magone project scoping package magone...

Magone Project – Scoping Package

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Magone Project

Scoping Package

February 2015

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Malheur National Forest

Blue Mountain Ranger District


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Table of Contents Table of Maps ............................................................................................................................................... 2

Project Background and Introduction ........................................................................................................... 3

Relationship to the Aquatic Restoration Decision ........................................................................................ 3

Project Location and Existing Condition ...................................................................................................... 4

Purpose and Need for Action ........................................................................................................................ 6

Proposed Action ............................................................................................................................................ 6

Silvicultural Treatments ............................................................................................................................ 7

Prescribed Burning and Natural Ignitions ................................................................................................. 8

Strategic Fuel Breaks ................................................................................................................................ 9

Road Activities.......................................................................................................................................... 9

Road Use, Road Maintenance, and Temporary Road Construction ..................................................... 9

Road System Changes ......................................................................................................................... 10

Recreation Opportunity Improvements ................................................................................................... 13

Trail Developments ............................................................................................................................. 13

Recreation Interpretive Signage .......................................................................................................... 15

Fishing/Recreational Boating Opportunities ....................................................................................... 15

Other Recreation Ideas Brought Forward by the Public ............................................................................. 17

Magone Lake Restoration Activities – Fish Cribs/Fish Sticks ............................................................... 17

Connectivity Corridors ............................................................................................................................ 19

Potential Forest Plan Amendments ............................................................................................................. 20

Attachment 1 –Activities Authorized under Aquatic Restoration Decision ............................................... 21

References ................................................................................................................................................... 22

Table of Maps Map 1. Project Location

Map 2. Current Malheur Forest Plan Management Areas

Map 3. Plant Association Groups

Map 4. Dedicated Old Growth, Replacement Old Growth, and Connectivity Corridors

Map 5. Silviculture Treatments, Haul Routes, and Temporary Roads

Map 6. Prescribed Burn Blocks

Map 7. Existing Open Road System

Map 8. Proposed Changes to the Road System

Map 9. Existing Recreation Developments

Map 10. Recreation Development Proposals


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Project Background and Introduction The proposed action (described below) was developed through a collaborative process involving the

public, Blue Mountain Forest Partners (BMFP), and Malheur National Forest staff. Beginning in the

summer of 2014, fieldtrips and meetings were held with collaborators to discuss the existing and desired

conditions of the Grub Creek and East Fork Beech Creek subwatersheds, and a potential suite of activities

to achieve those desired conditions.

On June 18, 2014, BMFP and Malheur National Forest staff visited sites within the Nipple Butte

inventoried roadless area (IRA) in the Magone project planning area. Site visits within the IRA included

discussions on fir and juniper encroachment, wildlife habitat improvement, forest densities, ladder fuels,

fire starts, potential silviculture treatments, and natural ignition. On July 16, 2014, BMFP and Malheur

National Forest staff visited sites around the Magone Lake recreation area. Discussion topics at the sites

visited included aesthetics and visuals, fir encroachment, safety corridors, trail improvements, fuel breaks,

ladder fuels, cool moist pockets, and recreation site management versus lake management.

In September 2014, the Forest Service interdisciplinary team for the Magone Project presented resource

stories on the existing condition of the project area to the BMFP collaborative at their regular monthly

meeting. The resource stories served as a baseline for developing proposed treatments. These same

resource stories were also presented at a public open house meeting. Stakeholders of the project area were

invited to attend and an article was published in the Blue Mountain Eagle on August 27, 2014, to

announce the meeting to local interested public. In addition flyers were circulated at the Magone

Campground in the summer and fall and there was a radio spot on the radio station KJDY where the

District Ranger shared information about the planning process for the Magone Project. The extended and

more detailed versions of the Magone Project resource stories can be found online at:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6ZBnsdnJddrU7TNXorZsK844YMjK6JgL.

Relationship to the Aquatic Restoration Decision The Magone project planning area is one of the planning areas identified for accelerated restoration on the

Malheur National Forest. An interdisciplinary team gathered information at a watershed scale and used

that information to develop a suite of activities to improve resource resiliency, processes, and functions

within the Magone project planning area. The team identified a variety of activities that would move the

planning area towards its desired future condition.

The Malheur National Forest initiated an Aquatic Restoration Environmental Assessment (EA) in January

2014, and the decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) was signed in September

2014. This decision allows activities that are consistent with the 17 aquatic restoration categories

described in that decision to be implemented following review of the activity with a Project

Implementation Checklist to ensure the activity is consistent with the analysis and is within the criteria of

the Aquatic Restoration Decision.

The Magone interdisciplinary team identified a suite of activities that would contribute to improving

resiliency and function in the Magone project planning area. Some of these activities are aquatic

restoration actions that are authorized by the Aquatic Restoration Decision. We are providing preliminary

list of these potential activities in Attachment 1 –Activities Authorized under Aquatic Restoration

Decision. We welcome input on these activities now; there will also be an opportunity to review these

activities at a later date when they are posted on the Malheur National Forest’s Aquatic Restoration

website before implementation.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6ZBnsdnJddrU7TNXorZsK844YMjK6JgL


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Please see the following website for information on future Aquatic Restoration Projects on the Malheur

National Forest:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/malheur/landmanagement/?cid=STELPRD3817723&width=full

This webpage is designed to provide information about aquatic restoration activities on the Malheur

National Forest, and will provide an annual list of projects planned to be implemented by each Ranger

District as well as an accomplishments section where the interested public can learn about completed

projects. The list and description of projects to be implemented each summer will be posted on this

website each spring and at least 30 days prior to planned implementation. Projects may also be posted and

implemented at other times of the year. A Project Implementation Checklist will be used on each project

to ensure all activities are consistent with the Malheur Forest Plan and project design criteria associated

with the Aquatic Restoration Decision.

