Minutes  Crook County Natural Resources Committee  August14, ,2024  Committee Members Present: Bill McCormack, Frank Porfily, Mike Lunn, Lynne Breese, Andy Gallagher,  Calista Songstad, Tim Deboodt, Steve McGuire  Members Absent: Casey Kaiser, Melinda Kestler, Cliff Kiser, Kim' Vogel  Guests Present: Will VanVactor (County Planning), Ann Beier (County Planning), Lisa Clark (BLM),Jon  Soliz (County Assessor) Public Present: John Breese  Meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. by Chair Steve McGuire  Pledge of Allegiance  Minutes: Bill McCormack moved to approve the minutes of the. July 10, 2024 meeting as presented.  Lynne seconded. Motion passed. Agency Updates: State Parks: No Report  Forest Service: No Report. Handout provided  Steve mentioned the handout mentioned a Motor' Vehicle Use Map and expressed concern about any possible road closures associated with this activity. Of particular concern is any RS 2477 roads. Steve reminded the Committee that several years ago, the County's GIS Department digitized all known (at the Lisa Clark (Prineville BLM) provided the Committee with an update. Lisa provided a regional map, showing all the summer fire locations throughout eastern Oregon. In her overview, the Crazy Creek Fire was still active (lands impacted are FS, BLM and Private). BLM is working to reduce area closures due to wildfire activities. Resource advisors are responding to fire suppression impacts (ex. Fire lines) and impacts from thet fires themselves. Surveys are looking for ongoing hotspots, potential weed issues, assessing the needs to replant and fence repair/replacement. Costs associated with suppression repairs Ina addition to the fire report, Lisa shared that as a part oft the Grazing Permit Renewal EA (Camp Creek area), the Central Oregon Field Office received 1 protest on one of the 4 proposed decisions (Camp Creek Community Allotment). BLM will be addressing this protest, and the other 3 decisions have  time) RS 2477 roads within the County.  are charged to the fire costs. Site repair will require NEPA review.  passed the protest period and have become final.    BLM has received funding for a census flight, Liggett Table Horse Management Area. BLM willl be finalizing contracts for1 this census this fall. Lisa reports that this census data is one oft the most critical components of the process of conducting an EA1 to determine the appropriate Management level for this In closing Lisa acknowledged that the first hunting season (antelope) is starting this coming Saturday and Will VanVactor and Ann Beier were introduced to the Committee. Will is the County's Planning Director and Ann (retired County Planning Director) is on contract to complete a project with the federal government (Defense Department) to ensure better coperaton/communcaion with DOD and the County asi it relates to use of the aerial space within the County for flight training exercises. Different parts of the County have different approved flight elevations for DOD training (Military Training Routes). County planning works to mitigate flight training with other County development (ex: solar, communication towers or other conflicting uses). County zones affected by this work are forestry, EFU1 and forest 10 ac. Most of the lands in the flight training areas are federally managed. County outcomes could include overlay zones similar to existing flood plain overlays. DOD and the County emphasize that this is to be a public involvement activity with public meetings to be scheduled In addition to this work, the County will be looking at updating its Commercial Energy Code. State law requires coordination of this work with the military. Ultimately, this could lead to updating the County's Andy Gallagher asked about how the increased interest in wind power development might be affected by the final products oft this effort. Will stated that DOD is not interested in saying no to projects, itis more about coordination, and mitigation of possible impacts. John Breese asked about drone use in these military flight zones. Will felt that there is very limited drone use in these flight zones. Bill McCormack mentioned that this area oft the County has been used for decades as a military flight  HMA.  expresses hope that everyone stays safe and is fire cautious.  for later this fall plus hearing before the County's Planning Commission.  Comprehensive Plan.  training area.  Good of the Order: No Committee updates Public Comment: No Public Comment Meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m.  