2006-007
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Treatment Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
State of Oregon Department of Forestry/SWO/Grants Pass Unit
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111) Type of Applicant: ( enter appropriate letter in box )
503-945-7341
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
503-945-7416
Please Call Ahead For FAX
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip) :
2600 State Street Salem, OR 97310
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
A
H. Independent School District
I. State-Controlled Institution of Higher Learning
J. Private University
K. Indian Tribe
L. Nonprofit Organization
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Ms. Mary Helen Smith Grant Coordinator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
OR Department of Forestry/SWO/Grants Pass Unit
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
503-945-7341
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
503-945-7416 Call Ahead For FAX
Project Information
Project Title:
Rogue Community College (RCC)
Proposed Project Start Date:
05/01/2006
Project Coordinator
Email: msmith@odf.state.or.us
Proposed Project End Date:
12/30/2007
Federal Funding Request:
$ 139,190
Total Project Funding:
$
308,769
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Brief Project Summary: Who, What, Where, Desired Outcomes in relation to NFP Goals and Community Risk Assessment and
Mitigation Plans (This should summarize page 2).
The RCC landscaper/groundskeeper in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Forestry [ODF] Stewardship Forester will be responsible for incorporating the overall landscape and land use plan into the development of the fuels treatment plans on RCC land. For example, areas that are not adjacent to structures, demonstration patches of 1/2 acre or less of untreated fuels will be left. ODF personnel will contact the 20 adjacent private landowners and develop the fuel plans for the private landowners who wish to participate.
This project is located in a moderately high risk Urban Interface area, where one residence and several outbuildings were destroyed in the 2002
Campus View Fire. This project will be a collaboration between RCC Foundation, RCC staff, ODF, ODOT, County Roads, and private citizens. The need was identified in the Josephine County Hazard and Risk Assessment plan of 2004. The desired outcome to is reduce the threat of a catastrophic fire on a total of 115 acres.
Project Location:
Latitude: 42.4132 Longitude: 123.395
County:
Josephine
Federal Congressional District:
2
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal: Telephone number of Contact:
Tim Gonzales-BLM 541-471-6943 Ext.
Ext.
Ext.

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:
Address these items x project location (e.g., Watershed, neighboring community) as applicable: x anticipated outcomes x community partners and their role(s) x x x x project relationship to the community risk assessment and mitigation plan amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc.) project timeline and matching or contributed funds proponent’s ability to complete project
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?
The Josephine/ Jackson Coordination Group will prioritize this project
Is this project adjacent to a current prescribed burn project on federal lands or to one that is planned within the next three years? (Yes/No)
No
Please indicate planned treatments and associated acres:
* Treatment Acres Treatment Acres 22
0
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Rogue Community College[RCC]is located in the high fire prone area of Josephine County. The project is in the Applegate Watershed, 4 miles southwest of Grants Pass. The RCC campus is adjacent to Highway 199 a designated Scenic Highway which is heavily used by tourists traveling south to view the Redwoods in northern California. This area's growth and proximity among rural residents increases the urban interface concern.
Threat to structures and the difficulty in suppressing them was evident in the 2002 Campus View Fire which burned 20 acres, one structure, several outbuildings and threatened the structures and grounds of RCC as well as several dozen residences. The Josephine County Fire Risk Assessment plan also identified the area as one of the top areas requiring treatment.
This fuels reduction project will become a conduit for education on fuels reduction as well a demonstration area for the citizens of Josephine
County and the landowners in this area. Both manual and mechanical treatments will be used along with a variety of slash disposal methods. This project will create a foundation for the RCC/Midway project which has the potential of treating a 1,400 acre block of land. This project will result in the collaboration of the RCC staff, students and Foundation, Oregon Department of Forestry, County and State Road Department, Josephine
County Commissioners and Planning Department, Rural Metro Fire Department, Bureau of Land Management, Josephine County Forestry,
Department of Environmental Quality and dozens of private landowners.
It will begin with educational outreach to RCC students and faculty explaining the goals and objectives of the project. The RCC landscaper/ groundskeeper is currently working with the RCC Foundation to obtain a chipper to reduce pollutants produced by the project. All proposed fuel treatments will incorporate the long term landscape and land use plan for the property.
