recreation executive summary an d reporta123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558/abc123/forestservic...10 cent...

10 Cent Project Recreation Report 5/5/16

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RECREATION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND REPORT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The scale of analysis is the 10 Cent project boundary (94,479 acres).

Proposed activities within management areas A8 and A9 would temporarily change the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum from Semi-Primitive (which calls for a “predominantly natural or natural-appearing environment”) to a Roaded Natural by leaving debris, stumps and disturbed soil. Mitigation measures would minimize these effects, including no treatment of some highly visible portions along the road. As a result, deviation from the assigned ROS class for both management areas would be short-term lasting 2-3 years until vegetative growth hides the evidence of disturbance.

Proposed thinning would increase visual diversity along the A3 and A4 Viewshed corridors by opening views in dense stands and emphasizing large, old trees and trees that change color in the fall. Varied tree spacing would blend with natural openings and tree clumps. Visual quality would be reduced for up to three years following treatments until freshly cut wood fades, soil disturbance is revegetated, and plant growth disguises stumps. The identified mitigation would help restore a natural appearance more quickly. The visual quality objective of Retention (equivalent to a high scenic integrity level) in the Foreground and Partial Retention (equivalent to a moderate scenic integrity level) in the middle and background would be achieved in A3 (except along County Road 24 where mine tailings are currently resulting in a modified landscape). Scenic integrity would temporarily decrease for 1-3 years following treatments until ground vegetation covers soil disturbance and stumps. Proposed fuel reduction in the A-9 management area would create a fuelbreak along Forest Road 10, providing a greater opportunity of protecting the Fremont pipeline if wildfire occurs in this area, as well as reducing the hazard of trees falling on it. Prescribed burning would temporarily reduce scenic attractiveness in all management areas—pile burning more so than landscape burning since pile burning would not leave a natural pattern on the ground. However, the effects of prescribed fire would become visually subordinate to the surrounding area within one to two years.

Recreationists at Olive Lake and Fremont Powerhouse Complex would be temporarily affected by noise, traffic, dust and smoke from the adjacent proposed activities. Increased traffic would last through much of the recreation season, though by avoiding operations during the hunting seasons (August through mid-November) there would be fewer public/equipment traffic interactions on FSR 10. After all associated activities are completed, FSR 10 would serve as a fire break increasing the likelihood that the campground and Fremont Complex would survive a wildfire as well as providing a safe evacuation route for recreationists. This is particularly beneficial to the Fremont Complex because of the critical role the complex plays as an interpretive site showcasing Eastern Oregon’s settlement history. Vegetation along FSR 10 would be much more open in the foreground, allowing motorists to see and avoid wildlife collisions. Proposed treatments could help restore views of interpretive sites such as Ah Hee Diggings along FSR 73 where the view is becoming obscured by tree growth. Three developed trailheads (Lake Creek, Granite Creek, and Lost Creek/Saddle Camp) would experience increased traffic and dust while proposed activities are implemented. By avoiding fuel treatment


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activities during August through mid-November and on popular weekends (mitigation RC4) most traffic concerns should be alleviated. After treatments are complete the roads associated with the Lake Creek, Lost Creek/Saddle Camp, Granite Creek, and Blue Springs Summit trailheads would serve as fire breaks providing safe evacuation routes for visitors using these trailheads in the event of a wildfire. Blue Springs Summit Snowpark and Mt. Ireland Trailhead are outside any proposed treatment units and so should not be affected.

There are 22 inventoried dispersed campsites within 300 feet of a proposed thinning units and 38 that lie on proposed haul routes. The listed mitigation (RC5) would protect the integrity of sites, although use of these sites could be temporarily interrupted (1-2 weeks) while thinning is implemented. This should only affect a few sites at one time, and there are many other sites available throughout the project area. Eight sites are within viewshed corridors could be used as log landings in order to reduce impacts to visual quality throughout these viewsheds. This would make these campsites unusable for 1-3 years. Thinning could improve camper safety by removing weakened or dead trees that could otherwise fall and cause injury. All dispersed campsites would be affected to some degree by smoke from prescribed burning. This would generally occur on the fringes of the camping season and late fall campers (primarily hunters) would be the most likely affected. Dense smoke could cause campers to relocate to another area, but the duration that this impact would occur would be short (1-2 weeks). Burning would also improve elk forage for several years, which could improve the quality of the hunting experience during that period. Alternative 2 would affect the most dispersed campsites due to its large-scale prescribed burning, and Alternative 4 would affect the least due to fewer thinning units and the omission of burning in the wilderness.

Firewood gathering could diminish slightly after thinning activities and prescribed burning, as dead material is either removed or consumed by fire. This could be offset by some of the treatment units being specifically identified for use as firewood as well as new snags being created by prescribed burning. Mushroom gathering would dramatically increase due to the amount of prescribed fire-particularly in alternatives 2 and 4.

The opportunity for a quality hunting experience could be reduced if the proposed prescribed burning occurs in the fall, causing big game to relocate out of the project area until disturbance ceases. Hunters could also be directly displaced by proposed activities although the effect would be temporary (1-2 weeks). The alternative most likely to have this impact is Alternative 2 because of extensive prescribed fire, including the North Fork John Day Wilderness. After the proposed activities are completed, hunting opportunities could increase due to improved big game forage.

There are 12 snowmobile trails, 12 OHV trails, and three hiking/horseback riding trails that cross proposed thinning units. Trails could be temporarily closed during treatment activity for safety reasons, however this would only affect one to two trails at a time. Effects to trails would be limited to one season or less and mitigation would ensure any damage to trail tread is repaired. Trails within prescribed fire units would need to be monitored for hazardous trees created by the burn and identified hazard trees within one tree-height of trails would be felled.


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SCALE OF ANALYSIS The scale of analysis is the 10 Cent project area (94,479 acres).

METHODOLOGY AND ASSUMPTIONS Geographic Information Systems mapping was used to portray spatial relationships between recreation use areas and activities that could affect the continued use of the area. Effects of harvest on visual quality were also determined using these maps. Areas of concern were then verified on the ground.

RECREATION OPPORTUNITY SPECTRUM

Existing Recreation Uses and Conditions Each Forest Plan Management Area within the 10 Cent analysis area is assigned a class under the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) (Table 1). Each class is defined by the degree certain recreation experience needs are satisfied. This is based on the extent that the natural environment has been modified, the type of facilities provided, the degree of outdoor skills needed to enjoy the area, and the relative density of recreation use.

Table 1. ROS Classes within the 10 Cent analysis area

Management Area Acres ROS Class

Umatilla National Forest A3 – Viewshed 1

(FSR 73, FSR 10 east of Olive Lake) 2,619 Roaded Natural

A4 - Viewshed 2 (FSR 10 west of Olive Lake)

40 Roaded Natural to Roaded Modified

A8 – Scenic Area (Greenhorn/Vinegar Hill Scenic Area)

3044 Semi-Primitive Non-motorized

A9 – Special Interest Area (Greenhorn, Olive Lake-Fremont Powerhouse)

1,084 Semi-Primitive or Roaded Natural

B1 - Wilderness 25,203 Primitive and Semi-Primitive Non-motorized

C1 – Dedicated Old Growth 1,247 Primitive to Roaded Natural C7 – Special Fish Emphasis 16,259 Roaded Natural to Roaded Modified D2 – Research Natural Area 34 None identified

Wallowa Whitman National Forest 18 – Anadromous Fish 37,883 Roaded Modified and Roaded Natural

6 – Backcountry 985 Semi-primitive non-motorized and semi-primitive motorized

15 – Old Growth Preserve 1,763 Roaded Natural and Roaded Modified Malheur National Forest

7 – Scenic Area 167 Semi-primitive non-motorized, Semi-primitive motorize (winter only)


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ROS classes are defined as follows:

Primitive Area is characterized by an essentially unmodified natural environment of fairly large size. Interaction between users is very low and evidence of other users is minimal. The area is managed to be essentially free from evidence of human-induced restrictions and controls. Motorized use within the area is not permitted.

Semi Primitive Non-motorized Area is characterized by a predominantly natural or natural-appearing environment of moderate to large size. Interaction between users is low, but there is often evidence of other users. The area is managed in such a way that minimum on-site controls and restrictions may be present, but subtle. Motorized recreation use is not permitted, but local roads used for other resource management activities may be present on a limited basis. Use of such roads is restricted to minimize impacts on recreation experience opportunities.

Semi Primitive Motorized Area is characterized by a predominantly natural or natural appearing environment of moderate to large size. Concentration of users is low, but there is often evidence of other users. The area is managed in such a way that minimum onsite controls and restriction may be present, but would be subtle. Motorized recreation use of local primitive or collector roads with predominantly natural surfaces and trails suitable for motor bikes is permitted.

Roaded Natural Area is characterized by predominantly natural-appearing environments with moderate evidence of the sights and sounds of humans. Such evidence usually harmonizes with the natural environment. Interaction between users may be moderate to high, with evidence of other users prevalent. Resource modification and utilization practices are evident, but harmonize with the natural environment. Conventional motorized use is allowed and incorporated into construction standards and design of facilities.

