SEO RMP Volume 2 Appendices - Bureau of Land Management

428 Pages·2001·18.69 MB·English

Volume 2

Appendices
Proposed Southeast Oregon Resource Management Plan and Final EIS
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Reader note: Refer to the list below for GMA ~ geographic management area ORV ~ outstandingly remarkable value
abbreviations or acronyms that may have GTR ~ green tree replacement OWFEIS ~ “Oregon Wilderness Final
been used in this chapter. HA ~ herd area Environmental Impact Statement”
HMA ~ herd management area OWS ~ occupancy with stipulations
ACEC ~ area of critical environmental HMP ~ habitat management plan PFC ~ proper functioning condition
concern HUC ~ hydrologic unit code PILT ~ payments in lieu of taxes
ADC ~ animal damage control ICBEMP ~ Interior Columbia Basin PNC ~ potential natural community
AML ~ appropriate management level Ecosystem Management Project PP&L ~ Pacific Power and Light
AMP ~ allotment management plan IMP ~ “Interim Management Policy” PSEORMP/FEIS ~ “Proposed Southeast­
AMR ~ appropriate management IMPLWR ~ “Interim Management Policy ern Oregon Resource Management Plan/
response for Land under Wilderness Review” Final Environmental Impact Statement”
APHIS ~ Agricultural Plant and Animal INFISH ~ “Inland Native Fish Strategy” PRIA ~ “Public Rangelands Improvement
Health Inspection Service JRA ~ Jordan Resource Area Act”
ARA ~ Andrews Resource Area KGRA ~ known geothermic resource PUC ~ Public Utilities Commission
ATV ~ all-terrain vehicle area RAIDS ~ riparian aquatic information
AUM ~ animal unit month LCDC ~ Land Conservation and data system
BA ~ biological assessment Development Commission RAWS ~ remote automated weather
BIA ~ Bureau of Indian Affairs LGMP ~ "Leslie Gulch ACEC Manage­ station
BLM ~ Bureau of Land Management ment Plan" RCA ~ riparian conservation area
BMP ~ best management practice MFP ~ management framework plan RMO ~ riparian management objective
BO ~ biological opinion MOU ~ memorandum of understanding RMP ~ resource management plan
BOM ~ Bureau of Mines MRA ~ Malheur Resource Area RNA ~ research natural area
BOR ~ Bureau of Reclamation NCA ~ national conservation area ROD ~ record of decision
BPA ~ Bonneville Power Administration NEPA ~ “National Environmental Policy ROS ~ recreation opportunity spectrum
CERCLIS ~ comprehensive environmen­ Act” RPS ~ rangeland program summary
tal response, Compensation and Liability NHOT ~ National Historic Oregon Trail RS ~ “Revised Statutes”
Information System NHPA ~ “National Historic Preservation R&PP ~ recreation and public purpose
CEQ ~ Council on Environmental Act” SCORP ~ Oregon’s “Statewide Compre­
Quality NL ~ no leasing hensive Outdoor Recreation Plan”
CFR ~ “Code of Federal Regulations” NOAA ~ National Oceanographic and SEORAC ~ Southeastern Oregon
CLCAS ~ “Canada Lynx Conservation Atmospheric Administration Resource Advisory Council
Assessment and Strategy” NPS ~ National Park Service SEORMP ~ “Southeastern Oregon
CRMP ~ “Cultural Resources Manage­ NPSP ~ nonpoint source pollution Resource Management Plan”
ment Plan” NRCS ~ Natural Resources Conservation SHPO ~ State Historic Preservation
CWA ~ “Clean Water Act” Service Office
DLCD ~ Department of Land Conserva­ NRHP ~ National Register of Historic SMA ~ special management area
tion and Development Places SMCMPA ~ Steens Mountain Coopera­
DOD ~ Department of Defense NSO ~ no surface occupancy tive Management and Protective Area
DOE ~ Department of Energy NWSR ~ national wild and scenic river SRMA ~ special recreation management
DOGAMI ~ Oregon Department of NWSRA ~ “National Wild and Scenic area
Geology and River Act” SRP ~ special recreation permit
Mineral Industries NWSRS ~ National Wild and Scenic S&G’s ~ “Standards of Rangeland Health
DOI ~ Department of the Interior River System and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing
DPC ~ desired plant community OAR ~ “Oregon Administrative Rules” Management”
DRFC ~ desired range of future condi­ OBSMP ~ “Oregon’s Bighorn Sheep TGA ~ “The Taylor Grazing Act”
tions Management Plan” TMDL ~ total maximum daily load
EA ~ environmental assessment ODA ~ Oregon Department of Agricul­ TNC ~ The Nature Conservancy
EIS ~ environmental impact statement ture TNR ~ temporary nonrenewable grazing
EPA ~ Environmental Protection Agency ODEQ ~ Oregon Department of Environ­ T&E ~ threatened and endangered
ER ~ entrenchment ratio mental Quality USDA ~ U.S. Department of Agriculture
ERMA ~ extensive recreation manage­ ODF ~ Oregon Department of Forestry USDI ~ U.S. Department of the Interior
ment area ERU ~ ecological reporting ODFW ~ Oregon Department of Fish and USFS ~ U.S. Forest Service
unit Wildlife USFWS ~ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
ESA ~ “Endangered Species Act” ODOT ~ Oregon Department of Trans­ USGS ~ U.S. Geological Survey
ESI ~ ecological site inventory portation VRM ~ visual resource management
E/EIS ~ “Eastside Environmental Impact ODPR ~ Oregon Department of Parks WAFWA ~ Western Association of Fish
Statement” and Recreation and Wildlife Agencies
FAA ~ Federal Aviation Administration ODSL ~ Oregon Division of State Lands WFSA ~ wildland fire situation analysis
FERC ~ Federal Energy Regulatory OHV ~ off-highway vehicle WRCS ~ “Western Regional Corridor
Commission ONA ~ outstanding natural area Study”
FLPMA ~ “Federal Land Policy and ONHP ~ Oregon Natural Heritage WSA ~ wilderness study area
Management Act” Program WSRO ~ “Wilderness Study Report,
FMP ~ fire management plan ONHTMP ~ “Vale District Oregon Oregon”
FWFMP ~ “Federal Wildland Fire National Historic Trail Management WQMP ~ “Water Quality Management
Management Policy” Plan” Plan”
GIS ~ geographic information system ORS ~ “Oregon Revised Statute” WQRP ~ water quality restoration plan
Table of Contents
Volume 2

