Table Of Content

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Oregon State Office 1300 N.E. 44th Avenue, Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208 October 1991 Wilderness Study Report Volume I 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. BV.W'--edeta\ pet^et£ ~ c ,0 oC-5“V ] 2504 80225 ?.oTfco petvvet’ BLM-OR-EA-91-43-8561.6 QH \y.mum W . oT Table of Contents 1 55 ^ " 111 I vJ WSA Page Devils Garden. ..1 Squaw Ridge. 11 Four Craters. 21 Sand Dunes . 31 Diablo Mountain. 39 _ v Orejana Canyon. Abert Rim. ..59 Fish Creek.,. ..69 Guano Creek. ..81 Spaulding. ..91 Flawk Mountain. 101 Sage Flen Hills. 113 Malheur River/Bluebucket. 121 Stonehouse. 131 Lower Stonehouse... 141 Sheepshead Mountain Group. 151 Sheepshead Mountains Wildcat Canyon Heath Lake Table Mountain West Peak Palomino Hills Alvord Desert/East Alvord. 171 Winter Range. 191 Mahogany Ridge. 199 Red Mountain. 213 Pueblo Mountain. 223 Rincon. 241 Alvord Peak.. 255 Basque Hills. 265 High Steens/Little Blitzen Gorge. 277 South Fork of Donner and Blitzen River 301 Home Creek. 311 Blitzen River. 323 Bridge Creek. 339 Strawberry Mountain. 349 Pine Creek Sheep Gulch Indian Creek Aldrich Mountain. 359 Castle Rock. 367 Beaver Dam Creek. 377 Camp Creek Group. 385 Camp Creek Cottonwood Creek Gold Creek Sperry Creek Cedar Mountain... 403 Dry Creek. 413 Dry Creek Buttes.423 Owyhee Breaks.433 Blue Canyon. 447 Upper Leslie Gulch.437 Slocum Creek.463 Honeycombs.473 Wild Horse Basin.437 Lower Owyhee Canyon.495 Saddle Butte.311 Bowden Hills.521 Clarks Butte.531 Jordan Craters.541 Trout Creek Mountains Group.333 Willow Creek Disaster Peak Fifteenmile Creek Oregon Canyon Twelvemile Creek Upper West Little Owyhee.575 Lookout Butte.587 Owyhee River Canyon.597 Thirtymile/Lower John Day.617 North Pole Ridge.631 Spring Basin.641 Deschutes Canyon/Steelhead Falls.651 Badlands.665 North Fork.677 South Fork/Sand Hollow.687 Gerry Mountain.701 Hampton Butte/Cougar Wells.709 McGraw Creek.719 Homestead.727 Sheep Mountain.737 Mountain Lakes.747 Soda Mountain.,.753 North Sisters Rocks and Zwagg Island.763 Devils Garden Wilderness Study Area 1. The Study Area The WSA supports juniper, mountain mahogany, ponderosa pine, varied native grasses and abundant —29,680 acres shrubs. There are a number of lava tube caves in the WSA, the largest and best known being Derrick The Devils Garden Lava Bed WSA (OR-1-2) is Cave near the northeast corner of the WSA. A located in Lake County, about 60 miles southeast of number of cinder cones occur in the WSA. The most Bend, Oregon, and 8 miles north of the small town of interesting cinder cone, known as the “Little Garden”, Fort Rock. The WSA contains 28,720 acres of BLM is located in the northeast portion of the WSA. It is lands and 960 acres of split-estate land (see table 1). covered by ponderosa pine and dense stands of The boundaries are primarily defined on the east by native bunchgrasses. private land, vehicle ways, and low standard dirt access roads associated with a powerline right-of- The WSA was studied under Section 603 of the way. On the north, west and south, land ownership Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and low standard roads define the WSA boundary. and was included in the Final Oregon Wilderness A low-standard dead-end road extends 2 miles into a Environmental Impact Statement filed in February well in the Devils Garden, forming a part of the 1990. boundary. There were three alternatives discussed in the EIS Most of the WSA is extremely rugged terrain covered for the WSA; all wilderness alternative; partial by geologically recent lava flows. An open sagebrush wilderness alternative proposing wilderness designa¬ grassland of some 3,900 acres in the north-central tion of 28,160 acres, with road closure and acquisi¬ portion is known locally as “The Devils Garden.” The tion of 960 acres of split-estate from willing owners lava flows consist of aa lava, very sharp and broken (which is the recommendation of this report); and no in appearance, while smoother-textured, less rugged wilderness/no action alternative. These lands are pahoehoe flows cover the south portion of the WSA. shown on Map 1. 