STEENS MOUNTAIN COMPREHENSIVE RECREATION PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOI-BLM-OR-B060-2009-0058-EA Bureau of Land Management Burns District Office 28910 Hwy 20 West Hines, Oregon 97738 541-573-4400 March 19, 2014 i CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION: PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ...................................1 A. Introduction ..........................................................................................................1 1. Historical Background .................................................................................1 2. Description of Planning Area.......................................................................6 B. Purpose and Need for Action...................................................................................6 1. Goals and Objectives ...................................................................................7 a. Recreation ........................................................................................7 b. Off-Highway Vehicles .....................................................................8 c. Wilderness........................................................................................8 d. Wild and Scenic Rivers ....................................................................9 e. Wilderness Study Areas .................................................................10 2. Decision to be Made ..................................................................................10 C. Conformance with Land Use Plans ........................................................................10 D. Consistency with Laws, Regulations, and Policies................................................10 CHAPTER II: IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES AND ISSUES CONSIDERED BUT NOT ANALYZED FURTHER ........................................................................................................12 A. Issues Identified During External Scoping ............................................................12 1. Steens Mountain Back Country Byway.....................................................12 2. Winter Recreation ......................................................................................12 3. Special Recreation Permits ........................................................................12 4. Information, Signing, and Interpretation ...................................................13 5. Developed Camp Sites ...............................................................................13 6. Dispersed Recreation Sites ........................................................................13 7. Overlooks and Other Points of Interest......................................................14 8. Trails and Trailheads ..................................................................................14 9. Wild and Scenic Rivers ..............................................................................14 10. Recreational Demand .................................................................................14 B. Issues Considered but not Analyzed Further .........................................................15 1. Grazing.......................................................................................................15 2. Identification of Off-Highway Vehicle Areas ...........................................15 3. Land Use Decisions ...................................................................................15 4. Climate Change ..........................................................................................15 ii C. Alternative A - No Action Alternative...................................................................16 1. Steens Mountain Back Country Byway.....................................................16 2. Winter Recreation ......................................................................................16 3. Special Recreation Permits ........................................................................17 4. Information, Signing, and Interpretation ...................................................17 5. Developed Campgrounds (Fee-Use) ..........................................................17 6. Dispersed Campgrounds (Non-Fee Use) ...................................................18 7. Overlooks and Other Points of Interest......................................................18 8. Trails and Trailheads ..................................................................................19 D. Actions and Design Features Common to All Alternatives ...................................19 1. Monitoring .................................................................................................19 2. Adaptive Management ...............................................................................20 3. Trails ........................................................................................................20 4. Developed Campgrounds ...........................................................................20 5. Road Maintenance Definition Comparison Summary ...............................21 6. Seed Mixes .................................................................................................21 E. Design Features Common to Alternatives B, C, D................................................22 1. Developed Campgrounds ...........................................................................22 2. Equestrian Camp Sites ...............................................................................22 3. Camp Host Sites .........................................................................................22 4. Dispersed Campgrounds ............................................................................22 5. Trail Design Features .................................................................................22 6. Vault Toilets...............................................................................................23 7. Fencing.......................................................................................................23 a. 4 Strand Wire .................................................................................23 b. Buck Pole Fencing .........................................................................24 8. Other Design Features................................................................................24 F. Alternative B - Modification of Existing Facilities ...............................................24 1. Steens Mountain Back Country Byway.....................................................25 a. Sign for Gate #5 .............................................................................25 iii b. Roads/Ways Closures ....................................................................25 i. Alternative B Map 1 Proposed Closures ............................26 ii. Alternative B Map 2 Proposed Closures ............................26 iii. Alternative B. Map 3 Proposed Closures ...........................27 iv. Road Identified for Inclusion .............................................27 2. Winter Recreation Permits .........................................................................27 3. Special Recreation Permits ........................................................................27 4. Information, Signing, and Interpretation ...................................................27 5. Developed Campgrounds ...........................................................................27 a. Page Springs Campground .............................................................27 b. Fish Lake Campground ..................................................................28 c. Jackman Park Campground ...........................................................28 d. South Steens Family Campground.................................................28 e. South Steens Equestrian Campground ...........................................28 6. Dispersed Campgrounds (Mann Lake Campground) ................................28 7. Overlooks and Other Points of Interest......................................................29 a. Kiger Gorge Overlook and East Rim Overlook.............................29 b. Riddle Brothers Ranch National Historic District .........................29 8. Trails and Trailheads ..................................................................................29 a. Kiger Gorge Trail ...........................................................................29 b. Nye and Wet Blanket Trails ...........................................................29 G. Subalternative B – Modification of Existing Facilities ..........................................29 1. Steens Mountain Back Country Byway and Transportation......................30 2. Little Blitzen Trail Reroute........................................................................32 H. Alternative C - Partial Development ......................................................................33 1. Steens Mountain Back Country Byway and Transportation......................33 2. Winter Recreation Permits .........................................................................33 3. Special Recreation Permits ........................................................................33 iv 4. Information, Signing, and Interpretation ...................................................33 5. Developed Campgrounds ...........................................................................33 a. Fish Lake Campground ..................................................................33 b. Jackm an Park Campground ...........................................................33