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:
Applegate River Watershed Council (ARWC)
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
(541) 899-9982
(541) 8991256
staff@arwc.org
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
6941 Upper Applegate Road, Jacksonville, Oregon 97530
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Kelly M. Droege, Forest Project Manager
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Applegate River Watershed Council (ARWC)
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
(541) 899-9982 ext.7
(541) 899-1256
kdroege@arwc.org
Project Information
Project Title:
Slate/Applegate Fuel Reduction and Utilization Project
Proposed Project Start Date:
March 2004 (contingent upon funding availability)
Proposed Project End Date:
Fall 2006
Federal Funding Request:
$54,197
Total Project Funding:
$99,785
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
No
Brief Project Description:
The Applegate Fire Plan (AFP), released in 2002, provides a foundation from which to begin strategically implementing fuel
reduction treatments throughout the 500,000-acre Applegate Watershed. A portion of the Slate Strategic Planning Area (SPA) in
the northern-most part of the watershed, was designated a Strategic Treatment Area via federal fire hazard ratings. Approximately
37% of the SPA received a “High Hazard Rating”. The Slate/Applegate Fuel Reduction and Utilization Project seeks to mitigate
the potential for the ignition and spread of severe wildfire by ramping up collaborative efforts between the BLM, the local fire
district, ARWC and private landowners, to treat a contiguous block of private properties. Initial outreach will focus on providing
residents with a better understanding of fire behavior, fire ecology, fuel reduction techniques and potential avenues for the
marketing and utilization of resulting forest products. As a lead-in, a pilot fuel reduction project funded by Oregon Watershed
Enhancement Board will be conducted in the target area in the spring 2003. Fuel reduction work performed on private land will be
strategic in that it will compliment work done on adjacent federal land and will create a defensible fuel break along a major local
highway. Partial funding for fuel reduction work will be administered to individual landowners, who will be expected to provide a
percentage of in-kind funding or labor for work done on their properties. ARWC will promote the utilization of material derived
from treatments by providing connectivity between landowners and local markets. Individual projects that marry fuel reduction and
material utilization will be favored. Treatments will be tracked and monitored for effectiveness.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if
applicable):
Applegate Watershed, Slate SPA
County:
Josephine
Congressional District:
Oregon #2 (Walden)
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1)
Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project
(3)
Community Planning for Fire Protection Project
(2)
Wildland Urban Interface Education and Prevention
(4)
Fuels Utilization and Marketing Project
Project
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Southwestern Oregon, Applegate River Sub-Basin, Slate Creek Drainage
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





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
Response:
The 2002 Applegate Fire Plan (AFP) provides a framework for strategically implementing fuel reduction
treatments on a landscape-level in the 500,000-acre Applegate watershed. The Slate Creek sub-basin is
identified in the AFP as a Strategic Planning Area. A portion of the SPA has been further delineated as a
Strategic Treatment Area. This designation stems from the wildfire prone and adapted ecosystem, and the
large wildland urban interface (WUI), coupled with a major highway (U.S. Route 199) transecting the basin.
These characteristics greatly increase the potential for ignition and spread of severe wildfire in the basin.
Slate Creek is a tributary of the Applegate River, which intersects Highway 199 five miles southwest of
Grants Pass, Oregon. The land usage within the 28,412-acre watershed is a mix of public and private
commercial forestlands in the upper elevations, and rural residential concentrated along the Route 199
corridor. Approximately 2,000 residents reside in the two unincorporated communities of Wilderville and
Wonder in the Slate Creek basin.
Within the Slate Strategic Planning Area, sites of high fire hazard have been identified and prioritized through
the AFP, in conjunction with landscape-level planning documents developed by the Applegate River
Watershed Council (ARWC) and Josephine County. Collaboration with private landowners, BLM, ODF and
the local fire district, to expedite the reduction of fuels on contiguous properties will reduce the probability of
ignition and spread of a catastrophic wildfire. Initial outreach will focus on educating local residents about
fire behavior, fire ecology, fuel reduction techniques and potential avenues for the marketing and utilization
of resulting forest products. Several landowners, with outstanding community rapport, have enthusiastically
expressed interest in participating in this project. Through leveraging the involvement of these key
individuals, fuel reduction work on private land will be strategic in that it will compliment work done on
adjacent federal land to further reduce the potential for fire in the WUI, while creating a defensible fuel break
along Route 199.
