Project Summary Form
Id Number 2006-117
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Treatment Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
City of Cascade Locks
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
C
541-374-8484
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
541-374-8752
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):
PO Box 308 Cascade Locks, WA 98672
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Mr. Bob Willoughby City Administrator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
City of Cascade Locks
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
542-374-8484
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
509-374-8752
Call Ahead For FAX
Email:
rwilloughby@cascade-locks.or.us
Project Information
Project Title:
Hazard Fuels Reduction Block Grant
Proposed Project Start Date:
05/01/2006
Federal Funding Request:
$ 146,020
Proposed Project End Date:
12/31/2007
Total Project Funding:
$
178,020
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Yes, Cascade Locks will also submit a Prevention application. This hazard fuels reduction request is priority #1.
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 would provide assistance for hazard fuels reduction to private land owners within the city of Cascade Locks, including the urban growth
boundary. The recently completed Community Wildfire Protection Plan identifies hazardous fuel reduction on private parcels as a high priority to
reduce the wildfire risk in the city. Grant money would be used under a cost-share program with landowners to help them do vegetative
management to create defensible space around their structures and reduce wildfire hazards. More than two-thirds of the city has a high wildfire
rating and 30 percent of individual parcels have a high or extreme rating under the NFPA 299 rating system. Cascade Locks is an economically
depressed area and many homeowners need financial assistance to do vegetative management on their property. The city contains, and is
bordered by, National Forest lands; the Forest Service will consider hazard fuel treatment projects on these lands in the near future.
Project Location:
Latitude: 45.67144
Longitude: 121.882
County:
Hood River
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Federal Congressional District:
2
Telephone number of Contact:
David Jacobs, ODF
541-296-4626 Ext.
Mike Ferris, USDAFS
541-308-1700 Ext.
Ann Walker, ODF
503-945-7346 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?
Members of the LCG served on the Core Team which helped complete the CWPP for Cascade Locks.
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 200
Treatment
Acres 0
Treatment Clipping
Acres 200
Treatment
Acres 0
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Other 1
Acres 0
Other 2
Acres 0
Project location: The project is located within the urban growth limits of Cascade Locks, a total of 1,430 acres. Cascade Locks is located
approximately 40 miles east of Portland on I-84. Is population is approximately 1,130. Its north boundary is the Columcia River and most of the
southern boundary is formed by National Forest lands which are in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The city has a long and colorful
history and is one of the oldest communities on the Columbia River. It originated in 1853 when three white families settled along side Indian families
already there. The city is bordered to the south by National Forest lands.
Anticipated outcomes: Wildfire hazard will be directly reduced on 150 residential parcels and indirectly throughout the 1,430 acres in the city.
Completion of the project will serve as a model and encourage others to take action to protect their property from the threat of wildfires. The risk of
wildfire affecting the city and its residents will be significantly reduced. Potentially, all parcels rated as high or extreme in the NFPA 299 risk
assessment will be treated and reduced to a low or moderate level. Additional parcels rated as moderate will be reduced to a low rating.
Community partners: Partners and their roles are:
Participating property owners - they will accomplish the fuel reduction measures. Approximately 150 landowners will participate. The actual number
will be determined by the size and complexity of the parcels involved.
The city fire department - will help determine who is eligible for assistance and help administrate the grant. They will use this project as part of their
training efforts. Firemen will visit with landowners and help get them signed up for the project. They will help administer the grant by assessing work
on the ground and giving advice to landowners.
ODOT and the USDA Forest Service - provide technical assistance by helping to establish fuel reduction standards and methods to accomplish the
project. The Forest Service will also assess the need to reduce hazardous fuels on National Forest lands within the city and to the south in the
National Scenic Area.
ODOT - will help by treating fuels along the I-84 right-of-way. These efforts will compliment fuel reduction efforts by landowners.
City government - administer the grant and provide information to home-owners. The city will sign up participants, monitor progress and provide
payments.
Port of Cascade Locks - provide a brush disposal site. The site will serve participating landowners as well as others who are not funded by the
project, but wish to do hazard fuel reduction anyway. Having a public disposal site will reduce the cost of the work and make the grant money go
further.
The local Red Cross Chapter - provide community disaster education with an emphasis on wildfire protection. Red Cross members in Cascade
Locks have taken Firewise training and are interested in helping in the overall hazard fuel reduction effort.
Project's relationship to a community risk assessment and mitigation plan:
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. Completion of the project will provide direct protection to 150 homes by creating defensible space. These homes are spread
throughout the city from the west to the east end. Approximately 800 additional homes in the city will be indirectly protected
because the threat of wildfire spread will be reduced across the city. The downtown business section was, for the most part, built
from 40 to 50 years ago and largely consists of old wooden buildings easily subject to ignition during a wildfire situation. This
business section would benefit from the project because there would be less threat of wildfire spread throughout the city. The city
has its own power utility including some overhead powerlines and poles which are vulnerable in wildfire situations. The Port of
Cascade Locks owns and operates the popular Marine Park with Sternwheeler facilities, campgrounds and a marina, all which
would be vulnerable during a wildfire. The I-84 corridor could be affected during a wildfire. During the 2003 wildfire, the interstate
was shut done for a considerable time and traffic was affected for several days following.
