ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM · Conserve nearly 2,000 acres of high quality oak and conifer woodlands...

Note: Filing of this application does not guarantee acceptance of the proposal nor any portion thereof. Applicants whose projects are approved by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be notified by mail.

2 | 7 Access and Habitat Application for Grant Funds

ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM

Application for Grant Funds

1. Project Title: Larch Creek Habitat Conservation

2. Applicant: Nathan Ulrich Phone: 541-436-4210

Grantee: Columbia Land Trust (As will appear on contract/payments) IRS letter of 501(c) (3) status attached

Address: 216 Cascade Ave, Ste. B City/State/Zip: Hood River, OR 97031 Phone: 541-436-4210 Email: [email protected]

3. Location: ODFW East Region (see attached map) Watershed District / Wildlife Management Unit: Deschutes Watershed, Mid-Columbia Wildlife

District, White River Wildlife Management Unit County: Wasco Township/Range/Section: T: 2S R: 12E Sec: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32

4. Type of project (check):

X Habitat Improvement X Access ☐Damage Other (specify): Permanent habitat conservation

5. Number of acres of habitat to be improved: 1,945

6. Number of acres of access to be provided: 1,945

X Welcome to Hunt ☐ By Permission

7. Proposed start date: 8/1/2018

8. Proposed end date: N/A.

9. Estimated cost of project: $3,500,000

10. Access and Habitat fund request: $200,000

11. Briefly explain what the project proposes to do: This project would acquire 1,945 acres of mule deer, elk, and turkey habitat for permanent habitat

conservation. The property is currently for sale and dividable by zoning into 10 residential parcels. 12. Briefly describe the habitat and landscape of the project area: The property is located on the east slopes of the Cascades Mountains at the nexus of ODFW’s White

River Wildlife Area and the Mt. Hood National Forest. Its 1,945 acres include three main habitat types.

The two largest are mixed-pine/oak-woodland and mixed-conifer-forest, while the smallest is riparian.

Dropping from 3,000’ to 2,400’ elevation along a west to east transect, the site occupies the transitional

zone between conifer forest and shrub-steppe. The predominant mixed-pine/oak-woodland occupies

south facing slopes while the mixed-conifer-forest occurs on the western boundary and north facing

slopes. Approximately three miles of perennial and seasonal streams flow through the site. The riparian

plant communities which border these streams consist of aspen, willow, red alder, spirea, rose,



elderberry, and mock orange. Current and past management of the area was primarily focused on timber

harvest leaving large tracts thinned and in some areas clear-cut. Historically, the regular occurrence of

fire favored Oregon white oak over less fire-tolerant tree species. Years of fire suppression have altered

the landscape by allowing conifers to encroach into Oregon white oak habitat. The Oregon Conservation

Strategy (OCS) identifies this landscape as the Wasco Oaks Conservation Opportunity Area. The OCS

recommends conservation actions such as controlling conifer encroachment, limiting impacts to oak

woodland habitat, and limiting degradation and impacts to wintering ungulates from recreational

development. This project fulfills or enables each of the conservation actions.

13. Background: Describe the project area and explain the wildlife habitat and/or access challenge oropportunity this project will address. Address how current management actions benefit public accessand/or wildlife and their habitat needs.The proposed site is located approximately three miles west of the small community of Friend in Wasco

County within the boundaries of the White River wildlife management unit. The project area

encompasses 1,945 acres of critical Rocky Mountain elk and black-tailed deer habitat between privately

owned residential and agricultural lands to the north, south, and east and Mt. Hood National Forest

along the western boundary. The mixed pine/oak woodland habitat found throughout the area provides

exceptional forage conditions for numerous game and non-game animals. Recent surveys bordering the

project area identified regular use by black-tailed deer, Rocky Mountain elk, bear, cougar, bobcat,

western grey squirrel and wild turkey. ODFW’s Spring Turkey Harvest Statistics identify White River

management unit as the most heavily hunted unit in the state with an average of 1,496 spring turkey

hunters per year from 2012-2016 (2017 Spring Turkey Harvest Statistics not yet available). Adding

accessible prime turkey habitat will help disperse hunters from adjacent public lands providing a more

enjoyable hunting experience. Data from the Spring Turkey Harvest Statistics is used as an example to

show the popularity of White River unit but this data is representative of hunter use for other species as

well. Access to the project area is from two public roads: Shell Rock Road along the north boundary and

