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:
Sun Mountain Ranch Club & Membership Assoc., Inc.
Phone:
FAX:
509-996-3820
Email:
888-880-8606
fedelman@methow.com
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
P.O. Box 24, Winthrop, WA 98862
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Fred Edelman, President
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Sun Mountain Ranch Club & Membership Assoc., Inc. (SMR)
Phone:
FAX:
509-996-3820
Email:
888-880-8606
fedelman@methow.com
Project Information
Project Title:
Complete Defensible Spaces & Fuel Treatments
Project Start:
Project End:
July 2003
November 2005
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$526,000
$606,000
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
No – But priorities are shown in the project descriptions
Brief Project Description:
This project is implement and complete treatments identified in the 2002 Fire Plan Grant.
Hazard assessments, “Firewise” workshop and fire protection plan will have been done and the
developed sites fuels treatments will have begun. The work that will remain includes:
Grant Request
Project Total
1. Complete Def. Spaces & Treat (50 Ac.)
$ 50,000
$ 55,000
2. Treat Undev. Tbr. Lots (150 Ac.)
$309,000
$348,000
3. Treat Rem. Undev. Lots (350 Ac.)
$167,000
$203,000
$526,000
$606,000
TOTAL
Project Location:
Winthrop, WA
County:
Congressional District:
Okanogan
5 th
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1) XX Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project
(2)
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:
Winthrop/Twisp Wildland/Urban Interface Area
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

 partners

Response: Sun Mountain Ranch Club & Assoc.
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
is a 311-parcel, 750-acre subdivision adjacent to Twin Lakes
between Winthrop and Twisp, WA. It was developed in 1972 and was recognized at the outset to have a
potentially severe fire risk. The subdivision lies in a broad valley between the towns with the Methow Valley
Schools immediately down-valley and down-wind. Much of the area is in dense forest cover with
intermingled crowns and ladder fuels. The subdivision is within a volatile fire disturbance area and future fire
threats are inevitable.
The community is very concerned about the fire risk but only limited and isolated action has taken place to
treat the hazardous fuels condition. This request is to conduct hazard assessments on all the lots, to conduct a
“Firewise” workshop to build community support, to develop and implement a fire protection plan, to build a
fuel break along the north boundary, and to develop defensible spaces and treat the fuels. Work would begin
as soon as the grant was approved and would be completed by the end of 2004.
Sun Mountain Ranch Club & Association, Inc, the duly formed, non-profit organization, representing the
entire Sun Mountain Ranch community, makes the request. This project has benefits for the landowners but
it also has public benefits; increased safety for firefighters and reduced risk of fire escaping onto surrounding
lands and threatening the schools and the towns of Winthrop and Twisp. The FS, DNR and local fire district
are active participants in the planning, design and implementation of the project.
Three vegetative conditions exist: (1) a dense forest cover primarily of small ponderosa pine averaging 550
trees per acre with 25% over 900, a basal area of 115 sq.ft./Ac. and an average diameter of 6 inches, (2) open,
grass-shrub areas with dense, decadent stands of bitterbrush, and (3) mixed timber and shrubs. Treatment
will restore the area to a more sustainable condition and give protection to the development. No T&E species
of plants or animals, cultural resource or other environmental concerns are known to exist on the site. During
fuels treatments some merchantable material (about 600 board feet per acre) would be removed and the
timber revenues would be used to reduce overall project costs. Cost estimates were developed from similar
work being conducted in nearby developments.
The 2002 Fire Plan Grant provided the assessments, the “Firewise” workshop, the fire protection plan and a
start on the actual fuels treatments and defensible space development. Treatment will utilize a mechanical
operation to remove the majority of the excess trees, followed by a hand crew for removal of the remaining
submerchantable material and final cleanup. As much material as possible will be marketed and the
remaining slash piled and burned in openings. The elements that remain to be completed are summarized by
priority as follows:
Total Cost
Contr. & Rev. Grant Request
1. Treat Dev. Spaces/Fuels 20 lots, 50 ac.
$ 55,000
$ 5,000
$ 50,000
2. Treat Undev Tbr. Lots - 60 Lots, 150 ac. $348,000
$ 39,000
$309,000
3. Treat Rem.Undev Lots-140 Lots, 350 ac. $203,000
$ 36,000
$167,000
TOTAL
$606,000
$ 80,000
$526,000
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: Currently the forested areas are overstocked with linked crowns and ladder fuels. Should a fire occur there is a high
probability of it being a stand-replacement crown fire with devastating damage to the Sun Mountain Ranch community and
surrounding developments. The open areas are dominated with dense, decadent bitterbrush. This condition also leads to intense fire
behavior. Fire officials have estimated a wind driven wildfire would run through the entire community in only 10-15 minutes.
