Project Summary Form
Id Number 2006-154
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN-INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Treatment Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
City of White Salmon
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
C
509-493-1133
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
509-493-1231
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):
Box 2139 White Salmon, WA 98672
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Mr. Wil Keyser Public Works Director
Organization/Jurisdiction:
City of White Salmon
Phone: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
509 493-1133
FAX: (111 111-1111 x 1111)
509-493-1231
Call Ahead For FAX
Email:
cityhall@gorge.net
Project Information
Project Title:
Bluff Hazard Fuel Treatment
Proposed Project Start Date:
02/01/2006
Proposed Project End Date:
12/31/2007
Federal Funding Request:
$ 50,000
Total Project Funding:
$
61,500
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
No, this is the only project being submitted by the city of White salmon.
Please note! Because this project overlaps both the fuels utilization and hazard fuel treatment categories, it was submitted under both
categories. The applicant was unsure which category it best fits. It is understood that it will be considered under only one category and that
the agencies will decide this.
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 involves grazing by goats and sheep to reduce hazardous fuels on the approximately 143 acre White Salmon/Bingen bluff area. The
bluff contains heavy fuels and the risk of ignition is high with a state highway and major railroad immediately below it. A wildfire starting on the bluff
will rapidly spread to the top where many high valued homes are located. The cities propose to contract with a professional goat/sheep herder to
bring animals in over a two year period to reduce woody and herbaceous material on the bluff. The goal is to reduce the level of fuels so when a
wildfire occurs, fire department personnel will be able to more easily suppress it before it threatens human life and property. The bluff area is very
steep, foot travel is hazardous, and there is lots of poison oak. Hand treatment would be difficult and dangerous. This project is identified as a high
priority project in the White Salmon/Bingen Community Wildfire Protection Plan completed in January of 2005.
Project Location:
Latitude: 45.7276
Longitude: 121.483
County:
Klickitat
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Federal Congressional District:
4
Telephone number of Contact:
Len Riggins, WDNR
509-925-8510 Ext.
Rod Altig, USFS
541-308-1700 Ext.
Alan Lawson, WDNR
509-493-3218 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 rhe LCG participated in the development of the White Salmon/Bingen CWPP.
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 Mastication/Mowing
Acres 143
Treatment
Acres 0
Treatment
Acres 0
Treatment
Acres 0
If you have a treatment type other than standard types above:
Other 1 Animal grazing
Acres 143
Other 2
Acres 0
Location: The White Salmon/Bingen area is located about 60 miles east of Portland on the Washington side of the Columbia River. The
communities are served by Washington State Highway 14 and the interstate bridge leading to I-84 in Oregon. The project is made up of the bluff
area between Highway 14 and the top of the bluff, from 500-700 feet from bottom to top. It extends from the White Salmon River on the west to the
city of Bingen on the east, about two miles in length. Total acres involved is 143 acres.
The cities of Bingen and White Salmon have National Scenic Area lands on three sides of their boundary. They are about 1.5 miles from the Burdoin
Mountain area to the northeast which has National Forest lands. The Forest Service recently completed a hazard fuels treatment project on National
Forest lands on Burdoin Mountain. Also, there are three Indian in-lieu sites within, or adjacent to, the city of White Salmon. One site is at the mouth
of the White Salmon River and is occupied year-round. The other two are within the city near the interstate bridge and at the base of the proposed
project.
Anticipated outcomes and measures of success: The goal is to create a shaded fuel break across the entire length of the slope. Fuels will be
drastically reduced from the ground to about six feet high. This will effectively take away ladder fuels helping to keep fires that do start out of the
crowns of larger trees. Fires that do start will be much easier to suppress and present less of a threat to the residential communities above. Before
and after photos will be taken and transects established to measure the effectiveness of the activity. The real measure of success will be the fire
behavior of future wildfires that do occur on the project area.
Partners:
City of Cascade Locks: the city will administer the contract, hold meetings with landowners involved, and gain acceptance for the project.
Landowners: The bluff is in largely private ownership with approximately 75 owners involved. The state of Washington owns about 10 percent of the
project area. There is strong agreement among the landowners to treat hazard fuels on the bluff. The concept of grazing has wide support because
it will meet the objective of creating an effective shaded fuel break and avoid having to do logging activities or herbicide use on the steep slope.
White Salmon and Bingen Fire Departments and Fire District # 3: Fire department personnel will work with landowners to secure agreement for the
project.
Washington DNR: The DNR is keenly interested in treating hazardous fuels on the bluff and will be a strong partner in implementing the project.
They will provide technical assistance in designing the project and in helping to conduct public meetings to explain the project to residents.
Underwood Conservation District: Will provide technical assistance, assist with monitoring the success of the project and take before and after
pictures.
Klickitat Weed Control District: Will provide technical assistance and assist with monitoring transects.
US Forest Service, National Scenic Area Office: Provide technical assistance.
