Lawen Access Area in Harney County for $2.40 Per Acre Per Year ($4056 Annually)
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ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM Regional Advisory Council Project Proposal Review ODFW Region / A&H Regional Council: East Region / Malheur Watershed Council Project Proposal Title: Juhl Access Area Applicants(s): Jolene Juhl Date of Council Review: February 17, 2017 Type of Project: Access X Habitat Other Damage ____ Motion: Jarod Lemos made a motion to approve the project as proposed. Andrew Shields seconded the motion. Council Member Position Vote Fred Hellbusch Chairman Yes Kirk Davies Landowner Representative Yes Ryan Peila Landowner Representative Yes Wannie Mackenzie Landowner Representative Absent Todd Dinsmore Hunter Representative Absent Jarod Lemos Hunter Representative Yes Andrew Shields Hunter Representative Yes Disposition of Vote: Motion passed 5:0 Project Strengths: • Access area receives good use from hunters • Provides quality pheasant hunting opportunities, which are rare • Most years has good water through the property Project Concerns: • None ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM Application for Grant Funds 1. Project Title: Juhl – Lawen Expansion 2. Applicant: Jolene Juhl Phone: (218) 686-2817 Grantee: Jolene Juhl (As will appear on contract/payments) If private nonprofit, attach IRS letter of 501(c) (3) status Address: 14783 County Road 104 City/State/Zip: Greenbush, MN 56726 Phone: (218) 686-2817 Email: [email protected] 3. Location: ODFW Region: East Watershed District / Wildlife Management Unit: Malheur Watershed / Steens WMU County: Harney Township/Range/Section: T 26 S R 32 E Sec. 10 and 15 4. Type of Project: ☐Habitat Improvement ☒Access ☐Damage 5. Number of acres of habitat to be improved: N/A 6. Number of acres of access to be provided: 1,690 acres ☒Welcome to Hunt ☐By Permission ☐Other 7. Proposed Start Date: 08/01/2017 8. Proposed End Date: 04/01/2022 9. Estimated Cost of Project: $22,780 10. Access and Habitat Fund Request: $20,280 ($4,056 x 5 yrs.) 11. Briefly explain what the project proposes to do: This project provides 1,690 acres of “Welcome to Hunt” public hunting access near the Lawen Access Area in Harney County for $2.40 per acre per year ($4056 annually). On high water years, this property provides quality waterfowl hunting opportunities and during drier period’s pheasant hunting is the primary use. The property is enrolled in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and has already undergone extensive wetland habitat work by Ducks Unlimited, NRCS, and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. 12. Habitat and Landscape: Describe the habitat and landscape of the project area. This project is located near the edge of Malheur Lake. Habitat on the project area includes sloughs, a fork of the Silvies River, meadow hay, and cattails. On high water years the project area can have a high proportion of open water. Note: Filing of this application does not guarantee acceptance of the proposal nor any portion thereof. Applicants whose projects are approved by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be notified by mail. 2 | 19 Access and Habitat Application for Grant Funds 13. Background: Describe the project area and explain the wildlife habitat and/or access challenge or opportunity this project will address. Address how current management actions benefit public access and/or wildlife and their habitat needs. This project provides pheasant hunting opportunities and waterfowl hunting opportunities, both of which are limited in the Harney District. This property is also close to town, making it great for youth hunts and before/after work hunts. 14. Past A&H History: Describe any past Access & Habitat project, especially if the proposed project deals with continuation or amendment to a past project. This project has been enrolled in the Access and Habitat program for the previous five years (2012-09). The property is near the existing Lawen Access Area and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Through the construction of dikes and water control structures, Ducks Unlimited and NRCS have worked extensively to increase wetland productivity on the project site. This property is close to town and during pheasant season receives almost constant use. 15. Hunter Use Data: New Projects: Must give estimates of expected usage and how usage will be assessed. Old Projects: Use Access Area Permit data, vehicle or pedestrian counts, hunter interviews, etc. Hunter Satisfaction 120 100 80 60 # of Hunters 40 20 0 1 2 3 4 5 Figure 1 – Hunter use “satisfaction” rankings for the Juhl Access Area. Average hunter satisfaction over the life of the Juhl Access Area is 3.82 on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = Unsatisfied 5 = Very Satisfied). 