Roaded Modified A considerably modified natural-appearing environment characterizes the area with considerable evidence of the sights and sounds of humans. Such evidence seldom harmonizes with the natural environment. Interaction between users may be low to moderate, but evidence of other users is prevalent. Resource modification and utilization practices are evident and seldom harmonize with the natural environment. Conventional motorized use is provided for in construction standards and design of facilities.

Effects of No Action Alternative Direct and Indirect Effects: Recreation conditions would only be affected by ongoing management and changes caused by natural events. The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) identified for each management area would not be affected by this alternative.


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Effects Common to All Action Alternatives Direct and Indirect Effects: No vegetation treatments are proposed within Umatilla National Forest Management Areas B1, C1, D2; Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Management Area 6, 15 or Malheur National Forest Management Area 7, although prescribed fire could be allowed to back into these areas. The results of proposed vegetation treatments would all fall within the Roaded Natural to Roaded Modified ROS classes. A small corner of management area A8 and the Olive Lake-Fremont Powerhouse portion of A9 run adjacent to FSR 10, which is identified as a proposed fire break with associated vegetative treatment. These activities would temporarily change the area from a Semi-Primitive ROS which calls for a “predominantly natural or natural-appearing environment” to a Roaded Natural ROS by leaving debris, stumps and disturbed soil. Mitigation measures have been identified to minimize these effects, including no treatment of some highly visible portions along the road. As a result, deviation from the assigned ROS class for both management areas would be short-term lasting 2-3 years until vegetative growth hides the evidence of disturbance. This assessment is supported by the results of fuel reduction work done in 2008 and 2009 along the portion of FSR 10 just above the Fremont Powerhouse. Two years after harvest and small tree thinning, debris had been burned, soil disturbance had revegetated, and stumps were visible but did not dominate.

Cumulative Effects: Proposed activities, when combined with past, ongoing, and foreseeable future activities, would still meet the ROS class identified for each Management Area.

VISUAL QUALITY

Existing Condition Visual quality standards for each of the management areas within the 10 Cent analysis area are listed in Table 2.

Table 2. Visual Quality Objectives within the 10 Cent Planning Area Forest Plan Mgt. Area Visual Quality Objective Umatilla National Forest

A3-Viewshed 1 Retention in foreground and Partial Retention in middleground A4-Viewshed 2 Partial Retention in foreground and Modification in

middleground A8-Scenic Area Retention

A9-Special Interest Area Retention B1-Wilderness Preservation (primary) & Retention (for management activities)

C1-Dedicated Old Growth Retention C7-Special Fish Emphasis Retention to Maximum Modification D2-Research Natural Area Retention

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest 18-Anadromous Fish

6-Backcountry Foreground Retention 15-Old Growth Preserve

Malheur National Forest 7-Scenic Area Retention


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Visual Quality Objectives (VQOs) are defined as follows:

Preservation Ecological change only.

Retention Human activities are not evident to the casual forest visitor.

Partial Retention Human activity may dominate the characteristic landscape, but must, at the same time, follow naturally established form, line, color, and texture. It should remain visually subordinate when viewed in foreground.

Modification Human activity may dominate the characteristic landscape, but must, at the same time, follow naturally established form, line, color, and texture. It should appear as a natural occurrence when viewed in foreground or middleground.

Maximum Modification Human activity may dominate the characteristic landscape, but should appear as a natural occurrence when viewed as background.

Wallowa-Whitman Foreground Retention The area regenerated per decade should not exceed 7% or be <3% of the suitable forest land within the viewshed. Maximum seen area disturbed at any one time should not exceed 10% within any viewshed. Limit regeneration unit size to that which meets retention and desired character including consideration of future entries and regrowth. (approx. ½-2 acres <500’ and 3-5 acres >500’ from road or trail). Units against road or trail should be shelterwoods or selection cuts rather than clearcuts. Target tree size is 36” where biologically possible.

Management Area A3-Viewshed 1 occurs along Forest Service Road (FSR) 73, which is also designated as the Elkhorn National Scenic Byway, as well as Grant County Road 24 and FSR 10 from the west edge of private land associated with the Red Boy Mine to Olive Lake. The Umatilla Forest Plan Desired Future Condition states in part, “Management activities will be done with the highest sensitivity to people’s concern for scenic quality. Vegetative manipulation will be conducted so that Forest management activities are not usually noticeable in the foreground and remain visually subordinate in the middle ground viewing area…Forest stands will occasionally be logged in order to maintain long-term health and vigor, and to encourage a park-like natural appearance with big trees in the immediate foreground.” The Umatilla Forest Plan standards and guidelines on pages 4-100 through 4-104 further state:

• Emphasis will be on viewing large diameter trees and multi-age stands; both vertical and horizontal diversity are also to be emphasized.

• Thinnings and plantings in the foreground will leave irregularly spaced trees. • Prescribed low intensity fire with minimal scorch is acceptable


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• In the immediate foreground (within 200-300 feet of observers) handpiling, hauling material away, utilizing it for fuelwood, etc. are activities preferable to machine piling and crushing and should be completed prior to the next high human-use period.”

Landscape character along FSR 73 in the northern portion of the 10 Cent planning area primarily traverses mixed conifer forests along valley floors with streams periodically coming into view. Views are confined to the immediate foreground along much of FSR 73 due to placement in the valley and dense forest stands. Milepost (m.p.) 31 has an interpretive site/sign for the Cougar/Independence Stamp Mill ruins. At m.p. 32 the forest changes almost entirely to lodgepole pine. Farther south, the Ah Hee Diggings interpretive site overlooks 19 acres of stacked rock walls—the result of mining during the early 1900s. The view from the overlook is blocked by trees and very little can be seen of the walls. Lodgepole continues to dominate the roadside all the way to the town of Granite. East of m.p. 34, gravel piles stored in open lots are a non-conforming view along both sides of the road. Scenic attractiveness along this section of A3 is typical for this part of the Blue Mountains. Scenic integrity (the degree of deviation from the desired landscape character) is high. The majority of this area meets the Visual Quality Objective (VQO) of “retention” along most its length, except at the interpretive sites which meets “partial retention” and the gravel stock piles near Granite which would be considered “maximum modification” but are located on private land.

Figure 1: Mixed conifer along northern Figure 2: Cougar/Independence Mill portion of Rd 73 Interpretive Site


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Figures 3 and 4: Views from Ah Hee Diggings overlook

Figure 5: Mine tailings piles along County Road 24

At the junction of FSR 73 and County Road 24 (opposite Granite) the A3 turns west to follow County Road 24. This portion of the viewshed is dominated by mine tailings in the foreground, with some mine settling ponds that turn orange at times. Lodgepole dominates this section of A3 as well, though trees are much shorter. After the junction with FSR 1035/Granite Creek, the forest along County Road 24 becomes mixed conifer. Scenic attractiveness along this section of A3 is indistinctive, with very low scenic integrity due to prominent evidence of mining creating a heavily altered appearance in the foreground. This section of A3 does not meet the VQO of retention, the prominent tailing piles appear as “modification” in the foreground though vegetation is beginning to disguise their unnatural appearance.

At the junction of County Road 24 and FSR 10, A3 again turns to follow FSR 10. The Red Boy Mine, a patented claim, is at this junction and has associated mine settling ponds. FSR 10 climbs in elevation and the Red Boy Mine has an interpretive sign at the foundation of an old stamp mill ¼ mile up the road. This point offers excellent views of nearby mountains. The viewshed along the lower portion of FSR 10 involves steep terrain and a 2008 fuels reduction project around the Fremont Powerhouse Complex created relatively open mixed conifer stands dominated by larch with glimpses of distant views. As the road climbs, the historic pipeline from Olive Lake to


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Fremont is visible in several spots. Once FSR 10 reaches the ridgeline the forest becomes dense, alternating between dense, pole-sized stands of lodgepole pine and mixed conifer. Just west of Olive Lake, the forest changes to an open, mixed conifer overstory with a dense lodgepole understory. Scenic attractiveness along this length of A3 is distinctive due to visual contrasts in tree densities and species (particularly larch in the fall) and its historical characteristics (Red Boy Mine, Fremont Complex and pipeline). Scenic integrity is moderate in this section, with landscape character appearing slightly altered though alterations are visually subordinate. The VQO along most of this route meets retention, as even the fuel break would not be evident as a human activity to the casual forest visitor because ground vegetation disguises most stumps and there is variation in tree densities with some pockets of dense regeneration.

