Enclosure 4A - Project Summary Form
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Utilization and Marketing Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
SOUTHWEST OREGON RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-476-5906
541-955-9574
sw_oregon@fastmail.fm
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
576 NE E STREET, GRANTS PASS, OR 97526
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
BOB JONES, CHAIR/ AMY WILSON, COUNCIL COORDINATOR
Organization/Jurisdiction:
SOUTHWEST OREGON RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-476-5906
541-955-9574
sw_oregon@fastmail.fm
Project Information
Project Title:
SOUTHWEST OREGON WOOD PRODUCTS CENTER/ PHASE I MARKETING CLEARINGHOUSE
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
November 1, 2003
December 31, 2004
Federal Funding Request:
$ 84,817
Total Project Funding:
$ 153,479
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize: Yes. The clearinghouse is our #1 priority due to the broad
scope of its impact; The Utilization Yard Trial is a re-submittal of a project submitted to Region 5 in the last cycle.
Brief Project Description:
A highly motivated and diverse group of stakeholders has been working toward the development of a wood
products center to promote the utilization and merchandizing of small diameter (SDM) timber products.
Recently held meetings are building on converging opportunities such as increased funding of on-the-ground
fuels removal, ongoing pilot projects for small diameter material (Boaz/BLM and Medford Water
Commission), and the availability of a mobile sorting and processing facility. Having analyzed past similar
attempts and current opportunities, the group is developing a plan for a pilot facility to demonstrate the need
for the centralized sorting and marketing of small diameter products. Lack of information has been identified
as a missing critical component for marketing by stakeholders including landowners, contractors, federal land
management agencies and manufacturers of wood products.
This project will develop a proactive, wide-spread information and marketing network as well as a
clearinghouse for use throughout Jackson and Josephine Counties. Information will be collected and
dispensed to all parties, educational material on SDM utilization will be provided, trade show presentations
will provide more public awareness. These efforts will supply both the immediate needs of all parties and
will also serve to enhance the planning of the pilot facility.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
County:
Congressional District:
WHITE CITY
JACKSON
02
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Enclosure 4B (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
Location/Community Setting - The Southern Oregon Wood Products Clearinghouse will serve
Jackson and Josephine Counties, which are noted for being the most fire-prone counties in Oregon.
Community awareness for fire hazard and the activity level of local communities is at an all-time high after
the record-breaking 2002 fire season. The Applegate Fire Plan is completed and serving as the basis for
community and individual activity in fuels reduction. Seven Basins is also conducting outreach and
neighborhood fire planning in tandem with increased focus on that area by the BLM and ODF.
Implementation - Southwest Oregon RC&D Council formed a Small Diameter Timber (SDM) advisory group
in December to evaluate the past attempts, current opportunities and strategies surrounding the complex small
diameter utilization issue. There is a strong consensus in the group that developing and maintaining a
consistent flow of quality wood is critical to the development of markets for SDM products. Although there
are localized small-scale efforts throughout the processing chain, none is able to get over the barrier of
consistent supply in order to push their part of the process to levels of production that would stimulate
substantial product development and successful marketing. Improved market information systems together
with a sorting/processing yard has been identified as a way to facilitate the sorting (and accumulation from
smaller producers) to create a flow of wood products that will encourage and support the development and
marketing of products. The facility would also undertake some processing activities on site to
develop/maintain the product’s quality and reduce handling costs.
The success of this project will be in how well market information is collected and dispersed. Developing a
Clearinghouse is the first step in creating a flow of information between potential producers, processors, and
markets. We plan to develop a one-stop shop for information relating to small diameter marketing including
information for landowners that will facilitate their fuels reduction efforts. Specifications for products, lists
of service providers such as contract loggers, haulers and restoration workers will be collected and
distributed. A database and a website will outline the kinds of materials available, current market contacts
and demand, specifications such as size, species. The web site will supplement personal outreach efforts,
publication development and mailings. Marketing events such as display of materials at Home Shows, tours,
building/design competitions and other demonstrations will be used to promote the use of SDM.
Response:
Anticipated Outcomes/Measures - This project will increase and facilitate contacts between buyer and seller. As a
result, more SDM will be commercialized rather than burning or chipping all the material coming from fuels treatment
work. Small diameter product development will be stimulated by increasing the visibility and profile of products and
their uses. The Clearinghouse is one phase of a long term pilot project. The success of the Clearinghouse will be
measured by its ability to reach out to landowners (# of contacts, forest acres managed by contacts), its ability to reach
out to wood products processors and manufacturers (# of contacts), increased awareness of marketing/processing
options by landowners and forest managers, tons of material channeled to commercial buyers as a result of contacts
made and information dispersed. Progress will be monitored by the Advisory Committee and the Southwest Oregon
RC&D Executive Committee.
