FIVE CREEKS RANGELAND RESTORATION PROJECT FALL 2008 Burns District, BLM

FIVE CREEKS Points to Cover 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?

Project Location Project Area: Project Area: 73,386 Acres (53,738 public & 19,648 private) Elevation: Elevation: 4200 – 7000 ft Implementation Period: Implementation Period: years

FIVE CREEKS North End of Steens Mountain North End of Steens Mountain Three Rives Resource Area Three Rives Resource Area Cooperative Management and Protection Area (NLCS) Cooperative Management and Protection Area (NLCS)

Project Characteristics Landscape Level Treatments Landscape Level Treatments Restoration of rangelands encroached by western juniper Restoration of rangelands encroached by western juniper Multi-year commitment Multi-year commitment Projects included adjacent private lands 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 Projects coordinated with interested other agencies and groups – ODFW – Soil and Water Conservation District – Harney County Watershed Council – USFWS

Healthy Lands Initiative Five Creeks Rangeland Restoration, landscape-level Managing natural resources for multiple use with flexible, landscape-level approaches. landscape level A landscape level project treating across boundaries on public and private land healthy Restore and maintain healthy landscapes healthy productive Restoring sagebrush and riparian habitat to healthy & productive conditions. broad scaleaccelerated pace Characterized by broad scale and accelerated pace 73, year Treat 73,386 acres over a 8-10 year time frame. Partnerships Partnerships are integral

Timeline 6 Phases Unit 1 (South) 6,151 acres 5, 650 acres BLM & 500 acres Private Land Public and Private Treated Simultaneously /Summer– Project Layout, Clearances – Grazing Rest /Fall – Broadcast Burn /Fall – Cut Creeks – Grazing Rest /Winter/Spring – Jackpot Burn Creeks – Grazing Rest

Unit 2 15,556 acres 9,000 acres BLM & 6,580 acres Private Land 6 Phases Timeline

Unit 3 12,270 acres 9,200 acres BLM & 3,060 acres Private Land Timeline Six Implementation Phases

Timeline Six Implementation Phases

FIVE CREEKS Who’s Involved? 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 What’s being Done Reduce the cover and density of western juniper across the project area 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 Improve forage production – Livestock – Rocky Mountain Elk – Mule Deer – Wild Horses – Pronghorn Reduce Accumulation of hazardous fuels Reduce Accumulation of hazardous fuels – Natural – Activity

FIVE CREEKS How Is the Project being Implemented? How Is the Project being Implemented? – Number of treatments are being utilized to achieve the project objectives – Cutting Complete Cuts Complete Cuts Partial Cuts Partial Cuts – Burning Broadcast Broadcast Jackpot Jackpot – Seeding

FIVE CREEKS Juniper Cutting Juniper Cutting – Units layout based on type of cutting Full Cuts Full Cuts Partial Cuts Partial Cuts

FIVE CREEKS Prescribed Fire Prescribed Fire – Jackpot Burning – Broadcast Burning

FIVE CREEKS Complexity – High Complexity – High – Original Analysis Indicated Moderate Large Contingency Area Large Contingency Area Several Opportunities For Control Several Opportunities For Control – Changed to High Adjacent Landowners Not Participating Adjacent Landowners Not Participating Large Amounts of Black-lining Large Amounts of Black-lining Aviation Aviation

FIVE CREEKS LOWDESIREDHIGH Temperature Relative Humidity Midflame Wind Speed Wind DirectionAny 1-Hour FM Hour FM Hour FMNA 1000-Hour FMNA Live FMNA

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 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 Camped on Site – Reduced Travel Time – Increased Crew Safety – Feed Crews – Toilets – Shuttle Supplies

FIVE CREEKS Jackpot Burning Jackpot Burning Blacklining Blacklining Unit Ignition Unit Ignition – Drip Torches – ATV Torches – Helitorch Holding Holding

FIVE CREEKS Post Fire Management Post Fire Management – Livestock Grazing – Two growing season in burned area – Weeds Management – Inventories Inventories Spot treatments Spot treatments – Monitoring

FIVE CREEKS Success? Success? – Implementation – Plant Community Response – Animal Response

FIVE CREEKS Previous Projects Previous Projects – Cutting and burning results in greatest reductions in juniper – Post-fire vegetation response Plant cover increases 2-3x Plant cover increases 2-3x Quaking Aspen Suckering Increases Quaking Aspen Suckering Increases Bitterbrush Seedling Establishment – Variable Bitterbrush Seedling Establishment – Variable – Weeds Jackpot Burning too late in spring results in thistle increase Jackpot Burning too late in spring results in thistle increase