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:
(541) 935-2283
(541) 935-0731
DSPIESSCHA@ODF.STATE.OR.US
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
2600 State Street, Salem, OR 97310
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Jim Wolf, District NFP Coordinator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Oregon Department of Forestry, Southwest Oregon District
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
(541) 664-3328
(541) 776-6260
JWOLF@ODF.STATE.OR.US
Project Information
Project Title:
Josephine County Community Fuel Reduction
Project Start:
Project End:
9/1/2002
6/1/2004
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$253,600
$341,600
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Brief Project Description:
Provide financial assistance and incentives to landowners to complete survivable space fuels reduction around
homes and community fuel reduction zones. It is a continuation and expansion of an existing successful
landowner rebate/incentive program in coordination with Josephine County, the North Valley Fire Plan, and
the Illinois Valley Fire Plan. The highest priority will be to fund home survivable space projects identified
through two community fire planning efforts funded by 2001 Community Assistance grants.
This project provides a perfect match with these three fire planning efforts by providing both an incentive for
landowners to become involved in the fire plans and the means to accomplish projects identified through the
planning process.
Project Location:
Josephine County, Oregon
County:
Congressional District:
Josephine
Oregon 4th
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:
Wolf Creek, Sunny Valley, Merlin, Grants Pass, Selma, and IV are on the “at risk communities” list.
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





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
Response:
Location: This project is in a county which has a fire dependant ecosystem and that experiences the highest
occurrence of wildfires starting on residential lots in the state. The purpose of this project is to reduce the risk
of loss of human life, property and resources by mitigation of fuels on private lands near dwellings. This
project is a continuation and expansion of the Azalea Drive Project started in the spring of 2001 with a 2000
SFA grant and the Merlin Fuel Break funded by a NFP Community Assistance Grant in 2001. It will target
communities where financial assistance has not yet been made available for home survivable space projects.
The highest priority will be in the Sunny-Wolf and Illinois Valley communities in conjunction with their NFP
community fire planning projects. Wolf Creek, Sunny Valley, Merlin, Grants Pass, Selma, and IV are on the
at risk communities list.
Implementation: This project will be implemented and administered by the Oregon Dept. of Forestry by two
mechanisms. ODF will conduct a landowner rebate program for home survivable space. ODF will also
provide landowners a 75% reimbursement for landowners desiring to treat additional acres beyond the home
(similar to the current Hazard Mitigation Title IV Program).
Outcomes: Reduce losses to property and surrounding forestland from wildfire, reduce fire starts through
landowner awareness and reduction of flammable vegetation, and provide greater safety for landowners and
firefighters.
Measures and Reporting: Prior to landowner reimbursements, ODF will inspect and approve the work.
Accomplishments and payments will be tracked by ODF.
Partners: Josephine County will be funding the ODF staff time and resources to meet with landowners, write
prescriptions, and complete the final inspection using Title 3 funds. This project will help fund projects
identified through the Sunny-Wolf CRT (North Valley Fire Plan) and the Illinois Valley CRT fire plans. It
will also be coordinated with the Josephine County Soil Conservation District, who is applying for a NFP
grant to fund larger fuel reduction projects in the Grants Pass, Merlin and Sunny-Wolf areas.
Income: None anticipated.
Time Frames: Following fire season 2002 and continuing through June 1, 2004, or until funds are gone.
Activities/equipment: The landowner has a choice of completing the work themselves or hiring a contractor.
Around homes, the mitigation typically involves hand thinning and pruning of trees and brush. The waste is
either chipped, burned, or hauled to a recycling center. Projects that extend beyond the survivable space will
be completed by a combination of hand and mechanical treatments.
Amount: Survivable space for 400 homes and 240 additional acres of community fuel reduction.
Environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements: A portion of the project focuses on areas
immediately around homes and driveways. No 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.
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:
Grant funds will be used as an incentive for landowners to mitigate hazardous fuels around homes and
adjacent forestlands. It also greatly increases landowner requests for an on-site consultation and involvement
in community fire plans.
Much of Josephine County’s interface is checker-boarded with BLM and some Forest Service lands.
Mitigating hazardous fuels around homes in these areas will improve the survivability of the structures,
public and firefighter safety, and reduce acres burned by allowing firefighters to focus resources on
controlling the fire.
