Spilyay Tymoo Warm Springs, Oregon February 23, 1990 PAGE 3 Unlimited access , Unlimited access epitomized the appeal of Deschutes River users . speaking at public meetings held in both Madras, February 13, and Bend, February 14. Commercial users and private parties expressed their view that the river could han dle a no-limit entry system in definitely. Many who offered testimony before the Deschutes River Man agement Team acknowledged that problems existed including those of trespass, poor regulation en forcement, overcrowding, jet boat hazards, deterioration of riparian areas and monopolization of favor- ed fishing and campsites, but few wanted more regulation Comments from the public rang ed from Madras Mayor Ed Sites' comment, the Deschutes River "is a good place to party," to the ; importance of the river to the economy of Jefferson County, ex- ' pressed by Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce executive continuation of compatible exist ' director Marjean Whitehousc. ing uses, while providing a wide Some wanted to see more boat range ol public outdoor recreational launch points, some hoped to see opportunities and minimizing user ; less vegetation on the banks of the conflicts. These recreational op river, others wanted to see more portunities would be provided to shrubbery. Staggered boat launch- the extent that they do not substan ing was suggested as well as more ,'a"y impair the natural beauty of ' development of campsites. , Only one person at the Madras meeting emphasized the importance , of looking into the future. Por tland General Electric fisheries I biologist Don Ratliff stated that a limiting figure must be placed on ,' the river. Comments and suggestions of . fered by the public at the scheduled meetings will be used to draft a ,' final plan for management of the Deschutes River. The management ,' plan is required by Oregon legisla- ture House Bill 3019 and by the U.S. Congress in its designation of the river as a National Wild and Scenic River. The river is divided into four segments, each with proposed alter natives for development. Segment one includes 41 river miles from Pelton Reregulating Dam to the Deschutes Club Locked Gate. Section two is IS miles from the Locked Gate to Sherar's Falls. Segment three incorporates 21 miles from Sherar's Falls to Macks Canyon. Segment four is the 23 fiver miles from Macks Canyon Campground to the confluence of the Deschutes River with the Col umbia River. '' Seven agencies are invblved in the planning process including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (with 5,669 acres affected), Integrated Resource Management tribal member survey (Tribal members: Please answer Membership Survey Member Non-member 1. Do you understand what the Integrated Resource Management Planning process 1s about? Yes No I would like more Information on: What Resource should receive priority 1n management? Please select five (5) and mark in order of preferred priority (1 being highest and 5 lowest). Econom1c Development "Farming "Fishing "Food Gathering "Grazing "Water Resources 20ther (Please Specify) What would you like the FOREST to More Clearcuts "More Wildlife Cover Cut More Trees "Leave more downed wood in timber sale units Remove as much merchantable "Allow livestock to graze 1n "Reduce the number of roads Comments: 4) How should Conditional Use areas be managed? Manage for more' recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, site seeing, etc. Provide more protection to wildlife and big game habitat More emphasis on Timber management and harvest Manage areas as they have In the past Protect areas from Wildfire Manage areas 1n a Natural state Provide sanctuary areas for wildlife where hunting 1s not allowed Provide more protection for unique environments Comments 5) What methods, do you think, would best protect food gathering and ulturtllii eanrJt.wa irCIC? f Dlaatfi ThnCfi Tltrott t 1 More regulations with strict enforcement (loggers, trespassers) Identify areas and Implement plans which avoid or restrict other resource uses Restricting the use of herbicideschemicals 1n food gathering areas Limiting rural rousing expansion to protect traditional food gathering areas Protect food gathering areas (e.g. meadows) from further disturbance by limiting access through road closures, no new road construction, etc. Make food gathering areas more accessible to Tribal members Comments: the Bureau of Land Management (20.64 1 ). the State of Oregon (4.806). the governor appointed Deschutes River Management Committee, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wasco, Sherman and Jefferson Counties, and the the City of Maupin. (Pri vate acreage includes 10,251). The planning process following public meetings includes prepara tion of an Environmental Impact State ment tor eacn alternative. I nc pre ferred alternatives will be selected by the Policy Group by Spring 1990. The first plan is scheduled to be completed Fall 1990 with im plementation in the winter of that year. Thcplan will be continuously monitored, evaluated and updated. uverall goal lor the management of the river as stated in a Bureau of Land Management summary doc ument is stated as being "To man age the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes River Canyon on a seg ment by segment basis to allow the Columbia River Macks Canyon Campground IPelton Reregulating Dam Date. Hunting ' Logging Rural Housing TribalPublic Recreation Wood Cutting be like in the future? Less Clearcuts Less Cover-More Open Ground Reduce Timber Cutting wood as possible forest management units Build more Roads J r SEGMENTS i Sharart Falls SEGMENT 2 Deschutes Club . Locked Gate SEGMENT 1 I wanted on the river canyon, dimish its esthetic, fish and wildlife, scientific and recreational values and take into account the rights and interests of private landowners." Minimum standards for the entire planning area according to the BLM document include: I. Any riparian and upland