Section 1. Administrative
| Proposal title | Lookout Mountain Road Decommissioning |
| Proposal ID | 32010 |
| Organization | Vale District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) |
| Proposal contact person or principal investigator |
| Name | Todd Kuck |
| Mailing address | 3165 10th Street Baker City, OR 97814 |
| Phone / email | 5415231288 / [email protected] |
| Manager authorizing this project | Penny Woods, Baker BLM Resource Area Field Manager |
| Review cycle | Middle Snake |
| Province / Subbasin | Middle Snake / Snake Lower Middle |
| Short description | Decommission a portion of the Sisley Creek and Fox Creek roads totaling approximately two and a half miles, resulting in a reduction of sedimentation, enhancement of riparian vegeation, and reducing the number of stream and spring crossings in the area. |
| Target species | Red band trout, resident fish and wildlife species. |
Project location
| Latitude | Longitude | Description |
|---|
| 44.5857 |
-117.2708 |
Mid-point of Sisley Creek Road. Burnt Subbasin |
| 44.7343 |
-117.2548 |
Mid-point of Fox Creek Road, segment 1. Lower Middle Snake Subbasin |
| 44.5565 |
-117.2385 |
Mid-point of Fox Creek Road, segment 2. Lower Middle Snake Subbasin |
|
|
This project proposal is in 2 subbasins, the Lower Middle Snake, and the Burnt. Since the roads are very close to each other, it only made sense to include the work in one proposal to save money on equipment and personnel. |
Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs)
Sponsor-reported:
| RPA |
|---|
| RPA Action 152 |
| RPA Action 153 |
Relevant RPAs based on NMFS/BPA review:
| Reviewing agency | Action # | BiOp Agency | Description |
|---|
Section 2. Past accomplishments
| Year | Accomplishment |
|---|
| 2002 |
Fiscal Year 2002 (after 9-30-01) Planted 5800 sedge, willow, and cottonwood plants on 2 miles of stream in Lookout Mountain area utilizing 297 hours of volunteer time. |
| 2001 |
Treated approximately 1.2 miles adjacent to streams in Lookout Mt. area for noxious weeds |
| 2001 |
Planted approximately 0.5 miles of stream in Lookout Mt. area with sedge and juncus which included 96 hours of volunteer time |
| 2001 |
Planted approximately 0.5 miles of stream in Lookout Mt. area with sedge plugs utilizing BLM employees and 4 volunteers |
Section 3. Relationships to other projects
| Project ID | Title | Description |
|---|
|
No direct relation to any other BPA funded projects. There are currently no projects in the Burnt subbasin |
|
|
BLM ongoing restoration in Lookout Mountain area. |
The BLM is currently preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for management of the Lookout Mountain area.
Some restoration, such as planting riparian areas, has been occurring with the help of volunteers and Challenge Cost Share programs. |
Section 4. Budget for Planning and Design phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| 1. Complete permitting process |
a. Obtain Division of State Lands and Corps of Engineers permits |
1 |
$250 |
|
| 2. Design monitoring plan |
b. Research and document techniques to be used for monitoring and evaluation |
1 |
$0 |
|
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
| None anticipated |
|
|
$0 |
Outyear budgets for Planning and Design phase
Section 5. Budget for Construction and Implementation phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| 1. Decommissioning 2.5 miles of existing road, much of which is within RHCA's |
a. Subsoiling the road surface with winged subsoiler |
1 |
$6,500 |
Yes |
|
b. Removing stream crossings and re-contouring streambanks, where needed. Install erosion control mat to prevent sediment delivery until vegetation is established |
1 |
$8,700 |
Yes |
|
c. Installing rock vanes at stream crossings to prevent headcutting |
1 |
$9,500 |
Yes |
| 2. Re-vegetating streambanks and roadbed after subsoiling |
d. Planting of approximately 3000 native shrubs and tree species in roadbed and at stream crossings |
1 |
$8,000 |
Yes |
|
e. Seeding of 2.5 miles of roadbed with native grass and sedge species |
1 |
$3,500 |
Yes |
| 3. Block decommissioned roads |
f. Blocking decomissioned road segments to all vehicular traffic using rocks, logs, and/or tank traps |
1 |
$4,200 |
Yes |
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
| None anticipated |
|
|
$0 |
Outyear budgets for Construction and Implementation phase
Section 6. Budget for Operations and Maintenance phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| 1. Maintain blockage of roads to prevent vehicular travel until vegetation is established |
Replace rock, logs and/or tank traps as needed to restrict vehicle traffic until vegetation is well established |
ongoing |
$4,500 |
Yes |
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
| 1. Maintain blockage of roads to prevent vehicular travel until vegetation is established |
2004 |
2007 |
$18,000 |
| 2. Maintenance needed for out years may include re-planting or re-seeding if planting and/or germination is not successful. However, planting and seeding will be planned to best meet survival needs of the plants, so at this time re-planting or |
|
|
$0 |
| re-seeding is not planned. Monitoring will determine whether re-treatments are needed |
|
|
$0 |
Outyear budgets for Operations and Maintenance phase
| FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
|---|
| $4,500 | $4,500 | $4,500 | $4,500 |
Section 7. Budget for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
Task-based budget
| Objective | Task | Duration in FYs | Estimated 2003 cost | Subcontractor |
|---|
| 1. Ensure survival of shrubs and trees |
a. Conduct survival surveys. Recommend re-treatments where necessary to meet objectives. |
ongoing |
$0 |
|
| 2. Ensure germination and survival of seeded areas |
b. Monitor seeded areas for germination success and survival. Re-treat where necessary |
ongoing |
$0 |
|
| 3. Ensure upward trend of riparian areas, increased bank stabilization, decreased sedimentation |
