Response for project 200000900: Logan Valley Wildlife Mitigati
Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget
We desire funding and the budget is consistent with funding expectations for FY2006.
Accomplishments since the last review
| # of people reached in each of 3 classes (T/S/G): Teachers, Students, General public | Conducted a field trip in both 2003 and 2004 for local schools. Approximately 60 students and 1 teacher were involved annually. Tribal education of the mitigation process continues. | |
| Produce Inventory or Assessment | Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center is conducting research on the project site to determine the effects of sub-surface irrigation efforts. In addition, monitoring of willow regeneration is occurring. | |
| Coordination | Coordination has occurred with the USFWS, Eastern Oregon Agricultural research Center, USFS, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Department of Agriculture farm services, Harney Co Watermaster, and local ranchers to coordinate conservation efforts | |
| Produce Annual Report | An annual report was produced for both 2003 and 2004. | |
| Produce Status Report | 3 quarterly reports were submitted for both 2003 and 2004. The first quarterly report for 2005 has also been completed. | |
| Develop Alternative Water Source | A water trough and pump were purchased to eliviate the need for water gaps and reduce the potential of stream bank erosion and riparian degredation. | |
| # of road miles improved, upgraded, or restored | Coordinated with USFS to install a bridge that crosses Lake Creek and allows access to the project site without having to drive through the creek and create sedimentation or degrade the stream bank. 0.01 miles of road improved. | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | 30 acres were seeded with Idaho Fescue. | |
| # of riparian miles treated (0.01 mi.; count each bank separately) | Planted willows along 2 miles of stream to encourage willow regeneration. Involved tribal youth members to give them an opportunity to experience working for the benefit of wildlife. | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | Thinned approximately 30 acres of lodgepole pine forest. In addition, cattle treat an average of 250 acres annualy to reduce residual vegetation and create a mosaic of available habitats. | |
| Maintain Terrestrial Structure | 16.5 miles of permanent fence are maintained annually. In addition, 2 miles of drop-down fence are raised and lowered. As much as 5 miles of electrical fences are erected annually to define cattle pastures and prevent riparian damage. | |
| Replace/Maintain Instream Structure | Work continues to replace head gate structures to better control water use and maintain water rights. | |
| Maintain Vegetation | Contain and or eradicate colonizing weed populations through herbicide applications. | |
| Operate/Maintain Facility | Maintained facilities at project site including cabin, barns, sheds, corrals, and livestock scales. | |
| Investigate Trespass | Public access is controlled and monitored throughout the field season. Cattle are monitored from June through September to ensure appropriate land use. | |
| Quantity of water protected by screening, as determined by what is stated in the water right or calculated based on flow rate (0.1 acre-feet/year) | We have begun the process, along with the USFS, of installing a fish screen at the head of an irrigation canal which will allow us to utilize a water right that has not been in use for 4+ years. |
FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments
| # of people reached in each of 3 classes (T/S/G): Teachers, Students, General public | Continue outreach programs to educate the public about fish and wildlife and the mitigation process. | |
| Coordination | Continue to coordinate with federal, state, county, and other government agencies along with private landowners in a cooperative effort for the benefit of fish and wildlife. | |
| Produce Annual Report | Produce an annual report at the end of each fiscal year. | |
| Produce Status Report | Produce 3 quarterly reports throughout the fiscal year. | |
| Conduct Controlled Burn | Perform a small scale burn (10 acre) to determine vegetation response with a long term goal of reintroducing natural fire regime. | |
| Develop Alternative Water Source | Investigate water driven pumps to determine feasibility of creating off-site water for cattle. | |
| # of features | Create additional snags, hang nest boxes, and bat boxes. # of features unknown. | |
| # of miles of fence (0.01 mi.) | Install 5 miles of let down fence to protect riparian corridors along Lake Creek. | |
| # of riparian miles treated (0.01 mi.; count each bank separately) | Continue to reestablish willows along riparian corridors. Six miles of riparian treated. | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | Continue to control noxious weeds as needed. Spot spraying only. Maximum of 1 acre treated. | |
| Create, Restore, and/or Enhance Wetland | Install flashboard risers to make irrigation efforts more effecient and effective. | |
| Maintain Terrestrial Structure | Continue to maintain cabin, barns, sheds, corrals, cattle scale. | |
| Maintain Vegetation | Irrigation will be utilized to maintain wet meadow complex. In addition, cattle will be used as a vegetation treatment. | |
| Operate/Maintain Facility | Maintain fish screens at irrigation diversions. | |
| Investigate Trespass | Continue to monitor and controll access and recreation activities on the project site. |
Subbasin planning
How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?
This project is consistent with objective 1.1 strategy 1, 5 (pg.69), 8 and 9 (pg.70) objective 1.2 strategy 3, 4 (pg.71), and 7 (pg.72) objective 1.4 strategy 2 and 3 (pg.74) objective 1.5 strategy 1, 5, and 6 (pg. 75) objective 2.1 strategy 1, 2, and 4 (pg.76) objective 8.1 strategy 1 (pg.82) and 3 (pg.83) objective 13.1 strategy 1, 2, and 3 (pg.86) objective 14.1 strategy 2, 3, 4 (pg.87), 5 and 6 (pg.88) objective 14.2 strategy 4 and 5 (pg.88) objective 15.1 strategy 3 (pg.89) and objective 17.1 strategy 2 (pg.90). These objectives are related to habitat restoration, assisting in the recovery of bull trout, restoring mixed conifer forest habitat, restoring riparian habitats, mitigating wildlife losses due to development of the federal Columbia River power system, terrestrial habitat mapping, and evaluating and addressing noxious weeds. The project is a wildlife project based on terrestrial improvements, however, riparian work, grazing management, irrigation activities, etc. benefit bull trout and redband trout indirectly. In addition, the project includes approximately 5 miles of stream utilized by bull trout and redband trout for spawning and rearing habitat.
How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?
Priority I,II (pg.94), III and IV (pg.95) are addressed in part with this project. Also, management activities both directly and indirectly address limiting factors 4.1, 4.2 (Appendix A, pg.56), 4.4 (Appendix A, pg.58), and 4.6 (Appendix A, pg.59) for the subbasin.