HomeMy WebLinkAboutForester Update
Forester Update
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
Since our last meeting/update in June many fuels accomplishments have
occurred:
· Crossroads, Camp Sherman, Tetherow, Oden Falls, Starwood,
Boonesborough, Ponderosa Pines, River Meadow Estates all completed
hazardous fuels “sweat equity” work where the homeowner completed the
defensible space treatment to Senate Bill 360 standards and we utilized
grants and our qualified pool list to remove/grind the fuels.
Approximately 400 properties were treated and we produced in excess of
10,000 cubic yards of fuel which was either ground for electricity or used
by the homeowner for ground cover.
· Low Income fuels treatment; we have treated 18 properties where people
either can’t physically do the work or can not afford to treat the fuels and
that work has been completed for the year.
· County Land fuels treatment; we have treated over 225 acres of county
owned lands in South County, including the industrial park area and with
another 175 acres to go we expect to have the vacant properties treated in
this area by years end. Heart of Oregon is the contractor and 4-5 10
person crews have been employed for almost a year because of this effort.
· Partnerships; we completed and agreement with Sunriver to treat wildland
fuels in the commons area of Sunriver to fully implement the ladder fuels
reduction program, approximately 190 acres. We utilized $100,000 of a
grant and Sunriver HOA matched that amount over a 2 year period.
Sunriver completed the contract and was awarded from our qualified pool
list. In the past without competition fuels work was costing up to
$3000/acre. The competitive process resulted in fuels treatment for
$576/acre, saving approximately $2400/acre costs. We expect the work to
be completed by years end. The second partnership has been with Black
Butte Ranch, sharing their disposal site for defensible space debris. Our
contractors removed the sweat equity debris from several neighborhoods
in the Sisters area and hauled to the BBR site where we shared the grind
cost, which was performed by another qualified pool contractor, over
11,000 cubic yards of debris was converted to clean electricity.
· Evacuation Signs; utilizing a FEMA grant we have mapped and installed
over 150 evacuation signs in 16 neighborhoods so far (see attachment).
We will continue this effort as a follow up to action items in our CWPPs
for the county.
· CWPPs; we have updated the plans for Sisters and La Pine and will begin
Sunriver in October. I expect a signing ceremony later this month as soon
as we get approval from the respective city councils.
· County All Hazards Plan; The Deschutes County All Hazards Plan is due
for an update after 5 years. Katie has taken on this task in cooperation
with Deschutes County Sheriffs Office. The final draft will be completed
this week, then off to OEM and FEMA for review and expect to have back
for BOCC approval in mid-November. This plan is a key component to be
able to compete for FEMA grants and the significant updates were in the
wildland fire chapter.
· Senate Bill 360 update; the committee has completed our work with
classification and mapping. We are awaiting ODF funding to conduct
public meetings and mail out 33,000 brochures (cost for the state) before
the meetings. We expect those meetings to be in September (originally
scheduled for August) and a final presentation to the BOCC in early
October. I expect to have the Deschutes County version of defensible
space ordinance available for approval shortly after this process ends.
· FEMA pre-disaster mitigation grant application; we were successful the
last two grant cycles receiving $1.8 million to treat fuels. For this grant
application period we will include Klamath County along with Crook
County and Deschutes County. Judith Ure and me will be meeting with
Klamath County to ensure the proper documentation to meet a mid-
November deadline.
Joe Stutler
Deschutes County Forester