Currently, there are 15 RCC structures that are extremely vulnerable to wildfire threats. These include the daycare/nursery, amphitheater, theater house; administration building and classrooms. RCC's open campus throughout most of the year, represents a serious threat during the peak of fire season. There are at least 20 private residences with property adjacent to the campus property. Treating fuels on these private parcels will help mitigate the threat to RCC's Redwood Campus and vice versa.
As noted, the project will be in three phases with I and II on campus property, and Phase III on private land. Phase I will result in 55 treated acres on the campus' 80 acres. The remaining acres is urban landscape with minimal threat of destruction from wildfire. A total of 60 acres of private land is proposed for treatment under Phase I. While not the focus of Phase I, approximately 14,500 students and staff and an additional approximately
30,000 citizens will be exposed to the demonstration forest and Ruckman Memorial Trail. Phase II will involve constructing and placing of educational signs along the trail and access roads to the campus or with visibility from Highway 199. Phase III is a separate project that may occur simultaneously with Phase I and or II. This project when completed will also serve an extension of the green area for the city of Grants Pass.
The proposed timeline is
1. February 2005- Contact landowners whose property is adjacent to RCC for interest. Informational/educational meetings held on campus.
2. May 2005 fuel treatment plans are prepared for private landowners by OR Department of Forestry personnel.
3. October 2005 - RCC, staff and OR Department of Forestry personnel layout the fuels treatment areas on the ground. This will include the establishment of photo points to document the change over time. Jointly prepare the contract for manual, mechanical and the various slash treatment methods.
4. November 2005 - Release contract for bid and award the successful bidder the contract.
5. January - December 2006 Complete fuels treatment projects on RCC property and those private landowners that requested participation.
6. Complete all slash treatment that requires burning will be done during the Spring Break 2006 or Christmas break 2006-2007.
The proposal includes matching funds in the following amounts:
1. Rogue Community College Foundation -$6,000 unsecured for industrial chipper
2. Rogue Community College staff and personnel - $3,550 [inkind - 175 hours]secured
3. Oregon Department of Forestry Stewardship forester - $1,350 [inkind- 30 hours]secured and dollars from the ODF Protection Program.

Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following three criteria. Be sure you address every one briefly, yet thoroughly.
Limit your responses to the area provided .
1.
Reducing Hazardous Fuels (50 points)
A. Describe the community infrastructure that will be protected.
B. Explain how the proposal reduces fire behavior in high hazard areas by describing the fuels to be disposed or removed, and the techniques and timing of the treatments.
C. How will the proposed treatments be maintained in future years?
D. How will you use multi-party monitoring to improve this and future projects?
Response:
A. Rogue Community College is accessed from Highway 199 and from Josephine County Jerome Prairre Road. Highway 199 is heavily traveled tourist road providing access to the Redwoods of northern California, Six Rivers National Recreational Area and the coastal towns and beaches of Oregon's south Coast. The College's 15 buildings are immediately adjacent to the proposed fuels project. There is an outdoor amphitheater that is used for concerts and plays and public events during the summer months that is in an area surrounded by dense fuels. A total of 20 private properties are included in this project. The properties are located on property that is adjacent to the RCC property.
The college property consists of 80 total acres with 55 forested acres. The college is surrounded by rural residential property and in 2002, the Campus View fire burned a total of 20 acres and one structure and several outbuildings where no fuels treatment had been completed along the access road. Several structures however were saved because fuels treatment had been performed and maintained.
B. The fuels consist of three types. Approximately 50% of the area consists of mixed conifer/ hardwood. Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine are the dominant conifers and Pacific madrone and California black oak are the dominant hardwoods, with approximately 2.5 -6 tons/acre of dead and down material. The understory of brush, conifer and hardwoods provide an overabundance of ground fuel and ladder fuels that would perpetuate a running ground or stand replacement crown fire and severely threaten life and property. This fuel type was present along the access road and the resultant fire behavior denied fire personnel access to defend all structures during the 2002 Campus View fire.