Project Location and Existing Condition The Magone Project is located on the Blue Mountain Ranger District (BMRD) within the Malheur

National Forest. The project planning area is located in Grant County approximately 7 miles north of the

town of John Day, Oregon. The Magone project planning area encompasses approximately 27,000 acres

in the Grub Creek and East Fork Beech Creek subwatersheds that drain into the Upper John Day River.

The main road access to the project planning area is via County Road 18 off US Highway 26 from east of

the project planning area and County Road 18 off US Highway 395 from the west. See Map 1.

The legal description for the project planning area is (township, range, sections):

Township 11 South, Range 31 East, sections 25-29, 32-36;

T. 11 S., R. 32 E., sec. 30-32;

T. 12 S., R. 31 E., sec. 1-5, 8-12, 13-15, 17-24;

T. 12 S., R. 32 E., sec., 5-11, 15-20, Willamette Meridian.

Magone Lake, the most popular developed recreation resource on the Blue Mountain Ranger District, is

located within the project planning area. Magone Lake was formed by a landslide in about 1840. In

addition to the lake, the project planning area includes 19 dispersed campsites, 15 miles of

foot/horse/bicycle/off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails, 1 designated snowmobile trail, and 1 developed

OHV trail.

The Magone project planning area ranges in elevation from 3,520 feet at the western boundary of the

project planning area to 6,240 feet at the northern boundary.

There are eight plant association groups (PAGs) that occur within the Magone project planning area as

displayed in Table 1. The three largest PAGs in the project planning area are Warm Dry Upland Forest

(UF), Hot Dry UF, Warm Moist UF, and Cool Moist UF. See Map 3.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/malheur/landmanagement/?cid=STELPRD3817723&width=full


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Table 1. Plant association groups in the Magone project planning area

Plant association group (PAG) Acres*

Cold Dry Upland Forest (UF) 990

Cool Dry UF 90

Cool Moist UF 2,070

Hot Dry UF 4,470

Hot Moist Upland Woodland (UW) 1,790

Warm Dry UF 14,170

Warm Moist UF 2,230

Warm Moist Upland Herbland (UH) 20

*Some areas do not have a PAG identified, so the total acreage is less than the project planning area.

The Magone project planning area includes several management areas (MAs), which are described in

detail in the Malheur National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Malheur Forest Plan)

(USDA Forest Service 1990). See Map 2.

Table 2. Malheur Forest Plan management areas present in the Magone project planning area

Management Area (MA) Acres*

General Forest (MA-1) 8,700

Rangeland (MA-2) Included in MA-1

Riparian Areas (MA-3) / Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) 4,200

Big-Game Winter Range Maintenance (MA-4A) 4,000

Special Interest Area – Magone Geological Area (MA-8) 200

Developed Recreation Area (MA-12) 300

Old Growth (MA-13) 800

Visual Corridors (MA-14F) 4,500

Visual Corridors (MA-14M) 100

Wildlife Emphasis Area (with Non-Scheduled Timber Harvest) (MA-21) 4,800

*Some management areas overlap, so the total acreage is more than the project planning area.

Approximately 10,195 acres of the 11,525-acre Nipple Butte inventoried roadless area (IRA) is located

within the Magone project planning area (comprising 38 percent of the total project planning area). In

addition, some areas meet the inventory criteria for potential wilderness areas found in Forest Service

Handbook 1909.12, Chapter 71. The area is comprised primarily of steep, mountainous terrain and is

dissected by the Clear Creek and McClellan Creek drainages. The principle recreation use of the area is

big-game hunting. The natural appearance of the area has been impacted by grazing, recreation, and fire

suppression (USDA Forest Service 1990b, pages C-112 to C-117).


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Purpose and Need for Action The purpose and need for the Magone Project was developed by comparing the management objectives

and desired conditions in the Malheur Forest Plan to the existing conditions in the project planning area

related to forest resiliency and function. Where plan information was not explicit, best available science

and local research were utilized in a collaborative setting with stakeholders.

The overall purpose of this project is to restore forest resiliency by reestablishing and restoring forest

structure and pattern, vegetation composition and diversity, and riparian communities to conditions that

are more resilient to natural disturbance processes, including wildfire. Comparison of the existing and

desired condition indicates the specific needs to:

Restore forest structure, composition, and density toward more resistant and resilient vegetative

conditions given the historical fire regime.

Reduce the fuel loadings by reducing the density and horizontal and vertical connectivity of

standing vegetation, surface fuels, and/or ladder fuels to restore characteristics of ecosystem

composition and structure to reduce uncharacteristic wildfire effects within the project planning

area including the Nipple Butte inventoried roadless area (IRA) and wildland urban interface

(WUI). Reduce fuels along County Road 18, County Road 32, Forest Service Road (FSR) 36,

FSR 3618, FSR 3640, FSR 3947, and FSR 3620 which are identified as escape corridors from

Magone Lake in the Grant County Community Fire Protection Plan.

Maintain or improve habitat for fish and wildlife species present in the project planning area.

Improve one or more of the nine roadless area characteristics (as defined by the 2001 Roadless

Area Conservation Rule) within the Nipple Butte IRA.

