BLM Burns District Office Steens Mountain Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Plan Appendix P - Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and ProtectionWSRP Area Resource Management Plan August 2005 Public Lands USA: Use, Share, Appreciate As the Nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interest of all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in Island Territories under U.S. administration. Photo courtesy of John Craig. TABLE OF CONTENTS Steens Mountain Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronym List . v Introduction . .1 Plan Organization . .1 Background . .1 Plan Purpose . .1 Relationship to BLM Planning . .2 Public Involvement . .2 Steens Mountain Advisory Council . .2 Area Overview . .2 General Location and Boundaries . .2 Access . .3 Land Ownership . .3 History of Use for Steens Mountain Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers . .4 Steens Mountain Wilderness Overview . .4 Unique Wilderness Attributes . .4 Wilderness Management Areas . .5 Wild and Scenic Rivers Overview . .6 Public Lands in Wild and Scenic River Corridors outside Steens Mountain Wilderness . .7 Outstandingly Remarkable Values . .8 Management Goals and Objectives . .10 Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act . .11 Steens Mountain Wilderness Guidance . .11 Wild and Scenic Rivers Guidance . .12 Other Guidance . .12 Management Strategy . .12 Wild and Scenic Rivers Management Assumptions . .12 Wilderness Minimum Requirement Decision Guide . .13 Wilderness Administrative Elements . .13 Aircraft Overflights . .13 Lands and Realty . .14 Wildland Fire Management . .15 Emergency Services and Law Enforcement . .16 Partnerships and Volunteers . .17 Education and Outreach . .18 Research . .19 Visitor Use Elements . .19 Recreation Facilities only in Wild and Scenic River Corridors outside Wilderness . .19 Wilderness Trails and Trailheads . .20 Wilderness and Wild and Scenic River Use Guidelines . .22 Special Recreation Permits . .28 Natural and Cultural Resource Elements . .29 Air Quality . .29 Water Resources . .29 Soils and Biological Soil Crusts . .31 Vegetation . .32 Noxious Weeds . .38 P – i STEENS MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS AND WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS PLAN Fish . .39 Wildlife . .41 Paleontological Resources . ..