1 j 2. Recommendation edge of the flow. Area B in the southeast corner of the WSA contains a crested wheatgrass seeding and Rationale which offers no opportunity for solitude. Area C on —28,160 acres recommended for the southwest corner of the WSA presents an wilderness awkward ownership configuration and lacks wilder¬ 1,520 acres recommended for ness values such as naturalness and solitude. nonwilderness These parcels are recommended as nonsuitable to improve wilderness manageability and exclude acreage not possessing wilderness character. The recommendation is to designate 28,160 acres wilderness and to release 1,520 acres for uses other Conflicts with other resource uses of the WSA are than wilderness. The environmentally preferable limited. Livestock utilization of the Devils Garden alternative is the all wilderness alternative as it will emergency allotment on a temporary basis requires result in the least change from the natural environ¬ the periodic use of a gas motor to operate the well in ment over the long term. However, the recommen¬ dation would be implemented in a manner which the garden. would use all practical means to avoid or minimize environmental impacts. 3. Criteria Considered in Developing the The recommendation would preserve the natural ecological diversity on 28,160 acres, representing a Wilderness variety of volcanic features, and a combination of vegetative communities reflecting the transition from Recommendations the forest ecosystems to the north, and the sage¬ brush-desert zone to the south. The area has high Wilderness Characteristics wilderness values, is generally free of human activity, and appears to have been affected primarily by the A. Naturalness : The Devils Garden WSA remains forces of nature. The area also possesses outstand¬ in a generally natural condition with much of the Lava ing opportunities for solitude due to its large size, Flow pristine. The area’s large size, rugged topogra¬ rugged topographic features and vegetative screen¬ phy and diverse vegetation enhance the natural ing. perspective in the area. Fire scars within the area are a natural part of the ecosystem and are viewed Wilderness designation of the Devil’s Garden WSA as indication of natural cycles at work. Minor evi¬ would add an ecosystem (Intermountain Sagebrush dence of human activity appears in the “Devils Province/Sagebrush-steppe) not presently repre¬ Garden,” the historic homestead, a seeding that has sented in Oregon and represented in the National revegetated to a great degree with native vegetation, Wilderness Preservation System by only three areas. and several vehicle trails. There are two wildlife guzzlers at remote locations in the suitable area. Outstanding opportunities for primitive recreation include hiking, hunting, photography, spelunking Unnatural features affect less than one percent of the (cave exploring), sightseeing and nature study. The area recommended suitable. Signs of human extent and diversity of volcanic features, plant activity, seedings, fencelines and trails influence communities, ecological interrelationships, and Areas A, B, and C, leading in part to the deletion of recreation opportunities offer a unique matrix of these areas from the area recommended suitable for wilderness values. A homestead site in the Devils wilderness designation. Three high voltage Garden WSA adds historic significance to the powerlines in a corridor outside the east boundary recommendation. influence approximately 1,200 acres inside the southeast boundary as an outside sight visible within Those public lands recommended nonsuitable for the area. wilderness designation are located in the northwest (Area A), southeastern (Area B), and a small parcel The Devils Garden provides habitat for antelope, elk, of land on the southwest (Area C). Area A is land over 5,000 deer, bobcat, porcupine, numerous bird outside the main lava flow containing vehicle trails, species and a diverse range of small mammals, fencelines and low wilderness value. Topography reptiles and other wildlife. There are occasional and ownership pattern would make controlling reports of black bear and cougar in the area. access difficult after designation, therefore the boundary has been drawn on an existing way at the B. Solitude: The Devils Garden WSA has out¬ standing opportunities for solitude due to its large 2 R 14 E R 15 E R 16 E T 23 S T 24 S T 25 S RECOMMENDED FOR SPLIT ESTATE WILDERNESS RECOMMENDED FOR STATE (None) NONWILDERNESS -N- LAND OUTSIDE WSA I RECOMMENDED FOR PRIVATE (None) WILDERNESS (None) Devil’s Garden Lava Bed 0 12 3 Proposal I_I_I_I OR- 1-2 MILES MAP-1 January, 1991 Table 1. Land Status and Acreage Summary of the