
spaces around rural homes. It will insure coordination with other agencies and with state Master Gardener
program to avoid duplication of efforts. It will produce an effective program that is adapted to the specific
needs of Pend Oreille County residents, and yet can serve as a model to other forested communities.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
County:
Congressional District:
Pend Oreille County, Washington State
Pend Oreille
5
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1)
(2)
Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project
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:
Pend Oreille County
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:
Pend Oreille County experienced a 32 per cent population increase in the 1990s. County planning department
data indicate that most lands in Pend Oreille County (91 per cent) are listed as "woodland" and 63 per cent of
this woodland is public land, with U.S. Forest Service as the major landholder. Maps show a discontiguous
pattern of land ownership among public and private holdings, increasing the "interface" area. The population
growth in Pend Oreille has occurred outside the incorporated areas of the county, resulting in significant
increases in homebuilding in these interface areas. Most incorporated and unincorporated communities within
the county are listed as "high risk."
Despite these high risk levels, relatively few Pend Oreille County homeowners have implemented wildfire
damage prevention measures around their homes. Classes offered by a variety of agencies on this subject
have not been well attended. An extension educator in a neighboring Idaho county notes the same poor
response for similar offerings, and refers to it as the "denial of mortality" syndrome. Our own informal phone
survey indicated that many landowners resist the message due to a common misconception that firewise
landscaping involves "living in a clearcut." Clearly, we need a different approach to urban interface fire
education that overcomes these barriers.
The WSU/Pend Oreille County Master Gardener program is an established grassroots, volunteer approach to
reaching landowners. Master Gardeners are community members selected from a pool of experienced
applicants to receive at least 40 hours of university-level horticultural education. In return, they pledge 40
hours of volunteer service the first year as "pay-back" for the investment in that training, and 25 hours per
year thereafter. Currently, there are 21 active Master Gardeners in the Pend Oreille program. Basic training is
offered once every three years, and a training is currently planned for this fall and winter (2002-2003). We
anticipate 25-30 new Master Gardeners joining the program. This will result in a total of 50 knowledgeable
volunteers pledging 1,700 hours of their time to community landscape and gardening education in 2003. The
popularity of the Master Gardener program reflects the general high interest in gardening and landscaping in
the county. Master Gardeners receive over 200 requests each summer for information at weekly plant clinics.
Horticultural classes and garden tours are very well attended; and the Master Gardener-produced newsletter
"Gardening in Pend Oreille" goes to over 1000 households by request on a quarterly basis.
This project proposes to expand the Pend Oreille Master Gardener program to incorporate firewise landscape
information and forest education into these established outreach formats. Activities include revising the local
Master Gardener curriculum to reflect landscape concerns unique to a forested environment, and developing
at least two specialized basic training workshops for Master Gardeners on firewise landscaping and forest
health diagnosis. A holistic approach will reconcile firewise practices with the existing emphasis of
landscaping for water quality protection and water conservation, wildlife habitat conservation and
enhancement, native plant use, low-maintainence designs and concerns for aesthetics and utility. Master
Gardeners and Extension staff will conduct surveys of landowners to identify attitude barriers preventing
adoption of firewise measures. These will be communicated to Local Coordinating Group partners and will
be addressed through educational measures. Fire prevention information and fire ecology information will be
incorporated into current demonstration gardens, newpaper and newsletter articles, county fair displays and
master gardener horticultural classes. Summer garden tours will include site-specific tips for improving
defensible space. A Forest Stewardship Training series will be offered for advanced Master Gardener
training and open to the public. All programs will be planned and evaluated for short, mid-, and long-term
impacts using logic model format. Results will be shared with Local Coordinating Group partners and
through WSU Extension briefing reports.
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. At least 50 active community volunteer educators will receive intensive training on firewise measures
and will educate and connect additional landowners with entities providing further implementation services.
B. Increased understanding of fire ecology and risks to rural homes will lead to greater public acceptance and
support of reintroduction of fire and other management tools increasing forest resiliency and safety.
C. This project by itself does not implement or create cooperative fuels treatment plan or community fire
strategy. However it does educate key community members to participate in development and
implementation of these and coordinates with current projects and services offered by other entities through
the Local Coordinating Group (currently the Firewise Listserve group).
D. The WSU/Pend Oreille Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program coordinator is an active member
of the local group which includes FIREWISE Washington, FireSafe Spokane, WSU Extension, USFS and
DNR personnel, and other National Fire Plan players, who will be enlisted as advisors to this project.
FIREWISE trainers have particpated as presentors in five Extension programs in Pend Oreille County since
fall of 2001 and will work with Extension Forester Peter Greissmann to develop project workshops.
E. Public education will lead to greater implementation of practices restoring fire ecology on all lands.
F. Cooperative funding for extension programs will support the basic Master Gardener program in future
years. Additional grant funding will be sought as needed for special program support.
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. There is the potential for volunteer landscaping knowledge and expertise to develop into a commercial
venture--two current Master Gardeners have developed landscape design businesses recently in this fashion.
A greater impact may be creation of jobs implementing fire plan measures through educating a greater portion
of landowers to the need for such work. This project will coordinate with other Extension endeavors such as
the "Products from the Woods" Business-to-Business trade show planned for 2003.
