Table Of Content

BLMLIBRARY U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior BureauofLandManagement BurnsDistrictOffice HC74-12533Hwy20West Hines,Oregon97738 March1994 Burns District Planning Update AstheNation'sprincipalconservationagency,theDepartmentoftheInteriorhasresponsibilityformostofournationallyownedpubliclandsand naturalresources. Thisincludesfosteringthewisestuseofourlandandwaterresources,protectingourfishandwildlife,preservingthe eTTnhhveeirDDoeenppmaaerrntttmmaeelnnattnaadlsscsouelshtsuaresaslaovmuaarljueoenrserroefgsyopouanrnsindbaitmliiiontneyarlfaolprarAremksesoruairnccdaenshiaIsntnoddriiawcnoalrrkepssleatrcoveasat,sisoaunnrdceoptmrhmoauvtintdihiteniigredsfoeravntehdleofepornmjeponeytompielsenitnwothfhoelilbfieevstethirnionIutsgelrhaensodtutoTedfroarolilrtoorrueircerspeeauotnpidloeen..r U.S.administration. "-SOABtOG^ B OE^EI\fBOX2504 BLM/OR/WA/PL-94/8-1792 iff/ I } U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior BureauofLandManagement BurnsDistrictOffice HC74-12533Hwy20West Hines,Oregon987738 Introduction ThisisthefourthannualplanningupdatepublishedbytheBurnsDistrict. Wehope youwillgiveusfeedbackonitscontent,layout,andusefulnesstoyou. AlongwithallothereasternOregonBureauofLandManagementdistricts,itisour intenttokeepyouinformedonissues,activities,andopportunitieswethinkare importanttoourpublics. Moreimportantly,weareseekingfeedbackfromthoseof youwhomaybeaffectedbyourmultiple-usemanagementprograms. Accordingly, thekeystaffcontactsforthevariousactivitiesdiscussedinthisannualpublication havebeenidentified. ForgeneralinformationorcommentsregardingtheUpdate, pleasewritetotheaddressshownabove. . - Ttf v.-:.. INDEX %*4i4& SpecialInterestTopics >-y- v^> SummaryofWork-AccomplishmentsandPlans 11 ChallengeCost-SharePrograms 40 TheBurnsDistrictVolunteerProgram 41 ThreeRiversResourceManagementPlan 50 AndrewsRangelandProgramSummaryUpdate 64 ThreeRiversRangelandProgramSummaryUpdate 68 EnvironmentalAssessmentRegister 83 hwt SPECIAL INTEREST TOPICS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FINDING COMMON GROUND TchoemmboanckbgooanlesoafndthestrBiuvreefaourocfonLsaenndsuMsaanmaognegmednitve(rsBeLMpu)blpiocliicnyteraensdtsm.anagementistodevelop Toaccomplishthis,theBurnsDistrictstaffmadeextensiveeffortstoencouragepublicparticipation andtobeavailableforpublicoutreach. Werespondedtoallrequestsforguestspeakingappearances andwepurposelyspentextratimetocoordinatewithmembersofthelocalcommunity,aswellas concernedindividualsandorganizations,bothstateandnationwide. OpenHouses Inanefforttoreachouttomanyvariedinterestgroupsandindividuals,theBurnsDistrictheldopen housesinBend,Burns,andPortland. HighlightsincludedtheSteensMountainVideo,displaysand exhibitsfortheDormerundBlitzenNationalWildandScenicRiver,grazingissues,theAndrews ManagementFrameworkPlanAmendment,andtheOregonHighDesertNationalRecreationTrail. Organizations pTahretiBciLpaMtinsgtamffemwabserveorryaapcpteiavreiwnigtahslaocgaluegsrtosuppesakienr.fiscTahleyeBaLrM199a3n,dwthheesteheorrgiatnwiazastiboenisngwoarked togethertoreachabetterunderstandingofwhatweresometimescomplexandemotionalissues. BurnsDistrictpersonnelmadepresentationsorwerecloselyinvolvedwiththefollowinggroups: