ID Number 2007-88
Fuels Treatment Projects Application
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
City of Cascade Locks
Type of Applicant:
C (Municipal)
Email:
541-374-8484
Phone:
FAX:
Please Call Ahead for FAX:
Off
Please Call Ahead for FAX:
Off
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
PO Box 308 Cascade Locks, OR 97014
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Bob Willoughby, City Administrator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
City of Cascade Locks
Email:
rwilloughby@cascade-locks.or.us
Phone:
541-374-8484
FAX:
Project Information
Project Title:
Community Hazard Fuels Reduction
Project Location:
City of Cascade Locks
County:
Hood
River
Congressional District:
2
Latitude:
45.67144
Longitude:
121.882
State the desired outcome in relation to NFP Goals and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Project Objectives:
This project would provide assistance for hazard fuels reduction to private land owners within the city of Cascade Locks. The 2004 Community Wildfire
Protection Plan identifies hazardous fuel reduction on private parcels as a high priority to reduce the wildfire risk in the city. Grant money would be used
under a cost-share program with landowners to help them do vegetative management to create defensible space around their structures and reduce wildfire
hazards. More than two-thirds of the city has a high wildfire hazard rating and 30 percent of individual parcels have a high or extreme rating under the NFPA
299 rating system. Cascade Locks is an economically depressed area and many homeowners need financial assistance to do vegetative management on their
property. The city contains, and is bordered by, National Forest lands; the Forest Service will complete a NEPA document and plan for hazard fuel treatment
projects on these lands within the next three years.
Name of CWPP:
City of Cascade Locks
Name of Communit(y/ies) at Risk:
City of Cascade Locks
Proposed Project Start Date:
05/01/2007
Federal Funding Request:
$146,520.00
No
Are you submitting multiple projects?
Proposed Project End Date:
12/31/2008
Total Project Cost:
$177,520.00
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) Ann Walker
Phone
Oregon Department of Forestry
503-945-7346
2) David Jacobs
Phone
Oregon Department of Forestry
541-296-4626
Email djacobs@odf.state.or.us
USDA Forest Service, Cloumbia River Gorge NSA
3) Rod Altig
Phone
Email awalker@odf.state.or.us
541-308-1700
Email r.altig@fs.fed.us
Project Planning Information
Name of Local Coordinating Group:
Columbia River Gorge
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?
Representatives of the LCG were a part of the Core Team for the CWPP. LCG reviewed project draft.
List federal lands that are adjacent to the project and proximity.
National Forest lands, Mt. Hood National Forest, CRGNSA
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
100
Treatment
Biomass Removal
Acres
100
Treatment
Hand Pile
Acres
100
Treatment
Hand Pile Burn
Acres
100
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:
The project is located within the urban growth limits of Cascade Locks, a total of 1,430 acres. Implementing this
project will help protect the city-owned, electric utility involving overhead power lines and poles. Further, it helps
protect the downtown business area containing mainly wooden structures, vulnerable to wildfire. The WUI involves
residential areas with heavy fuel loads and is closely connected with the downtown area. The CWPP strategy calls for
reduction of fuel loads around residential structures to reduce the potential for a catastrophic wildfire which could
destroy the city.
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:
Many homes in Cascade Locks have large trees and, or, brush near them. This project will target homes with the
heaviest level of hazardous fuels. The goal is to reduce these fuels by removal or heavy pruning thereby creating
defensible space. Grant funds will be used to cost-share hazard fuel reduction around home-sites. Hazard fuels consist
of pine and fir trees and various species of brushy species used for landscaping. Some lots are heavily forested and a
thinning to create a shaded fuel break will create a defensible space. ODF specifications for defensible space will be
applied.
C. Explain how the project is designed to reduce smoke production impacts that affect public health. (10 points)
Response:
The majority of treated fuels will be placed on a selected site on Port property and burned when conditions are
conducive for a rapid and clean burn with wind conditions which limit the amount of smoke affecting residents. Fuel
piles will only be burned when prescribed conditions established by the ODF occur. In some situations, the fuel will
be chipped, scattered, and left on the ground to melt away naturally. Reducing fuel levels will decrease the chance of
an unplanned fire which could have serious impacts to residents, visitors, and highway users.
