Malheur National Forest — Project Detail

The purpose of the project is to promote reforestation of burned areas with appropriate conifer species and promote restoration of appropriate hardwood and shrub species. The need was necessitated by the 2024 Falls and Telephone Fires.

The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce potential public safety hazards associated with abandoned mine features, restore impaired riparian and aquatic habitat, and improve water quality.

Post fire safety hazard tree mitigation along infrastructure including roads, and range improvements

The overarching purpose and need for this project is to restore vegetation resilience to fire, drought, and insects and disease by moving stands towards historic structure and species composition.

Creating a corral to provide the permittee a better area to hold cattle, and reduce the amount of necessary cattle trailing, allowing the more efficient rangeland practices.

This project is to decommission the current NFS road 3940136 which accesses private property and install a private driveway. Doing so will reduce resource damage to wet soils and water resources in the area.

The proposal is to create a corral in the Southeast corner of the North Murderers Creek Pasture which is in the Fields Creek allotment.

The purpose of the project is to promote reforestation and restoration of appropriate conifer, hardwood and shrub species. The need was necessitated by the 2021 Big Meadow Fire, 2021 Black Butte Fire, and the 2022 Crockets Knob Fire.

Adding fiber to existing conduit and insulation of new buried conduit and vaults.

Vegetation fuels reduction on about 110 acres around the Austin House and Oregon Department of Transportation maintenance facility at the junction of US Highway 26 and US Highway 7.

The USFS will evaluate alternatives to the wildlife standard of the Eastside Screens that limits harvest of trees greater than 21 inches for the Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, Malheur, Ochoco, Deschutes, and Fremont-Winema National Forests.

Vegetation management, wildlife habitat improvement, and watershed restoration activities including timber harvest and fuels treatments and associated road activities.

Permit request to explore for locatable minerals on the National Forest System Lands.

Noncommercial thinning of conifers up to 9 inches with chainsaws. Priority will be stands on slopes greater than 35 percent and stands along forest boundary.

We propose amending the Malheur and portion of Ochoco National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan to add indaziflam to the list of approved herbicides for use as part of the integrated treatment toolbox for invasive plants.

Application to install an aerial fiber optic cable to existing power pole structures within the existing powerline 40%u2019 right-of-way from Canyon City to Seneca. Five miles would be across national forest system lands.

Reduce hazardous fuels adjacent to private property on the Forest Service boundary.

Hazardous fuels reduction and associated activities including road maintenance and prescribed burning.

The project includes a suite of activities to restore forest resiliency and function, including: upland restoration activities; watershed, fisheries, and wildlife restoration; prescribed burning; road activities; and recreation system changes.

AT&T has applied for a special use authorization to construct and operate a FirstNet site on Long Creek Pass. Site would include a 195-foot tower with associated facilities for operation.

Hazardous fuels reduction on National Forest System lands adjacent to the Laycock Creek Firewise community.

Construction and operation of a 199 foot communications tower, communication facility building, generator, propane tank(s) and security fencing in support of the FirstNet Emergency Services Project.

Construction and maintenance of a 40X60 foot pole style building and 20x20 foot parking area adjacent to the building.

Verizon Wireless to add 65' X 9' of new solar panels (15 panel sections) to the existing communication sites solar power system.

Approval of 20 year authorization of communication site use for Grant County and Oregon Department of Transportation. Upgrading and replacing existing solar roof panels.

Powerline maintenance thru the replacement of 8 wooden poles with ductile iron structures.

Oregon rail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) to replace overhead line with buried line within existing corridor and road prism. Oregon Telephone Corporation will co-locate fiber conduit at the same time.

Planting 41 acres of severely burned (greater than 90 percent mortality) general forest (Management Area 1 and 2) within the 2019 Cow Fire boundary with native western larch and ponderosa pine.

Evaluation of livestock grazing on three existing allotments: Big Sage Hen, Bridge Creek, and Silvies.