Kiwanis Cattlemen'sAssociation SierraClub Cattlewomen'sAssociation PRIDE IzaakWaltonLeague LionsClub HarneyCountyChamberofCommerce CommunityResponseTeam StateRuralDevelopment WorkingGroups AnotherformofpublicparticipationfallswithintheWorkingGroupcategory,whereindividualswith differentviewsanddifferentbackgrounds(i.e.,ranching,conservation,business,government,and otherinterestedpublics)cometogethertoformulateaplanwhichwillconsidertheeconomic,social andenvironmentalimpactsofeachactionforaspecificarea. ThefollowingWorkingGroupshavebeenorganized: SouthSteensAllotment Pueblo-LoneMountainAllotment MalheurLakesBasin Ithasbeenourbeliefthatcommunicationmustbeongoing. AlthoughBurnsDistrictisremotefrom metropolitanareas,ourstudieshaveshownthatupto83percentofrecreationpeopleusingportions oftheBurnsDistrictarefromheavilypopulatedareasinOregon. Therefore,outreacheffortsmust andwillcontinue,bothlocallyandinotherareas. WORKING GROUPS A STRATEGY FOR ECOSYSTEM BASED MANAGEMENT TheconceptofusingWorkingGroupshasbeenaroundalongtimeinBLM,goingbacktothe earliestdaysoftheGrazingService. TheBurnsDistrictisbringingthistooltotheforefrontasa methodologytoforgeresourcedecisionsandobtainideasandconcernsfromthepublic. TheSouth SteensAllotmentandPueblo-LoneMountainAllotmentWorkingGroupsareexamplesofpeople puttingtheirheadstogethertodevelopecosystemmanagementstrategies. Inbothcases,theBLM soughtknowledgeablepeopleofdiverseintereststoformateamtodevelopAllotmentManagement Plans(AMPs). RangelandManagementSpecialistsJimBuchananandWillieStreethaveestablishedWorkingGroups toassistindevelopingAMPsontwolargeareasinthesouthendofHarneyCounty. Combined,the areasincludenearly603,000acresofpublicandprivatelands. TheSouthSteensandPueblo-Lone Mountaingrazingallotmentsrepresenttypicallandscapes,resources,andlanduseissuesBLM managersareaskedtodealwithinanecosystembasedmanagementapproach. Thefollowing overviewsdetailtheapplicationoftheWorkingGroupconceptonthetwoareas: SouthSteensAllotmentWorkingGroup TheSouthSteensAllotmentcontainsuniquelandscapesandresources. Withinthisallotmentareall orportionsofeightWildernessStudyAreas(WSAs),theDormerundBlitzenNationalWildand ScenicRiver,awildhorseHerdManagementArea(HMA),redbandtrout,abighornsheepAreaof CriticalEnvironmentalConcern(ACEC),sagegrousestruttinggrounds,andcriticalwinterrangefor elk,deer,andmanyotherspeciesofwildlife. Thereare21.8milesofriparianhabitatin unsatisfactoryconditionwithintheallotment. dBBeeLvcMealuoswepamsoefnitntthoeerfecasotnmepdAleiMxnPiftiyfnodorifntgihseisnuadelislvoiatdnmudeanlttshedwuhhrioignhwgoptuuhlbeldiwcireniptnreteresreeosnftt,1t9th9he1evBaanrLidMedthspeoulsbiplcriiictnedigntaoesfrsei1ss9tt9sa2na.cnedTfobhreethe committedtoworkingtoimprovetheecosystem. TheSouthSteensAllotmentWorkingGrouphas representativesfromTheNatureConservancy,HarneyCountyCourt,OregonDepartmentofFishand Wildlife(ODFW),OregonStateUniversity,OregonTrout,OregonEnvironmentalCouncil,Roaring SpringsRanch,thePacificRiversCouncil,thelocalranchingcommunityandtheBLM. TheSouthSteensAllotmentWorkingGroupfirstmetinMay1992. InAugust1992,theRoaring SpringsRanchwassoldandthenewownerbecameamemberoftheWorkingGroup. Thiswas