,
.,:-'
.'
RANGELAND HEALTH ASSESSMENT
INCLUDING ALLOTMENTS:
419 SAINT PATRICKS
420 EGLI RIM
Oregon Standards for Rangeland Health
Standard 1 - Upland Watershed -Upland soils exhibit infiltration and permeability rates,
moisture storage, and stability that is appropriate to soil, climate, and landform.
Standard 2 - RiparianlWetland-Riparian-wetland areas are in properly functioning
physical condition appropriate to soil, climate, and landform.
Standard 3 -Ecological Processes-Healthy, productive, and diverse plant and animal
populations and communities appropriate to soil, climate, and landform are supported by
ecological processes of nutrient cycling, energy flow , and hydrologic cycle.
Standard 4 - Water Quality Standards- Surface water and groundwater quality, influenced
by agency actions, complies with State water quality standards.
Standard 5 - Biological Diversity-Habitats support healthy, productive, and diverse
populations and communities of native plants and animals (including special status
species and species of local importance) appropriate to soil, climate, and landform.
2
.'
Allotment Overviews
Locations: See attached maps
419 Allotment- Saint Patricks
Public Acres: 23,460 Other Acres: 1240
Category: M
7.5 Minute Topographic Maps: Fandango Canyon, Christmas Valley, Saint Patricks
One permittee- JR Simplot
AUMs of authorized use: 750 AUMs Season of use: Spring
Grazing system: Spring Use
Vegetation: Vegetation on the allotment is a diversity of low sagebrush, basin big
sagebrush, Wyoming big sagebrush, shad scale and juniper overstory with understory
species including Sandbergs bluegrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue and crested
wheatgrass further defined in the attached vegetation tables.
420 Allotment- Egli Rim
Public Acres: 21052
Category: M
7.5 Minute Topographic Map: Egli Rim, Christmas Valley, Sheeplick Draw, Thorn
Lake
One permittee-Cliff
AUMs of Authorized Use: 1056
Season of Use: Spring and Summer
Grazing system: Rest Rotation
Vegetation: Vegetation on the allotment is predominately low sagebrush, basin big
sagebrush and juniper communities. Vegetative communities are further described in the
attached tables.
3
STANDARD 1 - Upland Watershed -Upland soils exhibit infiltration and permeability
rates, moisture storage, and stability that are appropriate to soil, climate, and
landform.
Overall the allotments in this assessment including 44,512 acres of BLM administered
land, are functioning properly, and meeting the standard as indicated by the distribution
and amount of ground cover, long-term trend studies, upland forage utilization surveys
and SSF data compiled from ESL
Indicators used to evaluate this standard are Soil Surface Factor (SSF) which documents
erosion class and soil susceptibility to accelerated erosion; plant community composition
which indicates the root capacity of the soil profile; grazing management, and existing
vegetation monitoring (forage utilization and trend studies). Ecological Site Inventory
(ESI) is preliminary and is used for estimation purposes only. Field surveys for ESI were
done from 1996-2000 for this area. Please refer to allotment specific tables for full
vegetative data including plant species, soil surface factor, observed apparent trend and
ecological status.
SSF data is available on 78% of the area. The acreage without data represents vegetative
areas too small to be mapped, transition zones between vegetative communities and soil
types, and rock outcrops. The majority of the area has an SSF rating of stable to slight,
19% is moderate and less than I % is critical. The recommended grazing systems from the
Lakeview Grazing EIS have basically been followed for the last 20 years throughout the
assessment area. Overall grazing management is maintaining a healthy perennial
vegetative cover which assists in properly functioning soil properties.
Another indicator of Upland Watershed is plant composition and structure. There are at
least 22 different vegetative communities in the assessment area with a diversity of grass,
shrub, and forb species. Overall a diverse plant community exists to provide root systems
throughout the soil profile, providing soil stability and water storage within the plant and
soil systems.
A small percentage (9%) of the overall acreage is recommended for juniper treatment and
restoration projects. These areas are shown in the attached tables and are dominated by
cheatgrass, or juniper and lack diversity in perennial species especially herbaceous and
shrub species. Dominance by a single species reduces the overall root capacity to
stabilize soil and store water within the plant community.
