Ochoco National Forest, Lookout Mountain Ranger District; Oregon; Bear Creek Allotment Management Plans EIS, 11391-11393 [2014-04394]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11391-11393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04394]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Ochoco National Forest, Lookout Mountain Ranger District; Oregon; 
Bear Creek Allotment Management Plans EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Ochoco National Forest is preparing an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) to analyze the effects of changing grazing 
management in four grazing allotments on the Ochoco National Forest. 
These four allotments are Bear Creek, Elkhorn, Snowshoe, and Trout 
Creek. The proposed action would reauthorize term grazing permits, make 
rangeland improvements, manage livestock use and distribution to 
facilitate the improvement of riparian conditions, including streambank 
stability, riparian vegetation, and water temperature, and would 
conduct riparian restoration activities on some streams in the project 
area. These actions are needed to achieve and maintain consistency with 
the Ochoco National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, as 
amended.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by March 31, 2014. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
to be completed and available for public comment in January, 2015. The 
final environmental impact statement is expected to be completed in 
May, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Slater Turner, District Ranger, 
Lookout Mountain District, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE Third 
Street, Prineville, Oregon 97754. Alternately, electronic comments may 
be sent to comments-pacificnorthwest-ochoco@fs.fed.us. Electronic 
comments must be submitted as part of the actual email message, or as 
an attachment in plain text (.txt), Microsoft Word (.doc), rich text 
format (.rtf), or portable document format (.pdf).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tory Kurtz, Project Leader, at 3160 NE 
Third Street, Prineville, Oregon 97754, or at (541) 416-6407, or by 
email at tlkurtz@fs.fed.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of this proposal is to reauthorize livestock grazing 
consistent with Forest Plan standards and guidelines. Based on surveys, 
conditions on some streams in the

[[Page 11392]]

project area are not consistent with desired condition; there is a need 
to make range improvements and change livestock management to move 
towards desired conditions for stream shade, bank stability and width-
to-depth ratio. Livestock grazing is one of the factors that can 
contribute to altered riparian function. Active riparian restoration 
activities will facilitate the achievement of the desired condition.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action includes a variety of pasture-specific 
management strategies and activities, including active management of 
livestock, relocation or reconstruction of existing water developments, 
planting of riparian hardwoods, placing logs and rocks in and along 
stream channels, and protection of riparian vegetation and streambanks.

Bear Creek Allotment

     The allotment would continue to consist of 11,158 acres 
divided between three pastures: North Bear, South Bear and Dodd's.
     Either cattle or sheep grazing would be authorized, as 
follows:
    [cir] The current permitted amount of 685 AUMs with 132 cow/calf 
pair from June 5 to September 30 would be authorized;
    [cir] OR ewe/lamb livestock kind may be used instead of cow/calf 
pair; a permitted amount of 1,298 AUMs with 1,100 ewe/lamb pairs from 
June 5 to September 30 would be authorized.
     Existing structural improvements would be reauthorized 
including 16 troughs, 8 reservoirs and approximately 21 miles of fence.
     Approximately 12 miles of fence would be reauthorized; 
(interior fence lines would not be required with ewe/lamb pairs since 
there is a herder).
     The grazing system for cattle would be a three pasture 
rotation, deferring North Bear and South Bear pastures each year and 
utilizing Dodd's pasture last each year.
     Active management of livestock would be required for 
cattle.
     The grazing system for ewe/lamb pairs would be a herded 
system with the following rules:
    [cir] Sheep would not be grazed within a minimum of \1/4\ mile of 
anadromous fish-bearing streams prior to July 15th.
    [cir] Siesta or bedding places would be far from open roads, 
streams, new plantations, aspen stands, heritage sites and prairies, 
and would not be located in riparian areas or scablands.
    [cir] The sheep would not take siesta or bedding at the same place 
more than once per grazing season.
    [cir] Salt and supplements would be placed in portable containers, 
on rocks, sawed tree trunks and fallen tree trunks, and would be 
located away from roads and generally \1/4\ mile away from Riparian 
Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) and scablands.
    [cir] Streams containing anadromous fish habitat would not be used 
prior to July 15th; off-source water including water brought in by 
truck would be used prior to July 15th.
    [cir] Drafting for water would not occur in streams that are 
occupied by steelhead.
     Aspen stands identified in the field would be protected 
and enhanced through conifer thinning and utilization of thinned 
materials, prescribed fire, and mechanical treatment. Exclosures may be 
used when thinning and placement of thinned materials to protect aspens 
stands is not found to provide adequate protection.

Elkhorn Allotment

     The allotment would continue to consist of 9,620 acres 
divided between four pastures: Bridge Creek, Elkhorn, Indian Prairie 
and Val Trail.
     The current permitted amount of 1,378 AUMs with 290 cow/
calf pair from June 15 to September 30 would be authorized.
     Existing structural improvements would be reauthorized 
including 30 troughs and approximately 18 miles of fence.
     The grazing system would be a three pasture rotation using 
Elkhorn first to decrease the spread of Cynoglossum officinale 
(houndstongue) infestations, Val Trail pasture and utilizing Bridge 
Creek pasture last each year. Indian Prairie pasture would be used as 
needed for gathering and holding.
     Active management of livestock would be required.
     Trailing routes and anticipated crossings between pastures 
would be identified for Cynoglossum officinale (houndstongue) 
infestations and other listed non-native invasive plants and routes and 
crossings would either be avoided, relocated or be a priority for 
treatment.
     Aspen stands identified in the field would be protected 
and enhanced through conifer thinning and utilization of thinned 
materials, prescribed fire, and mechanical treatment. Exclosures may be 
used when thinning and placement of thinned materials to protect aspens 
stands is not found to provide adequate protection.

