SPRUCE BARK BEETLE PROGRAM FY 2007 FUNDING:

PHASE V PROGRAM OUTLINE DESCRIPTION

Following is a brief description of the plan for spending the $2,069,000 million recently appropriated to KPB by Congress for funding activities to mitigate severe fire danger in areas adjacent to KPB communities. These funds will be spent in a manner consistent with the congressional language accompanying the federal appropriation. Following is the intended use of these funds.

1. Hazard Tree Removal - $1,280,000

A.   Clear rights-of-way and corridors

To provide funding for clearing spruce bark beetle killed trees in rights-of-way and corridors in order to provide fire breaks, escape routes, and access.

B. Slash disposal

To provide funding for disposal of slash generated by clearing of public use areas, FireWise project areas, or other areas of community hazard tree removal.

C. Community Wildfire Protection Planning and Defensible Space Activities

To provide funding for community technical resources for wildfire mitigation planning and to provide resources for creating community defensible space by funding FireWise Community Mitigation Projects.

D.   Remove hazardous fuels from parcels in the Wildland-Urban Interface (“WUI”)

To provide funding for treatment of Kenai Peninsula Borough owned parcels within the WUI.

2. Forest Restoration - $100,000

To provide funding for continued reforestation assistance for public and private land within the wildland urban interface that has been harvested because of spruce bark beetle caused tree mortality.

3. Technical Assistance - $210,000

To provide funding to continue technical GIS and informational assistance relative to fuels and fire risk for communities, cooperating agencies, the public, and wood products industry. Also to provide funding for preparation and maintenance of an Interagency “All Lands/All Hands” planned and accomplished fuel treatment information system; and support information to the National Fire Plan Reporting System (NFPORS).

4. Vegetation/Fuels Mapping - $210,000

To provide funding to continue with efforts to provide satellite imagery and hazard risk assessment for the entire Kenai Peninsula Borough with emphasis on completing the Chugach National Forest vegetation mapping and updating the WUI data.

5. Expand season for fire personnel - $184,000

To provide funding for the initial response wildfire crews - such as the Kenai fire crew - during the wildfire season to clear hazardous trees and create defensible spaces in public areas.

6. Public Education and Incident Training - $35,000

To provide funding for incident training regarding forest fires and public education either through an outside contractor or using in-house personnel.

7. Contingency - $50,000

These remaining funds are intended to be used in otherwise under-funded areas.