Provide for a variety of social values and opportunities in the watershed, including availability of

traditional use plants (including huckleberries), a variety of wood products (including post and

pole), enhanced recreation experiences around Magone Lake, and forest management

employment opportunities to help maintain and improve community stability and infrastructure,

recreational opportunities, and a safe road system that moves toward current public access and

resource management objectives.

Proposed Action In response to collaborative and public input, the Forest Service is proposing a suite of activities to move

forest stands toward resilient conditions, restore fire-adapted ecosystems, reduce ladder and surface fuels,

reduce the impacts of roads and ungulates to riparian areas, improve fish and wildlife habitat, and

improve aspen stands while providing wood products on a sustained yield basis, thereby improving forest

landscape resiliency and overall conditions of the watershed. The Forest Service suite of activities

includes:

Silviculture treatments

Prescribed burning

Road activities

Recreation opportunity improvements

Magone Lake restoration activities


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These activities would occur over approximately the next 10 years. A brief description of these activities

follows; more detailed information is available upon request. The Magone Project will include a variety

of design criteria that serve to mitigate impacts of activities to forest resources, including: wildlife, soils,

watershed condition, aquatic species, Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs), heritage resources,

visuals, rangeland, botanical resources, and invasive plants. These design criteria will be similar to those

described in recent Malheur National Forest environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact

statements (EISs).

Silvicultural Treatments

Commercial thinning (5,000 acres): This prescription is recommended when the existing stand is

overstocked to the point where tree vigor is declining, predisposing the stand to insect attack and

uncharacteristic fire events that can occur due to buildup of fuels and crown density. Follow-up non-

commercial thinning would occur on approximately 4,000 acres. Over 30 percent of the project planning

area was previously owned by Oregon Lumber Company. Past harvest activities and historical fire

suppression have led to a species composition outside the historical range. Thinning activities would

move the project planning area closer to the historical range of variability.

An important aspect of thinning throughout the project planning area is to reduce fuel loading along major

routes of travel to and around the Magone Lake recreational facility. There are also approximately 27

miles of common boundary with private land in the project planning area, so thinning stocking levels to a

point where crown fires would be less likely could prevent large fires from spreading quickly between

ownership boundaries.

In Warm Dry ponderosa pine stands, variable density thinning is generally to be applied from below.

Smaller trees would be removed and larger trees retained. Leave patches would comprise 5 to 15 percent

of a unit, and openings would be created that are ¼ to 1 acre in size to mimic historical fire patterns.

Post and pole removal (400 acres): In Warm Dry areas of lodgepole pine, white fir, and ponderosa pine,

the prescription would be to thin from below, retaining the older trees, and removing posts and poles that

are currently competing with older ponderosa pine in the stands.

Commercial thinning-leaving denser (500 acres): Some commercial thinning in areas of elk winter

range would be thinned to a heavier stocking level for cover retention. Openings of ¼ to 1 acre would be

created to encourage growth of shrubs and grasses.

Non-commercial thinning (1,200 acres): The objectives of non-commercial thinning are to reduce

ladder fuels and to increase growth and vigor of remaining trees. The prescriptions for non-commercial

thinning would favor a mix of early seral and late seral trees to promote the desired future species

composition of the stands.

Non-commercial thinning consists of treating non-merchantable sized trees (1 foot tall to 11 inches

diameter at breast height (DBH)) that do not meet commercial tree standards through manual and

mechanical methods. Excess slash not utilized for products such as biomass and pole material would be

hand piled and burned. Non-commercial thinning may occur in areas that are also commercially thinned

as described above.

Biomass removal may take place within units designated for commercial and non-commercial thinning.

Biomass can be defined as pieces that are not large enough to have commercial sawlog value, but meet

the minimum requirement of 12 feet long to a 3 inch top. Biomass removal from any specific unit would

follow the guidelines of the designated prescription. This material may be used for pulp chips, co-

generation of electricity, commercial fuel pellets, post and poles, and other non-traditional uses.


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Mountain mahogany and bitterbrush: Some commercial and non-commercial thinning units have

existing populations of mountain mahogany and bitterbrush. Thinning the competing conifer

encroachment would help release these browse species.

See Map 5.

Prescribed Burning and Natural Ignitions

The primary objective of prescribed burning is to reintroduce fire into the planning area. Prescribed

burning would reduce and maintain fuel loadings, leading to a decreased probability of catastrophic

wildland fire occurring. Specifically, this means a reduction in surface fuels, duff/litter depth, ladder

fuels, crown bulk density, and an increase in canopy base heights. Prescribed burning would also be used

to stimulate the growth of aspen and other fire-adapted vegetation. Both mechanically treated and

untreated stands would be exposed to prescribed burning as fire is re-introduced into the project planning

area. Treated stands would see a combination of burning piled material and underburning. Those stands

not being mechanically treated would be managed exclusively with the use of prescribed burning. As

conditions and stand characteristics allow natural ignitions within the planning area would be used to

meet the objectives of prescribed burning.

Underburning up to 28,500 acres. This includes approximately 1,400 acres outside of the project

planning area boundary (see map). Expanding these prescribed fire boundaries to natural fuel

breaks increases firefighter safety and limits resource damage created by constructing new

containment lines.

o Up to 9,600 acres of underburning would be within designated wildland-urban interface.

This includes 300 acres outside the project planning area boundary.

Pile burning in silviculture treatments units would include approximately 5,800 acres. Acres that

are pile burned are also included in (i.e., overlap with) the total underburning acres.

Table 3 shows the acreages for the burn blocks, see Map 6 for a map of the various burn blocks in the

Magone project planning area.

