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:
Oregon Department of Forestry
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
503-945-7341
503-945-7454
sboro@odf.state.or.us
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
2600 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97310
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Jim Wolf, Fire Prevention Planner
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Oregon Dept. of Forestry
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-664-3328
541-776-6184
jwolf@odf.state.or.us
Project Information
Project Title:
Ashland Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
10/1/2002
6/1/2005
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$262,500
$368,333
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Brief Project Description:
Provide additional funding for implementation of the Ashland Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project, which
addresses an area at considerable risk of destruction from, and contribution to, large scale, high severity,
catastrophic wildfire. This is a continuation and expansion of an existing successful landowner cost-share
incentive program funded by the Western State Governors and an earlier NFP Community Assistance Grant.
It target lands identified in the City of Ashland's recently completed "Wildfire Management Inventory,
Analysis, and Opportunities" (www.ashland.or.us). This plan, funded by the city, addresses wildfire threat to
approximately 4000 Ashland housesholds in an "Oakland Hills" setting, as well as the impacts on the adjacent
Ashland Creek watershed with its key ecosystem values, including late successional/old growth forests of
regional and national importance; critical habitats for sensitive, threatened, and/or endangered species; critical
area for wildlife habitat connectivity and transfer of genetic resources between the Cascade and Siskiyou
Mountains; and key watershed values associated with a municipal water supply.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
County:
Congressional District:
Ashland upslope to USFS
Jackson
2nd
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:
Ashland is listed on the national register as a community at risk.
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:
Project Location: A 2,625 acre area, consisting of 900 acres of high risk interface within Ashland's city limit
and 1,725 acres of private and local government lands that lie between Ashland and upslope US Forest
Service and BLM lands. This project will target approximately 313 acres of high and extreme risk lands
within this area.
Project Implementation: This project will provide technical assistance and 75% cost-share funding for hazard
fuels reduction for landowners identified as priority opportunties in the city's plan. Inside the city, this project
will be administered by the City of Ashland. Outside the city limits, ODF will jointly administer projects in
coordination with the city's program manager.
Anticipated Outcomes: Reduce the likelihood of a catastrophic wildfire that would threaten lives and
property in Ashland as well as resource values in the Ashland Creek watershed. Reduce fire starts through
landowner awareness and reduction of flammable vegetation around homes. Provide greater safety for
landowners and firefighters.
Measures and Reporting: Prior to landowner reimbursements, the city or ODF will inspect and approve the
work. Accomplishments and payments will be tracked by ODF.
Interagency Partners: This project compliments work completed and planned by the Ashland Ranger District
to protect Ashland's municipal watershed through the "Ashland Watershed Protection Plan". This project
proposes split-funding a project manager with the USFS to work with the City, ODF, USFS, and landowners
to assure that treatments are completed in a coordinated means. The city has a long-standing history of
cooperative agreements with USFS, starting in 1929.
Relationship to Community Fire Plans: The Ashland Wildland/Urban Interface: Wildfire Management
Inventory, Analysis, and Opportunities document will provide direct guidance for project location and design.
Time Frames: Following completion of the earlier NFP Community Assistance Grant 2002 after October 1,
2002 and continuing through June 1, 2005, or until funds are gone. No income is expected.
Activities/Equipment: Inside the city, contractors will complete the work, primarily by hand thinning and
pruning of trees and brush. The waste will be chipped on-site where access is available, or burned. Outside
the city, landowners will have the choise of completing the work themselves or hiring a contractor. Due to
the topography, most of the work will be hand thinning and pruning of trees and brush. A majority of the
waste will be burned.
Extent of Actions: Survivable space for 20 homes, plus an additional 300 acres of hazardous fuels reduction
in strategic locations.
Environmental, Cultural and Historical Resource Requirements: A portion of the project focuses on areas
immediately around homes and driveways. Soil engineering and stablilty issues will be addressed within the
city though contract specifications. No additional environmental, cultural and historical resource
requirements are anticipated in these areas. Larger, landscape level projects that are being planned and that
might involve these interests would, of course, meet all NEPA requirements prior to implementation.
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: The
area is dominated by a significant number of residences, structures, and other values-at-risk.
Many homes have been constructed in areas that lie in the path of previous wildfires, such as the 750-acre
Hillview fire and the 4,000-acre 1959 wildfire in the north end of the project. In addition, the municipal
watershed is at great risk from a wildfire spreading up from the town below. Both the city and USFS have
invested significant funds to develop plans that identify opportunities for strategy hazardous fuels reductions
projects needed to protect lives and property in Ashland and the municipal watershed. A Western State
Governor's SFA grant is being used successfully to provide an incentive to residents in high-hazard areas
inside the city to create defensible space. The first NFP Community Assistance Grant is being implemented
to treat 385 acres of the highest priority lands identified in the city's plan to prevent a catastrophic fire from
spreading from the city into the watershed. Grant funds from this project will be used as a logical next step as
an incentive for landowners to mitigate hazardous fuels identified as high or extreme hazard. In future years,
the focus will be to complete high priority areas, gain support from reluctant landowners as participation
increases community knowledge, and maintain existing treatment areas. Several of the partners attended a
regional FireWise Workshop, held in Grants Pass last fall. The first step in restoring a fire-adapted ecosystem
is to gain the understanding, acceptance, and support of the local community and landowners. Numerous
outreach projects and the current incentive projects have increased the level of awareness among interface
residents. A condition of the landowner rebate is that they agree to maintain the fuel treatment area.