critical,becauseofthe325,000acresintheallotment,the75,000acresownedbytheranch encompassalargeportionofallthemajortributariesoftheSouthForkoftheDormerundBlitzen River. Sincethattimethegrouphashadseveralofficeworkingsessionsandfieldtrips. The WorkingGrouphastakenanecosystemapproachindevelopingmanagementobjectivesanda monitoringplanfortheallotment. Thisdedicatedgrouphasworkedmanyhourstoreachaconsensus onthemanagementoftheSouthSteens. TheBLMinterdisciplinaryteamforSouthSteens,in conjunctionwiththeSouthSteensAllotmentWorkingGroup,anticipatescompletingan EnvironmentalAssessment(EA)forthemanagementofSouthSteensduringthiswinterandhavingit availableforpublicreviewbeforetheendofMarch1994. Pueblo-LoneMountainAllotmentWorking Group ThePueblo-LoneMountainAllotment,borderingNevadainsouth-centralOregon,consistsof 265,672acresofpubliclandand12,300acresofprivateinholdings. Itistypicaloflandfoundinthe NorthernGreatBasinwhichishighdesertcharacterizedbyridgesandvalleysorientedinanorthto southdirection. WithinthisallotmentareallorportionsoffourWSAsencompassing191,284acres, alongwithhabitatforLahontancutthroattrout,bighornsheep,antelope,sagegrouse,andmanyother speciesofwildlife. Thisvastsagebrushandbunchgrassdominatedlandhasbeengrazedbydomesticlivestocksincethe late1870's. Typically,livestockwerewinteredonthevalleyfloorandmovedtohigherelevations whenlowerelevationforagewasconsumedorweatherconditionswarrantedthemove,usuallyinthe earlyspring. Livestock,bothcattleandsheep,continuallygrazedtheallotmentuntiltheywere gatheredorherdedtothevalleyfloorinlatefall. Throughouttheyear,ranchersoftencompetedfor whatgreenforagewasavailable,resultingintheforagebeingtotallyconsumed. Aformalevaluationwasconductedforthisallotmentin1989todetermineifthestockingrate matchedthecarryingcapacityandtoseeifallotment-specificobjectiveswerebeingmet. Throughthe ewviatlhuatthieonm,anitywastsredaemtseramnidnewdetthaatndusderywamseatdooowhse.avyA,evsopleucnitaalrlyynoonntuhseeraigpraerieamnenvtegwetaastiionnitaisatseodciated betweenthepermitteesandtheBLMasaresultoftheevaluation,andpendingcollectionoffurther monitoringdataandthedevelopmentofamanagementplanfortheallotment. UponconfirmationofthepresenceofLahontancutthroattroutinVanHornCreekbyBoiseState Universityinthefallof1991,itwasobviousthatcurrentmanagementpracticeswithintheallotment neededtochangerapidly. Inthefallof1992,aWorkingGroupwasorganizedfromvariousand diverseinterestedindividualsandgroups. Meetingsthenbeganwithatouroftheallotmentto familiarizegroupmemberswitheachotherandtolookattheexistingnaturalresourcesanduse conflicts. ResourcesandspecialvaluesincludetheLahontancutthroattrout,listedasthreatenedin 1991;bighornsheepandsagegrouse,bothCategory2candidatesforlisting;WSAs;Research NaturalAreas(RNAs);streams;meadows;recreationopportunities;and,scenicvalues. RepresentationontheWorkingGroupincludesmembersoftheIzaakWaltonLeague,SierraClub, ODFW,HarneyCountyCourt,locallivestockinterests,livestockpermitteesandtheBLM. Additionalmeetingswerescheduledtoidentifyallotment-specificobjectivesandtodevelopa managementstrategythatwouldmeettheseobjectives. Theprocesshasbeenoneofstrivingto achieveconsensusoveraperiodofnearlyayear. Althoughlengthydiscussionwasthenorm,the