Study Area Within Wilderness Study Area Acres BLM (within WSA) 28,720 960 Split-Estate (BLM surface only)1 0 Inholdings (State, Private) 29,680 Total Within Recommended Wilderness Boundary BLM (within WSA) 27,200 BLM (outside WSA) 0 Split-Estate (within WSA)1 960 Split-Estate (outside WSA)1 0 Total BLM Land Recommended for Wilderness 28,160 Inholdings (State, Private) 0 Within Area Not Recommended for Wilderness BLM 1,520 Split-Estate1 0 Total BLM Land Not Recommended for Wilderness 1,520 Inholdings (State, private) 0 'Appendix 1 is a detailed description of split-estate tracts included within the study. For purposes of this report, split- estate lands are defined only as those lands with federal surface and non-federal subsurface (minerals). size, rugged topographic features, and vegetative topography and exposure to outside activities screening. In the north half of the WSA extremely surrounding these parcels. rugged lava flows, dense vegetation, cinder cones and highly broken terrain offer truly exceptional C. Primitive and Unconfined Recreation: The opportunities for solitude. Though the “Devils WSA offers outstanding opportunities for hiking, Garden” area is more open than the flow areas, it still photography, spelunking, wildlife observation and has more than adequate topographic relief to warrant study of natural history, especially geology and a high degree of solitude. The pahoehoe flows on volcanism. The area also offers outstanding opportu¬ the south half of the WSA at first appear open; nities for hunting, camping, and general sightseeing. however, the vast number of pockets, fissures and Derrick Cave is one of the most popular caves in the less dramatic elements of topographic relief in the region, drawing interest from outside the state within area offer outstanding opportunities for solitude in the speleological community. The diversity of this area as well. The “Little Garden” area in the opportunities in the WSA and the varied terrain and northeast portion offers an overlook of the expanse ecosystems represented, from dense forest to big of the Devils Garden while surrounded by ponderosa sage, caves to open expanses, rugged lava flows to pine and lush native bunchgrasses. The aesthetics pine covered cinder cones, make it especially of the “Little Garden” represent the epitome of attractive for primitive recreation. solitude. D. Special Features: The entire WSA is an Area of Areas A,B, and C identified as nonsuitable for Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) due to high wilderness have little opportunity for solitude due to geologic and zoological values. 4 1 The Devils Garden contains numerous geologic B. Assessing the Opportunities for Solitude or features of high interest to the educational and Primitive Recreation Within a Day’s Driving Time scientific communities, especially as related to (five hours) of Major Populations Centers: The volcanism. Volcanic features of unusual complexity WSA is within five hours driving time of four standard representing diverse form and textures have been metropolitan statistical areas with populations over used by university classes over the years as a field 100,000: Eugene/Springfield, Salem, Portland, and laboratory of significance to the educational commu¬ Medford, Oregon. nity. Two spatter cones known as “The Blowouts” are located on the east edge of the study area. Table 3 summarizes the number and acreage of Several lava tube caves, including the well known designated areas and other BLM study areas within Derrick Cave, and a variety of other volcanic features a five-hour drive of the population center. can also be found. The study area is in an ecotone between the sagebrush steppe and ponderosa pine C. Balancing the Geographic Distribution of forest, and therefore contains an assemblage of Wilderness Areas: The Devils Garden WSA would plants and animals found in both ecosystems. The not contribute to balancing the geographic distribu¬ Devils Garden Lava Bed also contains kupukas, tion of areas within the National Wilderness Preser¬ areas of undisturbed soils and native vegetation vation System. There are 15 designated wilderness surrounded by lava fields. The entire area is within areas within 100 miles of this WSA. crucial deer winter range, offering forage and thermal cover, and lies within wintering range for northern Manageability bald eagle, which is federally listed as threatened in