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?
Many of the traditional contractors are already heavily committed to work on adjacent federal
lands. This project is anticipated to create work for small crews and contractors better adapted to smaller
projects and home-site work. An estimated 15-20 forest work contractor jobs will be created over the span of
three years. There is strong evidence that the workload will continue after this grant is complete due to the
increased awareness of landowners.
This project provides an excellent opportunity to further demonstrate to other communities the value of local
community fire planning because it funds projects that were identified in the planning process.
A separate fuels utilization and marketing grant proposal is being prepared by a partner for the project area.
Where accessible, larger material not suited for the utilization project will be utilized for firewood. Smaller
material generated on city parks property will be chipped and used as mulch in the parks. Remaining material
will be chipped on site or possibly burned.
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: Both
the City of Ashland and the USFS have completed plans designed to protect the watershed and
lives and property in Ashland. The Ashland Ranger District is implementing their Ashland Watershed
Protection Plan on USFS lands. Seven MOU's exist between the city and USFS addressing the need to
protect Ashland's municipal water supply.
To-date, over 800 acres of the project area have been "managed" to reduce hazard. However, now the city
has taken a proactive role by developing it's "The Ashland Wildland/Urban Interface: Wildfire Management
Inventory, Analysis, and Opportunities". This document looks not only at lands inside the city, but private
and local government lands located between the city and the USFS. It provides the tool for identifying and
prioitizing projects funded by this grant.
Various agencies, interest groups and individuals have long played a role in wildfire issues in the Ashland's
watershed. The current plan has been accepted by the city council.
Cooperators include: City of Ashland, Ashland Fire & Rescue, Jackson County Planning, Jackson County
Fire District No. 5, USFS, BLM, Ashland Forest Lands Commission, Ashland Watershed Stewardship
Alliance, Ashland Parks & Recreation, Oregon Department of Forestry, Southern Oregon University,
Ashland Public Works Department.
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: This
proposal was jointly prepared by ODF and the City of Ashland in consultation with the
Ashland Ranger District and Ashland Watershed Stewardship Alliance. The overall plan, however, has been
widely publicized and is available on the internet.
There is good local support for the project amoung the cooperators. There is also good support from most
landowners, based upon their interest in previous and existing cost-share programs. There are, however,
some landowners who will be reluctant to participate. This will hopefull change as the project progresses.
There has been opposition from environmental groups and individuals to fuels reductions projects on USFS
lands within the watershed that involve commercial harvesting. Since this grant will not be funding
harvesting activities, we do not anticipate significant opposition to this project.
Implementation of this project will not only help protect Ashland and it's water supply and related resource
values from wildfire, but it will help restore a fire dependent ecosystem within the treatment areas. Ashland is
home of Southern Oregon University and places a high priority on both education and the environment.
Educational tours too the watershed and surrounding forests are a regular event. The town itself is an
international tourist attraction and educational benefits can be extended to this group.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Identify landowners in priority
October 2002 to June 2005
management areas. Contact and
encourage these landowners to
participate in the fuel reduction project
Project Manager
On-site consultation to generate site
plan, and cost share agreement
October 2002 to June 2005
Inside city, Ashland FD
Outside city, ODF
Completion of individual projects
October 2002 to June 2005
Contractors and landowners
Final inspection, approval and
payment of completed work
October 2002 to June 2005
Inside city, Ashland FD
Outside city, ODF
Prepare final project report
June 2005
Project Manager & ODF
Prepare final project report
June 2005
Project Manager, AFD & ODF
Top of Form
Enclosure 3D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Personnel
Grant Coordinator (ODF/AFD)
Project Manager
Subtotal
Federal
Agency
7,500
$30,000.00
$37,500
Applicant
Partner 1
$5,000.00
$30,000.00
$5,000.00
$30,000.00
Partner 2
Total
$0.00
$0.00
$42,500
$30,000.00
$72,500
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$37,500.00
$33,333.00
$70,833.00
$0.00
$150,000.00
$133,333.00
$283,333.00
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Travel
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Equipment
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
w/in city: 113 ac @ $1000/ac
outside ci: 200 ac @ $500/ac
Subtotal
$0.00
$112,500.00
$100,000.00
$212,500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Other
Indirect Field Cost
Salem Grant Coordinator
Subtotal
5,000
7,500
$12,500
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
5,000
$7,500
$12,500
Total Costs
$262,500
$5,000.00
$30,000.00
$70,833.00
$368,333
Project (Program) Income1
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.
$0.00