U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Burns District Office HC74, 12533 Hwy 20 West Hines, Oregon 97738 June 1992 & National Wild Scenic River Donner und Blitzen Management Plan Environmental Assessment Asthe Nation'sprincipalconservationagency, theDepartmentofthe Interiorhasresponsibilityformostofournationallyownedpubliclandsand natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmentalandculturalvaluesofournational parksandhistorical places, andprovidingfortheenjoymentoflifethroughoutdoorrecreation. The Departmentassessesourenergyandmineral resourcesandworkstoassurethattheirdevelopmentisin the bestinterestofallourpeople. The Departmentalso has amajorresponsibilityforAmerican Indian reservation communitiesandforpeoplewholivein IslandTerritoriesunder U.S. administration. BLM-OR-AE-92-20-1792 b 1 3> .07 United States Department ofthe Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT BURNS DISTRICT OFFICE iwt HC 74-12533 Hwy 20 West Hines, Oregon 97738 IN REPLY REFER TO: 8300(026) June 5, 1992 Dear River User: Enclosed, for your review and comment, is a copy of the proposed Donner und Blitzen National Wild and Scenic River Management Plan. This is a combined management plan and environmental assessment (EA) for the Donner und Blitzen River. The proposed management plan was completed after building a foundation by starting with the designation of interim boundaries in 1989, selecting a Citizen Advisory Group, developing a resource assessment, identifying issues, developing alternatives, and analyzing effects. This plan discusses management options along with a preferred alternative. Please review and comment on the proposed management plan and the EA. Your support and involvement in the Donner und Blitzen National Wild and Scenic River is appreciated. If you have any questions during the review process, please feel free to write our office at the above address, or call me at (503) 573-5241. Please return your comments no later than July 10, 1992. Comments will be analyzed and a final plan completed by August 15, 1992. Thank you for your interest in your public lands. Sincerely, Glenn T. Patterson Q -.-n Andrews Resource Area Manager •-, ** ;'Ui- *4/ v. * Enclosure (as stated) ^ K & NATIONAL WILD SCENIC RIVER DONNER UND BLITZEN MANAGEMENT PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA-OR-020-2-72) DEPARTMENT OFTHE INTERIOR U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT BURNS DISTRICT OREGON - PREPARED BY FRED Y. MCDONALD, RESOURCE SPECIALIST LUCILLE M. ROBERTS, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 111 . Summary Executive National Wild and Scenic River Plan Donner und Blitzen This riverplan establishes a comprehensive set ofactions to provide the Donnerund Blitzen Riverwith a level ofresource protection, management, and public useconsistent with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The plan covers 74.8 miles ofthe Blitzen River and its tributaries. The riverplan develops management guidelines forpublic land within the designatedcorridor. It also focuses on recreational activities and facilities, and will address otherresource values and activities within thecorridor that may affect or be affected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers designation. Issues were identified and developed through input from the public and working with a Citizen Advisory Group. Four alternatives are presented in the plan: 1 Emphasis on protection ofthe natural resources with compatibledesigns for facility development and recreational opportunities. 2. Provide minimum protection to the resource values within thecorridoras required by law and maximize resource utilization. 3. Provide for maximum resource protection with little orno utilization ofthe resources. 4. No-action, continue present management. Alternative 1, the preferred alternative, provides forrecreation improvements, whileprotecting the existing qualities ofthe river corridor. Campgrounds, restrooms, trailheads, staging areas and accessibility would be provided to enhance recreation opportunities. Alternative 2 contains proposals for minimumprotection ofthe natural features while providing additional developments forrecreation and livestock management. Alterna- tive 3 emphasizes maximumresource protection for the outstandingly remarkable values. Alternative 4, the no-action alternative, proposes continuation ofpresentmanagement with little or no futuredevelopment in the plan area. IV DONNER UND BLITZEN WILD & SCENIC RIVER LEGEND X CAMPGROUNDS PERENNIAL STREAM INTERMITTENT STREAM STEENS LOOP ROAD UNIMPROVED ROADS RIDDLE BROS RANCH HISTORIC DISTRICT OWNERSHIP WITHIN U S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CORRIDOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PRIVATE UND BURNS DISTRICT MAP 1992 I 1 STATE LAND MAP PREPAREDBrTHE BURNS DSmciTHROUGH NON-OfrTOORAPHIC METHODS BLM LAND Srfixt li 1J0000. 1— — 1 J I I I t I MILE'S DONNER UND BLITZEN WILD SCENIC RIVER 6c RECREATION OPPORTUNITY SPECTRUM CLASSIFICATION TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY P PRIMITIVE I SPNM SEMI-PRIMITIVE NONMOTORIZED SPM SEMI-PRIMITIVE MOTORIZED RN ROADED NATURAL LEGEND X CAMPGROUNDS PERENNIAL STREAM . INTERMITTENT STREAK/ = STEENS LOOP ROAD UNIMPROVED ROADS RIDDLE BROS RANCH j HISTORIC DISTRICT U S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT i/'/'/A PRIVATE LAND BURNS DISTRICT PX^VI STATE LAND 1998 UAP PREPARED BY THE BUSKS DISTRICT THROUGH NON-CfclOWWHIf METHODS MILE!