4
STANDARD 2 - Riparian/Wetland-Riparian-wetland areas are in properly
functioning physical condition appropriate to soil, climate, and landform.
The two allotments in this assessment are meeting this standard based on palustrine and
lacustrine surveys. There are no major intermittent or perennial streams. There are 28
acres of palustrine wetlands and 52 acres of lacustrine wetlands that were rated in PFC.
There have been no recent lentic PFC or surveys performed in these allotments. If
surveys are completed in the future, and it is determined that the standard is not being
met due to livestock grazing, appropriate management actions will be taken to bring the
sites into properly functioning condition.
STANDARD 3- Healthy productive and diverse plant and animal populations and
communities appropriate to soil, climate, and landform are supported by ecological
processes of nutrient cycling, energy flow and the hydrologic cycle.
A review of the range monitoring data (photos, trend transects, climate, field observations
OAT) and professional judgment indicate that overall the assessment area is meeting this
standard.
Indicators used to evaluate this standard include animal populations, vegetative
composition, presence of weed species, botanical reports, ecological status, OAT, current
plant composition as compared to a defined Potential Natural Community (PNC) for the
soil type and precipitation zone. SSF, OAT, Range Site, Seral Stage and PNC are from
the Lake County ESI survey. Please refer to the Tables presented in the Allotment
Overview for summary of ESI data. Field surveys for ESI were completed in 1996-2000.
Data is currently being reviewed and updated and is used for estimation purposes only.
The vegetation data presented in ESI tables along with the list of plant species recorded
on field reviews shows the overall diversity of plant species in the assessment area.
The ESI survey compares the current plant composition to a defined Potential Natural
Community for the identified soil type and precipitation zone. Using the 1997-2001 ESI,
2% of the native plant communities are at PNC, 41 % are in Late Seral, 27% are in Mid
Seral and 4% are in Early Seral. Overall the area supports healthy diverse plant
communities.
Observed Apparent Trend (OAT) is a one time trend for the area determined in the 1996­
2000 ESI survey. 78% of the area had a static to upward OAT. 22% had a downward
trend. The majority of downward trend appears to be attributed to and old fire in the
southwest portion of the allotment and to cheatgrass dominating a two small areas in the
north part of the allotment. The downward trend is not attributed to current livestock
grazing practices.
Botany Report
Special Status Plants: Cymopterus nivalis is documented in Allotment 419. This plant is
on the BLM Bureau Assessment list, ONHP List 2. There are 6 populations known in the
Lakeview Resource Area. The plant species list described in Standard 5 shows the
diversity of plant species in the assessment area and indicates the area meets the standard.
5
Weeds A few noxious weeds are known to occur in the assessment area. Medusahead rye has potential of expanding into this area. Treatment of medusahead over large acreages on BLM is difficult. Under the Court injunction on herbicide use in Oregon, selective chemicals for medusahead treatment are not available and there are no proven biological control agents. Mechanical treatment is not practical over large acres of rugged terrain, and would need to be used in combination with some other method such as chemical or biological. Prevention measures are in place to reduce the likelihood of spreading medusahead to new areas and research is underway to explore treatment and restoration of medusahead infested sites. Along Highway 31 there are a few small historic patches of musk thistle and diffuse knapweed. These species have been controlled and the previously infested areas are inspected annually for new or returning weeds. Mediterranean sage and bull thistle are common in the Assessment area but not over large areas and are not widespread. Known sites are under treatment. Wildlife Report Much of these two allotments support healthy diverse wildlife populations. Wildlife habitats are threatened by a few small areas of noxious weeds within portions of allotment 420. Invasive species like medusahead rye and Mediterranean sage occur in small isolated areas, but will increase and spread when the next major disturbance or wildfire occurs. Ongoing efforts are underway to curtail the spread of these two species. There are adequate levels of species diversity within these allotments. This standard is currently being met from the aspect of wildlife populations and diversity. STANDARD 4- Surface water and groundwater quality, influenced by agency actions, complies with State water quaJity standards. This standard is met at this time, because neither the surface water nor groundwater within the allotments has been listed for exceeding State water quality standards. 6
STANDARD 5- Native, T&E, and locally important species. Habitats support
healthy, productive and diverse populations and communities of native plants and
animals (including special status species and species of local importance)
appropriate to soil, climate and landform.
