Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDCSWCD Grant Application - WeedsToday's Date: Deschutes County Board of Commissioners PO Box 6005, Bend, OR 97701-6005 1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 200, Bend, OR Telephone: 541-388-6571 Fax: 541-385-3202 Website: www.deschutes.org DESCHUTES COUNTY DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION 12-1-2014 Project Beginning Date: Amount Requested: Project Name: 1-5-2015 $2,500.00 Name of Applicant Organization: Address: Weed Projects 2015 Project End Date: Date Funds Needed: December 2015 2015 [ Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District 625 SE Salmon Ave City & Zip Code: Contact Name(s): Fax #: Redmond, OR 97756 Tammy Harty Email Address: Tax ID #: Telephone #: 541-815-0203 tammyharty@msn.com On a separate sheet(s), please briefly answer the following questions: 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will positively impact the community. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. 6. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. 7. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. Attach: Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status. * Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget. 1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities. The Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District is a non -regulatory and non-profit agency that assists landowners in providing leadership, education, motivation and assistance to the citizens of Deschutes County for responsible, efficient stewardship of our soil and water resources. The SWCD is managed by a board of 7 directors representing various areas of the County. We also assist landowners in receiving grant funding through Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and other grant funding sources to implement projects that will benefit soil and water, habitat and water quality. 2. Describe the proposed project or activity. We have been working cooperatively with Deschutes County through Ed Keith and the Weed board. We want to continue these coordinated efforts but our current Oregon Department of Agriculture funding does not include funding for weed issues or projects. We have been asked by Ed Keith to assist with weed control in irrigation districts and work with the irrigation districts and landowners for weed control along the canals. That is currently an area that the County's noxious weed financial assistance program does not cover. We would not be duplicating efforts but it would be complimentary to what the County is already doing. We have the ability to write grants for work in those areas but do not have funding to cover the staff time to write the grants. Last year, we used the County's $1,000 discretionary grant funding to write 2 grants that received $18,000 in funding for weed projects within irrigation districts. Those projects were just a start on the weed problem. OWEB grant applications can only be presented by either the Soil and Water Districts or the Watershed Councils. The Watershed Council deals with riparian areas and non-agricultural interests and the SWCD deals with agricultural landowners and irrigation districts to write OWEB grant proposals. So, any weed grant requests to OWEB need to come through the SWCD. The second part of the grant request would include having the DSWCD become certified to do the weed free hay inspections. The actual weed free hay inspections are paid for by the hay grower, but will require training in order for DSWCD staff to be certified to perform these inspections. These inspections tend to take place during fire season. The DSWCD has been asked to become certified in order to free up Ed Keith during his busy season. 3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity. These projects would start upon receipt of funding. 4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will positively impact the community. The funding will allow the DSWCD to access grant monies from other sources (OWEB and others) to treat noxious weed issues that are not currently being dealt with in the County. The DSWCD and the County staff will work cooperatively and refer landowners to each other as needed. This funding will allow DSWCD staff to write grants that will bring additional money to fund weed projects that are not currently funded by the County programs. 5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. Landowners in Deschutes County with weed issues and farmers that need weed free hay inspections. 6. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Staff time to write OWEB grants for weed projects. $1,500.00 Training time for weed free hay certifications for 2 staff. $600 Outreach for weed issues at 2015 pasture workshops and other workshops presented by DSWCD as well as assisting in the weed wagon for the fair. $ 400 TOTAL Grant money requested is $2,500.00 7. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. The problem of noxious, non-native weeds proliferating in Central Oregon is severe. Noxious weeds overrun native vegetation, destroy natural animal habitat, shelter undesirable insects, steal scarce water, infest crops and cost local communities in terms of visual blight, a reduction of property values and lost agricultural dollars. Some noxious weeds are poisonous to humans, livestock and wildlife. Seeds from noxious weeds are spread by foot and vehicular traffic along our roadways and through our public lands. Many property owners unknowingly have these non-native, noxious weeds growing in their yards and fields, which aggravates the situation. The DSWCD can assist in educating landowners and helping irrigation districts to deal with weeds along their canals and canal roads. We will continue to look for funding to cover these types of projects. Currently, there is no other source of funding for weed outreach, weed issues and grant writing for weed issues. Thanks for your consideration.