Partners – The Advisory Committee consists of a core group of 15-20 people who represent the full range of interests in
this discussion, and an extended group of more than 40 who are following and providing input to the progress through
regular meeting notes and contacts with group members. The core group has representation from government forest
land managers [BLM, USFS, ODF, Medford Water Commission], small woodland owners and community interests
[OSU Extension forester, Small Woodland Owners, WTC in Hayfork, Applegate Partnership, Seven Basins Watershed
Council, Jefferson Sustainable Development Initiative] and business interests [including contract logging, mills, special
products manufacturers, consulting foresters, economic development agencies, Southern Oregon Timber Industries
Association].
Enclosure 4B (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. Increasing Local Capacity (35 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
year-round and seasonal jobs)? How will this proposal link to other projects (or proposed projects) to create year-round jobs?
B. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
C. Which, if any, private businesses will participate?
D. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities or businesses, or natural landscapes?
Response: Researching and promoting marketing opportunities for small diameter products will stimulate the economics of fuels
reduction work at all levels. Individual landowners will be more likely to do the work if they find they can get some return or at
least reduce the cost of their forest management activities. Stimulating the landowners will increase the amount of work contracted
to forest workers, loggers and haulers. With better information about and an improvement in the consistency of the wood products,
manufacturers will be more inclined to develop products that rely on the small diameter materials. Actual job impact may be
extremely difficult to measure in this phase of the project, but the long-term pilot effort will result in jobs through value-added
processing. Baseline data about the various components of the industry will be collected as part of this first phase.
This project links directly to work that is ongoing with Jefferson Sustainable Development Initiative and the Medford Water
Commission. These projects will be working to make the best use of small diameter material under more controlled circumstances
and we are hoping to learn as much as possible from their initial steps and apply it to a broader effort.
One measure of success will be if we can link our contacts and outreach to an increase in biomass removal in fire prone areas;
however we are unable to predict the volume at this stage of our project. Private businesses will participate by becoming part of
the database of service providers, buyers and sellers. Participating to date in discussions are: Jack LeRoy Logging Contractors, Ron
Hailicka Logging/Milling, Rogue Valley Fuel (Post and Pole), Medford Molding, Green Mountain Woodworks.
This project will serve as a model for sharing information in order to stimulate supply and product development. It will collect and
distribute market information critical for future steps in the planning of the Wood Products Center in Southern Oregon, which may
include satellite sorting/processing yards and increased on-site processing options, such as peelers, economizers, veneer mills and
chippers. All “lessons learned” will be available for others to glean from.
2. Reducing fire risk. (30 points)
Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas and communities or natural landscapes.
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 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 fuels conditions.
A.
B.
Response: Southern Oregon forests are over-stocked, fueling some horrific wildfires in our region. Dense stands contain repressed
Douglas-fir with 6” diameters that can be over 90 years of age. This wood is proving to be valuable in flooring and paneling
markets, due to its strength and composition. However, manufacturing efforts are small, localized and relatively difficult to access.
Due to high handling costs and lack of knowledge about markets, small diameter timber is predominantly left to rot, chipped or
burned with no financial return to the forest manager.
Private ownership is an important part of the fire hazard in Southern Oregon. Increasing the options and economic return of small
diameter materials leads to more active forest management and fuels reduction by private owners. Representatives of the newly
completed Applegate Fire Plan and the evolving Seven Basins Neighborhood planning effort are actively participating in this effort
to improve small diameter utilization. Their interest is to develop more tools and incentives to motivate landowners to undertake
needed fuels removal work and this effort will provide information they can use and promote.
Working together with the agencies who are implementing fuel reduction programs and community groups who are conducting
outreach and mobilization activities, the Clearinghouse will further add economic incentives to landowners considering doing work.
As a one-stop center, the Clearinghouse will be able to provide information and referrals that assist people throughout the process
and helps them get connected to whatever fire planning and safety efforts are taking place locally. Small businesses will be linked
to “suppliers” of SDM of all sizes through our extensive marketing programs, completing the cycle.
Forest ecologists agree that reduction of this supply of small diameter material in our region’s forests will help mitigate the
hazardous fuels buildup in Southern Oregon and allow healthy forest development. Forest stewardship and materials utilization
only brings more landowners into the fold, leading, in the long run, toward more fire-adapted ecosystems.
Enclosure 4B (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
3. 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: As described under partners, the advisory group includes an active core group and a larger contact group. Meeting notes
are kept and distributed via mail and e-mail to over 40 interested parties. The group holds open meetings and promotes the
involvement of any and all interested parties. This project concept was developed and outlined through discussions held in
advisory group meetings. The overall effort is being coordinated by the Southwest Oregon Resource Conservation and
Development Council which represents a diverse membership including elected officals, non-profit organizations, special districts
and community organizations. To date, the general “public” has not been advised of this particular project; however, numerous
discussions, meetings, articles and seminars have been held throughout the Rogue Basin over the past 5-10 years on small diameter
material and it’s utilization. The need for this endeavor has been strongly supported.