Figure 6: Red Boy Mine Interpretive Site Figure 7: View from Red Boy Interpretive Site

Figure 8: Fuelbreak above Fremont Figure 9: Historic Fremont pipeline


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Figure 10: Dense, pole-sized stands of lodgepole pine

Management Area A4-Viewshed 2 occurs along FSR 10 about ½ mile west of Olive Lake and extends ¼ mile to the western border of the project area. The Umatilla Forest Plan Desired Future Condition states in part, “Management activities will be done with sensitivity to people’s concern for scenic quality (Level 2), with vegetative manipulation conducted so that Forest management activities remain visually subordinate in foregrounds of selected travel routes and sites…Management activities will be obvious in the middleground and background viewing area, but designed to complement their surroundings. Forest stands will occasionally be logged in order to maintain long-term health and vigor, and to encourage a park-like, near natural appearance with big trees in the immediate foreground.” The Umatilla Forest Plan standards and guidelines on pages 4-106 through 4-110 further state:

• “All timber management practices and intensities shall be permitted consistent with achieving the primary visual quality goals.

• Emphasis will be on viewing large diameter trees and multi-age stands; both vertical and horizontal diversity will also be emphasized.

• Thinnings and plantings in the foreground will leave irregularly spaced trees. • Prescribed low intensity fire with minimal scorch is acceptable in the partial retention

area. • In the immediate foreground (within 200-300 feet of observers) handpiling, hauling

material away, utilizing it for fuelwood, etc. are methods preferable to machine piling and crushing. Treatment should be completed prior to the next high human-use period.”

Terrain in the A4 section is a gentle ridgetop and the forest is an open, mixed conifer overstory with a dense lodgepole understory. Scenic attractiveness along this section of A4 is typical for this part of the Blue Mountains and scenic integrity is high. This area meets the Visual Quality Objective (VQO) of “partial retention”.

The Vinegar Hill/Greenhorn Scenic Area occurs on the southwest side of the 10 Cent project area. The Scenic Area includes portions of the Umatilla N.F. (Management Area A8) and Malheur N.F. (Management Area 7). The Desired Future Condition for the Umatilla N.F. portion describes “Areas of unique natural beauty and high scenic quality will remain mostly unmodified…In a few cases, vegetative manipulation shall be used to enhance the scenic and


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other resources in the area.” (Forest Plan p. 4-128) The Umatilla Forest Plan standards and guidelines on pages 4-129 through 4-130 further state:

• “Trees will only be cut to meet or enhance scenic area objectives (i.e. catastrophic occurrences, trails, vistas, rehabilitation of discordant views, etc.

• New roads will not be constructed or roads reconstructed. • Prescribed low intensity fire with a 1 to 2-year recovery period is acceptable.”

The Malheur Forest Plan did not identify a desired future condition specific to Management Area 7, however standards on pages IV-91 through IV-92 state:

• Use planned and natural ignitions, when within prescription, to achieve resource management objectives and to allow fire to play its natural ecological role.”

Terrain is steep and contains the highest elevations on the Umatilla National Forest. The area is dominated by dense mixed conifer and sub-alpine forest and the higher elevations host the only concentration of whitebark pine on the Umatilla N.F. A review of orthophotos reveal wildfires have created large openings within the forest around the Sunrise Butte area and east of Vinegar Hill near the town of Greenhorn. This part of the Scenic Area is natural-evolving, and scenic attractiveness is distinctive within the Blue Mountains. Scenic integrity is very high. This area meets the Visual Quality Objective (VQO) of “retention”.

Management Area A9-Special Interest Area includes Olive Lake and its associated campground, the Fremont Powerhouse complex along with its nine miles of wooden pipeline, and the area directly to the west of the town of Greenhorn. These areas have historical significance relating to turn-of-the-century mining activities. The Umatilla Forest Plan Desired Future Condition states in part, “The areas and features will remain in a substantially undisturbed condition…Evidence of management activities will be subordinate to these special point of interest.” The Umatilla Forest Plan standards and guidelines on pages 4-129 through 4-130 further state:

• “Tree cutting and vegetation management may be permitted in order to maintain or enhance the special features of the interest area, to provide for public safety (in areas of concentrated use), to construct or maintain improvements, or in a catastrophic situation. When tree cutting is employed, systems will be designed to protect the resource and meet Special Interest Area goals.

• Firewood cutting shall not be allowed. • Roads are generally not permitted unless they exist prior to classification or they

facilitate the recreation use, enjoyment, and interpretation of the area. • Fuel treatments should emphasize maintenance of the natural character of the area. For

cultural/historical areas, fuel treatments will be planned and implemented to avoid negative impacts. Acceptable treatments on cultural-historical areas will include handpiling, hauling material away, etc.”

The forest in the Olive Lake area is mixed conifer, including sub-alpine fir and spruce, and trees are somewhat densely spaced. Landscape character is recreation in a natural setting and scenic attractiveness is distinctive for the Umatilla National Forest. Scenic integrity within the


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campground is moderate. The Fremont Powerhouse complex is in a small opening (2 acres) surrounded by large, mixed conifers with moderate tree density. Trees block any distant views. The complex consists of the powerhouse itself (which is an interpretive site) plus four cabins available to the public for rent, as well as assorted outbuildings. The associated wooden pipeline traverses through dense lodgepole and mixed conifer stands, though some fuels reduction treatments have occurred where the pipeline nears FSR 10. In 2013, a fire suppression fuel break was established in the A9 portion adjacent to the town of Greenhorn to protect the community from the Vinegar Fire. The majority of this area was thinned, creating very open stands. Skid trails and landings are evident throughout much of the area as well. Scenic attractiveness within this area is indistinctive and scenic integrity is low. None of these areas meet the Visual Quality Objective of “retention”, and this may not be a realistic objective for these locations, which are all an attraction in part because of human activities (campground, historic mining).

Effects of No Action Alternative Direct and Indirect Effects: There would be no change to visual quality within the analysis area. Visual quality within the A3-Viewshed 1 and A4-Viewshed 2 along FSR 10 would range from retention to partial retention. Travelers of this route would experience a range of open to dense forest views with some brief vistas. The A3-Viewshed 1 along FSR 73 would continue to meet the Visual Quality Objective of “retention” with some evidence of historic mining (Cougar/Independence Mill site and Ah Hee Diggings). Dense thickets of lodgepole and evidence of past mining would continue to be evident in the foreground along Country Road 24, The A3-Viewshed 1 along County Road 24 would continue not to meet the Visual Quality Objective as existing conditions meet the definition of “modification”. The A3-Viewshed 1 along FSR 10 would continue to meet the Visual Quality Objective of “retention”, with isolated spots of partial retention (Fremont Powerhouse and pipeline).

Retention would continue to be the norm within the Vinegar Hill/Greenhorn Scenic Area except where fire suppression activities in 2013 adjacent to the town of Greenhorn resulted in a modified landscape that does not meet visual quality objectives. The A9-Special Interest Area associated with Olive Lake and the Fremont Complex would continue to meet a VQO of Retention. There would be no changes to scenic attractiveness or integrity in any of the above-mentioned management areas as a result of implementing this alternative.

Mitigation Common to All Action Alternatives

VQ1— Thinning in A3, A4, A8, and A9 management areas will leave irregularly spaced trees.

VQ2— Landings, skid trails, and slash piles will be placed to minimize effects to visual quality within the A3, A4, A8, and A9 viewsheds. Mitigate against soil disturbance to the greatest extent possible within the foregrounds (operate over slash, log when the ground is frozen, locate skid trails so they are visually screened, etc.). The fuels specialist and/or sales administrator will designate these areas on the ground.

VQ3— Where possible, thinning will only be conducted on the side of FS Road 10 where it is not within management area A-9. For the estimated 3.5 miles of FSR 10 that is straddled by this management area, stumps that could be visible from the road will be flush cut and disguised with dirt so as not to be noticeable. Slash will be treated with a masticator where slope is not too steep and lopped/scattered in steeper areas in order to


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disperse debris and avoid piles and resultant burned patches. Where conditions on the ground will not allow management activities to appear natural, such areas will be left untreated. (The intention of the fuel break will still be in tact in that these short stretches of road could be quickly prepped as needed during fire suppression activities.) The archeologist, fuels specialist, and recreation specialist will layout boundaries within the A9 portion to ensure protection of this Special Interest Area’s values.

VQ4 — No grapple piling within 300 feet of an open road within A3, A4, A8, and A9 viewshed corridors. Preferred slash treatments are hand piling and burning, chipping, hauling slash away, and similar low disturbance methods designed to meet a visual quality objective of Retention within the immediate foreground. When hand piling/burning is used, pile slash away from larger diameter live trees (>12” DBH) to prevent mortality.

VQ5 — Where areas of soil disturbance occur within A3, A4, A8, and A9 corridors, restore ground cover as quickly as possible (native seeding, cultivation practices, placement of slash, etc).

VQ6 — Modified logging practices for visual quality (such as low cutting stumps) will be used within 300 feet of County Road 24 and FS Roads 10 and 73 unless topography limits sight distance.

VQ7 — Within ¼ mile of County Road 24 and FS Roads 10 and 73, use dispersed campsites for landings where practical to minimize creation of new areas of disturbance within the viewshed foreground. Where a landing occurs on a dispersed campsite, remove logging debris (burning or other), level any ruts, and seed with native seed as soon as harvest of the unit is complete to return the site to recreational use.

