Lawrence County Community Wildfire Protection Plan - Black Hills ...

straight, with good form and vigor shouldbe left providing they meet the minimumspacing requirements. Remove all stormbent or damaged trees. Also dead, splittop or trees with stem cankers should beremoved. Remove unhealthy or defectivetrees first and then remove remaining treesuntil desired spacing is achieved.Mitigating the threat from wildfire byreducing hazardous fuels will beaccomplished through a cost-sharingprogram between private land owners whoare interested in participating and LawrenceCounty. The liaison for this program will bethe Wildland Urban Interface Specialist.The main focus of this fuels reductionprogram will be in the 30-200 foot survivablespace around structures and associatedoutbuildings. This area may be enlarged ifit would be beneficial to other structures orvalues in the area. The WUI Specialistadministrating the program will determinethe area to be treated and required costshare. Landowners will also be encouragedto consider mitigating other hazardous fuelson their property to allow the ecologicalsustainability of the forest. This will not onlypromote a healthier forest, but it will maintainthe value and aesthetics of the area in theevent of a fire.To diminish the threat from wildfireaction needs to be taken to reduce fireintensity in proximity to structures,associated outbuildings and other valuesat risk. This will provide fire suppressioncrews a better opportunity to performsuppression activities and a safer workingenvironment.Landowners participating in theIndividual Hazardous Fuels Cost ShareProgram will be required to submit 2 bidsfrom contractors for the project area. Costshare assistance will be based on thelowest bid. The landowner will beresponsible for all work being preformedon the property and for the project beingdone to the specifications of theprescription. The landowner will track allcosts and provide documentation of suchat the completion of the project. Revenuefrom forest products generated from theproject may be used as cost share funds.Any self-sustaining project is not eligiblefor cost share through the County program.Documentation of any and all revenue thelandowner receives as a result of the fuelsreduction must also be provided at thecompletion of the project. The programwill reimburse the landowner 50% of amaximum of $1000 per acre. Thecommitment to maintain this prescriptionfor 10 years by the landowner will increasethe cost share of the program to 60% of$1000 per acre. There would be noreimbursement for this maintenance afterthe initial completion of the project.Qualification of a property for the programand associated cost share will be basedon assessment data using Form 502, (seepage 38), and the discretion of the WUISpecialist.This program will provide amaximum of $600 per acre of matchingfunds for hazardous fuels reduction.Projects that will be eligible for the costshare program include; thinning densestands of trees, thinning dense understory, using prescribed fire to reducehazardous fuels, slash or biomassdisposal, eliminating ladder fuels andremoval of volatile fuels in close proximityto structures. This program is not intendedto provide selective tree removal if theentire survivable space of the structure andassociated outbuildings are notconsidered and treated.Lawrence County Community Wildfire Protection Plan 23