Project Summary Form
Id Number 2006-066
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Treatment Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Ponderosa Community Club Inc.
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
L
509-763-3573
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
509-763-0320
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):
21100 Cayuse Street Leavenworth, WA 98826
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Mr. John Fulmer President
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Ponderosa Community Club, Inc.
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
425-827-5811
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
425-788-1309
Call Ahead For FAX
Email:
johnfulm@oz.net
Project Information
Project Title:
Fuels Treatment - Second Stage
Proposed Project Start Date:
01/02/2006
Federal Funding Request:
$ 124,000
Proposed Project End Date:
12/31/2007
Total Project Funding:
$
136,000
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
No.
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).
This is the second stage of the fire risk reduction program that was initiated in the 2003 NFP grant to begin risk assessments, conduct fire-wise
workshops, develop a Ponderosa Community Wildfire Protection Plan and begin fuels treatments as a demonstration [58 properties and 35.5 acres
were treated]. This request implements the next priority phase of treatments as developed by the Ponderosa CWP Plan. It involves treating along
the egress route and developing a Safe Zone within the development. Ponderosa is recognized as a fire-prone development and the program has
strong support by the FS, F&WLS, DNR, local fire districts and local residents.
Project Location:
Latitude: 474351.0
Longitude: 1203937.0
County:
Chelan
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Federal Congressional District:
4
Telephone number of Contact:
Lauren C. Maloney, Bureau of Land Management.Forest Service
503-808-6587 Ext.
Bruce Babb, US Fish & Wildlife Service
503-231-6234 Ext.
Len Riggin, Wash. St. Dept. of Natural Resources
509-925-0969 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?
This will implement the collaborative Ponderosa CWP and Chelan CO.CWP Plans to be completed in 2005.
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 60
Treatment
Acres 0
Treatment
Acres 0
Treatment
Acres 0
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Chipping
Other 1 Pruning
Acres 60
Other 2
Acres 60
Ponderosa [PCCI] is a 500-parcel subdivision 12 miles northwest of Leavenworth, WA. The subdivision borders the Wenatchee River and is
adjacent to the Wenatchee/Okanogan NF. It also borders other private lands. The ground cover is primarily dense forest of varying maturity from
80-year old Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine to immature and stunted stands of the same species. Crown spacing is very tight and ground cover
consists of vine maple and ocean spray. Ladder fuels abound. The area is especially volatile for fire threat and disturbance due to the low snow
pack levels in the 2004-05 winter. The snow pack is the lowest it has been in 20+ years. Recent fires in the area include: 1994 -Tyee, Rat Creek,
Hatchery Creek and Round Mtn. Fires, 2001 - Icicle Ridge Fire, and 2004 - Icicle Canyon and Fisher Fires.
PCCI has about 430 structures, which are close together due to the configuration of the lots and their small sizes. Many lots are encircled by volatile
greenbelt areas. The community members continue to be very concerned about fire risk to the community-owned greenbelt areas, their properties
and their ability to evacuate the area should fires occur. Over 80% of the homeowners have become educated on fire-wise plans. They have
approved fuels treatments to adjacent forest lands, their greenbelts, treatments around their buildings and on the rights-of-ways adjacent to their
private lots.
This request is to continue treatment of the high risk properties next to the only escape routes and greenbelt areas. A total of 50-70 acres would be
treated. Treatments include reduction of ground fuels to less than 6 tons per acre, elimination of ladder fuels by thinning and pruning to 15', and
thinning to separate the crowns and reduce stocking levels to below 60 cu.ft.per acre. Treatment priorities for this stage are to extend the work
completed in Phase I out the escape route towards Plain and to develop a true Safe Zone on the property for suppression strike teams during an
urban interface fire. This would allow a quicker return after a fire front passed and would result in saving additional structures. Additional treatments
would be done along the County's Primitive Park Road, making this a fuel break. The remaining lots would receive risk assessments on a donated
basis. Work would continue as soon as the grant is approved and this phase would be completed by 12/31/07.
A collaborative Ponderosa Community Wildfire Protection Plan is being prepared with the present grant. The risk assessment for this Plan shows
the proposed fuels treatments are the highest priorities. The FS, DNR, F&WLS, Chelan County Public Works and chelan County Fire District #4 are
participating. Other Chelan County fire districts are very aware of the extreme fire risk in this area and are highly supportive of any actions which
would mitigate the fire risk to this community and surrounding area. The Ponderosa CWP Plan will supplement the Chelan County CWP Plan when
it is completed. An agreement between the FS, DNR, and FD #4 is being developed to monitor the project and coordinate additional actions at
Ponderosa and surrounding Wildland Urban Interface lands. Fire District #4 is prepared to continue to monitor maintenance of the treatments and
recommend needed actions to the PCCI Board.
PCCI is the primary partner in this grant request and its contribution is the value of the merchantable timber to be removed. This is estimated to be
about 30 thousand board feet with a value of about $12,000. PCCI is benefitted by increasing the safety of its homeowners and firefighters and
protecting their properties and investments. The current assessed value of the Ponderosa property is about 27 million dollars. There is also the
benefit of reduced risk of fire escaping onto National Forest land and surrounding developed communities. It compliments present and planned fuels
treatment projects on National Forest lands to the south and west. Another benefit is providing employment for local loggers and other seasonal
workers which has one of the highest figures for non-agricultural unemployment in the State of Washington for several years. There should be no
problem completing the program by 12/31/07 using local contractors.
