RANGELAND HEALTH STANDARDS - ASSESSMENT –HILL CAMP ALLOTMENT #0215
Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management (BLM, 1997)
Introduction
The Range Reform '94 Record of Decision (BLM, 1995a) recently amended current grazing administration
and management practices. The ROD required that region-specific standards and guidelines be developed
and approved by the Secretary of the Interior. In the State of Oregon, several Resource Advisory Councils
(RACs) were established to develop these regional standards and guidelines. The RAC established for the
part of the state covering the Rabbit Basin allotment is the Southeastern Oregon RAC. These standards
and guidelines for Oregon and Washington were finalized on August 12, 1997 and include:
Standard 1 - Upland Watershed Function
Upland soils exhibit infiltration and permeability rates, moisture storage, and stability that are
appropriate to soil, climate, and landform.
Standard 2 - Riparian/Wetland Watershed Function
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 the hydrologic cycle.
Standard 4 - Water Quality
Surface water and groundwater quality, influenced by agency actions, complies with State water
quality standards.
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.
Standard 1 - Upland Watershed
This standard is being met on the allotment. The indicators used to evaluate this standard are Soil
Surface Factor (SSF), which documents accelerated erosion; and plant community composition, which
indicates root occupancy of the soil profile.
Soil Surface Factor (SSF) is an indicator of accelerated erosion and is a method of documenting
observations regarding erosion. A copy of the form used to document SSF is attached (Appendix A,
"Determination of Erosion Condition Class"). With 10% of the allotment being in the Stable and 65%in
Slight and no acres in the moderate or higher classes there is little or no active soil erosion or evidence of
past erosion on these areas.
Erosion Condition Classes*
Acres
Percent of
Allotment
(34,728 acres)
Stable
Slight
Moderate
Unknown**
0
Rockland
or Playa
730
3,338
22,766
10%
65%
0
2%
23%
7,894
* The erosion condition classes are based on numeric scoring system which considers soil movement, surface litter,
surface rock, pedestalling, flow patterns, rills and gullies. Appendix A is an example of the scoring sheet that is used.
** Every Site Writeup Area (SWA) has a 10-15% portion of that area that is considered inclusions of different
vegetation communities. The transect data for the SWA may not apply to these inclusion, therefore the acres in these
inclusions are considered unknown .The unknown also includes acres of types for which the SWA transect was run in a
different allotment and the data from that transect may not apply to this allotment.
The average utilization across the allotment (1985-2003) on native species such as blue bunch wheatgrass,
bottlebrush squirreltail, Thurber’s needlgrass and Idaho Fescue was 37%. These utilization measurements
were taken in 12 of the last 18 years. These low utilization levels indicate that ample standing crop was
being left behind to protect the soil from erosion.
The average actual use for the allotment over the last 20 years was 2,184 AUMS, compared to the average
actual use of 3,472 AUMS in 20 years prior to 1984. The authorized use for the allotment is 3,932 AUMS.
The lower actual use in the last 20 years was the reason for lower utilization levels on native species across
the allotment with only the SE pasture exceeding 40% utilization, with 42%. The average use on the crested
wheatgrass in the Coleman Seeding was 48%, (60% allowed on crested wheatgrass) and in the last 10 years
the utilization on Coleman seeding has not exceeded 36%.
These low utilization levels and low actual use numbers combined with the rest rotation grazing system
indicates that livestock grazing has not negatively impacted the plant community or the upland watershed
over the last 20 years.
Another indicator of Upland Watershed condition is plant composition and community structure. The
composition of the vegetation within the allotment can be seen in attached Table 1. There is no single
dominant vegetation type in the allotment, with low sagebrush/Sandbergs’ bluegrass (30% of allotment)
and mountain big sagebrush/grass (22% of the allotment) being the most common types. Within the
mountain big sagebrush/grass type, the mountain big sagebrush/Idaho fescue (15%), and mountain big
sagebrush/blue bunch wheatgrass (5%) are the most common. Both the low sage type and the mountain big
sagebrush with the perennial grass under story are stable plant communities with good community
structure. It appears the plant community and structure in this allotment is stable and may be improving
because of low utilization levels and the rest rotation grazing system. The rest rotation grazing system
allows the perennial grasses an opportunity to regrow, replenish root supplies and even produce seed to
establish new perennial grass plants.