Table 3. Prescribed burning

Burn block Acres

Block 1 1,400

Block 2 7,400

Block 3 2,700

Block 4 1,000

Block 5 3,600

Block 6 6,300

Block 7 4,900

Block 8 1,200

Total 28,500


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Strategic Fuel Breaks

The Grant County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) has identified 2 county roads and the

Malheur National Forest has identified 4 additional Forest Service roads as potential escape route/safety

corridors in the event of a wildland fire in the project planning area. The objective along these safety

corridors is to manipulate the existing vegetation in a way that moderates fire behavior allowing safe

travel for the public and suppression forces should the need arise to escape from an emerging wildland

fire. Fuel breaks would be created and maintained using a combination of mechanical treatments and

prescribed burning. Additionally, the decreased fuel loadings in strategically placed, shaded fuel breaks

would afford suppression forces a higher probability of success controlling wildfires. Fuel breaks

established in the project planning area may serve as potential anchor points during direct attack, allow

for indirect attack when needed, and be used as control lines during prescribed burning. Furthermore,

strategic fuel breaks established in the Magone project planning area would build upon the fuel breaks

created adjacent to County Road 18 during implementation of the County Road 18 Healthy Forest

Restoration Act Project signed September 18, 2009.

Approximately 17 miles of treatments along roads identified by the CWPP

Approximately 10 miles of treatments along Forest Service priority 1 roads (in project planning

area)

Approximately 3.5 miles of treatments along Forest Service priority 1 roads (outside the project

planning area)

Similarly developed strategic fuel breaks would be created along the boundaries between National Forest

System lands and privately owned lands.

Approximately 25 miles of treatments along boundaries between National Forest System lands

and private lands

See Maps 5 and 6.

Road Activities

Roads would be utilized in the project planning area to provide access for treatment activities. General

road maintenance, temporary road construction, temporarily opening closed roads for log haul, closing

currently open roads, closing currently open roads and co-designating as trails, converting a road to a

trail, and decommissioning roads are proposed. Temporary road construction and temporarily opening

closed roads would occur to provide adequate access for harvest and fuel reduction treatments. See Maps

7 and 8.

Road Use, Road Maintenance, and Temporary Road Construction

Road maintenance for haul (85 miles, 94 road segments) would occur on open or temporarily opened

roads to provide safe access and adequate drainage. The following work is classified as maintenance:

blading and shaping the roadbed, reshaping drain dips or grade sags, reshaping waterbars/cross ditches,

spot rocking in the roadbed, brushing and removing danger trees, removing snow, minor realigning of

road junctions, cleaning culverts, seeding, removing excess material from the roadbed, placing fill

material in ruts in the road, and installation of minor drainage features. Some county roads would also

need to be used for haul.


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Closed roads to be temporarily opened for haul (31 miles, 45 road segments): These roads

would be temporarily opened for log haul, and then closed at the completion of the project. The

closure would remain consistent with the intent of the original closure. Basic custodial

maintenance would be performed to allow for future access and to prevent damage by

maintaining adequate drainage. Their mileage is included above under road maintenance.

Temporary road construction (9 miles, 33 segments) would be necessary to access several timber

harvest units. Temporary roads would be rehabilitated after use. Rehabilitation would eliminate future use

of the road with the objective of restoring hydrological function. Temporary roads would be restored by

some combination of the following to ensure that the road has adequate drainage and ground cover to

prevent erosion, soil productivity is restored, the road is no longer drivable, and the road is not highly

visible after approximately 5 years:

Waterbarring as needed to restore natural drainage patterns.

Recontouring slopes (removing cut and fill slopes) and pulling berms from the edge of the road

back onto the road.

Subsoiling (loosening) compact soils in a “J” pattern to a depth of approximately 16 inches

(unless prevented by bedrock or rock content of soils).

Planting or seeding disturbed areas with native species that naturally occur in the project planning

area to achieve a minimum of 35 percent ground cover.

Placing slash, boulders, and logs on the roadbed (where available).

Disguising the visible entrance with pieces of cull logs, tops of cut trees, and/or rocks, etc. to

prevent vehicle use.

There would be no construction of new or temporary roads outside the project planning area.

Use of private roads to access silviculture units: There are several roads where easements exist or may

be needed through private land where access would be needed to implement this project.

Road System Changes

Road decommissioning (1.3 miles, 5 road segments): Several currently open or closed roads are

proposed for decommissioning to reduce sediment delivery to streams on roads not needed for future

management or to relocate roads out of sensitive riparian areas. These roads would be permanently

removed from the Forest transportation system. The goal is to establish a condition that would not require

custodial maintenance in the future, through stabilization and restoration to a more natural state. Road

decommissioning treatments are designed to improve hydrologic and ecologic function.

Road decommissioning treatments are designed to improve hydrologic and ecologic function. Roads to be

decommissioned would be restored by applying the above design criteria for temporary roads with the

following exceptions/additions:

All culverts, roadside ditches and ruts would be removed.

Stream crossing areas would be reshaped to resemble a natural condition by meeting the Road

and Trail Erosion Control and Decommissioning Requirements found in the programmatic

Aquatic Restoration Biological Opinion (USFWS, p. 41).

Erosion control measures (sediment filters or straw bales) would be utilized where necessary to

prevent sediment from reaching the stream. Dispose of fill or waste material in stable sites out of

the flood-prone area.

The road surface would be reshaped or outsloped, and/or frequent cross ditches or waterbars

would be constructed to ensure there is not a continuous flow pattern to the stream.

Effective barriers at the beginning of the road (e.g., berms, rocks, logs, etc.) would be installed to

prevent vehicle use.