This project will focus on implementation of two community fire plans – North Valley Fire Plan (SunnyWolf CRT) and the Illinois Valley Fire Plan – and the Josephine County fire strategy.
A regional FireWise Workshop was held in Grants Pass last fall. Leaders from the North Valley Fire Plan
attended. Materials were mailed to the Illinois Valley leaders.
The first step in restoring a fire-adapted ecosystem is to gain the understanding, acceptance, and support of
the local communities. The current project has and will increase the level of understand among interface
residents. This project also helps reduce the risk to homes when federal agencies conduct ecosystem
restoration burning nearby.
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)?
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:
Some of the work will be completed by the landowners themselves. However, a local private fire department
has formed a 4-person crew to complete these mitigation projects in the current grant area. It’s anticipated
that this grant will provide work for the crew to continue. This provides a means for additional firefighters to
be available. There is evidence that the workload will continue after this grant is complete, since a significant
portion of the crew’s current projects are outside of the funded area.
This project provides an excellent opportunity to further demonstrate to other communities the value of local
community fire planning by helping fund projects identified through the planning process. Local media
interest has been high.
Due to the scattered nature of the biomass, it’s not likely that much of the material generated will be utilized
off site.
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:
Josephine County has undertaken several interface education projects using Title 3 funds. A key component
of their strategy is to provide free on-site fire risk home consultations to every interface household in the
county over the next 6 years (approx 14,000 householders). The commissioners have entered into an
agreement with ODF to complete the consultations. The current rebate program provides a great incentive for
landowners to request a consultation AND helps landowners with an incentive to get the mitigation work
completed. It also provides an incentive for landowners to become involved with the North valley and
Illinois Valley Fire plans.
Currently, the Forest Service, BLM, ODF, Josephine County Commissioners, Josephine County Soil
Conservation District, Josephine County Fire Defense Board, North Valley Fire Plan, and Illinois Valley Fire
Plan are coordinating to provide landowner education, community fire planning, and technical and financial
assistance to mitigate fire hazards and restore ecosystems.
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:
This proposal was coordinated primarily with ODF, Josephine County Soil Conservation District, Josephine
County Fire Defense Board, North Valley Fire Plan, and Illinois Valley Fire Plan at a NFP Community
Assistance Grant meeting co-sponsored by the USFS, BLM, ODF, and the NRC.
Support for this program has been tremendous. The $30,000 SFA pilot project in the Azalea Drive area
reached 100 households in just a few months. In December 2001, ODF expanded the program to the greater
Grants Pass-Merlin area using the 2001 Merlin Fuel Break Community Assistance grant. It’s anticipated that
these funds will be committed by this summer, reaching an additional 700+ households. This project will
provide the perfect match to the County Title 3 funds for home-site consultations.
As stated in item #1, the first step in restoring a fire-adapted ecosystem is to gain the understanding,
acceptance, and support of the local communities. The current project has and will increase the level of
understanding among interface residents. It provides one-on-one education. This project also helps reduce
the risk to homes when federal agencies conduct ecosystem restoration burning nearby.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Consult with USFS and BLM
regarding the location of current and
planned work
Spring 2001 through June 2004
ODF
Consult with community fire planning
organizations to identify landowners
to be targeted for participation.
Spring 2001 through June 2004
North Valley Fire Plan
Illinois Valley Fire Plan
Josephine County SWD
ODF
On-site consultation to generate site
plan, and cost share agreement
October 2002 through June 2004
ODF
Completion of individual projects
October 2002 through June 2004
Landowners/contractors
Final inspection of completed work
for approval.
October 2002 through June 2004
ODF
Rebate payment to landowner
October 2002 through June 2004
ODF
Prepare final project report
June 2004
ODF
Enclosure 3D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Personnel
Rebates: on-site consultation
Cost-share: on-site consultation
Subtotal
Applicant
Josephine
County (Title 3)
Landowners
20,000
10,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
10,000
Total
20,000
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
Travel
Subtotal
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Subtotal
Contractual
Rebates 400@$300
Cost-share 240A@$350
Subtotal
$120,000
84,000
204,000
Other
Local Administration (15%)
Agency Administration
Subtotal
32,100
$7,500
32,100
Total Costs
$253,600
40,000
28,000
68,000
160,000
112,000
272,000
$7,500
$20,000
$68,000
$341,600
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.