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:
USDA Forest Service, Umatilla National Forest, North Fork John Day Ranger District
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-427-5332
541-276-5008
rpfitzgerald@fs.fed.us
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
P.O Box 158, Hwy. 244, Ukiah, OR 97880
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Randy P Fitzgerald, Assistant Fire Management Officer Fuels
Organization/Jurisdiction:
USDA Forest Service, Umatilla National Forest, North Fork John Day Ranger District
Phone:
541-427-5332
FAX:
Email:
541-276-5026
rpfitzgerald@fs.fed.us
Project Information
Project Title:
Owens Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
10/1/2002
9/30/2005
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$252,800.00
$311,300.00
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
No
Brief Project Description:
This project will reduce the risk of wildfire to the upper Owens Creek area on Forest Service and
adjacent private lands within Umatilla County, by reducing fuel loading. Fuel reduction will be
accomplished by both hand and mechanical methods to remove, pile, and burn fuels in amounts
necessary to reduce the risk of wildfire starts and fire spread to acceptable levels. The project area
is approximately 4000 acres in size. Additionally, a reduction of hazardous fuels will occur on
adjacent private lands, which encompasses approximately 2560 acres. The nearby city of Ukiah
and community of Lehman Hot Springs, officially listed as “At Risk to Fire” would also be less at risk
following project completion.
This project will build upon fuels mitigation projects in place and planned in Umatilla County.
Project coordination is occurring with the Northeast Oregon District of the Oregon Department of
Forestry (ODF).
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
County:
Congressional District:
Northeast Oregon
Umatilla
Oregon 2nd
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)
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:
The project area is in the upper Owens and Lane Creek watersheds of Umatilla County, T3S,
R32E, Section 33-36, 25-27, T4S, R32E, Section 2-4, 9-10, and T4S, R33E, Section 28, 33,
Willamette Meridian.
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 project area encompasses 4005 acres of Forest Service lands within the upper
Owens and Lane Creek watersheds of Umatilla County. This project is located approximately 25
air miles south of Pendleton, Oregon, in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon, Umatilla National
Forest.
Project Implementation: This project will build and expand upon work already accomplished or planned in
Umatilla County by utilizing contract personnel and equipment to reduce fire starts and spread to acceptable
levels. Implementation is expected to occur throughout the 2002 –2005 seasons.
Anticipated Outcomes & Extent of Action: It is anticipated that 1500 to 2500 acres of the 4000-acre project area will
be treated utilizing mechanical and hand methods; which will reduce the risk of fire starts and fire spread to
acceptable levels. An objective of this project is to treat very heavy concentrations of fuels within sensitive
areas such as RHCAs. This will benefit adjacent private lands, the City of Pilot Rock, City of Ukiah, and the
community of Lehman Hot Springs, as these communities are officially listed as “at risk” from wildfire in the
Oregon State Interface Study of 2001. These efforts, combined with other Blue Mountain initiatives, will
help reduce overall fuels levels in this high-fire risk area.
Fuels removed from the project area may be of commercial value, further benefiting local communities.
Measures and Reporting: Measures and reporting will occur through procedures using Forest Service fuels
management requirements as well as coordination and project updates with Oregon Department of Forestry.
Interagency Partners: Partners include Oregon Department of Forestry and their cooperative efforts with private
landowners and affected communities.
Project Relationship to Community or Natural Landscape Fire Plans: Implementation of the project will work towards
goals outlined in the Umatilla National Forest Plan, which provides direction for fire management practices
within the project area. This project also mirrors similar work being done through the ODF “Restoring Forest
Health in the Blue Mountains Strategy and Action Plan”; which is a cooperative effort to address these same
issues on private forestlands. Blue Mountain forested lands are a mosaic of private, state, and federal lands;
which makes it important to work closely together on treatment solutions, including this project, for the
overall benefit of these lands.
Project Income: None is anticipated
Project Time Frames: October 2002 – September 2005
Types of Activities and Equipment Used: Mechanical and hand methods will be utilized in order to remove, pile
chip and burn fuels. These methods include using ground based equipment such as excavators for grapple
piling, mobile towers for skyline suspension, hand piling, and portable chippers. Treatment will occur
throughout the year, with pile burning during the fall and winter months.
Environmental, Cultural and Historical Resource Requirements: Coordination and planning with wildlife, cultural,
historical, fisheries and botany specialists, along with other interested parties, has been completed through a
required NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) process outlined for this type of activity through
Categorical Exclusion (CE) documentation. This process of analysis and scoping determined that “no
extraordinary” circumstances exist and project implementation can occur.
Project Location:
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, sub-criteria are listed in
descending order of importance. Limit your responses to the areas provided.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
1. Reducing Fire Risk. (40 points))
Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas or 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.
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)?
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).
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.
How will the proposed treatments or programs be maintained in future years?
A. This proposal will result in a reduction of fire risk through fuel removal within the
project area and to adjacent private forested lands, including the City of Pilot Rock, City of Ukiah and
the community of Lehman Hot Springs. These efforts, combined with other Blue Mountain
initiatives, will help reduce overall fuels levels in this high-fire risk area.
