ID Number 2007-86
Fuels Treatment Projects Application
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Edelweiss Maintenance Commission
Type of Applicant:
L (Nonprofit Organization)
Email:
johnnyc@methownet.com
Phone:
509-996-3733
FAX:
Please Call Ahead for FAX:
Off
Please Call Ahead for FAX:
Off
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
HCR 74 - Box 88-C Winthrop, WA 98862
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Mr. John Caesar, EMC Manager
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Edelweiss Maintenance Commission
Email:
johnnyc@methownet.com
Phone:
509-996-3733
FAX:
Project Information
Project Title:
Phase III Fuels Treatment
Project Location:
Edelweiss Community, Winthrop, WA
County:
Okanogan
Congressional District:
5
Latitude:
48.52
Longitude:
120.25
State the desired outcome in relation to NFP Goals and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Project Objectives:
Edelweiss is a 338 lot forested community on 600 acres between Winthrop and Mazama, WA. It has long been recognized to be of high fire risk due to
topography, overstocked fuel conditions and historic fire occurrances.This is the third stage of a fire risk reduction program that was initiated in 2001. With
NFP grant asistance the risk assessments, "Fire-Wise" workshops and the CWPPhave been completed. Fuels treatment have been completed on
134 properties and 157 acres. Dr. Jim Agee reviewed the program in the summer of 2005 and concluded the treatments are accomplishing the objectives of
reducing ground fuels, ladder fuels and crown bulk densities. To positively effect wildfire behavior he believes 65%-75% of the landscape needs to be
treated. This request is to implement CWPP priorities by treating fuels to reach this desired threshhold. Residents are supportive and some are doing their
own work. The program is fully supported by the FS, BLM, DNR and local fire districts.
Name of CWPP:
Edelweiss Development CWPP
Name of Communit(y/ies) at Risk:
Edelweiss Community - part of Winthrop WUI
Proposed Project Start Date:
09/30/2006
Proposed Project End Date:
12/31/2008
Federal Funding Request:
$161,000.00
Total Project Cost:
$205,000.00
No
Are you submitting multiple projects?
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.
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Organization/Jurisdiction:
1) Pete Soderquist, Fire Management Officer
Methow Valley Ranger District, Winthrop, WA
Phone
509-996-4003
Email psoderquist@fs.fed.us
2) Chuck Johnson, Fire Prevention Coordinator
Northeast Region DNR, Colville, WA
Phone
Email chuck.johnson@wadnr.gov
509-684-7474
3) Jim Fisher, Area Manager
Phone
Bureau of Land Management, Wenatchee, WA
509-665-2100
Email Jim_Fisher@@wa.blm.gov
Project Planning Information
Name of Local Coordinating Group:
Methow Valley LCG w/ Okanogan County LCG
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?
For several years EMC has been working with Methow Valley LCG, FS, BLM, DNR and Local Fire Districts
List federal lands that are adjacent to the project and proximity.
Both NFS & BLM lands are immediately adjacent and threatened
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
175
Treatment
Biomass Removal
Acres
175
Treatment
Crushing
Acres
175
Treatment
Acres
Treatment
Biomass (Bailing)
Acres
175
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Treatment
Pruning
Acres
175
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:
Edelweiss is a 338 parcel subdivision on 600 acres with over 150 structures and an assessed valuation of
approximately $98,000,000. It is in a dense forested setting of 80-year old Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine. While
157 acres have been treated, is only 40% or the area needing treatment and there is still a high fire risk. This request
is to implement the fuels treatment priority identified in Section 7.2 Mitigation Action Plan of the Edelweiss
Development CWPP: to treat 65%-75% of the area so fire behavior would be modified and suppression actions could
be effective.
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:
Edelweiss is recognized to have a very high fire risk. Fuels treatments have already been accomplished on 157 acres
within the Edelweiss community to: (1) reduce ground fuels to keep flame lengths under 4', (2) remove ladder fuels to
prevent fires from reaching crowns, and (3) reduce crown densities to prevent active crowning. This proposal is to
continue these treatments so 65%-75% of the area has been treated and suppression forces can be effective with direct
attack. This will also reduce the risk of fires escaping onto NFS, BLM and lands immediately above the development.