Effects Common to All Action Alternatives Direct and Indirect Effects: There are no activities proposed within the B1, C1, D2 or Wallowa-Whitman 6 or 15, or Malheur 7 management areas, although prescribed fire could back into them. Thinning units are proposed within the A3, A4, A8, A9, C7, and Wallowa-Whitman 18 management areas.

Table 3: Thinning units within Management Areas A3, A4, A8, and A9 (scenic emphasis) Unit

# Treatment Alternative Acres Unit

# Treatment Alternative Acres

2 & 3 4 2 & 3 4 Management Area A3 – Viewshed 1

1 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 14.7 14.7 1R RHCA NCT 0.3 0.3 2 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 26.1 26.1 2R RHCA NCT 23.4 23.4 3 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 4.0 4.0 3R RHCA NCT 2.1 2.1 4 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 12.1 12.1 4R RHCA NCT 1.8 1.8 18 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 8.2 8.2 5R RHCA NCT 1.9 19 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1.8 1.8 23R RHCA NCT 0.2 0.2 21 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 13.1 11.8 24R RHCA NCT 31.5 31.5 22 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 259 25.2 25R RHCA NCT 0.1 0.1 25 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 74.0 74.0 32R RHCA NCT 1.2 1.2


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Unit # Treatment

Alternative Acres Unit #

Treatment Alternative Acres

2 & 3 4 2 & 3 4 57 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 49.1 49.1 33R RHCA NCT 5.9 5.9 58 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 27.9 24.5 34R RHCA NCT 1.8 0 59 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 20 14.8 55R RHCA NCT 10.5 10.5 60 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 102.6 102.6 56R RHCA NCT 0.4 0.4 83 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 0.5 0.5 57R RHCA NCT 5.9 5.9 91 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 27.1 25.9 58R RHCA NCT 1.8 1.8 185 FW/NCT 2.7 2.7 59R RHCA NCT 0.2 0.2 186 FW/NCT 14.6 14.6 84R RHCA NCT 3.8 3.8 188 NCT 1.1 1.1 157R RHCA NCT 2.2 2.2 196 FW/NCT 17.2 17.2 158R RHCA NCT 6.1 6.1 198 NCT 2.8 2.8 159R RHCA NCT 1.9 1.9 203 NCT 4.4 4.4 172R RHCA NCT 2.5 2.5 204 NCT 22.1 22.1 173R RHCA NCT 2.1 2.1 211 FW/NCT/CT 1.9 0 175R RHCA NCT 2.8 2.8 213 CT/NCT 1.9 1.9 185R RHCA NCT 2.4 2.4 214 CT/NCT 44.1 44.1 217R RHCA NCT 13.0 13.0 215 CT/NCT 9.3 9.3 218R RHCA NCT 0.3 0.3 229 CT 25.1 25.1 219R RHCA NCT 9.8 9.8 251 CT/NCT 5.7 5.7 220R RHCA NCT 24.9 24.9 252 CT/NCT 18.8 1.1 221R RHCA NCT 3.2 3.2 253 NCT 2.7 2.7 222R RHCA NCT 10.0 10.0 254 CT/NCT 16.4 16.4 223R RHCA NCT 6.2 6.2 255 CT/NCT 3.7 0 227R RHCA NCT 4.3 4.3 256 CT/NCT 27.6 27.6 242R RHCA NCT 2.5 2.5 257 CT/NCT 9.2 9.2 Total A3 Riparian

Thinning Acres 186.9 185.1

258 CT/NCT 7.3 7.3 259 CT/NCT 131.0 131.0

265 FW/NCT 3.2 3.2 266 FW/NCT 15.5 15.5 285 CT/NCT 37.7 0 286 CT/NCT 2.5 2.5 289 CT/NCT 23.3 10.1 Total A3 Upland Thinning Ac. 858.9 772.8

Management Area A4 – Viewshed 2 Unit

# Treatment Alternative Acres

2 & 3 4 59 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 29.7 23.6 211 FW/NCT/CT 0.9 0.9

Total A4 Thinning Acres 30.6 24.5


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Unit # Treatment

Alternative Acres Unit #

Treatment Alternative Acres

2 & 3 4 2 & 3 4 Management Area A8 Vinegar Hill-Greenhorn Scenic Area

59 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 22.9 21.8 Total A8 Upland Thinning

Acres 22.9 21.8

Management Area A9 Special Interest Area 57 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 27.8 27.2 55R RHCA

16.0 16.0

58 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 52.1 48.6 56R RHCA

16.8 16.8 59 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 4.2 4.2 58R RHCA

0.6 0.6

60 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 136.4 129.8 59R RHCA

1.8 1.8 Total A9 Upland Thinning Acres

220.5 209.8 Total A9 Riparian Thinning Acres

35.3 35.3

Proposed thinning in the roadside units (management areas A-3, A-4, A-8, and A-9) would result in fully stocked, but very open stands for 500 feet on either side of the roads. Spacing between trees would generally be 22 feet on trees greater than 9 inches dbh in the ponderosa pine stands, 18-30 feet in the mixed conifer stands, and greater than 30 feet in the lodgepole pine stands. Spacing would vary based on stand conditions (tree species, health, etc.), and all trees 21 inches in diameter and greater would remain. Variability would occur in the mixed conifer stands based on species composition and no cut skips and gaps ranging in size from .1-.25 acres. The remaining no cut skips may be pruned in order to reduce ladder fuels so that the objectives are still being met. Trees would be unevenly spaced and within the A9 Special Interest Area (along FSR 10) pockets of untreated trees would be retained along the most sensitive sections (Mitigation VQ3). Much of the understory would be removed to reduce ladder fuels and treated stands would convert from multi-storied, dense, mixed conifer to widely spaced, single-story, mixed conifer stands. The emphasis on leaving late, old structure trees would increase visual diversity along these routes, which are currently dominated by middle age stands. Varied tree spacing would blend with natural openings and tree clumps as seen along previously treated portions of FSR 10. As a result, stands along treated roads would appear more open allowing travelers a deeper view into the forest. Large trees would dominate views and the golden larch would be more noticeable in fall. Thinning should allow more sunlight to reach the forest floor, which would increase the amount of grass and herbaceous cover that could hide stumps from view.

No grapple piling or would occur within 300 feet of open roads within the A3, A4, A8, and A9 management areas; thinning debris would be hand piled and burned, masticated, chipped, or disposed of through some other low impact method. Where fire is used to dispose of debris, burned areas should blend with the surrounding landscape within one year. Visual quality would be reduced for up to three years following treatments until freshly cut wood fades, soil disturbance is revegetated, and plant growth disguises stumps. Mitigation such as chipping of slash, seeding of disturbed soil, and low cutting stumps within the immediate foreground would help restore a natural appearance more quickly. After that time, the VQO of retention (equivalent to a high scenic integrity level) in the foreground and partial retention (equivalent to


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a moderate scenic integrity level) in the middle and background would be achieved in the majority of A3 (the mining tailings along County Road 24 would continue to prevent achievement of retention in the foreground along that section).

In the A8 management area, Unit 59 would thin a little over 20 acres in all action alternatives. This unit is located along FSR 10 and the access road into Olive Lake. The forest in this area is very thick and views are restricted to a narrow band along the roadway. Thinning would deepen views into the forest, showcasing large trees in the foreground. Scenic attractiveness would improve. This will also improve safety for motorists as they will be able to see animals before they enter the roadway.

The proposed thinning units in the A-9 management area occur along the pipeline portion of the Fremont-Olive Lake historic district. Creating a fuelbreak along Forest Road 10 would provide a greater opportunity of protecting the pipeline if wildfire occurs in this area, as well as reducing the hazard of trees falling on it. Where possible, treatments would only be conducted on the side of Road 10 where it is not within management area A-9. For the estimated 3.5 miles of Road 10 that is straddled by this management area, thinning would be mitigated so that spacing of trees appears natural and stumps that could be visible from the road would be flush cut and disguised with dirt so as not to be noticeable. Slash would be treated with a masticator where slope is not too steep and lopped/scattered in steeper areas in order to disperse debris and avoid piles and resultant burned patches. Where conditions on the ground would not allow management activities to appear natural, those areas would be left untreated. The intention of the fuel break would still be in tact in that these short stretches of road could be quickly prepped as needed during fire suppression activities. The archeologist, fuels specialist, and recreation specialist would layout boundaries along FSR 10 to ensure protection of this Special Interest Areas values.

Both C7 and Wallowa-Whitman 18 management areas allow for a range of visual quality objectives from Retention to Maximum Modification. The proposed treatments together with the mitigation and project design features would meet the visual quality objectives for these two management areas.

Prescribed burning would temporarily reduce scenic integrity in all management areas—pile burning more so than landscape burning since pile burning would not leave a natural pattern on the ground. Burning would be done when conditions are more cool and moist than when wildfires occur, so there would be little scorching of the tree canopy and less consumption of large downed wood. Vegetation would respond quickly after prescribed fire, resprouting as soon as precipitation falls. The effects of prescribed fire would become visually subordinate to the surrounding area within one to two years.