B. Most homes in Cascade Locks were built more than 25 years ago. Vegetation has grown significantly around homes and in
vacant lots since development. Landscaping typically occurs at the time of development and after 25 years or so, it has put on
heavy growth on most lots. The result is that many homes in Cascade Locks have large trees and, or, brush near them. This
project will target homes with the heaviest level of hazardous fuels. The goal is to reduce these fuels by removal or heavy pruning
thereby creating defensible space. Grant funds will be used to cost-share hazard fuel reduction around home-sites. Hazard fuels
consist of pine and fir trees and various species of brushy species used for landscaping. Some lots are heavily forested and a
thinning to create a shaded fuel break will meet the goal. Specifications used by the ODF in the Mosier/Rowena area will be used
to create defensible space around residential structures.
C. The Community Wildfire Plan for Cascade Locks calls for the creation of a community-based Wildfire Protection Council. The
role of the council will be to find ways to implement the plan and to keep resident's interest high for maintaining improvements.
They will find ways to encourage homeowners to maintain their defensible space. Also, if SB-360 gets implemented in Hood River
County, this will serve as an incentive for homeowners to keep vegetation maintained to acceptable levels.
D. The city will use technical assistance from the ODF and Forest Service to help implement the project. These agencies, along
with the city fire department, will be available to help monitor how the project is being implemented and to evaluate its level of
success. The Columbia Gorge Local Coordinating Group will be interested in the project and can help evaluate its implementation
and success. This group has representatives from two states and four counties and includes: WSU Extension, WDNR, ODF,
USFS, USF&WLS, CRGNSA, Mid Columbia Fire Chiefs Assoc., Klickitat Interagency Fire Chiefs Assoc., county representatives.
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. The economy in Cascade Locks has been stagnant and declining for 15 years. Unemployment rate is high and average income
level far below the state average. This project creates opportunities for individuals to start small businesses to contract the
vegetative work. Also, the city's economy is largely dependent on recreation and tourism activities. A wildfire would disrupt the
economy during suppression activities and affect the long-term desirability for visitors to come and visit.
B. This project could potentially support four to five people part-time during the period of the project [1.5 years]. These people would
operate a professional service to treat hazard fuels. They will gain experience and skills for future business ventures. It could have
longer term benefits if these people are successful and continue their business in and around the area.
C. Fire department personnel and home-owners will become familiar with NFPA 299 survey criteria. Firemen will meet with
homeowners and explain which elements of the survey led to high hazard ratings for their property. Home-owners will gain skill in
recognizing hazards and will share this with friends and neighbors. People contracting will gain skills in treating hazard fuels.
D. It is anticipated that a chipper will be utilized to dispose most of the small material. Chips will be made available for residents to
use for landscaping projects. Commercial material will be sold to local mills.
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 Wildfire Protection Plan was developed during 2004 and completed in January, 2006. A copy of the plan may be
acquired by contacting Bob Willoughby, City Manager, [541]374-8484. The plan presents a strategy to reduce wildfire risk to the
city; it lists and prioritizes several projects designed to reduce wildfire hazards. A high priority project is to assist homeowners to
develop defensible space around their homes. This project would be accomplished by implementing this grant.
B. The Forest Service [National Scenic Area office in Hood River] was a part of the Core Team which worked on developing the
CWPP. National Forest land is within the city and along the south boundary. The Forest Service is aware of the proposed project
and supports it. They will assess National Forest lands in the Wildland Urban Interface which is specified in the CWPP. ODOT
also played a part in the plan's development. They have agreed to cooperate when ever possible to accomplish plan goals.
C. Partners/cooperators - USFS, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Transportation, Port of Cascade Locks,
Red Cross, Cascade Locks Fire Department, City of Cascade Locks, property owners.
D. There is strong support by the city government and city residents to accomplish this project. Home owners are willing to cost
share the hazard fuel reduction projects on their lands. The port will donate a brush disposal site and the city will donate the use of
its chipper. Local Red Cross members will contribute time and effort to provide disaster education related to wildfire situations. The
local volunteer fire department will give their time to help with the project implementation by meeting with homeowners and helping
to sign them up for hazard fuel treatment.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Identify high risk landowners and get them
project information. Hold public meetings to
explain program.
Sigh up landowners, complete site visit,
determine what activities need to take place.
Sign agreement, authorize work. Establish
bush disposal site.
Monitor projects, document activities, check
for compliance, verify work accomplished,
process final payment record and submit. for
payment.
Time Frame
Responsible Party
City of Cascade Locks, Fire
Department.
January - April, 2006
City of Cascade Locks, ODF, Forest
Service, Port
April - May, 2006
City, Fire Department,
June 06, - December 2007
City of Cascade Locks
Complete a photo record of before and after
pictures on a sample of treated properties.
June 06 - December 2007
Conduct wildfire protection education.
Distribute information.
Local Red Cross volunteers
January 06 - Dec. 2007
Project Budget
Landowners
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
ODF
Partner 1
Port
Partner 2
Total
Partner 3
Personnel
Administrative support
Service Forester
Subtotal
$2,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$2,000
$0
$2,000
$18,000
$2,000
$0
$2,000
$0
$22,000
$0
$0
$7,020
$18,000
$20,000
Fringe Benefits
OPE@39%
Subtotal
$7,020
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$7,020
$0
$0
$0
$7,020
$1,000
$500
$0
$0
$0
$1,500
$0
$0
$0
$1,000
$0
$500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$1,500
$0
$1,000
$0
$0
$0
$1,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$1,000
$0
$0
$0
$1,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$120,000
$0
$24,000
$0
$0
$144,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$120,000
$24,000
$0
$0
$144,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$2,500
$2,500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$2,500
$2,500
$146,020
$3,500
$24,000
$2,000
$2,500
$178,020
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Travel
Vehicle milleage
$0
Subtotal
Equipment
Chipper use
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Landowner agreements
Subtotal
Other
Brush disposal site
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.