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BLM LIBRARY U.S. Department ofthe Interior 88057374 Bureau of Land Management Prineville District Office 185 E. 4th Street Prineville, Oregon 97754 February 1992 Prineville District Planning Update HD 211 .07 P74 1992 =21/ ,07 P74- Asthe Nation'sprincipalconservation agency, the Departmentofthe Interiorhasresponsibilityformostofournationallyowned publiclandsand naturalresources. Thisincludesfostering thewisestuseofourlandandwaterresources, protecting ourfish andwildlife, preserving theenviron- mentalandcultural valuesofournational parksandhistorical places,andproviding fortheenjoymentoflifethrough outdoorrecreation. The Departmentassessesourenergyand mineral resourcesandworkstoassurethattheirdevelopmentis inthebestinterestofallourpeople. The DepartmentalsohasamajorresponsibilityforAmerican Indian reservationcommunitiesandforpeoplewholive in IslandTerritoriesunderU.S. administration. J' BLM-OR-EA-92-07-1792 U.S. Department ofthe Interior BureauofLandManagement PrineviUeDistrictOffice 185E.4th Street PrineviUe,Oregon 97754 Introduction - AsthePrineviUeDistrict'smultipleuseprogramscontinuetoexpandandbecomemorecomplex,itisimperative thatwekeepyou(thepublic)informedofourongoingprogresstowardimplementinglanduseplans. Yourinterest andparticipation in variousprograms and operations are invaluable to ourDistrict's success. In the continuing efforttobetterinformyou,thePrineviUeDistricthasdevelopedthissummary. Thisisthesecondsuchdocument developedbytheDistrictandwewillcontinuetoprovideyouthisupdatenormallyinJanuaryorFebruaryofeach year. Thanks for yourcontinued interestin the managementofournation's public lands. James L. Hancock DistrictManager What You Can Find In This Document FeatureArticles: Anumberofarticleshavebeendevelopedonhigh briefsummaryoftheprogress made in implementingourthreeland publicinteresttopicsofconcernthroughouttheDistrict.Forexample, useplans. in this edition you can find articles on the Wild & Scenic River planning process, the Deschutes River Management Plan, the land VolunteerProgramActivity/Opportunities: Wedependveryheavily exchangeprogram,thebotanyprogram,andmore. Futurearticleswill onvolunteerservicebythepublicinnumerousactivities/rolestohelp beofwidespreadinterestandwillportrayourDistrict'smajorannual manage the public lands. Countless hours of high quality public accomplishmentsorupcomingevents. ADistrictmapisincludedand service havebeendonatedannually throughoutourDistrict andthe keyedtothesearticles as wellasothernewsitems. State. This section of the summary will highlight the valuable contributionsthatthesededicatedvolunteersmakeaswellasprovid- ProgramofWorkSummary: Inordertogiveyouasummaryofwork ing information about the typesofopportunities availableforfuture accomplishedlastfiscalyear(Oct.1, 1990toSept.30,1991)andwork volunteerworkintheDistrict. expectedtobeaccomplishedthisfiscalyear(1992)asummaryofthe work and units planned/accomplished is displayed. This is not a Environmental Assessment (EA) Register: The Eastern Oregon detailedlist,butisdesignedtoindicatethemagnitudeoftheworkBLM BLM Districts have been distributing an EA register to interested hasdoneorexpectsto accomplish. individualsandgroupsforseveralyears. This providesyouwithan opportunity to become involved or provide input into a variety of PlanImplimentationProgressReports: Wewillmaintainaregular plannedprojectsonanindividualprojectbasis. reportingofprogress made toward implementation ofthe District's three landuseplans. Theseplans include the TwoRiversResource Insummary,wehopeyoufindthissummaryinterestingandinforma- Management Plan (RMP) completed in 1986, the John Day RMP tive. Wewanttomakefuturesuchdocumentsevenbetterandwould (1985) andthe Brothers-LaPineRMP(1989). Wearenotpresently appreciateany commentsyou may haveregardingformat, content, workingonaplan,butwillbegininFY93toamendtheJohnDayand etc. Pleasesendanysuchcommentsto: DistrictManager,Bureauof