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: Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) (Forest Stewardship, Wildfire Prevention, Fuels Management, and Forest Health Programs Cooperating) Phone: (360) 902-1706 FAX: (360) 902-1757 or 1781 Email: steve.gibbs@wadnr.gov Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip): P.O. Box 47037, Olympia, WA 98504-7037 Project Coordinator Project Coordinator (Name and Title): Steve Gibbs, Forest Stewardship Program Manager Organization/Jurisdiction: Statewide jurisdiction for non-industrial private forestry assistance programs Phone: See above FAX: See above Email: See above Project Information Project Title: Yakama Area Critical Fuels Reduction Proposed Project Start Date: Immediate Upon Funding (Winter/Spring ’04) Proposed Project End Date: All work completed no later than December 31, 2006. Federal Funding Request: $417,500 Total Project Funding: $570,000 (fed+state+partners) + $233,000 (landowner installation + 10 yr. Maintenance cost) = $803,500 Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize: This is a geographically specific project. Other projects are for other areas. Brief Project Description: The project will provide cost-share funds to non-industrial private family forest owners, within or adjacent to the Yakama Indian Reservation, to implement wildfire risk reduction practices on Condition Class 3 lands. Cost-shared practices will include: Development of Wildfire Risk Reduction/Forest Stewardship Plan, thinning, pruning, slash reduction, prescribed burning, and defensible space treatments. Anticipated results: Plans on 8,000 acres. Critical fuels reduction treatments to 1,000 acres providing a “fire buffer” to approximately 25,000+ acres. DNR Forest Stewardship and Wildfire Prevention personnel will visit all applications, provide project specifications, and prioritize applications for funding. Work will be done by private contractors and/or the landowners. DNR will inspect completed work and issue payment. Cost-sharing will be at 75%, as with previous cost-share programs. The landowner must contribute a minimum of 25% of the cost of the project plus the cost of ten years worth of practice maintenance. DNR already has a successful wildfire reduction cost-share “system” in place which has successfully operated for the past two years. Therefore, implementation will be immediate upon receipt of funds. There is currently a backlog of over 100 landowners ready and waiting to participate. Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable): County: Congressional District: Yakama Indian Reservation and vicinity Klickitat/Yakima/Kittitas/Skamania 4 (Cong. Doc Hastings) Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4. (1) X Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project (2) X Wildland Urban Interface Education and Prevention Project (3) X Community Planning for Fire Protection Project (4) Fuels Utilization and Marketing Project If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented: Non-industrial private forest condition class 3 lands within or adjacent to the Yakama Indian Reservation on the east slope of the Cascade Mountains. Majority of activity will be in Klickitat county, with some eligible lands in Yakima, Kittitas, and Skamania counties. 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: Location: Private non-industrial family-owned condition class 3 lands within or adjacent to Yakama Indian Reservation. Eligible lands are primarily in Klickitat County, with some also in Yakima, Kittitas, and Skamania counties. Implementation: DNR has already implemented a very successful forest stewardship/wildfire hazard reduction cost-share program in this area, however, funds are now exhausted. If funded, implementation will be immediate using the already successful program structure. Outcomes: Plans on 8,000 acres. Direct treatment to approximately 1000 critical condition class 3 acres resulting in reduced risk to 25,000+ acres. Woodland homeowners associations will serve as on-going demonstration and education sites to recruit additional landowners into the program and to educate local decision makers. Measures/Reporting: DNR will track number of owners and acres treated, and any other information desired by the funding agency, and provide a summary report of project results as specified by the funding agency. Interagency Partners: USDI-BIA, Yakama Nation, USDA-FS, USDA-NRCS, Local Fire Districts, WSU Cooperative Extension, Local Conservation Districts, County Government, Washington Farm Forestry Association, Woodland Homeowner Associations, Local Public Utility Districts. Relationship to NFP and Community Plans: Time Frames: Implementation immediately upon receipt of funds (Spring 2004?). All funds allocated by end of calendar year 2004. All projects completed and paid by end of calendar year 2006. (Landowners are allowed 2 years to complete from date their project is approved). Income: Each participating landowner must pay at least 25% of the cost out of their own pocket at the time of practice installation plus bear 100% of the cost of practice maintenance for at least ten years. Activities: Thinning, pruning, slash disposal/reduction, prescribed burning, firebreaks, and defensible space clearing. Equipment: Chain saws, hand pruning saws, chippers and/or fire equipment depending on practice. Extent of Actions: 8000 acres of plans. 1000 acres of treatment. At least 25,000 acres of reduced wildfire risk/improved fire protection. Environmental/Cultural/Historical: Projects will be compliant with all applicable state and federal laws. A data base used to support compliance with the Washington State Forest Practices Act, which indicates environmentally sensitive sites, cultural resource concerns, and threatened and endangered species is accessible to project personnel. DNR has participated as a partner agency in USDA forestry cost-share programs for over 40 years with no significant problems in this regard. 