The Big Mosquito Project includes a suite of activities to restore forest resiliency, including silviculture and fuels treatments, riparian restoration, range water developments, recreation site development, and associated road activities.

Allow the excavation of material from an existing mining trench and existing pit with the use of a 6,000 lb mini excavator, Polaris ranger, trommel and highbanker sluice box.

Fuels reduction through precommercial thinning and prescribed burning; commercial thinning will also be considered.

Approximately 20,000 acres of thinning in timber stands to reduce fire hazard, insect and disease risk, improve old growth, identify / plan biomass stands, restore riparian aspen, restore mountain mahogany, and maintain wildlife habitat.

Thinning timber stands to reduce fire hazard, insect and disease risk, and enhance old-growth; treat slash with mechanical and prescribed; restore riparian and stream function; reduce road and weeds impacts; within the WUI of Seneca, OR.

Bury two existing overhead distribution lines for the reduction of fire start risk on ECRD.

Hazardous fuels reduction in areas that have been heavily impacted by insect and disease infestations creating residual hazardous fuels.

Reducing fire hazard and improving forest health at the landscape level.

The Camp Lick Project includes a suite of activities to restore forest resiliency, including silviculture and fuels treatments, riparian restoration, range improvements, recreation site development, and associated road activities.

Hazardous fuels reduction in areas that have been heavily impacted by insect and disease infestations creating residual hazardous fuels.

Develop a consistent approach for identifying and implementing aquatic restoration projects across the Forest.

Allow the excavation of material from an existing mining trench and existing pit with the use of a 6,000 lb mini excavator, Polaris ranger, trommel and highbanker sluice box.

Re-establishment of the viewing area from the Antelope Lookout in order to improve both wildfire detection capabilities, and the defensible space around the 36-acre administrative site.

Creation of a seasonal snowpark to provide a safe recreation location for users. Access to a warming hut and washroom to enjoy winter recreational activities. Construction of a groomer shed for OSAA Groomer operations and maintenance.

Request for new permit term for an existing private access road that accesses private inholding. The most recent 10-year permit was authorized in 2006.

This project will revegetate approximately 19,924 acres of stand replacement patches within the Canyon Creek Complex Fire that burned in 2015 on the Blue Mountain and Prairie City Ranger Districts.

Authorization of grazing on the Central Malheur Allotment

Build, re-build and/or maintain approximately 30 miles of fencing to improve livestock management and distribution, protect critical bull trout aquatic habitat, enhance riparian areas and hardwoods, and enhance Monument Rock Wilderness values.

Fell trees that are interfering with radio path from Devine Ridge to Fall Mtn communication sites.

Remove hazardous fuels from the Rattlesnake project area.

Construct up to 1/2 mile of 4-strand barbed wire fence to create a 4-acre grazing enclosure and thin juniper and conifers up to 20.9 inches dbh. Slash would be piled/burned, lopped/scattered, felled into creek, or used as a livestock barrier.

Reduce stocking in ponderosa pine dominated stands affected by pine butterfly defoliation, drought, and high populations of bark beetles.

Reduce fire hazard near evacuation route for at-risk communities; reduce stand density to increase resilience to insect and disease; protect bull trout habitat; develop pre-fire suppression old-growth stand composition; protect scenic and roadless

Approximately 70 acres would be hand-treated with an intermediate cut to improve stand growth and development followed by hand-piling and pile burning or jackpot burning.

The proposal includes hazardous fuel reduction activities including biomass removal and salvage of recently dead trees, landscape scale prescribed burning activities, and access and travel management activities.

This project proposes to reinforce existing fiber optic cable from the OTC Station in Bates to Prairie City & add new conduit to Austin House & the ODOT maintenance yard to provide better telephone/internet access to local communities & businesses.

Special use permit for the installation of a repeater and additional solar panels and antennas at the exiting Sheep Mountain Communication Site.

The purpose of this project is to authorize livestock grazing in a manner that moves management of the Roundtop Complex allotments towards objectives and desired conditions identified in the Malheur Forest Plan, as amended.