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 creates opportunities for individuals to start small businesses to contract fuels reduction work. This work
could potentially support four to five people part-time during the period of the project [1.5 years]. These people would
operate a professional service to treat hazard fuels. They will gain experience and skills for future business ventures. It
could have longer term benefits if these people are successful and continue their business in and around the area.
B. Will biomass that is produced by the project be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much? (10 points)
Response:
It is anticipated that a chipper will be utilized to dispose much of the small material. Chips will be made available for
residents to use for landscaping projects. Commercial material will be sold to local mills. Efforts will be made to use
some of the fuels for firewood use by residents. The city will also work with a local wood pellet business to see if it
would be cost-effective for them to take some of the material.
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:
There was considerable collaboration during development of the CWPP for the City of Cascade Locks. Residents
strongly supported the idea of a city-wide approach towards fuels reduction in order for it to be effective. The local
fire department helped sponsor neighborhood meetings to gather input and ideas on how to mitigate hazard fuels
within the city limits. Agencies and groups involved with the CWPP include: ODF, ODOT, USFS, Port of Cascade
Locks, Fire Department, Hood River County.
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:
Approximately 100 landowners will participate; the actual number will depend on the size and complexity of the
parcels. City Fire Department will sign up landowners for the project and help administer the contracts. ODOT will
treat hazard fuels along I-84 and Forest Lane. The city will provide a chipper and administer the grant. Port of
Cascade Locks will provide a site for brush disposal. Local Red Cross will provide disaster education with emphasis
on wildfire situations.
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 City will need approximately $25,000 to administrate the grant, or about 15 percent of the grant total. The grant
will be administered by city employees, or by a qualified contractor. Most of the federal dollars (80%) will go directly
to pay for hazard fuel reduction on high risk parcels within the city limits. Landowners will contribute around 25% of
projects costs, depending on their ability to pay. This could be in the form of money paid to contractors, or the
landowners may choose to conduct the work themselves. Approximately 200 acres will receive treatment based on an
average of about $600 per acre. It is anticipated that some parcels will require more than $600 per acres and some less.
These costs are based on actual costs of ODF fuel reduction projects completed in Wasco County in 2004 and 2005.
The dollar values assigned to the use of the city-owned chipper and the brush disposal sites are based on estimates
from the City and Port.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Identify landowners with high risk hazard fuels and
give them information on the need to mitigate them.
Hold public meeting to explain project.
January-April 2007
Sign up landowners, complete site visit, determine
what measures need to take place. Sign agreements,
authorize work. Establish brush disposal site.
April-May, 2007
Responsible Party
City of Cascade Locks City Fire Department
City of Cascade Locks, ODF, Forest Service, Port
Monitor projects, document activities, check for
compliance, verify work accomplished, process
final payment record and submit for payment
June 07 - December 08
City of Cascade Locks City Fire Department
Complete a photo record of before and after pictures
on a sample of treated properties.
June 07 - December 08
City of Cascade Locks City Fire Department
Conduct wildfire protection education. Distribute
information.
June 07 - December 08
Local Red Cross volunteers
Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Landowners
ODF
Port
Partner 1
Partner 2
Partner 3
Total
Personnel
Administrative Support
Service Forester
Subtotal
$18,000.00
$2,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$20,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$2,000.00
$0.00
$2,000.00
$18,000.00
$2,000.00
$0.00
$2,000.00
$0.00
$22,000.00
$7,020.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$7,020.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$7,020.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$7,020.00
$1,500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,500.00
$0.00
$1,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,000.00
$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
$120,000.00
$0.00
$24,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$144,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$120,000.00
$0.00
$24,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$144,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$2,000.00
$2,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$2,000.00
$2,000.00
$146,520.00
$3,000.00
$24,000.00
$2,000.00
$2,000.00
$177,520.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Fringe Benefits
OPE@39%
Subtotal
Travel
Vehicle mileage
Subtotal
Equipment
Chipper use
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Landowner agreements
Subtotal
Other
Brush disposal site
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.