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: A. Risk Reduction in High Hazard Areas: Targets condition class 3 lands. Creates shaded fuel breaks to reduce risk of fire spreading to or from these lands. Creates defensible space, if a structure is present. B. Benefits to Federal and Adjacent Non-Federal Lands: Reduces probability of catastrophic fire spreading from nonindustrial private land onto tribal lands and vice-versa. C. Cooperative Fuels Treatment/Community Strategy: Multiple neighbors are encouraged to apply simultaneously as a cooperative project across multiple ownerships. All homeowners associations in the area have already been contacted regarding potential for treating the whole community as a “package”. This project, Firewise, and other local efforts are coordinated by the Local Wildfire Coordinating Group as part of the state’s overall National Fire Plan strategy. D. Community Involvement/Connection to Firewise: Affected landowners and woodland homeowner associations in the area have been contacted previously and all public and private partners are already actively engaged due to previous programs of this type in this vicinity. A backlog of approximately 100 ready-to-go projects already exists. Firewise workshops have been scheduled in the project area to complement and promote this effort. E. Fire Adapted Ecosystems/Hazard Mitigation: Mitigates fuel through thinning, pruning, slash reduction disposal, and/or defensible space. Restores fire-adapted ecosystems by removing fire-susceptible species and favoring fire-resistant species. F. Maintenance: The landowner will be required to maintain the practices in a viable condition for a period of ten years (Note: This is consistent with the 10-year maintenance requirement has been a “standard requirement” of previous USDA forestry cost-share programs, such as the now-defunct FIP and SIP). 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? Response: A. Economy/Jobs: Experience has shown that the vast majority of participating landowners will hire private sector forestry consultants and/or forestry contracting firms to conduct the work. This type of project creates additional jobs for yearround consulting and contracting firms and off-season employment for many who work in fire-fighting, tree planting , or other seasonal work. We anticipate that this project will generate work for up to six consulting firms, and ten contractors, with a private sector economic stimulus equivalent to approximately 30 jobs. B. Model for Other Communities: DNR has already created the “model” in previous activity in the is area and shared it with others. Results include other states who have chosen to integrate the on-the-ground implementation of their fire prevention, fuels treatment, and forest health programs using the forest stewardship program as a delivery vehicle to reach non-industrial private forest landowners. C. Biomass/Forest Fuels: Discussions are underway regarding the potential for using portable wood waste-to-electricity generators in conjunction with this type of project. While this will not be operational at the time this project is implemented, DNR has met with Public Utility District officials who are very interested in pursuing a pilot project of this nature when the appropriate technology is readily accessible. 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: A. Implementation of Plan/Strategy: This project is part of the strategy of the Local Coordinating Group. All public and private partners are already fully coordinated and cooperating due to previous history of this type of project in this area over the past two years. Bottom line: The plan is already being successfully implemented. This project will expand upon previous successes in this geographic area. B. Coordination: All organizations which serve family forest landowners are participating along with all organizations which are active in wildfire prevention and suppression and forest health. These include: DNR, USDA-FS, USDA-NRCS, Conservation Districts, Washington State University Cooperative Extension, County Government, Public Utility Districts, USDI-BIA, Yakama Nation, Washington Farm Forestry Association, Association of Consulting Foresters, and local woodland homeowner associations. Partner agencies (e.g. Conservation Districts and WSU Cooperative Extension) will help to inform and educate landowners in the project area. 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: A. Involvement: This project is a more “targeted and focused” evolution from the existing forest stewardship/wildfire hazard reduction program in which the following have been informed, involved, and fully supportive: Family forest landowners, tribal interests, fire districts, conservation districts, WSU Cooperative Extension, county government, local public utility district, Washington Farm Forestry Association, and local woodland homeowners associations. The project will also support the “Firewise” goals of local communities at risk (e.g. Glenwood and Trout Lake). B. Support: To the best of our knowledge there continues to be 100% support for this type of project from all concerned. There is an extensive backlog of landowners waiting to participate. Many of these already have project specifications drawn up and are ready for immediate implementation upon receipt of funding. C. Environmental/Social/Educational: Similar projects have been successfully conducted in this vicinity and elsewhere in eastern Washington, and have received widespread environmental and social acceptance and endorsement. Woodland homeowner association sites have been, and will continue to be, used as education and demonstration areas to show the desirability and effectiveness of wildfire hazard reduction treatments. To date, no concerns have been voiced relative to this type of project and no environmental or social problems have been encountered where these types of activities have been implemented. This project will contribute substantially to forest improved forest health and provide economic stimulus through private sector employment. Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form Tasks Time Frame Responsible Party Identify Eligible Lands and Landowners Fall 2003 DNR Region Staff Coordinate/Conduct Promotion and Outreach Strategy with Other Partners and Cooperators Spring 2004 DNR Olympia and Region Staff Receive, prioritize, and approve landowner applications. Landowners Apply, Applications Prioritized, and Approvals Issued Spring, Summer, Fall 2004 DNR Region Staff Work in progress on-the-ground. Spring 2004 through December 2006. Private Contractors and Landowners All work completed, inspected, and cost-share paid. December 2006. DNR Region and Olympia Staff Activity and Accomplishment Report Spring 2007 DNR Olympia Staff Enclosure 3D Project Budget Cost Category Description Federal Agency Personnel $45,000 (1/2 FTE X 2 yrs) Applicant Partner 1 $90,000 Partner 2 Total Landowners Contribution Cooperating Agencies $12,000 $147,000 $12,000 $147,000 $90,000 $90,000 Subtotal $45,000 Fringe Benefits $12,000 $24,000 $3000 $39,000 Subtotal $57,000 $114,000 $15,000 $186,000 Travel $8,000 $16,000 $2000 $26,000 Subtotal $65,000 $130,000 $17,000 $212,000 Equipment 0 0 0 0 0 Subtotal 0 0 0 0 0 Supplies 2500 (Promo Materials) 5000 1000 $8500 Subtotal $67,500 $135,000 $18,000 $220,500 Contractual Subtotal $350,000 $350,000 (75% Cost-Share) $417,500 $135,000 Other $18,000 $570,500 $233,000 $233,000 Landowner Install+ Maintain Subtotal Total Costs $417,500 $135,000 $233,000 $18,000 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. $803,500