Extend Devine Summit Interpretive trail and Idlewild Loop Trail to begin trailheads at the new entrance to the campground. Replace wayfinding signs in campground.

Remove hazard trees along 2 and 4 digit roads and campgrounds through out the Emigrant Creek Ranger District

Cattle grazing authorization on six existing allotments: Donaldson, Deer, Hamilton, King, Indian Ridge, and Highway.

The Magone Project includes a suite of activities to restore forest resiliency, including silviculture and fuels treatments, Magone Lake restoration, recreation developments, and associated road activities.

Issuance of a special use permit for a 10-year period to authorize the continued use and maintenance of a domestic spring development and water transmission pipeline.

Analyze and designate the appropriate system of roads, trails, and areas open for motorized travel across the forest. Analyze the potential for game retrieval, dispersed camping, and seasonal closures to address resource issues and social concerns.

Vegetation management and watershed restoration activities including timber harvest and road closures and decommissioning.

Evaluation of livestock grazing authorization on three existing allotments: Blue Bucket, Dollar Basin, and Star Glade.

Re-authorization of ODOT 20-year special use authorization for existing improvements at the Aldrich Mountain Electronic Communications Site.

Authorization of RCC Atlantic, Inc. 20-year special use permit for existing ancillary improvements at the Aldrich Mountain Electronic Communications Site.

The extension of existing power lines for approximately 1,700 feet, including the installation of 5 forty-foot power poles.

Continued use and maintenance of buried and overhead telephone cable and necessary appurtenances located on the Blue Mountain Ranger District of the Malheur National Forest.

Vegetation managment and watershed restoration activities including timber harvest and road closures and decommissioning.

Prescribed burning in order to improve wildlife habitat.

Aspen and stream restoration in the Starr sub-watershed. Removal of encroaching conifers through commercial and non-commercial treatments. Addition of large and course wood in streams.

Application of thinning, slash treatments, and prescribed fire to reduce insect outbreak and fire hazard.

The objectives of this project are to recover the economic value of dead trees and to provide for societal needs for wood products, while maintaining the ecological integrity of post-fire habitats for woodpecker species.

Install a BLM repeater integration system on a Forest Service communication tower, with equipment, at the Snow Mountain repeater site.

Replanting of fire damaged locale in order to improve stand heterogeneity.

Renewal of Special Use Permit for the Oregon Water Resources Department Strawberry Creek Gauging Station. The gauging station has collected critical baseline stream data since 1925, and is one of the State's priority stations to maintain.

Watershed restoration activities within the Wolf Creek Watershed that improve the health, vigor, and resiliency of vegetation; improve soil and watershed conditions; reduce the fire hazard, and capture the economic value of surplus trees.

This project proposes to revegetate approximately 1,900 acres of stand replacement patches within the South Fork Complex Fire that burned in 2014 on the Blue Mountain Ranger District.

Remove dead, dying and unsound hazard trees within the 41 road corridor from the forest boundary in the south to the junction of the 45 road in the north near Allison Guard Station.

(Corrected) Treatment of known and newly discovered invasive plants using herbicide, manual, mechanical, biological and/or cultural treatments. Includes 1 non-significant forest plan amendment to allow use of aminopyralid (Milestone TM).

Authorization of a new 20 year lease term for the Fall Mountain Communication Site. No changes to the existing facilities or increases in scope or intensity of authorized activities are being requested at this time.

The Emigrant Creek Ranger District, Malheur National Forest, proposes to continue authorization of livestock grazing within the Izee allotment using adaptive management strategies designed to meet Forest Plan standards and guidelines.

The objective is to dig test trenches on 4 claims: CJ3, Bosco, My Mini Mine, and Chuck. This would determine the ore bearing flow in this area.

Treat five needle pine trees and stands with pouches and the semi-liquid formulations of Verbenone to reduce the rate of mortality resulting from mountain pine bark beetle attack to the pines. Application would occur in early to mid-summer.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has submitted an application to amend its existing special use permit, PCD33, authorizing the operation and maintenance of ODOT's Austin Maintenance Station, to incorporate a temporary de-icer facility.

