The Recreation Resources of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF JAMES CONRAD ALBRECHT for the MS in NATURAL RESOURCES (Name) (Degree) (Major) Date thesis is presented May 13 , 1965 Title THE RECREATION RESOURCES OF THE MALHEUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Abstract approved (Major professor) j Heavy use of outdoor recreation areas in the United States since World War II is endangering their quality. Demand made by a rapidly growing population with rising personal incomes and increasing leisure time is expected to grow 50 percent nationally and 146 percent in Oregon by 1975. In Oregon, population, incomes, and amount of leisure time per person are all increasing more rapidly than nationally. A large influx of out -of -state visitors accelerates the demand. Eighty -five percent of outdoor recreation land in the United States and 95 percent in Oregon is owned by the Federal government. Recreation on Federal land is in general resource -based, that is, it depends upon some natural feature. The role of the Federal government is therefore pre- eminent in developing sites for resource -based recreation activities. Of the agencies involved in meeting the Federal responsibil- ity, the possible role of the Fish and Wildlife Service is least known. Controlling approximately four percent of outdoor recreation land, the 300 refuges had only 13 million of the more than 500 million visitor -days to outdoor recreation areas in 1960. Recreation visits to refuges are increasing rapidly but apparently the quality and quantity of the remarkable wildlife resources of the National Wildlife Refuge System is little understood. As the mission of the Branch of Wildlife Refuges developed, its role involves the provision of habitat for every species of native wildlife somewhere in the System. The refuges are widely distributed over the nation, with the great majority, particularly those for migratory birds, concentrated in the four great flyways. The Service plans ultimately to include within refuge boundaries some 7.5 million acres of the 12 million acres of wetlands needed to maintain present waterfowl populations. Recreation use compatible with wildlife management is permit- ted on the refuges but development of facilities has been slight. Although express authorization was obtained in 1962 for such development, no funds have since been provided. The Accelerated Public Works Program and the Job Corps Program both provide an avenue for development in some areas. The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, located in southeastern Oregon, is an excellent example of the recreation potential in the Refuge System. One of the larger refuges, its duck and geese populations number over a million during spring and fall migration. Of Oregon's 425 bird species, 226 have been observed on the Refuge; 141 of them are listed as easily seen during one or more seasons of the year. Deer, antelope, and beaver are also easily seen. The Refuge lies in the basin of the two playas, Malheur and Harney Lakes, and extends for forty miles through the marshes of the Blitzen River toward Steens Mountain, an impressive fault block with alpine vegetation. An excellent museum exhibits indigenous species, photographs, nests, and food plants. A display pool provides an opportunity to observe birds at close hand. Besides wildlife obser- vation and photography, Refuge recreation uses include fishing, waterfowl hunting, and an exceptionally high quality annual all deer archery hunt. Camping and picnicking are commonly practiced in conjunc- tion with other recreation activities. Recreation use of the Refuge is limited by inadequate facilities. Campsites are minimally developed and Refuge roads are impass- able in wet weather. Authorization for the establishment of a Job Corps Camp on the Refuge in June of 1965 has been obtained and it is expected that Corps projects will serve to alleviate the deficiencies. Development of a significant recreation resource seems assured at a time of growing need. THE RECREATION RESOURCES OF THE MALHEUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE by JAMES CONRAD ALBRECHT A THESIS submitted to OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE June 1965 APPROVED: Professor of Natural Res,Eùrces In Charge of Major Chairman of Department of Natural Resources Dean of Graduate School Date thesis is presented May 13, 1965 Typed by Evelyn James Albrecht TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction 1 II. Outdoor Recreation in the United States 6 III. Outdoor Recreation in Oregon -- Trends,Needs, and Facilities 13 IV. The Fish and Wildlife Service and Outdoor Recreation 18 Introduction 18 The Refuge System 19 Finances 23 The Resources 24 The Authorization 28 The Use and Potential 33 V. The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge 41 Introduction 41 Refuge Recreation Resources 47 Introduction 47 Wildlife and Habitat 48 Climate 65 Geologic Features 68 Historical Interest 76 The Recreation Use 78 Potential for Recreation 84 Development Probabilities 93 VI. Summary and Conclusions 95 Bibliography 99 