Camp Friend Road through the southwest corner. In addition to opening access to its 1,945 acres, the

proposed project would also open access to a 94-acre landlocked area of White River Wildlife Area

within the project site. Wasco County zoning for the project area is Forest Zone (F-2) which is intended

to protect land that is suitable and desirable for commercial forestry activities. It has a minimum lot size

of 80 acres. Under current zoning and restrictions, the property could be developed into 10 separate lots.

Properties immediately to the north have recently been converted from grazing land to rural residential

and utility infrastructure is available to the site. The adjacent changes put significant development

pressure on the property. This critical wintering wildlife area is in need of long term protection. If

conserved, the property would be managed using an ecosystem management approach including weed

control and timber management to improve habitat and reduce fire risk. Last, this project would

complete a more than 20-year old priority habitat conservation plan. In the 1990s Rocky Mountain Elk

Foundation acquired the property and adjacent parcels to permanently conserve their prime habitat.

While adjacent parcels were sold to ODFW and USFS, and are now open for public hunting, funding

limitations necessitated the sale of the target property. This project represents an opportunity to conserve

its habitat in perpetuity.

14. Past A&H history: Describe any past Access & Habitat project, especially if the proposed projectdeals with the same objectives.N/A



15. Hunter use data: New projects provide estimates, old project provide access area permit data,vehicle/pedestrian counts, hunter interview, etc.Estimates from ODFW’s White River Wildlife Management Plan have been used to estimate projected

hunter use. The WRWA management plan identifies two hunting activities that directly relate to the

project area and one area, waterfowl hunting, that has been omitted due to lack of open water. The two

hunting activities defined are big game hunting and upland bird hunting, both of which would provide

excellent opportunity within the proposed area. WRWA estimates 10,000 big game hunt days and 2,000

upland game hunt days over approximately 30,000 acres. If the data is broken down into estimated

hunter use days per acre, it can be assumed that 778 hunter use days will be spent on the 1,945-acre

project area. Estimates do not include non-consumptive use days that would occur.

16. Project Objective(s):

(a) What is the objective of the proposed project?Conserve nearly 2,000 acres of high quality oak and conifer woodlands for habitat and public

access. The property contains grasslands with excellent native species composition and relatively

few weeds—important for both game species and biodiversity. It also includes riparian areas and

wetlands that provide water throughout the year. With few existing fences, the property

facilitates wildlife movement both internally and at a landscape level as species move freely

between adjacent state and federal wildlife areas. If conserved, near term management priorities

would include weed control within recently disturbed areas to ensure maintenance of native

understory species composition, and forest management to protect the property’s large old oak

trees from conifer encroachment and to reduce potential fire severity.

(b) How will the project benefit wildlife habitat?Wildlife will benefit most from the above mentioned high quality habitat and landscape-scale

habitat connectivity. If not conserved, the property will likely be divided into 10 separate rural

residential lots—based on current zoning and restrictions. The property is on a very dry and slow

growing site for timber and the merchantable trees were recently harvested in 2017. It would take

many decades for a timber investor to recoup its investment. As the result, the landowner has

made clear that they value the land based on its development potential. If subdivided, individual

parcels would likely be fenced, restricting wildlife movement, with potential for heavy grazing

and degradation of native understory. Public access would also likely be lost. In addition, new

wells and water withdrawals could reduce already low stream flows on Larch Creek.

(c) If damage related, how will the project alleviate/eliminate problems?ODFW’s adjacent White River Wildlife Area was created with the support of neighboring

landowners to reduce wildlife grazing on private lands. Conservation of this property will help to

reduce pressure on surrounding agricultural lands, especially as adjacent parcels to the north are

developed for residential use and restrict wildlife movement.