The Umatilla Forest Plan also directs that dispersed campsites be managed to at least a partial retention visual quality level. There are 22 inventoried dispersed sites that occur inside or within 300 feet of proposed units (Table 4). The treatment for all of these units would be some level of thinning. As a result, stands would remain fully stocked. Riparian thinning (RHCA NCT) would be done by hand, so the only impacts to visual quality would be burned slash piles. The burned areas would recover visually in one to two seasons. Dispersed sites that occur where thinning is done with machines could have more visual impacts due to exposure of soils by machines and a higher volume of debris. These effects would be reduced by associated


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mitigation so that once implementation is complete disturbance would be visually subordinate to the surrounding landscape. None of the inventoried dispersed campsites in management areas 18, A9, C1, or C7 would be used as log landings. However, sites within or adjacent to A3 could be used as landings to minimize new disturbance within the viewshed corridor (see mitigation VQ-5). Stumps and soil disturbance could be visibly evident in the foreground of affected campsites, although overall views should be minimally affected. The length of time that visual quality is affected would be shortened where seeding is used to treat areas of soil disturbance. As a result of prescriptions and associated mitigation, harvest would meet the Visual Quality Objective of Partial Retention adjacent to all affected dispersed sites.

Table 4. Dispersed campsites on the Umatilla N.F. within 300 feet of a proposed unit Campsite

Affected by Unit Campsite # Nearby Unit

Prescription Forest Plan Mgt. Area

Treatment Unit #

Alts. 2 & 3

Alt. 4

061405X844 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT A3 & A9 58 Yes Yes 061405X845 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT A3 & A9 57 Yes Yes 061405X846 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT A3 57 Yes Yes

061405X850 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT C7 55 Yes Yes RHCA NCT C7 50R Yes Yes


061405X853 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT C7 99 Yes Yes

061405X854 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT C7 50 Yes No RHCA NCT C7 49R Yes Yes

061405X855 RHCA NCT C7 191R Yes Yes

061405X856

Roadside/FW/NCT/CT C7 34 Yes Yes CT/NCT C7 220 Yes Yes CT/NCT C7 221 Yes Yes RHCA NCT C7 35R Yes Yes RHCA NCT C7 193R Yes Yes


061405X858 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT C7 33 Yes Yes 061405X860 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT C7 33 Yes No 061405X861 RHCA NCT C7 36R Yes Yes 061405X862 NCT C7 197 Yes Yes 061405X863 NCT C7 197 Yes Yes 061405X864 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT A3 25 Yes Yes

061405X866

Roadside/FW/NCT/CT A3 & C7 22 Yes Yes

Roadside/FW/NCT/CT A3 & C7 25 Yes Yes

RHCA NCT A3 & C7 33R Yes Yes


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RHCA NCT C7 23R Yes Yes

061405X867 FW/NCT A3 196 Yes Yes

061405X869 RHCA NCT C1 & C7 68R Yes Yes Roadside/FW/NCT/CT C1 & C7 74 Yes Yes

061405X873 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT C7 & 18 62 Yes Yes RHCA NCT C7 & 18 60R Yes Yes

061405X874 RHCA NCT C7 60R Yes Yes

061405X875 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT A3, A9 & C7 60 Yes Yes FW/NCT/CT C7 205 Yes Yes

Effects Unique to Alternatives 2 and 3 These alternatives would thin 1,046 acres of A3, 31 acres within A4, 23 acres in A8, and 256 acres within A9. Alternative 3 units would be thinned more than the other action alternatives to maximize removal of fuels. Units would still retain full stocking, but would appear much more open than under the other action alternatives.

Effects Unique to Alternative 4 Alternative 4 would involve slightly fewer acres than the other action alternatives with 958 acres of A3, 24 acres within A4, 22 acres in A8, and 245 acres within A9.

Cumulative Effects Common to All Action Alternatives Past fires, timber harvest, and road construction have created a patchwork of vegetation densities and sizes throughout the analysis area. Proposed commercial and non-commercial harvest, and prescribed fire would add to this existing patchwork. Cumulatively, the visual quality objectives for each of the affected management areas would still be met.

DEVELOPED RECREATION

Existing Conditions Olive Lake Campground is the only developed campground within the 10 Cent project area, occurring on the western boundary of the project area within the Umatilla N.F. A9 – Special Interest Area management area (see Tables 1 and 2). Olive Lake Campground has 28 campsites, 8 vault toilets, two docks, a boat ramp, and a 2-mile long hiking trail around the lake’s perimeter. Occupancy is low to moderate Memorial Day through Labor Day, then greatly tapers off. The entire campground lies within a somewhat dense mixed conifer forest with scattered spruce and sub-alpine fir.


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Figure 11: Olive Lake Figure 12: Fremont Powerhouse

Fremont Powerhouse Complex is a combination interpretive site with four cabins available for rent and lies on the Umatilla N.F. within the A9 – Special Interest Area management area (see Tables 1 and 2). The Powerhouse is a small museum (with brochures and interpretive signs) that is open for guided public tours when the caretaker is on site. The four cabins are available to the public year-round and include: Congo Gulch (which sleeps 10-12 people), Caretaker’s Cabin (10 people), Miner’s Retreat (6 people), and Hilltop Hideaway (4 people). There is a small pond outside Congo Gulch and each cabin has a picnic table and fire ring nearby. There are also two above-ground heating oil tanks and several outbuildings on the property (a barn, storage building, and two garages). The facility has water in summer and the water tank is located about 500 feet up the hill from the facility. There is also a vault toilet for use once the water system is turned off. The complex is located in a small opening surrounded by a mixed conifer forest with large trees.

Other interpretive sites within the project area are associated with the Elkhorn Drive State Scenic Byway: Ah Hee Diggings and Forest Practices. Both occur on the Wallowa-Whitman N.F. in Management Area 18. The Forest Practices Interpretive Site is a small roadside stop located along the Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway. This small roadside site includes an interpretive panel describing the different types of harvesting and thinning treatments of the lodgepole pine forest in the foreground. Due to the age of the interpretive site, much of the area that was treated is now blocked by 15-20 feet of lodgepole pine regrowth. The Ah Hee Diggins Interpretive Site is also located along the scenic byway north of the town of Granite. The site is comprised of a paved parking pull-out with a 3-panel display portraying the efforts of Chinese miners in the late 1800s and the resulting hand-stacked rock tailings that can be seen below. The interpretive site is located on a bluff above the tailings, offering a broad-scale view of the landscape. The adjacent forest is dense mixed conifer, with lodgepole pine occupying the tailings area almost to the point of obscuring the tailings.


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Figure 13: Ah Hee Diggins Interpretive Site Figure 14: Forest Practices Interpretive Site

Boundary Guard Station is located on the Wallowa-Whitman N.F. along County Road 24 east of the town of Granite in Management Area 18-Anadromous Fish. This is an administrative site and once served as crew quarters in the summer season. This guard station was built in the depression years by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crews, and has many unique details that were crafted with care. This building is no longer used by Forest Service crews. From 2002 through 2006 the cabin was available for public recreation rental. However due to the limited amount of water, lack of occupancy, and other safety issues it was removed from the rental system.

Gold Center Spring is also located along County Road 24 east of the town of Granite on the Wallowa-Whitman N.F. in Management Area 18. This site is a source of drinking water used by travelers and the local community of Granite and is currently under a Special Use Permit to the City of Granite. The site consists of a parking area and mortared rock water fountain. At one time, there was a small settlement that served as a stage coach stop and supply depot for local mining activities. The forest around this area was burned off by the miners to make gold prospecting easier.


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Figure 15: Gold Center Spring Figure 16: Blue Spring Summit Snowpark

Blue Spring Summit Snowpark is located on the eastern boundary of 10 Cent on County Road 520, just off of the Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway. The facility is situated at 5,864 feet above sea level and occurs within the Wallowa-Whitman N.F. Management Area 18. In the winter, this centrally located site is used as a snowmobile trailhead and is maintained by the Grant County Road Department. Late spring through fall it serves as the northern OHV trailhead for the Blue Mountain OHV Trail and is maintained by the Forest Service. The site consists of a large parking area, vault toilet, site sign, information board, and trailhead. This is set in a mixed conifer stand on the summit between the Powder River, Burnt River and North Fork John Day River watersheds.

There are five developed trailheads within the 10 Cent analysis area: Lake Creek, Lost Creek/Saddle Camp, Granite Creek, Mt. Ireland, and Blue Springs Summit (discussed above). The first three are on the Umatilla National Forest, with the remaining two on the Wallowa Whitman National Forest. Developed trailheads usually consist of a parking area, sign and information board. In addition, the Blue Springs Summit Trailhead also has a vault toilet.

