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: Heart of Oregon Corps Phone: FAX: Email: (541) 617-6040 (541) 383-0165 daveh@deschutes.org Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip): Juvenile Community Justice, 63360 Britta Street. Building 1. Bend, OR 97701 Project Coordinator Project Coordinator (Name and Title): Janice Jaworski, Chairperson Heart of Oregon Corps Organization/Jurisdiction: Heart of Oregon Corps Phone: FAX: Email: (541) 617-6040 (541) 383-0165 jaworski@bendcable.com Project Information Project Title: Trout Creek Conservation and Fuels Reduction Proposed Project Start Date: Proposed Project End Date: September 1, 2002 September 1, 2003 Federal Funding Request: Total Project Funding: $73,550 $180,870 Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize: No Brief Project Description: The Trout Creek Conservation and Fuels Reduction project is a multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional partnership that aims to: (1) Reduce hazardous forest fuel in the wildland urban interface surrounding the community of Sisters, Oregon; (2) Preserve and enhance the viability of rare plant species such as the Peck's penstemon both on and off federal lands; (3 Increase public awareness of the importance of defensible space for wildland urban interface residential communities throughout the Sisters School district; and (4) Provide paid skill building and employment opportunities for local low-income and/or at-risk youth. Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable): County: Congressional District: Trout Creek Conservation Area Deschutes 2 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: 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 The Trout Creek Conservation and Fuels Reduction project is a multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional project covering 160 fire hazard acres in Deschutes County. The area is owned by the Sisters School District, and is a protected conservation easement administered by the non-profit Deschutes Basin Land Trust. The area is bordered by properties owned by private individuals, the Tollgate Homeowners Association and the USDA - Forest Service respectively. The area is covered under the current Fire Plan for the Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire District. Forest Service environmental and cultural assessments have been completed on the area already; this project would begin the implmentation phase immediately. This proposal has been developed by an already existing local coordination group comprised of the Sisters School District, the Deschutes Basin Land Trust and the Heart of Oregon Corps, in consultation with the USDA-Forest Service. Response: The area is comprised of second growth pine trees that would benefit from thinning, shrub removal, clearing and prescribed fire. The area also contains the fire evolved, protected species Peck's penstemon. Overgrown, shady conditions on the property are limiting the population's health and vigor. Due to the requirements of managing an area with a protected species, the project proposes a one year plan to reduce wildfire risk in the forest-urban interface, manage the area for the benefit of the rare plant Peck's penstemon, and provide paid job skills opportunities for local youth through a partnership between the Sisters School District, the Deschutes Basin Land Trust and the Heart of Oregon Corps, a non-profit agency that provides low-income and at-risk youth with paid opportunities for job skills education and growth. The completed fuels treatments will meet Senate Bill 360 standards for eastside ecosystems in wildland urban interface communities. The Heart of Oregon Corps will coordinate the project. Phases include: (1) Marking and identification of the area, particularly areas containing Peck's penstemon. (2) Forest clearing and trails development, using sixperson crews comprised of youth currently unenrolled in school, but who will enroll in the Sisters School District's Alternative School as a requirement of their participation in the project. (3) Quarterly local coordination group meetings which will include the USDA - Forest Service and can assist in developing the Central Oregon Local Coordination Group meant to be operating by October 2002. (4) Future increased fuels utilization. The Heart of Oregon Corps has been awarded $35,000 to produce a marketing strategy and model for wood utilization. This process will utilize the experiences and products of the Trout Creek project, adding to the project's overall benefit. (5) Future increased community awareness and involvement in fire prevention and conservation. Projected, measureable outcomes include: 1. Protected conservation easement that meets all standards and requirements of a fire protected area, including Senate Bill 360. This will be demonstrated by zero fires in the area for the duration of the project, the maintenance or improvement of Peck's penstemeon proliferation, and the preservation of approximately $60 million in property and home values. 2. Increased immediate and future economic opportunities for 20 low-income and at-risk youth in the Sisters area. This will be demonstrated by the school enrollment, paid participation and conservation/fire protection skills gained by at least 20 youth over the project's duration. 3. Improved community-governmental relationships through outreach and education of project goals and results, demonstrated by Tollgate Homeowner's Association participation in meetings and area maintenance. 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/E)The project's first aim is to reduce fire risk in a current fire hazard area by developing a trail system, removing dead bitter brush and tree limbs along roads and the trail system, and thinning of suppressed and distressed trees in the area. The project will maintain and enhance the area's proliferation of Peck's penstemon, a fire-adapted species. (B)Trout Creek Conservation Area is owned by the Sisters School District, includes an area administered by the Deschutes Basin Land Trust and is bordered by Federal lands and private residential properties. Completed fuels treatment in the Trout Creek area would provide invaluable benefit to adjacent federal and residential areas. (C) The project is a multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional project aimed at protecting school buildings, students and residential properties from the ravages of wildfire. The project falls within the parameters of the Sisters/Camp Sherman Local Fire Plan, and will be monitored by a multi-agency local coordination group on a quarterly basis. (D/F) The city of Sisters has participated in the Firefree program. This project will build on the area's established commitment to fire protection and increased community awareness and responsibility for fire protection. A key goal is to complete sufficient outreach and information for the local Homeowner's Association to participate with the Sisters School District in maintaining trails and implementing future fire protection efforts such as controlled burn and trimming in the area once developed by the project. 