Treatment types and amount of acreage treated will vary in accordance to ecological conditions (stand
density, species composition & aspect), slope, and proximity of residences to Route 199. Fuel reduction will
concentrate on private land adjacent to 1.5 linear miles of Route 199. The approximate acreage treated will
be between 100 and 200 acres, and will directly affect several hundred adjoining acres. Proposed fuel
reduction techniques may include hand crews (lop & scatter, thinning from below, piling & burning) and
machine maceration depending on ecological conditions and landowner preference. Work will begin in the
fall/winter of 2004, contingent upon funding, and will be completed within a calendar year.
To evaluate fuel reduction treatments, several types of monitoring are to be utilized. Baseline monitoring will
occur before treatment work begins to document existing vegetation conditions. These data will allow for
relative comparison between pre- and post-treatment conditions. Implementation monitoring will address the
adherence to prescribed treatments, while effectiveness monitoring will evaluate the extent to which the
treatment(s) accomplished the stated goals of fuel reduction and native forest restoration. Photo points and
vegetation plots will be employed to accomplish monitoring objectives.
The Grants Pass Resource Area of the BLM will be notified prior to the execution of any treatment on private
land. The BLM or USFS will be expected to provide necessary environmental, cultural and historical
resource oversight in accordance with NEPA. Any significant findings that do not qualify for Categorical
Exclusion will be dealt with appropriately. BLM personnel will be supplied with maps of the proposed
treatment areas subsequent to the acquisition of funding.
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?
The target of this proposal is a Strategic Treatment Area (STA) within the Slate Strategic Planning
Area (SPA). Ninety percent of the SPA falls within the High and Medium Hazard Rating categories
(Applegate Fire Plan, 2002). Further, the STA encompasses a major local highway corridor, which has been
designated as “very high risk” (Applegate Fire Plan). The corridor is juxtaposed with private rural
residences/properties (WUI) and federal land. Via strategic fuel reduction treatments within the STA, the
project seeks to protect the safety of the local community (lives and property) and natural resources alike.
Specifically, the project will capitalize on an existing community fire strategy (Applegate Fire Plan, 2002) to
coordinate a cooperative fuels treatment plan on private properties located between the highway 199-corridor
and abutting federal land. The primary objective, to reduce the potential for the occurrence of a severe fire
event, will be accomplished through the education and partial funding of on-the-ground fuel reduction
projects. Secondary objectives are the restoration of local, fire-adapted ecosystems, and utilization of
byproducts associated with fuel reduction work. Through oversight by ARWC staff, and input from BLM
and ODF staff, treatments will be performed with a keen eye toward restoring native systems. Once
established, restored forest systems and reduced fuel conditions will be maintained through continued support
from partner organizations, including ARWC, and through sustained guidance in land stewardship principles
for the community. In addition, burgeoning markets for treatment byproducts may provide an increased
incentive for landowners to maintain appropriate forest conditions on their properties.
Response:
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 other 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?
The Slate/Applegate Fuel Reduction and Utilization Project proposes an increase in on-the-ground
fuel reduction treatments, thereby augmenting the existing work pool for local contractors. Based on past
experience, ARWC is confident that community interest in fuel reduction and forest health amelioration
treatments will escalate subsequent to the completion of the initial work in the area. Thus there is potential
for a ripple effect throughout the community, which may provide for sustained local economic activity. This
project will link directly with existing fuel reduction projects in the area (Squaw Gulch Fuel Reduction
Project, Josephine County Fuel Reduction Project). Such linkages will serve to bolster the potential for
sustained workforce employment by local contractors.
Utilization of fuel reduction byproducts will be a major focus of this project. ARWC, the World Wildlife
Fund, Scientific Certification Systems and others are currently partnered in an effort to develop a flow of
small-diameter products derived from fuel reduction projects, from private woodlots to local markets. The
Slate/Applegate Fuel Reduction and Utilization Project has tremendous potential to further stimulate such
efforts, and to act as a catalyst for fostering new, long-term employment opportunities in the area. The total
amount of potentially usable material is not yet known, however ARWC hopes to quantify this during
secondary scoping.
Response:
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).
