Crook County Oregon Natural Resources Policy Crook County Board of County Commissioners CROOK COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES PLAN REVISION 013 1 | Page Table of Contents Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Purpose & Need ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Revision .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Severability ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Crook County Overview ............................................................................................................................... 6 Land Use & Management ......................................................................................................................... 8 Agriculture & Timber ............................................................................................................................... 9 Recreation & Tourism ............................................................................................................................. 10 Wilderness and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ..................................................................... 10 Principles for Local Government Coordination Within Crook County ..................................................... 11 Recognition of County Status, Responsibilities, and Authority ............................................................. 11 Statutory and Regulatory Authority ........................................................................................................ 12 County Involvement in Federal Land Management ................................................................................ 12 Coordination ........................................................................................................................................... 12 Statutory Authority - Coordination with BLM ....................................................................................... 14 Statutory and Regulatory Authority-Coordination with the US Forest Service ...................................... 16 History and Objects of Forest Reserves .................................................................................................. 16 NEPA Consistency Review .................................................................................................................... 18 Further Opportunities for County Involvement with Federal Agency Decision-making ....................... 18 Private Property Rights and Property Interests ....................................................................................... 20 Coordinated Management and Conservation .......................................................................................... 20 Position Statements Access & Travel Management .................................................................................. 21 Access & Travel Management Positions ................................................................................................ 22 Agriculture .................................................................................................................................................. 22 Crop Production ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Crop Production Agriculture Position ..................................................................................................... 23 Livestock Production and Grazing .......................................................................................................... 23 Livestock and Grazing Position .............................................................................................................. 24 Data Quality ................................................................................................................................................ 26 CROOK COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES PLAN REVISION 013 2 | Page Data Quality Position .............................................................................................................................. 26 Economy ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 Economic Positions ................................................................................................................................. 28 Energy ......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Energy Source Development Positions ................................................................................................... 31 Environmental ............................................................................................................................................ 32 Environmental Position ........................................................................................................................... 32 Forest Resources ......................................................................................................................................... 33 Forest Management Positions ................................................................................................................. 34 Invasive Species, Noxious Weeds and Pests .............................................................................................. 36 Western Juniper defined as a native invasive species ............................................................................. 37 Invasive Species, Noxious Weeds and Pests Position ............................................................................ 38 Mining ......................................................................................................................................................... 38 Mining Positions ..................................................................................................................................... 38 Natural Resources Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 40 Natural Resources Mitigation Position ................................................................................................... 40 Recreation & Tourism ................................................................................................................................ 42 Recreation and Tourism Positions .......................................................................................................... 42 Special Designations ................................................................................................................................... 44 Special Designation Positions ................................................................................................................. 44 Threatened & Endangered Species ............................................................................................................. 45 Threatened and Endangered Species and Species of Concern Positions ................................................ 45 Watersheds .................................................................................................................................................. 48 Watershed Positions ................................................................................................................................ 49 Wildfire ....................................................................................................................................................... 50 Wildfire Positions ................................................................................................................................... 50 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................................... 51 Wildlife Positions .................................................................................................................................... 51 Wild Horses ................................................................................................................................................ 53 Wild Horse Positions .............................................................................................................................. 53 Glossary ...................................................................................................................................................... 55 CROOK COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES PLAN REVISION 013 3 | Page Introduction Purpose & Need It is the purpose of the Crook County Natural Resources Policy (hereinafter "CCNRP") to set forth the positions of Crook County in regard to the use of and access to natural resources located on public and federal land. In compliance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the National Forest Management Act, it is the Crook County Court’s (hereinafter "Court") priority to engage in coordination with federal and,