United States Department of Agriculture Malheur National Forest Land Management Plan Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region 2018 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Accessibility: We make every effort to create documents that are accessible to individuals of all abilities; however, limitations with our word processing programs may prevent some parts of this document from being readable by computer-assisted reading devices. If you need assistance with any part of this document, please contact the Malheur National Forest at (541) 575-3000. Land Management Plan for the Malheur National Forest Grant, Harney, Baker, Malheur, and Crook Counties, Oregon Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Cooperating Agencies: Grant County, Oregon Harney County, Oregon Malheur County, Oregon Other Governments Involved: Burns-Paiute Tribe Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation State of Oregon Responsible Official: Jim Peña, Regional Forester USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region 1220 SW 3rd Avenue Portland, OR 97208 For Information Contact: Forest Planner Malheur National Forest 431 Patterson Bridge Road P.O. Box 909 John Day, OR 97845 (541) 575-3000 Websites: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/BlueMtnsPlanRevision http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/malheur/home Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose of the Land Management Plan .............................................................................................. 1 Legal Framework................................................................................................................................ 2 Best Available Science ....................................................................................................................... 3 Organization of the Forest Plan .......................................................................................................... 4 Forest Plan Components ..................................................................................................................... 5 Part 1—Vision ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Geographical Location ....................................................................................................................... 9 Roles and Contributions of the National Forests in the Blue Mountains ......................................... 12 Unique Physical and Biological Characteristics ........................................................................... 12 Social and Economic Characteristics ............................................................................................ 13 Management Challenges .................................................................................................................. 15 Social and Economic Expectations ............................................................................................... 16 Diverse Experiences ..................................................................................................................... 17 Transportation System .................................................................................................................. 17 Grazing ......................................................................................................................................... 17 Fire-adapted Ecosystems .............................................................................................................. 17 Invasive Species ........................................................................................................................... 18 Wildlife Habitat ............................................................................................................................ 18 Old Forest ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Watersheds and Aquatic Habitats ................................................................................................. 18 Wild Horses .................................................................................................................................. 20 Climate Change ............................................................................................................................ 20 Goals and Desired Conditions .......................................................................................................... 24 Goal 1: Promote Ecological Integrity ........................................................................................... 25 1.1 Watershed Function ........................................................................................................... 25 1.2 Species Diversity ............................................................................................................... 36 1.3 Federally Listed Species .................................................................................................... 39 1.4 Disturbance Processes ....................................................................................................... 41 1.5 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................ 46 1.6 Structural Stages ................................................................................................................ 47 1.7 Plant Species Composition ................................................................................................ 50 1.8 Stand Density .................................................................................................................... 53 1.9 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 55 1.10 Soil Quality...................................................................................................................... 56 1.11 Water Quality .................................................................................................................. 58 1.12 Landscape Patterns .......................................................................................................... 59 1.13 Special Plant Habitats ...................................................................................................... 61 1.14 Old Forest and Individual Old/Large Trees ..................................................................... 64 1.15 Snags and Down Wood ................................................................................................... 66 Goal 2: Promote Social Well-being .............................................................................................. 70 2.1 Scenery .............................................................................................................................. 70 2.2 Recreation .......................................................................................................................... 73 2.3 Hunting and Fishing .......................................................................................................... 77 2.4 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................ 81 2.5 Roads and Trails Access .................................................................................................... 82 2.6 Wildland-Urban Interface .................................................................................................