Dispersed camping has traditionally been a popular activity in the 10 Cent area, with sites heavily used during the three-month big game hunting seasons in the fall and occasionally in the summer months for campers and wood cutters. A generic description of a dispersed campsite consists of a user-made area that is generally adjacent to a developed road and/or stream. Although it does not have any Forest Service constructed features, it often has a meat pole hanging in the trees, a rock fire ring and a hardened parking/camping surface for one to three families. There are 43 inventoried dispersed campsites within the 10 Cent planning area—35 are on the Umatilla N.F. and 8 are on the Wallowa-Whitman N.F. Sites are predominantly located along Forest Roads 10, 1035, 1035012, 1310, 1900, and County Road 24 (see Table 5).


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Table 5. Location of inventoried dispersed campsites Road Number # of dispersed

camps Road Number # of dispersed

camps 1000000 3 1035080 1 1000500 1 1038000 2 1000520 1 1038090 1 1000650 1 1305200 1 1010370 2 1310000 5 1031000 2 1900000 3 1035000 4 41023-24 5 1035010 2 7300590 1 1035012 3 7300771 1 1035065 2 7350000 2

Effects of No Action Alternative Direct and Indirect Effects: Visitors at Olive Lake Campground and Fremont Powerhouse rental cabins would remain undisturbed by nearby noise or harvest activity. Traffic on FSR 10 would remain light to moderate (during the hunting seasons). The vegetation surrounding these areas would continue to display a full overstory and relatively dense understory.

Views from the Ah Hee Diggings, Forest Practices, and Gold Center Spring would remain unchanged except by natural disturbance. The view from Ah Hee Diggings would become increasingly obscured by tree growth. Vegetation adjacent to the Boundary Guard Station would continue to increase in density, increasing the risk of fire damage to the cabin should a wildfire occur. Vegetation adjacent to the five trailheads would also increase in density.

Campers using dispersed sites would not be disturbed by noise, smoke, or increased traffic. Dispersed campsite use patterns would change only due to natural events (fire, windthrow, etc).

Mitigation Common to All Action Alternatives (2-4) RC1 — Skid trails and landings will not be placed within developed campgrounds, visual

overlooks, or trailhead parking areas. RC2 — Fuels treatments along FSR 73 will avoid the water source for Gold Center Spring. RC3 — The District Recreation specialist, Fuels specialist, and Archeologist will lay out

treatment units adjacent to the Ah Hee Diggings interpretive site on FSR 73. RC4 — Treatment of units 57, 58, 59, 60, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209,

210, 211 should be timed from mid-November until the end of July to avoid heavy equipment traffic on FSR 10 on weekends during the busiest recreation season (hunting). Operations associated with these units should also avoid Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day weekends for the same reason.


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RC5 — Where possible, avoid placement of landings on dispersed campsites outside of A3 and A4 corridors (see Visual Quality mitigation for dispersed campsites within A3 and A4 corridors). These sites are to be managed to at least a Partial Retention visual quality objective. Where a landing occurs on a dispersed campsite, remove logging debris (burning or other), level any ruts, and plant native seed after harvest is complete to return the site to recreational use.

VQ7 — Within ¼ mile of Forest Roads 10 or 73, use dispersed campsites for landings where practical to minimize creation of new areas of disturbance within the viewshed foreground. Where a landing occurs on a dispersed campsite, remove logging debris (burning or other), level any ruts, and seed with native seed as soon as harvest of the unit is complete to return the site to recreational use.

Effects Common to All Action Alternatives (2-4) Direct and Indirect Effects: Under all alternatives, campers at Olive Lake Campground would be temporarily affected by the proposed activities. While the campground itself is outside proposed treatment units, thinning is proposed along FSR 10 which is the access route to the campground. Thinning would create noise, dust, smoke and extra traffic adjacent to the campground. These effects would be limited in duration (about 2 weeks). Even after treatment of FSR 10 is complete, there would continue to be increased traffic and related hazards because this road provides the only access to treatment units to the north. These effects would last through much of the recreation season, though by avoiding operations during the hunting seasons (August through mid-November) there would be fewer public/equipment traffic interactions on FSR 10. After all associated activities are completed, FSR 10 would serve as a fire break increasing the likelihood that the campground would survive a wildfire from the north. This would also provide a safe evacuation route in the event of a wildfire for recreationists visiting the lake. Vegetation along FSR 10 would be much more open in the foreground, allowing motorists to see and avoid wildlife collisions.

Under all alternatives, visitors at the Fremont Powerhouse Complex would experience minimal disturbance from the proposed activities because the nearest treatment units are over ½ mile away. Visitors would still experience heavy traffic with large machinery and related dust through most of one recreation season because FSR 10 is the only access route to treatment units to the west of the compound. Once the project is completed, reduced fuels on three sides of the complex would provide increased fire protection. From a recreation standpoint, this is a key benefit because of the critical role the complex plays as an interpretive site showcasing Eastern Oregon’s settlement history. FSR 10 would serve as a fire break, providing a safe evacuation route in the event of a wildfire for recreationists visiting the complex.

Treatments proposed under all alternatives would affect the Ah Hee Diggings, Forest Practices, and Gold Center Spring sites. In the case of Ah Hee Diggings, treatments along FSR 73 would restore views of the tailings piles, which are beginning to be obscured by lodgepole pine (see Figure 4). Terrain at this overlook is steep, so would likely hide any stumps created by treatment. By removing obstructing vegetation, visitors would have an enhanced appreciation for the scale of the tailings and the work involved in creating them. At the Forest Practices interpretive site, views have greatly changed as trees have grown. Details discussed in the interpretive sign can no longer be seen because trees obscure almost everything except the


24

immediate foreground. Proposed vegetation treatments under all alternatives would thin and/or prune trees up to 300 feet from the interpretive site. While such activities may not re-create the original view on the interpretive sign, they would contribute to the sign’s story line thereby enhancing the recreation opportunity at this site. The parking area is large enough that activity-related traffic should not interfere with visitors. Fuel treatments would also occur at Gold Center Spring. Equipment would avoid impacting the water source for this spring (see mitigation RC-2) in order to protect this site. Removal of vegetation would not affect accessing the fountain and activity-related traffic at this site would be minimal since there are less than 2 miles of treatments beyond this site.

Blue Springs Summit Snowpark and Mt. Ireland Trailhead are outside any proposed treatment units and so should not be affected by any alternative. Lake Creek Trailhead is at the western-most end of proposed treatments and lies on the boundary of Unit 195. Logs and debris would not be placed within the trailhead (mitigation RC-1). There could be increased traffic and dust while proposed activities are implemented in this area, but duration should be short-lived (2 weeks). The trailhead at Lost Creek/Saddle Camp would experience a heavy load of treatment-related traffic due to its location on FSR 10 which is the only access to proposed units to the west. In addition, this trailhead lies within the immediate foreground of FSR 10, and so would be affected by tree thinning, pruning, and fuel treatments (pile burning, chipping, etc,). Terrain downslope of this trailhead is steep, so activities would blend with the natural surroundings. However, activities on the uphill side would be highly visible, lasting up to three years until vegetation grows enough to disguise stumps. This trailhead would also experience increased traffic volumes posing hazards for travelers enroute to this trailhead, though the trailhead parking area is large enough that activity-related traffic should not interfere with visitors once they arrive. Avoiding fuel treatment activities during August through mid-November and on popular weekends should alleviate most traffic concerns (mitigation RC4). The Granite Creek Trailhead is on the northwestern extent of proposed activities. Since it is at the end of a road, activity-related traffic should not interfere with visitors once they arrive. However, FSR 1035 is a major traffic route for approximately 1/6 of the activity units proposed so visitors travelling to the trailhead would have increased safety risk due to high volumes of treatment-related traffic. Terrain directly adjacent to this trailhead is gentle, and the area would look much more open once fuel treatments have been completed. Proposed treatments should not displace recreationists from any of these trailheads. In addition, after treatments are complete the roads associated with the Lake Creek, Lost Creek/Saddle Camp, Granite Creek, and Blue Springs Summit trailheads would serve as fire breaks providing safe evacuation routes for visitors using these trailheads in the event of a wildfire.