B. This project benefits resources on federal lands and adjacent other ownership lands since it will
reduce the risk of wildfire. The management history of this area has been to exclude fire, which has
lead to increases in dead, down wood and small trees in the project area. Fuel levels have continued
to build to current, abnormal levels. Recent drought and epidemic insect infestations have killed large
numbers of trees. Overstocked small trees also add to the fuel loads and help create a fire “ladder”
that can carry fire into the crowns of large, overstory trees. This type of fire is considered
catastrophic, due to it’s high intensity, rapid spread and size. These stand-replacement fires pose a
real danger to nearby inhabited areas and have detrimental, long-term effects in contrast with the
natural characteristic low-intensity ground.
C. This project complies with the Forest Service management directives. Coordination will be done
with ODF, adjacent landowners and communities to maximize the benefits of this project.
D. In addition to ODF and local adjacent private landowner involvement, the City of Ukiah, and the
community of Lehman will be informed of the project through participation in city council meetings,
town meetings and through the City’s school system.
E. This project will reduce existing fuels to more normal amounts and make possible the opportunity
for future fire to perform it’s previous role within the ecosystem and lead to long term more natural
fuel management.
F. Following initial treatment, a combination of natural and prescribed fire can be used with much
less risk and at less cost to the natural resources, private property, city and other improvements.
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).
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?
A. Initially the local economy will benefit through employment and contract opportunities
created in accomplishing treatment. Longer-term employment is possible if wood fiber, made
available through treatment, can be utilized commercially. It is estimated 5-10 seasonal and 2-5 year
round jobs will be created as a result of this project for a three-year time period. This will also boost
the local economy through employment opportunities and an increase in local revenues for vendors
supplying goods and services to contractors and other support personnel.
B. Multiple times in recent years, the City of Ukiah and the Lehman Hot Springs community have
been threatened by large, catastrophic fires. A fuels reduction project, which helps to reduce this
imminent threat is of interest to the public both locally and beyond. Public contacts explaining this
project will be done using the established Forest Service methods.
C. The project may provide wood fiber to local facilities in Umatilla, Union and other Oregon
counties. If viable, an estimated 1000 tons of wood fiber could go to local processing facilities
helping the forest industry, while providing employment opportunities in contracting, and processing.
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).
Response:
A. local, intergovernmental group (Northeast Oregon Fuels Inventory and Interagency Project Coordination)
now exists and meets regularly. Another grant request has been submitted to fund the collection of
information necessary to create a strategy plan. This project will expand on existing projects to accomplish
the hazard mitigation activities on the ground.
B. The level of cooperation, and coordination that now exist is outstanding. The following groups meets
regularly to discuss accomplishments, roadblocks, and plans. They include but are not limited to: Fire
Department Chiefs, BIA, CTUIR, Country Commissioners, and ODF. This exchange of information and
support of one another is very critical to the success of the National Fire Plan activities and this project is
intended to build upon that cooperation.
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. This proposal has been presented to the Oregon Department of Forestry. The response is supportive and
enthusiastic about the benefits this project will have when combined with fuel reduction initiatives ODF has
in place or is proposing for this area. Information and involvement will be sought with the adjacent private
landowners and communities through personal contacts, written material and public displays.
B. Similar fuel reduction projects implemented on Forest Service lands in this area have received positive
support from the public, including local communities and private landowners adjacent to these lands. It is
anticipated this project will have the same support. Additionally, support and cooperation among other
agencies is high as well.
C. Environmental benefits will occur as this project improves the forest health by reducing the risk of
catastrophic wildfire, providing long-term healthy, sustainable and diverse forests. Once fuel levels are at
acceptable levels, the opportunities for prescribed fire increases. Re-introduction of frequent, low-intensity
fire in this landscape would help return the ecosystem to a self sustaining condition. Social benefits will
occur through improvement of the landscape and creation of new jobs in a locally depressed economy. Also,
approximately 1000 tons of biomass will be available to local processing facilities providing direct economic
benefits in terms of employment and available goods. Education benefits will be provided through news
articles, tours, written publications and contacts with adjacent landowners and communities.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Outreach to adjacent landowners and
affected communities and
coordination with local inter-agencies
On-going
Forest Service
Prioritize and design projects
October 1, 2002
Forest Service
Technical layout and contract setup
and implementation
October 1, 2002 through 2005
Forest Service
Develop and produce news articles,
meetings and written materials to
involve and inform public of project
On-going
Forest Service
Top of Form
Enclosure 4D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Personnel
Subtotal
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
$0.00
$55,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$55,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,500.00
$0.00
$800.00
$0.00
$0.00
$800.00
$0.00
$1000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1000.00
$0.00
$246,000.00,
$0.00
$0.00
$246,000.00
55,000.00
$0.00
$55,000.00
$0.00
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
$0.00
Travel
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$3,500.00
$0.00
Equipment
$800.00
Subtotal
$800.00
Supplies
$1000.00
Subtotal
1000.00
Contractual
$246,000.00
Subtotal
$246,000.00
$3,500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Total
Other
Consulting & Technical Assistance
$5,000.00
Subtotal
$5,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
5,000.00
$0.00
5,000.00
Total Costs
252,800.00
58,500
$0.00
$0.00
$311,300.00
Project (Program) Income1
1
$0.00
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.