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Decommissioning does not necessarily mean returning a road to its original ground contours. The cost of

decommissioning roads can vary greatly due to terrain issues, soil types, slope gradient aspect, locality,

etc. Some roads would naturally re-vegetate themselves over time and need no treatment.

Approximately 0.6 miles of the proposed road decommissioning would occur within riparian areas and

another 0.6 miles would occur within the Nipple Butte IRA.

Open road (maintenance level (ML) 2) to decommissioned –0.3 miles, 1 road segment (there is

no evidence of a designed roadway on the ground)

Closed road (ML 1) to decommissioned – 1 mile, 4 road segments

Close currently open roads (ML 2 to ML 1) (2.3 miles, 6 road segments): Closure of roads desired to

be kept on the system would occur, but road use would be limited to infrequent management and other

permitted activities. Closure may be by a physical barrier or gate, or by regulation. Basic custodial

maintenance would be performed for future resource access, to prevent damage. Closed roads are to be

left in a stable hydrologic state and are to be periodically maintained.

Several roads are grown closed or are not being maintained as open. These are being proposed to close as

the result of non-use.

Close currently open road (ML 2 to ML 1) and co-designate as a trail and ML 1 road (1.3 miles, 2

road segments): Several segments of road are proposed to be designated for use as both a road and trail.

Convert road to trail (ML 1 to trail) (1.2 miles, 1 road segment): One segment of currently closed road

in the Nipple Butte IRA is proposed to be converted for use solely as a trail.

Table 4. Proposed road system changes in the Magone project planning area

FSR# Current

MLa

Proposed

action

Proposed

ML BMP

b EMP

c Miles Reason for change

1800-

760

2 Close road and

co-designate as

a trail

1 & trail 0.00 0.90 0.9 Part of the road is located

in the Nipple Butte

inventoried roadless area

(IRA)

1800-

933

2 Decommission

road (excluding

area used as

dispersed

campsite)

DE 0.00 0.30 0.3 There is no evidence of

designed roadway past

dispersed campsite

3600-

162

2 Close road 1 0.00 0.40 0.4 Road is already effectively

closed on the ground.

3600-

187

2 Close road 1 0.00 0.10 0.1 Fill is acting as a dam

across valley, need to

connect the upper and

lower valleys

3600-

612

2 Close road 1 0.00 0.40 0.4 Road is already effectively

closed on the ground.

3618-

064

2 Close road

(with gate) and

co-designate as

a trail

1 & trail 0.00 1.10 1.1 This road is used for

administrative purposes

and was closed a few years

ago due to some illegal


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FSR# Current

MLa

Proposed

action

Proposed

ML BMP

b EMP

c Miles Reason for change

activity. Forest Service

personnel have noted that

Forest users are accessing

the area by walking the

road by foot. This project

proposes to continue to

keep this road closed for

administrative purposes.

The current green gate

closure would be moved to

where the fence crosses the

road approximately ½ mile

further up the road. This

road can also benefit

hunting opportunities and

other recreation uses

behind the road closure.

3618-

083

1 Convert road to

trail

Trail 0.20 1.40 1.2 Part of the road is located

in the Nipple Butte IRA

3618-

125

2 Close road and

co-designate as

a trail

1 & trail 0.00 0.40 0.4 Access to this road would

be closed with closure of

FSR 3618-064.

3940-

071

2 Close road 1 0.39 0.60 0.21 Part of the road is located


3940-

214

1 Decommission

road

DE 2.50 2.80 0.3 Water quality issues past

with clogged ditches, ruts

in road, etc.

3940-

400

1 Decommission

road

DE 0.00 0.09 0.09 Road self-

decommissioning

3940-

940

1 Decommission

road

DE 0.97 1.40 0.43 Part of the road is located


3947-

177

1 Decommission

road

DE 0.60 0.80 0.2 Part of road is located in

the Nipple Butte IRA; and

road is sloughed off right

before the IRA and is not

passable by car

3947-

480

2 Close road 1 0.00 0.10 0.1 Water quality issues on this

short spur road from gullies

that are forming; road no

longer looks like a road on

the ground

a ML = maintenance level;

b BMP = beginning mile post;

c EMP = ending mile post


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Recreation Opportunity Improvements

Trail Developments

The objective is to meet the current public needs for a more broad recreation experience while on the

Malheur National Forest by creating and maintaining a variety of trail systems in the Magone project

planning area. There is a need to provide more opportunities for the recreating public due to the lack of

current opportunities for bicyclists, hikers, and horse users. Currently, recreating visitors are faced with a

lack of interesting trail options, poor signage and markings, absence of destinations or loops

opportunities, and inadequate surface conditions. Most of the current Magone area trail mileage comes

from old roads that were closed and re-classified as trails. They were never designed for, nor improved

for bicycle use. The roads have been closed with a gate that is used for closing roads. In their current

condition, there is no indication on site that those trails exist. And for those that do manage to find them,

they appear uninviting. See Map 9.

The expanded trail system would be centered around the Magone Lake developed area, which would be a

starting point for campers and day-use visitors. Within this proposal, there are several connecting trail

options to provide for longer hikes, varied returns, and a more broad recreation experience. Outside of the

Nipple Butte inventoried roadless area (IRA), development would include extending existing bicycle

trails on currently closed roads and utilizing some open roads, as well as constructing new trails primarily

for the purpose of connecting the trails that follow roads. The aim here is to create worthy destinations

and loop opportunities. This portion of the proposal also includes relocating an access point and

constructing a portion of trail associated with the move. Also, some obstacles such as trees and boulders

would be placed in existing trails that were roads to create more of a single-track experience. Within the

IRA, single-track bicycle trails would be constructed to create a “destination” single-track bicycle riding

opportunity. Trails would primarily follow ridge lines. There would be a small number of drainage

crossings. These trails would also provide loop opportunities, as well as tie the Nipple Butte trail into the

Magone trail system. The existing Nipple Butte multiple-use trail would be improved as well.