Andy moved to adjourn. Mike seconded. Motion Passed    USDA  United States Department of Agriculture  Crook County Natural Resources Advisory Committee Ochoco National Forest & Crooked River National Grassland  August 14, 2024  PRESCRIBED BURNING PROGRAM  Firefighters have completed an additional 100 acres of pile burning this spring, in addition to az 271-acre unit of juniper jackpot burning on the Crooked River National Grassland near Skull Hollow and Grizzly Mountain. Int the fall of 2023, the Ochoco National Forest (ONF) completed over 6,000 acres of prescribed burning. Treatments included blacklining in the Maury Mountains, underburning in the. Jackson Unit to the east of Big Summit Prairie, and pile burning ini the McKay Units west oft the Mill Creek Wilderness. This spring, the Ochoco National Forest (ONF) has completed over 700-acres of prescribed burning. Treatments included underburning int the HEJ Unit near Big Summit Prairie. For more information on prescribed burning practices and updates,  please visit wwentabreontireors WILDFIRE CRISIS STRATEGY  The Forest Service has launched a robust, 10-year strategy to squarely address this wildfire crisis in the places where it poses the most immediate threats to communities. The strategy, called "Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: A Strategy for Protecting Communities and Improving Resilience in America's Forests," combines a historic investment of congressional funding with years ofs scientific research and planning into a national effort that will dramatically increase the scale oft forest health treatments over the next decade. Central Oregon was chosen as one of 10 initial landscapes selected to receive $131 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) of 2021 calls for reducing wildfire risk on 10 million acres of National Forest System lands by 2027. Funding from the BIL and the Inflation Reduction. Act (IRA) are being directed at fuels reduction projects in priority landscapes including the Central Oregon Investment Landscape that includes the Deschutes National Forest and the Crooked River National Grassland (CRNG). ONF specialists are undertaking planning fort fuels reduction across the Grassland in response to the Wildfire Crisis! Strategy. The ONF released the Lower Bridge Fuels Reduction and Habitat Resiliency Project Notice of Proposed Action on January 8th, 2024 to the public. The Lower Bridge project area is about 20,210 acres located ont the western side oft the CRNG. and the proposal includes reducing hazardous fuels by removing. juniper and treating slash andi improving wildlife habitat and watershed resiliency by promoting native shrubs and grasses. Approximately 6,749 acres are expected to have junipertreatments: and 756.6 acres will be planted or seeded. The ONF is on track to complete the NEPA in November 2024. For more information on the Lower Bridge Project, please visit htps/www.fsusdago/polet/echoco/Pproiet-64324 ONF: staff have just begun assessing the second planning area, the Central Fuels Reduction and Habitat Resilience Project. The Elkl Lane wildfire, which started north of Round Butte on August 4th, hasi impacted as small portion of the Central planning area. Once fire suppression activities are complete, the ID Team will resume planning for this project. We  investment to begin implementation of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy (WCS) in 2022.  intend toi issue a proposed action this fall.  UL, Forest Service    USDA  United States Department of Agriculture  NATURAL RESOURCES  Greater Williams Prairie Restoration Project Completion  Williams Prairie (the Prairie) is a! 560-acre meadow located approximately 25 miles east of Prineville, OR, on the Paulina Ranger District of the Ochoco National Forest. The North Fork oft the Crooked River originates and runs through the Prairie. Over many' years of manipulation by both private and Federal entities the Prairie had primarily been dewatered with ditches and gullies and1 the NF Crooked River no longer ran through al lush, wet The Prairie restoration work started on. July 10th, 2023, and was completed on September 29th, 2023. The project focused on restoring 4.5r miles of degraded stream gullies and ditches, over two miles of valley length. Primary objectives were to 1) fill degraded gullies and ditches with earthen material to bringt the shallow ground water table closer toi the valley surface, 2) remove a 3501 ft long by 12f ft tall earthen dam 3) improve the existing AOP and add 3 additional valley culverts ont the Forest Road (FR) 4225-050 road crossing 4) restore native cultural and sensitive flora and fauna habitat, and 5) protect multiple fens and springs within and around the The project was completed over a: 12-week period with at time-and-materials contract whichi included two excavators, three off-road