Project Summary Form
Id Number 2006-016
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Treatment Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Oregon Department of Forestry, SWO District, Medford
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
A
503-945-7341
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
503-945-7416
Please Call Ahead For FAX
H. Independent School District
I. State-Controlled Institution of Higher Learning
J. Private University
K. Indian Tribe
L. Nonprofit Organization
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
2600 State Street Salem, OR 97310
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Ms. Mary Helen Smith Grant Coordinator/Teresa Vonn Field Coordinator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Oregon Department of Forestry-SWO District Medford Unit
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
503-945-7341
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
503-945-7416
Call Ahead For FAX
Email:
msmith@odf.state.or.us
Project Information
Project Title:
Jackson County South Hazard Reduction Project
Proposed Project Start Date:
03/01/2006
Federal Funding Request:
$ 253,689
Proposed Project End Date:
12/31/2007
Total Project Funding:
$
616,343
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
This is a stand alone project. It is one of three being submitted for Jackson County by ODF. This grant ranks as number two for Jackson
County by ODF due to the coordination of proposed treatments with other organizations and agencies, and due to the completeness of fire
plans.
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 Oregon Department of Forestry, recognizing the need for increased fuel reduction efforts is requesting funding to continue the ODF Defensible
Space cost-share program. The program began in 1998 and has had a high degree of success. Interest in fuels reduction in Jackson County
remains high with several small communities actively involved in developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans [CWPP], including Dark Hollow.
This project will provide financial assistance to citizens in high risk areas identified in CWPP efforts. It will also strategically place treatment areas
identified through interagency collaboration with rural fire districts and ODF. Approximately 160 interface homes would directly benefit from the
hazard reduction funding in Dark Hollow and Howard Prairie. An additional 218 acres of roadside and driveway or strategically place fuel treatments
are proposed.
Project Location:
Latitude: 42.24013
Longitude: 122.78
County:
Jackson
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Federal Congressional District:
2
Telephone number of Contact:
Luis Ramirez, BLM, Forestry Technician
541-618-2218 Ext.
Teresa Vonn, ODF, District Protection Planner
541-664-3328 Ext.
Ext.
Project Narrative Description
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:
x project relationship to the community risk assessment and
x project location (e.g., Watershed,
Address
mitigation plan
neighboring community)
these items
as applicable: x anticipated outcomes
x amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc.)
x project timeline and matching or contributed funds
x community partners and their
role(s)
x 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?
Several members of the Josephine/Jackson Local Coordinating have been contacted regarding this grant
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 Thinning
Acres 303
Treatment Hand Piling
Acres 303
Treatment Mastication/Mowing
Acres 75
Treatment Hand Pile Burning
Acres 303
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Other 1
Acres 0
Other 2
Acres 0
The project will be located in high risk areas throughout Jackson County with the emphasis being those communities actively involved in preparing
CWPPs or of high concern to firefighting agencies: Dark Hollow, Dead Indian Memorial, and Howard Prairie. The Upper Dead Indian Memorial Road
[near Ashland] area is interspersed with BLM lands in an area of steep topography, and dense brush and timber above valley-floor and mid-level
grass and brush. This area has a history of fast-moving grass fires that start at lower elevations and run uphill into timber, threatening this populated
area. Approximately 120 homes are at risk. The Dark Hollow [near Phoenix-Talent] area consists of dense brush and timber in which ladder fuels are
prevalent. Ownership in the initial project area is mostly residential, situated below private and BLM commercial timberlands. Initial interest includes
40 homes, with anticipation of 75, this year alone, as their CWPP is finalized. Their projected project area may eventually extend into the Sterling
Creek drainage, tying-in with completed BLM and private landowner projects. Both areas have a strong sense of community, conducive to active
participation, "neighbor-helping-neighbor" assistance, and success.
