U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management San Juan Islands National Monument Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement Analysis of the Management Situation May 2016 Analysis of the Management Situation San Juan Islands National Monument Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement For more information, contact: San Juan Islands National Monument BLM Lopez Island Office PO Box 3 Lopez, WA 98261 Phone: (360) 468-3754 Email: [email protected] Or visit the San Juan Islands National Monument Planning Website at http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/sanjuanislandsnm/ Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 What is an Analysis of the Management Situation? ................................................................ 4 1.2 Background on the San Juan Islands National Monument .................................................... 4 1.3 Brief Description of the Decision Area and Planning Area..................................................... 4 2. Overview of the BLM’s Current Management of the Monument .................................... 5 3. Relationship to Other Agencies’ Programs, Plans, or Policies .......................................... 6 4. Area Profile ............................................................................................................................ 8 4.1 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................... 8 4.2 Climate and Climate Change ..................................................................................................... 9 4.3 Cultural Resources.................................................................................................................... 13 4.4 Education and Interpretation .................................................................................................. 17 4.5 Fire and Fuels ............................................................................................................................ 18 4.6 Geology and Mineral Resources .............................................................................................. 22 4.7 Habitat and Vegetation Communities ..................................................................................... 24 4.8 Hazardous Materials ................................................................................................................ 36 4.9 Invasive Plant Species ............................................................................................................... 37 4.10 Lands and Realty ...................................................................................................................... 40 4.11 Paleontology .............................................................................................................................. 43 4.12 Recreation .................................................................................................................................. 44 4.13 Roads and Trails ....................................................................................................................... 50 4.14 Socioeconomics .......................................................................................................................... 51 4.15 Soil Resources ............................................................................................................................ 59 4.16 Special Designations.................................................................................................................. 62 4.17 Special Status Plants ................................................................................................................. 64 4.18 Tribal Interests .......................................................................................................................... 67 4.19 Visual Resources ....................................................................................................................... 71 4.20 Wilderness Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 72 4.21 Wildlife and Fish ....................................................................................................................... 73 5. List of Preparers .................................................................................................................. 83 6. Glossary ................................................................................................................................ 84 7. References ............................................................................................................................. 86 APPENDIX A: Presidential Proclamation 8947 ...................................................................... 97 APPENDIX B: Pertinent Laws and Regulations ................................................................... 100 1 Frequently Used Acronyms ACRONYM COMPLETE PHRASE ACEC Area of Critical Environmental concern AMS Analysis of the Management Situation BLM Bureau of Land Management CFR Code of Federal Regulations DNR Department of Natural Resources DOI U.S. Department of the Interior EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ERMA Extensive Recreation Management Area ESA Endangered Species Act FLPMA Federal Land Policy and Management Act FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service GIS Geographic Information Systems NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NRHP National Register of Historic Places R&PP Recreation and Public Purposes RMP Resource Management Plan ROW Right-of-Way SRMA Special Recreation Management Area VRI Visual Resources Inventory VRM Visual Resource Management USC U.S. Code of Laws USCG U.S. Coast Guard WDFW Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife WDOE Washington Department of Ecology WNHP Washington Natural Heritage Program 2 Dear Reader, The Bureau of Land Management has prepared this Analysis of the Management Situation (AMS) in support of the development of the San Juan Islands National Monument Resource Management Plan (RMP). The information in the AMS, along with the comments received during the public scoping period (March 1, 2015-April 2, 2015), provides a foundation for subsequent steps in the planning process, including the development of management alternatives for the draft resource management plan and the analysis of the environmental effects of these alternatives. The AMS summarizes how the BLM is currently managing the San Juan Islands National Monument, provides an overview of existing conditions and trends in the planning area, and identifies potential management opportunities the BLM will explore through the planning process. The BLM appreciates the participation of its partners and the public in this planning effort. In March 2015 we held public meetings and a comment period to kick off the planning effort (the results of which are summarized here: www.blm.gov/or/plans/sanjuanislandsnm/scopingrep.php). In January 2016 we held additional public workshops to gather geographically-specific input on human uses in the national monument. Stay tuned for more opportunities to participate in the process. Sincerely, Linda Clark District Manager 3 1. Introduction The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Spokane District Office is currently developing a resource management plan (RMP) for the San Juan Islands National Monument. The BLM will work closely with its many partners and the public during the planning process. This RMP will provide the overarching objectives and direction for the BLM- administered lands in the San Juan Islands. The BLM will consider the impacts of the RMP on the greater San Juan Islands landscape, but the decisions made through the planning effort will only apply to lands and activities administered by the BLM. 1.1 What is an Analysis of the Management Situation? The analysis of the management situation (AMS) is a summary document that describes the condition and trends of resources and uses within the decision area, provides a snapshot of how the BLM is currently managing those resources, and identifies management opportunities the BLM will explore through the planning effort. Because it is only intended to provide a snapshot of resources and management opportunities, the AMS does not provide the level of detail, background information, references, or definitions that will be included in the draft RMP/environmental impact statement (EIS). The data included in this document is preliminary and may be updated or revised in future San Juan Islands National Monument (Monument) RMP planning documents. The BLM will draw upon the AMS as it develops the introduction, affected environment chapter, and no action and action alternatives for the draft RMP/EIS. 1.2 Background on the San Juan Islands National Monument On March 25, 2013, President Obama signed Proclamation 8947 (see Appendix A) designating the Monument. The Monument consists of approximately 1,000 acres of land scattered across the San Juan Islands, which lie in the heart of the Salish Sea. This acreage includes nearly 700 acres currently under BLM jurisdiction and nearly 300 acres withdrawn