The goal is for the county to net a share of nearly $430 million in federal fire prevention, preparation and suppression funds. Applications for the money are due by July 1.
Representatives of Shoshone National Forest, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Park County Planning Office, logging companies, fire and conservation districts, and the cities of Powell, Cody and Meeteetse met with the county commissioners last week.
``The point of the plan is to integrate the communities in Park County together as one,'' Commission Chairman Tim Morrison said. ``I want to incorporate the whole county in this.''
Adding urgency to the planned request is a beetle infestation that has been killing trees up and down the North Fork valley. ``A large percentage of the northern half of the Shoshone is dead and dying trees,'' Commissioner Tim French said.
French praised the U.S. Forest Service for the logging and controlled burning aimed at reducing the available fuel for a wildfire.
But the need goes beyond protecting just buildings and trees.
``What's done in the forest impacts water storage facilities,'' he said. ``We have to consider all the impacts. We're all sitting here talking about homes and cabins, and they're important, but we need to look at the bigger picture.''
He said if a large fire along the North Fork of the Shoshone were followed by heavy rain, Buffalo Bill Reservoir could turn into ``a huge silt pot.''
``That would have a huge economic impact,'' he said.
Rick Connell, assistant fire management officer for Shoshone National Forest, said some erosion-control methods are being implemented during the logging and controlled burns.
``It's not like we're running a vacuum over the forest floor. But we're not necessarily seeding grass, either,'' he said.
