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:
Oregon Department of Forestry
Phone:
503.945.7341
FAX:
Email:
503.945.7454
Sboro@odf.state.or.us
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
2600 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97310
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Jim Wolf, Prevention Planner
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Oregon Dept. of Forestry, Southwest Oregon District
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541.664.3328
541.776.6184
jwolf@odf.state.or.us
Project Information
Project Title:
Seven Basins Community Fuel Reduction
Project Start:
Project End:
October 1, 2003
December 30, 2006
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$245,000
$311,000
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Yes – Priority # 13 in Fuels Treatment Category
Brief Project Description:
Provide financial assistance and incentives to landowners to complete survivable space fuels reduction around
homes and community fuel reduction zones. It is an expansion of an existing successful landowner
rebate/incentive program started with a 2002 NFP grant and NFP Hazard Mitigation Title IV/Multi-Resource
Stewardship funds to landowners in communities in Jackson County. The highest priority will be within an
area of the newly formed Seven Basin Watershed Council. This area was the center of catastrophic interface
fires in the 1990’s, burning homes and killing one firefighter. Another priority will be areas that the BLM
will be moving into for fuel treatment.
This project provides a perfect match with a fire planning effort recently started by the watershed council. It
provides both incentives for landowners to become involved in the fire plan, and the means to accomplish
projects identified through the planning process. The watershed council will provide a link with landowners
that has not existed in the past.
Project Location:
Jackson County
County:
Congressional District:
Jackson
Oregon 2nd
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:
Wimer, Rogue River, Gold Hill, Sams Valley, are all at risk communities.
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, and 12-pitch font.
Describe project including, but not limited to:
 project location
Address these
 project implementation
items as
 anticipated outcomes
applicable:
 measures and reporting
 partners





project income
project time frames
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
Response:
Location: This project focuses on the Seven Basins Watershed which has a fire dependant ecosystem and that
experiences the most catastrophic fires in the state. Mitigation of fuels on private lands near dwellings in key
landscape locations will reduce the risk of loss of human life, property and resources. Wimer, Rogue River,
Gold Hill, Sams Valley are at risk communities within the watershed.
Implementation: This project will be implemented and administered by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry by two
mechanisms. ODF will administer a landowner rebate program for home survivable space. ODF will also
provide landowners a 75% reimbursement for landowners desiring to treat additional acres beyond the home
(similar to the current Hazard Mitigation Title IV Program).
Outcomes: To reduce losses to property and surrounding forestland from wildfire, reduce fire starts through
landowner awareness and reduction of flammable vegetation, and provide greater safety for landowners and
firefighters.
Measures and Reporting: ODF will inspect and approve the work prior to landowner reimbursements. ODF
Salem will track accomplishments and make payments.
Partners: This project is coordinated with the Seven Basins Watershed Council, BLM, and local fire
districts.
Income: None anticipated.
Time Frames: Following fire season 2003 and continuing through June 1, 2006.
Activities/equipment: The landowner has a choice of completing the work themselves or hiring a contractor.
Around homes, the mitigation typically involves hand thinning and pruning of trees and brush. The waste is
chipped, burned, or hauled to a recycling center. Projects that extend beyond the survivable space will be
completed by a combination of hand and mechanical treatments approved by ODF.
Extent of Actions: Survivable space for 300 homes and 600 acres of hazardous fuels reduction.
Environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements: A portion of the project focuses on areas
immediately around homes and driveways. No environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
are anticipated in these areas.
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.
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 fuels treatment plan or 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 (a) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (b) mitigates or leads to the
mitigation of hazardous fuel conditions.
F. How will the proposed treatments be maintained over time?
Response:
Grant funds will be used as an incentive for landowners to mitigate hazardous fuels around homes and
adjacent forestlands. It also greatly increases landowner interest in participating in the proposed community
fire plan.
Much of this area’s interface is checker-boarded with BLM and some Forest Service lands. Mitigating
hazardous fuels around homes and strategic areas will improve the survivability of the structures, public and
firefighter safety, and reduce acres burned by allowing firefighters to focus resources on controlling the fire.
This project will focus on implementation of the proposed Seven Basins Watershed Fire Plan and planned
BLM treatment projects.
A regional FireWise Workshop was held in Ashland this spring.
