ID Number 2007-42
Fuels Treatment Projects Application
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
State of Oregon Department of Forestry/SWO/Grants Pass
Type of Applicant:
A (State)
Email:
msmith@odf.state.or.us
Phone:
541-945-7341
FAX:
541-945-7416
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:
B Street Fuels Reduction Project
Project Location:
Josephine County
County:
Josephine
Congressional District:
4
Latitude:
42.50681
Longitude:
123.32962
State the desired outcome in relation to NFP Goals and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Project Objectives:
The project is located north of Grants Pass, Oregon. It lies south of Merlin and north of Redwood Hwy. It is adjacent to the Azalea Drive Neighborhood
Fuels Reduction project that received tentative selection in 2006. Many of the homes in this urban/rural community are interspersed with BLM lots. BLM
has completed 40 acres of fuel treatment in the vicinity and an additional 420 acres are planned in order to cumulatively treat a significant portion of the
landscape. 170 homes and 150 additional acres proposed for treatment.The JCIFP Fuels Reduction Committee has unanimously adopted a coordinated
approach to systematically address priority wildfire hazard areas throughout the County. This proposed grant is part of a coordinated suite of projects
prioritized by the JCIFP fuels committee and this grant was identified as essential. Similar to the 2006 Josephine County grant which focused on Williams,
Azalea Drive, and Wolf creek, this area was identified through a collaborative effort.
Name of CWPP:
Josephine Interagency Fire Plan
Name of Communit(y/ies) at Risk:
Grants Pass, Fort Vannoy, Pine Crest, Azalea Drive
Proposed Project Start Date:
03/01/2007
Proposed Project End Date:
12/31/2008
Federal Funding Request:
$200,000.00
Total Project Cost:
$361,900.00
Are you submitting multiple projects?
Yes
If YES indicate the relationship of the projects to one
another:
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) Tim Gonzales
Bureau of Land Management, Grants Pass
Phone
541-471-6643
2) Teresa Vonn
Phone
Oregon Department of Forestry
541 664-3328
Email tvonn@odf.state.or.us
Rural Metro
3) Joe Hyatt
Phone
Email tim_gonzales@blm.gov
541 218-7587
Email Joeh@rmfire-or.com
S (Sequential)
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.
40 acres of treated BLM lands within 1/2 mile, 420 acres planned
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
320
Treatment
Acres
Treatment
Hand Pile
Acres
320
Treatment
Acres
Treatment
Acres
0
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Treatment
Acres
0
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:
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. Futhermore, 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 tan oak, manzanita, wedge-leaf ceanothus, and madrone, fir and pine tree species. Hazard
reduction plans will also include treatment of non-native, flammable vegetation such as scotch broom. Ladder and
hazardous fuel continuity will be treated through the processes of removal or reduction. Fuel reduction will be
accomplished by hand treatment, including thinning, slashing and pruning to remove brush, ladder fuels, and standing
dead trees, or by mechanical treatment conducted fall through spring. Slash will be hand piled and burned or chipped
or lopped and scattered.
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. 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:
There are numerous independent contractors in the area that are currently actively seeking fuels reduction work. The
fuel reduction industry in Southern Oregon has developed into a competitive venue for those willing to invest in
equipment to mulch or shred smaller diameter brush, hard and softwoods up to 6-8” DBH. Forest Officers will be
retained (local employment)in the winter to meet with landowners to provide education and award cost-share approval
and finalize the treatment when completed.
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 use the firewood
for heating, sale, or for barter. Poles are being used for furniture, fencing and building materials primarily by
landowners. 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 and buyers and will continue to encourage utilization.
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:
Partners in this project include: JCIFP Fuels Reduction Committee, Rural/Metro Fire Service, Josephine County,
BLM, and Forest Service (potential for adjacent project sites), private contractors and community organizations.
Landowner participation and interest exceeds the demand for the current funding for previous grants for communities
at risk resulting in aggressive landowner partnership seeking financial assistance. This grant would continue an
already successful cost-share program.
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:
Agency and organizational support is quite comprehensive as demonstrated by the widespread participation in the
JCIFP process: neighborhood groups-fire planning & hazard reduction actions; ODF-technical assistance in fire
planning, on-site residential hazard reduction recommendations/plans; Fire District and Service Agencies-technical
assistance in fire planning, on-site residential hazard reduction recommendations/plans; BLM-technical assistance in
fire planning; and, landowner cost share.
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:
ODF has a high success rate in implementing a rebate style cost-share with landowner and have treated 3000 homes in
the last 6 years. Funding for technical assistance is essential to ensure that residents participating in the cost-share
program understand the principles behind fuels reduction and can maintain the fuels reduction work for many years to
come, as much as $63,000 is necessary to maintain 2 forest officers for seven months. Forest Officers will be retained
in the winter to meet with landowners to provide education and award cost-share approval and finalize the treatment
when completed so that payment can be made. These forest officers work in the same areas during fire season where
they administer the grant programs and therefore provide continuity to the landowner in service and commitment.
These FOs may be fighting fire on the land that is proposed for cost-share treatment. Ensuring that a quality job is
attained not only benefits the landowner but the firefighter as well. ODF cost-shares will be a $400 per acre
landowner’s rebate. This cost-share may cover 1/4to 1/2 of the actual cost of treatment resulting in considerable
landowner commitment both for treatment and maintenance. BLM will provide $500 in technical assistance in fire
planning. Rural Metro will provide $500 in Education and Outreach. 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
Hazard Reduction activities
Time Frame
Upon Date of Award, Spring 2007
Responsible Party
Oregon Department of Forestry
Begins with awarding of funds - ends at grant dead Landowners/Oregon Department of Forestry,
landowners and contractors
Community planning meetings
Ongoing
Landowners/Oregon Department of Forestry, and
Fire Districts, and BLM
Monitoring / Evaluation
Ongoing
Oregon Department of Forestry, Fire Districts, and
BLM
Promote expansion of affected areas &
recruiting additional resident participants
Ongoing
Community Fire Planning Leaders,
Landowners/Oregon Department of Forestry, and
Fire Districts
Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
BLM
Rural Metro
Landowner
Partner 1
Partner 2
Partner 3
Total
Personnel
salary
Subtotal
$40,290.00
$0.00
$500.00
$500.00
$0.00
$41,290.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$40,290.00
$0.00
$500.00
$500.00
$0.00
$41,290.00
$22,710.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$22,710.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$22,710.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$22,710.00
$2,100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$2,100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$2,100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$2,100.00
$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
$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
$128,900.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$160,900.00
$289,800.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$128,900.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$160,900.00
$289,800.00
$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
$0.00
$500.00
$500.00
$160,900.00
$361,900.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Fringe Benefits
OPE
Subtotal
Travel
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
cost-shares
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.