The need for this project comes from  the need to develop defensible space around the structures located in the Newsome Creek drainage and Orogrande.  Such space will help protect these structures in the event of wildfire emergencies.  These projects will treat vegetative growth on federally managed land that is near structures, such as homes and facilities.  This action will reduce the potential and intensity of wildfire thus creating safer areas where firefighters who undertake fire suppression activities and improve the likelihood of successful private property protection.  In addition, this project is also aimed at providing training and employment opportunities to the local workforce to learn general forest and fuels reduction skills in an educational, participatory environment and to develop markets for resulting merchantable materials.  Support for this project comes from the local USDA Forest Service, private landowners, recreational user groups and community organizations.  Success in fuels reduction work will provide for more job and training opportunities, market development for low value materials, and expanded collaboration between federal agencies and the community for similar work in the future.

 On the ground crew members will be provided through Framing Our Community throughout the local Elk City community.

There are four goals for the Elk City Defensible Space Project:

• Reduce the potential and intensity of wildfire
• Provide for fire fighter and safety in and around at-risk private structures
• Provide training and employment opportunities to learn forest and fuels reduction skills in and educational, participatory environment
• Market merchantable materials

Goals will be met through two defensible space projects on the southern and western, fire prone sides of the Elk City Township.  Twelve sites will be treated in the Newsome watershed and eight sites will be treated in the Crooked River watershed.

 The environmental analysis for these projects has been completed and a decision to proceed with the projects has been made.  Under a multi-year training and development agreement between the Nez Perce National  Forest and Framing Our Community, Framing Our Community will employ local workers to:

• prune limbs to a maximum height of 18 feet above the ground
• thin trees to expand the crown spacing
• remove brush, hazard and sapling trees
• pile and burn, chip or scatter thinned material