Minutes Crook County Natural Resources Committee May 14, 2025 Committee Members Present: Bill McCormack, Frank Porfily, Mike Lunn, Lynne Breese, Calista Songstad (via Zoom), Tim Deboodt, Melinda Kestler, Steve McGuire, Cliff Kiser Members Absent: Casey Kaiser, Andy Gallagher, Kim Vogel Guests Present: Monty Gregg (FS), Stephanie McKinney (BLM), Amanda Roberts (BLM), Kevin Larkin (FS), Reese Mercer (Western Beavers Cooperative), Susie Hermreck (County Commissioner), James Osborn (BLM) Public Present: Gayle Hunt, John Breese Meeting was called to order @ 1:00 p.m. by Chair Steve McGuire Pledge of Allegiance Minutes: Frank Porfily moved to approve as presented. Lynne Breese seconded. All Committee members present voted yes. No Committee members present voted no. Motion Passed. Agency Updates: Kevin Larkin (Acting co-Forest Supervisor) provided the Forest Service update. Kevin announced that Jeff Marszal will assume the duties of Forest Supervisor, Ochoco National Forest on June 2. Kevin Keown and Scott McFarland both retired in mid-April. Scott will be headed to the State of Washington to work for Washington Department of Natural Resources. Chris Joosen also retired. The Forest will be working on getting key positions filled. Process will take a month or two. Lynne Breese asked about hiring fire fighters for1 the 2025 season. Kevin reported that hiring is going well and seasonal fire fighters are arriving. What is unclear will be the availability of those who filled in and held support service roles. James Osborn (BLM) shared that BLM hire numbers are good and people are on-board. BLM is reviewing weekly staffing levels and it is still unclear how support teams will be organized. Mike Lunn asked about the conversation to create a "Fire Service". Kevin reported that there is a conversation going within the agencies but nothing will change for the 2025 season. Mike expressed concern about the agencies being able to access skills outside of the fire service but still within the Forest Service or BLM. Again, Kevin shared that the Chief of the FS said there would be no changes for 2025. Stephanie McKinney (BLM) shared that there were no updates from the Deschutes Resource Area. She said that Kyle was back on the District from his detail and the District has begun to strategize on how to meet its 1 million board foot per year harvest target. The Crazy Creek salvage sale (1.2 mbf) offered this spring received no bids. Amanda Roberts (BLM District Manager) shared that there will be no major reorganizational efforts until May 23rd. There is a current injunction in federal court to not allow for reduction in force. James Osborn (BLM FMO) reported on the rangeland fire protection associations (RFPA) and the on-going discussions about the roles of Agencies/RFPA's and others in regards to initial attack and prolonged attacks as it relates to wildlife firefighting. 2024 saw the use of RFPA for prolonged fire-fighting efforts and it llustrated that more communication between Command and RFPAS needs to be worked out. Many of these Commands were staffed with people from out of state and are not familiar with existing agreements. Prineville BLM District works with 11 RFPAS. All have mutual aid agreements. All have reciprocal agreements. Agreements currently have no financial cost. RFPA's have the ability to access both federal and state surplus firefighting equipment. John Breese (associated with Post/Paulina RFPA) shared frustration that fire fighting agencies are having year round conversations but the RFPA's are only brought into the conversation at the beginning of fire season. Melina Kestler shared that she had a conversation with out of state firefighters last summer and they shared a strong desire to work with local ranchers who know the area but were not being listened to by the management teams. John Breese asked about the status of BLM Range Conservationists on the District. Amanda shared that the District has 5 Range Cons covering 500 allotments. Seasonal hires are typically 20 - 25 per year and this year, there are 3. Currently the BLM is under a hiring freeze. Susan Hermreck, Crook County Commissioner spoke about HB 3349 and 3350. Both bills deal with operational issues of RFPAS. Crook County has 2 Rangeland groups, Post/Paulina and Bothers/Hampton. Reese Mercer, Western Beavers Cooperative shared a program with the Committee on her organization and their efforts to reestablish beavers on the landscape as a method of improving riparian areas and the hydrologic functions of the landscape. Her slide show is attached. Committee updates: Tim shared that the PNW Section, Society for Range Management in conjunction with OSU Range Field Days will host a field tour of the Paired Watershed Study on Camp Creek, Thursday, May 29. This study has been on-going since 1994 (31 years). The Field Day is free to the public