Enclosure 3A - Project Summary Form
26
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Treatment Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Sun Mountain Ranch Club & Membership Assoc., Inc.
Phone:
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
Organization
509-996-9241
Non-Profit
L
FAX:
Email:
bonbon@methow.com
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
A. State
B. County
C. Municipal
D. Township
E. Interstate
F. Intermunicipal
G. Special District
H. Independent School District
I. State-Controlled Institution of Higher Learning
J. Private University
K. Indian Tribe
L. Nonprofit Organization
M. Other (Specify) _______________________
P.O. Box 24, Winthrop, WA 98862
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
John Daily, SMRC Project Manager
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Sun Mountain Ranch Club and Membership Assoc., Inc. (SMRC)
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
506-996-9241
bonbon@methow.com
Project Information
Project Title:
Complete fuels treatment for the Sun Mountain Ranch Club Community
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
10/1/04
12/31/06
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Cost:
$167,000
$203,000
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please prioritize, and explain if the projects are stand alone, sequential or other:
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 to complete the fuels treatments identified in the 2002 and 2003 NFP grants on the 300+
parcel Sun Mountain Ranch Club community. These grants provided for fire risk assessments, a
“Fire-wise” workshop, community fire plan and fuels treatments on 160 lots (400 Ac.). This request
is to primarily address heavy bitterbrush fuels. Over $850,000 (including $140,000 of donated
funds) has already been invested towards making this community more fire safe. The FS, BLM,
WA-DNR, Fire District and local landowners support the program. The Methow Fire Plan
Coordinating Group has ranked this project as #3 for fuels treatment in the Methow Valley.
Project Location:
County:
Federal Congressional District:
Winthrop, WA
Okanogan
5th
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Telephone number of Contact:
John Newcom, District Ranger, Winthrop RD
509-996-4060
Enclosure 3A (Page 1 of 3) - 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:
 project location (e.g., Watershed,
Address
neighboring community)
these items
as applicable:  anticipated outcomes

project relationship to the community risk assessment and
mitigation plan
 amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc.)
 community partners and their
 project timeline and matching or contributed funds
role(s)
 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 haven’t worked with a local coordination group, why not?
Sun Mountain Ranch Club is a 300+ parcel, 750-acre subdivision adjacent to Twin Lakes between Winthrop
and Twisp, WA. It lies in a broad valley with the Methow Valley Schools immediately down-valley and
down-wind. Much of the area is in dense ponderosa pine forest cover. The remaining vegetation is heavy,
decadent bitterbrush. The subdivision is within a volatile fire disturbance area and future fire events are
inevitable.
The community is very concerned about the fire risk. Previous grants have provided for fire risk assessments,
a “Fire-wise” workshop, development and implementation of a fire plan, completion of fuel breaks and
treatment of 160 lots on 400 acres. Investments in the project include SMRC timber revenues and donations
of $140,300 and two BLM National Fire Plan grants totaling $711,358.
This request is to complete treatment on the remainder of the community, primarily involving trimming heavy
stands of bitterbrush and pruning ladder fuels. A total of 140 properties and 350 acres will be included in
these actions. The work will be begin as soon as the grant is approved and will be completed by the end of
2006.
SMRC, the duly formed non-profit organization representing the entire Sun Mountain Ranch community,
makes the request. In addition to benefiting the landowners the project also provides public benefits;
increased safety for firefighters and reduced risk of fire escaping onto surrounding developed lands and
threatening the schools and towns of Winthrop and Twisp. The FS, BLM, DNR and local fire districts are
active participants in the planning, design and implementation of the project. Sun Mountain Lodge, an
adjacent landowner allowed treatment of their land as a fuel break.
This proposal was submitted in February 2003 for FY 2004 funding. We understood it was ranked highly and
recommended for funding. This funding did not materialize so the proposal is being resubmitted. SMRC is
participating with the Methow Valley Fire Plan Coordinating Group to develop a Methow Valley Fire Plan.
This Coordinating Group ranked this request as #3 in the Valley for fuels treatment.