Appendices

Major Changes from Draft SEORMP/EIS ........................................................................ i

Appendix A Scoping Comments...............................................................................................1

Introduction ........................................................................................................................2

Riparian ..............................................................................................................................2

Recreation ..........................................................................................................................2

Forestry and Woodlands ....................................................................................................4

Special Management Areas................................................................................................4

Livestock ............................................................................................................................5

Wildlife ..............................................................................................................................7

Minerals .............................................................................................................................8

Fisheries .............................................................................................................................8

Lands ..............................................................................................................................9

Vegetation...........................................................................................................................9

Fire ........................................................................................................................... 10

Special Status Plants ........................................................................................................ 11

Other Comments .............................................................................................................. 11

Agencies and Groups that Sent Written Comments During Scoping ..............................12

Appendix B Relationship of Alternatives to Goals of State Land Conservation

and Development Commission, Wildlife and Forestry .................................................. 15

Appendix C Common and Scientific Names for Plants and Animals ........................... 21

Appendix D1 Riparian/ Wetland Areas ............................................................................ 27

Appendix D2 Riparian Conservation Areas ..................................................................... 31

Appendix D3 Riparian Management Objectives .............................................................. 37

Appendix D4 Riparian Trend Analysis Worksheet ........................................................... 41

Appendix D5 Riparian Trends for Stream Segments ....................................................... 43

Appendix D6 Water Quality Restoration Plans ................................................................ 53

Appendix E Allotment Summaries................................................................................. 63

Malheur Resource Area .............................................................................. 66

Jordan Resource Area ............................................................................... 218

Appendix F Wildlife Habitat Descriptions and Considerations .................................. 283

Appendix G Projected Recreation Use Patterns ................................ (Deleted from Final)

Appendix H Recreational Opportunity Spectrum ........................................................ 299

Appendix I Off-Highway Vehicle Use ........................................................................ 303

Appendix J Visual Resource Management Class Objectives...................................... 307
Proposed Southeast Oregon Resource Management Plan and Final EIS
Appendix K Employment Statistics ......................................................................................309

Appendix L Land Tenure Adjustment Criteria and Legal Requirements ............................311

Appendix M Wildland Fire Appropriate Management Response ........................................ 333

