Enclosure 3A - Project Summary Form
149
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Treatment Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Boulder County, Colorado
Phone:
Type of Applicant: (enter appropriate letter in box)
B
303-441-1722
FAX: 303-441-4794
Email:
bmccarthy@co.boulder.co.us
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) _______________________
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
P.O. Box 471, Boulder, Colorado 80306
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Therese Glawocki, Resource Manager
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Boulder County Parks and Open Space/USFS Boulder Ranger District
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
303-441-3952
303-441-4594
tglowacki@co.boulder.co.us
Project Information
Project Title:
Boulder County Parks and Open Space Forest Thinning Project
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
January 2005
October 2005
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Cost:
$150,000
$300,000
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please prioritize, and explain if the projects are stand alone, sequential or other:
Yes we are submitting a forest thinning project under 3A and a Biomass Utilization project under 3D. They are
stand-alone projects.
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).
Boulder County Parks and Open Space owns and manages approximately 60,000 acres of land. Approximately
20,000 acres is in the wild land urban interface. This forested land is bordered mainly by US Forest Service Land
or private property including subdivisions. We are proposing to thin 150 acres of dense, fire prone forests. This
will reduce the threat of wildfire on our property. It will also create firebreaks that could prevent a wildfire from
spreading from USFS land, through Boulder County property and impacting adjacent property owners and
subdivisions. This will directly support the goals of the National Fire Plan and Community Risk Assessment and
Mitigation Plans.
Project Location:
County:
Federal Congressional District:
Boulder County Open Space properties near
Town of Nederland
Boulder
BC 2
Name of Federal, State or Tribal contact with whom you coordinated this proposal:
Telephone number of Contact:
Allen Owen, Boulder District Forester, Colorado State Forest Service (303) 823-5774.
Christine Walsh, Boulder District Ranger, USFS
(303) 444-6600
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?
This project will change fire behavior through fuels reduction. In our current forest stands, the trees are
as dense as 2000 stems per acre. The proposed thinning projects reduce this number to 80 to 200 stems
per acre. Wildfires will no longer be catastrophic crown fires in this area after thinning, but more easily
defended grass fires because of the thinning. The areas selected will provide fuel breaks in strategic
locations to aid in fighting a wildfire particularly in areas with adjacent homeowners.
Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS) properties are often open to the public for recreation.
Our forest thinning projects are visible to the public as they use the recreational trails. We also provide
interpretive signs informing visitors about what is a healthy or unhealthy forest, and why we are thinning.
Finally, BCPOS has over 100 Volunteer Naturalist and 5 full-time staff that present public programs
including education about wildfire and forest management.
This will enhance fire protection capability by creating fuel breaks in specific locations where a wildfire
could be defended, depending on topography. Fuel breaks will also be located where they will be most
effective in buffering communities to reduce the chance of wildfire spreading from neighboring USFS
lands, through County property, to private property. The desired outcome of this forest thinning proposal
is to reduce the potential of catastrophic wildfire while improving forest health in Boulder County. The
other outcome is to create effective fuel breaks that can be defended in the event of a wildfire on our
property.
The timeframe for this project is 10 months. This includes putting the scope of work out to bid, hiring a
contractor and implementing the project on the ground. Boulder County will contribute staff to manage
the contract. We will also be conducting matching acreage that Boulder County thins adjacent to the
contract with the same goals. For these matching projects we use County staff and equipment. We also
use Boulder County Youth Corps, Americorps, Boulder County inmate crews and volunteers to
contribute the labor.
Boulder County has the forestry and administrative staff to administer the forest thinning contract;
we have successfully done this for the past four years. We maintain a list of pre-qualified forest
contractors to facilitate the process. Boulder County has a staff of 4 full-time foresters, seasonal staff,
a forest ASV, and iron horse, a chipper, a dump truck, chainsaws and other equipment needed the work.
The location of this project will be on Boulder County’s Reynolds Ranch, Mud Lake and
Caribou Ranch properties. Two of these properties abut the Town of Nederland; the third is very
close, in the mountains west of Boulder. The County Land Use Department and local fire districts
have assessed the fire risk for forested land in Boulder County called “WHIMS”. Maps are available
on request. BCPOS Staff work with the Boulder County Ecosystem Cooperative, and the
Boulder County Wildfire Mitigation Group. These two groups include representatives from USFS,
Colorado State Forest Service, City of Boulder, Boulder County Land Use Department, and other
agencies. The Winiger Ridge Ecosystem Management and Restoration Project, where most of
our activities are proposed, began in 1998 and has resulted in significant forest stand improvement
activities on USFS and private land. Boulder County has conducted thinning on many
areas within the project boundary, but has not been able to address the large-scale projects because
of limited funds. Receipt of this grant would allow us to significantly increase our on-the-ground
fuels reduction and forest health treatments.
