, BLM LIBRARY

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE tNTEfttOR

Bureau of Land Management

Spokane District Office
East 4217 Main Avenue
Spokane, Washington 99202

May 1990

Spokane District
Resource Management Plan
Update #3

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As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owrfed:
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 resonsibility for American Indian reservation
corhmunities for people who live in Island Territories under U.S. administratiori;

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United States Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

Spokane District

East 4217 Main Avenue

Spokane, Washington 99202

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Dear Reader:

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The Spokane Resource Management Plan Record of Decision was issued over three years ago. Since then, the
District has prepared and distributed ^ir'ahrtu'^TSurhma'ry'of its progress toward implementation of that plan. This
brochure is the third such progress summary. d|| the previous two syrrirnaries, this one is not intended to be a
comprehensive statement of all the District's activities in 1989, but rather a brief report of these activities. In
addition, some discussion is included on the activities planned for 1990.

For additional information about any aspect of the resource management plan, please contact the following:

Bureau of Land Management

District Manager or Border Resource Area Manager

at

Spokane District Office

East 4217 Main Avenue

Spokane, Washington, 99202

(509) 353-2570

or

Bureau of Land Management
Area Manager
Wenatchee Resource Area
1 133 N. Western Avenue
Wenatchee, Washington 98801
(509) 662-4223

Thank you for your continued interest in our public lands.

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Sincerely yours,

Joseph K. Buesing
District Manager

Spokane District Resource
Management Plan Update

1989 PROGRAM SUMMARY

Plan Monitoring, to

Maintenance and Interagency

Coordination

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All BLM resource programs are coordinated with
affected or interested federal agencies, state and
local governments, tribal leaders, interest groups and
landowners. BLM staff routinely review and comment
on proposed plans, programs and policies of other
public agencies whenever public land resources may
be affected. This process helps to identify emerging
trends or potential issues which may affect program
effectiveness or implementation priorities.

Planning

The Spokane District issued a Federal Register notice
on May 19, 1989 initiating the planning process for a
Resource Management Plan Amendment. The
purpose of this RMP amendment is to provide supple-
mental program guidance for fluid minerals subse-
quent to completion of the Spokane RMP in 1987,
BLM Manual Section 1624.2 and policies concerning
the fluid minerals program. While the new guidance
did not invalidate the RMP, it is BLM policy to bring
the RMP into compliance with the new BLM standards
which require consideration of cumulative impacts :.
and potential development scenarios for fluid mineral
resources in resource management plans.

Other programs to be addressed in this RMP amend-
ment, scheduled to be completed with about one
year, include: Potential Wild and Scenic Rivers, and
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.

Forest Management Program

In 1989, the Spokane BLM District did not offer any ;
timber for sale. Two existing timber sale contracts ^ !
were in effect, however, that required contract admini-
stration. Also, there was one timber sale proposal in
the preliminary planning stages that involved an
environmental analysis, survey of the sale boundaries
and rights-of-ways (R/W), cruising (measuring and
grading) of all the merchantable timber, and initiation
of the access acquisition procedures to the affected
parcels.

Fuel wood was again offered to the public with a total
of 336 cords being sold at $3.00 per cord. ■-;,■■,

Program

The use of public lands for recreational pursuits
continues to increase in both diversity and number of
vlsitorSaicis.-.? ntbpfc K'.ir'iC ;>. ..., ,.„,.■

There are five semi.-deveteped recreation sites
managed by BLMsiR:WasfeJQgtoru-Three of these sites
are located along the Yakima River in Kittitas County
between the cities of Ellensbofg and Yakima. The
other two are located itt^Shqgan County near the
Canadian Border at Palmer "and Chopaka Lakes.
Many other BLM-a(|Sj|rnstered, f re^s in Washington
provide for dispersed' r^dreatJdf), including the Juniper
Forest, Douglas Crefe||, Saddle Mountains and the
Huckleberry Mountains Management Areas.

The three recreation sites along tfit$ Yakima River
were addressed in the Yakima River Canyon Recrea-
tion Management Plan that was completed in January
1989. One of this plan's actions that was initiated last
year, and is continuing, is the stationing of BLM per-
sonnel in the canyon during the summer months.
Additional law enforcement personnel were assigned
to the area during high use periods throughout the
summer, such as the Memorial Day and July 4th week
ends.

Two information kiosks were constructed by the
Yakima Public Schools through their Building Trades/
Skills Center. These kiosks, scheduled for installation
at the Roza and Squaw Creek Recreation sites in
1990, will provide information on the various recrea-
tion opportunities available in the Yakima River
Canyon along with safety tips and other general use
information.