(d) Length of time benefits provided ☐<3yr ☐3-6yr X>6yr

Examples of Project Benefit Duration Noxious weed……...2yrs Forage planting….………....5yrs Aspen fencing…..........10yrs Range fertilization…2yrs Forest thinning….……….....5yrs Aspen plant/fence…….10yrs



Rx Fire-grassland…..2yrs Aspen (conifer removal)….5yrs Road closure…………..10yrs Rx Fire-forested….…3yrs Juniper removal………….…..7yrs Road decommission….10yrs Fence Removal……10yrs Water Dev. /Enhancement..10yrs

(Source: Blue Mountains Elk Initiative Project Evaluation Criteria)

(e) How will the project benefit public access? If limited access, how many hunters will bepermitted? The project will ensure that future access is not restricted and open accessto more hunters.

Hunting is allowed without restriction during ODFW regulated game seasons. Hunters are

asked to complete a registration form for the purpose of monitoring and accommodating use. At

the request of ODFW White River Wildlife Area managers, the Larch Creek property could

likely be closed to access from December 1st to March 31st to be consistent with Wildlife Area

regulations that are intended to reduce pressure on wintering animals.

(f) Select species that will benefit from habitat improvements:

Big Game Upland Bird Migratory Game Bird

X Deer ☐Chukar ☐Ducks

X Elk X Mountain Quail ☐Geese

X Bear X Valley Quail ☐American Coot

X Cougar ☐Pheasants ☐Wilsons Snipe

☐Pronghorn X Forest Grouse ☐Mourning Dove

☐Bighorn Sheep X Turkey ☐Band Tailed Pigeon

☐Mountain Goat ☐Gray Partridge

☐Sage Grouse(g) If crop damage related, how will you alleviate or eliminate the problem?N/A

17. Project location: Attach a map and provide description of the location and how to get there froma major highway.From Dufur, OR take US-197 south for 3 miles. Turn right on Dufur Gap Rd. Continue for 14 miles as

the road transitions into Friend Rd then Camp Friend Rd.

18. Procedure: Specifically describe how the project will be conducted--use separate page foradditional information, drawings, or pictures.This is a habitat improvement project with the additional benefit of permanent public access. The first

step is conservation of the property through fee title acquisition of 1,945 acres. Major funding will be

through OWEB’s Habitat Acquisition program. OWEB pays 75% of acquisition costs and requires 25%

in matching funding. ODFW A&H funds would be a component of the match requirement. The project

will go to OWEB’s October 2018 funding cycle. Transaction steps include: 1. appraisal, 2. purchase and

sale agreement for appraised value, 3. completion of baseline habit assessment and conservation

easement for OWEB, 4. transaction closing, 5. development and execution of habitat management plan.

Columbia Land Trust has conserved over 33,000 acres in Oregon and Washington including multiple

projects of this scale and complexity. We anticipate that the project will close and habitat management



planning will be complete by the end of calendar year 2019. We are seeking matching funding from

A&H prior to the OWEB application because commitment of match in advance will strengthen the

OWEB application.

19. Permits: Have all of the appropriate permits been secured or applied for? Examples: WaterResources Department for water rights, Division of State Lands for fill-removal or wetlands projects.N/A. No permits are required for this project.

20. Scheduling: What is the estimated project schedule?

a. Habitat Work Start Date: 08/01/2018 Habitat Work Completion Date: 12/31/2019

b. Access Agreement Start Date: 04/01/2020 Access Agreement End Date: N/A

c. List major project activities and time schedule for each:Activity Time (month/year) 1. Fundraising 6/2019

2. Appraisal 7/2019

3. Purchase and Sale Agreement 8/2019

4. OWEB Conservation Easement and Baseline Assessment 9/2019

5. Transaction closing 11/2019

6. Management plan complete 12/2019

7. Management plan implementation 4/2020

21. Participation and funding: Will other organizations or individuals participate in the project? If so,list and describe participation, and attach letters of commitment or verification of grant awards. Costslisted here must be included in “Other Funds” column of the Project Budget (Section 20).

Participant Activity Cost

1. Columbia Land Trust Project support and funding $575,000

2. OWEB Project funding $2,625,000

3. Conservation Alliance Project funding $50,000

4. American Bird

Conservancy

Project funding $50,000

5. _________________ __________________________________. $_______

Have any conditions been placed on the funds listed above which may affect the completion of the

project? If so, identify and explain. ☐YES X NO _________________________________________________________________

22. Project maintenance and monitoring:

(a) Who will maintain the project and fund long-term maintenance and/or operation if needed?Columbia Land Trust will have responsibility for all long-term maintenance obligations. The

property will have a dedicated stewardship staff member with responsibility for its management.

