Draft resource management plan/environmental impact statement for the Upper Klamath Basin

178 Pages·1994·32.9 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Klamath Falls Resource Area Office

U.S.DepartmentoftheInterior
BureauofLandManagement
KlamatnFallsResourceArea
2795AndersonAve.,BIdg.25
KlamathFalls,Oregon97603 March1994
Upper Klamath Basin Draft
Resource Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement
AstheNation'sprincipalconservationagency,theDepartmentoftheInteriorhasresponsibilityformostofournationallyownedpubliclandsandnatural
resources.Thisincludesfosteringthewisestuseofourlandandwaterresources,protectingourfishandwildlife,preservingtheenvironmentalandcultural
valuesofournationalparksandhistoricalplaces,andprovidingfortheenjoymentoflifethroughoutdoorrecreation.TheDepartmentassessesourenergy
andmineralresourcesandworkstoassurethattheirdevelopmentisinthebestinterestofallourpeople.TheDepartmentalsohasamajorresponsibility
forAmericanIndianreservationcommunitiesandforpeoplewholiveinIslandTerritoriesunderU.S.administration.
BLM/OR/WA/PL-94/5+1792
O^
United States Departmentofthe Interior '^?7
BureauofLandManagement ^^
KlamathFallsResourceAreaOffice
LakeviewDistrictOffice
March1,1994
DearReader:
YouarecordiallyinvitedtoassisttheBureauofLandManagement(BLM)inaplanningprocessthatisimportantto
youandyourinterests. WeaskforyourparticipationinevaluatingthisdraftoftheUpperKlamathBasinResource
ManagementPlan/EnvironmentalImpactStatement(RMP/EIS)whichhasbeenpreparedinconformancewithland
useplanningproceduresestablishedbytheFederalLandPolicyandManagementActof1976.
ThisDraftResourceManagementPlan/EnvironmentalImpactStatement(RMP/EIS)addressesresourcemanage-
mentonapproximately3,200acresoflandacquiredandadministeredbytheBureauofLandManagementinthe
KlamathFallsResourceAreaoftheLakeviewDistrict. Thisland,knownastheWoodRiverproperty,islocatedin
theupperKlamathBasinapproximately25milesnorthofthecityofKlamathFalls,inKlamathCounty,Oregon.
ManagementobjectivesdescribedinthisRMPwouldbefollowedforotherlandsacquiredbytheBLMorreturnedto
BLM-administrationintheupperKlamathBasin.
Therearefourmanagementalternatives,eachwithadifferentemphasisandeachaddressingtheplanningissuesin
adifferentway. TheprimarypurposeforacquiringtheWoodRiverpropertyistorestoreittoafunctioningwetland
community;thereforethreeofthealternatives(includingthePreferredalternative)includevariouswetlandrestora-
tioncomponents,whiletheNoActionAlternative(requiredbylaw)doesn't. Publiccommentplayedanimportant
roleinshapingboththeissuesandthealternativesthatwereanalyzedinthisdocument. BeforethePreferred
Alternativewasdeveloped,suggestionsreceivedfromindividuals,interestgroups,andothergovernmentagencies
werethoroughlyconsidered. Thesesuggestionswereusedtostrikeareasonablebalancebetweenthediverse
expresseddesiresofthepublic,consideringrelevantlegalmandates. Manyoftheparticipantsrequestedthatwe
emphasizewetlandrestoration;othersrequestedthatweemphasizerecreationuses;andstillothersdesirethatwe
protectandenhancenaturalvalues.
ThroughthisdraftRMP/EIS,theBLMhastentativelyestablishedresourcemanagementgoals(asexpressedby
eachalternative),resourcemanagementobjectives,andspecificmanagementactionsthatwoulddeterminethe
potentiallandusesandareasinwhichuserestrictionswouldapply.
Theendproductofthisplanningprocesswillbealanduseplanthatwillintegratethenaturalresourcesandtheir
subsequentusesintoabalanced,sustainableapproachtomultipleusemanagementofthepubliclands,generally
forthenext1 to20years. Yourparticipationinthisplanningprocessisencouraged.
Wewouldappreciateitifyouwouldreviewthisdocumentandprovideuswithyourwrittencommentspostmarkedby
May31,1994. Commentsaremostusefulwhentheyaddressoneormoreofthefollowing:
* errorsintheanalysisthathasbeenperformed,
* newinformationthatwouldhaveabearingontheanalysis,
* misinformationthatmayhavebeenused,whichcouldaffecttheoutcomeoftheanalysis,
* requestsforclarification,
* supportofanexistingalternative,or
*definitionofasubstantivenewalternative,consideringtherangeofalternatives(thatis,analternativethat
wouldprovideadifferentmixofallocationsthananyoftheexistingfouralternatives).
BLMemployeesandmembersoftheWoodRiverWetlandTeam(aninteragency/publicteamthatassistedwith
RMPpreparation)willbeavailableataninformalpublicmeeting,whichwillbeheldinlateMarchorearlyApril.
Furtherdetailswillbeprovidedthroughthelocalmedia.
DnpEMN,V;jESRLFSEODAEBRLAOLG.CESONTER
^
Forexample,underalternativeAsomerecreationusewouldbepermitted. Ifyouthinkthatthelevelistoohighand
canshowushow(suchascitingstudiesorpointingourareasofresourcedamage),wewouldliketoknowthat. To
assistyouinthiscommentprocess,youareinvitedtocontactCathyHumphrey,theplanningteamleader,inthe
KlamathFallsResourceAreaofficeatanytimeduringthecommentperiod.
Wewelcomeanyinformationthatwillhelpustobestdevelopamanagementplanandanalyzeitsanticipated
effects. Forexample,althoughwehaveidentifiedandquantifiedprimaryeconomiceffectsofthealternatives,we
recognizethatthereareothereffectsonsocialvaluesthatareimportant,eventhoughtheyareverydifficultto
describeormeasure. YourcommentsmayhelpustobetteraddresstheseandothereffectsintheproposedRMP/
finalEIS.
ThankyouforyourinterestinthemultipleusemanagementofBLM-administeredlands.
Sincerely,
CharlesR.Graham
DistrictManager
LakeviewDistrict
U.S. Department of the Interior
BureauofLandManagement
Draft
Resource Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement
forthe
UpperKlamathBasin
Preparedbythe
KlamathFallsResourceAreaofthe
LakeviewDistrict
March1994
D.DeanBibles
StateDirector,Oregon/Washington
/b.aQ Ai).,'^
ClnarlesR.Graham
DistrictManager,LakeviewDistrict
^^
M^
/ !7iAy
A.BarronBail
AreaManager,KlamathFallsResourceArea

)
Upper Klamath Basin Resource Management Plan
and
Environmental Impact Statement
DepaDrrtamftenpt<)ofFtihnealIn(terior
BureauofLandManagement
1. TypeofAction: Administrative(X) Legislative().
2. Abstract: ThisDraftResourceManagementPlan/EnvironmentalImpactStatement(RMP/EIS)addresses
resourcemanagementonapproximately3,200acresoflandacquiredandadministeredbytfieBureauof
LandiVlanagementintheKlamathFallsResourceAreaoftheLakeviewDistrict. Thisland,knownasthe
WoodRiverproperty,islocatedintheupperKlamathBasinapproximately25milesnorthofthecityof
KlamathFalls,inKlamathCounty,Oregon. Fouralternatives,includingtheNoActionalternative(continua-
tionofexistingmanagementdirection),areanalyzed. Thesealternativerangefromcontinuingcurrent
livestockgrazingpracticesandeconomicvaluestorestorationandmanagementofwetlands. Themain
goalofthePreferredAlternativewouldbetorestoretheWoodRiverpropertytoitspreviousformand
functionasawetlandcommunity,withinunalterableconstraints(suchasexistingdikes,waterrights,land
ownershippatterns,andfunds). ThePreferredAlternativewouldincludebothwetlandrestorationand
streamrestorationmethods. Theareawouldbedeclaredanareaofcriticalenvironmentalconcernand
SpecialRecreationManagementArea,andwouldbemanagedformoderaterecreationuse. Management
objectivesdescribedinthisRMPwouldbefollowedforotherlandsacquiredbytheBLMlorreturnedtoBLM-
administrationintheupperKlamathBasin.
3. ThedraftRMP/EISwillbemadeavailableinMarch1994. ThecommentperiodwillendonMay31,1994.
ThedraftEISisnotintendedtofulfillanyotherenvironmentalrevieworconsultationrequirementspersuant
to40CFR1502.25(a). AlthoughseveralotheragenciescontributedtothedraftEIS,theBLMisthesole
preparingagency.
4. Forfurtherinformationcontact:
CathyHumphrey,RMP/EISTeamLeader
BureauofLandManagement
KlamathFallsResourceArea
2795AndersonAvenue,BIdg.25
KlamathFalls,OR 97603
5. ThepeopleresponsibleforpreparingtheRMP/EISareA.BarronBail,BLMKlamathFallsResourceArea
managerandCharlesR.Graham,BLMLakeviewDistrictmanager. ThefinaldecisionswillbemadebyD.
