High Desert management framework draft plan amendment and environmental impact statement for the proposed Lake Abert Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in Lake County, Oregon

196 Pages·1995·15.9 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Lakeview District

BLM LIBRARY
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Lakeview District Office
1000 South 9th Street
May 1995
Lakeview, Oregon 97630
High Desert Management Framework
Draft Plan Amendment and
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Lake Abert Area of
Critical Environmental Concern
(ACEC) in Lake County, Oregon
As the Nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and
natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the
environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation.
The Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interest of all our people.
The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in Island Territories under
U.S. administration.
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United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Lakeview District Office
IN REPLY REFER TO:
P.O. Box 151 (1000 Ninth Street S.)
1610/1613 (015)
Lakeview, Oregon 97630
May 1, 1995
Dear Concerned Citizen:
Thank you for your interest in our effort to amend the High Desert Management Framework Plan (MFP)
which covers a proposal to designate the Lake Abert area as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACEC). The enclosed environmental impact statement (EIS) addresses seven management alternatives for
the area. The purpose of the EIS is to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the alternatives on
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administered land in the plan amendment area. I would appreciate
your comments on the adequacy of this analysis.
The following types of comments would be most helpful in the decision process: 1) are as specific as
possible; 2) address the appropriateness of the alternatives; 3) identify unaddressed issues; 4) provide new
information or data; 5) address the adequacy of the analysis; or 6) identify errors in the data or analysis.
Two public meetings will be held during the 90-day review period. The first will by held at the Lakeview
BLM District conference room, 1000 South Ninth Street, Lakeview, Oregon, on June 27, 1995. The
second will be held in Room 161 of the Boyle Education Center, Central Oregon Community Coliege, 2600
NW College Way, Bend, Oregon, on June 29, 1995. Both meetings will start at 6:30 p.m.
Comments may be submitted at the public meetings or sent to the following address by August 16, 1995:
Scott Florence, Area Manager
Bureau of Land Management
Lakeview Resource Area
P. O. Box 151
Lakeview, Oregon 97630
If you would like further information about the plan amendment process, beyond that presented in this
document, please contact Paul Whitman, Planning and Environmental Coordinator at [phone].
I appreciate your involvement in this process to date and encourage you to continue to be involved in the
management of your public lands.
Sincerely,
Scott R. Florence
District Manager, Acting
Enclosure (as stated)
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U.S. Department of Interior
Bureau of Land Management
HIGH DESERT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK DRAFT PLAN
AMENDMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
FOR THE PROPOSED LAKE ABERT AREA OF CRITICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN (ACEC) IN LAKE COUNTY, OREGON
Prepared by
Lakeview Resource Area Office
Lakeview District
January 1995
Lakeview District Office
g-OLwot l/?3)q5
Scott R. Florence
Area Manager
Lakeview Resource Area

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Subject Page
ABSTRACT. 1
SUMMARY. 3
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
Purpose and Need. 15
Location.16
Planning Process. 16
Plan Amendment. 16
Planning Criteria. 16
ACEC Evaluation Process. 18
ACEC Evaluation Findings.18
Decision Making Process.19
Decisions to Be Made. .19
Planning Issues..19
Management Goals and Objectives.20
Goal 1 .20
Goal 2. 20
Goal 3. 20
Goal 4.20
Goal 5. 20
Goal 6.21
Goal 7. 21
Goal 8.21
Goal 9.......22
Goal 10.......22
Conformance with Federal, State, Local, and Tribal
Land Use Plans and Policies.22
Federal.22
State.23
Lake County.24
Tribal Governments.24
CHAPTER 2 - ALTERNATIVES
Introduction.25
Management Assumptions Common to All Alternatives.25
Alternatives Considered But Eliminated from Further Study.26
ACEC Designation with No Change in Existing Management.26
Designation of the Entire Watershed as an ACEC.26
Wilderness Designations.26
Termination of All Livestock Grazing within the Area.26
Alternatives Evaluated in Detail.27
Alternative 1 (No Action - Continue Existing Management). 27
Alternative 2. 30
Alternative 3 . 32
Alternative 4. 33
Alternative 5 . 34
Alternative 6. 34
Alternative 7 (Preferred Plan). 35
Summary of Alternatives and Impacts. 36
CHAPTER 3 - AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
Introduction.37
Climate.37
Lands.38
Withdrawals. .......38
Utility Corridors. 38
Rights-of-Way. 38
Roads and Transportation. 38
Hydrology. 39
SubBasin Hydrology.39
Lake Abert Drainage.39
Water Rights. 42
Water Quality. -43
Chewaucan River...43
Lake Abert.43
Geochemistry.43
Soils.45
Geology.45
Relevance and Importance.46
Minerals. 46
Mineral Potential and Ownership.46
Sodium and Other Evaporite Minerals.46
Geothermal Energy. 46
Oil and Gas.......47
Base and Precious Metals...47
Sand, Gravel, and Rock.47
Paleontological Resources.47
Air Quality.47
Natural Hazards...48
Aquatic Communities.48
Algae.48
Invertebrates.48
Fishery.49
Relevance and Importance.49
Vegetation.49
High Quality Natural Communities..30
Riparian and Wetland Communities.30
u
Upland Plant Communities.50
Noxious Weeds.50
Rangeland Resources.51
Livestock Grazing.51
Monitoring Conducted to Date...51
Wild Horses.51
Special Forest Products.52
Wildlife. 52
Amphibians and Reptiles.52
Mammals.53
Birds.53
Relevance and Importance.56
Special Status Species.56
Plants. 56
Animals.,...... 56
Relevance and Importance.58
Special Management Areas.58
Wilderness Study Areas.58
Other Special Management Areas.58
Cultural Resources.. 58
Site Types Present. 59
Record of Occupation.59
Traditional Uses.60
Relevance and Importance.60
Socioeconomic Conditions.60
Population and Demographics.60
Local Economy and Business Climate.61
Recreation.61
Visual Resources.... 61
Relevance and Importance...........61
CHAPTER 4 - ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
Introduction.......63
Actions Which Have Not Been Analyzed in This Document.63
Land Program Impacts.64
Alternative 1 (No Action).64
Alternative 2. 64
Alternative 3.64
Alternative 4.65
Alternatives 5 and 7 (Preferred Plan).65
Alternative 6.65
Road and Transportation Impacts.65
Impacts Common to All Alternatives.65
Alternative 1 (No Action).65
Alternative 2.65
Alternatives 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 (Preferred Plan) ..65
iii
Secondary, Indirect, Irreversible, Irretrievable, and Cumulative Impacts 65
Hydrology and Water Quality Impacts. 66
Alternative 1 (No Action). 66
Alternative 2. 67
Alternative 3 . 67
Alternative 4. 67
Alternatives 5 and 7 (Preferred Plan). 67
Alternative 6. 67
Secondary, Indirect, Irreversible, Irretrievable, and
Cumulative Impacts. 67
Groundwater Impacts. 68
Soil Impacts... 68
Alternative 1 (No Action)... 68
Alternative 2. 68
Alternatives 3,4, 5, and 7 (Preferred Plan). 69
Alternative 6. 69
Secondary, Indirect, Irretrievable, Irreversible, and
Cumulative Impacts. 69
Geology and Mineral Impacts.. 69
Impacts Common to All Alternatives Except Alternative 2. 69
Alternative 1 (No Action). 69
Alternative 2. 69
Alternative 3 . 69
Alternative 4. 70
Alternative 5. 70
Alternative 6. 70
Alternative 7 (Preferred Plan). 70
Secondary, Indirect, Irreversible, Irretrievable, and
Cumulative Impacts. 71
Paleontological Resource Impacts... 71
Air Quality Impacts. 71
Alternative 1 (No Action).. 71
Alternative 2. 71
Alternatives 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 (Preferred Plan). 71
Secondary, Indirect, Irreversible, Irretrievable, and
Cumulative Impacts. 72
Aquatic Community Impacts. 72
Alternative 1 (No Action). 72
Alternative 2. 73
Alternatives 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 (Preferred Plan). 73
Secondary, Indirect, Irreversible, Irretrievable, and
Cumulative Impacts. 73
Vegetation Impacts. 73
Alternative 1 (No Action)..... 73
Alternative 2. 74
Alternatives 3, 4, 5, and 7 (Preferred Plan)... 74
Alternative 6. 74
IV