B. Master Gardener program coordinators in Washington State and in adjoining Idaho counties will be
appraised of the project for potential input and coordination, and will receive information packets about the
completed program. The project coordinator participates in a NorthEast Washington North Idaho Extension
(NEWNIE) small farm team as well as Washington State master gardener coordinators listserv and trainings,
and can share information about the project through these venues.
C. Again, through education, landowners will be educated on the use of biomass and forest fuels for
composting efforts, mulch, and other uses.
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. The Master Gardeners will be a connecting link between the public and the agencies and entities
developing and implementing a fire plan. Several current Master Gardeners are also local fire district
volunteers and will be participating in local planning efforts.. Master Gardeners will be required to attend a
Firewise landscaping training session. The project coordinator will communicate with County planning and
local coordination group members to stay abreast of planning efforts and implementation.
B. Several different non-profit groups and agencies are currently involved in planning, implementation, and
education efforts within the boundaries of Pend Oreille County. Coordination of activities is vital, not only
for most effective and efficient use of taxpayer money, but also to present a consistant message and retain
credibility with the public. In the Fall of 2001, WSU/Pend Oreille County Cooperative Extension was
approached by Pend Oreille Conservation District to assist in organizing an educational program and
coordinating it with the various players. Extension assembled a group that included USFS, DNR, fire district
and Conservation District personnel, and representatives of The Lands Council, FIREWISE WA, and Fire
Safe Spokane--all of whom had a wildfire education mandate. This group met to plan 3 fall programs and
advised on future Extension class offerings, including Master Gardener Firewise training. The Lands Council
set up a Firewise Listserve to continue communication and the group met this spring and discussed expanding
to serve as the "Local Coordination Group" for the northeast area of the state.
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. The current group of veteran Master Gardeners serves as an advisory committee to local extension
horticulture program planning. These volunteers recognize the urgent need to provide landscape information
consistant with a firewise message to the landowners in this forested county. Most are rural lnadowners
themselves, and confess an individual need for this information as well as a community need. The Master
Gardener Executive Board has participated in developing this proposal.
B. Local support for this project is high. 2002 Title III funding through the Secure Schools act has been
requested, which will provide matching funds for this program through the county budget.
C. This project will have a positive environmental benefit by reconciling the firewise landscape message
with waterwise and wildlife-wise advice. We suspect that many rural landowners are repelled by the idea of
living in the center of a field of heavily watered bluegrass, when their original intent was to "live in the
forest." Master Gardeners will be effective grassroots educators to help forest homeowners have the
landscape they want and one that benefits the environment, and still have a firesafe defensible zone around
their houses. On a larger scale, this project will help educate landowners about the role of fire in our region's
forests and the positive benefits of low intensity burns, creating a greater acceptance of management
strategies that will lead to more resilient forests on our public lands.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Review and revise local Master
Gardener Training program and
materials to incorporate a holistic
approach to landscaping practices in
forested areas.
April 1, 2003
Project Coordinator
(Carol Mack, Agriculture
Program Coordinator,
WSU/Pend Oreille
Cooperative Extension)
Develop Master Gardener training
sessions on firewise landscaping
practices and tree problem diagnosis.
April 1, 2003
Project Coordinator
Extension Forester (Peter
Griessmann)
Offer Forest Stewardship Training
series as advanced training to
interested Master Gardeners and
public.
December 31, 2003
Extension Forester
Survey Pend Oreille landowners to
July 1, 2003
determine barriers preventing
implementation of defensible space
measures. Strategize with Local
Coordinating Group to overcome
these.
Solicit or write at least four articles on December 31, 2003
fire prevention landscaping and fire
ecology for "Gardening in Pend
Oreille" newsletter and two articles for
"Diggings" newsletter (Pend Oreille
Sense of Place program)
Incorporate firewise landscaping
August 31, 2003
education into annual garden tours.
Project Coordinator
Incorporate firewise landscaping
education into Master Gardener
Waterwise Demonstration Garden
project.
October 31, 2003
Project Coordinator
Integrate firewise landscaping into
existing educational materials and
projects that promote water
conservation, use of native plants,
wildlife habitat enhancement and
other landscape objectives.
December 31, 2003
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator
Top of Form
Enclosure 4D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
Personnel
Coordinator (15 hours/wk)
Office manager (4 hrs/week)
Subtotal
($0.00)
$6,685.00
$2,398.00
$9,083.00
($0.00)
$0.00
$13,370.00
$2,398.00
$15,768.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$20,055.00
$4,796.00
$24,851.00
Fringe Benefits
Coordinator
Office manager
Subtotal
$3,610.00
$384.00
$3,994.00
$0.00
$0.00
$9,025.00
$768.00
$9,793.00
Travel
PO Office
P. Griessmann
Subtotal
$500.00
$500.00
$1,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$500.00
$500.00
$1,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,000.00
$2,000.00
$3,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$2,000.00
$1,000.00
$3,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Equipment
computer
office space and equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
newsletter printing
postage
Subtotal
$500.00
$500.00
$1,000.00
$500.00
$1,500.00
$5,415.00
$384.00
$384.00
$0.00
$500.00
$2,000.00
$2,500.00
$5,415.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$500.00
$500.00
Contractual
Subtotal
$0.00
Other
Administration (22%)
$5,007.00
Subtotal
$5,007.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$5,007.00
$0.00
$5,007.00
Total Costs
$27,769.00
$12,967.00
$5,915.00
$0.00
$46,651.00
Project (Program) Income1
1
$0.00
$600
$0.00
$600.00
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.