groupcompleteditstaskofbringingforthanacceptableplanfortheallotmentinarelativelyshort periodoftime. AdraftAMPandassociatedEA,thatmirrorstherecommendationoftheWorkingGroup,willbe completedinthenextfewmonths. Thiswouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthesincere commitmentofallgroupmembersworkingtogetherforacommongoalofprotectingandimproving conditionofthecomplexmixofnaturalresourcesexistingontheallotment. AccordingtoGlennPatterson,AndrewsResourceAreaManager,theconsiderableamountoftime, energyandpersonalexpensescontributedbytheindividualmembersofthetwoWorkingGroupsare acleartestimonytotheirbeliefintheconceptandcommitmenttodevelopingfeasiblemanagement plans. Astheplansprogress,opportunitiesforpublicreviewswillbeannouncedandcitizenswillbe encouragedtocommentontheproposals. Pattersonsays,"Effectiveecosystemmanagementdepends oneveryonedoingtheirpart." FormoreinformationontheSouthSteensAllotmentWorkingGroupcontactJimBuchananandfor thePueblo-LoneMountainAllotmentWorkingGroupcontactWillieStreet,bothcanbereachedat (503)573-5241. NATIVE AMERICAN COORDINATION PubliclandadministeredbytheBLMBurns DistricthashistoricallybeenusedbyNative Americansfromanumberofdifferenttribes. TheKlamath,Umatilla,WarmSprings,and BurnsPaiutetribesofeasternOregon,theFort McDermitttribeofnorthernNevada,andthe FortBidwelltribeofnortheasternCalifornia allhavevestedinterestsinthepubliclandand resourcesmanagedbytheBurnsDistrict. Severalfactorsinfluencethenatureand intensityoftribalinterestsinparticularparcels ofthepublicland:theproximityof"ceded lands"(formertriballandscededbytribal governmentstotheU.S.Governmentin ratifiedtreaties);treatyprovisionsforaccessto anduseof"trustresources"withinandoutside cededareas;andancestraltiestopubliclands intheregion. NativeAmericanconcernsaboutlandsand resourcesintheBurnsDistricthaveoftenbeen heritage-related,suchastheprotectionof Indianburialgroundsandarchaeologicalsites, aswellasthepreservationofculturally- importantlandscapesandresources, particularlywheretraditionalrootgatheringis practiced(BiscuitrootCulturalACEC). Tribal interestinpubliclandalsoincludesissuesthat involvemulti-resourcemanagement,land tenureadjustment,lawenforcement,tribal economicdevelopment,andemployment. TheKlamathTribehascededlandsinthewesternportionoftheThreeRiversResourceAreaandhas ancestraltiestoportionsoftheAndrewsResourceArea,includingtheSteensMountainregion. The BLMBurnsDistrictandtheTribehaveaninformalworkingrelationshipandhavecooperatedin heritagepreservationmatters. TnohrethCeornnfepdoertriaotnesdoTfritbheesTohfreteheRiUvmeartsilRleasIonudricaenARreesae.rvaTthieonChoanvfeedceerdaetdedlaTnrdisbeasndanadncseesvterraalltBieLsMinthe districtofficesinOregon,includingtheBurnsDistrict,havesignedaMemorandumofUnderstanding thatimplementsaworkingrelationshipbetweenthetwogovernments. TheConfederatedTribesofWarmSpringshavecededlandstothewestoftheThreeRiversResource AreaandhaveancestraltiestoportionsoftheDistrict. TheBurnsDistrictandtheConfederated Tribeshaveaninformalworkingrelationshipandhaveconsultedinmattersrelatedtoheritage preservation. TheBurnsPaiuteTribehastrustlandsintheHarneyValleyandancestraltiestomajorportionsof