The RC&D Council will dedicate staff time toward the development and planning of the initial phases of the project and they will
provide oversight and direction throughout. Office space has been offered by one of the private partners. No outright opposition
has been encountered to the idea of creating a wood products center. All efforts have been intentionally focused on privately
owned lands where site-specific appeals to government land management activities will not interfere with the intent of this project.
Environmentally, the project will promote market-driven solutions to forest management costs, enabling landowners to followthrough with prescribed and recommended forest management practices. This will result in reduced fire hazard and reduced
catastrophic events. Socially, as homeowners observe their neighbors land management activities and associate it with reduced risk
to their own safety, there will be more acceptance of forest management practices. Awareness about resources, markets and
opportunities will be directly promoted through Clearinghouse and outreach efforts.
4. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (20 Points)
A. 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 in developing this proposal. List the
cooperators (a detailed list of cooperators will be required for projects that are funded).
B. Describe how this project implements a local intergovernmental strategy or plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if
it already exists.
Response: The Clearinghouse project is the result of discussions involving representatives from impacted groups and industry. As
the project is implemented, various members will contribute expertise and information to make this project a success. Active
participants in planning and idea development include: Medford District BLM, Rogue/Siskiyou National Forest, Oregon
Department of Forestry, OSU Extension Forester, Jackson Small Woodland Owners, Jackson County, Josephine County Economic
Development, Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Watershed Center Hayfork, Josephine County, Collaborative
Learning Circle, Southern Oregon Timber Industries Association,, Medford Water Commission, Applegate Partnership, Oregon
Economic Development Department, Summit Wood Products, Rogue Valley Fuel, NW Forest Resources Inc, Small Woodland
Services Inc, Green Mountain Woodworks and other consulting foresters.
Most existing governmental strategies and plans address community planning and outreach to landowners about the importance of
removing fuels. This project will address critical market factors that will make forest management activities more cost-effective
and less dependent on cost-sharing strategies. This will provide a longer term solution by adding value to the by-products of
management practices.
While our immediate project focuses on products from private landowners, we include federal land managers in our planning and
will welcome products from federal lands in the Wood Products Center. We are actively coordinating with federal SDM utilization
projects currently in progress, and we will work toward being able to incorporate any and all landowners in our efforts. We realize,
of course, that there are many more factors to resolve prior to full involvement of federal landscape projects in our SDM utilization
efforts, and we will collaborate accordingly.
Enclosure 4C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Research, develop database of 1) small
woodland owners/ other forest landowners, 2)
existing and potential small diameter
manufacturers and processors, and 3) forest
contractors, and assess existing methods to
communicate with them (ie newsletters,
meetings, etc).
Develop outreach, marketing and
communication plan for small diameter
industry
OCT 03 - DEC 03
Research, updating ongoing through Dec
04
OUTREACH COORDINATOR with
Advisory Committee and Small
Woodland Owners, Extension
Forester, SOTIA, ODF, industry
Dec 03
MARKETING CONSULTANT with
Advisory Committee, Southwest
Oregon RC&D
Implement outreach, marketing and
communication plan; maintain databases and
distribution of information; feed information
into planning loop for Wood Products Center
Dec 03 - Dec 04
OUTREACH COORDINATOR &
MARKETING CONSULTANT with
Advisory Committee
Conduct Marketing events and intensify
outreach activities; conduct evaluations and
assess impacts when appropriate.
Dec 03-Dec 04
OUTREACH COORDINATOR with
Advisory Committee and partners,
Southwest Oregon RC&D
Begin work in conjunction with Wood
Products Center
Roll clearinghouse activities into Wood
Products Center. Evaluate project
effectiveness with partners and participants.
June 04 – Dec 04
Dec 04
OUTREACH COORDINATOR with
Advisory Committee
Southwest Oregon RC&D
w/Advisory Committee
Enclosure 4D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency (2)
Personnel
Coordination, planning, oversight
Subtotal
Applicant: SW
Partner 1:
Partner 2: Other
OR RC&D
Advisory Gp (15) grant sources
$200/mo
3,000
3,000
Total
600 hrs
23,850
23,850
26,850
26,850
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
Travel
Planning meetings (15x 50 mi)
Contract Mileage, $360/mo/15 mos
Subtotal
Equipment
Office furniture, telephone
Computer
Office Space
Subtotal
4,600
5,400
5,400
1,000
2,500
250
3,500
250
4,600
4,600
5,400
10,000
5,250
5,250
1,250
2,500
5,250
9,000
Supplies
Office & meeting supplies
Brochures, ads, flyers, web site
Mailings, postage (x 2)
Subtotal
1,500
6,000
8,000
20,000
2,500
2,000
4,500
1,500
8,500
10,000
24,500
Contractual
Outreach coordination/ 15 months
Develop/Implement Marketing Plan
Subtotal
25,000
25,000
50,000
10,000
15,000
25,000
35,000
40,000
75,000
5,917
5,917
2,212
2,212
8129
8129
Other
Administration (7.5%)
Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program) Income1
1
$84,817
$3,250
$33,700
$31,712
$153,479
None
None
None
None
None
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.