Oregon. (The area must be capable of being effectively managed to preserve its wilderness character.) Diversity in the National Wilderness Preservation System The portion recommended for wilderness designa¬ tion is manageable as wilderness. The only man¬ A. Expanding the Diversity of Natural Systems agement problem of any potential in the area is the and Features, as Represented by Ecosystems: necessity to utilize a gasoline motor on the well Wilderness designation of this WSA would add an which provides water for the temporary grazing ecosystem not presently represented in Oregon and operation in the Devils Garden allotment. Due to the represented in the National Wilderness Preservation temporary nature of this utilization it is probable that System by only three areas. There are 66 other this use would be found compatible with wilderness BLM areas in the state under study within this management after a site-specific analysis. Under the ecosystem. This information is summarized in recommendation, manageability would be enhanced Table 2. by the acquisition of mineral estate of 960 acres and closure of vehicle access to the Devils Garden. According to the Bailey-Kuchler system of classifying ecosystems, the Devils Garden WSA is located in Areas B and C of the WSA recommended as the Intermountain Sagebrush Province, with a nonsuitable would be manageable as wilderness, but potential natural vegetation of sagebrush-steppe with lack wilderness values. Area A has a convoluted juniper. Vegetative communities listed in the High boundary with private land, numerous trails, a social Lava Plains and Columbia Basin section of the history of vehicle use, and non wilderness types of Oregon Natural Heritage Plan and occurring in the camping and hunting activity that would make WSA are: ponderosa pine/big sagebrush, ponderosa wilderness management impracticable within the pine/bitterbrush/Idaho fescue, ponderosa pine/ parcel. western juniper/big sagebrush, western juniper/big Energy and Mineral Resource Values sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass, western juniper/ bluebunch wheatgrass, western juniper, Idaho fescue, western juniper/big sagebrush/bitterbrush, The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Bureau of big sagebrush/Idaho fescue, mountain mahogany Mines prepared a mineral assessment for the Devils and aspen. Garden WSA in 1988 (USGS Bulletin 1738-A). Geothermal energy is the main potential energy resource in the area with a moderate rating based on indirect evidence of recent volcanism and above normal heat flow. 5 j Table 2. Ecosystem Representation Bailey-Kuchler NWPS Areas Other BLM Studies Classification Areas Acres Areas Acres Province/Potential Natural Vegetation NATIONWIDE Intermountain Sagebrush/ Sagebrush Steppe 3 76,699 136 4,340,660 OREGON 0 0 66 1,953,394 Table 3. Wilderness Opportunities for Residents of Major Population Centers NWPS Areas Other BLM Studies Population Centers Areas Acres Areas Acres Eugene/Springfield, OR 42 2,859,994 4 770,436 Salem, OR 45 2,888,764 18 210,085 Portland, OR 48 4,537,392 16 91,762 Medford, OR 31 2,440,081 21 730,032 The WSA has a low potential for occurrence of Local Social and Economic metals based on direct evidence; and a moderate Considerations potential for silver, zinc and mercury based on indirect evidence. There is a moderate to high Livestock use at the current level of 914 AUMs and potential for cinders and slab lava used for decora¬ recreation use totaling 2,000 visitor use days per tive stone in the area. year are the primary resource outputs that generate economic activity in the WSA. Local personal There is no present production of any mineral or income generated annually from these existing use geothermal resource in the WSA. In summary, levels amounts to approximately $11,000 for live¬ quantities of various minerals are unknown, but stock grazing and $24,000 related to recreation use, potential for occurrence is low to moderate as for an overall total of approximately $35,000. identified in maps on the mineral report. Under the recommendation, livestock grazing would As of May 1991, there were no mining claims within remain at 914 AUMs. Recreation use is expected to this WSA.. Recent USGS evidence suggests that increase by 20 visitor days per year due to popula¬ the area may have moderate potential for hydrocar¬ tion growth. Annual total personal income generated bons at depth. 6