A top priority is to complete National Environmental Policy Act

By Debbie Raney
Burns Times-Herald

Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service presented the proposed Emigrant Creek Ranger District Title II projects for the upcoming year to the Harney County Court on March 18.

There were 13 projects included, but according to Forest Service Fisheries Biologist Rick Vetter, some of the projects have also been included in the stimulus funding requests, so they may be excluded from Title II if approved.

The top priority project was to complete the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and archaeology surveys on the Jane fuel reduction and biomass area. The total estimated cost of this project was $264,600 for funding years 2009 and 2010.

Second on the list of Title II projects was small tree thinning. The targeted area is near Yellowjacket Lake, with 500 acres planned for this year and 500 for next.

Noxious weed treatment was listed as the third project for Title II funding. The Forest Service will partner with the county, with most of the treatment to be done in the Malheur National Forest  and the remainder to be done in the Ochoco Forest.

Building drift fences on Pine Creek and in the Van Allotment are the fourth and fifth priorities. Both projects are intended to improve riparian habitat.

Creating a Pine Springs Basin Green Dot area to protect wildlife habitat and control weeds is the Forest Service’s sixth project requesting funding, with restoring aspen stands in the Egley and Cow areas listed as seventh.

The remainder of the Title II projects include improving fish passage and populations through culvert installation on Emigrant Creek and Wolf Creek; removing check dams on Sawtooth and Nicoll Creeks; the Malheur Stewardship Contract, which would take place in 2010 following the completion of the Jane NEPA and archaeology surveys; road maintenance centering around the other project areas; and creating pipe bundles for stream crossings for timber sales.

Following the Forest Service presentation of projects, Judge Grasty offered another suggestion for funding. Titled “Harney County Forest Opportunity” and submitted by the Northeast Oregon Forests Resource Advisory Committee (RAC), the project requests $300,000 over the next two years to help Harney County purchase, maintain and market the former Louisiana Pacific complex in Hines.

The Title II submission form presented by Grasty said, “Nearly every project focused on forest health in the Emigrant Creek Ranger District would benefit by having manufacturing facilities located in Hines/Burns, which would utilize and purchase products and byproducts from the forest. The coordination required is simply to be able to connect the opportunities on the ground with manufacturing customer attracted to this facility.”

The application questions “how will cooperative relationships between the people that use federal lands and the agencies that manage them be improved?”

The application’s response states, “The citizens of Harney County will have an increased opportunity to secure work. The people in this area will better be able to assist in the needed forest health projects, be able to afford to participate in collaborative efforts on the ground and feel a more integral part of the relationship between community and the federal land management agencies.”

According to the U.S. Forest Service, Title II projects are recommended by resource advisory committees and approved by the Secretary or designee such as Forest Supervisor or District Ranger. Title II funds may be used for making additional investments in, and creating additional employment opportunities through, projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, implementing stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems, and restoring and improving land health and water quality.

Projects shall enjoy broad based support with objectives that may include but are not limited to:

• road, trail and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration;
• soil productivity improvement;
• improvements in forest ecosystem health;
• watershed restoration and maintenance;
• restoration, maintenance and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat;
• control of noxious and exotic weeds; and
• re-establishment of native species.

At least 50 percent of all Title II funds must be used for projects that are primarily dedicated to road maintenance, decommissioning or obliteration; or restoration of streams and watersheds.

Title II projects recommended by Resource Advisory Committees (RACs) must be within the RAC’s geographical boundary.