As part of its Land Trust Alliance national accreditation, the Land Trust maintains a $15,000,000



and growing stewardship fund to ensure its land ownership obligations and stewardship

commitments in perpetuity. The adjoining Mt. Hood National Forest and ODFW White River

WA have also offered stewardship/management support for habitat restoration projects.

(b) What element(s) of the project will be monitored, how often, for how long?The property will be monitored annually for management needs, habitat degradation issues,

public usage, and encroachments. Columbia Land Trust’s East Oregon Stewardship Manager

would be responsible for responding to issues that come to light from monitoring. Monitoring

takes place on an ongoing basis but at a minimum boundaries are monitored once per year.

23. Project budget narrative: Please provide detailsThe total estimated cost of the project is $3,500,000. This reflects a land value of $3,400,000 based on a

per acre cost of $1,750 with timber and residential development as the highest values. Transaction costs

add $100,000. Transactions costs are itemized on the attached budget spreadsheet. The bulk of funding,

$2,625,000 is being requested from OWEB’s Habitat Acquisition program in October 2018. Columbia

Land Trust staff have been conferring with OWEB staff about the project in advance of the application.

OWEB staff have encouraged the application and the habitat conservation program has received a

sufficient budget in 2018 to fund the project. $200,000 in matching funding is being requested from

A&H. A&H would be the largest single source of match and if funded, would demonstrate a broad base

of support for the project. Because A&H funds would be committed prior to the OWEB application, a

funding commitment would also demonstrate project viability and support the OWEB application.

$50,000 in additional match will be requested from the Conservation Alliance in 2019. This funder is a

coalition of outdoor equipment manufacturers and has supported Columbia Land Trust projects

consistently in the past. Another $50,000 will be requested from American Bird Conservancy in 2018.

The remaining $575,000 will be committed by Columbia Land Trust. A&H funds would go entirely

toward acquisition costs. Transaction funding would come from OWEB and Columbia Land Trust.

A&H funds would not be drawn or spent if Columbia Land Trust is unable to complete the remainder of

the fund raising need.

24: Project worksheet: (Use Excel spreadsheet attached)

A Grant

Budget Proposal

Expense Category A&H Funds

Cost Share In-

Kind/ Cash

(Match)¹ Total Project Cost

Transaction manager $ 7,500.00

Stewardship manager (baseline report & management

plan) $ 3,500.00

Project supervisor $ 2,500.00

Indirect/Overhead $ 3,375.00

SUBTOTAL (1) $ - $ 16,875.00 $ 16,875.00

Land value $ 200,000.00

Land value $ 3,200,000.00

SUBTOTAL (2) $ 200,000.00 $ 3,200,000.00 $ 3,400,000.00

SUBTOTAL (3) $ - $ - $ -

Appraisal $ 20,000.00

Appraisal review $ 5,000.00

Timber inventory $ 5,000.00

Survey $ 20,000.00

Closing costs (legal, title, escrow fees, recording fees,

taxes, etc) $ 45,000.00

SUBTOTAL (4) $ - $ 95,000.00 $ 95,000.00

SUBTOTAL (5) $ - $ - $ -

PROJECT TOTALS $ 200,000.00 $ 3,311,875.00 $ 3,511,875.00

ACCESS PAYMENT

LAND ACQUISITION

CONTRACT SERVICES (itemize)³

EQUIPMENT (itemize)

Project Budget (Provide as much detail as possible)

Totals automatically round to the nearest dollar. Please do not include cents.

ADMINISTRATION: Personnel and benefits @ ___%

SUPPLIES

Page 6

Bill Richardson │ Oregon & Washington Sr. Lands Program Manager 24550 Ervin Road │ Philomath, OR 97370 │ (541) 929-3011 │ [email protected]

5705 Grant Creek Rd. │ Missoula, MT 59808-8249 │ (800) CALL ELK │ WWW.RMEF.ORG

May 16, 2018

Oregon Access & Habitat Board:

This letter is to express Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s (RMEF) strong support for the

Larch Creek habitat enhancement and access project forwarded by Columbia Land Trust.