This standard is met at this time based on the following botany and wildlife information. Botany Report Native plant species in the assessment were recorded on visits to the area in December 2003 and March 2004. The following Native Plant Species were found: Agropyron spicatum, Arabis sp., Artemisia arbuscula, Artemisia tridentata var. tridentata, Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana, Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis, Astragalus sp., Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Cryptantha sp., Danthonia sp., Eleocharis sp., Elymus cinereus, Elymus elymoides, Epilobium sp., Ericameria nauseosus, Festuca idahoensis, Iva axillaris, Juniperus occidentalis, Lomatium sp., Oryzopsis hymenoides, Poa secunda, Stipa comata, Stipa thurberiana, and Zigadenus venenosus. Special Status Plants: Cymopterus nivalis is documented in Allotment 419. This plant is on the BLM Bureau Assessment list, ONHP List 2. There are 6 populations known in the Lakeview Resource Area. There are no special status plants documented in Allotment 420.
Locally Important Plant Species: No cultural plants were noted during the field trips to
the area.
Wildlife
Special status wildlife species or their habitats that are present within these allotments
include the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis),
peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), burrowing owl (Speotyto cunicularia), kit fox
(Vulpes macrotis), sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), and pygmy rabbit
(Brachylagus idahoensis). There are also three species with high public interest. These
are mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), California bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and
pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana).
No nesting habitat exists within these allotments for the bald eagle or peregrine falcon. It
is suspected that they are occasional visitors to the area. No incidental sightings of
peregrines exist within the vicinity of these allotments. There are no good foraging areas
for peregrine falcons within close proximity of these allotments. No surveys have been
conducted for ferruginous hawk. Ferruginous hawk foraging habitat exists through
much of these allotments. Bald eagle foraging does occur within the allotment; however
it is probably restricted mostly to road killed deer adjacent to the major roadways and
occasional carrion scattered through the allotments. There are no resource conflicts for
peregrine falcons, ferruginous hawks or bald eagles.
7
Burrowing owls have been observed at a few locations within these allotments. No nest
burrows have been observed in either allotment. There are no resource conflicts for this
speCIes.
Habitat is present for kit fox, but no known locations exist within the allotment for this
species. No inventories have been conducted for kit fox within the allotment, however
they are suspected to occur within portions of the allotment. There are no resource
conflicts for these species.
Pygmy rabbits occur in at least one sight in allotment 419. Only isolated surveys have
been completed for this species. It is suspected, however, that pygmy rabbits occur in
several isolated pockets within both allotments. Additional surveys are scheduled for
2005 within these allotments. No conflicts exist for pygmy rabbits within these
allotments.
Bighorn sheep are occasional visitors to both allotments. Scattered broken rims provide
habitat scattered across both allotment. Most habitats within these allotments are only
used seasonally by bighorns. There is moderate overlap in range between bighorns and
cattle within these allotments. No major conflicts exist between bighorn sheep and cattle
grazing within these allotments.
Pronghorn antelope are common in both allotments. Pronghorn use is scattered across
portions of these allotments that have low sagebrush or short stature Wyoming big
sagebrush. No major conflicts exist between pronghorn and cattle grazing within this
area.
Mule deer inhabit much of the area, but are widely spread and in low numbers. No high
concentrations of wintering mule deer inhabit these allotments. No conflicts exist
between mule deer and cattle grazing within this allotment. Bitterbrush is not very
abundant and sagebrush browse use appears to be somewhat stable at this time.
There are 6 known active sage-grouse 1ek sites within these allotments. Five are located
in allotment 420 and one located in allotment 419. Most of these allotments are currently
within active sage-grouse habitat. Much of the allotments are available for sage-grouse
nesting and brood rearing habitats. There are portions of the allotments where there is a
lack of native understory plants and cheatgrass is common. These areas are not currently
much of a threat to sage-grouse habitats. In order for sage-grouse habitats to improve
within these allotments, steady upward or stable trends in range conditions are needed.