The Ecological Site Inventory (ESI) compares the current plant composition to a defined Potential Natural
Plant Community for the identified soil type and precipitation zone. Using the 1987 ESI, the percent of the
allotment in each seral stage is summarized in the table below.
Ecological Condition of Allotment #0215, Hillcamp as determined by the Ecological Site Inventory in
1987.
Ecological Condition Classes
Acres
Percent of Vegetation (34,728
acres)
Early
Mid
Late
Climax
Unknown*
0
Rockland
or Playa
730
2,378
22,238
1,488
7%
64%
4%
0
2%
23%
7,894
* Every Site Writeup Area (SWA) has a 10-15% portion of that area that is considered inclusions of different
vegetation communities. The transect data for the SWA may not apply to these inclusion, therefore the acres in these
inclusions are considered unknown. The unknown also includes acres of types for which the SWA transect was run in a
different allotment and the data from that transect may not apply to this allotment.
About 7% of the allotment was in the early seral stage and included most of the acres in the shrub types
with no grass understory and part the of big sagebrush/cheatgrass type. Most of the allotment (64%) and
vegetation types were in the mid seral stage. The acres in the late seral stage (4%) contain big
sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass and low sagebrush/Sandberg’s bluegrass include
Standard 2 - Riparian/Wetland
Standard 2 is not being met for Riparian/Wetland function as some springs and the associated
riparian areas are not functioning properly. Livestock grazing is contributing to these springs not
functioning properly and to the standard not being met in the allotment.
The named springs on public land in the allotment include Game Spring, Hidden Spring, Tim Spring, and
Jackass Spring. Livestock grazing is contributing to Game Spring, Hidden Spring, and Tim Spring not
functioning to their potential. Livestock grazing has contributed to a loss of riparian vegetation,
compaction, postholes, and hummocks. This has reduced the size of the riparian areas from their potential
and limits effective capture, storage, and flow of water from the springs. Projects are currently being
proposed to aid in restoring proper functioning condition to the springs and their associated riparian areas.
Since the effects from livestock grazing are partially due to both non-functioning spring developments and
exclosures, attaining proper riparian-wetland function would require maintenance of these systems. Proper
functioning conditions may also require installation of additional fencing to expand the size of the
exclosures around the riparian areas. Maintenance and larger exclosures would exclude livestock from a
larger portion of the riparian areas and allow riparian vegetation to recover. Functioning spring
developments and riparian exclosures would also help reduce compaction, postholes, and hummocks which
would contribute to recovery of the site as well.
•
Game Spring – Game Spring is developed with pipes leading to two troughs. The current
overflow system is not functioning properly because the troughs are not level. Water spills over
the troughs into the surrounding area. Since the water spills over the edges of the troughs,
standing water and saturated soils are created around the troughs. The overflow pipe leads to a
riparian area that is excluded. The exclosure fence is down in multiple places. The exclosure is
also smaller than the extent of the riparian area. The riparian vegetation that is not included in the
exclosure is heavily grazed. The size and functionality of the spring area has been reduced as
livestock water at the site. The amount of riparian vegetation at the site has been reduced and the
soil around the troughs and in the riparian area is compacted and has postholes and hummocks.
A description of the project proposed to aid in restoring proper riparian-wetalnd function to Game
Spring is as follows: Maintain the existing trough system and expand and stabilize the riparian
exclosure. Clean vegetation and sediment out of existing troughs. Level the troughs to prevent
water from spilling over the edges. Place rock around the troughs, as necessary. Install wildlife
“escape” ramps in the troughs. Maintain the riparian exclosure fence, such that it excludes
livestock. Extend the exclosure by approximately 100 feet to the North to include the extent of the
riparian area.
•
Hidden Spring - Hidden Spring is developed with pipes leading from the spring source to three
troughs. The spring source is excluded, but the exclosure does not include the extent of the spring
area. The riparian area in the exclosure is approximately 20 feet by 20 feet, while the riparian area
outside the exclosure is approximately 30 feet by 100 feet. A large part of the riparian area is
located around the troughs and is not excluded. The exclosure fence is down in multiple places,
and livestock graze within the exclosure. Riparian vegetation is present around the spring head,
but upland vegetation, including Western juniper is present within the exclosure. The overflow
pipe from the troughs does not appear to be functioning properly, contributing to standing water
and saturated soils around the troughs. The troughs also appear to be leaking water from their
bases. Pedestals, postholes and hummocks are present around the troughs.
A description of the project proposed to aid in restoring proper riparian-wetland function to
Hidden Spring is as follows: Maintain the existing trough system and expand and stabilize the
riparian exclosure. This may require replacing the troughs. Place rock around the troughs, as
necessary. Clean algae and sediment out of troughs and install a functioning overflow pipe.
Install wildlife “escape” ramps in the troughs. Maintain the riparian exclosure fence, such that it
excludes livestock. Extend the exclosure by approximately 150 feet to the North.
•
Tim Spring - Tim Spring is developed with two spring boxes and a pipe leading to two troughs.
The development is not functioning properly, and at the time of the site visit (6/23/04), the troughs
were dry. The pipe to the trough is not long enough to reach the trough system. The pipe from the
upper spring box is broken and no water was flowing through the portion of the pipe that is
connected to the spring box. Dead ground squirrels were in the water in the spring box. The
spring area is excluded, but the exclosure is down in multiple places. The exclosure does not
include the extent of the spring area, and riparian vegetation is also present outside the exclosure.
Upland vegetation, including sagebrush, is present within the exclosure. Livestock graze inside
the exclosure and there is compaction and postholes within and outside of the exclosure. The size
and functionality of the riparian area has been reduced due to the nonfunctional spring
development and livestock watering at the site.
A description of the project proposed to aid in restoring proper functioning riparian-wetland
condition to Tim Spring is as follows: Restore the spring by removing the upper spring
development and maintaining the lower spring development. Remove the spring box and the
pipeline from the upper spring source. Clean out the spring box and extend the pipe to the troughs
in the lower spring development. Maintain the existing exclosure around the spring source and
extend it to the South and East by approximately 100 feet. Maintain the riparian exclosure fence,
such that it excludes livestock. The Tim Spring troughs appear to have been dry for an extended
period. If the lower spring source does not flow water into the troughs after the spring box is
cleaned out, the pipeline and troughs will be removed from the site.
•
Jackass Spring is developed with two spring boxes and pipeline leading to a trough. Jackass
Spring was dry at the time of the site visit (5/11/04) and appears to have been dry for an extended
period of time. There was little evidence of livestock grazing around this spring.
There are no perennial streams within the Hillcamp Allotment. Piute Creek is a major intermittent stream
located in the allotment. Although evidence of historic erosion is present along Piute Creek, rocky banks
have contributed to maintaining these areas in a relatively static state. Cutbanks are present in areas
throughout the length of the creek. Most of these areas are relatively stable, but there are some stretches
where active erosion is occurring. Sedimentation and siltation into the channel is occurring. The creek is
also widening in some places.
The current rest rotation grazing system has resulted in an overall improvement of ecological conditions on
much of Piute creek, and this can be seen from the trend photos taken along the creek starting in the 1970’s
through last year. There are three trend photo plots on Piute creek and two on side drainages, with four of
the five showing a noticeable increase in ground cover and a reduction in the amount of exposed bank. The
other trend plot appears to be unchanged through the years.
There are 54 acres of palustrine wetlands in the allotment and all were in PFC. There have been no recent
lentic PFC, lotic PFC or surveys performed in these allotments. If surveys are completed in the future, and
it is determined that riparian-wetland areas are not meeting the standard due to livestock grazing,
appropriate management actions will be taken to bring the sites into properly functioning condition.
Standard 3 Ecological Processes
This standard is being met.
Following are observations from the interdisciplinary team
Hill Camp Allotment is in excellent condition in the Basin, Northeast, West, and Southeast Pastures. The
Coleman Seeding Pasture is primarily a crested wheat seeding and has normal signs of livestock use.
Overall plant diversity is high. Shrubs and grasses are in excellent condition. There are large tracts of low
sagebrush intermixed with stands of several varieties of big sagebrush. There are stands of aspen along
rims. Snow hid most of the early spring forbs but the habitat is healthy and likely diverse. See Standard 5
for the native plant species noted during the allotment tour and in ESI.
Introduced species include Agropyron cristatum, Bromus tectorum, Ranunculus testiculatus, and
Sisymbrium altissimum.
