RANGELAND RESTORATION PROJECT FALL 2008 Burns District, BLM
Dec 19, 2015
FIVE CREEKS
• Points to Cover– Where is 5 Creeks?– When did
implementation begin?– Who is involved in the
project?– How is the project being
implemented?– Why 5 Creeks?
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Rome
Izee
Hines
Denio
Crane
BurnsRiley
Fields
JunturaDrewsey
Diamond
Hampton
Lakeview
Wagontire
Riverside
McDermitt
Frenchglen
New Princeton
Burns Junction
£¤395
£¤395
¿À205
¿À140
Lawen
Harper
Buchanan
Project Location
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BURNS
SALEM
EUGENE ONTARIO
LAKEVIEW
JOHN DAY
PORTLAND PENDLETON
THE DALLES
Project Area: 73,386 Acres (53,738 public &
19,648 private)
Elevation: 4200 – 7000 ft
Implementation Period: 7-10 years
FIVE CREEKS
• North End of Steens Mountain
• Three Rives Resource Area
• Cooperative Management and Protection Area (NLCS)
Project Characteristics• Landscape Level Treatments• Restoration of rangelands encroached by western juniper• Multi-year commitment• Projects included adjacent private lands
– Helped to reduce cost– Assisted private land owners in meeting land management
objectives• Projects coordinated with interested other agencies and
groups– ODFW– Soil and Water Conservation District– Harney County Watershed Council– USFWS
Healthy Lands Initiative
Healthy Lands Initiative
Five Creeks Rangeland Restoration
Five Creeks Rangeland Restoration
Managing natural resources for multiple use with flexible, landscape-level approaches.
Managing natural resources for multiple use with flexible, landscape-level approaches.
A landscape level project treating across boundaries on public and private land
A landscape level project treating across boundaries on public and private land
Restore and maintain healthy landscapesRestore and maintain healthy landscapes
Restoring sagebrush and riparian habitat to healthy & productive conditions.
Restoring sagebrush and riparian habitat to healthy & productive conditions.
Characterized by broad scale and accelerated pace
Characterized by broad scale and accelerated pace
Treat 73,386 acres over a 8-10 year time frame.Treat 73,386 acres over a 8-10 year time frame.
Partnerships are integralPartnerships are integral Partnerships are integralPartnerships are integral
Timeline6 Phases
Unit 1 (South)
6,151 acres
5, 650 acres BLM & 500 acres Private
Land
Public and Private Treated Simultaneously
2007/Summer– Project Layout, Clearances
2008 – Grazing Rest 2008/Fall – Broadcast
Burn 2008/Fall – Cut Creeks 2009 – Grazing Rest 2009/Winter/Spring –
Jackpot Burn Creeks 2010 – Grazing Rest
Unit 3
12,270 acres
9,200 acres BLM & 3,060 acres Private
Land
TimelineSix Implementation Phases
2008 - 2012
TimelineSix Implementation Phases
Unit # spr summer fall spr summer fall spr summer fall spr summer fall spr summer fall spr summer fall spr summer fall
Unit 2
broadcast
pile burn mahogany
Unit 3
broadcast
Unit 4
Broadcast 4 South
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
rest (Roaring Springs alt forage)
rest 4 South
Jackpot 4 North
rest 4 North
rest 4 South
rest (alkali or roaring springs)
Layout North and South
Clearcut 4 North
cut cut remainder
cut
Cut creeks
rest (Roaring Sprs Alt Forage)
Layout
Clearances
layout leks treatment
Cut Leks
cut & pile mahogany
jackpot old cuts
jackpot leks
pile burn mahogany
cut mahogany
rest (Alkali)
jackpot creeks
rest (Roaring Springs alt forage)
cut creeks
rest (Alkali)
jackpot creeks
Variable Cut 4 South
Clearances
Jackpot Old Cuts
Rest 4 South
FIVE CREEKS• Who’s Involved?
– Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board – Harney County Watershed Council– Harney County Soil and Water Conservation District– Roaring Springs Ranch– Otley Bros, Inc– Mann Lake Ranch– Steens Mountain Ranch– Riddle Ranches, Inc– Riddle/Blitzen Working Group– Steens Mountain Advisory Council– Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Station –USDA/Agricultural Research Service– Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife – Harney County Court– Great Basin Restoration Initiative
FIVE CREEKS
• What’s being Done• Reduce the cover and density of western juniper across the project area
– Mountain Big Sagebrush– Quaking Aspen– Riparian Areas– Bitterbrush– Mountain Mahogany
• Improve forage production– Livestock– Rocky Mountain Elk– Mule Deer– Wild Horses– Pronghorn
• Reduce Accumulation of hazardous fuels– Natural– Activity
FIVE CREEKS
• How Is the Project being Implemented?– Number of treatments are being utilized to
achieve the project objectives– Cutting
• Complete Cuts• Partial Cuts
– Burning• Broadcast• Jackpot
– Seeding
FIVE CREEKS
• Complexity – High– Original Analysis Indicated Moderate
• Large Contingency Area• Several Opportunities For Control
– Changed to High• Adjacent Landowners Not Participating• Large Amounts of Black-lining• Aviation
FIVE CREEKSLOW DESIRED HIGH
Temperature 30 50-77 85
Relative Humidity 54 20-30 12
Midflame Wind Speed 2 4-12 12
Wind Direction Any Any Any
1-Hour FM 7-11 5-9 3
10-Hour FM 8-12 6-10 4
100-Hour FM NA NA NA
1000-Hour FM NA NA NA
Live FM NA NA NA
FIVE CREEKS
• Developing the Rx– Historic Weather for Time of Year– Blended Fuel Model to Predict Fire Behavior– Flame Length Below Ability to Control Based on
Cut Juniper
FIVE CREEKS
• Resources Required– RXB1– RXFB– CREW– 2 STL/TFL– 3 Type 4 ENG– 3 Type 6 ENG– 2 TATRA/Tenders (used 4)– 2 ATVs w/ Bean Sprayers– 4 UTVs w/ Tanks and Pumps– Resource Advisor on site
Need Neighbors Help
FIVE CREEKS
• Camped on Site– Reduced Travel Time– Increased Crew Safety– Feed Crews– Toilets– Shuttle Supplies
FIVE CREEKS
• Jackpot Burning• Blacklining• Unit Ignition
– Drip Torches– ATV Torches– Helitorch
• Holding
FIVE CREEKS
• Post Fire Management– Livestock Grazing – Two growing season in
burned area– Weeds Management –
• Inventories• Spot treatments
– Monitoring
FIVE CREEKS
• Previous Projects– Cutting and burning results in greatest reductions
in juniper– Post-fire vegetation response
• Plant cover increases 2-3x• Quaking Aspen Suckering Increases• Bitterbrush Seedling Establishment – Variable
– Weeds• Jackpot Burning too late in spring results in thistle
increase