No major conflicts exist between cattle grazing sage-grouse within this allotment at this
time.
Overall, this standard is being met for wildlife species within these allotments. The
occurrence of scattered areas of noxious weeds and native ranges with poor understory
forbs and grasses appear to be the limiting factors for sage grouse and most sagebrush
wildlife habitats. Efforts to improve this standard should focus on control of noxious
weeds and maintaining an increasing trend in range condition.
8
.
,. •
•
Team Members
Elizabeth Berger
Todd Forbes
Heather Partipilo
Theresa Romasko
Robert Hopper
Ken Kestner
Title
Hydrologist
Wildlife Biologist
Botanist
Rangeland Management Specialist (RMS)
Supervisory RMS
Supervisory NRS
Determination
~
Existing grazing management practices or levels of grazing use on the Allotments
promote achievement of significant progress towards the Oregon Standards and
Guidelines for Rangeland Health and conform with the Guidelines for Livestock Grazing
Management.
()
Existing grazing management practices or levels of grazing use on the Allotments
will require modification or change prior to the next grazing season to promote
achievement of the Oregon Standards and Guidelines for Rangeland Health and conform
with the Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management.
Field Office Manager, Lakeview Resource Area
9
Date
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R~113 E:- R. 1lE.
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Summary of ESI Data Allotments # 419 & 420
Vegetation
Community
Total
Acres
%of
total
acres
SSF Acres
Stable
Slight
18
55
Moderate
Critical
Severe
Down
Static
ARCA
73
<1%
ARARS/FEID
132
<1%
132
844
2%
844
674
87
• ARARS/PSSPS
9402
21%
9189
174
355
9047
ARARS/STTH2
4517
10%
2316
2201
2201
2316
ARTRWS /AGCR
774
2%
774
ARTRWS/BRTE
139
<1%
ARTRWSlELEL5
5337
12%
. 5337
ARTRWS /POSE4
805
2%
266
539
1%
ARTRT/AGCR
902
2%
ARTRT/BRTE
1860
4%
ARTRT/ELEL5
395
1%
ARTRT/FEID
302
1%
A RTRTIPOSE4
599
1%
ARTRTIPSSPS
4459
10%
ARTRT/STTH2
613
1%
ARARS/POSE4
Acres of Vegetative Community in
Seral Stage
OAT Acres
Up
PNC
73
I
132
Late
Mid
18
55
Early
132
I
844
83
I
ARTRWSIPSSPS
39
1
1168
8234
I 4517
NI A Introduced Plant Community
139
139
139
5337
5337
539
44
728
539
33
266
539
539
539
I
I
902
I
NI A Introduced Plant Community
1860
1860
395
395
I
4003
395
' 302
302
599
1860
I
302
599
599
456
4459
613
613
456
2638
1365
613
'.
I
Summary ofES! Data Allotments # 419 & 420
Vegetation
Total % of
SSF
OAT
Community
Acres total
acres 1
Stable 1Slight Moderate Critical Severe Down Static
ATCO
<1%
254
Ecological Status
254
254
PNC
Up
1495
3%
JUOCl
435
1%
JUOC/PSSPS
416
1%
SAVE/ORHY
35
<1 %
918
577
577
254
I
1495
918
181
416
435
346
416
416
35
35
35
I
<1%
ARCAIMURl
Sprikerush/Juncus
UNKNOWN
40
Totals
44512 100%
I
12
40
38
Early
254
I
I
CHNAIBRTE
Mid
Late
89
I
2
38
18085
11826
10145 22%
I
1393
24195 8598
181
12042 19959 690 890
I
1890
I
I
Summary of ESI Data Allotment #419
Vegetation
Total %of SSF Acres
Community
Acres total
acres
Stable Slight
ARARS/FEID/LUPIN 132
1%
Low sagebrushiidaho
fescue/lupine
ARARS/PSSPS
Low sagebrush
Ibluebunch
wheatgrass
ARAR8/STTH2
Low sagebrush!