Appendix N Donner and Blitzen Wild and Scenic River Plan Revision . (Deleted from Final)

Appendix O Best Management Practices ............................................................................ 337

Appendix P Mineral Development Scenarios ..................................................................... 347

Appendix Q Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing

Management for Public Lands in Oregon and Washington ......................................... 359

Appendix R Effects of Intensity and Season of Grazing..................................................... 375

Appendix S Standard Implementation Features and Procedures for

Rangeland Improvements ............................................................................................. 389

Appendix T Areas Removed from Livestock Grazing........................................................ 395

Appendix U Potential Recreation Sites, Trails, and Improvements of Existing Sites ........ 405

Appendix V Study River Rationale for Table 4-3 .................................................................409

Appendix W Monitoring ........................................................................................................413
Appendices

Major Changes from Draft SEORMP/EIS
Appendix D, Water Resources and Riparian/Wetland Areas
1) The Riparian Management Objective section, now Appendix D3, was edited to reflect
those objectives listed in the 1996 “Inland Native Fish Strategy” (INFISH).
2) The riparian trends for stream segments tables, now Table D5-1, was updated to reflect
data gathered from 1996–1999.
3) The Total Maximum Daily Load section was changed to the Water Quality Restoration
Plan heading to reflect new U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and BLM policy; and incorpo­
rated total maximum daily loads (TMDL’s) and water quality management plans
(WQMP’s) into water quality restoration plan (WQRP) concepts. This appendix is
Appendix D6 in the final.
Appendix E, Allotment Summaries
1) Base data identifying vegetation condition and trend and PFC by pasture was added to
the allotment summaries.
2) Pastures were listed in allotment summaries with acreage, percent public land, and
pasture management objectives.
Appendix F, Wildlife Habitat Descriptions and Considerations
1) Changes were made to add wildlife desired range of future conditions (DRFC’s), and
to include additional information concerning management of sage grouse habitat.
Appendix G, Projected Recreation Use Patterns
1) This appendix was dropped in the final.
Appendix O, Best Management Practices
1) Edited narrative to reflect comments and moved Wildlife Habitat and Protection
section to Appendix F.
Appendix T, Livestock Exclusion Areas
1) Created to clarify reference to exclusion areas in Chapter 2 and to track management
of parcels with resources potentially impacted by livestock through the alternatives
(this appendix contains excluded and not allocated areas).
Appendix R, Effect of Intensity and Season of Grazing
1) Revised to include additional citations of grazing impacts to vegetation resources.
Appendix T, Catlow Conservation Agreement
1) This appendix was dropped in the final.
Proposed Southeast Oregon Resource Management Plan and Final EIS
Appendix U, Potential and Existing Recreation Sites
1) Edited to include all those recreation sites described in text of the Draft SEORMP/EIS.
Appendix W, Monitoring
1) This appendix was added to the final in response to public comment.
Appendix A

Scoping Comments
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Proposed Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan and Final EIS
Introduction

