Analysis of the Management Situation Eastern Washington and San Juan Resource Management Plan March 2011 For More Information Contact: BLM Spokane District Office 1103 N. Fancher Rd. Spokane Valley, WA 99212 Phone: 509-536-1200 Email: [email protected] Or visit the project website: www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/plans/ewsjrmp Analysis of the Management Situation Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Purpose of the Analysis of the Management Situation .......................................................................1 1.2 General Description of the Planning Area ..........................................................................................2 Chapter 2 Area Profile ...................................................................................................................................3 2.1 Resources ............................................................................................................................................3 2.1.1 Regional Context ..........................................................................................................................3 2.1.1.1 Physiographic Regions .........................................................................................................3 2.1.1.2 Ecoregions ............................................................................................................................3 2.1.1.3 Human Geographic Mapping Units ....................................................................................10 2.1.2 Resource Specific Information ...................................................................................................12 2.1.2.1 Climate ...............................................................................................................................12 2.1.2.2 Air Quality ..........................................................................................................................14 2.1.2.3 Geology ..............................................................................................................................16 2.1.2.4 Soil Resources ....................................................................................................................18 2.1.2.5 Water Resources .................................................................................................................23 2.1.2.6 Vegetative Communities ....................................................................................................28 2.1.2.7 Noxious Weeds and Invasive Plants ...................................................................................49 2.1.2.8 Special Status Plants ...........................................................................................................59 2.1.2.9 Fisheries Resources ............................................................................................................64 2.1.2.10 Wildlife .............................................................................................................................67 2.1.2.11 Special Status Wildlife .....................................................................................................92 2.1.2.12 Wildland Fire Ecology and Management .......................................................................109 2.1.2.13 Cultural Resources .........................................................................................................118 2.1.2.14 Paleontology ...................................................................................................................122 2.1.2.15 Visual Resources ............................................................................................................125 2.1.2.16 Wilderness Characteristics .............................................................................................128 2.1.2.17 Cave and Karst Resources ..............................................................................................130 2.2 Resource Uses .................................................................................................................................131 2.2.1 Facilities ...................................................................................................................................131 2.2.2 Forestry and Woodland Products .............................................................................................132 2.2.3 Livestock Grazing ....................................................................................................................134 2.2.4 Minerals ....................................................................................................................................141 2.2.5 Recreation .................................................................................................................................159 2.2.6 Renewable Energy ....................................................................................................................176 2.2.6.1 Biomass ............................................................................................................................176 2.2.6.2 Wind Energy .....................................................................................................................177 2.2.6.3 Solar Energy .....................................................................................................................178 2.2.7 Transportation and Access........................................................................................................179 2.2.8 Utility Corridors, Land Use Authorizations, and Communication Sites ..................................182 2.2.9 Land Tenure..............................................................................................................................185 2.2.10 Withdrawals ............................................................................................................................187 2.3 Special Designations .......................................................................................................................190 2.3.1 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ................................................................................190 2.3.2 Back Country Byways ..............................................................................................................192 2.3.3 National Recreation Areas ........................................................................................................192 2.3.4 National Scenic, Historic, and Geologic Trails ........................................................................192 2.3.5 National Recreation Trails ........................................................................................................195 2.3.6 Wild and Scenic Rivers ............................................................................................................195 i Eastern Washington and San Juan Resource Management Plan 2.3.7 Wilderness Areas ..................................................................................................................... 196 2.3.8 Wilderness Study Areas........................................................................................................... 196 2.3.9 National Park Service National Natural Landmarks Program ................................................. 197 2.4 Social and Economics .................................................................................................................... 198 2.4.1 Resource-Specific Information for Tribal Interests ................................................................. 198 2.4.2 Public Safety ............................................................................................................................ 202 2.4.2.1 Abandoned Mines (Metal and Coal) ............................................................................... 202 2.4.2.2 Hazardous Materials ........................................................................................................ 206 2.4.2.3 Geologic Hazards (Landslides, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes) ....................... 207 2.4.3 Social and Economic Conditions ............................................................................................. 209 Chapter 3 Current Management ............................................................................................................... 229 3.1 Land Use Plan Decisions for Lands and Resources in the Planning Area ..................................... 229 3.2 Relevance to Current Issues, Laws, Regulations, and Policies ...................................................... 229 Chapter 4 Management Opportunities ...................................................................................................... 279 4.1 Opportunities Based on Analysis of Current Management Direction ............................................ 279 4.1.1 Resources ................................................................................................................................. 279 4.1.1.1 Soil Resources ................................................................................................................. 279 4.1.1.2 Vegetative Communities ................................................................................................. 279 4.1.1.3 Noxious Weeds