Enclosure 3A (Page 2 of 3) - 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:
Sun Mountain Ranch Club is a 300-parcel, 750 acre subdivision that is about 2/3 built out. The
community has a variety of structures, some of which are not fire-safe, but improvements and upgrades are
ccurring. The community and surrounding area also contain up-scale, expensive structures. Treating the
fuels will not only protect the community but also the surrounding developed areas, including the Methow
Valley Schools. These are all within the Winthrop-Twisp WUI’s.
Fuel treatment objectives are to (1) reduce the ground fuels so flame lengths remain below 4 feet, (2)
eliminate ladder fuels so fire stays out of the crowns, and (3) reduce bulk density in the crowns so any fire
getting to the crown would involve only a single crown or patch. This is done by a combination of thinning
from below and then removing the ground fuels. With these treatments suppression forces can make direct
attack on fires and control them before they engulf the entire community or spread to surrounding lands. This
request is to treat the fuels on the remaining lots not included in the previous grants. These are at the eastern
end and involve primarily heavy bitterbrush stands and full-crown ponderosa pine pockets. Treatment is
needed to meet the flame length objective. This will be done with a combination of mechanical and hand
work. As much of the material removed as possible will be utilized and the remaining slash burned or
chipped. The community fire plan will address how these measures will be maintained.
The Methow Valley Fire Plan Coordinating Group is developing monitoring techniques as a part of the
Methow Valley Fire Plan. SMRC is involved with this effort and will participate with monitoring actions
within the development to improve techniques and results.
Enclosure 3A (Page 3 of 3) - 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?
This proposal will employ a five-person crew for a full season, or 3-4 years of employment. The
indirect benefits are huge in this valley that is dedicated to tourism. Catastrophic fires are a disaster to the
tourism industry and to the local economy. Sun Mountain Ranch Club is a demonstration for achieving fuels
treatment and reducing fire risk and other communities and groups are looking at these results. This will
spawn a new industry, involving at least 4-5 crews on essentially a full-time basis, to treat these fuels in the
Methow Valley. With the current backlog, this work will continue for the foreseeable future. Reduced fire
risk will be a major benefit not only to the homeowners but also to the entire Methow economy.
Response:
New techniques and equipment are coming into play. Chippers, small skidders and mechanical wood cutting
machines are being used. An estimated 90 thousand board feet of merchantable timber will be removed along
with considerable smaller material. This will be utilized for firewood or other uses. The Small Diameter
Utilization project in the Valley has been contacted to see if there are additional uses for this material. The
estimated $36,000 in timber revenues will be donated back to the project to reduce overall costs. Only the
limbs and tops will be chipped or burned.
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: SMRC is
participating with the Methow Valley Fire Plan Coordinating Group. The Sun Mountain
Ranch Club Fire Plan will be an integral part of the Methow Valley Plan. This Methow Valley planning is
just beginning but the relative risks were evaluated and this proposal was ranked by the Group as #3 for fuels
treatment within the Methow Valley.
Sun Mountain Ranch Club lies directly in the middle of the Winthrop – Twisp WUI’s. It is immediately
upwind from the Methow Schools. Sun Mountain, an adjacent landowner, agreed to treat two areas to extend
the effects of the grant treatments. The project is a demonstration on how to reduce fire risk in a volatile fire
setting. It is available for viewing by all agencies, organizations and individuals interested. Over $850,000,
including $140,000 of timber revenues and donations, has already been invested in the project and it is
supported by the Sun Mountain Ranch Club and local community.
Long-time partners in the project include:
 US Forest Service – Initiated action, coordinated projects, and provided project and grant support.
 Bureau of Land Management – Provided grant support.
 WA-DNR – Initiated action, provided project support and SIP funding.
 Winthrop Rural Fire Dist. – Initiated action and provided project support.
Enclosure 3A - Project Work Form
Tasks
Treat fuels on 140 additional lots.
(350 Ac.)
Time Frame
Fall 2004 & Spring/Summer 2006
Responsible Party
SMRC & Cascade Woodlands
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
Personnel
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
Travel
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Treatment Operators
$167,000
$36,000
$203,000
$167,000
$36,000
$203,000
Subtotal
Other
Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program) Income1
(using deductive alternative)
1
$36,000 Timber Revenue
Invested Back
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.
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