Project Summary Form
Id Number 2006-131
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Treatment Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
A
509-684-7474
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
509-779-4781
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):
P.O. Box 190 Colville, WA 99114
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Mr. Chuck Johnson NFP Grant Coordinator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Washington State DNR, NE Region
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
509-684-7474
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
509-779-4781
Call Ahead For FAX
Email:
Chuck.Johnson@wadnr.gov
Project Information
Project Title:
Havillah Community Strategic WUI Fuel Reduction Project
Proposed Project Start Date:
05/01/2006
Federal Funding Request:
$ 161,600
Proposed Project End Date:
08/01/2007
Total Project Funding:
$
318,900
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Yes. The Washington State DNR is submitting several proposals in various categories. This is a #1 priority project.
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 includes a landscape wide fuels reduction project targeting the high risk interface zone between public and private lands near the
community of Havillah. Fuel breaks of 300 or more feet will be established on private lands near the perimeter of the Havillah Community Wildfire
Protection Plan [CWPP] area, bordering USFS and DNR lands to assist in suppression efforts and provide fighter fighters a chance to mount a
reasonable defense especially against fires coming off public lands and into the Havillah plan area. It will compliment fuel reduction projects near
the Havillah CWPP area already completed and/or planned by the DNR & USFS further increasing the buffer zone. Fuel breaks will also be
established along the plan's other boundaries and along stratetic roads to further create fuel breaks. This grant is an implementation mechanism of
the Havillah Community Wildfire Plan, mitigagion and action items A, C & N.
Project Location:
Latitude: 48.85
Longitude: 119.2
County:
Okanogan
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Federal Congressional District:
5
Telephone number of Contact:
Mark Morris, Tonasket District Ranger, USFS
509-426-5110 Ext.
Loren Torgerson, District Manager, Higland Region, DNR
509-634-3157 Ext.
Sharon Barton Wood, FMO, Tonasket District, USFS
509-486-5151 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 project is being coordinated with the Highlands Fire Defense LCG
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 450
Treatment Hand Pile Burning
Acres 450
Treatment
Acres 0
Treatment
Acres 0
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Other 1
Acres 0
Other 2
Acres 0
Location: This project is located within the boundaries of the Havillah Community Wildfire Protection Plan [CWPP] area in the Highlands region of
Okanogan County in north central Washington. Approximately 22,880 acres in size, it is situated between two sections of USFS lands administered
by the Tonasket Ranger District. There are 13 DNR administered parcels in or near the plan boundaries as well. Collectively, using averages,
agencies respond to 480 fire calls annually in the Highlands region. In recent years, four large fires burned into or near the plan boundaries
engulfing some 70 homes and 45,535 acres. The community of Havillah is located within the plan boundaries. The watersheds all have fire
dependant ecosystems.
Anticipated outcomes: The creation of strategic fuel breaks will modify fire size and behavior and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires coming off
public lands and into the Havillah CWPP area. These fuel breaks will assist in suppression efforts, lesson intensity and severity, prevent spread,
and reduce wildland fire costs and post fire damage. It will also decrease risk to humans, homes, croplands, private timber plots and other natural
resources. These buffer zones will provide firefighters with a chance to mount a reasonable defense and increase firefighter safety. Community
members will build relationships with the USFS and DNR and have an opportunity to experience positive multiagency cooperation. Additional
voluntary fuel reduction projects by landowners is anticipated. Serving as a model for neighboring communities and creating a ripple effect in our
subgeographical area is also desired. Collaboration and coordination by the Highlands Fire Defense Local Coordinating Group [HFDLCG] has been
outstanding. They encouraged the Havillah group to sit at the table with them, are assisting with the grant application process and are providing
computer space for data input. Community partners include ten Federal, State and County agencies and seven Rural Fire Protection Districts who
participate in the Highland Fire Defense LCG; fourteen Tonasket Ranger District employees, four DNR employees, The Kettle Range Conservation
Group, Okanogan Highlands Alliance, Council Chair for the Colville tribe and 37 citizens of Havillah who have been involved or performed specific
tasks beyond attending a meeting. The above groups have provided data, given input and/or have provided services to develop this project
proposal.