RMEF has worked for over 20 years to help conserve and enhance deer and elk habitat in

Wasco County within the ODFW White River Wildlife Area landscape, and this project helps

to complete this work in this important landscape.

Because of its adjacency to both ODFW’s White River Wildlife Area and the U.S. Forest

Service’s Mount Hood National Forest, the Larch Creek property plays an outsized role in

providing access and habitat. It provides important oak and pine transitional habitat that is used

by elk, deer, wild turkeys and other wildlife for forage and cover. In addition, because the

White River WA is within easy travel distance to the state’s largest population center, it is used

by a large number of RMEF members and the general public who will benefit from increased

access to adjacent habitat.

This property is particularly important to RMEF. A portion of the Larch Creek project was part

of the RMEF Mountain Fir Acquisition that added significant acreage to the Mt. Hood national

Forest and the White River Wildlife Area. Due to funding constraints, the Larch Creek

property was not able to be included in the conveyance to the White River Wildlife Area.

Instead, the property was sold to SDS Lumber and encumbered with a Conservation Easement

that limited development to four residences on up to five parcels. The allowed development

has not occurred, and ownership by Columbia Land Trust will provide additional protection for

the property while increasing public access opportunities.

Columbia Land Trust and RMEF have a long history of partnership, working together on

habitat protection and enhancement projects in both Washington and Oregon. The Land Trust

has a professional Stewardship staff and demonstrates collaborative, science-based habitat

management that will meet the goals of the A&H program. Their lands are open to hunter

access and staff work with ODFW to facilitate access on heavily used properties. Last, because

this project will provide permanent access, and will leverage much greater funding, we believe

it provides excellent value for A&H program funds. This type of access and habitat project is

important to securing a long term future for our members on non-public lands.

mailto:[email protected]

Bill Richardson │ Oregon & Washington Sr. Lands Program Manager 24550 Ervin Road │ Philomath, OR 97370 │ (541) 929-3011 │ [email protected]

5705 Grant Creek Rd. │ Missoula, MT 59808-8249 │ (800) CALL ELK │ WWW.RMEF.ORG

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is a non-profit conservation organization whose mission

is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat, and our hunting heritage. The Elk

Foundation also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other

recreation.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Bill Richardson

Oregon & Washington Sr. Lands Program Manager

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation


Mikal Cline National Wild Turkey Federation 1021 NE Bennington Way Bend, OR 97701 541.550.7074 [email protected]

1021 NE Bennington Ln Bend, OR 97701 (541) 550-7074 [email protected] April 20, 2018 Oregon Access & Habitat Board: The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) supports the efforts of the Columbia Land Trust to acquire the Larch Creek parcel. This property is located adjacent to two important public land ownerships: ODFW’s White River Wildlife Area and the U.S. Forest Service’s Mount Hood National Forest. The property includes very important oak and pine transitional habitat with riparian corridors important to many species of wildlife. Not only does the Columbia Land Trust have a proven record of community engagement and science-based habitat management, they will provide important public access on this property. The White River Wildlife Area is one of the most important turkey hunting “hotspots” in the state, due to the quality of habitat, robust wild turkey populations, and the proximity to Oregon’s largest urban center. Increasing public access in this area should be a high priority for the state, and the NWTF supports this action. We are pleased that the Columbia Land Trust is setting an example not only for public access, but also for cooperative management related to wildlife game species in Oregon. The NWTF has contributed funding to several Columbia Land Trust habitat improvement projects over the past 5 years and engaged in partnership at the newly formed East Cascades Oak Partnership. The quality of habitat management on the various properties we helped to fund was remarkable, and although they were on the Washington side, the land trust also provided public access opportunities for hunters. Thank you for your consideration of this proposal. Sincerely,

Mikal Cline Pacific Northwest District Biologist - NWTF


Oregon Kate Brown, Governor

Department of Fish and Wildlife Mid-Columbia Field Office

3701 West 13th Street

The Dalles, OR 97058

(541) 296-4628

FAX (541) 298-4993

May 16, 2018

Nate Ulrich

Columbia Land Trust

216 Cascade Ave B

Hood River, OR 97031

Nate,

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) would like to offer you our support in

your effort to acquire the property currently owned by SDS Timber Company in the Friend area.