The first step in restoring a fire-adapted ecosystem is to gain the understanding, acceptance, and support of
the local communities. This project will increase the level of understand among interface residents by
drawing residents into the planning effort and by demonstrating strategies in their neighborhoods. This
project also helps reduce the risk to homes when federal agencies conduct ecosystem restoration burning
nearby.
A condition of the landowner rebate is that they agree to maintain the fuel treatment area.
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)?
B. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities?
C. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response:
The landowners themselves will complete some of the work. However, it’s anticipated that this grant will
provide work for local contractors. Many of the traditional contractors are already heavily committed to work
on adjacent federal lands. This project is anticipated to create work for small crews and contractors better
adapted to home-site work and smaller projects. There is evidence that the workload will continue after this
grant is complete due to the increased awareness of landowners resulting from the fire planning process.
This project provides an excellent opportunity to further demonstrate to other communities the value of local
community fire planning by helping fund projects identified through the planning process. Local media
interest has been high.
Due to the species and scattered nature of the biomass, it’s not likely that much of the material generated will
be utilized off site.
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 plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if it
already exists.
B. Explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning among federal, state, tribal, local government and
community organizations. List the cooperators.
Response:
This project is vital to the success of the proposed Seven Basins Watershed Fire Plan by providing both an
incentive for landowners to become involved in the fire plan, and the means to accomplish projects identified
through the planning process. It also fits well with BLM fuels projects that are being planned for the same
communities during the project period.
The Seven Basins Watershed Council, Southwest Oregon Resource Conservation and Development Council,
Evans Valley Fire District, Rogue Fire District, Jackson County Fire District 3, Forest Service, BLM, ODF,
NRC, and OSU Extension are coordinating to provide landowner education, community fire planning, and
technical and financial assistance to mitigate fire hazards and restore ecosystems.
4. Expanding Community Participation. (15 Points)
A. To what extent have interested people and communities been provided an opportunity to become informed and involved in this
proposal?
B. Describe the extent of local support for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements.
C. What are the environmental, social and educational benefits of the project?
Response:
This proposal was coordinated primarily with the Seven Basins Watershed Council, Evans Valley Fire
District, ODF, OSU Extension, Jackson County, and the BLM.
Support for this program is growing. The newly formed watershed council is focusing on fire assessment and
community awareness and outreach as top priorities. They have hired a part time coordinator, mailed a
special fire information paper to every household, and have held several community workshops, including a
train-the-trainer program for neighborhood leaders. Two significant interface fires during the past two years
have increased interest.
Due to landowner interest, ODF quickly exhausted funds in a $30,000 pilot project in the Wimer area using a
2001 Community Assistance grant and Multi-Resource Stewardship and Hazard Mitigation Title IV funds.
FY2002 Community Assistance grant funds made available in winter will likely be committed to landowners
before summer.
As stated in Section #1, the first step in restoring a fire-adapted ecosystem is to gain the understanding,
acceptance, and support of the local communities. The current project has and will increase the level of
understanding among interface residents. It provides one-on-one education. This project also helps reduce
the risk to homes when federal agencies conduct nearby ecosystem restoration burning.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Consult with BLM and Forest Service
regarding the location of current and
planned work
Fall 2003 through June 2006
ODF, cooperators
Consult with watershed council and
BLM to identify landowners to be
targeted for participation.
Fall 2003 through June 2006
ODF, Seven Basins Watershed
Council
On-site consultation to generate site
plan, and cost share agreement
Fall 2003 through June 2006
ODF
Completion of individual projects
Fall 2003 through June 2006
Landowners/contractors
Final inspection of completed work
for approval.
Fall 2003 through June 2006
ODF
Rebate payment to landowner
Fall 2003 through June 2006
ODF
Prepare final project report
December 2006
ODF
Enclosure 3D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Landowners
Total
Personnel
29,895
Subtotal
29,895
29,895
Fringe Benefits
11,605
Subtotal
11,605
11,605
Travel
Subtotal
Equipment
5,000
Subtotal
5,000
5,000
Supplies
500
Subtotal
500
500
Contractual
600 acres @$330/acre
rebate
198,000
66,000
Subtotal
198,000
66,000
264,000
$245,000
$66,000
$311,000
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.