Snowshoe Allotment

     The allotment would continue to consist of 2,711 acres 
divided between two pastures: North Nature Creek and Snowshoe.
     The current permitted amount of 343 AUMs with 156 cow/calf 
pair from August 12 to September 30 would be authorized.
     Existing structural improvements would be reauthorized 
including 10 troughs and approx. 9.25 miles of fence.
     The grazing system would be a two pasture rotation 
deferring Snowshoe pasture each year until after July 15th at the 
earliest.
     Active management of livestock would be required.
     Trailing routes and anticipated crossings between pastures 
would be identified for Cynoglossum officinale (houndstongue) 
infestations and other listed non-native invasive plants and routes and 
crossings would either be avoided, relocated or be a priority for 
treatment.
     Existing aspen stands identified in the field would be 
protected and enhanced through conifer thinning and utilization of 
thinned materials, prescribed fire, and mechanical treatment. 
Exclosures may be used when thinning and placement of thinned materials 
to protect aspens stands is not found to provide adequate protection.

Trout Creek Allotment

     The allotment would consist of 21,370 acres.
     The current permitted amount of 1,797 AUMs with 1,953 ewe/
lamb pairs from June 16 to September 15 would be authorized.
     Existing structural improvements would be reauthorized 
including 22 troughs, 5 ponds, and approx. 20 miles of fence.
     The grazing system for ewe/lamb pairs would be a herded 
system with the following rules:
    [cir] Sheep would not be grazed within a minimum of \1/4\ mile of 
anadromous fish-bearing streams prior to July 15th.
    [cir] Siesta or bedding places would be far from open roads, 
streams, new plantations, aspen stands, heritage sites and prairies, 
and would not be located in riparian areas or scablands.
    [cir] The sheep would not take siesta or bedding at the same place 
more than once per grazing season.
    [cir] Salt and supplements would be placed in portable containers, 
on rocks, sawed tree trunks and fallen tree trunks, and would be 
located away from roads and generally \1/4\ mile away from Riparian 
Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) and scablands.

[[Page 11393]]

    [cir] Streams containing anadromous fish habitat would not be used 
prior to July 15th; off-source water including water brought in by 
truck would be used prior to July 15th.
    [cir] Drafting for water would not occur in streams that are 
occupied by steelhead.
     Twenty-five water developments would be reconstructed and 
associated springs would be protected as needed.
     Two water developments would be removed and their sites 
restored to a natural state.
     Existing aspen stands identified in the field would be 
protected and enhanced through conifer thinning and utilization of 
thinned materials, prescribed fire, and mechanical treatment. 
Exclosures may be used when thinning and placement of thinned materials 
to protect aspens stands is not found to provide adequate protection.
     Juniper up to 12'' diameter would be mechanically thinned 
and/or thinned by prescribed fire.
     An approximately 2-acre aspen stand would be enhanced and 
protected through conifer thinning and utilization of thinned 
materials, prescribed fire and mechanical treatment. Exclosures may be 
used when thinning and placement of thinned materials to protect aspens 
stands is not found to provide adequate protection.
     Bedding/camping areas would be monitored for known 
Taeniatherum caput-medusae (medusahead) populations. Trailing routes 
onto the allotment would be identified for listed non-native invasive 
plants.
     Riparian restoration activities would take place where 
necessary on 4.5 miles of Little McKay Creek and tributaries; 
activities would include in-stream placement of wood and/or rock 
structures, filling and connecting floodplains, planting hardwoods, and 
creating physical barriers (such as wood, rock or fences) to protect 
hardwoods and improve bank stability, conifer thinning to improve RHCA 
stand conditions and utilization of thinning materials for in-stream 
placement and improved bank stability. Wood and physical barrier 
material may come from on-site.
     An alternative grazing plan would be included to have two 
total grazing plans that can be alternated.

Possible Alternatives

    In addition to the Proposed Action and any alternative that is 
developed following this scoping effort, the project interdisciplinary 
team will analyze the effects of:
     No Action alternative: No grazing permits would be 
reauthorized; cattle would be removed from all allotments within two 
years.
     Current management alternative: Permits would be 
reauthorized at current levels; there would be no new water 
developments, no riparian restoration, and there would be no 
requirement for permittees to move livestock out of sensitive areas, 
except as required by current permits.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official will be District Ranger, Lookout Mountain 
Ranger District, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE Third Street, 
Prineville, Oregon 97754.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Given the purpose and need, the deciding official will review the 
proposed action, the other alternatives, and the environmental 
consequences in order to make the following decisions:
     Whether and under what circumstances grazing will be 
reauthorized in the Bear Creek, Elkhorn, Snowshoe, and Trout Creek 
allotments.
     Whether and under what circumstances range improvements 
will be constructed.
     Whether and under what circumstances riparian restoration 
activities will be implemented.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary issues identified include the potential effect of the 
proposed action on livestock grazing, heritage resources, fisheries, 
water quality, sensitive plants, and on the introduction and/or spread 
of invasive plants, as well as the cumulative effects of the proposed 
action where the effects of associated activities overlap with the 
effects of other management activities.

Scoping Process

    Public comments about this proposal are requested in order to 
assist in identifying issues, determining how to best manage the 
resources, and focusing the analysis. Comments received to this notice, 
including names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the 
public record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously 
will be accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not 
provide the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with 
subsequent environmental documents.

    Dated: February 21, 2014.
Slater R. Turner,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2014-04394 Filed 2-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P