Wilderness Management Program

The District's wilderness program focused in 1989, as
in 1988, upon implementation of the Juniper Dunes
Wilderness Management Plan.

The Rattlesnake Ridge Riders of the Backcountry
Horsemen of Washington assisted in removing more
of the obsolete fences in the Juniper Dunes Wilder-
ness. Over 20 volunteers from that organization
worked on two separate occasions. Horse-drawn
wagons were used in removing the materials from the
wilderness area to minimize disturbance and demon-
strate that the minimum tool concept in wilderness
management can be both practical and efficient. More
work remains to be done and it will be a few more \ .."_
years before the job is completed. Due to the demon-
strated willingness of the Rattle snakeSidge Riders,
the Spokane District has entered into a Cooperative
Management Agreemenfwith thSir organfiatiSh to
assist BLM in its management of the Juniper Dunes
Wilderness and the adjacent pubfic lands. -

This past year the Spokane District again staioned a
BLM official in the Juniper Forest Management Area.
The primary responsibility was'SoeproVide visitor use
information and to^conduct patrols- Of fee wilderness
area.

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Wild Horse and Burro Program

In 1989, four adoption centers were set up in
Spokane, Ellensburg and Yakima where 62 horses
and 28 burros were adopted by the public. The BLM
and the American Mustang and Burro Association
(AMBA) co-sponsored an adoption/horse and burro
show in Yakima on the July 31st weekend. Approxi-
mately 600 people attended. The show had 24
classes, each with six to seven entries. There were
also training clinics offered to the public.

To create more public awareness of the BLM's Wild
Horse and Burro (WH&B) program, the district spon-
sored a horse-drawn wagon in the Washington State
Centennial Wagon Train. The wagon traveled from
eastern Washington to Olympia with advertisements
for the Adopt-A-Horse or Burro program.

Noxious Weeds Control Program

During 1989, there were 45 noxious weed infestations
inventoried. Measures to control these infestations
were specified in an environmental analysis. Memo-
randa of Understanding for cooperative weed control
were finalized with Grant and Ferry counties. Also, 26
noxious weed infestations were treated mechanically
or with the use of herbicides in conformance with our
approved program and supporting environmental
analysis.

Grazing Management Program

In the Spokane District Resource Management Plan,
the grazing leases were grouped into three manage-
ment priorities: Improve (I), Maintain (M), and Custo-
dial (C). High potential for improved management was
identified for the 16 allotments in the l-category.
These grazing allotments receive the highest priority
for monitoring and intensive management. The 24
allotments in the M-category have second priority to
ensure that management remains satisfactory.

Monitoring was done on 60 grazing leases in 1989
which involved collection of data on forage utilization,
actual livestock use, and climate for both high priority
Improve (I) and Maintain (M) category leases. In
addition, trends in range condition are monitored at
least once every five years. These data will help
determine whether management objectives are being
met and, if not, where change in management is
needed to achieve objectives. Trends in range
condition are monitored at least once every 10 years
on the remaining 315 Custodial (C) category allot-
ments to determine if there is a need for more inten-
sive management.

Monitoring data have been collected over the last four
years for all Category I allotments, and over the last
three years for Category M allotments. The District
has constructed spring developments, pipelines,
cattle guards and fences pursuant to the approved
Spokane RMP and the nine District Allotment Man-
agement Plans (AMPs). (An AMP is a specific man-
agement plan for a grazing lease which is designed to
achieve the broad objectives of the RMP.)

Wildlife and Fish Habitat Program

The Spokane District contains a high diversity of
wildlife habitats including desert, forests, lakes,
streams, and alpine meadows. Important species on
these lands include mule and white tail deer, elk,
bighorn sheep, mountain goat, nine species of upland
game birds, fish, and hundreds of non game birds,
mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Some of these
species are in special status categories under federal
and state law. Many habitats, such as plant communi-
ties dominated by sagebrush or those with riparian
areas, represent crucial habitat for a number of
species.

This past year, over 1 1 ,000 acres of public land in the
Spokane District were included in a inventory and
analysis to determine enhancement and protection
measures needed to maintain or improve quality
habitat. The primary focus of these inventories was
aquatic, riparian and candidate or sensitive plants and
animals.