theBurnsDistrict,buthasnocededlandssincetheylackaratifiedtreaty. TheoriginalMalheur IndianReservationincludedtheeasternportionoftheThreeRiversResourceArea,andextendedinto theValeDistrict. TheBurnsDistrictandtheBurnsPaiuteTribehaveagoodworkingrelationship, althoughaformalagreementhasnotbeencompleted. Theyregularlyconsultandinteractinheritage preservationandresourcemanagementmatters. OtherFederally-recognizedtribesandreservationswithancestraltiestoportionsoftheBurnsDistrict includetheFortMcDermittShoshone-PaiuteandtheFortBidwellPaiute. Formalagreementshave notbeencompleted,howevertheBurnsDistrictandtheFortBidwellPaiutehaveaninformal workingrelationshipandhavecooperatedinheritagepreservationmatters. AnyquestionsaboutcoordinationwithNativeAmericangroupsshouldbedirectedtoBruceCrespin at(503)573-5241. NORTHWEST MUSTANG-A-FAIR AyearofplanningandcooperativeeffortsofseveralorganizationsandBLMemployeesfrom throughoutOregonassuredthesuccessofthe1993NorthwestMustang-A-Fair,heldinBurnson October14-16,1993. ThecentralfocusoftheMustang-A-Fairwasthelotteryadoptionof129Kiger Mustangs,gatheredfromtheKigerandRiddleMountainHMAsinSeptember. With426people registeringtoadopta"Kiger",includingadoptersfromasfarawayasFlorida,Indiana,Texas,and evenNome,Alaska,allofthemustangswereadoptedinlessthan3hours. CooperatingwiththeBurnsDistrictinplanningtheeventwerePRIDE,alocalcommunity improvementorganization;theKigerMestehoAssociation;theKigerMustangRanch;Western HeritageEnterprises;theBreyerCompany;and,theChristianCowboysAssociation. Activitiesarrangedbycooperatingorganizationsincludedahorsetrainingclinicconductedbythree- timeworldchampioncowhorsetrainer,BobbyIngersoll,whousedhisadoptedKigerMustangKiger Cougarasademonstrationhorse. Otheractivitiesincludedanartsandcrafts/tradeshow,exhibition ofseveraladoptedKigerMustangsandprogeny,andacommunitybarbecue. Abanquetsponsored byKigerMestenoAssociationfeaturedkeynotespeakerK.LynnBennett,BLMNevadaAssociate StateDirector,whogaveanoverviewofBLM'sNationalWildHorseandBurroProgram. The banquetalsoincludedacowboypoetandaraffleforayearlingfillywildhorse. BurnsDistrictemployeeswerejoinedbyBLMersfromtheSalem,Eugene,Prineville,Lakeview,and ValeDistricts,andtheBakerCityResourceAreawhoassistedwiththenewsmedia,staffingof informationstations,adopterregistration,security,shuttlebusdriving,andavarietyofothertasks. Over1,000excitedpeoplewatchedfromthestandsattheHarneyCountyFairgroundsarenaasBLM ActingOregon/WashingtonStateDirectorElaineZielinskiandBurnsDistrictManagerMikeGreen gaveopeningremarksatthelotterydrawing. Asthedrawingcommencedandeachnumberwas announced,thecrowdreactedwithapplausesincetheorderofnamesdrawnatthelotterywould determinetheorderinv/hichthewinnerscouldselectahorseatthewildhorsecorralsthefollowing day. ThenumberonelotterypickwasawomanfromLakeviewwhoselecteda6-montholdgrulla (pronouncedgrooya)filly. ThenumbertwopickwenttoawomanfromNome,Alaska,whoalso pickedayounggrulla(mousegrey)mustang. ShewillraiseitalongwithhertwoIcelandicsandone NorwegianFjordhorse. Shewasinterestedinadoptingawildhorsesinceshefeelstheir"survival genes"willbevaluableintheharshclimateinNome. Othermustangswenttonewhomesasdistant asTexasandIndianawhilesomewereadoptedbylocalresidents.