Enclosure 3A - Project Summary Form
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Wildland Urban Interface Fuels / Education and
Prevention / Community Planning for Fire Protection Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Crooked River Ranch Rural Fire Protection District
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-923-6776
541-923-5247
Crr_rfpd@onemain.com
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
7000 SW Shad Rd, Terrebonne, OR 97760-9250
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Patrick Reitz, Chief
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Crooked River Ranch Rural Fire Protection District
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-923-6776
541-923-5247
Crr_rfpd@onemain.com
Project Information
Project Title:
Community-wide Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Reduction and/or Modification
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
April 30, 2001
December 31, 2005
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$147,625
$255,035
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
No
Brief Project Description:
To continue work on the project previously awarded grant monies through the National Fire Plan.
To reduce and/or modify the fuels available within the wildland urban interface and to reduce the
perceived need for outdoor burning of waste to reduce the likelihood of a catastrophic wildland fire.
This would be accomplished through fuels treatment and community education; with community
and local business participation and cooperation; and interagency participation and cooperation.
To expand Wildland Urban Interface community education and outreach programs to better
address prevention and preparation issues.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
County:
Congressional District:
Crooked River Ranch RFPD, OR
Jefferson / Deschutes
2 - Rep. Greg Walden
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1)
(2)
Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project
Wildland Urban Interface Education and Prevention Project
(3)
(4)
Community Planning for Fire Protection Project
Fuels Utilization and Marketing Project
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Crooked River Ranch Rural Fire Protection District
Enclosure 3B (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
Address these
 project implementation
items as
 anticipated outcomes
applicable:
 measures and reporting
 interagency partners
Response: The Crooked





project relationship to community or natural landscape fire plans
project time frames and income
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
River Ranch Rural Fire Protection District (CRR RFPD) is a nearly all-Volunteer Fire
Department located in the high dessert of Central Oregon. It serves a community with limited access and a
serious Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) problem.
The District is isolated on a "peninsula" between the merging Crooked and Deschutes Rivers Canyons to
the north, with only one paved access road to the south; and is 90+% surrounded by Federal Lands belonging
to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Crooked River National Grasslands (CRNG). In addition,
a portion of the adjacent BLM land is designated a Wilderness Study Area; portions of the Crooked and
Deschutes Rivers are designated Wild and Scenic Waterways; and both rivers are critical habitat to
endangered Salmon and Trout species.
Like all of Central Oregon, the CRR RFPD is rapidly being developed. A voter-mandated fixed tax rate
limits available financial resources, providing just enough to address the daily operations of the District with
a nearly all-volunteer fire department. The Grant Project allows for much needed wildland fire prevention
through actual fuels treatment and community education not otherwise available.
Work on the project was initiated in April of 2001, with the start of planning, coordinating, and
community "buy-in", prior to receiving National Fire Plan (NFP) funding in November, 2001. Since
November, 2001: One full-time employee, designated Project Supervisor/Equipment Operator, has been
hired; the equipment purchased included a 4x4 tractor with a swing-arm flail mower and a 3-point hitch "tree
cutter" mower attachment, a walk behind brush mower, chainsaw, and misc. safety equipment; cooperative
resolutions approved and working relationships built upon between community organizations and agencies
through a series of public meetings; road right-of-way survey completed and initial tree limbing and removal
completed; survey, planning, and coordinating completed, and treatment work is underway on several parcels
of community property; meeting and planning work initiated for adjacent Federal Lands; with survey and
planning work continuing for remaining tracts of community property; and partnerships established with
other NFP Grant recipients to trade equipment and services when possible to reduce program expenses.
Treatment includes the removal and/or modification of fuels and re-seeding where applicable to reduce the
more flammable "light" fuels.
This project focuses on community-wide fuels reduction and/or modification, through actual fuels
treatment, and community education over 3-5 year period. Its effects are both immediate and long-lasting,
reducing the threat of a catastrophic wildfire by reducing available fuels and sources of potential fires, and the
potential reliance on outside fire suppression resources.
Past efforts by the communtiy have focused on evacuation, suppression, and outside resources. The
District has been actively pursuing change of that mindset to "sheltering in place", self-empowerment, selfreliance, and reducing the need for outdoor burning of waste.
Throughout the project, community education efforts will be reinforced through newsletters, mailings,
articles, presentations, and model property sites. In addition to fuels reduction and modification, reducing the
perceived need to use outdoor burning as a disposal method is emphasized. The addition of a part-time WUI
Planner/Educator by the District has enabled the District to expand the programs capabilities.
Working with both the BLM and the CRNG, the District will help reduce the fuel load on those areas
immediately adjacent to it, reducing the threat of spread of a wildfire, while protecting critical habitat.