Remove dead, dying and unsound hazard trees within the developed campgrounds on the Emigrant Creek Ranger District by cutting or pruning.

This project has been canceled. This is a duplicate project with 35082, Martin Spring Special Use Permit Renewal.

Renewal of expired special use permit - operation and use of domestic water supply for residences and the Fireside Lodge building. Improveme eighteen inch concrete collection spring box which feeds buried 1 1/4 inch plastic 2900 foot water line.

A multi-year project to thin approximately 150 acres of juniper trees from riparian zones along Calamity Creek. Some of the juniper will be placed into the stream channel.

Remove and replace three culverts that are degrading stream habitats and are insufficient in size.

Test the effectiveness of Strategically Placed Land Area Treatments (SPLAT) Verbenone Plus on western pine beetles in the Malheur National Forest.

Treat 1500 acres of western juniper and ponderosa pine trees up to 16 inches in diameter (dbh) that are sparsely scattered across open sagebrush and Mountain Mahogany vegetation types.

Reduce post-settlement juniper trees in big game winter range, increase late season stream flow, and increase forage availability for wild horses, cattle, and wildlife.

Reforestation by artificial means the previously burned Grapple fire area.

Authorization of grazing on four existing allotments.

New construction of overhead single phase powerline within Grant County Road 63 right-of-way.

OTC is proposing to install a new fiber optic line in conduit in their existing right-of-way between their Bates to Unity transfer stations to replace the original fiber optic cable installed in 1996.

Proposed extension of the Malheur River Drift Fence, and Cross Springs water source reconstruction and extension to a second trough. Development of new water source at Dollar Basin Spring.

Felling of trees into stream channels at rate of 80-100/mile between 12 and 20 inches diameter, and trees 4-12 inches diameter until a density of 438 trees/mile is reached to restore LWD heterogeneity.

Issuance of a new special use permit, authorizing the continued use and maintenance of a liquid waste disposal site (septic drain field).

Removal of the existing diversion pipe and installation of pre-fabricated steel headgate and pipe that will provide positive irrigation control, reduce channel disturbance, and meet current fish passage requirements for ESA listed fish.

Requesting continued use and operation of an existing domestic spring development facility that provides domestic water supply to the residences of Austin, Or.

Renewal of existing SUP for the continued maintnenance of geological interpretive sign.

Proposal to remove competing conifers and build buck and pole fencing around 13 aspen stands.

The project looks to replace 15 culverts located on the Middle Fork of the John Day River to provide stream passage through culverts for all life stages of aquatic organisms.

Pre-commercial thinning and hand piling of previously harvested plantations on approximately 4,000 acres.

The Blue Mountain Ranger District is proposing to plant about 4,500 acres of upland forests and riparian areas to accelerate the vegetative recovery of a portion of the area burned in the Parish Cabin Fire of 2012.

Decommission 83 miles of road in the Camp Creek Watershed.

Salvage danger trees along selected reaches of 19 roads for a total of 236 acres within the Parish Cabin Fire. The purpose of the project is to salvage selected danger trees that would otherwise be cut down and left on site to abate safety hazards.

Remove dead, dying and unsound danger trees within Rock Springs and Buck Springs Camprounds. Hazard trees may be removed in small sales, used as fuelwood for the campgrounds, or cut and left on site for other resource needs.

Continuation of prescribe burn research project started in 1997 in selected Micro, Trout and Driveway units. The research is being conducted on 12 units for a total of 622 acres.

Analyzes cattle grazing authorizations on six existing allotments for Donaldson, Deer, Hamilton, King, Indian Ridge, Highway allotments

The Forest Service was a cooperating agency, assisting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in that Agency's geothermal leasing analysis and decision. The BLM issued a record of decision on 12/17/2008.

The project area will be treated to reduce fuel loading and improve forest health. This project area is within the Grant County Community Fire Protection Plan.