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: (A) The Trout Creek Conservation and Fuels Reduction project will utilize local youth skills and labor and encourage school enrollment amongst youth who have ceased attending school. The Heart of Oregon Corps is a local, non-profit youth training and employment program that reduces poverty, stimuates economic growth and maintains the natural environment. The project will provide direct employment for a minimum of 20 youth and one adult crew leader/skills trainer who will have the opportunity for year-round employment and one adult on a limited, weekly basis to mark and delineate property. Importantly, the project will also provide youth a life-time supply of work experience and job skills that relate to fire prevention, conservation and the natural environment. (B) The project will utilize the benefits of another grant-funded Corps project, a fuels utilization marketing strategy that will produce a utilization replication model informed by the Trout Creek project. An environmental studies/forestry class in the Sisters Alternative School will participate in creating marketable wood products from the project. In these ways, the experience and benefits of the project will serve as an example for replication for other similar need areas in Central Oregon. (C) An estimated $5,000 in forest fuels will be utilized from the project, as the utilization marketing strategy project of the Heart of Oregon Corps will be conducted and finalized within the timeframe of this proposal. 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) The Trout Creek Conservation and Fuels Reduction project affects and is managed by many stakeholders. The Heart of Oregon Corps has broad-ranging goals for poverty reduction and youth job skills, and a history of working collaboratively with many agencies and stakeholders to reach those goals. Accordingly the Trout Creek project has been planned collaboratively and will be carried out similarly. An already existing local coordination group, comprised of the Sisters School District, the Deschutes Basin Land Trust and the Heart of Oregon Corps has met periodically to plan for the grant proposal and implementation. This group will continue to meet quarterly once the project is implemented, with the added participation of the Tollgate Homeowner's Association. The project falls within the goals and strategies of the Sisters/Camp Sherman Fire Plan. (B) The Sisters School District, which owns the area covered in this grant, will work with the Heart of Oregon Corps to recruit up to 20 youth a year to attend school at the Sisters Alternative School and work the project. The Deschutes Basin Land Trust will participate in quarterly meetings and train and assist work crews on fire prevention efforts while also managing a protected plant species. The Corps will also work with the USDA - Forest Service throughout the project. Finally, Tollgate Homeowner's Association members will participate in planning and quarterly meetings, including special work to promote awarness and outreach amongst private property holders, with the goal of their participation in future maintenance of the area once cleared through this project. 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) The Trout Creek Conservation and Fuels Reduction project's Local Coordination Group is comprised of nearly all the immediate stakeholders of the project's goals and potential results. It has met over several months to outline key goals, and will continue to guide project implementation once the project gets underway. (B) All members will provide cost-sharing for the project. (Please see budget page for further detail). Additionally, the group has consulted with the USDA - Forest Service as part of its planning process and a fifth stakeholder, the Tollgate Homeowners Association, will take a more active role as the project gets underway. (C) The project will operate within and address a number of environmental, social and educational concerns, including fuels reduction in the context of a protected plant species and within an area containing and bordered by approximately 150 households, a current and future high school and middle school. Fuels reduction is key for the safety of these people and existing buildings. Importantly, the project will implement this goal by engaging currently unenrolled and at-risk youth, garnering immense added value to the project through improving the school district's ability to retain students, involve youth in the community, and ultimately, offer students a direct role in economic growth through wages and wood products marketing. Finally, an environmental studies class at the Sisters Alternative School will integrate the work on the conservation area into its curriculum using baseline assessments and follow-up studies through future years. Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form Tasks Quarterly Local Coordination Group meetings to guide the project. First meeting after grant award will be to finalize project implementation and plan for Tollgate area participation. Recruitment, hiring of Heart of Oregon Corps crew leader/ skills trainer and experienced property marker. Time Frame Responsible Party Quarterly: minimum of 4 meetings Heart of Oregon Corps to per duration of grant. coordinate. Sisters School District, Deschutes Basin Land Trust, Tollgate Homeowner's Association, USDA - Forest Service By September 1, 2002 Heart of Oregon Corps Recruitment, hiring of youth from Sisters Alternative School for crew work. By October 1, 2002 and ongoing. Heart of Oregon Corps, with Sisters School District Simultaneous property marking and property clearing, trails development; approximately one acre per week. By October 1, 2002 and ongoing Heart of Oregon Corps Heart of Oregon grant for marketing and fuels/wood utilization completed; inform use of wood cleared from Trout Creek By May 1, 2003 Heart of Oregon Corps, Local Coordination Group Quarterly and annual reporting to USDA - Forest Service on project progress. Begin January 1, 2003 Heart of Oregon Corps Top of Form Enclosure 4D - Project Budget Cost Category Description Federal Agency Personnel Fuels Treatment Crew Wages Property Signage Wages Subtotal $0.00 $51,450.00 $12,500.00 $63,950.00 Fringe Benefits Crew Leader Fringe $4,600.00 Subtotal $4,600.00 Travel Gas, Vehicle Maintenance Subtotal $0.00 $52,000.00 $37,500.00 $52,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,000.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 Contractual Grant Admin, Util. Strat $5,000.00 $250.00 $250.00 Subtotal $5,000.00 $250.00 $250.00 Total Costs Project (Program) Income1 Total $0.00 $0.00 $140,950.00 $12,500.00 $153,450.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,600.00 $0.00 $4,600.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3,000.00 $0.00 $3,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $5,500.00 $0.00 $5,500.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 Other In-kind Planning In-kind Volunteers Subtotal 1 $37,500.00 Partner 2 $3,000.00 Supplies Chainsaws, Safety Gear, etc Subtotal Partner 1 $2,000.00 Equipment Vehicle Lease Subtotal Applicant $2,100.00 $420.00 $0.00 $1,300.00 $6,500.00 $7,800.00 $2,100.00 $420.00 $0.00 $3,820.00 $6,500.00 $10,320.00 $73,550.00 $52,550.00 $54,350.00 $420.00 $180,870.00 $5,000.00 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. $5,000.00