dump trucks, al D6 dozer and a skidder. Approximately 45,000 cubic yards of material was excavated andi transported from high terraces toi fill down-cut gullies and ditches. In: some areas of the project, gullies and ditches were 8-10f ft deep and 15-201 ft wide. Upon filling some oft these areas, a subsurface water table response was witnessed rising as much as 3.51 feet in a few days. Approximately 4001 trees were pushed over and placed on portions of the newly graded prairie surface. Upon finishing the project, approximately 10,000 native riparian plants were planted, most of which were sedge plugs and small mats. Additional planting was completed by contract ini the spring of 2024 with a variety of riparian plants nativeto the site and additional heavy equipment work was completed to stabilize areas where vegetation had noty yet  prairie.  Prairie.  established to prevent degradation  Lamonta Compound: CCCI Building Restoration and Fire Facility Construction  In 2022, the Forest completed siding replacement, painting, and exterior restoration of three of thei four CCC- era warehouses and storage buildings at the historic Lamonta Compound. The Forest is currently working with different youth education and employment programs to restore ai fifth building used to store fire and lookout specific supplies. Another project at the site is at two-phase project to construct an up-to-date fire facility to house the Forest's 100+1 fire employees, providing office space, training space, and a ready room to also accommodate visiting fire personnel. Thei first phase began int the spring of 2023 during which compound utilities were upgraded, and connections to city infrastructure brought upt to local and state code, in addition to providing improved employee parking, and upgraded access from both Lamonta and 10th Streets. The second phase, scheduled for 2024, will complete construction of the actual fire operations facility. First Phase of Forest Road 42 Paving Project Complete (funded by the Great American Outdoors Act) This three-year project was completed in November. The project focused on worki from Forest Road (FR) 4200- 300 to thej junction with FR4 4210 andi the area was fully closed while work was underway. The project included milling the existing asphalt, stabilizing the base material to mitigate future frost heave damage, repaving and restriping this section ofr road along with completing necessary bridge repairs. Contractors also patched asphalt on FR 42 from thej junction with FR: 221 to thej junction with FR 4210. Striping of the new road surface will take  Forest Service    USDA  United States Department of Agriculture place in the spring of 2024.  Forest Road 22 Reconstruction Project (funded by the Federal Land Transportation Program) The Federal Highways Administration willl be prioritizing critical locations for partial reconstruction and/or overlay on FR: 22 between thej junction of FR4 42 and Walton Lake Campground. Complete reconstruction oft this road is warranted; however, the existing funding is for $1,000,000 in construction funds. The Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA-WFL) and the Forest Service completed the environmental review and NEPA documentation in August 2023. FHWA-WFL will be responsible for completing  the design and construction which is expected to begin in 2024.  Motor Vehicle Usel Map Information  Our Engineering staff, together with our Natural Resources, Recreation, Range, and' Visitor Information Services teams are in the process of making substantial updates to our Motor' Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs). Thisisa comprehensive effort to ensure our official information on maps is not only accurate, but also signed properly on the Forest and Grassland. This willl be implemented on a rolling basis which began this summer with new carsonite posts, new! kiosks, updated kiosks, re-signing road signs that have excessive wear, etc. in additiont to  posting and printing updated maps in 2024. PROJECT PLANNING UPDATES Mill Creek Restoration Project  The ONF's Mill Creek Dry Forest Restoration Project (Mill Creek) was developed with thei intent of actively managing conifer stands to restore historic composition, structure, and density; reducing activity generated and naturally occurring fuels; and restoring streams, floodplains, and Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs). The project areai is located on the Lookout Mountain Ranger District east of Prineville, Oregon, adjacent to the Mill Creek Wilderness. The project areai is approximately: 36,430 acres ins size. Thei final Environmental Assessment and draft Decision Notice in were issued in March, providing a 45-day objection filing period. Objections have been responded to or withdrawn byt the objector. The final Decision Notice is on track to be  signed this week..  