The Observed Apparent Trend (OAT) for the vegetation communities on public land was determined
during the ESI (1987) and is seen in the Table below. In 1987 the OAT recorded that 4% of the allotment
was in upward condition and this was in both the big sagebrush and the mountain big sagebrush/bluebunch
wheatgrass types, and the mountain big sagebrush/Idaho fescue type long with some acres in the Juncus
type.
The remaining vegetation types for which OAT was determined had a static trend.
Observed Apparent Trend*
Acres
Percent of
Allotment
Upward
Static
Downward
Unknown**
0
Rockland or
Playa
730
1,554
24,550
4%
71%
0
2%
23%
7,894
* The Observed Apparent Trend (OAT) is a numerical rating which considers vigor, seedlings, surface litter, pedestals
and gullies to estimate the trend of a particular site and SWA.. An example of how the rating is determined can be seen
in Appendix B.
** Every Site Writeup Area (SWA) has a 10-15% portion of that area that is considered inclusions of different
vegetation communities. The transect data for the SWA may not apply to these inclusion, therefore the acres in these
inclusions are considered unknown. The unknown also includes acres of types for which the SWA transect was run in a
different allotment and the data from that transect may not apply to this allotment.
There are 20 trend photo plots scattered around the allotment which began in the 1960’ or 1970’s and
continue today. These photos illustrate the plant communities are either stable or improving across the
allotment. The vigor, condition and composition of the vegetation in the photos were influenced by the
amount of moisture that season, the grazing schedule and fire. But even taking into account these factors,
the ecological condition of these sites has either remained stable or improved over the last 30 years. There
has been an increase in juniper density at the sites where fire as not been present. Another noticeable trend
is that even following fire, the mountain big sagebrush returns to the site in 10-15 years.
The allotment is supporting the current and proposed number of mule deer and pronghorn antelope
identified by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) management plans.
Standard 4 - Water Quality Standards
There are no Oregon listed water quality limited streams in this pasture.
Standard 5 Native, T&E, and Locally Important Species
This standard is being met for native, T&E and locally important wildlife species. The deer and
pronghorn populations are healthy and stable in number within the allotment. Habitat quantity and quality
do not appear to be limiting population size or health. Wildlife populations fluctuate at or slightly below
ODFW’s Management Objective for the unit. The allotment lies within mule deer winter range.
The allotment also provide habitat for numerous small and nongame birds and mammals common to the
Great Basin, as well as, sage grouse and California bighorn sheep habitat (both Bureau Sensitive Species).
There are 2 known sage grouse leks found within the allotment and sage grouse have been seen using the
allotment at all times of the year. The allotment also provides habitat for raptors and other sensitive species,
as well as, some federally listed species. No critical habitat or limitations have been identified for any of
these species which include wintering bald eagles, and possibly pygmy rabbits, various sensitive bat
species or Peregrine falcons. Livestock grazing does not appear to be limiting wildlife habitat within the
allotment.
Native Plant Species: Achillea millefolium, Agropyron spicatum, Allium campanulatum, Artemisia
arbuscula, Artemisia spinosa, Artemisia tridentata, Artemesia tridentata var. vaseyana, Atriplex spinosa,
Castilleja sp., Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Distichlis spicata var. stricta, Ericameria nauseosa, Festuca
idahoensis, Juncus sp., Juniperus occidentalis, Lomatium sp., Poa secunda, Populus tremuloides, Purshia
tridentata, Ranunculus glaberrimus var. glaberrimus, Ribes cereum, Salix sp., Sarcobatus vermiculatus,
Sitanion hystrix, Stipa thurberiana, Symphoricarpos sp., Typha sp., and Urtica dioica.
Special Status Plants: Symphoricarpos longiflorus A. Gray (long-flowered snowberry) is suspected along
the length of Coleman Rim which joins the West and Coleman Seeding Pastures of this allotment. It is
documented in the allotment just to the north along the more northern portion of Coleman Rim. Further
surveys in Summer 2004 will determine species identity of suspected snowberry plants in this area. SYLO
is on the ONHP List 2 and BLM Assessment List. It is “secure” globally (G5), but “imperiled” (S2) in
Oregon. This species likes to grow on open rocky slopes in sagebrush and juniper zones and has five
known populations on the Lakeview Resource Area.
