MEMORANDUM

TO: William Popp, Assembly President

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

THRU: Dale Bagley, Borough Mayor

THRU: Jeff Sinz, Finance Director

THRU: Robert Bright, Planning Director

FROM: Bonnie L. Golden, Grants Manager

DATE: October 5, 2000

SUBJECT: Ordinance Accepting and Appropriating a $50,000 Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, for a Joint Venture Research Project on Vegetation and Fire History and Appropriating $50,000 for the Borough's Share

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service ("Forest Service"), expressed an interest in conducting a joint venture research project to gather data on vegetation mapping and fire history in certain parts of the Borough. The Borough submitted a proposal for the project and was recently informed that our proposal was accepted.

The purpose of the project is to collect, develop, classify, digitize, coordinate and transmit GIS vegetation and fire history data within the area south of Tustumena Lake and east of Clam Gulch, Ninilchik and Anchor Point. The Borough's participation will be to conduct the research and collect the data required to carry out the research. The work is to be performed by the Borough's Spruce Bark Beetle office and consists mainly of office research (GIS mapping and analysis). The research will occur during the fall, winter and spring of 2000-2001.

Funding of the project will total $100,000, with the Forest Service share being $50,000 and the Borough's share being $50,000. The Forest Service will reimburse the Borough for its share of the project costs. The project is to be completed by March 31, 2001.

/bg