16. Project Objective(s): (a) What is the objective of the proposed project? Note: Filing of this application does not guarantee acceptance of the proposal nor any portion thereof. Applicants whose projects are approved by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be notified by mail. 3 | 19 Access and Habitat Application for Grant Funds See above (b) How will the project benefit wildlife habitat? N/A (c) Select species that will benefit from habitat improvements: N/A Big Game Upland Bird Migratory Game Bird ☐Deer ☐Chukar ☐Ducks ☐Elk ☐Mountain Quail ☐Geese ☐ ☐ Bear Valley Quail ☐American Coot ☐ Cougar ☐Pheasants ☐Wilsons Snipe ☐ ☐ ☐Pronghorn Forest Grouse Mourning Dove ☐ ☐ ☐Bighorn Sheep Turkey Band Tailed Pigeon ☐Mountain Goat ☐Gray Partridge ☐Sage Grouse (d) Length of time benefits provided ☐<3yr ☐3-6yr ☐>6yr Examples of Project Benefit Duration Noxious weed……...2yrs Forage planting….………....5yrs Aspen fencing…..........10yrs Range fertilization…2yrs Forest thinning….……….....5yrs Aspen plant/fence…….10yrs Rx Fire-grassland…..2yrs Aspen (conifer removal)….5yrs Road closure…………..10yrs Rx Fire-forested….…3yrs Juniper removal………….…..7yrs Road decommission….10yrs Fence Removal……10yrs Water Dev. /Enhancement..10yrs (Source: Blue Mountains Elk Initiative Project Evaluation Criteria) (e) How will the project benefit public access? If limited access, how many hunters will be permitted? The Juhl Access Project will provide 1,700 acres of “Welcome to Hunt” access. (f) Select species for which public access will provided: Big Game Upland Bird Migratory Game Bird ☒ ☒ Deer ☐ Chukar Ducks ☐ Elk ☐ Mountain Quail ☒ Geese ☐ Bear ☐ Valley Quail ☒ American Coot ☐ ☒ Cougar Pheasants ☐ Wilsons Snipe ☒ ☒ Pronghorn ☐ Forest Grouse Mourning Dove ☐ ☐ ☐ Bighorn Sheep Turkey Band Tailed Pigeon ☐ ☐ Mountain Goat Gray Partridge ☒ ☐ Sage Grouse Other: Coyote Note: Filing of this application does not guarantee acceptance of the proposal nor any portion thereof. Applicants whose projects are approved by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be notified by mail. 4 | 19 Access and Habitat Application for Grant Funds (g) If damage related, how will the project alleviate/eliminate the problem? N/A 17. Project Location: Attach a map and provide description of the location and how to get there from a major highway. Take Highway 78 southeast from Burns. Turn south on Lawen Rd. Go past the Lawen Access area and over the Silvies River Bridge. Take the first right to enter the access area. See map. 18. Procedure: Specifically describe how the project will be conducted--use separate page for additional information, drawings, or pictures. “Welcome to Hunt” access will be provided annually. The property is already signed and a kiosk is already in place. 19. Permits: Have all of the appropriate permits been secured or applied for? Examples: Water Resources Department for water rights, Division of State Lands for fill-removal or wetlands projects. N/A 20. Scheduling: What is the estimated project schedule? a. Habitat Work Start Date: N/A Habitat Work Completion Date: b. Access Agreement Start Date: 08/01/2017 Access Agreement End Date: 04/01/2022 c. List major project activities and time schedule for each: Activity Time (month/year) 1. Collect hunter use permits Seasonally 21. Participation and Funding: Will other organizations or individuals participate in the project? If so, list and describe participation, and attach letters of commitment or verification of grant awards. Costs listed here must be included in “Other Funds” column of the Project Budget (Section 20). Participant Activity Cost 1. Landowner’s agents Project administration $2,500 Have any conditions been placed on the funds listed above which may affect the completion of ☐ ☒ the project? If so, identify and explain. YES NO 22. Project Maintenance and Monitoring: Note: Filing of this application does not guarantee acceptance of the proposal nor any portion thereof. Applicants whose projects are approved by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be notified by mail. 5 | 19 Access and Habitat Application for Grant Funds (a) Who will maintain the project and fund long-term maintenance and/or operation if needed? ODFW staff (b) What element(s) of the project will be monitored, how often, for how long? Hunter use via check-in/check-out permits seasonally. 23. Project Budget Narrative: (Provide details, describe in-kind funding, provide narratives here of non-itemized entries in your worksheet.) 1 Category A&H Funds Other Funds Total Cost Administration L/O In-kind $2,500 $2,500 (Project Admin.) Total $2,500 $2,500 Access Payment 1,690ac@$2.40ac for 5 years ($4,056/year for 5 years) $20,280 $20,280 TOTAL COSTS $22,780 $2,500 $22,780 PAYMENT SCHEDULE Access Year Payment Request for Funds Submitted: August 1, 2017 – March 10, 2018 $4,100 No earlier than August 1, 2017 August 1, 2018 – March 10, 2019 $4,100 No earlier than August 1, 2018 August 1, 2018 – March 10, 2020 $4,100 No earlier than August 1, 2019 August 1, 2020 – March 10, 2021 $4,100 No earlier than August 1, 2020 August 1, 2021 – March 10, 2022 (10% $4,100 No earlier than August 1, 2021 withheld until receipt of completion report) Final Payment $2,278 No earlier than March 1, 2022 Note: Filing of this application does not guarantee acceptance of the proposal nor any portion thereof.