Project Summary Form
Id Number 2006-023
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Treatment Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Illinois Valley Community Response Team
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
L
541-592-4440
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
541-592-4106
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):
139 S. Redwood Hwy. Cave Junction, OR 97523
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Mr. Robert Schumacher Executive Director
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Illinois Valley Community Response Team
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
541-592-4440
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
541-592-4106
Call Ahead For FAX
Email:
robert@ivcrt.org
Project Information
Project Title:
Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Reduction
Proposed Project Start Date:
03/01/2006
Federal Funding Request:
$ 200,000
Proposed Project End Date:
03/01/2007
Total Project Funding:
$
241,000
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
This is the sole submittal from the Illinois Valley Community Developement Organization for 2006 NFP grants.
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 goal is to continue implementation of the Josephine County Fire Plan. The location is documented as high risk for fire hazard and comprises a
portion of the community of O Brien, just south of Cave Junction. Community partner involvement includes Josephine County, PWCH, Illinois Valley
Rural Fire District, ODF, USFS, BLM, Nature Conservancy, Siskiyou Field Institute, Lomakatsi, NWYC, and Page Forestry. Results will cover
securing defensible space and safe ingress/egress around homes, innovative multi-party monitoring, active engagement and positive interaction
between landowners, community organizations, and government agencies, appealing opportunities for local employment, and avenues for biomass
utilization. The project will be coordinated through the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization [formally Illinois Valley Community
Response Team] which has a long history of success working in collaboration in the Illinois Valley and Josephine County.
Project Location:
Latitude: 42.076
Longitude: -123.72
County:
Josephine
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Tim Gonzales
Federal Congressional District:
4
Telephone number of Contact:
541-471-6943 Ext.
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?
Project coincides with overall countywide strategic plan.
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) Yes
Please indicate planned treatments and associated acres:
* Treatment Thinning
Acres 200
Treatment Hand Piling
Acres 200
Treatment Hand Pile Burning
Acres 200
Treatment Mastication/Mowing
Acres 0
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Other 1
Acres 0
Other 2
Acres 0
Project location: Josephine County, OR. A heavily forested region, the County encompasses approximately 1,040,000 acres of which about 70%
is publicly owned. Of the countys 75,726 citizens, over half live in rural areas. The 2002 Biscuit Fire, largely within Josephine County boundaries,
burned close to 500,000 acres and cost over $150 million so far. The immediate vicinity for this project comprises a northern portion of the
community called O Brien, within the West Fork Illinois river watershed immediately adjacent to Rough and Ready creek, approx. 6 miles south of
Cave Junction.
Anticipated outcomes: Implementation of countywide fire plan, securing defensible space and safe ingress/egress in an area of heavy fuel loading
and high wildfire frequency, innovative multi-party monitoring, active engagement of local fire safe council in a successful on the ground project,
positive interaction between landowners, community organizations, and government agencies, appealing opportunities for local employment, and
avenues for cost effective biomass utilization.
Community partners: Josephine County-Mark Sorenson and Cody Zook-Technical assistance/GIS mapping/data support, Program for Watershed
and Community Health-PWCH-Kathy Lynn-Technical support relevant to Josephine County Interagency Fire Plan, Illinois Valley Rural Fire
Department-IVRFD-Jerry Schaeffer-Community meetings/recruitment/defensible space/ prescription /signoff/education/monitoring, Oregon
Department of Forestry-ODF-Teresa Vonn-Defensible space assessments/grant work adjacent to project area, USFS & BLM-Tim GonzalesTechnical expertise/coordination of necessary NEPA surveys and future fuels treatment projects, Nature Conservancy-Darren Borgias and Molly
Sullivan-Largest private landowner adjacent to and within project boundaries/potential partnership w/AmeriCorps for on the ground work upon
conservancy land/coordination with administrator and agencies for future fuels projects, Siskiyou Field Institute-Sue Parrish-Initial design and layout
for project monitoring/involvement with local instructors/schools/students for future monitoring, Lomakatsi Restoration Project-Oshana Catranides,
Northwest Youth Corps-NWYC-Joe Waksmundski, Page Forestry-Dennis Page
Roles: Collaboration and sharing of tasks for on the ground work
Community risk assessment and mitigation plan coordination commenced at the county level with assistance from our local coordinating group and
in concert with our risk assessment instrument and other potential project proposals. High hazard/risk area determination was based on: hazard,
risk, protection capabilities, structural vulnerability, and values at risk. North O Brien was determined to be a high priority based on these factors.