This property contains an excellent Oregon White Oak stand within the transition zone between

oak and the coniferous forests of the Mount Hood National Forest. These oak habitats are the

most imperiled, as conifer encroachment is rapidly over topping the oak. This leads to either the

oak being completely crowded out of an area, or should a wildfire occur the ensuing burn is too

intense for the oak to survive as they typically would in a more natural density or landscape.

This land has historically supported many important features to the landscape; essential habitat to

a wide variety of species, public access in an area of mostly private land, and a buffer to

development that could further fracture habitat function and increase disruption to natural cycles.

Acquiring this property would allow for the continuance of access on the landscape, and with the

property being within the Columbia Land Trust (CLT) portfolio of land management ODFW

would expect to see the same net habitat uplift that has occurred within all of the other recent

acquisitions CLT has been a part of.

ODFW feels that the best outcome for this parcel would be an acquisition by CLT, allowing for

the best possible opportunities for both public access and habitat restoration. ODFW is

committed to assisting you in any way we can with your effort.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any items that I can be of assistance with in your effort.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Thompson

Mid-Columbia District ODFW

[email protected]

O: 541-296-4628 C:541-980-8524


Nate Ulrich May 21, 2018 Conservation Lead Columbia Land Trust The Oregon Hunters Association (OHA), with a membership of 10,000 in 26 chapters statewide, is writing in support of a proposed land acquisition by Columbia Land Trust in the Larch Creek area of Wasco County Oregon. OHA sees the 1945-acre acquisition as an extension of and further connection to both the Mt. Hood National Forest and the Whiter River Wildlife area. In addition, the purchase would include valuable wildlife habitats in close proximity to the state managed lands along the Lower Deschutes River, further expanding publicly accessible lands in the Deschutes-Klamath Access and Habitat region. This ecoregion has a history of being attractive for hunting big game species including deer, elk, black bear and turkeys. This land tract is uniquely positioned geographically to be excellent habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species. Besides the important aspect of ecological connectivity, we also see many opportunities to improve habitat for wildlife on former timber production portions of this area. Perhaps the most notable habitat improvements are opportunities to reduce conifer encroachment on the Wasco Oaks Conservation Opportunity Area identified in the Oregon Conservation Strategy. There are also opportunities to improve early seral big game forage across the area. These two habitat types afford numerous hunting and conservation opportunities for Oregon’s hunters, and with this parcel open for hunting access, we are strongly supportive of this land acquisition. The location of this parcel offers many opportunities for a range of collaborative habitat and access partnerships with Columbia Land Trust, state and federal agencies, conservation groups and private landowners. Projects to bridge the forest uplands across ownerships with the riparian areas and river corridor habitats on the Lower Deschutes River would serve wildlife, habitat and recreation users. OHA is a willing and supportive partner of those efforts. Sincerely, /s/ Fred Walasavage OHA Board Chair ,

ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM Regional Advisory Council Project

Proposal Review ODFW Region / A&H Regional Council: Deschutes/Klamath Project Proposal Title: Larch Creek Habitat Conservation Applicants(s): Columbia Land Trust – Nathan Ulrich Date of Council Review: June 12, 2018 Type of Project: Access X Habitat X Other (specify) Motion: Larry Lee motioned to approve the project as proposed. Jim Reiss seconded the motion. Council Member Position Vote

Doby Fugate Chairman Yes

Rance Kastor Landowner Representative Yes

Vacant Landowner Representative n/a

Vacant Landowner Representative n/a

Larry Lee Hunter Representative Yes

Jim Reiss Hunter Representative Yes

Vacant Hunter Representative Yes

Disposition of Vote: Motion passed 4:0 Project Strengths: Good opportunity to secure both access and habitat benefits on a piece of property into

perpetuity.

Value of $200,000 leveraged against much larger grant.

Keeps this property intact and continuous with other public lands in the area.

Project Concerns:

Some concern with what the final appraised value will be, since timber prices are volatile and

will be a big factor in determining that number.