Extensions to the existing hiker trails would be constructed to enhance the recreational opportunities for

Magone Lake visitors. They would provide for longer hikes with loop opportunities, interpretation of

Magone’s history and ecology, and access to an overlook area with views to Magone Lake, the Vinegar

Hill-Indian Rock Scenic Area, the Strawberry Mountain Range, and the Aldrich Mountains.

New construction of single-track trails within the Nipple Butte IRA would also connect with the existing

bicycle trails and the other newly constructed trails. All of the trails would be single-track bicycle and

hiker trails with measures to prevent any off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. All of this would create a

single-track destination bicycle trail system to be enjoyed by visitors. Bringing the recreating public into

the local communities would provide economic benefits to the community.

The Lake Butte trail would be extended 1.9 miles, and 3.2 miles of trail would be undesignated. The

undesignated mileage would be the portion that leads to and traverses County Road 18. The route would

then start at Forest Service Road (FSR) 3618-243, follow up FSR 3618-362 to its end, and follow a newly

constructed trail for 1.5 miles up to Lake Butte where it will tie in with the eastern end of the existing

Nipple Butte trail. The total length of the Lake Butte trail when finished would be 3.4 miles. Also, FSR

3618-629, a portion of FSR 3618-646, and FSR 3618-311 would be designated as bicycle trails. They

would provide excellent scenery as well as create loop opportunities for the Lake Butte route.

The Behind Magone trail (closed FSR 3618-245) would be extended for 0.7 miles on closed FSR 3618-

299 and FSR 3618-297, which would be connected with 0.3 miles of new construction, creating a loop

opportunity for families camping at Magone Lake Campground and other visitors. The existing access

point on FSR 3620 would be decommissioned (along with 0.7 miles of currently designated trail) to

utilize the existing trailhead on the north side of FSR 3620 where the Lake Butte trail begins.


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And 0.6 miles of new trail construction would occur to connect the Behind Magone trail to the Lake Butte

trail (FSR 3618 would need to be crossed). This would create superior loop opportunities, as well as

providing for superior scenery and destinations, including views of Magone Lake from a ridge top. It

would also serve a need in tying the trails together for creating a destination trail system. The Behind

Magone trail would also be linked to the Magone Lake trail through 1.7 miles of new trail construction.

The Magone Lake trail would be extended to the southeast from the northeast most point of the trail, as

well as two locations on the south end, to link to the Behind Magone trail. This would create a loop back

to the boat ramp area. The total length of the Behind Magone trail would be 3.0 miles. A portion of the

Magone Lake trail (from the boat ramp to the connection point near the outflow bridge) would be

designated as bicycle trail (and improved for such use) in order to provide a loop connection opportunity

for bicyclists using the Behind Magone trail. The Magone Lake trail would receive a new interpretive

sign on the east side of the lake describing the history of Magone Lake at a location where the slide is

visible.

The Magone Slide trail would extend to the north, looping around the top of the slide and back down to

the beginning. This trail extension would create a longer hiking opportunity for campers and other

Magone visitors, would provide for loop opportunities, and would traverse the overlook area with views

over the slide, as well as views to Magone Lake, the Vinegar Hill-Indian Rock Scenic Area, the

Strawberry Mountain Range, and the Aldrich Mountains. This trail extension would have an interpretive

sign describing the history of the slide and a primitive bench placed at the top of the slide overlook, vastly

improving the destination qualities of this hike.

The Prohibition trail would be created by designating FSR 3618-064 as a bike trail, creating a 2.5 mile

loop, into which other trails (Porcupine trail, Fenceline trail, and Thompson Creek trail) would connect.

Read on for descriptions of the connecting trails.

The Fenceline trail would be new construction primarily within the IRA, and would connect FSR 3618-

064 to FSR 1800-760 and follow FSR 1800-760 to the proposed new stretch of the Lake Butte trail. This

proposal includes designating this 0.6 mile end segment of FSR 1800-760 as a bicycle trail. The total

length of the Fenceline trail would be 1.2 miles, with 0.9 miles of it in the IRA.

The Porcupine trail would connect FSR 3618-064 (Prohibition trail) to the Lake Butte trail and the

Fenceline trail (at the beginning of the FSR 1800-760 portion) all at the same point, creating a small hub

for bike riders and hikers to have a variety of trail options. The Porcupine trail would be 1.1 miles, with

0.8 miles of it in the IRA.

The Clear Creek trail would start at the east Nipple Butte trailhead and traverse 9.7 miles along the west

edge of the IRA, and would end at the proposed High Ridge trail. The Clear Creek trail would cross Clear

Creek twice. One crossing would be just upstream of the east branch, and one crossing would be further

downstream, just north of where Clear Creek flows through private land.

The High Ridge trail would connect the Clear Creek trail to the Magone Scout trail. It would primarily

run east to west along ridge lines. It would cross the east branch of Clear Creek, just above where it joins

Clear Creek. The High Ridge trail would be 3.5 miles in length.