Table 6. Dispersed campsites within 300 feet of a mechanical thinning unit (highlighting indicates dispersed sites located in A3 or A4 viewshed corridors)

Unit # Unit Prescription Alternatives 2 & 3 4

22 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 13 13 25 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 2 (13) 2 (13) 33 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 2 1 34 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 2 (14) 2 (14) 36 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 1


25

Unit # Unit Prescription Alternatives 2 & 3 4

47 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 1 50 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 0 55 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 1 56 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 1 57 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 2 2 58 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 1 60 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 12 12 62 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 1 69 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 11 11 70 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 11 11 74 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 1 76 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 1 81 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 1 99 Roadside/FW/NCT/CT 1 1 196 FW/NCT 1 1 205 FW/NCT/CT 12 12 220 CT/NCT 14 14 221 CT/NCT 14 14

1 Units 69 and 70 would affect the same dispersed site 2 Units 60 and 205 would affect the same dispersed site 3 Units 22 and 25 would affect the same dispersed site 4 Units 34, 220 and 221 would affect the same dispersed site

There are 22 inventoried dispersed campsites within 300 feet of a proposed thinning unit that would involve the use of heavy equipment; eight of these are within an A-3 or A-4 viewshed (Table 6). The listed mitigation (RC5) would protect the integrity of sites outside the viewsheds, although use of these sites could be temporarily interrupted (1-2 weeks) while vegetation treatments are implemented. This should only affect a few sites at one time, and there are many other sites available throughout the project area. The eight sites within viewshed corridors could be used as log landings in order to reduce impacts to visual quality throughout these viewsheds. This would make these campsites unusable until the landings are free of debris and ruts are removed (mitigation VQ7). This condition could last 1-3 years. There are also other inventoried dispersed sites near riparian treatment or non-commercial thinning units, but since work would be done manually in these areas the only impact to campsite users would be noise. Harvest could improve camper safety by removing weakened or dead trees that could otherwise fall and cause injury. For several years after harvest, campers would also benefit from an increased availability of firewood in the treatment units. All dispersed campsites would be affected to some degree by smoke from prescribed burning. This would generally occur on the fringes of the camping season because conditions during the main camping season are too hot and dry to allow adequate control of fire. Late fall campers (primarily hunters) would be the most likely affected. Dense smoke could cause campers to relocate to another area, but the duration that this impact would occur would be short (1-2 weeks). Burning would also improve elk forage for several years,


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which could improve the quality of the hunting experience during that period.

Table 7. Location of inventoried dispersed campsites along roads used for project hauling under all alternatives.

Road # Associated dispersed camps Road # Associated dispersed camps

1000000 6 1038090 1 1010370 2 1310000 5 1031000 2 1900000 2 1035000 5 41023-24 6 1035010 1 7300000 2 1035012 3 7350000 1 1038000 2

Thirty-eight dispersed camps lie on proposed haul routes under all action alternatives and would experience increased traffic, dust, and noise in addition to smoke related to prescribed burning. The routes with the most dispersed sites include County Road 24, FSR 10, 1035, and 1310 (see Table 7). Noise and dust would likely cause campers to use another site during treatment activities, but the effects would be limited to a small number of sites at one time and would cease as soon as treatment of the adjacent unit is complete (generally 1-2 weeks as work is occurring). Also, the early hunting season occurs during the driest part of the year, when there are often limitations on industrial operation in the forest due to fire concerns so the highest use period would not likely be affected.

Cumulative Effects of All Action Alternatives Past harvest has occurred throughout the 10 Cent area; in a number of places old, recovered log landings have become dispersed campsites due to their proximity to roads and relatively flat topography. Proposed activities under all action alternatives could increase the number of dispersed campsite options in the long-term where new landings are created.

There would be no other cumulative effects on camping with any of the alternatives based on a review of the Past, Present and Future projects listed in the project analysis file.


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TRAILS AND DISPERSED RECREATION

Existing Condition The analysis area is used for many types of recreation: ATV and snowmobile riding, horse riding, hiking, camping, sightseeing, wildlife viewing, fishing, firewood collection, food gathering, and rock collecting/gold hunting. The analysis area also includes a large portion (21%) of the North Fork John Day Wilderness. Big game hunting predominates in the autumn. The analysis area falls within the Desolation Big Game Management Unit designated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (10 Cent Wildlife Report). The hunting season typically begins at the end of August and extends through the end of November.

There are 110 total miles of trail within the 10 Cent project area, including 51.9 miles on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, 57.9 on the Umatilla National Forest, and 0.2 miles on the Malheur National Forest. Trail types include snowmobile, OHV, Wilderness, and non-motorized/non-wilderness (see Table 8). All OHV trails within the 10 Cent project area are located on closed roads. In addition to the OHV trails identified in Table 5, mixed-use travel (OHVs and full-sized vehicles) is allowed on all open unpaved Forest Service Roads unless signed as closed to OHVs (i.e. FSR10).

Table 8. Trails within the 10 Cent analysis area

Trail # Name Forest Type Miles S-1000000 10 ROAD

Umatilla Snowmobile 12.8 S-5200000 UKIAH-GRANITE ROAD 52 5.5 S-19 CAMP CR-BEAVER MDW Wallowa-Whitman 5.5 S-24 CLEAR -GRANITE CR 2.9 S-310 ALAMO 1.5 S-1042 GREENHORN NF BURNT 0.9 S-1046 CAMP- NORTH FORK 3.9 S-1060 1060 ROAD 0.4 S-1305 SAN LOU-ALAMO 4.5 S-7300 ELKHORN DRIVE 8.8 S-7362 7362 ROAD 4.5 S-7380 CAMP CR -BLUE SPR 0.3 S-7382 BEAR MEADOW 8.1

Total Snowmobile miles 59.6 O-1000460 Umatilla ATV Closed Roads 1.3 O-1000520 2.8 O-1010370 2.8 O-1035060 1.9 O-1035080 0.7 O-1038060 2.6 O-7350050 1.0 O-7350052 1.1 O-7350070 1.8


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Trail # Name Forest Type Miles O-1972-2 BLUE MTN OHV-2 Wallowa-Whitman ATV Closed Roads 0.2 O-7375100 0.7 O-7380013 6.1 O-7382000 0.7

Total ATV miles 23.7 3002 LOST CREEK Umatilla North Fork John

Day Wilderness 3.0

3016 GRANITE CREEK 2.0 3018 LAKE CREEK 2.0 3035 SADDLE CAMP 1.9 3173 BEN HARRISON 3.6 6141 BLUE MOUNTAIN 0.4

Total Wilderness miles 12.9 251 PRINCESS Malheur Hiker/Horse 0.2 3002 LOST CREEK Umatilla 1.9 3016 GRANITE CREEK 1.1 3018 LAKE CREEK 0.5 3034 SADDLE CAMP CONNECT 0.2 3035 SADDLE CAMP 2.0 3137 BEN HARRISON 1.0 3169 OLIVE LAKE LOOP 3.0 6141 BLUE MOUNTAIN 1.0 1604 MT IRELAND LOOKOUT Wallowa-Whitman 2.9

Total non-motorized/non-wilderness miles 13.8

The North Fork John Day Wilderness contains several features of value: high water quality, anadromous fish spawning habitat, big game habitat, and historic features associated with mining. Past fire suppression within the Wilderness has affected wilderness character by causing trammeling and disrupting natural burning cycles, thus allowing a buildup of fuels that would have otherwise burned during those cycles. Current fire regimes are identified in Table 9.

Table 9. Fire Regimes within the 10 Cent portion of the North Fork John Day Wilderness

Fire Regime Acres Regime Definition I 376 0-35 year frequency and low to mixed severity (less than 75% of the

dominant overstory vegetation replaced) III 6,819 35-100+ year frequency and mixed severity (25% to 75% of the dominant

overstory vegetation replaced) IV 2,316 35-100+ year frequency and high severity (greater than 75% of the

dominant overstory vegetation replaced) V 9 200+ year frequency and high severity (greater than 75% of the dominant

overstory vegetation replaced) Non-vegetated 39 Total 9,560


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Effects of No Action Alternative Direct and Indirect Effects: Trail use and dispersed recreation would continue unchanged by management activities. Natural fire cycles in the North Fork John Day Wilderness would continue to be interrupted by fire suppression and existing fuels would continue to accumulate (10 Cent Fire & Fuels Report). The type of high intensity wildfire indicated by existing fuel loads would remove vegetation from thousands of acres (as occurred in 1996 with the Bull, Summit, and Tower wildfires). This would remove cover for big game, produce an influx of sediment into anadromous fish spawning habitat, and increase water temperatures due to loss of shade. The quality of the recreation experience would also decline for a period of time after such a wildfire. Prescribed fire could make some historic features more visible due to the loss of vegetation,.

Mitigation Common to Action Alternatives (2, 3 and 4)

RC6 – Skid trails will not overlap system trails and trail crossings will be minimized to the extent possible to protect trail tread. Where crossings do occur, any rutting of the trail tread would be smoothed out and water bars would be installed on the uphill side of the skid trail as needed to keep runoff from damaging the trail tread after treatments are complete. Debris and/or felling of large trees will also be used to block skid trail crossings once activities are complete to discourage trail users from diverting off the trail.

RC7 – Treatment debris will not be placed within the tread of designated trails. RC8 – Trails will be signed 300 feet in advance of an active harvest unit to warn visitors

of potential hazards due to logging activities.

Effects Common to All Action Alternatives (2-4) Direct and Indirect Effects: Big game could relocate out of the project area during thinning and prescribed burning activities until the disturbance ceases, temporarily reducing the quality of the hunting experience if activities occur in the fall. Hunters could also be directly displaced by these activities although the effect would be temporary (1-2 weeks). After the proposed activities are completed, there would be an increase in big game forage potentially improving future hunting experiences in the short term.

There would be an increase in traffic during treatment activities, which could pose hazards to recreationists sharing the roads with treatment-related equipment. Once hauling and burning is complete there would be no lasting effects.