See Josephine County Communities at Risk mapping at: cwch.uoregon.edu/CCWP/JCIFP/Attachments/CAR.jpg
Extent of actions to include 100 acres of defensible space around homes and drives, 5 acres of road thinning, and 95 acres of strategic density
management. Treatment costs are estimated to average $1,000 per acre. Landowners contribution in the cost of defensible space treatment will be
on a sliding scale based on volume of work and ability to pay. This is estimated to be 25% of the cost. Project timeline start to finish would not
exceed 2 years.
Proponents ability to complete the project has been displayed through a similar project on Thompson Creek that began in 2004. The administrative
system derived for Thompson creek has been successful, operations have been smooth and results well received by private landowners and
participating partners. The Josephine County Interagency Fire Plan -JCIFP- and Thompson Creek fuels reduction project have recently gained
national recognition as a model for others to utilize when implementing similar fuels reduction projects.
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:
1a. The community of O Brien, gateway to the Siskiyou National Forest, the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and BLM lands, is located
within southwestern Josephine Co, OR, population 75,726. Local assets associated with O Brien include a store, gas station,
restaurant, several small business concerns, and a new rural fire station, currently under construction. Presently, there are
approximately 70 homes, related buildings, driveways and 5 miles of associated roads directly within project boundaries. The
project is adjacent to the Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside. The Rough and Ready area is located in a region which is
recognized as one of 200 biologically outstanding eco-regions in the world. It harbors a multitude of rare or special status plants
endemic to the serpentine soils of the Siskiyou Mountains.
1b. Current fuel loading in much of the proposed project area consists of thick brush, remnant logging slash, and crowded
understory conifers. Material would be hand cut; hand piled, and chipped or burned onsite. Chips would be scattered and/or
hauled offsite where applicable. Hand piles would be kept small and burned in the fall/winter/spring months onsite before flowering
plants emerge. Pile loading would be taken into consideration so that no harm would come to remnant overstory vegetation
immediately adjacent to piles. Note: potential projects determined by our staff and/or participating partners that are located in
areas of threatened and/or endangered species might require special coordination for survey work. Our organization has the
capacity to assist with surveying/buffering any threatened, endangered or sensitive plant species. Documentation of the results will
be through before and after photos, using recognition signage to focus attention on competed portions and to invite additional
participation in the project.
1c. The Illinois Valley Fire Safe Council, established in 2004, is made up of community representatives from each neighborhood
within the valley. With assistance from our staff and local coordinating group committee members, ongoing discussion/meetings
regarding fire risks and hazards within each community will continue in future years. Fire safe/defensible space recognition signs
will be supplied to project participants This council is ultimately responsible to police their own neighborhoods and will remind
landowners when fuel maintenance issues arise. Registration tags will be affixed to address signs that expire on a future date,
based on natural regeneration rates of hazardous fuels within project area, to be determined from monitoring results.
1d. This and future projects will be monitored by project partners and our local coordination group. The local coordinating group
consists of fire professionals, state, county and federal land management agencies and interested individuals that have a stake in
fuels reduction. Ongoing discussion about lessons learned on past and present projects will be shared and applied. In addition,
this opportunity lends itself to scholastic involvement with students visiting the project area prior to the project start date and writing
a report on different aspects of vegetation types, fuel loading, and the WUI coordination effort. As a follow-up, the area will be
revisited by students several years later and final reports submitted with recommendations.
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:
2a. Sustainable economic activity resulting from this proposal will include consulting work in forestry, fuels, and grant administration/
implementation, power equipment sales/maintenance, and on the ground fuels reduction work and support staff. Participation in this
program will enhance the capacity of local individuals for successfully bidding on public stewardship contracts, fuels reduction
contracts and other federal, state, county offered projects.
