ID Number 2007-41
Fuels Treatment Projects Application
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
State of Oregon Department of Forestry/SWO/Medford
Type of Applicant:
A (State)
Email:
msmith@odf.state.or.us
Phone:
503-945-7341
FAX:
503-945-7416
Please Call Ahead for FAX:
Off
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
2600 State Street Salem, OR 97310
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Ms. MaryHelen Smith, Grant Coordinator/Teresa Vonn, Field Coordinator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Oregon Department of Forestry
Email:
msmith@odf.state.or.us
Phone:
503-945-7341
FAX:
503-945-7416
Please Call Ahead for FAX:
Off
Project Information
Project Title:
Southern Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997 Fuel Reduction Project
Project Location:
Jackson County
County:
Jackson
Congressional District:
2
Latitude:
42.18851
Longitude:
122.69303
State the desired outcome in relation to NFP Goals and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Project Objectives:
This project targets special needs community members with limited ability to comply with Senate Bill 360 the Oregon Forestland-Urban Interface Fire
Protection Act of 1997 requirements within Jackson and Josephine Counties including Seven Basins, Ashland, Applegate, Colestin where completed
Community Wildfire Protection Plans exist. This project will provide skilled laborers, knowledgeable in firefighting, to citizens with special needs in high
risk areas identified in community fire planning efforts in Jackson and Josephine Counties. Strategically placed treatment areas identified through
interagency collaboration with rural fire districts and ODF would be accomplished. Homes in the WUI would directly benefit from the hazard reduction
funding and additional acres along roadside and driveways or strategically place fuel treatments are proposed in high risk areas. Historically fast-moving
grass fires start at lower elevations and run uphill into timber, threatening BLM lands.
Name of CWPP:
Applegate, Ashland, Colestin, and Seven Basins, Josephine County CWPP
Name of Communit(y/ies) at Risk:
Applegate, Ashland, Colestin, Sams Valley, Goldhill, Evans Valley
Proposed Project Start Date:
03/01/2007
Proposed Project End Date:
12/31/2008
Federal Funding Request:
$200,000.00
Total Project Cost:
$250,000.00
Are you submitting multiple projects?
Yes
If YES indicate the relationship of the projects to one another: S (Sequential)
If YES, please list the titles of projects by priority and briefly explain their relationship.
The State of Oregon will be submitting multiple applications
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this
proposal:
Organization/Jurisdiction:
1) Leane Mruzik Fuel Management Specialist
Medford BLM
Phone
541-618-2200
Email lmruzik@or.blm.gov
2) Luis Ramirez Forestry Technician
Medford BLM
Phone
Email Luis_Ramirez@or.blm.gov
541-618-2218
3) Tim GonzalesEducation and Mitigation Specialist
Phone
541-471-6643
Bureau of Land Management, Grant Pass Interagency
Email tim_gonzales@blm.gov
Project Planning Information
Name of Local Coordinating Group:
Jackson, Josephine Local Coordinating Group
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?
We are active participants with the JJLCG and this project has been coordinated through them.
List federal lands that are adjacent to the project and proximity.
BLM lands are within 1 burn period of the project
A) Is there a current hazardous fuels treatment or one that is planned in the next three years on federal land that is adjacent to this project?
Yes
B) Specifically is this project adjacent to a current prescribed burn project or one that is planned in the next three years on Forest Service lands?
Yes
Please indicate planned treatments and associated acres:
Treatment
Thinning
Acres
150
Treatment
Acres
Treatment
Hand Pile Burn
Acres
150
Treatment
Acres
Treatment
Acres
0
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Acres
0
Treatment
Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following criteria. Be sure you address every one briefly, yet thoroughly.
1. Reducing Hazardous Fuels (40 points)
A. Describe the community infrastructure that will be protected. This should include how this project implements all or part of the CWPP strategy. (15
points)
Response:
The project includes 150 homes throughout both counties where community fire plans exist and SB 360 has
identified high and extreme conditions. In addition to dwellings and residential out buildings, infrastructure protected
will be primarily power line and road systems that will be protected from fire and fire-related erosions. At-high risk
residences and access routes are the primary type of infrastructure targeted for protection. In addition, other structures
(e.g. churches, historic buildings, power lines, scenic areas) will be included as they relate to the specific area being
treated.
B. Explain how the proposal reduces fire behavior in high hazard areas by describing the fuels to be disposed or removed, the techniques and timing of the
treatments, and the treatment location relative to the values to be protected. (15 points)
Response:
Fuels to be treated include manzanita, wedge-leaf ceanothus, and madrone, fir and pine. Hazard reduction plans will
also include treatment of non-native, flammable vegetation such as scotch broom. Ladder fuels and hazardous fuel
continuity will be treated through the processes of removal or reduction of overly dense and suppressed stands.
Treatment will be primarily by hand, but may include use of mechanized equipment, occurring fall through spring.
Slash disposal will be accomplished through chipping and broadcasting on the surface, to inhibit re-growth of brush,
lop and scatter, or burning.
C. Explain how the project is designed to reduce smoke production impacts that affect public health. (10 points)
Response:
Project is designed to minimize smoke production and impacts to public health by educating the landowner on the air
quality regulations and guidelines. Burning when the ventilation index is over 400 in the Rogue Valley air shed allows
smoke to be carried aloft minimizing impacts to public health. Encouraging landowners to buy chippers though the
Department of Environmental Quality tax credit program or renting chippers will reduce the amount of material
burned; as will making landowners aware of contractors interested in utilizing small diameter material for furniture
and building materials.