The District enjoys strong working and cooperative relationships with all of the organizations and agencies
it interfaces with, with the goal to make it safer for all. This project aids not only the District, but the BLM
and the CRNG toward protecting lives and property, but also preserving our way of life and critical wildlife
habitat.
Enclosure 3B (Page 2 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following four criteria. Within each criterion, subcriteria are listed in descending order of importance. Limit your responses to the areas provided.
1. Reducing Fire Risk. (40 points))
A. Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas or communities, or natural landscapes.
B. Describe how the proposed project benefits resources on federal land or adjacent non-federal land, or how it protects the safety
of communities.
C. To what extent does the project implement or create a cooperative (1) fuels treatment plan or (2) community fire strategy
(include evidence of the plan if it already exists)?
D. Explain to what extent the affected community or proponent has been involved or plans to involve the affected community in a
qualified fuels education program (e.g., FIREWISE).
E. Explain how the proposal (1) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (2) mitigates or leads to the
mitigation of hazardous fuel conditions.
F. How will the proposed treatments or programs be maintained in future years?
Response: This
project reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfire by reducing the amount of fuels available and
the likelihood of starting a wildland fire by reducing the perceived need to use outdoor burning as a method
of waste disposal. It will establish a cyclic and perpetual fuels treatment program, along with a brush and
paper-recycling program, providing both immediate and long-term results; reducing vegetation to a level that
can be managed through routine maintenance. Fire protection will be preventive in nature, with improved
access to those areas with limited or no access due to excessive fuels. Because the vegetation will be better
controlled, habitat will be improved and preserved, protecting the soils from eroding into the watershed, and
protecting endangered fish and birds. Wood and brush recovered will be used for trails and mulch (controls
moisture, reduces need for watering). The District fills a 5-acre site throughout a year with wood, brush and
other natural material as a result of a limited program now in place. Estimates indicate that a formal program
as in this project would collect five times the material annually. This project serves the CRR RFPD and those
that utilize the adjacent Federal Lands. All told, it will treat or affect approximately 35,000+ acres. No
permits are necessary within the District, however protections are in place for threatened & endangered
species. The BLM and CRNG/USFS have begun assisting on those lands belonging to their respective
agencies. The community organizations have formalized their support with the adopting of cooperative
resolutions and assisting with the project. This project combines with the education and awareness efforts
through partnering with Fire-Free. Additionally, Community Assistance Grant Program money though the
State has been made available to treat individual private properties.
2. Increasing local capacity. (30 points)
A. How would the proposal improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and sustainable economic
activity? How many jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long (please distinguish between essentially yearround and seasonal jobs)? How will this proposal link to toher projects (or proposed projects) to create year-round jobs?
B. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities or natural landscapes?
C. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response: The project has created 1 permanent full-time position and will create part-time per diem positions. The
District has also partnered with the Heart of Oregon Youth Corp to provide additional jobs and training to local
youth. It provides for grinding and re-using of the natural material, and the recycling of paper waste. The grindings
would be used for local trails and mulch. Because of the expense and liability of owning and operating a large
grinder, the District has partnered with the homeowner’s assn. to share the expense of contracting for such a
grinder. The other necessary equipment for the project has been or will be purchased, rented or leased locally
when possible; and local contractors hired to deliver services when possible. Non-profit community organizations
operate the collection at the community brush disposal area as a fundraiser for the respective organizations.
This project allows for wildland fire prevention not otherwise available due to limited financial resources and
personnel. It takes the prevention, education, utilization and protection plans already in place at local, state, and
federal levels, and puts them into action emphasizing building and improving relationships, and working
cooperative partnerships. The project serves as a model using actual fuels treatment to reduce the likelihood of
spread of a wildland fire and protecting critical wildlife habitat; and encourages reducing outdoor burning of waste
by using recycling as a means of disposal to reduce the threat of a start of a wildland fire. This project further
improves access to the limited water standpipe system and community property within the District and reduces
roadside fuels, again through fuels treatment, thus improving infrastructure .
Enclosure 3B (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
3. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (15 Points)
A. Describe how this project implements a local intergovernmental strategy or plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if it
already exists.
B. Explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning through a “Local Coordination Group” for wildland fire
activities, or among federal, state, tribal, local government and community organizations. List the cooperators (a detailed list
of cooperators will be required for projects that are funded).
Response: The project
improves coordination of local organizations and both local and federal agencies
through application of fuels treatment. It takes the prevention, education, utilization and protection plans
already in place at local, state, and federal levels, and puts them into action emphasizing building and
improving relationships, and working cooperative partnerships. The CRR RFPD is a target area for wildland
fire concerns due to the limited access, limited resources, developing WUI environment, adjacent federal
lands, and critical wildlife habitat.
