FY 2001 Programs in North Dakota Updated 08/08/01 Overview: The National Fire Plan includes five key program areas. Estimated allocations to North Dakota include: Firefighting Preparedness Firefighting Facilities Rehab & Restoration Hazardous Fuels Treatment Forest Health Projects $736,000 -$0- $262,000 $75,000 $20,000 State Fire Assistance Volunteer Fire Assistance Economic Action Programs Community and Private Assistance TOTAL $164,000 $104,000 $100,000 $827,000 $2,288,000 Firefighting Resources: Staffing the most efficient level (MEL) of resources to provide prompt initial attack on wildfires. Preparedness Organization: $736,000 allocated to build the most efficient level of fire preparedness. Seven positions planned for hire in fiscal year 2001 to meet MEL. Six permanent employees and five temporary employees hired (as of 07/10/01). Equipment available for firefighting this year: 2 engines (one located in Dickinson and the other in Watford City) Two contracts totaling $73,000 awarded in McKenzie and Billings counties. Rehabilitation and Restoration: Assuring long-term efforts to improve lands unlikely to recover naturally from fire damage. 6,500 acres of National Forest System lands burned in the 2000 fire season. One project selected for funding in FY 2001 on the Dakota Prairie National Grassland at a cost of $262,000. Several rehabilitation and restoration projects on the Rough Creek Fire area in McKenzie County. The Dakota Prairie Grasslands is also working with school officials to incorporate on-going research activities into outdoor science activities for high school students. Hazardous Fuels Reduction: Targeting fuel management and reduction on high-priority areas, especially wildland/urban interface areas. No planning nor operations treatments were entered in the national database through 07/27/01 but fuels treatments are planned on 100 acres. The North Dakota Grazing Association, North Dakota State Forest Service, local fire districts, ranchers, and the Forest Service will develop a hazardous fuels reduction project on the Medora Ranger District. This project is in the early planning phase. Community Assistance: Increasing community capacity to reduce wildfire risk and expand local economic opportunities on private, state, and tribal lands through federal and non-federal cost-shares. A partnership between the North Dakota State Forest Service and the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands has been formed to work on Community Assistance in North Dakota. State Fire Assistance:   $164,000 in grants to the State of North Dakota to increase readiness state and local firefighting organizations by providing technical training, funding, equipment, and FIREWISE workshops. Of the total funding, $100,000 is for hazardous fuel reduction projects and development of defensible space in high-risk areas in and around communities that are evaluated and prioritized with the State. Volunteer Fire Assistance:  $104,000 in grants to the State to prepare rural (local and volunteer) fire departments that protect communities with populations under 10,000 to improve their readiness for and response to wildfires, especially in the wildland/urban interface. Provides funding and technical assistance directly to these fire departments for training and equipment to improve protection capabilities across all land ownerships. Forest Health Management:  $20,000 supports Forest Service field offices and State Foresters in detecting, monitoring, evaluating, preventing, and suppressing invasive species on federal and non-federal forestlands among all federal and state agencies and tribal governments affected by fire. State forestry agencies receive funding to assist private landowners. Also supports noxious weed treatment through grants to local weed districts and cooperatives through the State Department of Agriculture (funding to be determined). Economic Action Programs:  $100,000 supports Forest Service technical assistance and grants to state, federal, county, local, and tribal governments (and not-for-profit organizations) to help communities develop opportunities and enterprises to diversify uses of forest resources and hazardous fuel byproducts. Also improves state utilization and marketing capabilities. Community and Private Land Fire Assistance: Fence and infrastructure reconstruction – $177,000 for the repair, replacement, and reimbursement of fences on private, state, and tribal lands damaged by the 2000 fires. Funds can also be used for reimbursement of losses and longer-term restoration of resources such as trails and roads. Hazardous fuels cost-share incentives – $100,000 in grants to the State Forester to reduce and remove hazardous fuels in areas affected by fire. Regions will work with the State to identify needs and priorities on state, private, and tribal lands. Multi-resource stewardship – $200,000 in grants to the State Forester to assist landowners in preparation or revision of multi-resource management plans on state, private, and tribal lands. Funds cost-share restoration projects such as tree planting, revegetation, soil stabilization, and watershed restoration work on these lands; this funding targets affected communities and local workers and businesses. Economic action pilot projects – $150,000 in grants to state, federal, county, local, and tribal governments (and not-for-profit organizations) to assist communities in expansion and development of markets for wood products resulting from hazardous fuels removal and underutilized small-diameter material. Demonstration projects showing end use such as timber bridges, round timber construction, and biomass-to-energy projects will be emphasized. Community Fire Planning – $200,000 in grants awarded directly to communities and other partners (including state, county, and tribal governments and not-for-profits) to develop and revise strategic, action, and fire risk management plans targeting those most affected by fires. Funds increase community resiliency and capacity and encourage strategic growth. Local Forest Service offices are helping to identify communities. For more information on these and other program activities, see our CONTACTS page.

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