area that is in declining status or is in less than mid-scral (25 of less or the plant composi tion found in the potential natural plant community) ecological sta tus; 2. Any riverbank that is actively eroding at such a ra? that water quality and fish habitat are adver sely affected; 3. Any significant natural feature or recreational value that is eroding or being ir reparably damaged by human use to the point that it is in danger of being lost; 4. Any significant health hazard caused by human use; 5. Any damage to the habitat of or endangered species caused by human use; 6. Any abuse of signifi cant historical, archaeological or geological sites; 7. Any significant degradation of waterquality due to human use; 8. Any fish population decreases below the following lev els: Spring chinook-total return 8.500 to 12.000, harvest 5.500 to 8.000. spawning escapement 3,000 IRMP will create multiple-use reservation In 1987 the Warm Springs Tribal Council directed all tribal and Bureau of Indian Affairs resource managers to determine the annual allowable cut for the reservation, taking into account all resources. They wanted the entire reservation analyzed, but in the six-month time-frame allotted, resource man agers were able only to collect and analyze data from the Beaver Creek watershed. Resource managers could only estimate the allowable cut for other watersheds taking into consideration minimal impacts on other resources. Looking at the results of this first integrated resource plan, Tribal Council directed resource man agers to develop a plan for the reservation forested areas, a total Integrated Resource Management Plan. The forest management plans previously used to manage resources in forested areas on the reservation "didn't take into account all of the resources," explains BIA Range and Agriculture coordinator Ross Racine. "Resource managers were allowed to comment on the sales but the objective was to maximize questions and 6. Which CULTURAL PLANTS do you think are most Important to manage for: (Please number your choices In order of highest to least Importance M hPino hinhe.T and 12 lowest). the same number if they are ot equal piaxl (blscuitroot) lukw? (desert parsley) xamsl (Indian celery!- Sa'mamul (wild onion) sawltk (Indian carrot! Huckleberries k'und (Black Moss) SuxaSuxa (wild mint) OTHER 7. How Should Stream and Lake areas be managed? More emphasis on overall watershed protection and water quality Provide more recreational opportunities to Tribal members Manage stream and lake areas for Improved F1sh and Wildlife Habitat More emphasis on livestock grazing restrictions 1n these areas Manage stream and lake areas for more timber production Keep current level of management the same Manage certain streams for economic returns to the Tribe (Hydro-electric production, Irrigation, community water systems) Comments: B. How should the forest road systems Build more roads Would WOUIa Support roao Closures Would support road closures ' Would like to see more all Would support road closures iimper naunng.etc. The most effective method of road closures In my opinion would be: Signs , . , BouldersLogs (Still provides for fire access in emergencies) Tank Traps (Large pits made by Cats or blasting) R1PPi"9 and reseedlng roads to timber or grass species Gating Comments: 9. In your opinion, FIRE In resource management could be used more in: ' Enhancing range lands Understory treatment in commercial forest lands Huckleberry site reproduction Improving wildlife habitat In my opinion, fire 1s used too much Feel stricter air quality standards should be adopted Comments: 10. How should standing and downed dead trees be managed? Standing dead trees should be left in the forest for wildlife More dead and downed logs should be left in timber sale units for personal firewood use More trees left for future soil productivity Certain areas should be designated for commercial firewood cutting - . i a J t -J.I i ni.fi nnantlnnt fore trees snouio oe useu ur rore trees jmu.u t Less trees should be used for River to 4.000, Fall chinook-total return 10.000 to 12,000. harvest 4.000 5,000, spawning escapement 6,000 to 7.000; Summer steelhead-total return 16.000 to 22.000, harvest 6.000 to 12.000, spawning escape ment 10,000; Rainbow trout will be managed as wild fish, maintained at a total population indicated by 1.500 to 2.500 fish per mile larger than eight inches in the Nena Creek area; Bull trout will be managed to maintain the existing population; Sockeyc will be managed to develop and maintain a self-sustaining run; 9. Any significant damage to pri vate land and improvements within or adjacent to the planning area resulting from public use. Questions regarding the Des chutes River Management Plan may be directed locally to DRMC member Louie Pitt. Jr. at the Warm Springs Natural Resources Office. Copies of the issues and alterna tives are available through the Bureau of Land Management Of fice, P.O. Box 550. Princville. Ore gon 97754. Comments on the plan will be accepted until February 28, 1990 and can be sent to the BLM office in Princville. the timber resource with con sideration to other resources." Racine adds. The IRMP process currently in use is organized so resource man agers "complement rather than compete" with one another, notes Racine. With proper management planning, the IRMP will create a multiple-use reservation rather than one dedicated to the development of one resource. Tribal members attending IRMP public meetings have expressed concern about all resources on the reservation. They have emphasized an interest in protecting resources, controlling logging, limiting the use of chemicals, roads and pol lution. Focus in the IRMP processs is currently directed at data collection and analysis of the data. Resource managers meet weekly and public meetings are being held to discuss the IRMP. Alternatives for the reservation's watersheds will be presented to Tribal Council in the final plan which