Results of Assessment/Establishment of Cause
Achieving Standards For Rangeland Health
Conforming with Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management
Resource Area: Deschutes
Geographic Area of Assessment: Millican Plateau Crooked River Watershed. (See Map- Appendix)
Allotment Areas Assessed: Mayfield- Harris (5031)
Period Assessment Conducted: February 3, 2003
Assessment determination: Not Meeting Standards or Guideline# l.d, f, h, j.; 6 and 7. Mostly
related to portions in Sections 2 and 11 that are fenced in with private lands and areas adjacent to
OHV trails.
Assessment Benchmark: Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management for
Public Lands in Oregon and Washington. Approved August 12, 1997 by the Secretary of the Interior.
Assessment Objectives:
Per USDIIUSDA Tech Reference 1734-6 of2000: Provide preliminary assessment of soil/site stability, hydrologic
function, biological integrity. Help land managers identify areas that are potentially at risk for degradation.
Provide early warnings of potential problems and opportunities. Provide capability to communicate fundamental
ecological concepts to a variety of audiences. Improve communications among interest groups. Provide capability
to select monitoring sites for future monitoring programs. Help understand and communicate rangeland health
issues.
Per BLM, Oregon State Office IB No. OR-98-315 of 7/24/98: Assess rangeland condition relative to Rangeland
Health Standards; determine cause in those cases where standards are not being met; and take action that will result
in progress toward standards attainment where these are not being met.
Assessment Preparers
JoAnneArmson,NRT
RkkDemmer,NRS
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Cody Vavra, Rangeland Specialist
Assessment Appmval
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~obert Towne, Field Manager
Appendices:
A
B
C
D
E
Allotment Assessment Findings
Maps
Plant List
List of Lichens and Mosses
Wildlife
.
Appendix A Allotment Assessment Findings Notes:
I. This information applies only to ELM-administered lands within the allotment.
2. Where Allotment Monitoring Sites are referenced, information from these sites will include photographs,
vegetation data, trend rating forms, cover worksheets, and/or Rangeland Health Evaluation Summary Worksheets
(all located in the respective allotment's monitoring files).
Mayfield - Harris Allotment
Public Land Upland Acres: I,509
Public Land Riparian/Wetland Acres: 0
Public Land Stream Miles: 0
I. Standard 1 (Watershed Function- Uplands)
A. Determination
0
0
0
0
Meeting the Standard
Not Meeting the Standard; Making Significant Progress Toward
Not Meeting the Standard; Not Making Significant Progress Toward Standard
Standard Does Not Apply
B. Establishment of Cause:
Livestock are significantly contributing to the failure to meet the standard Livestock are not significant contributors to the failure to meet the standard Failure to meet the standard is related to other uses or conditions: X on-site
off-site C. Rationale/Evidence
Although this allotment is listed as being in non-use status since at least 1999, livestock grazing does occur with in
section 2 and the northern portions of section II which are fenced in with private land belonging to 3 Springs Ranch
..\P0002550.JPG. Ground cover by vascular vegetation and biological soil crust varies from 0 to about 80%
..\P0002543.JPG, ..\P000256l.JPG. Post-settlement juniper is also on the increase throughout the allotment but is
very evident in the north where vegetation is already sparse ..\P0002556.JPG, ..\P0002559.JPG. There is evidence
that past grazing was heavy, especially on the southwest side of the allotment, but these damaged areas are in the
process of healing ..\P0002527.JPG, ..\P0002530.JPG. The most significant damage at this point in time is
occurring from OHV use, household dumping and target shooting ..\P0002546.JPG, ..\P0002541.JPG,
..\P0002540.JPG, ..\P0002545.JPG. Some very steep areas, located on public land, show signs of erosion but this
appears natural ..\P0002570.JPG.
Evidence: Photos and lists of vascular vegetation, lichens and mosses.
II. Standard 2 (Watershed Function- Riparian/Wetland Areas)
A. Determination
0
0
0
Meeting the Standard
Not Meeting the Standard; Making Significant Progress Toward
Not Meeting the Standard; Not Making Significant Progress Toward
B. Establishment of Cause:
D
D
D
Livestock are significantly contributing to the failure to meet the standard
Livestock are not significant contributors to the failure to meet the standard
Failure to meet the standard is related to other uses or conditions: _on-site;
off-site
C. Rationale/Evidence
Little evidence of continuous surface or subsurface presence of water necessary to maintain riparian or wetland
vegetation exists within this allotment.