Relationships: This implementation project comes directly from action items A, C & N of the Havillah Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and
speaks directly to the National Fire Plan goal of hazardous fuel reduction. This project will treat approximately 450 acres. Mitigation will involve
thinning, pruning and piling either by hand or mechanically. The waste will be chipped, burned or used as firewood. A buffer zone of at least 300'
will be encouraged to modify extreme wildfire behavior and lesson post fire damage. This fuel break will compliment several USFS treatment
projects in the vicinity. Last year the USFS treated 1060 acres near the Havillah Community plan border and have an additional 4760 acres planned
over the next three years. The DNR treated 180 acres adjacent to the plan border. Two of these projects were identified in the Havillah CWPP.
Additionally, landowners have voluntarily treated over 1000 acres and another 750 is anticipated in the near future. This project targets some of the
most difficult areas to treat including thick reprod from two previous fires. Fuel breaks established by this project, in conjunction with voluntary, DNR
and USFS treatment projects, will serve to not only protect some 70 homes in the plan area, but will also provide a buffer zone for neighboring
communities as well.
Timeline: The anticipated timeline runs from the time funding becomes available until September of 2007 or until funds are gone. The DNR is
contributing $5000 in soft match funds. In kind match will be in the form of time, office space and vehicle expenses by the DNR. Landowners are
contributing and average of 50% on a cost share basis or $148,500. Landowners will contribute an additional $8500 in time and future maintenance
and monitoring activities. Cost sharing will occur from the DNR, USFS and HFDLCG in the form of publicity assistance, project coordination
assistance and monitoring assistance. The bigger picture includes the treatment of 7750 nearby acres for a value of over $500,000. Additionally,
according to annual averages, the agencies involved may spend another $100K in suppression costs for the protection of the community in 2005.
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. Infrastructure protected: Havillah is a homestead community and many of the original families remain. The community itself
contains several historic buildings, including a church that is more than 100 years old. Sitzmark Ski Area, a one chair lift resort,
serves the area and the Highlands Snow Park provides many miles of cross country ski trails. Fishing waters including reservoirs
and streams provide spawning grounds for brook and rainbow trout. Other recreational opportunities include hiking, biking,
hunting, snowmobiling, skating and horseback riding on private and public lands. This rural neighborhood is served by a network
of power lines and phone lines as well as county, private and federal roads. Some 70 homes, over 200 outbuildings, croplands,
grazing lands and private timber plots will also be protected.
B. Fire behavior: With a century of fire suppression and sustained drought, heavy fuel loading, tree density, ladder fuels and
general forest health has greatly changed in the Havillah area. Doghair tickets of ponderosa pine and fir, excessive surface debris
and thick brush have accumulated. Areas targeted by this proposal include the most hazardous areas including heavy reprod from
two previous fires [upwards of 50 stems per square foot], doghaired tickets and areas bordering public lands. Thinning, pruning
and piling by hand and machine will be done and disposal will be by chipping, burning or removal for firewood. Creation of a fuel
break at the perimeter of the Havillah CWPP area, over the next couple of years, especially in cooperation with existing and
planned USFS treatment projects provides a buffer zone that can effectively modify fire behavior by bringing it out of the crowns,
providing fire fighters with a chance to mount a reasonable defense. It should lesson spread, intensity, severity and post fire
damage. One of the biggest threats identified in the Havillah plan comes from the USFS managed Mt. Bonaparte area which is
heavily covered in lodgepole pine, contains 15 feet of downed fuels in spots, is infested with diseases and is in a roadless area
further compounding its impact on our community. It has been long stated it's not a matter of if; it's just a matter of when it will
burn. Many landowners have voluntarily treated all or some of their lands. Cost, however is a huge factor in treating some of the
worst areas. The USFS local averages for contractors treating light to medium density areas runs from $280 to $360 per acre.
The local DNR treatment experts need to pay contractors $1000 per acre to treat heavy density stands, like many of those this
project targets. This plan estimates it will cost an average of $660 to treat the identified acres and is asking for $330 per acre to
help treat some of these most costly acres. The payoff, however will be to greatly reduce extreme fire behavior in a high hazard
area.
C. Future years: The citizens of the Havillah CWPP area will provide ongoing monitoring as needed in future years to maintain the
fuel break. Reinspection will occur after five years and re-entry, additional burns and other measures will be taken to maintain the
buffer zone.
D. Multi-party monitoring: The fuels consultant will take before an after photographs on a sampling of the sites. Members of the
Highlands Fire Defense Team, the project coordinator, the fuels consultant and interested county and city officials and local
citizens will visit sites to see how the work is progressing. Changes or recommendations will be incorporated into the project and
noted for inclusion in future projects.
