Preplan Analysis 4
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
D0C.JM 3. I 53.2: H 44/2x ' PREPLAN ANALYSIS REVISING the RECREATION AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN ROGUE RIVER RECREATION SECTION (Activity Plan: Hellgate Recreation Section) INTRODUCTION PURPOSE THE PLANNING AREA RECREATION MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES VALID EXISTING MANAGEMENT, POSSIBLE ISSUES, CONCERNS, AND OPPORTUNITIES INVENTORY/POSSIBLE INVENTORY NEEDS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, STAKEHOLDERS, AND PARTNERS PLANNING STEPS AND SCHEDULE 4 MANAGEMENT APPROVAL 0070j PREPLAN ANALYSIS for REVISING the RECREATION AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN (Activity Plan: Hellgate Recreation Section) ROGUE RIVER RECREATION SECTION United States Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management Medford District Office Grants Pass Resource Area Recommended by: z7 beaf Le~ Outdoor Recreation Planner May 1991 Grants Pass Resource Area Approved by: ,MAAA- La#- 5- 28-91 Area Managr May 1991 Grants Pass' Resource Area 0072/Outline OUTLINE PREPLAN ANALYSIS for REVISING RECREATION AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN ROGUE RIVER RECREATION SECTION I. INTRODUCTION II. PURPOSE A. Purpose of Recreation Area Management Plan B. Decision to Revise Recreation Area Management Plan C. Purpose of Preplan Analysis ll. THE PLANNING AREA A. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 B. Master Plan of 1969 C. Development and Management Plans of 1972 D. Activity Plan Hellgate Recreation Section of 1978 E. Josephine Timber Management Plan Record of Decision of 1979 F. Josephine Sustained Yield and Management Framework Plan of 1979 G. The Wild and Scenic Rogue River Map IV. RECREATIONAL MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES A. Bureau of Land Management Objectives B. Other Stakeholder Objectives V. VALID EXISTING MANAGEMENT, POSSIBLE ISSUES, CONCERNS, AND OPPORTUNITIES A. Valid Existing Management B. Possible Issues C. Possible Concerns D. Possible Opportunities VI. INVENTORY/POSSIBLE INVENTORY NEEDS A. Possible Inventories B. Geographic Information System Outline - 1 0072/Outline Vil. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, STAKEHOLDERS, AND PARTNERSHIPS A. Bureau of Land Management B. Stakeholders VilI. PLANNING STEPS AND SCHEDULE A. Planning Steps B. Planning Schedule IX. MANAGEMENT APPROVAL A. Recommendations B. Approval X. REFERENCES APPENDICES IV-A Legislative Intent IV-B Management Direction from Development and Management Plans of 1972 IV-C Research and Evaluation, Activity Plan: Hellgate Recreation Section IV-D Prohibited Acts of 1981 IV-E Time and Space Distribution Management Efforts IV-F Rogue River Scenic Waterway Classifications: Applegate River to Grave Creek VII-A Concepts for a Public Participation Plan TABLES VII-1 Interdisciplinary Team VII-2 Responsibility Chart VII-3 Management Team VIII-1 Schedule ACRONYMS ACEC Area of Critical Environmental Concern ACT Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 BLM Bureau of Land Management CA Cooperative Agreement CE Categorical Exclusion CFR Code of Federal Regulations CHA Critical Habitat Area CMA Cooperative Management Agreement DEQ Department of Environmental Quality DSL Division of State Lands EA Environmental Assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement FLPMA Federal Land Policy and Management Act FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact GIS Geographic Information System HCA Habitat Conservation Area Outline - 2 0072/Outline IA Interagency Agreement IBLA Interior Board of Land Appeals ID Interdisciplinary LAC Limits of Acceptable Change LIS Land Informabon System MDO Medford District Office MFP Management Framework Plan MOU Memorandum of Understanding MS Mineral Survey MTB Motorized Tour Boat NCR Noncommercial Rock NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NPS National Park Service OAR Oregon Administrative Rules ODFW Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife OMB Office of Management and Budget OR Oregon ORS Oregon Revised Statues ORV Off-Road Vehicle OSDF Oregon State Department of Forestry OSMB Oregon State Marine Board OSO Oregon State Office OSP&RD Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department OWRD Oregon Water Resources Department P Production PAOT Persons At One Time PCAO President's Commission on Americans Outdoors PLO Public Land Order PNORCPS Pacific Northwest Outdoor Recreation Consumption Project Study RAMP Recreation Area Management Plan RIS Recreation Information System RMIS Recreation Management Information System RMP Resource Management Plan ROS Recreation Opportunity Spectrum R&PP Recreation and Public Purpose RVCOG Rogue Valley Council of Governments SCORP Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan SCW Scenic Conservancy Waterway SRMA Special Recreation Management Area URA Unit Resource Analysis USC United States Congress USDA United States Department of Agriculture USDI United States Department of Interior