C. Explain how the project is designed to reduce smoke production impacts that affect public health. (10 points)
Response:
Merchantable timber, down to 5' top diameter, will be marketed and the value added to the project. Smaller material,
down to 2" in diameter, will be utilized for firewood by the residents and commercial suppliers. The remaining 8-10
tona/Ac. of submerchantable material will be bailed into compact bales and transported to central locations for
chipping and utilization. Any remaining submerchantable material will be chipped and spread out onto the forest floor.
Slash burning would be only a few hand piles in inaccessible areas.
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:
This project will provide direct employment for at least 7 local organizations for 2 years. With the increased
awareness of the need to reduce fuels in the Methow Valley and acceptance that the fire risk can be reduced and still
retain the forested setting the program will evolve into increased employment in the future. The Forest Concepts
biomass bailing project may develop into a procedure for removing, transporting, and utilizing the large amount of
biomass efficiently and with less cost.
B. Will biomass that is produced by the project be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much? (10 points)
Response:
Merchantable material will be marketed and the value donated to the project. Smaller material, down to 2" in
diameter, will be utilized for firewood and provided to commercial suppliers and residents. The remaining 8-10
tons/Ac. of submerchantable material will be bailed into compact bales and transported to central locations for
chipping and utilization. Any material not baled will be chipped and spread onto the forest floor. Only a few hand
piles in inaccessible areas would be burned.
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:
The FS, BLM, DNR and local fire district have worked with Edelweiss for several years in education efforts and with
the development of the CWPP. Both the FS and BLM have treated adjacent areas. We have coordinated with the
Methow Valley LCG in the development of a Methow Valley CWPP and treatment priorities for the valley. EMC is
committed to working to reduce the fire risk for the entire area and will participate with Methow Valley and Countywide coordinating committees and efforts.
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:
EMC has already contributed over $76,000 of timber value and donations with the original grants. This request will
donate aother $44,000 of timber receipts. The value of the program is being accepted and we anticipate individual
owners will contribute time and expense to treat an additional 20 acres on their own. Cooperating with Forest
Concepts, with their biomass bailing program to develop better methods to handle and utilize the biomass removed,
will save us another $56,000.
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:
With this request we have made adjustments to correct the problem of the unacceptable costs of $2,010/Ac. we
experienced with the original grants by: (1)reducing inefficient mechanical skidding of submerchantable material and
doing this by hand (+/-40% adj.,-$540/Ac.), (2) participating w/slash bailing project (-80% adj.,-$210/Ac.)and (3)
increasing contracting efficiency by breaking project into similar bidding blocks of similar work requirements
w/RFP's for each block and then greater oversight of the work (-24% adj.,-490/Ac.). Work of the successful operator
(s) will be closely monitored to assure they stay within budget and meet the objectives of the project. The timber
values were reduced by $150/Ac. due to smaller trees in the remaining areas. This brings the treatment costs down to
the proposed $920/Ac. The only overhead costs for the project will be the 15% project management cost. No
administrative or equipment purchase costs are included. By cooperating with Forest Concepts biomass bailing
demonstration project we will get the benefits of them assuming the compacting, transportation and chipping costs and
we do not have to store or dispose of this material on-site. We project a savings of $56,000 with this cooperation.
Some individuals have done their own treatment work and we expect additional to owners to conduct fuels treatments
on their properties for an additional 20 acres treated.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Contact new property owners for consent to be
included in the project.
Develop working agreement with Forest Concepts
for biomass bailing
Time Frame
9/30/06-12/1/06
9/30/06-12-31-06
Responsible Party
Cascade Woodlands EMC Manager
Cascade Woodlands, Forest Concepts and EMC
Manager
Develop RFPs and treat fuels on highest priority
areas. (80 Ac.)
1/1/07-6/30/07
Cascade Woodlands, EMC Manager, and Operators
Evaluate progress and make necessary adjustments.
6/30/07-9/1-07
Cascade Woodlands, EMC Manager
Develop RFPs and treat remaining identified areas.
(75 Ac.)
10/1/07-6/30/08
Cascade Woodlands, EMC Manager, and Operators
Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Partner 3
Total
Personnel
$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
$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
$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
Treatment Operators
$130,000.00
$44,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$174,000.00
Project Management
$31,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$31,000.00
$161,000.00
$44,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$205,000.00
$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
$161,000.00
$44,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$205,000.00
$0.00
$44,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$44,000.00
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
Travel
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Subtotal
Other
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.