The Slate/Applegate Fuel Reduction and Utilization Project represents the implementation phase of
the Applegate Fire Plan (2002), which was developed and supported by a team of over 24 agencies,
organizations and community groups. Recommendations specific to the proposed project area include, a)
CARs and Highway 199 are very high risk. Recommendation: do fuel reduction work around homes, along
roads, b) Complete fuel reduction… and other federal projects, incorporating CAR/WUI collaborative work
on adjacent private lands (Applegate Fire Plan, 2000; pg.68-19). As dictated by the AFP, all private
landowners participating in this project will be expected to have adhered to Oregon state and local
requirements for maintaining defensible space around their homes. These requirements will be checked and
administered by our local ODF office and the local rural fire districts, as a pre-requisite for receiving project
funding.
The AFP has provided for cooperation and coordination (a “Local Coordinating Group”) at the watershed
scale. This project is supported through these existing collaborative relationships, but provides for further
collaboration at the local scale. Cooperating partners will include ARWC, the Applegate Partnership, the
Grants Pass Resource Area of BLM, ODF, the local rural fire district and the Slate sub-watershed community.
Response:
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?
As indicated above, the Applegate Watershed community, local interest groups, federal and state
agencies, local fire districts and various organizations have all contributed to the development of the
Applegate Fire Plan. The approach for the development of the Slate/Applegate Fuel Reduction and
Utilization Project has been to capitalize on these existing relationships while strengthening relationships at a
more local level. This has entailed contacting landowners in the Slate SPA in an attempt to determine the
level of interest in potential projects such as this one. Via community meetings and conversations with
individuals (Slate Creek Analysis, 2002; Slate/Applegate Fuel Reduction and Utilization Project initial
scoping, 2003), ARWC found that community members are extremely concerned about fuel buildup and
wildfire. The massive Biscuit Fire of 2002 no doubt amplified anxiety. Many community members have
since expressed a great deal of interest in a project such as this, and several have taken it upon themselves to
begin independent fuel reduction projects. Nevertheless, the Slate SPA represents one of the most financially
destitute portions of the Applegate Watershed and many landowners are unable to fund necessary treatments
without assistance. Thus, “in-kind” contribution from participating private landowners is expected through
fuel reduction work performed or partially paid for by the landowner, participation in monitoring of the work,
input regarding the planning process, and critical analysis of the collaborative process.
The benefits of this project will be environmental, social and educational as the aim is avoidance of loss of
life, property and natural resources, native forest restoration, community education/outreach, and product
utilization.
Response:
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
1). Identify and prioritize specific
treatment sites on private land
2). Implement local outreach strategy
3). Implement secondary scoping for
utilization potential
Contingent upon funding
availability (Spring 2004)
Applegate River Watershed
Council
ODF
Local Fire District
1). Coordinate with local contractors
2). Coordinate with applicable
organizations on marketing and
utilization
3). Develop treatment prescriptions
Spring/Summer 2004
Applegate River Watershed
Council
Local contractors
Landowners
Grants Pass RA BLM
1). Install monitoring plots/record data
2). Implement/Oversee prescriptions
3). Coordinate resource flow
(utilization)
Summer 2004 (monitoring)
Spring 2004 to Spring 2005
Applegate River Watershed
Council
Local Contractor
Landowner
1). Post-treatment monitoring/data
collection
2). Post-treatment evaluation and
long-term management
recommendations
Spring/Summer 2005
Applegate River Watershed
Council
1). Compose and distribute
comprehensive evaluation report
2). Long-term monitoring of
plots/record data
Fall 2005
Summer 2009 (complete five year
monitoring plan)
Applegate River Watershed
Council
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Personnel
Planning/Implementation
NEPA Requirements
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
Planning/Implementation
NEPA Requirements
Subtotal
Federal
Agency
Applicant
$9152
$1760
$9152
$1760
$1248
$240
$1248
$240
Partner 1
Landowners
Partner 2
ODF/BLM/FD
Total
$9375
$4062
$13,437
$20,287
$4062
$24,349
$5625
$2438
$8063
$7113
$2438
$9551
Travel
@$0.36/Mile
$720
$1080
$1800
Subtotal
$720
$1080
$1800
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Monitoring
Outreach Supplies
Subtotal
$0
$0
$150
$500
$650
$150
$500
$650
Contractual
$37,500
$18,750
$56,250
Subtotal
$37,500
$18,750
$56,250
Other
10% Administration (Indirect Costs)
$4927
$2258
$7185
Subtotal
$4927
$2258
$7185
Total Costs
$54,197
$24,838
$99,785
$2000
$18,750
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.