III. Standard 3 (Ecological Processes)
A. Determination
D
0'
D
D
Meeting the Standard
Not Meeting the Standard; Making Significant Progress Toward
Not Meeting the Standard; Not Making Significant Progress Toward
Standard Does Not Apply
B. Establishment of Cause:
0'
D
0'
Livestock are significantly contributing to the failure to meet the standard
Livestock are not significant contributors to the failure to meet the standard
Failure to meet the standard is related to other uses or conditions: _on-site;
off-site
C. Rationale/Evidence
The 1,509 acres of public land in this allotment contain a mosaic of soil types and topographic features. It is
apparent that disturbances to soil and vegetation are continuing to occur. There is invasion by juniper and
cheatgrass this in area. This parcel might be considered for both juniper thinning (the whole allotment) and planting
of native grasses (particularly in the northern portions in Sections 2 and 11). Another consideration before treating
anything on public lands fenced in with 3 Springs Ranch, would be to make sure public lands are fenced off from
the private.
Evidence:
IV. Standard 4 (Water Quality)
A. Determination
D
D
D
0'
Meeting the Standard
Not Meeting the Standard; Making Significant Progress Toward Standard
Not Meeting the Standard; Not Making Significant Progress Toward Standard
Standard Does Not Apply
B. Establishment of Cause (if applicable)
D
D
D
0'
Livestock are significantly contributing to the failure to meet the standard
Livestock are not significant contributors to the failure to meet the standard
Failure to meet the standard is related to other uses or conditions: _on-site;
Not Applicable
C. Rationale/Evidence
Evidence:
off-site
V. Standard 5 (Habitat for Native, T&E and Locally Important Species)
A. Determination
0
0
0
0
Meeting the Standard
Not Meeting the Standard; Making Significant Progress Toward
Not Meeting the Standard; Not Making Significant Progress Toward
Standard Does Not Apply
B. Establishment of Cause:
D
0
0
Livestock are significantly contributing to the failure to meet the standard
Livestock are not significant contributors to the failure to meet the standard
Failure to meet the standard is related to other uses or conditions: _on-site;
off-site
C. Rationale/Evidence
Health and diversity ofbunchgrasses and forbs suggest that higher upland habitat can support the expected diversity
of wildlife. No known T & E species are located in the allotment.
VI. Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management:
0
0
Conforms with Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management Does Not conform with Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management, Guideline No(s) 1. d, f, h, j.; 6; 7; Appendix B Maps Appendix C Plant List Mayfield - Harris Allotment # 5031
February 3, 2003
Southwest Side
Juniperus occidentalis
Artemisia tridentata
Pseudoroegnaria spicata (AGSP)
Stipa thurberiana
Koeleria cristata
Poasecunda
Antennaria dimorpha
Elymus elymoides
Stipa comata
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
Bromus tectorum
Lomatium sp.
Alyssum alyssoides
Vulpia sp.
Leptodactylon pungens
Phlox hoodii
Achillea millefolium
Festuca idahoensis
Purshia tridentata
Oryzopsis hymenoides
Carex rossii
Chrysothamnus nauseosus
East Side
Salsa/a kali
Descurainia sp.
Zigadenus venenosus
Lewisia rediviva
Erigeron sp.
Chaenactis douglasii
Agropyron dasystachyum
Eriogonum sphaerocephalum
Agropyron cristatum
Poasecunda
Stipa comata
Leptodactylon pungens
Alyssum alyssoides
Chrysothamnus nauseosus
Oryzopsis hymenoides
Elymus elymoides
Juniperus occidentalis
Carex rossii
Agropyron dasystachyum
Fenced With 3 Springs
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
Bromus tectorum
Artemisia tridentata
Stipa thurberiana
Koeleria cristata
Festuca idahoensis
Purshia tridentata
Antennaria dimorpha
Ribes sp.
Eriogonum spp.
Calochortus macrocarpus
Chaenactis douglasii
Pseudoroegnaria spicata (AGSP)
Erigeron sp.
Cryptantha sp.
Achillea millefolium
Phlox hoodii
Balsamorhiza sagittata
Eriogonum sphaerocephalum
Antennaria microphylla
Lewisia rediviva
Senecio sp.
Astragalus curvicarpus
Arabis sp.
Carex sp.
Appendix D
List of Lichens and Mosses
Lichens and Mosses will be completed at a later date.
Appendix E
Wildlife
Wildlife species list will be completed ata later date.