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 bluff area lies at the base of the cities of White Salmon and Bingen. It is very steep with loose rocks and lots of poison oak
making foot travel hazardous and unsafe. There is a major state highway and railroad at the base of the bluff providing ample
sources for ignition. The bluff has heavy fuel levels with pine and fir trees and brush and grass near the surface. Above the bluff
are many homes and the city of White Salmon. A wildfire starting on the bluff would be difficult to suppress during periods of high
winds and hot, dry conditions [typical in the summer]. About 75 homes are at the top of the bluff and more than 1000 beyond to the
north. These, plus the downtown portion of White Salmon are vulnerable during a wildfire event on the bluff.
B. The project involves bringing in from 500 to 1000 goats and sheep to graze the bluff area. The sheep will take the grasses and
forbs while the goats will take the woody, brush species up to about five or six feet high. Animals will be grazed in the spring and
fall for two continuous years. Grazing will remove the ladder fuels which enable fire to reach up into the crowns of trees. Without
ladder fuels, wildfires will behave less severely and be easier to suppress by the fire department. There will be less spotting over
the top of the bluff to residential areas and the downtown portion of the city.
C. After completion of this two year project, the city will consider alternatives for continuing it in future years. The project may prove
profitable to the local business which supplied the animals and it may want to continue grazing the bluff even without financial
compensation. Another possibility is for the homeowners at the top of the bluff to form a hazard fuel control district. Members of
the district would pay an annual fee which would go towards the continuance of the grazing activities. A successful program
demonstrating the effectiveness of the grazing program would encourage the homeowners to form and support such a district.
D. Both the Underwood Conservation District and the Klickitat County Weed Control Board will be involved in the monitoring and
evaluation process. They will establish and read transects and create photo points to take before and after pictures.
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 project will support a local business set up to provide grazing services for various purposes. Products produced by the
animals will cycle through the local and regional economy and help support several small business dealing in these products, i.e.
goat meat, sheep wool. The businesses supported are very viable and sustainable. Also, businesses which make and distribute
fencing supplies will be supported.
B. One to two herder jobs will be supported during the spring and fall seasons. The project will directly support one local business
supplying the animals and indirectly support several businesses which deal in goat meat and sheep wool products.
C. The city and county will gain experience and knowledge about the effectivenes of animal grazing and hazard fuel treatment.
D. Yes, biomass will be utilized by goats and sheep. With this project, goats will eat the vegetation on-site and products used by
people will be produced. Goats will produce meat and leather and sheep will produce wool. Each goat will eat about ten pounds of
biomass per day. A herd of 500 will consume 5,000 pounds a day. Importantly, this material makes up the ladder fuels which enable
fire to get into the crowns of trees and travel through the tree tops.
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. The CWPP for White Salmon and Bingen was completed in January, 2005. The plan calls for treating hazard fuels on the bluff
area shared by the two cities. A copy of the plan may be acquired by contacting Wil Keyser at 509-493-1133.
B. This project was a major consideration during development of the CWPP for the cities of White Salmon and Bingen. During that
process there was close collaboration with the landowners, WDNR, and the USFS. These participants helped form the overall
strategy for dealing with the bluff situation.
C. Several partners will be involved with implementing this project. The city will hold meetings with homeowners at the top of the
bluff to explain the program. Landowners will be asked to cooperate, if possible, in accomplishing the project. The DNR will
participate in these meetings and help identify high priority areas on the bluff to concentrate grazing activities. The Klickitat County
Weed Board and the Underwood Conservation District will monitor project activities and evaluate its success in meeting project
goals. They will establish photo points and transects as part of the monitoring process.
D. There is strong local support for this project by the cities and homeowners. A number of bluff fires have occurred over the past
years and residents know it is just a matter of time before a large one gets away and destroys homes and threatens lives. The city,
DNR, Underwood Conservation and County Weed Board are all willing to share the cost for completing this project.
Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Contact landowners, hold town hall meeting to
explain project goals etc.
Jan. - May, 2006
Contract with goat/sheep grazing business
owner to accomplish project. Schedule
grazing periods.
City of White Salmon, White Salmon
and Bingen Fire Departments,
WDNR.
City of White Salmon
March -May, 2006
Identify highest priority areas on bluff for
grazing.
Establish monitoring transects and photo
points. Conduct grazing. Monitor and write
evaluation report.
Responsible Party
March-may, 2006
WDNR, USFS, Underwood
Conservation Dist., County Weed
Control Board.
May 06-Oct.07
Underwood Conservation District,
Klickitat Weed Control Board, City of
White Salmon.
Project Budget
Underwood Cons.
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
WDNR
Partner 1
Weed Control Bd.
Partner 2
Total
Partner 3
Personnel
Administrative support
Contract Administration
Subtotal
$2,000
$0
$0
$0
$8,000
$3,000
$0
$0
$0
$11,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
$0
$0
$15,000
$0
$0
$0
$2,000
$4,000
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
$40,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$40,000
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$40,000
$0
$0
$0
$40,000
$0
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,500
$6,500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,500
$6,500
$50,000
$5,000
$1,000
$2,000
$3,500
$61,500
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Travel
$0
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Grazing animals
Subtotal
Other
Technical support
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.