Project Summary Form Id Number 2006-109 NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS Application for Fuels Treatment Projects Applicant Applicant/Organization: State of Oregon Department of Forestry/Klamath-Lake District 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 St. Salem, OR 97310 Project Coordinator Project Coordinator (Name and Title): Mary Helen Smith Grant Coordinator Organization/Jurisdiction: Oregon Department of Forestry 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: Chemult/97 Corridor Proposed Project Start Date: 10/01/2006 Federal Funding Request: $ 103,191 Proposed Project End Date: 09/30/2008 Total Project Funding: $ 206,191 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). This project will be a continuation of past projects established with previous funding. The Oregon Department of Forestry will provide technical assistance to landowners for hazardous fuels reduction to create defensible space in and around the communities of Chemult, Beaver Marsh, Diamond Junction, and Sand Creek. This project will provide ODF with the opportunity to educate landowners on defensible space and benefits of continued fuels maintenance on their property. It will also create defensible space to decrease the amount of at risk sites identified by completed risk assessments and the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. ODF will be working in cooperation with the Chemult Ranger District of the FremontWinema National Forest, local rural fire departments and community members to create landscape scale fuels reduction treatments that protect residents and property from fire as well as provide for firefighter safety in the Wildland Urban Interface. Project Location: Latitude: 43.12466 Longitude: 121.844 County: Klamath Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal: Federal Congressional District: 2 Telephone number of Contact: George Libercajt-Forest Service 541-365-7045 Ext. Dave Goheen- Fish and Wildlife Service 530-667-2309 Ext. Will Hatcher-Klamath Tribes 541-783-2219 Ext. 126 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? A Local Coordination Group is formed and project planning has been formulated through the group. 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 Mastication/Mowing Acres 50 Treatment Hand Pile Burning Acres 100 Treatment Acres 0 Treatment Acres 0 If you have a treatment type other than standard types above: Other 1 Pruning Acres 50 Other 2 Acres 0 The area is located along the Highway 97 corridor in north-central Klamath county which encompasses the communities of Chemult, Beaver Marsh, Diamond Junction and Sandcreek. Also located inside the boundary are numerous important tribal and cultural sites. Fuels reduction is planned on approximately 100 acres to directly and indirectly protect an estimated 200 homes and/or structures. Fuels reduction treatments are anticipated on private lands adjacent to planned and/or completed projects on Forest Service and Unites States Fish and Wildlife Service land to reduce fuel loading and enhance fuel breaks that will further protect structures and decrease wildfire severity. Education of homeowners/landowners in the Wildland Urban Interface [WUI] zone will occur. This will include information about fire potential and ways to protect themselves and their property from wildfire, such as FIREWISE. This information will include the benefits and responsibility of continued/future fuels maintenance on their property. Partners include Oregon Department of Forestry [ODF], Fremont-Winema National Forest, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, residents and community members of the planned operation area. ODF will: coordinate all fuel reduction and seek approval from landowners that are willing to have fuel reduction projects completed on their property; and coordinate with federal agencies on matching fuel reduction projects to those completed or slated for federal land to maximize fuels reduction efforts. ODF will also serve as advisor, administrator of accomplishments, and primary data collector. The primary role of the Fremont-Winema NF and USFWS will be to share project plans and coordination of fuel reduction projects to maximize fuel reduction effectiveness within the planning area. ODF is currently working collaboratively with the citizens of Chemult, Beaver Marsh, and Diamond Junction as well as the USFS, and USFWS in developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan [CWPP] which is slated to be completed in July, 2005 [Currently 10% complete]. To date, 40 acres of fuels reduction are completed and approximately 100 hand piles have been burned on private property. Community risk assessments are being completed and currently 53 individual structures within the project location have been rated. This a continuing fuels reduction project. With the receipt of these funds, ODF will be able to continue addressing numerous high-risk areas identified by the community risk assessments and CWPP. ODF will have the ability to hire two 12-month positions and three 6-month positions. This will increase the ability of completing projects within a timely manner. The goals set forth by the proposal will be reached no later than October 1, 2008. ODF has started fuels reduction treatments on private lands and has completed 40 acres of fuels reduction and burned 100 hand piles in the project area. ODF has also completed 53 home assessments within the corridor. These projects were started in 2004 and will continue in the future. This demonstrates ODF's ability to complete projects in a timely manner. 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. The project area consists largely of private land with large portions of USFS and USFWS land on the perimeter. The encompassing area is composed of timber and brush, with a grass, shrub, and tree litter understory. The area is dominated by lodgepole pine, which can grow in dense stands and typically is defined as having high intensity fire events. The communities of Chemult, Beaver Marsh, Diamond Junction, and Sand Creek are small rural towns in the heart of a large expanse of lodgepole forest. Small community businesses, private homes, State Highway 97, and a major railway corridor are all infrastructure at risk in this area. Fuels reduction efforts in these communities are necessary to protect life and property from potentially devastating fires. Community collaboration is a key component in accomplishing this goal, and governmental agencies such as ODF and USFS have been working closely with community representatives as well as individual property owners to achieve success. Community members have been overwhelmingly favorable of fuels management work already completed within these communities. B. Fuels reduction work will be completed by creating defensible space for individual structures and then landscape treatment will provide further protection. Proposed treatments include mechanical mowing/chipping and hand cutting of brush and young/ overstocked trees. Limbing and pruning of overstory trees will also be utilized. Brush and debris from handwork will be removed or piled and burned or chipped. This work will reduce the fuel buildup in hazard areas and directly reduce the potential for high intensity fires. Defensible space has been and will continue to be the highest priority for treatment work. Second priority will be the reduction of fuels on a landscape level. Landscape projects will match or enhance areas that have been treated for defensible space or lie within an area where Federal fuel reductions have been or will be accomplished to maximize effectiveness of operations. To date, the Forest Service has completed 2000 acres of fuels treatments in the area of Chemult. Fuels reduction work such as this will typically start in the spring and continue until weather factors in the fall/winter make for an unsuitable work environment. C. Individual landowners are educated and encouraged to maintain the treatment sites. Before receiving funds for assistance, landowners sign an agreement that states they will maintain their property. ODF will monitor sites for landowner compliance. It is estimated that treatments will remain effective for approximately 10 years from the time of first completion. D. Monitoring of this and future projects will primarily be accomplished by ODF. Federal agencies and ODF will share individual accomplishment information for planned fuels reduction projects. Implementation monitoring will be established to track the planning, layout and contract preparation. Baseline monitoring will be conducted with the collection of quantitative data prior to project implementation to characterize existing conditions to be compared to post project conditions. Effectiveness monitoring will be conducted to determine if project activities achieve stated goals and objectives. This process will gauge how closely the results of the project match with desired outcomes. The projects will also be evaluated for validity as well as trends to detect the changes that take place over time and how the ecosystem is being affected. ODF will share monitoring information and gain input from federal agencies, local fire authorities, and individual landowners or representatives to ensure collaboration and best management practices for future treatments. 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. This proposal includes funding for six people total: two for 12 months and three for 6 months. Any mechanical work will be contracted to local vendors. These communities are small and this project will improve the economic activity of this area. This project also has the potential of producing wood products to be utilized by individual landowners and/or members of the community. B. Six seasonal and two year around positions will be created for the year. These positions will be employed by ODF to complete the fuels reduction work. Local vendors will be offered the opportunity for the mechanical work. C. ODF personnel and local contractors will gain valuable experience and skills in wildland fire behavior and fuels management to include mechanical and hand work reduction as well as prescribed fire operations. Experience will be gained in power tool operation and basic fuels management techniques. There is also an opportunity to learn GIS mapping technology and computer skills. D. Cut trees will be available to the landowner or others if identified by said landowner for firewood or post and poles. Only incidental biomass utilization will take place due to the travel distance to a plant. 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. A community risk assessment and mitigation plan is currently in development by ODF and is scheduled to be completed in 2005. Information already collected will be helpful in setting priorities for potential treatment areas. Also in development is the Community Wildfire Protection Plan for Chemult, Beaver Marsh and Diamond Junction which is scheduled to be complete in July, 2005. The CWPP will establish recommendations and priorities that protect high hazard areas in these at-risk communities. Contact Dennis Lee 541-883-5681 B. Landowners and residents have been contacted individually, by mail, through newspaper articles, fair displays and demonstrations. Residents will continue to be contacted in this manner. Community representatives will also have a substantial role in formulating the CWPP for the project area. ODF has been in contact with representatives from USFS, USFWS, Klamath Tribes, and Klamath County Fire Chiefs. All entities support previous and future fuels reduction project work within the area. ODF will continue to stay in close contact with federal land agencies to maximize fuels reduction efforts on a landscape scale. C. Partners of this project include individual/represented property owners, Fremont-Winema National Forest, USFWS, Klamath Tribes, and Klamath County Fire Chiefs. D. Local community support has been strong from the beginning and it continues to grow as fuels projects are completed. The response from landowners who have had fuels reduction work completed on their property has been extremely positive. ODF has made contact with landowners door-to-door and will continue this effort to engage landowners and generate interest in fuels reduction projects. Project Work Form Tasks Identify specific landowners and direct mail the grant information and set up a meeting for landowners to update the community on plans. Sign up landowners in the program, arroange for a site visit with the landowner and do a hazard assessment. Monitor work projects, document activities for future opportunities, check for compliance with agreement, and verify work has been accomplished. Work in partnernship with cooperatiors, share information and public education on fire hazard reduction Time Frame Responsible Party Oregon Department of Forestry 10/1/2006-9/30/2008 Oregon Department of Forestry 10/1/2006-9/30/2008 Oregon Department of Forestry 10/1/2006 to continue @ 5 year intervals On-going Create defensible space around homes and fuels reduction in high hazard areas Oregon Department of Forestry, USFS, USFWS, and Klamath County Fire Chiefs. Oregon Department of Forestry, USFS 10/1/2006-9/30/2008 Project Budget Cost Category Description Federal Agency Applicant Partner 1 Partner 2 Total Partner 3 Personnel ODF personnel Subtotal $103,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $40,000 $103,000 $0 $0 $0 $143,000 $0 $0 $20,000 $40,000 $143,000 Fringe Benefits OPE 50% Subtotal $20,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $20,000 $0 $0 $0 $20,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $5,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $5,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $5,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $5,000 $2,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $2,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $2,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $2,000 $30,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $30,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $30,000 $0 $0 $0 $30,000 $6,191 $0 $0 $0 $0 $6,191 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $6,191 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $6,191 $103,191 $103,000 $0 $0 $0 $206,191 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Travel $0 Subtotal Equipment Vehicles Subtotal Supplies Service and Supply Subtotal Contractual Brush Buster- Rental Subtotal Other Salem 6%(Prot&Financ) 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.