The District is working with the BLM, CRNG/USFS, CRR Club & Maintenance Association (property
owners) Board of Directors and various departments and committees, CRR Special Road District, Jefferson
and Deschutes Counties Public Works Departments, CRR Riders (horse) Club, CRR Fire Volunteers and
CRR Fire Auxiliary. The project will also involve other community organizations including: Boy Scouts, Girl
Scouts, 4-H, CRR Lions, CRR Chamber of Commerce, CRR Grange, CRR Seniors, and Mariposa Garden
Club. Additionally, the District is working with Project Impact and Fire-Free programs to provide education
and information to the public.
The project requires both environmental and technical assistance from both the BLM and the
CRNG/USFS with initial meetings already taking place. Possible additional assistance from USF&WS and
the Oregon Division of Fish & Wildlife may also be needed. Recreational lands as well as cattle grazing
allotments and critical wildlife habitat are involved. The District is also consulting with the Soil Conservation
District for technical assistance and planning.
4. Expanding Community Participation. (15 Points)
A. To what extent have interested individuals, groups, and communities been provided an opportunity to become informed and
involved in this proposal?
B. Describe the extent of local support or opposition for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements.
C. What are the environmental, social and educational benefits or concerns of the project?
Response: The
District is attempting to regularly publish and mail a newsletter; in addition to articles
submitted to 3 area newspapers and 3 other local publications. The District has also partnered with Project
Impact and Fire-Free to make information available to the community. All of these contain information on
wildland fire prevention. Members of the District also regularly attend community meetings and interagency
meetings to network and “co-op” with individuals, organizations, and agencies.
Support from both the community and adjacent agencies have been strong both in terms of principle and
function. Community groups, individuals, and businesses have contributed both financially with assistance in
the form of volunteers, labor, and equipment, as have the homeowners association (CRR C&MA), Special
Road District, counties, and the Fire District Board, Volunteers, and Auxiliary. All are committed to reducing
the likelihood of a catastrophic wildfire and protecting both the District and adjacent lands. Both fuels
treatment and community education will be cyclic and ongoing, supported by a cooperative effort by those
mentioned above.
See response to question #3 for additional information.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Identify and mark boundaries of
community property
Present – September, 2003
CRR RFPD, CRR C&MA
Identify and mark boundaries of (CRR
RFPD federal lands
June, 2002 – March, 2004
BLM, CRNG, CRR RFPD,
CRR C&MA
Environmental assessments of Federal
Lands
June, 2002 – March, 2004
BLM, CRNG
Roadside fuels reduction
Continuous
CRR RFPD, CRR SRD, CRR
C&MA, HoOYC
Community property fuel reduction
Present – December, 2005
CRR RFPD, CRR C&MA,
HoOYC
Community Education & Outreach
Continuous
CRR RFPD
Federal lands fuel reduction
Fall, 2002 – December, 2005
CRR RFPD, BLM, CRNG
Brush Disposal Area Operations –
collection, composting, grinding,
distribution
Continuous
CRR RFPD, CRR C&MA,
HoOYC
CRR SRD = Crooked River BLM = Bureau of Land
Ranch Special Road District
Management
HoOYC = Heart of Oregon Youth
Corp
CRNG = Crooked River National
Grasslands
CRR RFPD = Crooked River
Ranch Rural Fire Protection
District
CRR C&MA = Crooked River
Ranch Club & Maintenance
Association
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Personnel
Supervisor/Operator – FT
Operator/Laborer (2) – PT
WUI Planner/Educator
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
Health Insurance
Subtotal
Federal
Agency
Applicant
$53, 000
$11,000
Partner 1
Partner 2
$11, 000
$6,500
$11,000
$6,500
$22,000
$64,000
$8,625
$8,625
Travel
Travel & Training
Subtotal
$12,535
$12,535
$3,500
$3,500
$3,500
$3,500
$18,000
$12,000
$30,000
$1,000
$1,000
$4,500
$4,500
Supplies
Fuel, PPE, Misc.
Equipment Maintenance
Subtotal
$9,000
$6,000
$15,000
$7,500
$2,000
$9,500
$4,500
$1,500
$4,500
$1,500
Contractual
Heart of Oregon Youth Corp
Grazing Services
Other
Subtotal
$10,000
$8,000
$12,000
$30,000
Other
Admin., mailings, etc.
Community clean-up event
Subtotal
$147,625
$18,000
$17,500
$35,500
$22,500
$8,000
$30,500
$10,000
$8,000
$12,000
$30,000
$24,000
$6,000
$30,000
$2,500
$6,000
$8,500
$1,000
$1,000
$26,500
$13,000
$39,500
$69,910
$28,500
$9,000
$255,035
Project (Program) Income1
(using deductive alternative)
1
$53,000
$28,500
$22,000
$103,500
$3,910
$3,910
Equipment
Fuels Treatment
Other
Subtotal
Total Costs
Total
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.