Most sightseeing is associated with FSR 10, 52, and 73 in the central part of the 10 Cent project area. The identified mitigations should minimize effects on visuals along these routes. Prescribed fire would create a patchy, blackened landscape throughout the project area, however this should only last one to two years until vegetation regrows. Trails within prescribed fire units would need to be monitored for hazardous trees created by the burn and identified trees within one tree-height of trails would be felled. Firewood gathering could diminish slightly after thinning activities and prescribed burning, as dead material is either removed or consumed by fire. This could be offset by some of the treatment units being specifically identified for use as


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firewood. Fire could enhance opportunities for mushroom picking, with the best results occurring under a broad-scale underburn.

There are twelve snowmobile trails that cross proposed thinning units (see Table 9). Proposed treatments should not affect these trails unless activities are implemented in the winter. This is because snow would cover any debris or rutting left on the tread. However, in the case of winter activities, trails could need to be closed for the duration of the treatment activity for safety reasons. Rutting of the snow within the trail tread after treatments are complete could make snowmobile passage difficult until sufficient new snow covers the tracks. Effects to snowmobile trails would be of short duration (one season). Non-commercial thinning should have no impact on these trails because this treatment would be done manually with chainsaws. Prescribed fire could create hazardous trees adjacent to the trails, so after the fire has burned out the area within a tree height of either side of the trail would need to be cleared of hazardous standing trees.

Table 9. Snowmobile trails affected by proposed treatments under Alternatives 3 and 4.

Umatilla National Forest Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Trail # Trail Name Alt. 2 & 3 Miles w/i Units

Alt. 4 Miles w/i Units



S-1000000 10 Road 7.7 7 S-19 Camp Cr-Beaver Meadow

2.3 2.3

S-5200000 Ukiah-Granite Road 52

4.7 4.6 S-24 Clear-Granite Cr 2 2

Umatilla total miles 12.4 11.6 S-310 Alamo 1.3 1.3 S-1046 Camp- North Fork <0.1 <0.1

S-1060 1060 Road <0.1 <0.1 S-1305 San Lou-Alamo 2 2 S-7300 Elkhorn Drive 3 2.8 S-7362 7362 Road 0.8 0.8 S-7380 Camp Cr.-Blue Spr. 0.2 0.2 S-7382 Bear Meadow 3.8 3.4 W-W total miles 15.4 14.8

There are twelve OHV trails that cross proposed thinning units (see Table 10). Treatments such as mastication, firewood harvest, and non-commercial and commercial thinning should not damage trail treads because all OHV trails in the project area occur on old compacted roadbeds. However, such treatments could potentially create debris within the trail tread. Mitigation (RC6 and RC7) would ensure trails are restored to a clear and safe condition upon completion of treatment activities. Trails would also be closed during treatment of the adjacent unit to protect trail users from falling trees and debris. This effect would be temporary, lasting approximately two weeks per unit. Trails that would receive the most disruption in use would be O-1000460, O-1000520, O-1035060, O-7350050, O-7350052, and O-7350070—all on the Umatilla N.F. Prescribed fire would create a patchy, blackened landscape as viewed from OHV trails, however this should only last one to two years until vegetation regrows. Prescribed fire could create hazardous trees adjacent to the trails, so after the fire has burned out the area within a tree height


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of either side of the trail would need to be cleared of hazardous standing trees.

Table 10. OHV trails affected by proposed treatments under Alternatives 3 and 4.

Umatilla National Forest Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Trail # Alt. 2 & 3

Miles w/i Units




O-1000460 0.4 0 O-1972-2 Blue Mt. OHV-2 <0.1 <0.1 O-1000520 0.4 0.4 O-7375100 0.1 <0.1 O-1010370 0.2 <0.1 O-7380013 0.1 0.1 O-1035060 1.7 1.4 W-W Total 0.2 0.1 O-1035080 0.2 0.2 O-1038060 0.2 0.2 O-7350050 0.5 0.5 O-7350052 0.7 0.7 O-7350070 1.6 1.6 Umatilla Total

5.9 5.1

Three hiking/horseback trails lie within proposed thinning units: Mt. Ireland (#1604), Granite Creek (#3016), and Lost Creek (#3002). Approximately 0.4 miles of the Mt. Ireland Trail (14% of the trail length) lie within units 267, 270, and 272 which are commercial and noncommercial thinning units. Also less than 0.1 miles of the Lost Creek Trail (279 feet in Alternatives 2 and 3 and 67 feet in Alternative 4, which are less than 1% of the trail length) lie within unit 58 which is a commercial and noncommercial thinning unit. Where thinning would occur using machines, there is the potential that heavy equipment could damage the trail tread. Machinery would not be permitted to operate from the trail tread, they could only cross it. After treatments are complete, any damage to the trail tread would be repaired. Mitigation (RC6 and RC7) to minimize damage to the trail tread. Portions of the Lost Creek and Granite Creek trails fall within riparian non-commercial thinning units (units 35R, 56R, and 191R). This treatment should not impact trails because thinning would be done by hand and not heavy machines. Views along treated portions of all three trails would become more open, allowing travelers deeper views into the forest.

Effects Unique to Alternative 2 Alternative 2 includes the most broad-scale prescribed burning of all action alternatives by treating 29,220 acres (including 9,557 acres within the North Fork John Day Wilderness). Another 8,582 acres would be treated through jackpot burning (burning of large fuel accumulations scattered on the landscape). This amount of burning would be implemented over several years. Smoke and active fire would displace recreationists, although this would most likely occur during the spring time when visitation is low. There is also a possibility that burning could occur during the fall hunting seasons. Prescribed burning during the fall would likely push big game to other locations, reducing the hunting quality for the duration of treatment, particularly since a large portion of the wilderness would be burned. However, within a year or two of burning growth of forage would increase due to more open ground and access to sunlight. This should attract big game back into the treated areas in greater numbers than before the


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treatment increasing the quality of the hunting experience for several years.

Prescribed fire in the wilderness would begin to reduce fuel loadings and configurations to that which would be experienced under uninterrupted natural fire cycles. This would begin to restore naturalness in both fuel loads and vegetation type and density. Since the fire would only be controlled once it reaches the wilderness boundary, control features such as fire line trenches or tree stumps would not occur in the wilderness. Removal of fuels under prescribed fire conditions would protect other wilderness features of value such as big game and anadromous fish habitat, high water quality, and historic features.

Opportunities for mushroom collection would greatly increase for several years after prescribed burning. Other dispersed recreation activities, including trail use would be as described under “Effects Common to All Action Alternatives (2-4)”.

Effects Unique to Alternative 3 Alternative 3 would include additional commercial and non-commercial thinning along five snowmobile trails: S-1000000, S-5200000, S-7300, S-7362, and S-7380. This thinning would affect a total of one more mile of combined snowmobile trails (see Table 6 for increased lengths on each trail). Effects would remain as described under “Effects Common to Alternatives 3 and 4”.

Alternative 3 would include additional commercial and non-commercial thinning along four OHV trails: O-1000460, O-1010370, O-1035060, and O-7375100. This thinning would affect an additional 0.9 mile of combined OHV trails (see Table 7 for increased lengths on each trail). Effects would remain as described under “Effects Common to Alternatives 3 and 4”.

Alternative 3 would treat an additional 212 feet along the Lost Creek (#3002) hiking/horseback riding trail. Effects would remain as described under “Effects Common to Alternatives 3 and 4”.

Effects Unique to Alternative 4 Like Alternative 2, Alternative 4 would involve broad-scale prescribed burning, but it would not treat areas within the North Fork John Day Wilderness. This would have similar effects as those described under Alternative 2 except that big game would likely escape into the Wilderness, increasing hunting opportunities within the wilderness when treatment occurs in the fall.

Cumulative Effects of All Action Alternatives In the long-term, the proposed vegetation treatments and prescribed burning together with past harvest and prescribed burning would benefit some recreationists and discourage others. The open forest environment that would be created by harvest, thinning, and prescribed burning would provide easier cross-country access and a broader view into the forest. While wildlife and birds would be easier to spot, the type of species viewed would be different than those found in dense forest habitats. Some wild foods and mushrooms would proliferate in the open forest, while others would decline. Roads improved for treatment access would also provide easier access for motorized recreation, dispersed camping and firewood collection. Recreationists that prefer solitude and a natural-appearing landscape would likely visit other areas. However, since solitude is already limited in this area by past management, few of these recreationists would be displaced—the adjacent North Fork John Day Wilderness and Twin Mountain Inventoried


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Roadless would continue to provide this niche. Even with extensive past management in the analysis area, outdoor recreation use, in general, has steadily increased over the years. Other past, present, or foreseeable future projects identified in the Appendix to the EIS would not result in cumulative effects on the recreational experience.

___/s/ Janel Lacey__________________________ __8/1/16__________ JANEL LACEY DATE South Zone Recreation Manager

BIBLIOGRAPHY U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region; Land and Resource Management Plan for the Umatilla National Forest. 1990.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region; Land and Resource Management Plan for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Landscape Aesthetics: A Handbook for Scenery Management. Agriculture Handbook #701. December 1995.

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