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:
A. PCCI is a 500-parcel subdivision with about 430 structures. They are clustered closely together, highly variable and many are
not fire-safe. The community has changed over the last ten years with more permanent residents living at Ponderosa. Both the
community and surrounding areas have become more developed. The landowners are becoming more fire conscious with only
1% now having combustible roofs. Treating the fuels will not only protect the PCCI community also the surrounding developed
areas of Plain and Leavenworth. The assessed values of the PCCI area is approximately $27,000,000.
B. The fuels to be disposed of consist of dense Douglas-fir, scattered ponderosa pine, with some grand fir and understory shrubs.
On the average there are 400-750 trees per acre with about 1/3 of the area 600 trees per acre and a basal area of 150-190 sq.ft.
per acre with an average diameter of 7-8 inches. The Wenatchee River encompasses the west side of the commuity and riparian
and shoreline values will be protected. Treatment will restore the forest to more sustainable conditions and give protection to the
development. Fuel treatment will reduce the ground fuels so ground fire flame lengths remain below four feet; will eliminate ladder
fuels so fire stays out of the crowns; and reduce crown bulk density to reduce torching and the potential for crown fires. This will
be done by thinning from below to reduce the basal area below 60 sq.ft.per acre.,pruning to 15' and removing graound fuels to
under 6 tons per acre. With these treatments suppression forces can more quickly attack fires and control them before they engulf
the entire community or spread to surrounding lands. This treatment will be done by a combination of mechanical and hand work.
Materials will either be removed, slash burned or chipped.
C. PCCI is aware that the treatments need to be maintained and are committed to doing so. They will have annual risk
assessments defensive space education workshops. Chelan County Fire District #4 is prepared to condinue to monitor
maintenance of the treatments and recommend needed actions to the PCCI Board. The Board will continue to hire local
contractors to maintain their greenbelt and right-of-way areas. PCCI has the capability to assess lot owners to acomplish its fire
safe objectives. The area residents are currently being assessed by the DNR for fire protection. Chelan County Fire district #4,
inconjunction with FS and DNR and with landowner agreement, is willing to conduct small prescribed burns to be used as training
to assist in the maintenance of these treatments.
D. The PCCI will coordinate monitoring and treatment actions with Chelan County Fire District #4, the FS, DNR, F&WLS, Chelan
County Public Works and other surrounding fire districts as outlined in the Ponderosa Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
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:
A. Chelan County has had one of the highest non-agricultural unemployment rates in the State of Washington. The very low snow
pack this year has caused local ski areas to remain closed and this has increased unemployment and lowered thourism in the area.
This proposal would help the community surrounding PCCI by employing local people and thus putting money back into the local
economy. Reduced fire risk would also benefit the tourism industry due to smoke in the valley and fear of being unable to evacuate
the area during a fire.
B. This proposal would employ a five-person crew for two seasons.
C. Small skidders, mechanical wood cutting machines and chippers have been and will be used. PCCI has become educated on
creating defensible spaces and reducing fire risks in its greenbelt areas and rights-of-ways along egress roads. Landowners are
beginning to take the initiative to develop their own defensible spaces.
D. PCCI will market all the merchantable material where any market can be found. It is estimated this will amount to about 30
thousand board feet of logs with a value of about $12,000. This value will be donated to the project. PCCI will also utilize the chips
from the tops and limbs on their greenbelt trails and utilize other smaller materials as firewood.
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:
A. This project will implement the Ponderosa CWP Plan that is being completed in 2005 with the present NFP grant. This Plan will
supplement the Chelan County CWP Plan when it is completed. The North Central Washington Fire Chiefs' Assoc.in 2005 ranked
Ponderosa fuels treatment as #3 priority in all of Chelan County.
B. The treatment has been coordinated with the F&WLS, FS, DNR, Chelan County Fire Districts #4,#3, and #9 [Plain,
Leavenworth, and Lk. Wenatchee] and local homeowners. Local homeowners and the PCCI Board have been notified of the risks
at various locations and they have given their input on aesthetics and habitat protection. They will continue to be educated on
defensible space on their properties and on emergency evacuation procedures.
C. The partners involved in the implementation of this project are the FS, DNR and local fire districts. Chelan County Public Works
will alsobe consulted regarding fuels treatment within the County road right-of-way.
D. Cost sharing will be done by PCCI donating the value of the merchantable timber to be removed. This is estimated to be about
30 thousand board feet with a value of $12,000. Individual risk assessments will be donated to property owners as requested.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Obtain County approval for treating road rightof-way.
Responsible Party
Cascade Woodlands
1/206 - 3/1/06
Treat fuels along water tank greenbelt and
develop Safe Zone.
PCCI Board, Cascade Woodlands
and Contractors
1/2/06 - 6/30-06
Treat fuels along western greenbelt.
PCCI Board, Cascade Woodlands
and Contractors
9/30/06 - 12/31/06
PCCI Board, Cascade Woodlands
and Contractors
Treat Primitive Road right-of-way and lots
along Primitive Road.
1/2/07 - 6/30/07
Conduct fire risk assessments as requested.
Cascade Woodlands
1/2/06 - 12/31/07
Project Budget
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
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$104,000
$12,000
$0
$0
$0
$116,000
$20,000
$0
$12,000
$0
$0
$0
$20,000
$124,000
$0
$0
$0
$136,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$124,000
$12,000
$0
$0
$0
$136,000
$0
$12,000
$0
$0
$0
$12,000
Travel
$0
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Treatment Operators
Cascade Woodlands
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.