Treatment objectives are to develop defensible spaces around structures, to reduce the stocking levels of the timber to 40-60
sq.ft./ac and the fuel loading for the entire community to 6-8 tons/ac. This will move the forest towards a fire adapted, sustainable
ecosystem. The fuel break along the north boundary is designed to protect the community from a fire moving down-valley the
Winthrop area. Following treatment the fuels will be at a level that direct fire suppression would be practical rather than having to
back off with an indirect attack which is the current situation.
The Sun Mountain Ranch community lies in the middle of the Methow Valley between Winthrop and Twisp. A wildfire inside the
community would threaten entire community as well as surrounding the developments, as well as the Methow Valley Schools less
than ½ mile to the south. The project can be used as a model for other associations in the area. Other associations, landowners and
officials will be invited to the “Firewise” workshop and the project will be showcased to anyone interested.
The Sun Mountain Ranch Club & Association board is aware that these treatments will need to be maintained and are committed to
these actions. They have the capability to assess lot owners to accomplish needed projects. Also the Board is considering
“Firewise” conditions for any new construction.
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: It is estimated this project will employ a three person mechanical crew and a five person hand crew for two full
seasons, or 10-15 person years of employment. The project will provide a success story that can be utilized by other subdivisions
and associations in the Methow Valley and throughout the interior west. Members of the Sun Mountain Ranch community would
be available to discuss the project with others. As citizens and owner groups realize that these forest and fuel conditions must be
treated, there will be increased job opportunities and new businesses launched. These will be continuing opportunities since
periodic maintenance of the conditions will be required.
Pine sawlogs down to 6” top diameter will be marketed at local mills. It is estimated this will amount to about 240 thousand board
feet with a delivered value of about $58,000. These revenues will be used to reduce the total cost of the project. There is an
estimated 10 tons per acre of small sized logs (down to 2” top diameter) that need to be removed. With current pulp markets there
are few outlets for this material. We will pursue and utilize any possible opportunity to utilize this material. One possibility is to
make it available to a proposed Methow small-log outlet if it develops. The remaining limbs and tops will be chipped and scattered
or piled and burned in openings.
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 request is to implement the results of the hazard assessments for each lot and the recommendations of the fire
protection plan. For years the Forest Service, DNR and fire district have pleaded to get these fuels reduced and the extreme fire
hazard reduced. Fire Plan grants are a welcome vehicle to get this accomplished. Okanogan County Commissioner, Dave Schultz,
has attended a “Firewise” workshop and is very supportive of this effort.
The Forest Service, DNR and Winthrop Fire District are actively involved in all phases of the planning and implementation of the
project. Bill Moody, North Cascades Fire Service, helped plan and organize the “Firewise” workshop.
Arnie Arneson, Cascade Woodlands, will manage the project. He is a SAF Certified Forester, an ex-District Ranger at Winthrop,
and has provided consulting expertise for the last 18 years to over 100 landowners on the east slope of the Cascades. He is
managing the first grant and other projects in the Methow Valley. He consults with the Forest Service and DNR on a regular basis,
and will assure all participants remain involved throughout the project.
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: Sun Mountain Ranch community lot owners will have received their individual hazard assessments and “Firewise”
information and other notices prior to the “Firewise” workshop. Demonstration treatments will be in place to show the benefits of
treatment The strategy is to bring the lot owners along so the entire community can be treated on a “landscape” scale. Other
associations and subdivision groups will also be invited to attend the workshop and interested individuals will be informed by a
local news release.
In addition to the grant funds an estimated $58,000 of timber revenues will be contributed to the project. This contribution reduces
the grant request. Lot owners will contribute $100/lot, or a total of $22,000, towards treatment of their lots.
The project will address a serious, unnatural resource condition and move the forest and grass/shrub lands towards a sustainable,
fire adapted condition. Sun Mountain Ranch landowners, surrounding landowners and the public benefit all benefit from
completion of the project; the landowners by reducing the risk of fire losses and maintaining a sustainable natural setting, the public
by increased safety and operating space for firefighters, by reduced risk of wildfires escaping onto surrounding lands, and by
reduction of future firefighting costs. The project will provide a model for other communities. Participants will be available to
discuss and show the results to others that are interested.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Develop Defensible Spaces and Treat Fuels –
Dev. Sites (50 Acres).
Summer/Fall 2003
SMR & Cascade Woodlands
Treat Fuels – Undev. Timbered Lots –
(150 Acres)
Fall 2003& Spring 2004
SMR & Cascade Woodlands
Treat Fuels – Undev. Lots
Scattered Trees (200 Acres)
Shrub Areas (150 Acres)
Summer/Fall 2004
SMR & Cascade Woodlands
)
Enclosure 3D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Applicant
$526,000
$80,000
$606,000
$526,000
$80,000
$606,000
$526,000
$80,000
$606,000
Cascade Woodlands
Partner 2
Total
Personnel
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
Travel
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Ssupplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Treatment Operator
Subtotal
Other
Subtotal
Total Costs
Project (Program) Income1
1
$ 58,000
Timber Revenue
Invested Back
To Project
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.