Form Revised July 2012

Page 1

Project Name: Project #:

"Welcome" Private 1,945By-Permission Private 0

Inaccessible Public* 94Accessible Public* 0

Instructions:

Access Only X XHabitat Only X XAccess & Habitat X X X

Definitions:

Inaccessible Public*:

Accessible Public*:

General Criteria (mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met)

1. Habitat Condition

Food: In-tact shrub component and riparian habitats, as well as oak woodland 1 1 1 n/a

Water: ~3 miles of perennial and seasonal streams within project property. 1 1 1 n/a

Cover: Pine/oak and mixed conifer habitats, as well as riparian 1 1 1 n/a

2. Partnerships Partners contributing financial or in-kind support:

1 or more Sports groups…………………………………………………………. 0

3 or more Sports groups…………………………………………………………. 0

Educational programs / non-governmental organizations……………………. 1

Other government agencies or ODFW programs (i.e. OWEB, R&E)………. 1

Project Evaluation Form

Program Objective: The Access and Habitat Program’s motto, “Landowners & Hunters Together for Wildlife,” conveys the program’s basic mission to foster partnerships between landowners and hunters for the benefit of the wildlife they value. The program also seeks to recognize and encourage the important contributions made by landowners to the state’s wildlife resource.

Habitat

Category:2 25Total Score:

Access through private land will improve accessibility to public land. Public land may be extremely difficult

to access otherwise, but is not legally surrounded by private land. Total area includes only public land that

is closer (in linear distance) to the landowner's access point(s) than any other public access point.

Total Possible:

Mark 1 point in the corresponding "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met. Example: for

question 2, if partnerships include 4 sports groups, award points for the first 2 criteria. Do not mark more

than 1 point per box. Point schedule is designed to weigh access-only and habitat-only projects equally.

Complete these sections

Access

Criteria

Access and Habitat Program

Score 1 point only if the property contains the resource in sufficient abundance/quality to support

target species referenced in questions 11, 15, 16 and 19 (during at least one season of the year).

For habitat projects, use the predicted future condition. Justify your score.

Project Type

Project

Score

General

Criteria

Habitat

Criteria

Access

Acres

Habitat

Acres

36(range: 1-6; see flow chart on page 4. Not applicable to Access-only projects)

Access will be provided through private land to public land that is completely landlocked (surrounded) by

private land, legally precluding public hunting access. Total area includes only public land within the

boundary of private ownership.

1,945

1 n/a

* Access to public land MUST be provided on a "Welcome to Hunt" basis

1

Access Fee

Assessment

Private

Land

Inacc.

Public

Acc.

Public


Page 2

3. Matching Funds Total matching funds (monetary and in-kind)

> 1% matching funds…………………………………………………………….. 1

> 25% matching funds…………………………………………………………… 1

> 50% matching funds…………………………………………………………… 1

4. Damage Project would mitigate current damage to private property:

Wildlife damage occuring on private property…………………………………. 0

Landowner participates in ODFW damage control programs……………….. 0

General Total 8 5 5 0General Possible 12 5 5 5

5. Public Land Project located in Wildlife Management Unit with <50% public land………………….. 0 0 0 n/a

6. Private access Private land access type:

Project would provide access to private land………………………………….. 1

Private land access would be on a "Welcome to Hunt" basis………………. 1

7. Public access Access through private lands would:

improve access to public land………..………....…………..……………….... 1

provide access to otherwise inaccessible public land…………...……...….. 1

8. Special Access Project would provide special youth or disabled hunter access opportunities…………. 0 0 0 n/a

9. Species Permitted

2+ species groups available and permitted……….…………………………… 1 1 1 n/a

4+ species groups available and permitted……….…………………………… 1 1 1 n/a

10. Under-rep. Species* Project provides access to under-represented species in the watershed……………. 1 1 1 n/a

11. Harvest Restriction Landowner would not restrict sex or species permitted for lawful harvest……………… 1 1 1 n/a

12. Season Restriction Landowner would not restrict access to any hunting season(s)…………

May close to access in

conjunction with White

River WA winter closure

(Dec 1 - Mar 31) 0 0 0 n/a

13. Dispersion 1 1 1

Access Total 9 5 5 0Access Possible 12 8 8 7Payment Fee Total 10 10 n/a

* lists of under-represented species will be created by A&H state coordinator and approved by A&H Board

Access Criteria - Applies to private land access that would be provided under the proposed project.