but registration is encouraged. No public comment Cliff moved to adjourn. Frank seconded. All Committee members present voted yes. No member present voted no. Meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m. CRW Beaver Action Plan Project Spring 2025 Participants: Crooked River WC, Bonneville Enviro. Foundation, Utah State University, Oregon State University, Western Beavers Coop. Funding by ODFW/OCRF (state). Outcomes: The project will deliver a written "Beaver Action Plan" for the Crooked River Watershed organized by 6 different subregions, to prioritize beaver-based restoration (and conflict mitigation) investments of time and resources by agencies and landowners. The Plan will include: a) An assessment of existing beaver occupancy mapped throughout most subbasins of the watershed b) The potential for beaver recolonization given factors of: geomorphology, vegetation, hydrology and landowner interest C) The potential for beaver conflict areas around culverts, roadways, irrigation infrastructure, etc. Additional outcomes of the Project: Increased community awareness on how a return of beaver activities, and beaver-managed floodplains (BMFPS), can again benefit land health, slow erosion, dampen high-water events, buffer wildfire, improve water security and water quality, and more; Two subbasin scale, ranch-operation focused Beaver Management Plans to guide different tools and solutions around beaver management; Expansion of beaver conflict services to landowners, providing beaver exclusion devices. Activities: 1) Fall 2024 Complete. Surveyed 115 of 315 total stream reaches. 2) Spring 2025 - Planned: The goal is to survey a remaining 200 reaches on private and public lands with small crews of 2. Each survey reach 300 meters long, randomly assigned. 3) Fall 2025 The Beaver Action Plan findings and report recommendations will be prepared and shared to natural resource agencies and interested landowners. Please consider: 1. is there any information that CCRNC and other community participants would like to see come from this process? 2. Any suggestions of folks to speak with to inform this report and beaver knowledge for the region? 3. Sharing this project with others, for community awareness. Resources and support for landowners andl local agencies Thank you. Beaver management devices Beaver habitat restoration Mercer WESTERS Reese Questions or suggestions? Chris Gannon with CRWC, or 541-362-1024 BEAVERS ease@wasiembwyenoy Community Outreach Flyer 65 Subregions of Crooked River Watershed and: Sampled Survey Reaches SPRING 2025 - 2)Upper Ochoca Crk CRW" SUBREGIONS Whato Happening par ccswco Plannngn uround the wnhd - ) Lower Crooked ndeny - -' elooinge bbbw * / s undntiend bee n2 Dad dihags hos s)Upper! North Fark har ctvtas canbec cempnsay w - du wnas gosh andi how gnan am to Big Summit * ppont band owne opertonn and oe ro ndbavers LANDOWNER SUPPORT FOR THE CROOKED RIVER WATERSHED 3)Middle Crooked Actes undervey Berver OymA Ansloguaa! BDAs) andk keeping -tar on bel lend longer A 6)Upper Crooked Foruge - hrouph naw 4) Bear dreck Camp Creek, South Fork, Besy er. E imtpatian Basvie dad devcos h addross o oblem Becver Mragenent e olan ace aach a Re pose Mercar 541-362-1024 Ees NESI -de BEAVERS Example of Beaver Occupancy Mapping by subbasin MAPPING BEAVER OCCUPANCY - UPPER CROOKED Subbasins (HUC12) where beavers are: 3 - PRINEVILLE Just passing through, high mortality Starting out, getting by but not thriving Thriving and persistent Voa. Wali Creek Low. Hore Watssn Creek /CR le rerk (PAULINA ow Creek Camp Crrck aten ek uth Fork Upp Mid. Bear Cre Sage low EROOK <DESCHUTES SPRING 2025 What's Happening Planning around the watershed is underway as we're looking to better understand beavers in the drainage, how their activities can be compatible - - with landowner goals, and how agencies can support landowner operations and interests around beavers. LANDOWNER SUPPORT FOR THE CROOKED RIVER WATERSHED Activities underway: Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) and keeping water on the land longer Forage gains through increased irrigation 'Beaver cheater' devices to address beaver problems BEFORE AFTER Beaver Management Planning To learn more, contact: 541-362-1024 RS Working to promote Connecting ideas and people stewpardship of the Crooked with beaper-focused resources, e WESTERS River Watershed and its technical advice and support in BEAVERS Eastern S resources. COOPERATIVE Oregon. Est 994 - 5 I I o e 3 E 3 u E : 9 e - 5 s I $ S a a 1 : à - 4 a 3 3 - 9 - 3 3 E e & S, 9 X 1 I :: 4 a - * I - : V - - ill I # e - * :: - a 5 e 3 * 1 1 - 1 E - 5 - 5: I I e I . F ii h : i a E e E SINZ 5 I ER 8 - 2 5 3 I - I 3 5 o 3 - - 2 I E 3 3 - - e € a - 3 N o de € I 3 a a - - 5 E a 3 x w 5 - 5 a à a @ 3 u 3 I a 1I a I I P 7 - a A 1 3 E I I à a - E f E E E 3 I : s E : - S V - - E : $ a I - AA 3 € & f I 1 3 u I -