During public scoping for this plan, written comments were received from 22 individuals
and 16 agencies or groups. Oral comments were received at a series of public meetings held
in the Vale and Burns Districts, and in Bend, Portland, and Boise. Many comments from the
varied individuals and groups gave similar information or proposed similar ideas. Similar
ideas and information were consolidated into a single comment. Some of the input is more
specifically mentioned and considered within the range of alternatives. The Steens Mountain
and Andrews planning efforts will go through a similar scoping process. Those identified for
Andrews have been left in place and will be referenced as this new effort begins.
Riparian
1) Minimize fencing in riparian zones; use riders to keep cattle out of sensitive areas.
2) Management of riparian areas should continue in order to enhance aquatic habitats for
threatened, endangered, and sensitive species.
3) Need more rock check dams in smaller streams to stop erosion and enhance fish and
wildlife habitat.
4) Riparian areas should be restored as quickly as possible.
5) Severe restrictions, changes in grazing practices, or elimination of grazing in riparian
areas is appropriate; if grazing occurs, it is not preferable in the growing season.
6) How will riparian areas be managed to prevent the future listing of sensitive native fish
stocks (such as redband trout, bull trout, sculpin, chub, etc.)?
7) Develop riparian areas along Jackass Creek, such as water seep on Davies acreage.
8) Monitor streams and ground water for water quality and quantity.
9) Use improvement of water quality as a criteria for developing management strategies.
10) Consider locating livestock exclusion areas in riparian habitat.
Recreation
1) Develop one or two additional primitive campgrounds (except do need to include
outhouses).
2) Do not improve existing roads or river access, beyond present conditions; provide only
minimum maintenance to accommodate 4-wheel drive access only.
3) No new roads, trails, or river access points (on the Owyhee) should be constructed.
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Appendix A - Scoping Comments
4) Do not allow cross-country vehicle travel. Restrict off-road vehicles to existing roads
only.
5) Consider impacts of off-highway vehicle (OHV) use and recreation facilities on the
proper functioning of ecosystems.
6) Identify areas for motorized versus nonmotorized based recreation.
7) Do not close existing roads and 4-wheel drive trails; the land needs to be open to
everyone, not just a few.
8) Limit horse or packstring use for recreation.
9) Manage for recreation because it provides a high return to local communities; the value
of places like Steens Mountain, Jordan Craters, and the Owyhee and Malheur Rivers
for tourism is much greater than for cattle or timber.
10) Do not designate any more national wild and scenic rivers (NWSR’s).
11) Keep recreation at its present levels; there are plenty of opportunities for people now.
12) Do not promote tourism by people from outside the region.
13) Consult with the National Park Service concerning any rivers identified as eligible for
the national wild and scenic rivers system (NWSRS).
14) Local governments should decide if recreation access should be improved and if more
campgrounds should be developed, not BLM.
15) Maximum protection and enhancement of natural resources should guide the manage­
ment of the Steens Mountain Recreation Lands.
16) Cattle should not be allowed to graze on the Steens Mountain Recreation Area.
17) The current Federal government policy of allowing commodity-oriented uses on Steens
Mountain is out of synch with the general public’s desires for high-quality recreation.
18) Do not develop any more campgrounds on Steens Mountain; existing facilities are
adequate for the size of the area and BLM cannot afford to hire additional maintenance
personnel.
19) Hiking trails in Little Blitzen and Big Indian Gorges need to be maintained and the
brush cleared away.
20) The Loop Road on the Rooster Comb needs to be widened and guard rails installed to
improve public safety.
21) Consider multiple use of the Birch Creek property and other similar assets by schools,
4-H clubs, Boy Scouts, renting cabins to the general public, etc.
22) Analyze whether limits should be set on recreational use at high use areas to reduce
impacts.
23) Consider fees for all users of public land.
24) How will Hole-in-the-Ground and Birch Creek Ranches be managed and what uses
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Proposed Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan and Final EIS
will be made?
25) Control access off the Steens Loop Road at upper elevations to control recreation use.
26) Provide more rest room facilities at high-volume camping areas such as Anderson
Crossing and Frog Springs.
27) Address trespass onto private property, especially backpackers, and address the issues
of locked gates, campfires, garbage, impact on livestock distribution (cows leave when
people come in on foot).
28) Support NWSR designation for all 36 streams listed in 1996 RMP update.
Forestry and Woodlands
1) Logging should be kept to a minimum; no more clearcuts.
2) The policy of ripping out established western juniper trees to allow forbs to grow is not
understood.
3) Need to better understand the cumulative impacts of eradicating western juniper on the
total environment and the significance to the western juniper forest ecosystem.
4) Need to analyze the ecological impacts of reducing the number of old, mature western
juniper trees on total biological diversity.
5) Need to address how removal of some western juniper stands will affect migratory
neotropical birds and other wildlife.
6) Need to determine the impacts of controlling western juniper trees on sensitive bat
species.
7) Maintain timber harvest at sustainable levels.
8) Western juniper does not impact site hydrology.
Special Management Areas
1) Analyze wetland areas to determine if they qualify to be designated as special manage­
ment areas (SMA’s).
2) Areas containing special status species should be considered for designation as SMA’s.
3) Consider the South Fork of Malheur River below Riverside as an SMA or a Wilderness
Study Area (WSA).
4) WSA’s have been in effect a long time, stopping the construction of management
facilities; the Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact
Statement (SEORMP/EIS) should provide guidelines to allow management of the land
for the benefit of users and wildlife.
5) WSA’s should be managed to protect wilderness characteristics.
6) Many WSA’s are not considered suitable since they have roads and evidence of human
use; they should be managed as back country areas; they can be more effectively
managed by allowing continued vehicle use; wilderness is only used by people with
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