The Magone Scout trail is an 11.4 mile trail proposal that starts at the west Nipple Butte trailhead and

ends at FSR 3618-064. The flow of the trail is as follows. From the west Nipple Butte trailhead, the trail

runs south along the ridges on the east side of Nipple Creek, and eventually crosses McClellan Creek just

south of its confluence with Nipple Creek. It then follows south along the ridge tops on the west side of

McClellan Creek and connects into the end of FSR 3618-083, follows FSR 3618-083 to FSR 3618-295,

follows along FSR 3618-295 and then follows a stretch of new construction trail up to FSR 3618-125. It

then follows FSR 3618-125 to FSR 3618-064. This trail would involve both new construction (8.4 miles

in IRA, 0.7 miles not in IRA) and old roads (0.5 miles in IRA, 1.8 miles not in IRA).


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The Thompson Creek trail would be 9.5 miles in length, and would connect the Clear Creek trail to the

Magone Scout trail along the southern portion of the IRA. From the Clear Creek trail it drops down and

crosses Thompson Creek 0.5 miles upstream from where it flows onto private land. It then works its way

back up to the ridge tops and follows the ridges until it eventually works its way back down to cross

McClellan Creek. It then runs back up near the ridge line and connects into the Magone Scout trail near

where the Magone Scout trail becomes FSR 3618-083.

The Wade trail creates loop options by linking the Magone Scout trail, just west of McClellan Creek, to

itself at the FSR 3618-125 portion of the Magone Scout trail. The Wade trail would be 3.4 miles in total

length (1.2 miles in IRA, 2.2 miles not in IRA).

See Table 5 for a list of the trails described above and Map 10.

Table 5. Proposed trails in the Magone project planning area

Trail Total length (miles) Miles of new construction

Lake Butte trail 3.4 1.5

Behind Magone trail 3.0 1.7

Magone Slide trail 1.5 1.5

Prohibition trail 2.5 0

Fenceline trail 1.2 1.2

Porcupine trail 1.1 1.1

Clear Creek trail 9.7 9.7

High Ridge trail 3.5 3.5

Magone Scout trail 11.4 8.4

Thompson Creek trail 9.5 9.5

Wade trail 3.4 3.4

Total 50.2 41.5

Recreation Interpretive Signage

This proposal includes placing interpretive signs that convey the history of Magone Lake, along with

information about geology, fire ecology, and recreation opportunities to integrate these many aspects of

the project planning area together for forest visitors. The interpretation sites would be located at Four

Corners and at the Magone Lake developed area. The site at Four Corners would have a sign with

interpretive panels, while the Magone Lake Campground signs would, as stated before, be located along

the Magone Lake trail where the slide is visible and at the new Slide trail overlook.

Fishing/Recreational Boating Opportunities

Improve/expand existing floating boat dock located at boat launch to allow better loading and unloading

of watercraft. Currently it is difficult to load and unload watercraft. Lengthen dock to accommodate the

tether of multiple boats at one time. Locate dock where it is accessible by watercraft from either side to

allow for multiple watercraft to load and unload at the same time at boat launch. See Figure 1.


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Figure 1. Existing boat dock design at Magone Lake

Modify/improve/expand existing two piece floating dock adjacent to campground. The existing dock has

no rails or tie-off points for watercraft and is non-functional. Additionally, it is located in very shallow

water. Extending the dock further out into deeper water would increase access and create additional

shoreline fishing opportunities in proximity of the campground. The purpose of this dock would be to

allow campers to dock their boats overnight or while not in use and avoid having to pull the boat onto

shore causing shoreline damage. This expanded dock would also provide campers with an alternative to

repeatedly loading and unloading their watercraft from the boat launch (limiting congestion at boat

launch). See Figure 2.

Figure 2. Boat dock adjacent to Magone Campground

Place a new floating fishing dock on the east side of Magone Lake in conjunction with addition of fish

cribs and “fish sticks.” Dock would specifically target access for shoreline fishermen to fish cribs and

“fish sticks.” Dock would be assembled at boat launch and towed to location in the spring and removed

each fall.


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Other Recreation Ideas Brought Forward by the Public During the open house on September 24, 2014, several individuals expressed interest in other recreation

oriented developments in the Magone project planning area:

Several attendees suggested that the Forest Service develop a horse camp along Magone Lake

with access to the lake for horses to water. However, horses are not permitted within the Magone

Lake developed recreation area. Please provide scoping comments with alternative suggestions

you may have, keeping in mind that horse use is not permitted within the Magone developed

recreation area.

Several attendees requested that more off-highway vehicle (OHV) and snowmobile trails be

designated. However, specifics on potential locations were not provided. Please provide scoping

comments with suggestions you may have, more specific comments are the most helpful (e.g.,

highlighting routes on a map).

Magone Lake Restoration Activities – Fish Cribs/Fish Sticks

Objective: Increase near shore habitat complexity for fish, provide cover/habitat for bait fish and aquatic

insects, provide cover for beaver which currently are present on the lake, provide nesting sites for

waterfowl. Increase shoreline fishing opportunities.

Description:

Fish Cribs – Fish cribs would be built on the ice during winter by volunteers, partners,

contractors, and Forest Service personnel. The cribs would have a minimum of 5 feet of water

over the top of them. All material with the exception of fasteners would consist of biodegradable

material. The dimensions of the fish cribs would be no longer than 8 feet long by 8 feet wide.

Branches and limbs from thinning would not be piled onsite for burning but used to fill the

interior of the cribs.

Fish Sticks – 3 to 5 trees with 50 foot distance between groups. Groups are cabled together ¼

inch cable.

Fish Sticks Option 2 Design: 3 to 5 trees with rootwads attached would be placed on top of the

ice using equipment. Trees would be pushed onto the ice, not carried whole (equipment would

stay off of ice). Rootwads function as anchors keeping the group of trees in place. The group

would be capped with a larger tree placed on top parallel to the shoreline. Limbs would be placed

to interlock with each bole.


