Response for project 200002700: Acquisition Of Malheur Wildlif
Comment on proposed FY 2006 budget
We desire funding and the budget is consistent with funding expectations for FY2006.
Accomplishments since the last review
| Produce Plan | We are in the final stages of completing the management plan for the project site. | |
| Produce Annual Report | An annual report has been produced for both 2003 and 2004. | |
| Produce Status Report | Three quarterly reports were produced for both 2003 and 2004. | |
| Develop Alternative Water Source | Protected spring by developing off-site water for cattle and fencing spring site. | |
| # of miles of fence (0.01 mi.) | Created 6 miles of fence to exclude cattle from riparian corridors and protect redband trout spawning habitat. | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | Eighty two acres have been converted from hay meadows to either food plots or native grass plantings. An additional 35 acres are currently being converted into alfalfa. | |
| # of riparian miles treated (0.01 mi.; count each bank separately) | Planted 1,250 cottonwood trees in riparian corridors treating 12 miles of stream bank. | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | Approximately 6,000 acres are monitored for noxious weeds annually however only about 350 need treatment. | |
| Create, Restore, and/or Enhance Wetland | Restoring beavers on the property has resulted in creating a 5 acre wetland. | |
| Maintain Terrestrial Structure | Maintained houses, barns, sheds, corrals, fences, and all equipment associated with operation of the project site. | |
| Maintain Terrestrial Structure | Each year irrigation ditches are excavated, burned, or otherwise maintained to ensure efficient water transfer. | |
| Maintain Vegetation | Approximately 200 acres of meadow are hayed each year to initiate fall regrowth which increases palatibility and nutrient content of grasses. | |
| Maintain Vegetation | Grazing was utilized in 2004 for noxious weed control and to increase productivity of plant communities. | |
| Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Established vegetation plots to monitor management effectiveness. | |
| Estimated # of miles of secondary stream reach improvement | 1/4 mile of irrigation canal was lined to increase efficiency of water transfer and allow the irrigation of an additional 35 acres. |
FY 2006 goals and anticipated accomplishments
| Produce Annual Report | We will continue to provide an annual report. | |
| Produce Status Report | We will continue to provide 3 quarterly reports throughout the fiscal year. | |
| Develop Pond | We would like to create multiple ponds (1-5) to increase waterfowl resting and brood rearing habitat and increase the amphibian distribution. | |
| Develop Pond | Install an artisian well that will maintain pond hydrology throughout the year and provide waterfowl nesting, resting, and brood rearing habitat. In addition, amphibian populations will benefit. | |
| # of features | We would like to install 50-100 nest boxes and/or nest platforms adjacent to wetland and riparian areas. | |
| # of miles of fence (0.01 mi.) | Fence spring sites in Hunter Creek drainage to decrease damage from wildlife and livestock. Maximum of .5 miles of fence installed. | |
| # of miles of fence (0.01 mi.) | Continue the process of converting all fences to "wildlife friendly" which includes a smooth wire on top and smooth wire on bottom. 1 mile of fence treated. | |
| # of miles of fence (0.01 mi.) | Remove fencing that is no longer needed or is in disrepair that may hinder wildlife movement. .5 mile of fence treated. | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | Continue to reestablish bitterbrush and native bunchgrass communities that have been depleted over the past 50 years. 10-20 acres treated. | |
| # of acres of vegetation planted (0.1 ac.) | Convert 18 acres of meadow grass into alfalfa to serve as a wildlife food plot. | |
| # of riparian miles treated (0.01 mi.; count each bank separately) | Plant fruit bearing trees and shrubs along riparian corridors. We will treat approximately 6 miles of riparian with 5,000 - 10,000 shrubs. | |
| # of acres treated (0.1 ac) | Continue to treat 350+ acres to control weeds. | |
| Maintain Terrestrial Structure | Continue to maintain houses, barns, sheds, fences, and corrals as needed. | |
| Maintain Vegetation | Continue to maintain meadow plant communities through irrigation and haying activities. |
Subbasin planning
How is this project consistent with subbasin plans?
This project is consistent with goal 1, objective 1.1, strategy 8 and 9 (page 70), objective 1.2, strategy 2, 3, 4 (page 71), and 8 (page 72), goal 6, objective 6.5, strategy 1 (page 80), goal 8, objective 8.1, strategy 4, 5, and 6 (page 83), goal 9, objective 9.1, strategy 1, 2 (page 83), 5, 6, 7, and 8 (page 84), goal 10, objective 10.1, strategy 1 and 2 (page 85), goal 12, objective 12.1, strategy 2 and 3 (page 86), goal 13, objective 13.1, strategy 1, 2, 3 (page 86), and 4 (page 87), goal 14, objective 14.1, strategy 2, 3, 4 (page 87), 5 and 6 (page 88), objective 14.2, strategy 1, 2, 4, and 5 (page 88), goal 15, objective 15.1, strategy 1 and 3 (page 89), goal 17, objective 17.1, strategy 1 and 2 (page 90). These objectives are related to habitat restoration, mitigating tribes for the loss of the anadromous fish resource in the Malheur subbasin, restoring mixed conifer forest habitat, restoring shrub-steppe habitat, restoring mt. mahogany and bitterbrush, restoring herbaceous wetlands, 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. In addition, much of the riparian restoration work completed on the project benefits resident redband trout populations.
How do goals match subbasin plan priorities?
Priority II (page 94) and III (page 95) are addressed with this project. Also, management activities both directly and indirectly address limiting factors 4.1, 4.2 (Appendix A, pg.56), 4.3, 4.4 (Appendix A, pg.58), and 4.6 (Appendix A, pg.59) for the subbasin.