USFS United States Forest Service USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service VIM Visitor Impact Management VRM Visual Resource Management WM Willamette Meridian WO Washington Office W&SR Wild and Scenic River Outline - 3 - - 0062j Introduction PREPLAN ANALYSIS for REVISING RECREATION AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN ROGUE RIVER RECREATION SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION The 27 mile recreation section of the Rogue River from the Applegate River to Grave Creek provides a broad range of land and water based recreation opportunities. Recreational use of this segment of the river has minimum regulations. Campgrounds, several day use recreation sites, and boat launching facilities are available. All commercial recreation would be permitted; present commercial activities permitted are motorized tour boats (MTBs), guided floats, and fishing trips. Private recreation activities are unregulated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The river's proximity to Medford and Grants Pass, abundant nearby recreation support services (e.g., shuttles, rafting supplies, motels, restaurants, guides, etc.), and a growing public interest in river recreation have led to a tremendous increase in visitor use. This preplan analysis documents the decision to revise the Hellgate recreation plan for the Rogue River. I -1 0063j Purpose 11. PURPOSE A. Purpose of Recreation Area Management Plan B. Decision to Revise Recreation Area Management Plan C. Purpose of Preplan Analysis 11 - 1 0063j Purpose II. PURPOSE A. Purpose of Recreation Area Management Plan A recreation area management plan (RAMP) is an officially approved document for a specific geographic area of public land which identifies the management actions to be implemented to achieve recreation related decisions made in a management framework plan (MFP) or resource management plan (RMP). The RAMP is the link between the allocation of land for recreation use in the multiple-use planning process and the actions necessary to implement such allocations. The RAMP does the following: 1. Sets forth the direction for management (i.e., administration, development, and protection) of recreation use and recreation resources for approximately 10 years. 2. Identifies specific management actions to be taken to manage recreation use and recreation resources; and 3. Establishes the general sequence of implementing these management actions. The RAMP is constrained by the MFP or RMP objectives and land use allocations. Within these multiple-use constraints, the RAMP planning effort considers the various alternative management actions available for achieving identified objectives for recreation resource and recreation user management. B. Decision to Revise Recreation Area Management Plan A RAMP may be expanded or altered in response to unforeseen increases in visitor use, user conflicts, resource impacts, new use trends, and research. A decision to revise the RAMP was made because the management situation for the river has changed significantly. Use of the river has increased dramatically, creating numerous conflicts between competing users and unforeseen demands on the recreation resource. Public Interest in the river resource has escalated which in turn has created tremendous interest in BLM's management of the river. The economic impact of river recreation has been recognized by the public as a significant contributor to economic stability in the local area. The city of Grants Pass and Josephine County have shown considerable interest in the possibility of enhanced management of the river. Increased visitor use within the recreation section is expected to continue. Other important issues in the recreation section of the Rogue River that require revisiting for resolution are: conflicts among groups of recreationists and between recreation user groups and landowners, potential health and safety problems, and possible damage to natural resources. Dominant uses within the recreation section are pleasure driving, commercial and private fishing (bank and boat), commercial motorized tour boats (MTBs), private motorized boating, and white water floating. Some of these uses conflict when concentrations of users occur within the more popular sections of the river. Rockhounding, picnicking, and camping are also popular. 11- 2 < - - - 0063j Purpose The revised plan will be a comprehensive management plan to provide protection of the river values. It will address resource protection, development of lands and facilities, user capacities, and other management practices necessary or desirable to achieve the purposes of Public Law 90-542, October 2, 1968, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, hereinafter referred to as the "Act" (see section 501 (d)(1) USC 1986). An environmental analysis will be conducted and an environmental assessment will be developed as part of the process for developing the revised plan. C. Purpose of Preplan Analysis The preplan analysis documents the boundaries and the recreation