TwoRiversRMP'stoaddressnewemerging issues. Moredetailon LandManagement,P.O.Box550,PrineviUe,OR97754.Thanksfor thisamendmentwillbe providedinournextannualplanningupdate yourcontinuedinterestinthePrineviUeDistrict'sactivities. whichwillbecompleted nextyear. Thiscurrentupdate givesyoua 1 and Wild Scenic River Planning Specific plans are being developedfortheportions ofsix rivers, totaling 37 miles,inthePrinevilleDis- trictwithinthefederaldes- ignated Wild and Scenic River System. The plans will be specific to eight segmentsonthesixrivers. Issues and alternatives to guide each plan were developed through public scoping last summer, and AdHoc study groupsrep- resentingavarietyofriver users are assisting in the preparationofthemanage- ^-^^ 3*v mentplans. i The district's most recent riverplanningeffortshave NorthForkCrookedRiver. focused on the Deschutes River (see related article on Deschutes River Management Plan). However, much progresshasbeenmade thispastyearonotherriverplans LowerCrookedRiver&MiddleDeschutesRiver-This while coordinating with the Forest Service river plans planwillbeajointBLM/FSefforttospecifymanagement wherenecessaryto facilitate interagencyplanningefforts for26milesofriver,whichincludes7milesoftheLower and public participation. Ongoing efforts include the CrookedRiverbetweentheNationalGrasslandsboundary following rivermanagementplans: tojustsouthofOpalSpring,and 19milesoftheDeschutes Riverbetween OdenFalls and Lake Billy Chinook. John Day River (includingmain stem andSouthFork) - This managementplan is being developed by BLM with The White River W&SR management plan has been primary focusonthe 147.5-mile riverstem between Ser- postponedforayeartofacilitatethejointagencyplanning viceCreekandTurnwaterFalls,and47milesontheSouth process for the 24.4 miles of this river administered by ForkfromtheMalheurNationalForestboundarytoSmokey BLM and the 22.1 miles managed by the Mt. Hood Creek.Additionally,thisplanwillprovideaframeworkfor National Forest. riverplanningon the John Day segments not included in W&SR the Wild and Scenic RiverSystem. Draftsofthe four managementplanslisted above willbereleasedforpubliccommentinthespring,andfinal North Fork Crooked River -This W&SR plan isbeing managementplansshouldbecompletedbySeptember30, developed jointly with the Ochoco National Forest to 1992. incorporate two river segments, 14.7 miles administered by the FS and 17.6 managed by the BLM. Anyone interested in these river management plans is encouraged to become involved in the planning process. Crooked River - A single management plan is being Thiscanbedonebysubmittingarequesttobeaddedtoour developedbythedistrictfortheChimneyRocksegmentof mailing list. the Crooked River involving an 8-mile stretch of river below Bowman Dam. Deschutes River Management Plan A management plan for the lower 100 miles ofthe De- hearings were held during the summerinPendleton,The schutesRiverfromPeltonDamtotheColumbiaisnearing Dalles,Portland,Medford,Eugene,Salem,Madras,Warm completion. TheplanwasdraftedbyaPolicyGroupwith Springs,BendandMaupin. Atotalof500peopleattended BLM representatives from the and ten other Federal, the varioushearingstoexpresstheiropinionsonthedraft Tribal,Stateandlocalgovernmentagencies,aswellasa9- plan and voice their preferences for management ofthe membercitizens advisory team appointed by the Gover- river. nor. Thegroupaddressednumerousissues,someofwhich were controversial and complex, ranging from fish and ThePolicyGrouphas reviewedthepubliccommentsand wildlife habitat requirements to social conflicts between isnowpreparingthe finalmanagementplan. Someofthe boaters, and includinguserlimitsandenforcementneeds. complex issues are still in the resolution process. One unresolved issue pertains tojet boat restrictions; another A draftmanagementplan was released forpublic review relatestothe typeofpermitorallocationsystem thatmay andcomment inJuneof 1991. Betweenthenandtheend be necessary