North Fork Crooked River Resiliency Project  The Paulina Ranger District is proposing landscape restoration with the North Fork Crooked River Forest Resilience Project including commercial and noncommercial thinning, prescribed fire, and road system changes. The larger' "planning area" includes about 37,554 acres (although activities are only proposed across about 10,000 acres) and is located about 31 miles east of Prineville, Oregon, and 9 miles north of Paulina, Oregon. The proposed action was scoped with the publici in September 2022. Thei interdisciplinary (ID) Team used scoping comments to develop an alternative. The draft environmental assessment (EA) was released for a 30-day comment period which ended on December 1st. The Forest is finalizing the EA and plans to issue a draft Decision Notice fora4 45-day objection period late August or early September. The Crazy Creek fire has impacted  the eastern portion of this project area. Corral Flat Equestrian Trails Project  The Corral Flat Equestrian Trails Project proposes the designation of approximately 50 miles of trailf for equestrians as part of the Forest non-motorized designated trail system. The project is about 25 miles northeast  Forest Service    USDA  United States Department of Agriculture  of Prineville ont the Lookout Mountain: and Paulina Ranger Districts. Thet trail routes are coincident with Forest Service system roads (both open and closed) and non-system two-track roads and closely follow the route of an annual equestrian endurance ride. This project would also involve rehabilitation of areas damaged by OHVS, and improvements of road closures to prevent future damage. The Forest has reviewed comments that were received from 63 individuals and organzations on the EA during a 30-day comment period that ended April 12th, and is working towards finalizing thel EA and drafting al Decision Notice. The Draft Decision Notice will be issued  fora a 45-day objection period in August. Jackson Watershed Fuelbreaks CE Project  The Paulina Ranger District issued a public scoping notice for a proposed fuelbreak project on. July 29, 2024. The District hosted ap publici field trip with the Ochoco Forest Restoration Collaborative on. July 16th. This project will create upt to 3,000 acres of shadedi fuelbreak along major roads around the. Jackson' Watershed by removing trees and brush, maintaining largest overstory trees, and conducting pile and broadcast burning. The Crazy Creek wildfire is currently impacting portions oft this project area. When suppression activities are completed, the ID Team will assess thei impacts of thet fire and determine how the project proposal will need to be  modified.  Ochoco Wild Horse Management Plan Forest Service Prevails in US District Court of Oregon  The Forest Service completed NEPA for an updated Ochoco' Wild Horse Herd Management Plan in May 2021. A lawsuit challenging the new plan was filed in US District Court in October 2021. Following briefing, Magistrate Judge Hallman issued Findings and Recommendations in favor of the Forest Service on all counts on May 12"h. The District Court adopted these Findings and Recommendations and ruled in favor oft the Forest. Service. Plaintiffs have filed a notice of appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Briefing oft the appeal was completed on. July 24th. The Forest anticipates the Ninth Circuit to schedule an oral hearing fort the case. Int the 2022 and 2023 annually conducted aerial insect and disease surveys, Forest Health Protection Staff observed wide-spread grand fir mortality thati is believed to be caused by drought stress and fir engraver beetles. The mortalityi is quite severe in some places buti in general, at moderate levels. The mortality is across avery large area, essentially where grand fir is present in Central Oregon and all the way to the California border. The Forest is assessing the existing condition and working with Regional Staff to consider options for  FOREST HEALTH  addressing this issue.  Stay up-to-date with forest information by visiting: https/www.fs.usda.gov/ochoco or follow us on Facebook  at: htos/pw.asebookcom.paslafsrscaleiRienlatGasiand To have your email added to the Forest's project mailing list, please visit periods. This link also provides information for all current planning projects.  htos/lpmw.fsusdasoleswipostulxhsalamimanssementpoits and enter your email in the' "Email Updates" box. You will then begin to receive notification of project announcements such as public comment  Forest Service