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. In this economically depressed area, this project will supply local landowners and contractors with employment. The tasks will
likely lead to equipment rental and repair at local shops. Property values will increase, grazing and private timber stands will be
protected and the potential for economic damage due to fire will be reduced. Monitoring and future entries to maintain the buffer
zone will benefit the economy in the future.
B. This project will create the following employment: Fuels consultant, part time 1.5 years, 3 or 4 contractors with up to three
employees each working up to 200 days. Landowners who treat their own property, 10 to 100 days. The project is seasonal in
nature.
C. The landowners and contract workers will be doing forestry thinning and pruning type work as opposed to the typical logging type
operation. They will work with chainsaws, pruners, brush cutters and chippers. An understanding will be gained of the kinds of
volumes of material that is generated by fuels reduction work, mostly involving small diameter vegetaion. As workers and
landowners see the amount of debris generated, a greater understanding of the necessity of landscape wide fuel breaks will become
more apparent.
D. Biomass is beginning to be appreciated locally as landscape mulch and lifestock bedding. Volunteer thinning projects have sent
small diameter materials to be chipped for commercial uses. Some thinning material will be utilized 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 targets mitigation and action items A, C & N of the Havillah CWPP. This plan was developed by the community
using all local dollars and was published in May 2004. The local contact is Rae Morris; 64 Fire Springs Road, Tonasket, WA
98855; email: raemorris@amerion.com; phone: 509-485-2347.
B. During the process of developing the Havillah CWPP, local State, Tribal and Federal agencies were collaborated with. Their
input was invaluable. The largest neighbor to the Havillah CWPP area is the USFS. Coordination efforts continue as this project
compliments fuel reduction projects the USFS and DNR completed last year that border the plan area. It will be further supported by
projects planned over the next three years [mitigation and action plan item B in the Havillah CWPP] Adjacent local fire protection
districts and landowners were also collaborated with and provided valuable input to the plan.
C. Cooperators/partners involved in implementation include the DNR and the HFDLCG which includes 17 local, county, state &
federal agencies.
D. Local support continues to be strong. Due to recent heavy fire activity, community awareness is acute. The biggest threat to
the plan area is from wildfire coming off public land and into the plan area. The prospect of creating a fuel break between public
and private land is highly supported. Done in conjunction with USFS and DNR fuel treatment projects increases the likelyhood of
success. Cost sharing will occur from the DNR, USFS and HFDLCG in the form of publicity assistance, project coordination
assistance and monitoring assistance. Cost sharing by landowners will occur as they are paying a percentage of the total cost to
have their lands treated.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Obtain funding
Hire fuels consultant
Locate fuels reduction contractors
Begin advertising
Locate interested landowners Begin taking
applications
On site consultations to generate site plan,
including risk assessments and fuel reduction
plans
Completion of individual projects
Final inspection of sites
Outline maintence expectations
Rebate payments to landowners
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Project Coordinator, Chuck Johnson,
DNR
April 2006
May 2006 and ongoing
Project Coordinator, Chuck Johnson,
DNR assisted by the fuels consultant
and Rae Morris, Havillah CWPP
Fuels Consultant, landowners
May 2006 and ongoing
Landowners, hired contractors and
fuels consultant
May 2006 and ongoing
Monitoring visits to treatment areas
June 2006 and ongoing
Project Coordinator, Chuck Johnson,
DNR along with the
Highlands Fire Defense Team, fuels
consultant and interested landowners
Project Coordinator, Chuck Johnson,
DNR
Prepare final project report
September 20007
Project Budget
HCWPP landowners
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
Partner 3
Personnel
Monitors, maintenance
PR & advertising
Subtotal
$0
$3,500
$7,500
$0
$0
$11,000
$0
$250
$750
$0
$0
$1,000
$0
$3,750
$8,250
$0
$0
$12,000
$0
$0
$0
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$600
$0
$0
$0
$0
$600
$0
$0
$0
$600
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$600
$0
$1,000
$0
$0
$0
$1,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$1,000
$0
$0
$0
$1,000
$500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$500
$12,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$12,000
$148,500
$0
$0
$145,800
$0
$0
$294,300
$160,500
$145,800
$0
$0
$306,300
$0
$250
$250
$0
$0
$500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$250
$250
$0
$0
$500
$161,600
$5,000
$154,300
$0
$0
$320,900
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Travel
Consultant mileage
$0
Subtotal
Equipment
GPS Clinometer, Compas
Subtotal
Supplies
Mailing
Subtotal
Contractual
Fuels Consultant/Plan
450 acres @ $330 rebate
Subtotal
Other
Communication & misc
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.