in the future ifuse limits are implemented. of October, over 1,800 letters were received. Public Completion ofthe final plan is expected in the spring of 1992. Adventures in the Past Sometimes Occur — a Cave in rheBLM'sPrinevilleDistricthasfoundawayforpeople to learnfirsthandaboutearlyNativeAmericans. Con- tinuing apartnership establishedin 1990, theBLMandthe OchocoNationalForestareplanningtohostanarchaeologi- cal excavation as part ofthe Forest Service "Passport in Time" program. rheBLMIFSpartnershipwasformedtoprovidecultural resourcemanagementopportunitiesthatallowforpublic participationasameansofincreasingpublicawarenessand appreciation ofthe significance ofcultural resources, and also promoting public stewardship and involvement in the protection ofprehistoricandhistoricproperties. CentralOregonCave.[MapRef.#3J. rhesiteoftheexcavationwillbeacavelocatednearRedmond,onpubliclandsadministeredbytheBLM andadjacent , topublic lands managed by the ForestService. Theproject is expectedto be conducted one weekendper month beginning inJune orJuly andcontinuing throughAugustorSeptemberof1992. rhecavewasbroughttotheattentionofBLMandFSbyalocalrancherwhowasconcernedaboutculturalpreservation. Thecave,apopularrecreationspotformanyyoungpeopleovertheyears,isheavilydisturbedandvandalized. Inrecent years, the rancherandotherarea residentshavebeenpatrolling the cavetopreventfurtherdamage. rhe cavewasidentifiedasagoodcandidatefora "PassportinTime"projectforanumberofreasons,onebeingthat the location ofthe cave on the boundaiy oflands administered by the BLM and FS makesjoint agency efforts appropriate. Excavation was determined to be preferable considering thepotentialfor the cave to contain cultural resources in contrastto the likelihoodofactivities threatening itspreseivation. rhe excavationwillbethefirst "PassportinTime"projectincentralOregontobeconductedasajointeffortbetween twofederalagencies. Additionalpartnershipprojectsforthisareaarebeingconsidered,toincludeculturalresource inventory, evaluation, enhancement, historicbuilding reconstruction,developmentofinterpretive exhibitsanddisplays, mapping ofsites,andcataloging ofhistoricphotographs. District Botany Program AstragolusDiaphanus var.diurnas. Certain public lands within the Prineville District con- tainknownorsuspectedhabi- tatfor75specialstatusplants. To manage for these plants, the botany program has ex- pandedsignificantlysinceits earlydaysinthe1970s.There are now fourprogram com- ponents: species inventory, monitoring, project clearance, and species management. A complete species inven- toryisbasictoasoundbotany programtoidentifytheloca- tionsofspecialstatusspecies withinthedistrict,thetypeof preferred habitat, the num- berandsizeofknownpopu- lations,andthedocumentedorsuspectedthreatstothesepopu- lations. Since 1983,approximately 115,000acresinthedistrict Allground-disturbingprojectsarereviewedpriortoimplemen- havebeeninventoriedforspecialstatusplants,eitherspecificto tation todetermine whetheranyspecial statusplantsarein the habitat or incidental to projects. Of the total, approximately projectarea,andifso,howtheprojectcanbemodified. Projects 13,000acresweredone in 1991. Such inventoryinghasdocu- requiring project clearance vary from livestock/wildlife water mented 37 special status plants on the district, including 12 pipelines, reservoir developments, powerline rights-of-way, which are candidates for Federal listing as endangered or andresidentialaccessroadstotimbersalesandlandexchanges. Since 1983,nearly650clearancereportshavebeencompleted threatened. whichequatestoan averageof75 peryear. Monitoring should ideally be done where any special status plants are found. Basic monitoring may consist of simply In speciesmanagement, the desiredresultis enhancement of counting individuals within a given area, or mapping plants theexistenceofspecialstatusplants. Thiscanbeaccomplished withinpermanently-markedplots. Morecomplexstudiesmay