Jackson County has begun the process of developing a CWPP. Meetings with ODF, the Jackson, County Natural Resource Coordinator, and GIS
Coordinator have begun the risk assessment process. The Dark Hollow community has high neighborhood interest in fire planning and hope to have
a plan completed by December 2006. Mich Lewis of the Dark Hollow community has been instrumental in sending out surveys as part of their risk
assessment analysis and received a 90% return rate. Local agencies including ODF, BLM, and Fire District #5 is committed to providing assistance.
Anticipated outcomes: Creation of defensible space [homes and driveways], treatment of extended defensible space within communities-at-risk,
plans for maintenance of fuel treatments. A reduction in the rate of human-caused fire occurrence, through increased resident awareness and fire
prevention education. ODF participation in Fire plans throughout Jackson County and in Dark Hollow specifically will facilitate increased coordination
between the fire services and local residents.
Partners / roles:
*Neighborhood groups - fire planning & hazard reduction actions
*ODF - Technical assistance in fire planning, on-site residential hazard reduction recommendations / plans
*Jackson County - Funding ODF personnel with Title 3 funds, to provide on-site resident assistance
*Jackson County Fire District #5 - Technical assistance in fire planning, on-site residential hazard reduction recommendations / plans.
*BLM - Technical assistance in fire planning
Amount or extent of actions: Requested funding would initially create defensible space around 155 homes and 222 acres along driveways.
ODF has a long history of successfully implementing NFP grants.
Project Evaluation Criteria
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:
In addition to dwellings and residential out buildings, infrastructure protected will be primarily power line and road systems, from
fire, and fire-related erosion.
Reductions in the rate of human-caused fire occurrence and prevention of injuries / fatalities are anticipated as a result of the one
on one education each landowner receives when meeting with a Forest Officer to assess the potential for a cost share grant for
fuel reduction. Fire prevention and life safety education will be built into any community fire plan. Modification of vegetation will
reduce fire intensity, lessen the possibility of structure fires extending into wildlands, creation of defensible space, improvement of
fire apparatus access, and improved escape routes and safety zones for area residents will result from both the education and fuel
reduction components of this project. Fuels to be treated include but are not limited to natural brush species such as manzanita,
wedge-leaf ceanothus, and madrone, and natural coniferous fir and pine tree species. 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, reduction, or replacement with fire resistant plants. Treatment will be primarily by hand, but may
also include some use of mechanized equipment. Slash disposal will be accomplished through chipping and broadcasting on the
surface, to inhibit re-growth of brush, and enhance area soils through decomposition, burning, or lopping and scattering. Through a
combination of community meetings and one-on-one residential assessments, Oregon Department of Forestry will assist rural
residents to take action to survive catastrophic wildfire.
Long term maintenance will be stressed through education and reinforced in all cost-share agreements with the acknowledgment
that maintenance by the landowner is a condition of the cost-share. An aggressive education and outreach program sponsored by
the county, ODF and Fire District #5, as well as those communities developing fire plans will be essential for the successful
maintenance of treated areas. ODF will emphasize the importance of including a maintenance component is all community fire
planning efforts.
Multi-party monitoring by ODF in partnership with community fire planning leaders and Fire District #5 will implement project and
effectiveness monitoring with the establishment of pre and post fuel treatment photo points. In the event of a fire through a
treatment area photo points will also be obtained for analysis of project effectiveness. ODF proposes to purchase three digital
cameras to implement this photo point collection through this grant. The photos will be available for community fire planning
education opportunities such as the Firewise program.
Project Evaluation Criteria
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:
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. One contractor is utilizing a shearer to harvest small
diameter material for utilization. Continuation of cost-share for fuel reduction will drive and expand this industry. Two years ago there
was one large slash buster working mostly on federal lands, today there are 5 smaller machines working on private lands.
Both handcrews and machine treatment are used in Southern Oregon, with the machine work being limited by slope. Machine
operators and contract crews have asked to be included on a contractors list available to landowners upon request from ODF. Three
Forest Officers will work winter months to provide technical assistance, cost-share approval, and project compliance inspections.