Remove hazardous fuels from the Marshall/Devine project area.

Cutting of conifers that are overtopping and shading out aspen, treating the created slash, and fencing the aspen stands.

Timber harvest and road closures

Develop 20 springs on the following allotments: Upper Middle Fork, Murderers Creek, Sugarloaf, Keeny Meadows, Scotty Creek, Flagtail, Indian Ridge, and McClellan

Close the Upper Lemon Cabin abandoned mine adit and remove the deteriorated Granite Boulder Cr. Bridge in order to protect public health and safety. The adit would be closed either by plugging the adit with earth or installation of a bat gate.

Replace 3 undersized culverts on the South Fork of the John Day River that have contributed to streambed degradation and created fish passage barriers.

Proposal to burn approximately 215 acres of private land in conjunction with a FS prescribed fire under the Wyden Amendment authority. Purpose is to reduce fuels and possible future suppression costs on land adjacent to NFS lands.

Erect fencing to enhance management of rangeland and riparian resources. The fencing would be located on allotments: Camp Creek, Jack Creek, Murderers Creek, Mt. Vernon, Indain Ridge, Dixie, Lower Middle Fork, and Upper Middle Fork.

Authorizing the Warm Springs Tribe to perform stream restoration activities NFS land adjacent to private land as a part of a larger project. The project area encompasses small (less than 5%) of NFS land that intersects the MFJD River.

Develop JB spring for livestock and wildlife use. Install a steel headbox, livestock water trough and thin approximately 5 acres of small juniper that have encroached into the spring area.

Construct up to 750 feet of 4-strand barbed wire fence to realign a portion of the West Sugarloaf/Scharff Cabin pasture boundary on the Sawtooth allotment to create a livestock driveway.

Thin approximately 47 acres of juniper trees from riparian zones along Bear Creek. Some of the juniper may be placed into the stream channel to protect and rebuild vulnerable stream banks.

Replace 2 culverts on Forest Service roads 4340 and 4300050 that block fish passage and hinder proper hydrologic functioning on Emigrant Creek with properly sized and designed culverts.

Thin approximately 90 acres of juniper trees from riparian zones along the South Fork of the John Day River. Some of the juniper may be placed into the stream channel to protect and rebuild vulnerable stream banks.

Thin approximately 77 acres of juniper trees from riparian zones along Venator Creek. Some of the juniper may be placed into the stream channel to protect and rebuild vulnerable stream banks.

Vegetation Management to improve forest health.

Reduce the fire hazard, create two fuel breaks, and reduce the impact and severity of the current Western spruce budworm outbreak within the Calamity subwatershed.

Precommercial thinning of seedlings and saplings on up to 5000 acres of 10 to 20-year old pine plantations established in clearcuts and shelterwood harvest units.Created slash would be either pulled back, hand piled, grapple piled and burned.

PCRD is proposing to allow continued use and expansion of the Savage Quarry. The proposed project would allow expansion of the quarry area by approximately 5 acres. Development within the proposed expansion area would require the cutting of trees.

This project is proposed to protect lives and property within the adjacent rural/urban community interface. It is a project that was idenfied in the Grant County Community Fire Protection Plan.

Timber harvest, fuels reduction and road management

Vegetation and watershed restoration projects, including thinning, road closures, and decommisioning, prescribed burning, and riparian and fisheries enhancement.

Maintain County Road 18 as a safety corridor and escape route should a wildfire close US Highways 26 and 395 between the towns of Mount Vernon and Long Creek and Prairie City and Austin. Area identified in the Grant Co Community Fire Protection Plan

This project is proposed to protect lives and property within the adjacent wildland urban community interface. It is a project that was indentified in the Grant County Community Fire Protection Plan.

For the Van Allotment, continue authorization of livestock grazing in a manner that is consistent with the Malheur Forest Plan as amended.

Danger tree removal, salvage of selected danger trees, reforestation and road closures within the Egley Fire Complex.