This request letter in print form (pdf)

Request Form - Forest Health Proteection Funding Proposal (pdf)

October 26, 2009

To Alaska Forested Landowners and Managers:

The US Forest Service and Alaska Division of Forestry are requesting grant proposals to treat acres of native trees for prevention, suppression, and/or restoration of forest stands damaged or threatened by bark beetles.   

Similar cost-sharing proposals have accomplished important on-the-ground results in Alaska.  Beginning in 2002, and continuing this year, there has been an opportunity to consider prevention/restoration projects focused on risk or impact by bark beetles as part of this request.  Several successful projects with the State of Alaska, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Tanana Chiefs Conference (Forestry Department), Chugach National Forest, and Municipality of Anchorage have been funded in previous years. 

These Western Bark Beetle Initiative federal funds are administered under the authority of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, section 8, Forest Health Protection. Fiscal Year 2010 funding for projects on state and private lands is expected to be approximately $400,000. We encourage your participation to identify appropriate projects for Alaska. Any unused funds will be allocated to other states in the West.  Cost sharing requirements are for a 50% minimum matching non-federal funds and/or in-kind contributions, such as time or wages, equipment, indirect support (see 7 CFR 3016.24). Tribal entities are authorized to utilize “compact” funds for this match. Priority uses of these funds are bark beetle projects involving:
 

1. New Invasive bark beetle infestations, for control, eradication and/or protection of native tree species
2. Protection of Developed Recreation Sites/High Value Trees
3. Protection of Critical Wildlife or Wildland Urban Interface areas
4. Protection of General Forest from native bark beetles

Additional factors are cost effectiveness ($/acres treated) and strategic placement within effected landscapes.  Proposals must emphasize acres to be treated for prevention, suppression, and/or restoration of bark beetle-impacts.  Surveys and monitoring may be incorporated into the total project design, but do not constitute a project in themselves. Projects coordinated with U.S. Forest Service Forest Heath Protection or Alaska Division of Forestry specialists will receive a higher overall consideration. Avoid proposing standard silvicultural treatments or those that augment timber sales, since these supplemental federal funds are to complete forest health treatments that are generally not otherwise implementable.  Proposals that are more short-term or of an emergent nature with implementation on the ground within 1 year (maximum of 2 years) and  beetles affecting the stand or demonstrated as an immediate threat are encouraged.  Monitoring will be completed to track implementation of any funded projects.

Submit requests electronically by December 15, 2009 to roger.burnside@alaska.gov or spatterson@fs.fed.us.  If you need additional time to prepare a proposal, please let us know prior to the deadline and if possible, we will try to accommodate your needs.  However, we strongly encourage staff contact to clarify questions or submit requests for additional information in advance of the final due date.  Questions should be referred to any of the selection team listed below or Roger Burnside (Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Anchorage, 907.269.8460).

A selection team will evaluate all project proposals for compliance with program intent and score them relative to priorities.  Team members are: Steve Patterson (US Forest Service, Anchorage, 907.743.9451), Jim Kruse (US Forest Service, Fairbanks, 907.451.2701), John Lundquist (US Forest Service, Anchorage, 907.743.9453), and Mark Schultz (US Forest Service, Juneau, 907.586.8883).

For further background information, please see the 2002 Western Bark Beetle Report:
http://www.wflccenter.org/news_pdf/13_pdf.pdf. You may also review the application form and complete proposal packet at www.fs.fed.us/r10/spf/fhp/ and http://forestry.alaska.gov/.  Please note: Those entities selected in this pre-award process will be required to complete an application for federal assistance package, contact Peggy Cossaboom, US Forest Service Grants Specialist at 907.743.9466 for further details.

Even if you are not currently prepared to submit proposals, please note that this is an annual opportunity that we anticipate will be available for years to follow.  We are available for technical assistance to help develop effective projects for this year or next.