Thurbers needlegrass
ARTRT/ELELS
Basin big sagebrush!
squirreltail
ARTRT/POSE4
Basin big sagebrush!
Sandbersgs bluegrass
ARTRT/PSSPS
Basin big sagebrush!
bluebunch wheatgrass
ARTRT/STTH2
Basin big sagebrush!
Thurbers needlegrass
ARTRW8/BRTE
Wyoming big
sagebrushl cheatgrass
ARTRW8/ELELS
Wyoming big
sagebrushl squirreltail
ARTRW8IPOSE4
Wyoming big
sagebrushl sandbergs
bluegrass
1710
,I
Moderate
132
Critical
OAT Acres
Severe Down
Acres of Vegetative
Community in Seral Stage
Static Up
132
7%
1572
138
355
1355
4517
19%
2316
2201
2201
2316
395
2%
395
395
599
3%
599
4459
19%
4003
613
3%
139
1%
139
23%
5337
1%
266
PNC
132
Late
Mid
542
1168
Early
I
I
5337
266
4517
395
599
599
456
613
4459
I
I
456
2638
1365
613
613
139
139
5337
5337
266
266
I
I
I
Vegetation
Community
Total
Acres
ARTRW8IPSSPS
Wyoming
bigsagebrushl
bluebunch wheatgrass
ATeO shadscale
539
%of Stable Slight Moderate Critical Severe Down Static Up PNC Late
Total
Acres
2%
539
539
539
Mid
Early
I
254
1%
254
287
1%
254
35
<1%
35
Unknown
4178
18%
Totals
23460
254
254
287
287
I
JUoe includes
juniper low sagebrush
& big sagebrush
SAVE/ORHY
greasewoodJ Indian
ricegrass
14232 5017
33
35
33
8887
9821
574 588
35
'I
9898 8401
395
·.
Summary of ESI Data Allotment # 420
Total %of SSF Acres
I. Vegetation
I Community
Acres total
acres
Stable Slight
ARAR8/POSE4
844
4%
Low sagebrush/
sandbergs
bluegrass
ARAR8/PSSPS
Low sagebrush/
blue bunch
wheatgrass
ARCA 13/MURI
Silver sagebrush!
mat muhlv
ARTRT/AGCR
Basin big
sagebrush/ crested
wheatgrass
ARTRT/BRTE
Basin big
sagebrush!
cheatgrass
ARTRT/PSSPS
Basin big
sagebrush!
bluebunch
wheatgrass
ARTRT/FEID
Mountain big
sagebrush! Idaho
fescue
ARTRW8/AGCR
Wyoming big
sagebrush/ crested
wheatgrass
7692
37%
39
7617
73
<1%
18
55
902
4%
1860
9%
I
Moderate Critical
844
Severe
Acres of Vegetative Community
in Seral Stage
OAT Acres
Down
674
36
Static
87
Up
83
PNC
Late
7692
7692
73
18
Mid
844
55
NIA introduced plant community
902
1860
1860
1860
I
896
4%
302
1%
774
4%
896
302
774
33
896
302
302
NIA introduced plant community
863
I
I
Early
I
, .
I.
Vegetation
Community
Total
Acres
ARTRW8/POSE4
Wyoming
bigsagebrushl
sandbergs bluegrass
CHNA2/BRTE
Grey rabbitbrushl
cheatgrass
JUOC/PSSPS
Juniper! bluebunch
wheatgrass
JUOCI ARAR8/SITH2
orDANTH
Juniper/ low
sagebrushl thurbers
needlegrass or oatgrass
Meadow, spikerush,
juncus
UNKNOWN
539
TOTALS
%of
total
acres
Stable Slight
Moderate Critical Severe Down Static Up
PNC Late Mid
Early
,
539
44
462
577
918
33
539
I
1495
7%
918
416
2%
416
148
<1%
577
1495
. 416
148
416
1
148
59
88
I
40
<1%
' 5071
24%
I:
21052
2
38
1375
9902
40
3581
148
3155
3269
12
33
302
510
38
4232 1495
I