A majority of the fuel along the property lines is brush and hardwood, with scattered overstory of Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine or
Pacific madrone. The major brush species is mature manzanita, buck brush, poison oak, madrone and black oak. This represents approximately 30% of the total land on RCC property and, has 5.3-8.2 tons/acre of dead and down material.
Ponderosa pine pole stands of 1 to 11 inches diameter at breast height, represent the remaining 20%. These stands are grossly overstocked and have plenty of fuel to perpetuate a crown fire or serious ground fire with 10-14.2 tons/acre of dead and downed material.
All of the fuels/slash treatment will comply with ODF forestry and fire prevention regulations. Tentatively no operations will occur during July & August on RCC lands. Approximately 25% of the treatment will consist of manual felling, hand piling and burning. All burning will be done in accordance with DEQ Rogue Burn Basin guidelines and to minimize the negative effects, burning on RCC will be completed when the campus is on break. All RCC material that is 5 to 7 inches in diameter will be set aside for RCC to disseminate as firewood.
The remainder of the treatment will consist of mechanically treating the fuels and mulching or chipping the slash. The private lands will be required to either burn following the same guidleines, or use the wood as firewood or for chipping.
C. All trees that are susceptible to sprouting such as black oak and Pacific madrone will be treated using mechanical methods or chemicals that are registered for forestry applications. RCC will be responsible for the maintenance of the project on their property and the private landowners will have responsibility for their parcels of land. The project will utilize an existing Forestry Assistance form which states that the landowners acknowledge and agree to maintain the project on their property for 10 years.
D. The monitoring will be a multi-party effort consisting of ODF, County Coordination Group members and interested citizens to verify the accomplishments and adherence to standards. All acres will be verified using GPS and site inspections before payments are made.

2. Increasing Local Capacity (25 points )
A. How would the proposal improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and sustainable economic activity?
B. How many jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long? (Please distinguish between essentially year-round and seasonal jobs).
C. What tools and skills will be gained or utilized as a result of this project?
D. Will biomass be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response:
This proposal requires the use of contractors on RCC property to complete the fuels treatment and a majority of the slash treatments.
The private landowners may contract with the same contractor[s] doing the work for RCC, find a different contractor or do the work themselves. All of this will provide temporary employment opportunities for a small crew of 4-5 personnel with equipment or a large hand crew of 10-20 personnel. Some equipment will be purchased locally, but at a minimum servicing of equipment used by contractors or private landowners will provide economic gain for the companies that provide those services and consumer goods.
Seasonal ODF personnel will also be employed assisting with the development of prescriptions and performing quality control inspections on private land.
The skills that will be obtained and utilized as a result of this project are equipment operation, non-commercial thinning and fuels treatment. These are skills that are in high demand as more landowners are seeing the benefit of doing such projects and the resources are not readily available.
All landowners will be encouraged to utilize a majority of the material that is 4-7" dbh. The larger manzanita brush may be used for bird perches and any of the pole size material that meets rails or tepee pole specifications will be used accordingly. The chips will be used for landscaping or as natural fertilizer. All burning will comply with the DEQ's Rogue Basin burn guidelines.
3. Demonstrating Community and Intergovernmental Collaboration (25 Points)
A. How will this project implement a community risk assessment and mitigation plan? Include name of plan, date it was prepared, and local contact to get a copy of the plan if requested.
B. How has this treatment been coordinated with adjacent landowners and local/State/Tribal/Federal agencies?
C. Identify the cooperators/partners involved in implementation of this project.
D. Describe the extent of current local support for the project, including any cost-sharing agreements.
Response:
The project is in an area that is classified as moderately high to high risk based upon the 2004 Josephine County Hazard and Risk
Assessment. The 2002 Campus View fire indicates that this area has the fuel concentrations and type that are conducive to extreme fire behavior capable of threatening and destroying structures. A copy of the Josephine County Hazard and Risk assessment may be obtained by contacting the Josephine County Planning Department at [541] 474-5421 or via the internet at http://cwch.uoregon.edu/CCWP/JCIFP.
The twenty adjacent landowners were mailed an informational flier and application to determine their interest in participating in the program. An educational/informational meeting will be held at RCC.
Oregon Department of Forestry has been involved since the conception of this project and will provide 30 hours of in-kind support from the Stewardship Forester. ODF's involvement has three primary purposes of completing fuels treatment on 115 acres.