Development progressed on the Mt. Hull Habitat
Management Plan (HMP) for Bighorn sheep; the
Huckleberry Mountains HMP for fisheries, deer, elk,
grouse, old growth or ancient forests; and the Yakima

Canyon HMP for bighorn sheep, raptors, riparian,
upland game, fisheries. These three plans are in
various stages of development; however, none was
completed in the 1989 program year. q ■

Monitoring efforts targeted significant habitats in
HMPs and ACECs (Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern) with emphasis on riparian and wetland
habitats, waterfowl, fisheries, threatened/endangered
(T&E) plants, candidate and sensitive species.

Projects in the 1989 program year emphasized
riparian habitat protection and enhancement, and
habitat improvement for waterfowl, raptors and T&E
species. The district has 127 wildlife projects being
maintained on a two- to four-year rotation basis. Most
projects are inspected and maintained on a two- to
three-year schedule with 40 to 50 projects being
scheduled in a given year. In 1989, there were 55
projects inspected and/or maintained.

Lands and Realty Program

Exchanges to enhance other resource programs
remain a top priority. In 1989, some 800 acres of
federal lands were exchanged for nearly 2,000 acres
of private lands having recreation, riparian, and
wildlife values- in the Douglas Creek Management
Area. " -5

Additionally, District Realty Specialists issued 1 5
rights-of-way for highway improvements, utility
installations, and communication sites; resolved 10
trespasses involving occupancy, utilities, and crops;
authorized a short-term agricultural permit; and
processed a privatejand donation within a historic
mining district. •> ^ . f|*?

Cultural Resources Program

During 1989, approximately 2,600 acres of BLM-
administered land were surveyed for cultural re-
sources (2,475 by the District Archaeologist and 125
by contract archaeologists). The surveys resulted in
locating three rock cairn sites, a historic magnesite
mining site, a portion of the Mullan Trail and Colville
Military Road, and a historic turn-of-the-century
homestead. A historic mill and mine site immediately
adjacent to a proposed BLM project area was also
investigated. This survey information is on file in the
Spokane District BLM Office and is also available with
the State Historic Preservation Office in Olympia.
None of the prehistoric and historical features will be
detrimentally impacted by any of the BLM's proposed
management activities.

Native American cultural resource consultants were
contacted about project areas having traditional-use
concerns, and their advice was incorporated into
project plans.

A computerized inventory system, which tracks all
completed archaeological survey projects, is now in
operation in the Spokane District Office. In addition,
all known sites on BLM-administered land in Washing-
ton State are encoded into a computer program in
preparation for an extensive site evaluation program
to begin in fiscal year 1991 .

A number of sites were revisited to assess looting
damage and to develop anti-vandalism measures.
Active site monitoring and protection measures will be
enforced in fiscal year 1990.

Minerals Management Program

The minerals program remains diverse. District
geologists processed 80 notices and plans for mining
operations and conducted 126 inspections of existing
mining claims. Two enforcement actions were
undertaken as a result of these inspections. Five
plans for material sales such as the sale of sand and
gravel were also processed in 1989. Recommenda-
tions for oil and gas leasing were made on 84 tracts of
public land. These recommendations were based on
the Spokane Resource Management Plan.

The Centralia Coal Mine, the largest leasable mining
operation on federal lands in the State of Washington,
has two leases administered by the Spokane District
involving 521 acres. In 1989, coal production on
federal lands increased from 536,000 tons to 1 .3
million tons. Annually, the entire mine produces about
five million tons of clean coal. Royalties from the
federal leases for 1989 are estimated to be $260,000.

The district continues to carry out trust responsibility
throughout the State for Native American mineral
development, operations, and reclamation. This work
involves providing technical expertise and advice to
27 Native American Reservations involving 2.5 million
acres of tribal land. Typical projects include gold,
silver, uranium, quarry rock, and sand and gravel
operations.

Fire Management

Spokane District has completed the initial attack
analysis portion of the Fire Management Activity Plan.
As approved by the Oregon State Office, it calls for a
combination of strength-of-force and contracted fire
suppression for district lands. The consolidated plan
will be reviewed by BLM's Washington Office in 1990-
91 and once approved will be implemented as funding
allows.

The 1 989 fire season saw 20 fires involving over a
thousand acres of BLM lands. This is a reduction of
nearly 3,400 acres from the previous season.

1990 PROPOSED
PROJECTS AND PROGRAM
EFFORTS

Recreation Management

During this year's fall hunting season the BLM will
assign a recreation ranger to patrol the Huckleberry
Mountains Management Area, Little Vulcan Mountain
in North Ferry Management Area, and Chopaka Lake
in Okanogan County. The ranger's primary responsi-
bility will be to provide information regarding access to
public lands.