DeanBibles,BLMOregon/WashingtonStateDirector.

.
User's Guide
Thisdraftresourcemanagementplan/environmental thatweredroppedfromdetailedstudy. Themanage-
cihmappatcetrsstaantedmseenvter(aRlMPa/pEpeInSd)icisesd,ivaidsewdelilntoasfiovteher mpreonvtiddiinrgecatimoinxisofdiussceusssaenddfaocrteioancshtahlatterrneastpiovendto,or
miscellaneousmaterial,suchasanAbstract,Sum- resolve,theissuesidentifiedinChapter1
mary,ListofAcronyms,Glossary,andBibliography. In
aadndditmioanp,sthfeorTbaobtlhetohfeCtoenxtteanntdstihneclaupdpeesnadilcisetso.ftTahbilses Cpohtaepnttiearl4ef(fEenctvsiroonnmtehnetarlesCoounrcseesquaenndcleasn)dduessecsri(boers
draftRMP/EIScontainsthetext,maps,andother affectedenvironmentasdescribedinChapter2)for
miscellaneousmaterialsneededtoassistthepublic eachofthealternatives,iftheywereimplemented.
anddecisionmakerinchoosingamanagement Thechapterisorganizedbytheeffectsonaparticular
directionfortheWoodRiverpropertyintheupper resourceandthenacomparisonofthealternatives.
KlamathBasin. ThisUser'sGuideistoassistthe
readerinusingthedraftRMP/EIS. Cinhdaipvtiedural5sltihstasttthheeaBgLenMcieeist,heorrcgoannitzaacttieodnso,rarnecdeived
TheSummarypresentsasynopsisofthedraftRMP/ inputfromduringthepreparationofthedraftRMP/EIS;
tdsEieIutoSamn.ismlafIftororsryuatlmolhfmeiatsPhrsreiueezfeseenrsvarireareidlosntAumlhmeteenmratanlaratliteizrcvneoead.tn.isvLeeIsaqt,nuadelisnnuoccsleiuesndciaalnlgulnoddmceaso-rae arRRienMvcdPee/ritvEhWeeIedSataglteaecnnaocdmpi,eyTseoo,tfahotmerhrgeiacsndoiarnzlatafsrttoiibRoiuMnntsPco,rl/suEa,dIneaSddn.idinnAtdthihlveeiisWtdcuhooaafolptstdheterh.at
briefdescriptionsofmonitoring,consistencywithother
governmentplans,andpublicinvolvement. AppendicesfollowChapter5. Mostoftheappendices
arefairlytechnicalandarenotnecessarilymeantfor
AlistofAcronymsfollowstheTableofContents,which thegeneralpublic,butrathertoprovidesupporting
followsthisUser'sGuide,toassistthereaderin documentationforspecialists. Alsoincludedinthe
readingthedocument. ThelistofAcronymsisplaced documentarealistoftablesandmaps,Glossary,
aatndthuesfer.ontofthedocumenttomakeiteasiertofind sBiobmlieogorfatphhey,maonrdetIencdhenxictaolhaelsppetchtesroefadlaenrdumndaenrasgtea-nd
mentorjustfindtheirparticulartopic(s)ofinterest.
TChhiasptcehrap1teirstihneclIundtersodaucdteisocnritpottihoendorfatftheRMplPa/nEnIiSn.g FurtherquestionsorinformationonthisdraftRMP/EIS
areaandthepurposeandneedforprepahngthe canbeansweredorobtainedattheKlamathFalls
RMP/EIS. ItalsoincludesadiscussionoftheRMP's ResourceAreaofficeduringregularbusinesshours.
relationshiptoBLMpolicies,programs,andother
plansanddescribestheplanningprocessandplan-
ningcriteria. Finally,itidentifiestheissuesand
concernsaddressedintheRMP/EISprocess.
Chapter2(AffectedEnvironment)describesthe
existingenvironmentthatcouldbeaffectedorchanged
byimplementinganyofthealternatives. Thedescrip-
tionspresentedinthischapterarerelatedtotheissues
identifiedinChapter1. Thisincludesadescriptionof
theresourcevalues,suchaswaterresources,vegeta-
tion,wildlifehabitat,visualresources,etc.
Chapters(DescriptionoftheAlternativesincludingthe
PreferredAlternative)beginswithasummaryofthe
goalsofeachalternative,aswellasthealternatives