Appendix I 104 Appendix II 106 Appendix III 109 Appendix IV 111 LIST OF FIGURES 1. Attendance at Outdoor Recreation Facilities in the United States 10 2. Public Use of National Wildlife Refuges, 1954 -1963 35 3. Map of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge 46 4. Big Sagebrush Field in the Blitzen Valley 56 5. Krumbo Valley Looking West Toward Blitzen Valley from Krumbo Dam 56 6. Pond near Witzel Patrol Station 57 7. Boca Lake Looking North 57 8. Meadow to West of Boca Lake, Looking Northwest 58 9. Blitzen Valley Looking North from P -Ranch Tower 58 10. Blitzen Valley Looking West Toward Frenchglen from P -Ranch Tower 59 11. West End of Malheur Lake from Headquarters Tower 60 12. East End of Malheur Lake from Headquarters Tower 61 13. Display Pool at Refuge Headquarters 64 14. Malheur Gap 71 15. Glaciated Valley of Upper Kiger Creek, Viewed from the Crest of Steens Mountain 72 16. East Face of the High Steens, an Eroded Fault Scarp 74 17. Map. Geology of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and Environs - 75 18. Map of Archery Hunting Area on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge 79 19. Map of the Fishing Area on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge 81 20. Krumbo Reservoir on Opening Day, 1960 82 21. Sign North of Refuge on Highway 205 84 22. Fish Lake on Steens Mountain 85 23. Headquarters Campsite Looking East 88 24. Krumbo Reservoir Campsite from the South 89 25. Witzel Patrol Station Picnic Area 89 26. Page Dam Campsite, Fish and Wildlife Service Section 90 27. Page Dam Campsite, Bureau of Land Management Section 90 28. Map. Recreation Sites in Malheur Lake and Blitzen Valley Units of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge 92 LIST OF TABLES I. Ownership of Public Outdoor Recreation Land in the . United States 11 II. Land in Public Recreation Areas 12 III, Ownership of Recreation Land in Oregon 16 IV. Visitor Attendance at Oregon Non -Urban Park and Recreation Areas 16 V. Facilities on National Wildlife Refuges 36 VI, National Wildlife Refuge Facilities, Long Range Capacity Possible with 1960 Acerage and Conditions 36 VII, Nesting Birds Abundant or Common on the Malheur Refuge in Spring, Summer, and Fall, Inclusive 51 VIII. Birds Nesting Locally and Abundant, Common, or Uncommon during Summer and Possibly One Other Season but not Both Spring and Fall 52 IX. Birds not Listed Previously -- Abundant, Common, or Uncommon in Both Spring and Fall but not in Summer 52 X. Birds not Listed Previously -- Abundant, Common, or Uncommon in Spring, Fall, or Winter 52 XI. Sago Pondweed and Waterfowl Use on Malheur Lake 54 XII, Habitat Types on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Year Ending August 31, 1964 62 XIII, Waterfowl Use Days on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for the Year Ending August 31, 1964 62 XIV. Waterfowl Production on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for the Year Ending August 31, 1964 63 XV, Some Duck and Goose Use Days on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Spring and Fall, 1959 63 THE RECREATION RESOURCES OF THE MALHEUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE I. INTRODUCTION Outdoor recreation in the United States is approaching a cri- sis. The development of recreation areas and facilities is not keeping pace with the greatly increased demand made by a rapidly - growing population. The demand is further accelerated by rising personal incomes and shorter working hours. Intensive activity on some recreation areas (most notably Yosemite National Park) since World War II has made it apparent that recreation, like any other land use, has a saturation point beyond which quality cannot be maintained. If development of outdoor recreation resources continues to lag a shortage of adequate facilities is imminent within two decades at the present rate of increased use. Ultimately, with an ever -increasing population, some types of outdoor recreation will not be possible -- wilderness or its approximation will disappear- -but resources, if properly developed, are adequate to meet the demand for several decades. In order to alleviate shortages and enhance exist- ing facilities an inventory and evaluation of recreation resources is essential. The enjoyment of many outdoor recreation activities is greater if areas are large and have a virgin character. The principle is relative, rather than absolute, and does not preclude many other uses of the land. Application does not involve county and city parks developed for group sports, children's play areas and swimming, but it is generally applicable to nature study, camping, hiking, and 2 similar activities. The greater part (85 percent) of non -private land having these qualities is controlled by the Federal government. The amounts of water and wetlands in designated recreation areas are particularly significant because much privately-owned waterfowl habitat is being converted to other uses. In this category the Federal government is again the major landholder although the ratio is not nearly so large.

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