Biomass utilization has historically been in the form of firewood and pole production. 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/buyers available for landowners. The Jackson County
Fire Plan is actively seeking avenues of utilization of small diameter material and will continue to explore opportunities with the BLM
as they pioneer this field with stewardship contracts.
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:
This plan addresses the concerns addressed in the Dark Hollow fire plan which has been developed over two years and nears
completion; The expected date of completion is December 2006, Mich Lewis, contact[541]890-0595.
This project also targets those communities-at-risk identified through the Senate Bill 360 analysis, Brian Ballou, Wildland Urban
Interface Specialist, contact[541]664-3328. Over 1200 homes are identified as high risk in Jackson County, of these 1,100 homes
are at extreme risk.
Jackson County has secured funding for a community fire plan, hired Jeff Swanke as the Phase one consultant, and begun
planning meetings to coordinate the risk assessment and mitigation plan. Date of completion is December 2007.
The proposed treatment areas have been developed with Fire District #5, BLM, ODF, and local landowners. The projects build on
existing or proposed BLM projects, and existing private treated lands.
Local support for the project is high. Landowner interest exceeds the demand. This grant would implement an already successful
cost-share program that provides a rebate of $330 per acre for those parcels that are approved to participate in the program.
The current level of support is high throughout the county between community members and agency personnel.
* Neighborhood groups - fire planning & hazard reduction actions
* ODF-Technical assistance in fire planning, on-site residential hazard reduction recommendations/plans
* Jackson County-Funding ODF personnel with Title 3 funds, to provide on-site resident assistance
* Jackson County Fire District #5 - Technical assistance in fire planning, on-site residential hazard reduction recommendations/
plans
* BLM-Technical assistance in fire planning
Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
On-site resident assistance - development of
individual hazard reduction plans
Responsible Party
Oregon Department of Forestry, and
Jackson County Fire District #5
Begins 3/06
Hazard Reduction activities
3/1/06-12/31/07
Landowners/Oregon Department of
Forestry, and Jackson County Fire
District #5
Ongoing
Landowners/Oregon Department of
Forestry, and Jackson County Fire
District #5
Community planning meetings
Oregon Department of Forestry, and
Jackson County Fire District #5
Monitoring / Evaluation
Ongoing
Promote expansion of affected areas &
recruiting additional resident participants
Ongoing
Community Fire Planning Leaders,
Landowners/Oregon Department of
Forestry, and Jackson County Fire
District #5
Project Budget
Fire District #3
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Landowners
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
Partner 3
Personnel
Technical Assistance
ODF Match
Subtotal
$63,840
$0
$5,000
$0
$0
$68,840
$0
$205,000
$0
$0
$0
$205,000
$63,840
$205,000
$5,000
$0
$0
$273,840
$0
$0
$34,090
Fringe Benefits
OPE
$34,090
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$34,090
$0
$0
$0
$34,090
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$25,184
$0
$0
$0
$25,184
$963
$0
$0
$0
$0
$963
$963
$25,184
$0
$0
$0
$26,147
$0
$2,500
$0
$0
$0
$2,500
$1,050
$0
$0
$0
$0
$1,050
$1,050
$2,500
$0
$0
$0
$3,550
$125,000
$0
$0
$125,000
$0
$250,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$125,000
$0
$125,000
$0
$250,000
Field administrative
$13,496
$0
$0
$0
$0
$13,496
Salem 6%(Prot+Financ)
$15,220
$0
$0
$0
$15,220
$28,716
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$28,716
$253,659
$232,684
$5,000
$125,000
$0
$616,343
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Subtotal
Travel
$0
Subtotal
Equipment
Vehicle/cell phone use
Garmin 76 GPS units
Subtotal
Supplies
Office Materials
3 digital cameras
Subtotal
Contractual
Landowner Cost Share
Subtotal
Other
Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program)
Income1
___________________________________
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.