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FIVE CREEKS RANGELAND RESTORATION PROJECT. FALL 2008 Burns District, BLM. 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?. Project Location.
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FIVE CREEKS RANGELAND RESTORATION PROJECT FALL 2008 Burns District, BLM
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?
Project Location 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 Five Creeks Rangeland Restoration Managing natural resources for multiple use with flexible, landscape-levelapproaches. A landscape level project treating across boundaries on public and private land Restoring sagebrush and riparian habitat tohealthy & productiveconditions. Restore and maintainhealthy landscapes Characterized bybroad scaleand accelerated pace Treat 73,386 acres over a 8-10 year time frame. Partnerships are integral Partnerships are integral
Timeline 6 Phases Unit 1 (South) 6,151 acres 5, 650 acres BLM & 500 acres Private Land • 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 Public and Private Treated Simultaneously
Timeline 2007 - 2011 6 Phases Unit 2 15,556 acres 9,000 acres BLM & 6,580 acres Private Land
Timeline 2008 - 2012 Six Implementation Phases Unit 3 12,270 acres 9,200 acres BLM & 3,060 acres Private Land
Timeline Six Implementation Phases
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 • Juniper Cutting • Units layout based on type of cutting • Full Cuts • Partial Cuts
FIVE CREEKS • Prescribed Fire • Jackpot Burning • Broadcast Burning
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 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 • Success? • Implementation • Plant Community Response • Animal Response
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