will give the Council an overview of the condition of the resources in the watershed and the return survey to You mav number one or more Items with importance to you.) xaus (bltteroot) camas Choke cherries mamn be managed? like to see fewer roads iui nuint K"""11"" for watershed protection weather roads for recreationa tor wiiaiue protection 1 uses, iwmriiai ih'cv's "ft" -. rr-. . commercial chipping operations Integrated planning needed Management of natural resou ccs demands a comprehensive view of all resources. "The stakes arc too high to do otherwise." says George Brown, dean of the School of Forestry at Oregon State Univer sity. During the annual meeting of the Oregon Chapter of the Ameri can Fisheries Society, meeting February 7-9 at Rippling River Resort, the fisheries professionals examined (he importance of look ing at natural resources in an inte grated manner to maintain quality for future generations. Rather than fostering an "illusion of k nowledge," says Brown, resource managers must work together and work with the public to discover solutions to ongoing problems. The threatened and endangered species "translates into a threatened ecology, " points out Oregon De partment of Fish and Wildlife Jim Martin. The best job professionals are doing is not keeping up with the diminishing quality of resources. Martin emphasizes that as profes sionals "we've come a long way," but it isn't good enough. It's neces sary to make certain that resource quali'v nm inf that adaptability effect of developing one resource over another. Resource managers will be sub mitting the final drafts of the plan beginning in September 1990 with the Forest plan. Other resource plans will be submitted September 1991. Evaluation, alterations and monitoring will continue on the watersheds even after implement ation of the plan. The final plan is scheduled for implementation in June 1992. Tribal members are encouraged to participate in the I R M P process by attending meetings and making comment. Those with special in terests may contact the chairman BP A budget The $1.23 trillion budget sub mitted by President Bush proposes a change in the way marketing agencies, including Bonneville Power Administration, repays their federal debt. It could raise Pacific Northwest electric rates as much as 42 percent. The president is also proposing to cut BPA's operating budget by the Natural Resources office) 11. Recreational Developments in th FOREST should be: Create more recreational opportunities for Tribal members Create more commercial recreation opportunities for non-members Restore and protect scenic and visual corridors Create and maintain Wilderness areas Restrict recreational activities (off-road vehicles, etc) 1 protect sensitive resources. Manage existing recreational opportunities at the present level Comments : 1?. Emphasis in manaoina the Wildlife (Please mark species 1n order and 7 lowest). Bear Deer Elk Upland Birds Threatened and Endangered Waterfowl Watchable Wildlife Comments: 13. Where would you like to see more emphasis placed in the range management program at Warm Springs: (Please Chose 3- and give a ranking of 1-Most Important to 3-Least Important.) Producer education(Breeding,Market1ng, Grazing Practices, etc.) "Fences "Water Developments "Grazing Plan Implementation "Holistic Resource Management, Rest Rotation, Deferred Grazing "Practices Riparian Habitat Protection and Improvement "Other Range Improvement Practices "(Please Specify 4-H and FFA programs 14. Would you be in favor of tighter the strict enforcement of these Why or Why not 15. What are the most important Issues their forest resources 1n the next (Please rank the following 1n the important to 10 least important.) game management reforestation "logging control "thinning "trespass Call the Natural Resources Office, 553-3233, for more information. lor species is maintained, and that integrity of the ecological system is cultivated. As habitat biologist for the Jamestown Klallam tribe in Sequim. Washington, Jim Lichatowich sees answers to concerns and issues in resource management in the pub lic. The public, he says, "must be allowed to play a role in the deci sions." Biologists and resource man agers cannot tackle the problems alone and expect to solve them. The public must be a part of the process. Lichatowich, speaking to con ference participants adds, "You're never going to have to face your judges" for decisions that are made. So, "decisions must come from your own conscience." Resources must be protected for the future and professionals with citizens will provide the answers. It is crucial that resources be seen as whole, rather than separ ately, that managers look at an entire watershed rather than a sin gle resource. Resources must be managed on an integrated level and according to Brown, the time for that is now. of the various committees: Dale Sarkincn-Forestry; Deepak Seh-gal-Water; Marsha Kimball-Cul-ture and Heritage; Dave Smith Range; Mark Fritsch-Fish; Terry Luther-Wildlife; Ross Racine-Soil; Dale Parker-Rural housing; Elton Greeley-Recreation; and Richard Inman-Long-term production. The IRMP procedure "needs the expertise" of tribal members, says Natural Resources fisheries tech nician and IRMP public meeting facilitator Louie Pitt, Jr. Identi fying concerns and developing a working plan for the reservation requires everyone's involvement. may be cut 34 percent for $250 million to $ 1 70 million a year. This may mean con secutive programs will be cut. The budget proposes spending $175 million for a reforestation program, planting a bilion trees on private lands and a community trees program. Continued on page 8 resources should be placed: of preferred priority (1 being hlnhes Species (Juniper Control, Reseeding, etc) ) regulations governing range use and policies? Yes No facing the Tribes In regards to ten years? order of importance. (1 most herbicide use fire control firewood logging access roads other (please list) Comments: