July 12, 2011
US BLM – Roseburg District
777 Garden Valley Blvd
Roseburg, OR 97471
E-mail: [email protected]
Subject: Scoping Comments – Roseburg Secretarial Demonstration Plot Project
The purpose of this letter is to submit the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s scoping
comments for the Roseburg Secretarial Demonstration Project. The Elk Foundation
strongly supports BLM forest management that develops, restores or enhances early
seral type vegetation.
On federal lands in the vicinity of the proposed project the of amount early seral stage
vegetation is well below the historical range of variability. Early seral vegetation
provides forage and habitat for Black-tailed deer and Roosevelt elk as well as many of
the other 156 wildlife species documented as dependant on early seral habitat within
Oregon and Washington (O’Neil et al, 2001).
According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), deer and elk
populations in the vicinity of the proposed Secretarial Demonstration Pilot Project are in
decline and below ODFW’s planned management objectives. The decline of deer and
elk populations is at least in part due to the declining amount and quality of early seral
stage habitat that provides forage for these species. It is very likely the populations of
other early seral obligate species are declining too.
This past April 2011 the Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station in La
Grande released a new Westside Elk Nutrition and Habitat Use Model for western
Oregon and Washington. The model is the culmination of several years of research
focused on the critical importance of summer nutrition on the life cycle of elk. RMEF
recommends application of the Westside Elk Nutrition and Habitat Use Model in the pilot
project planning area.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation suggests the proposed Secretarial Demonstration
Pilot Project be designed to include activities to develop and enhance early seral stage
vegetation needed by deer, elk and other wildlife.
Bill Richardson │ Oregon & Western Washington Lands Program Manager
24550 Ervin Road │ Philomath, OR 97370 │ (541) 929-3011 │ [email protected]
5705 Grant Creek Rd. │ Missoula, MT 59808-8249 │ (800) CALL ELK │ WWW.RMEF.ORG
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION The following silvicultural treatments are proposed for consideration:
• Where thinning is prescribed , thin timber stands to or below 40% crown closure
to allow sufficient sunlight to reach the ground surface in order for early seral
vegetation to become established.
• Reta in any natural meadows and openings and remove encroaching conifers
from them
• In th inned stands, create gaps of 1 to 5 acres in size on sites with east, south or
west solar aspect and slopes less than 30%
• In the created gaps plant a few native shrubs which provide fruit, nuts, berries or
browse for wildlife
• Seed all disturbed soil including skid trails, yarding corridors, landings and
decommissioned roads with a seed mix of native grass and forb species wh ich
will provide high forage value elk and other wildlife
The Elk Foundation strongly recommends the BlM actively solicit participation from and
collaboration with the Oregon Department of Fish and W ildlife staff in the Southwest
Reg ion during development and analysis of the fish and wildlife aspects of the pilot
project.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a non-profit conservation organ ization and our
mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. The Elk
Foundation also works to open , secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing
and other recreation .
Sincerely,
G5.Jl76/:LL-­
Bill Richardson
Oregon & Western Wash ington lands Program Manager
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Cc:
larry Cooper, ODFW SW Regional Manager, [email protected]
Lisa Renan, BlM - Roseburg District, [email protected]
Reference :
O'Neil, Thomas A., David H. Johnson , Charley Barrett, Maria Trevithick, Kelly A. Bettinger, Chris
Kiilsgaard, Madeleine Vander Heyden, Eva L. Greda, Derek Stinson, Bruce G. Marcot, Patrick J.
Doran, Susan Tank, and Laurie Wunder. Matrixes for Wildlife-Habitat Relationsh ip in Oregon and
Washington. Northwest Habitat Institute. 2001 . in D. H. Johnson and TA O'Neil (Manag. Dirs. )
Wild life-Habitat Relationships in Oregon and Washington. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis,
OR, USA. 2001 . p736.
I
Bill Richardson
Oregon & Western Washington Lands Program Manager Philomath, OR 97370
(541 ) 929-30 11 [email protected] 24550 Ervin Road
Missoula, MT 59808-8249
(800) CALL ELK
WWW .RMEF.ORG 5705 Grant Creek Rd.
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