This year the Spokane BLM District will continue to
implement its Yakima River Canyon Recreation
Management Plan. Site plans for Roza, Squaw Creek
and Umtanum Creek have been completed. On-the-
ground improvements will be made accordingly.
These include replacement of the existing temporary
toilets with permanent structures at the Roza and
Squaw Creek sites. Information kiosks will also be
installed. Patrols of these sites will be conducted year
round with a ranger being permanently stationed in
the Yakima River Canyon from May through Septem-
ber.

Wilderness Management

Regular visits to the Chopaka Mountain Wilderness
Study Area will continue throughout the year in
accordance with BLM Interim Management Policy.

In the Juniper Dunes Wilderness, the BLM will con-
tinue to remove the unnecessary facilities with the
assistance of the Backcountry Horsemen. One or two
work sessions are planned during 1990.

The proposed land exchange, which was discussed
above, involves another 60 acres of private land
within the wilderness boundary being transferred to
federal ownership. This exchange will leave only 240
acres of the more than 850 acres of private lands that
existed originally within the Juniper Dunes Wilderness
at the time of its designation in 1984.

A ranger will again be assigned to the area and will
conduct patrols throughout the year. The primary
emphasis will be to monitor recreation use of both the
Juniper Dunes Wilderness and the adjacent public
lands, and to ensure compliance with provisions of
the Juniper Dunes Wilderness Management Plan.

Noxious Weed Control

Over the next year, the Spokane District will continue
to inventory and control noxious weed infestations in
cooperation with local counties. An environmental
analysis will be prepared to analyze potential control
methods.

The District will enter into a Memorandum of Under-
standing with Grant and Ferry counties for coopera-
tive control of noxious weeds.

Wild Horse and Burro Program

In 1990, the Wild Horse and Burro (WH&B) program
will concentrate on conducting compliance checks of
existing horse and burro adoptions. Public awareness
of BLM's WH&B program will also be emphasized
through presentations at horse shows, county and
state fairs and through the news media throughout
Washington State.

Cultural Resources Management

During 1990, documentary research will begin on
prehistoric rock features in the channeled scablands.
A research plan will be designed to properly investi-
gate these rock features in 1991 and 1992, prelimi-
nary to developing a protective management plan for
the numerous talus pit, rock cairn and rock wall sites.

Approximately 2,000 acres will be surveyed for
archaeological resources in 1990. Previously identi-
fied archaeological sites will be monitored in an effort
to prevent vandalism and looting.

Lands and Realty Program

Over the past several years BLM has been working
on a land exchange with Burlington Northern (BN)
Railroad. This exchange has been completed this
spring. The BLM relinquished about 2,210 acres of
Bureau of Reclamation withdrawn lands located in
Franklin County, in exchange for approximately 2,560
acres of BN lands located in the Juniper Forest
Management Area and another 6,347 acres in the
Saddle Mountain Management Area. This exchange
will improve the efficiency of managing public lands in
these two areas.

Minerals Resources Program

In FY 90, BLM will continue preparation of a Resource
Management Plan Amendment for Oil and Gas
leasing. The draft plan is tentatively scheduled to be
published in the fall of 1990. Hardrock and common
material mining operations will continue to be moni-
tored in accordance with the applicable (43 CFR
3800).

The district will continue to carry out its trust responsi-
bilities throughout the State for Native American
mineral development, operations, and reclamation.

Vandalism

Thanks to your cooperation the incidences of vandal-
ism that we experienced in the past are diminishing.
However, there is still room for improvement, for
example: This past year two steel gates, used to
control livestock and facilitate access to adjoining
public lands for hunters and campers, valued at
approximately $200, were stolen. In the Yakima River
Canyon at the Roza Recreation Site, the men's toilet
and the recreation site entrance sign were damaged
with gunshots. At the Umtanum Creek Recreation
Site, one entire sign was stolen and the remaining
one was partially broken. Graffiti is also beginning to
appear with more frequency throughout the canyon.

Efforts to mitigate these acts of vandalism are being
undertaken, but such measures can be costly. In
many cases, funds originally obligated to upgrading
facilities had to be reallocated to repair, replace, or
restore existing facilities or natural features.

You have assisted us in the past with reporting
actions such as these through local law officials or by
calling BLM's toll-free number, 1-800-333-SAVE, so
please continue to do so. Such assistance is sincerely
appreciated.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

SPOKANE DISTRICT OFFICE

EAST 4217 MAIN

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 99202

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