throughactionplanswhichspecifyanyparticularmanagement, seek to quantify the rates of reproduction and mortality, or monitoring, and habitat acquisitions that are needed. These determine the effects ofcertain management actions (for ex- needscanbeconsideredthroughtheplanningprocessinvolving amplelogging, grazing, recreation)onpopulationhealth. Due an interdisciplinary team. Cooperating with the public in tobudgetaryconstraints,monitoringinthePrinevilleDistrictis conservationeffortsisanotherimportantapproachinmanaging forspecial statusspecies. limitedprimarily to federal candidate species. Projectclearanceconsistsofplantinventorydonespecifically Thefinalnotetorememberisthatthesignificanceofmanaging inresponsetoproposedmanagementactionstoensurethatthe forspecial status plants lies with sustaining ecosystems which actionswillhavenodetrimentaleffectonspecialstatusplants. support notonly these plants,butalsoeachoneofus. Land Exhange Program Urban expansion and population growthincentralOregonhaveplaced increasing pressure on surrounding publiclands.Thepressuresresultfrom casual recreational activities such as off-road vehicle use, target shooting, horseback riding and mountain biking.Requestsfororganizedrecreation such aspaint ball activities, shooting andarcheryevents,scouting,stargaz- ing, and wilderness training are also increasing. Other demands include expandeduseby theOregon Military Department for training exercises, and increasing use of the Perhapsoneofthemajorconcerns,however,asurbanexpansion Badlands and Steelhead Falls Wilderness Study Areas for continues isthe increasingpotential foracatastrophic wildfire recreationalactivities. situation. Recentfiresininterfaceareas(i.e., AwbreyHallFire nearBend, theSpokaneareafires,andtheOakland,California Proposals are being received for land exchanges, land use areafire)havedemonstratedthepossibledevastationofsucha permits,andrights-ofway. Specificrequestsforuseofpublic situation. Heavy fuel loads, bug-killed trees, and extended landshavebeenmadebytheBendMetroParksandRecreation droughtconditionscontribute tothe potential forwildfire. District,DeschutesCounty,churchgroups.VeteransofForeign Wars,andthepublicschools. Wealsohaveaproposalforaland The Prineville District is preparing an activity plan to address exchangetoblockpublicownershipalongtheDeschutesRiver management needs specific to the above situations. Public nearClineFalls. meetingswillbeheldtoidentifytheissuesandconcernsinthese urban interface areas, as well as possible courses ofaction to Oneconcernin urbaninterfaceareasisthatthedevelopmentof improve management. Times and locations ofsuch meetings privatelandssometimesrestrictsaccesstopubliclands,creating willbeannouncedinpressreleases. Anyoneinterestedinmore a need to acquire easements. Othermanagement concerns in informationorbeingincludedonthemailinglistshouldcontact urban interface areas include illegal dumping of trash, occu- PhilPatemoorShaaronNethertonatthePrinevilleBLMat(503) pancyandagricultural trespass,offroadvehicleuse,andunau- 447-4115. thorizedwoodcutting. Urban Growth Impacts on Public Lands - UrbanexpansionandpopulationgrowthincentralOregonhave landshavebeenmadebytheBendMetroParksandRecreation placed increasing pressure on surrounding public lands. The District,DeschutesCounty,churchgroups.VeteransofForeign pressuresresult fromcasual recreational activitiessuchasoff- Wars andthepublicschools Wealsohaveaproposalforaland , . roadvehicleuse,targetshooting,horsebackridingandmountain exchangetoblockpublicownershipalongtheDeschutesRiver biking. Requests for organized recreation such as paint ball nearClineFalls. activities, shooting and archery events, scouting, star gazing, and wilderness training are also increasing. Other demands Oneconcernin urbaninterfaceareasisthatthedevelopmentof include expanded use by the Oregon Military Department for privatelandssometimesrestrictsaccesstopubliclands,creating training exercises, and increasing use of the Badlands and a need to acquire easements. Other management concerns in SteelheadFallsWildernessStudyAreasforrecreationalactivi- urban interface areas include illegal dumping of trash, occu- ties. pancyandagricultural trespass,offroadvehicleuse,andunau- thorizedwoodcutting. Proposals are being received for land exchanges, land use permits,andrights-ofway. Specificrequests foruse ofpublic Program Work Summary of AnannualcommitmenttoaprogramofworkismadebythePrinevilleBLMDistrictthroughthebudgetingprocess,andprogressis trackedduringtheyearthroughaunitsofaccomplishmentaccountingsystem. Onthefollowingtableisasummaryofthefiscalyear 1991 unitsplannedand unitscompleted,andtheplannedprogramforfiscalyear 1992. Unitsplannedareestimatesmadepriortothestartoftheyearandmayvaryconsiderablyfromtheactualunitscompletedduetochanges inprioritiesduringtheyear,public demandrequests,andotherfactors. Thislistshouldhelpyouunderstandthewidevarietyofmultipleusemanagementactivitiesundertakenannuallyonpublic landsby thePrinevilleDistrict. Units Units Units Plan. Compl. Plan. Description Measure FY 91 FY91 FY92 Range Management Allotment Mgmt. Plan #Developed 3 4 Monitoring Allotments.Monitored 120 165 95 Lease and permit Administr. #issued 500 530 500 Project develpmnt #developed 15 18 Weed Control #projects 5 5 5 Trespass Abatemnt #cases 2 9 Soil, Water, Air Watershed Activty Plans #completed 1 1 Soil Survey 000's acres 10 10 10 Water Rights Waters resources Documentation Quantified 25 10 25 Air Monitoring #stations 8 8 8 Watershed Monitor #stations 250 260 250 Watershed Impvmts #projects 9 5 Project Maint. #maintain 3 3 3 Perhapsoneofthemajorconcerns,however,asurbanexpansion continuesistheincreasingpotentialforacatastrophic wildfire situation. Recentfiresininterfaceareas(i.e., AwbreyHallFire nearBend,theSpokaneareafires,andtheOakland,California areafire)havedemonstratedthepossibledevastationofsucha situation. Heavy fuel loads, bug-killed trees, and extended droughtconditionscontribute tothepotentialforwildfire. ThePrineville District ispreparing an activityplan toaddress management needs specific to the above situations. Public meetingswillbeheldtoidentifytheissuesandconcernsinthese urban interface areas, as well as possible courses ofaction to improve management. Times and locations ofsuch meetings willbeannouncedinpressreleases. Anyoneinterestedinmore informationorbeingincludedonthemailinglistshouldcontact BLM Phil Paterno or Shaaron Netherton at the Prineville at CentralOregonUrbanGrowth.[MapReference#4] (503)447-4115. Units Units Units Plan. Compl. Plan. Description Measure FY 91 FY91 FY92 Wild Horses/Burros Inventory OOO's acres Monitoring HerdMgmt 2 2 2 Forest Management Planning #plans 2 3 2 Timber Sales MBF offered 27,400 29,664 13,900 Other Forest Prod #permits 190 212 190 Forest Development Reforestation acres 20 Timber Stnd Imprv acres 100 82 Fire Management Inventory OOO's acres 5 5 1 Fire Plans #complted 2 1 Hazard Reduction OOO's acres 1 1 Lands & Realty Rights-of-Way #grants 28 34 44 Private Exchanges #acres 4,200 2,834 6,000 Trespass Abatemnt #cases 10 7 5 Permits #cases 8 9 5 Minerals Management Surf.Mgmt. #reviewed 15 8 12 Notices #reviewed 2 2 Plans #reports 55 15 40 Inspections Geothermal Lease #drill perm. 3 1 Operations Mineral Material Sales #processed 7 33 44 Law Enforcement Agreements & Contracts #signed 6 6 5 Recreation Permitting #permits 190 146 183 Res. Protection #projects 1 1 2 Activity Plans #plans 1 1 5 Wilderness Study Area Repts #completed 13160 Interim Mgmt. OOO's acres 196 196 175 Resource Protect. #projects 1 Cultural Activity Plan #completed 1 Sites Mgmt. #managed 30 43 25 Wildlife Habitat Management Inventory OOO's acre 1 1 4 Monitoring #monitored 6 5 6 Hab. Projects #completed 7 8 14 Maintenance #monitored 58 74 58 Hab Mgmt Plans #completed 1 1 Endangered Species Management Inventory OOO's acre 18 13 3 Plans #completed 1 Monitoring #monitored 2 2 1 Implemented T&E Plans #completed 1 1 8