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Figure 3. Construction of 10 to 20 structures on the ice (on the east side of Magone Lake) in winter from material obtained from thinning occurring during winter over snow.

Figure 4. Option 1 design for “fish sticks.”


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Figure 5. Option 1 “fish stick” design.

Figure 6. Option 2 “fish stick” design.

Connectivity Corridors

Preliminary connectivity corridors have been identified, between late and old structure stands to allow for

movement of old growth species (see Map 4). The goal of creating “connectivity” is to manage stands in

corridors at higher canopy densities when compared to more intensively managed stands located outside

of corridors. Corridors established for old growth species in the project planning area would allow for big

game migratory and dispersal movements, as well as providing higher cover rates and forage. The

designated connectivity corridors are approximately 1,900 acres in size. See Map 4.


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Potential Forest Plan Amendments The proposed action may require the following amendments to the Malheur National Forest Land and

Resource Management Plan:

Changes to Old Growth boundaries – The Forest Plan standards for old growth habitats are

identified for Management Area 13 (USDA Forest Service 1990a, pages IV-105-106). See Map 4.

Reduce satisfactory and/or total cover below Malheur Forest Plan standards in big game summer

range (Forest Wide Standard #28) (USDA Forest Service 1990a, pages IV-27 to IV-28) and/or

Big-Game Winter Range Maintenance (MA 4A) (USDA Forest Service 1990a, pages IV–69 to

IV–70).

Connectivity – Regional Forester’s Eastside Forest Plan Amendment 2 (Eastside Screens),

Standard #6(d)(3) “Maintain connectivity and reduce fragmentation of late and old structure

(LOS) stands” (USDA Forest Service 1995a). This amendment may be needed because a

contiguous network pattern with 2 or more connection points may not be maintained between all

LOS stands and old growth habitats.

Removal of trees greater than 21 inches DBH – Regional Forester’s Eastside Forest Plan

Amendment 2 (Eastside Screens), Standard #6(d)(2)(a): “Maintain all remnant late and old seral

and/or structural live trees ≥21” DBH that currently exist within stands proposed for harvest

activities” (USDA Forest Service 1995a).

Information on the specifics of the potential forest plan amendments will be developed and made

available for further comment in the Magone Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).


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Attachment 1 –Activities Authorized under Aquatic Restoration Decision The Malheur National Forest initiated an Aquatic Restoration Environmental Assessment (EA) in January

2014, and the decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) was signed in September

2014. This decision authorizes activities that are consistent with the 17 aquatic restoration categories to be

implemented following review of the activity with the Project Implementation Checklist to ensure the

activity is consistent with the analysis and is within the criteria of the Aquatic Restoration Decision.

Activities that may be implemented in the Magone project planning area are:

Category 1 – Fish Passage Restoration (e.g., culvert removal/replacement)

Category 2 – Large Wood, Boulder, and Gravel Placement (e.g., large woody debris (LWD) /

coarse woody debris (CWD) augmentation, reduce/remove lodgepole encroachment within

elevated floodplains, log weir and boulder modification

Category 3 – Legacy Structure Removal (e.g., alluvial fan restoration)

Category 8 – Reduction of Recreation Impacts (e.g., stormproofing/hardening roads and dispersed

campsites with heavy recreation use)

Category 9 – Off-Channel Livestock Watering Facilities (e.g., maintaining and developing range

water developments to increase cattle distribution)

Category 11 – Road Erosion Control

Category 12 – Juniper Removal

Category 13 – Riparian Vegetation Treatment (controlled burning) (e.g., aspen stand restoration)

Category 14 – Riparian Vegetation (Hardwood) Planting

Category 16 – Beaver Habitat Restoration (e.g., place lodgepole posts in the ground for beavers to

build off of)


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References USDA Forest Service. 1990a. Malheur National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. USDA

Forest Service, Malheur National Forest, John Day, Oregon. Available online at:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/malheur/landmanagement/planning

USDA Forest Service. 1990b. Malheur National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, Final

Environmental Impact Statement. USDA Forest Service, Malheur National Forest, John Day,

Oregon. Available online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/malheur/landmanagement/planning

USDA Forest Service. 1990c. Malheur National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, Record of

Decision. USDA Forest Service, Malheur National Forest, John Day, Oregon. Available online

at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/malheur/landmanagement/planning

USDA Forest Service. 1995a. Decision Notice for the Revised Continuation of Interim Management

Direction Establishing Riparian, Ecosystem and Wildlife Standards for Timber Sales. (Eastside

Screens). USDA Forest Service, Region 6: Colville, Deschutes, Fremont, Malheur, Ochoco,

Okanogan, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman and Winema National Forests in Oregon and

Washington. Available online at:


USDA Forest Service. 1995b. Revised Environmental Assessment for the Revised Continuation of

Interim Management Direction Establishing Riparian, Ecosystem and Wildlife Standards for

Timber Sales. (Eastside Screens). USDA Forest Service, Region 6: Colville, Deschutes, Fremont,

Malheur, Ochoco, Okanogan, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman and Winema National Forests in

Oregon and Washington. Available online at:


USDA Forest Service. 1995. Environment Assessment for the Inland Native Fish Strategy; Interim

Strategies for Managing Fish-producing Watersheds in Eastern Oregon and Washington, Idaho,

Western Montana, and Portions of Nevada. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

Intermountain, Northern, and Pacific Northwest Regions. Portland, OR.






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