2. Increasing Local Capacity (20 points)
A. How would the implementation of the proposed project improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and sustainable
economic activity assuming that these grant funds would be used as "seed monies" for future projects. i.e. How many community supported jobs would be
created and for how long would they expect to last? (10 points)
Response:
Six local Forest Officers will be hired to perform defensible space and fuels reduction and this will allow those
individuals to gain important skills that they could use in the future as independent contractors. These FOs would not
be on unemployment outside fire season, but gaining valuable skills. Considering that our greatest goal is to affect a
behavioral change, the highest valued tools and skills will be through improved knowledge, skills, and abilities of the
area residents.
B. Will biomass that is produced by the project be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much? (10 points)
Response:
Biomass utilization has historically been in the form of firewood and pole production. Landowners either use firewood
for heating fuel or selling or using the product for barter. Poles are being used for furniture, fencing and building
materials primarily by landowners. However, some pole companies will perform the fuel reduction if the number and
quality of poles is of particular abundance and quality. ODF maintains a list of pole companies/ buyers available for
landowners.
3. Demonstrating Community and Intergovernmental Collaboration (20 Points)
A. Describe how this project has been collaborated and coordinated with adjacent landowners, local/state/Tribal/federal agencies, and community groups
such as neighborhood associations. (10 points)
Response:
This plan addresses the concerns addressed in the Seven Basins, Applegate, and Colestin and Josephine County fire
plans as well as the Senate Bill 360 analysis. Over 1200 homes are identified as high risk in Jackson County, of these
1,100 homes are at extreme risk. The proposed treatment areas are developed with Fire District #3, 5, 9, Evans Valley
Fire Department, Rural Metro fire service, BLM, ODF and local landowners. The projects build on existing or
proposed treated lands.
B. Describe the communities/partners contributions to this project such as: cash or in-kind contributions, cost share agreements, equipment, or labor
(including volunteer work). (10 points)
Response:
This grant would allow ODF personel to create defensible space for special needs and handicaped citizens. The need
to assist these members of the community has been difficult to meet. The Fire districts usually identify those in need
and efforts to address this work has been largely on a volunteer basis. The current level of support for this kind of
project is high throughout the county between community members and agency personnel. Fire District personnel will
continue outreach.
4. Managing Cost Efficiency (20 points)
Discuss the process you used to arrive at your cost structure for the main Project Budget areas such as personnel, equipment, supplies and other (i.e.
overhead). In your response please justify: cost per acre, purchase of equipment, percent of overhead, percent of partner or matching funds, and portion of
administration cost. (20 points)
Response:
The project area includes those parcels within communities with a CWPP classified as being at high or extreme risk in
the Jackson County Forestland Urban Interface Classification Committee, as directed by Oregon revised Statutes
(ORS) 477.025 through 477.057 and Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 629-044-1010 through 629-044-1045. This
law, the Oregon Forestland Urban Interface Fire Protection Act of 1997 directs communities to collaboratively
identify areas of risk due to vegetation type, topography, structural ignitability, and access. 12,008 parcels were
identified with high wildfire hazard. Educational material has been sent to those landowners. This project would
provide a workforce to accomplish 1 acre of defensible space surrounding special need, those with limited ability
physically or financially, or handicapped individuals' homes. $174,000 would be utilized to retain 6 Forest Officers for
7 months, outside of Fire Season, to treat hazardous fuels around structures and along roads. The goal is to treat
approximatley 150 homes or acres. $4,000 is budgeted for vehicle use and $16,000 is budgeted for saw fuel and
maintenance. Administrative costs include 3% of the grant for overhead and grant administration.
Project Work Form
Tasks
On-site resident assistance - development of
individual hazard reduction plans
Time Frame
Upon Award, Spring 2007
Responsible Party
Landowners/Oregon Department of Forestry, and
Jackson County Fire District #3,5,9,Evans Valley,
Ashland Fire, and Colestin Fire Service
Hazard Reduction activities
Ongoing
Landowners/Oregon Department of Forestry
Monitoring / Evaluation
Ongoing
Landowners/Oregon Department of Forestry, and
Jackson County Fire District #3,5,9, Evans Valley,
Ashland Fire, and Colestin Fire Service
Promote expansion of affected areas &
recruiting additional resident participants
Ongoing
Landowners/Oregon Department of Forestry, and
Jackson County Fire District #3,5,9 Evans Valley,
Ashland Fire, and Colestin Fire Service
Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Fire District #5
Fire District #9
Partner 1
Partner 2
Partner 3
Total
Personnel
salary
Subtotal
$113,946.00
$49,000.00
$500.00
$500.00
$0.00
$163,946.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$113,946.00
$49,000.00
$500.00
$500.00
$0.00
$163,946.00
$60,054.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$60,054.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$60,054.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$60,054.00
$4,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$4,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$4,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$4,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$16,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$16,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$16,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$16,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$6,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$6,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$6,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$6,000.00
$200,000.00
$49,000.00
$500.00
$500.00
$0.00
$250,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Fringe Benefits
ope
Subtotal
Travel
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
fuel, saw maintenance
Subtotal
Contractual
Subtotal
Other
Salem Admin (3%)
Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program) Income 1
(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.