Project

Score

Access Fee

Assessment

n/a1 1

(mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met)

Species groups include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, turkey, and predators/varmints.

Property would provide access to animals pushed off of publicly accessible land during hunting

season………………………………………………………………………………..


Page 3

Habitat Criteria (mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met)

14. Department Priorities Project is located within target area and will benefit target species identified in any

of these Department programs: Mule Deer Initiative, Sage Grouse Initiative,

Black-tailed Deer Plan Implementation………………………………………………………. 0

15. Location importance:

Area populations < 90% of management objective (deer and elk)…………

Project will increase wintering populations of upland birds/waterfowl………

Area populations < 75% of management objective (deer and elk)………….

Project will increase breeding populations of upland birds/waterfowl………

16. Conservation StrategyProject addresses Oregon Conservation Strategy (OCS) concerns:

Project action benefits Strategy Habitat or Strategy Species………………. 1

[above] AND action occurs in Conservation Opportunity Area (COA)……… 1

17. Critical Habitat

Project meets requirements of Habitat Categories 1-4……………………… 1

Project meets requirements of Habitat Categories 1-2……………………… 1

18. Habitat Connectivity Project will help facilitate local animal movement (fence removal, etc.)………………….. 1

19. Habitat Impact

Project will increase the habitat quantity/quality >25% per unit treated…… 1

Project will increase the habitat quantity/quality >50% per unit treated…… 0

Description of habitat impact:

20. Population Impact

Local abundance of at least one targeted game species should increase >25%......... 0

Habitat Total 8Habitat Possible 12

Grand Total 25Total Possible 36

21. Miscellaneous

Project will help establish or maintain a wildlife habitat corridor or

otherwise reduce fragmentation on landscape level………………………………………….. 1

near-term management priorities would ensure maintenance of desirable understory vegetation.

In addition to long-term conservation and connectivity benefits, the noxious weed control in the

by preventing the otherwise likely division of this property into 10 separate rural-residential parcels

Description of habitat connectivity benefit (required): This project will conserve habitat connectivity

Post-

treatment

Estimated Abundance

Project

Score

1

0

Describe other project details that may help with prioritization or fee assessment (i.e. current

market value of similar hunting leases in the vicinity)……….…... NO POINTS

Species

Pre-

treatment

or:

Describes the predicted impact that habitat improvements (excluding external variables such as

weather, etc.) will have on game species on the project site. Provide estimates for all targeted

species.

Applies to species that the habitat work will benefit. Question structured to equally weigh big

game and game bird projects - score "1" if either item in each bracket is true:

Describes the predicted impact that the project will have on the habitat. Habitat work must

benefit game species.

{

{

Applies to the specific GAME habitat that the project will maintain or enhance. Use

accompanying flow chart and definitions to determine habitat category. Definitions are slightly

amended from OAR Division 415 to be game-specific.

or:


Page 4

Definition:

Watershed Species Watershed SpeciesMalheur pheasant, waterfowl, turkey Deschutes waterfowl, valley quail, chukar, doveSouth Willamette waterfowl, turkey, valley quail John Day upland game birdsNorth Coast predators, waterfowl Umpqua waterfowl, dove, turkeyGrande Ronde upland game birds Klamath waterfowl, quailRogue dove, waterfowl North Willame waterfowl

game species that exist in the watershed district in huntable numbers, but that the general public does not have reasonable hunting access to (via public land, current A&H properties, etc.)

Access and Habitat Project Evaluation - Appendix

Under-represented Species

A&H Habitat Category Flow Chart

Note: These definitions have been amended from OAR Division 415 to be game-specific and applied on a watershed basis. Habitat Category designations made on this Evaluation Form are for Access & Habitat Program use only, and do not have any legal implications associated with OAR 415.

ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM · Conserve nearly 2,000 acres of high quality oak and conifer woodlands...

Documents

Transcript of ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM · Conserve nearly 2,000 acres of high quality oak and conifer woodlands...