RCC is readily accessible to more than 45,000 people annually, with over 30,000 during the most critical time frames for wildfire.
Using the treated areas for education and demonstration. The long term goal is for Phase III of this project to connect to Title III fuels projects on BLM and Josephine County forestry.
Other partners/cooperators include ODOT and County Roads for treating fuels within their respective right-of-ways as in-kind support, RCC Foundation for a donation to help purchase a chipper for the project. A majority of the partners will be the private landowners that choose to participate. The contractors that perform the work will be educated regarding the goals and objectives prior to commencing any work.

Tasks
Contact adjacent landowners, ODOT, County roads, County Commissioners and RCC administration regarding support for this project.
Time Frame
January-February 2005
C
Finalize the biomass utilization plan and the contribution by the RCC foundation for the purchase of a chipper.
May 2005
Verification of the property lines, stand typing, fuels treatment prescriptions and design, and the development of photo points.
March 2005 -March 2006
Draft the bid proposal and contract to be used on RCC and provide a copy to those landowners that chose to participate in the project.
March 2006
Conduct previews of the RCC project and release the request for bids and contract. All private land prescriptions are finalized.
April 2006
Fuels projects begin on RCC and the private land adjacent to the campus.
May 2006 - December 2007
ODOT and County roads will also complete their portions during this time.
All slash from the project is adequately mitigated. All material has been utilized or removed from the project site.
December 2006-March 07
Photos will taken from the same photo points established at the beginning of the project.
Final reports to include a consolidated budget submitted
May 2006 - December 2007
Responsible Party
ODF, Stewardship Forester responsibile for Forestry Assistance will contact all potential participants.
RCC staff will coordinate for support.
ODF, Stewardship Forester responsibile for Forestry Assistance will contact all potential participants.
RCC staff will coordinate for support.
Collaborative effort between ODF
Stewardship forester, RCC groundskeeper/landscaper and RCC volunteers that are interested in participating.
RCC staff and the ODF Stewardship
Forester will develop these. RCC staff are responsible for insuring compliance with RCC policies.
Stewardship Forester and RCC staff will conduct the site visits, provide prospectus and receive the bids according to RCC policy and rules.
RCC will have the primary oversight on the fuels projects on RCC property. ODF will perform oversight to the overall project and approval on pvt land
RCC staff are responsible for the material on RCC property and ODF is responsible for completing the final inspections on private land.
Collaborative effort between ODF
Stewardship forester, RCC groundskeeper/landscaper and RCC volunteers that are interested in participating.

RCC Private landowners ODOT, County roads
Cost Category
Description
Personnel
Federal
Agency Applicant Partner 1 Partner 2 Partner 3
Total
Field Administration
Field personnel
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
Insurance/PERS
$2,510
$14,320
$16,830
$0
$138,535
$138,535
$0
$2,084
$2,084
$0
$0
$0
$0
$5,500
$5,500
$2,510
$160,439
$162,949
$2,288
$0
$2,288
$225
$0
$225
$390
$0
$390
$0
$0
$0
$2,310
$0
$2,310
$5,213
$0
$5,213
Subtotal
Travel
Government vehicles
Subtotal
Equipment large -chipper, brushhog small-chainsaws, pruners
Subtotal
Supplies
Field-stakes, flagging
$520
$0
$520
$0
$0
$0
$420
$0
$420
$0
$0
$0
$6,000
$1,500
$7,500
$0
$0
$0
$2,350
$4,125
$6,475
$0
$0
$0
$140
$0
$140
$3,500
$2,500
$6,000
$1,080
$0
$1,080
$11,850
$8,125
$19,975
Subtotal
Contractual
Hand crew
Mechanical equipment
Subtotal
$500
$0
$500
$75,000
$35,701
$110,701
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$500
$0
$500
$75,000
$35,701
$110,701
Other
Salem 6%(Prot&Fin) $8,351
$0
$8,351 Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program)
Income
1
$139,190
$0
$139,180
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$9,974
$0
$0
$0
$0
$6,475
$0
$0
$0
$0
$8,351
$0
$8,351
$13,950 $308,769
$0 $0
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.