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:
A. Boulder County Parks and Open Space properties, USFS properties and private land. Reduction of
catastrophic wildfires and the risk of catastrophic crown fires in this area after thinning, but more easily
defended grass fires because of the thinning. Communities to be included are forestry open space
properties in the Boulder mountain including Reynolds Ranch, Mud Lake and Caribou Ranch
properties, located near the Town of Nederland, in the mountains west of Boulder.
B. This project proposes to change fire behavior through fuels reduction. In our current forest stands,
the trees are as dense as 2000 stems per acre. The proposed thinning projects reduce this number
to 80 to 300 stems per acre. Wildfires will no longer be catastrophic crown fires in this area
after thinning, but more easily defended grass fires because of the thinning. The areas selected will
provide fuel breaks in strategic locations to aid in fighting a wildfire particularly in areas
with adjacent homeowners. The timing for this project is approximately 10 months.
C. All treatments will continue to be managed within BCPOS’ forest management objectives.
BCPOS’ Resource Management Division has 25 full time staff members and numerous seasonal
employees. The department hires contractors, works with Americorps, and uses staff and equipment
to accomplish its forest management objectives. Boulder County’s various forest thinning projects
began in the mid 1970’s (total land under BCPOS control is approximately 80,100 acres,
of this amount approximately 20,000 acres is forested land located in the foothills and mountains
in the western part of the County).
D. Boulder County will contribute staff to manage the contract, and will also be conducting matching
acreage that Boulder County thins adjacent to the contract with the same goals. For these matching
projects we use County staff and equipment. We also use Boulder County Youth Corps, Americorps,
Boulder County inmate crews and volunteers to contribute to labor.
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?
Response:
Catastrophic fires are a serious issue for Boulder County. In the past three years, Boulder County and
the state of Colorado have incurred numerous mountain fires that have resulted in lost business opportunities
for these communities, including decreased tourism for the mountain communities, and many areas of the
state. In addition, the human impacts to our mountain communities in terms of property damage, wildlife
habitat loss and displacement have been significant. Thinning forests in these communities ensures that
existing community employment and business opportunities are stable and continue to be stable.
B. Boulder County will hire an outside contractor for this project that will result in additional job creation.
In addition, the County will also be conducting matching acreage that Boulder County thins adjacent to
the contract with the same goals. For these matching projects, the County will use Boulder County Youth
Corps, Americorps, Boulder County inmate crews, volunteers and paid seasonal staff to contribute to
labor.
C. Boulder County will continue to develop and update new procedures with each forest thinning project
undertaken. Boulder County Resource staff participates in numerous hours of training to continue
learning new skills.
D. Boulder County is actively working on a proposal and creation of a biomass system in a new County
facility that will make use of biomass fuels. If implemented, these fuels will be used by the County for
conversion to active heat creation.
A.
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:
Boulder County is working with local communities and forest service agencies to develop and implement
community risk assessments and mitigation plans for fire risk. The proposed areas are under and adjacent to
areas that have already been assessed for risk by the USFS. All areas have been assessed under the County
Land Use fire risk inventory.
B. Any proposed treatment will be coordinated with adjacent landowners and local/State/Tribal/Federal
agencies.
C. The Boulder County Land Use Department and local fire districts have assessed the fire risk for forested
land in Boulder County called “WHIMS”. Boulder County Parks and Open Staff work with the Boulder
County Ecosystem Cooperative, and the Boulder County Wildfire Mitigation Group. These two groups
include representatives from USFS, Colorado State Forest Service, City of Boulder, Boulder County Land
Use Department, and other agencies. The Winiger Ridge Ecosystem Management and Restoration Project,
where most of our activities are proposed, began in 1998 and has resulted in significant forest stand
improvement activities on USFS and private land.
D. Current local support includes the communities of Nederland, the USFS, Boulder County Ecosystem
Cooperative, Boulder County Wildfire Mitigation Group, and City of Boulder. The Winiger Ridge project
received significant financial (over $1 Million) support from the USFS, however all activities conducted with
these funds were on USFS and private property.
A.
Enclosure 3A - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Developing scope of work to put
out to bid
1 month
Boulder County Parks and Open
Space
Request for bid; bid review;
contractor selection
2 months
Boulder County Parks and Open
Space
Hire contractor, education,
contract review, agreement for
scope of work to be completed.
2 months
Boulder County Parks and Open
Space
Forest Thinning Process.
5 months
Outside contractor with project
overview by Boulder County
Parks and Open Space.
Monitor and management of
contract. Boulder County thins
adjacent to the contract with the
same goals.
(concurrent with forest thinning
process)
Boulder County Parks and Open
Space; County to also use
Boulder County Youth Corps,
Americorps, Boulder County
inmate crews; volunteers
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
120,000
120,000
240,000
00
00
00
7,500
7,500
15,000
15,000
15,000
30,000
7,500
7,500
15,000
150,000
150,000
300,000
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
Personnel
*estimate for total 2005
Boulder thinning
County thinning
project
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
Travel
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Subtotal
Other
Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program)
Income1
(using deductive
alternative)
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.