2b. Two part time year round jobs, five part time seasonal jobs, and 20-30 full time seasonal jobs for the duration of the grant can be
expected by initiating this project. Several of these jobs would be retained as momentum, property values and new construction,
new county rural building enforcement, and hazardous fuels reduction awareness grows.
2c. The most important gain from this proposal will be the hands on experience and knowledge that landowners will obtain. Project
participants willing to showcase their work once completed facilitates sharing, trust, and a renewed sense of community pride. The
opportunity for experience and expansion will benefit local fuels reduction oriented businesses. The project will also provide a
platform for collaboration between local residents, and community organizations, large private landowners, and government
agencies.
2d. Biomass utilization includes firewood-200 cords, small diameter poles, and manzanita made available for use by local furniture
makers and crafters.
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:
3a. This organization is a participant in the local coordinating group that formulated the Josephine County Integrated Fire PlanJCIFP adopted 11/04 and is consistent with the structure of a community wildfire protection plan as defined in the Healthy Forest
Restoration Act. JCIFP can be viewed at http://www.co.josephine.or.us/wildfire/index.htm.
3b. Coordination has happened through meetings with project area landowners, cooperating partners, and agency professionals.
Specific project area boundaries were determined with the help of local coordinating group members and utilization of the risk
assessment tool. Agency professionals recognize the high fire hazard in this vicinity and favorable response for fuel reduction work
from larger adjacent landowners has been received.
3c. Partners include: Josephine County, PWCH, IVRFD, ODF, USFS, BLM, Nature Conservancy, Lomakatsi, NWYC, Siskiyou
Field Institute, Page Forestry.
3d. Initial response indicates a high degree of cooperation and interest among stakeholders. It has been proven on the Thompson
Creek Project that able and willing participants do not necessarily expect reimbursement for doing the work themselves, many need
the knowledge, not the money. The proposed project area is also in the vicinity of the historic Biscuit Fires east flank, a constant
reminder and source of incentive to get the job done. With the proper guidance, North O Brien will become a model fire-wise
community. Nature Conservancy plans to treat approx. 10 acres of dense vegetation next to main access roads immediately
adjacent to the project area and as an anchor point for future thinning and burning upon their land. This proposal is well received
by local residents within and adjacent to project area.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Preparation:
1-Initiate community outreach meetings (in
homes, local fire hall, or school)
2-Fine tune administrative systems
Project Setup:
1-Hold neighborhood meetings
2-Begin public outreach
3-Identify potential contractors and density
management resoration area(s)
Assessments:
1-NEPA Assessment
2-Unit costing based on density
3-Individual property prescriptions
4-Establish photo points
Fuels Reduction:
1-Complete on the ground work
2-Mid-project site monitoring
3-Final Approval site visit
Time Frame
Responsible Party
1-IVCDO, IVRFD
2-IVCDO
Pre Grant - 2006
Months 1-2
Throughout project
Throughout project
Payment to contractors or homeowners
1-IVCDO, IVRFD
2-IVCDO, IVRFD
3-IVCDO, USFS, BLM, Nature
Conservancy
1-IVCDO, BLM
2-IVCDO
3-IVCDO, IVRFD
4-IVCDO, IVRFD
1-Contractors and/or homeowners
2-IVCDO
3-IVRFD, IVCDO
IVCDO
Throughout project
IVCDO, Siskiyou Field Institute,
Agencies
Post project monitoring
Ongoing
Project Budget
Landowners
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
Partner 3
Personnel
$0
Subtotal
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$2,000
$500
$0
$0
$0
$2,500
$2,000
$500
$0
$0
$0
$2,500
$4,000
$1,000
$0
$0
$0
$5,000
$160,000
$0
$40,000
$0
$0
$200,000
$16,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$16,000
$176,000
$40,000
$0
$0
$216,000
$18,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$18,000
$2,000
$0
$0
$0
$2,000
$20,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$20,000
$200,000
$1,000
$40,000
$0
$0
$241,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Travel
$0
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
edu.outreach,awareness
recognition,photo,doc.
Subtotal
Contractual
fuels reduction work
aseess,monitor,inspect.
Subtotal
Other
administrative
nepa
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.