c. Install photo-points to document vegetation establishment on streambanks and roadbed. |
ongoing |
$1,500 |
|
|
d. Conduct stream survey and cross-sections along short stream segment which includes a road stream crossing to document stability. |
ongoing |
$2,000 |
|
|
e. Monitor blockades to ensure vehicular traffic is not traveling on decommissioned roads |
ongoing |
$0 |
|
| 4. Report monitoring results annually |
f. Prepare annual monitoring report. |
ongoing |
$0 |
|
|
g. Post monitoring results on BLM web site. |
ongoing |
$500 |
|
Outyear objectives-based budget
| Objective | Starting FY | Ending FY | Estimated cost |
|---|
| 1. Ensure survival of shrubs and trees |
2004 |
2007 |
$0 |
| 2. Ensure germination and survival of seeded areas |
2004 |
2007 |
$0 |
| 3. Ensure upward trend of riparian areas, increased bank stabilization, decreased sedimentation |
2004 |
2007 |
$6,000 |
| 4. Report monitoring results annually |
2004 |
2007 |
$2,000 |
Outyear budgets for Monitoring and Evaluation phase
| FY 2004 | FY 2005 | FY 2006 | FY 2007 |
|---|
| $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
Section 8. Estimated budget summary
Itemized budget
| Item | Note | FY 2003 cost |
|---|
| Supplies |
Permits, rock, plants, seed, monitoring equipment, and erosion control mat and staples to attach mat |
$14,450 |
| Travel |
No travel. BLM will provide vehicles for monitoring and contract administration |
$0 |
| NEPA |
BLM covered costs while completing Lookout Mountain EIS. |
$0 |
| Subcontractor |
Subsoiling of road with Cat, including move-in move-out costs |
$6,500 |
| Subcontractor |
Excavator work to remove stream crossing and re-controur streambanks, including move-in, move-out |
$6,500 |
| Subcontractor |
Excavator and dump truck to haul rock and install rock vanes at stream crossings |
$8,500 |
| Subcontractor |
Contract with inmate crew to plant shrubs, trees, and do seeding |
$3,000 |
| Subcontractor |
Seed collection contract to collect local seed to supplement native cultivar |
$1,500 |
| Subcontractor |
Block decomissioned roads, haul material to be used to block access. Maintain blockage as needed |
$8,700 |
| $49,150 |
Total estimated budget
| Total FY 2003 cost | $49,150 |
| Amount anticipated from previously committed BPA funds | $0 |
| Total FY 2003 budget request | $49,150 |
| FY 2003 forecast from 2002 | $0 |
| % change from forecast | 0.0% |
Cost sharing
| Organization | Item or service provided | Amount | Cash or in-kind |
|---|
| BLM |
NEPA compliance. The BLM is currently completing an EIS which includes this road decommissioning as a portion of the planned restoration in the Lookout Mountain area. |
$11,000 |
in-kind |
| BLM |
Contract writing and administration, obtain permits, conduct monitoring |
$19,250 |
in-kind |
| BLM |
Vehicles for contract administration and monitoring |
$1,000 |
in-kind |
Other budget explanation
The value of the NEPA compliance is an estimate of costs the BLM would have incurred to finish the NEPA work just for the project proposal. Since the NEPA work being completed by the BLM is an EIS, more than just the project proposal is included in the NEPA document, and the total costs are much more than represented above, however the exact cost for this project alone is not known.
If the BLM road maintenance crew is available at time of project implementation, some of the contract work of subsoiling the road surface, removal of stream crossings, etc., may be completed by the BLM. The costs estimated for the contract work would not exceed the BLM costs for equipment use and operators.
Reviews and recommendations
This information was not provided on the original proposals, but was generated during the review process.
Recommendation:
Fundable only if response is adequate
Date:
Mar 1, 2002
Comment:
A response is needed that clarifies and justifies the priority of this project in the watershed, including providing a better portrayal of benefits to fish. The proposal and presentation appeared to refer only to the Lookout Mountain EIS and best professional judgment as the basis for this being is a priority area for restoration.
Recommendation:
Recommended Action
Date:
May 17, 2002
Comment:
The sponsor indicates that the project proposal can help alleviate some of the limiting factors identified in the subbasin summaries. Loss of quality habitat and habitat degradation are among the overriding factors limiting fish and wildlife populations in the Burnt and Lower Middle Snake subbasins. In the Snake River tributaries, the limiting factor to tributary habitat is also degraded riparian habitat. Road related activities are contributory to on-going negative impacts to resident fish and their habitats. CBFWA suggest that decommissioning of roads along riparian areas with reclamation seems like a reasonable approach to improve habitat conditions for native resident fishes; however, CBFWA questions prioritizing BPA funding for this type of work sponsored by the US BLM on BLM administered land to correct previous BLM sponsored actions. Potential actions to address native fish habitat needs are virtually endless. Where does the BPA responsibility to mitigation for hydrosystem impacts end and the responsibilities of others begin?
Recommendation:
Fund
Date:
Jun 7, 2002
Comment:
Fundable, however the proposal and response do not make strong ties to fish benefits in the two subbasins. The ISRP agrees with point raised in the CBFWA technical review: "In the Snake River tributaries, the limiting factor to tributary habitat is also degraded riparian habitat. Road related activities are contributory to on-going negative impacts to resident fish and their habitats. CBFWA suggest that decommissioning of roads along riparian areas with reclamation seems like a reasonable approach to improve habitat conditions for native resident fishes."
Recommendation:
Do Not Fund
Date:
Oct 30, 2002
Comment: