Pilot Thompson Transportation Group Notes
October 12, 2011
Attendance: Chris Bratt, Joseph Vaile, John McNeel, John Gerritsma
Overall Objectives for Group: Develop a “right-sized” transportation plan for the Pilot
Thompson analysis area which includes Thompson Creek and Ferris Gulch.
Consider:
Watershed Analysis recommendations for roads and trails.
Access for managing BLM lands.
Importance of Thompson Creek to Coho.
Keeping road density at 4 miles/square mile or less.
Road maintenance needs exceed funds Medford district-wide
Road construction standards are different today than when most of the existing
roads were built.
Cooperation with private land owners for both road management and road use
(in lieu of building road on BLM).
Coordinate with FS for roads on their lands in the Thompson Creek drainage.
Potential OHV impacts (designation of Ferris Gulch as OHV area in 1995 RMP not
to be considered for implementation).
Coordination with Applegate River Watershed Council for stream information.
Data Needs Prior to Next Meeting
Road map with Pilot boundary, ownerships
Reciprocal, ROW agreements
Mining Claim locations where road access is required
Access types (full public easement, admin use only, etc.)
Road types (surface, service level)
Stream crossing or fish impact information
LSEA (late successional emphasis areas)
Salamander conservation and other reserves
Gate locations (and why gated)
Past harvest (how previously logged)
Identified restoration needs and preliminary access needs
Potential Process
From existing roads, identify “redundant”/unneeded roads.
o Primary candidates for obliteration/permanent decommissioning
From the remaining existing roads needed in the transportation system, identify
problems that need fixing and/or upgrading.
o One option is to obliterate road and rebuild in less impactive location.
Where access is needed (new roads):
o Maximize acres accessed to miles of road ratio
o Sufficiently analyze cost/benefit of accessing vs. no treatment
o Sufficiently analyze cost/benefit of building roads vs. helicopter yarding
o Check with private land owners
o Utilize helicopter and subsidize if necessary