Allium campanulatum Wats. (sierra onion) was dropped from the ONHP list in 1998 and is no longer on
the BLM 5-Year Watch List. ALCA2 is “apparently secure” globally (G4) and “vulnerable” in Oregon
(S3). It is documented in two locations in the Hill Camp Allotment. One location is in the Northeast Pasture
about 1/3 mile northeast of Pinto Lake. The other location is in the West Pasture less than a mile northeast
of Rosebriar Spring.
Locally Important Plant Species: No specific cultural plants were noted except for Lamatium sp.
Current Management and Recent Management Changes
The allotment has been grazed using a rest rotation grazing system averaging 2,184 AUMS over thelast
twenty years. The rest rotation system grazing system uses three out of four pastures every year and rotates
the rest pasture each year. The other seeding pasture (Coleman Seeding) is used in the early spring and
rested every fourth or fifth year. The grazing schedule has been adjusted in recent years to accommodate
the prescribed bun in west Pasture. This current management will bc adjusted if the scheduled juniper
control projects are implemented and it is determined rest periods are necessary.
Team Members
Les Boothe
Alan Munhall
Vern Stofleth
Heather Partipilo
Bill Cannon
Ken Kestner
Robert Hopper
Erin McConnell
Liz Berger
Range Management Specialist
Fishery Biologist
Wildlife Biologist
Botantist
Archaeologist
Supervisory NRS
Supervisory RMS
Weed Management Specialist
Hydrologist
Determination
~
()
Existing grazing management practices or levels of grazing use on the Hillcamp Allotment
promote achievement of significant progress towards the Oregon Standards for Rangeland Health
and conform with the Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management.
Existing grazing management practices or levels of grazing use on the Hillcamp Allotment will
require modification or change prior to the next grazing season to promote achievement of the
Oregon Standards for Rangeland Health and conform with the Guidelines for Livestock Grazing
Management.
Field Manager, Lakeview Resource Area
Rockland! Rubble
Inc1usions*
Incomplete
Unknown
630
4,687
2,416
344
ALLOTMENT TOTAL
34,728
2%
13%
7%
1%
Table 1. VEGETATION TYPES IN ALLOTMENT 0215 - HILLCAl\1P Acres
Percent
Vegetation Type
-
of
Allotment
244
1%
Shrubs
low sagebrush
ARAR
ARTRT big sagebrush
ARTRV Mountain big sagebrush
Silver sagebrush
ARCA
Shrubs TOTAL
181
760
901
14
1%
2%
3%
Shrubs/Grasses
CHVI-AGSP Green rabbitbrushlblue bunch wheatgrass
Antelope bitterbrush/cheatgrass
PUTR-BRTE
SAVE-DISP
Greasewoodlsaltgrass
Shrub/Grass TOTAL
80
284
81
JUNCUS
Low sagebrush/Grass
ARAR-FEID
Low sagebrush/fescue
ARAR-POSE
Low sagebrush/Sandberg bluegrass
~STTH
Low sagebrush/Thurber's needlegrass
w sagebrush/Grass TOTAL
BiJ! Sage/Grass
ARTRT-AGSP big sagebrushlblue bunch wheatgrass
ARTR-BRTE
big sagebrush/cheat grass
ARTRT-FEID
big sagebrush/Idaho fescue
big sagebrushlbottlebrush squirreltail
I ARTRT -SIHY
ARTRT-STTH
big sagebrush/Thurber's needlegrass
Big Sage/Grass TOTAL
Mountain Sage/Grass
ARTRV-AGSP Mountain sagebrushlblue bunch wheatgrass
ARTRV-BRTE Mountain big sage/cheatgrass
ARTRV-FEID
Mountain big sage/Idaho fescue
ARTRV-SIHY
Mountain big sagebrushlbottlebrush
squirreltail
Mountain Sagebrush/Grass TOTAL
All Big Sagebrush/Grass TOTAL
TOTAL VEGETATION
Playa
T
6%
1,856
T
1%
T
1%
445
520
10,298
554
1%
11,372
33%
1,326
821
99
55
2,549
4%
2%
T
IT
i
7%
4,850
13%
1,687
343
5,227
5%
1%
15%
527
2%
7,784
22%
12,634
37%
26,551
76%
T
100
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