This constitutes a total public land base of 503,969 acres. Management direction for the area is provided in a Resource Management Plan (RMP) that was finalized in April 2008.

 

Livestock grazing is one of the many multiple uses managed out of the Alturas Office. Total active grazing use is 55,000 Animal Unit Months on 155 allotments. Interdisciplinary rangeland health assessments have been completed on 44 priority grazing allotments encompassing 300,000 acres of public land. It has been determined that 18 of these allotments (150,000 acres) fail to meet at least one rangeland health standard due to livestock grazing practices. We complete annual agreements with grazing permittees on permit terms and conditions designed to bring these allotments into compliance with standards. Grazing plans are also being implemented on another 97,000 acres of public land featuring sensitive riparian areas such as Cedar Creek and Fitzhugh Creek.

 

Twenty grazing permits are scheduled for review and assessment in FY10. As time allows, the staff will also continue monitoring and management planning on the 247,000 acres already identified as high priority management areas.

 

The BLM, Pit River Tribe and the State Office of Historic Preservation signed a Programmatic Agreement (PA) in early FY07 to provide for continued livestock grazing while protecting significant cultural resources on the Yankee Jim Ranch Allotment. This Agreement includes a Historic Property Management Plan. Yankee Jim is scheduled to be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District in FY10.

 

Significant archeological and historical sites are found throughout the area. We are currently involved in an Emigrant Trail Scenic Byway interpretive project as well as in efforts to acquire lands associated with the Battle of the Infernal Caverns.

 

Recreational use, including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, photography, bird watching, horseback riding, mountain biking and off-road vehicle travel is increasing on public land in the area. The Field Office manages one developed campground on the Pit River in Shasta County. The campground is hosted and offers outstanding fishing, swimming and rafting opportunities.

 

The Alturas Field Office partnered with Modoc and Lassen counties, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC), the American Land Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Board and the Lassen Land and Trails Trust (LLTT)to railbank the 85 mile Modoc Line south of Alturas in 2008. The BLM plans to coordinate with the LLTT to begin development of a Modoc Line Trail Plan.

 

There are four Wilderness Study Areas under the jurisdiction of the Alturas Field Office: Tule Mountain (17,000 ac.), Pit River Canyon (11,000 ac.), Lava (10,800 ac.) and Timbered Crater (17,900 ac.). The Field Office also manages seven Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) encompassing 30,493 acres. ACEC designations provide protection for a wide range of sensitive resources scattered across the Field Office area.

 

Some of the premier wildlife habitat in the State is found in Northeastern California. The area provides habitat for a large number of mule deer and pronghorn. Rocky Mountain elk are also migrating into the area. Reductions in sage-grouse populations are of concern, and we are currently implementing a Sage Steppe Ecosystem Restoration Strategy to address habitat issues.

 

The Strategy is a cooperative effort with the Forest Service and Modoc, Siskiyou and Lassen counties. It is designed to prioritize and coordinate habitat restoration efforts within a 6.5 million acre planning area in northeastern California and northwestern Nevada. The centerpiece of the Strategy is an environmentally sensible reduction in the level of juniper encroachment. The Strategy was approved in December 2008 and focuses on improving land health through fuels projects and stewardship contracting.

 

The Alturas Field Office also protects important wildlife habitat through implementation of our Land Tenure Adjustment Plan. In late FY09 we acquired 756 acres of mining mitigation land near Hayden Hill. This area includes sage-grouse habitat as well as constructed wetlands.

 

Many streams and reservoirs on public land are excellent cold and warm water fisheries and are home to both native and introduced species of fish. Monitoring and protecting spring sources and riparian areas are high priorities for Field Office personnel.

 

Threatened or endangered species found in the area include: northern spotted owl, Modoc sucker, Shasta crayfish and slender Orcutt grass.

 

Mining activity is limited to mineral material sales involving cinders, flat rock, and sand and gravel.  The Alturas Field Office is also responsible for leasing and permitting geothermal development on National Forest land in the Medicine Lake Highlands.

 

There are currently five pending Type II wind energy applications within the Alturas Field office encompassing approximately 112,000 acres of public land and one authorized wind energy right-of-way involving 2,400 acres.

 

Noxious weeds are another priority issue in the area. They are spreading at an alarming rate and about a dozen species have been identified. Our primary species of concern at this time are yellow starthistle, scotchthistle and squarrose knapweed. We contract with counties and the Pit River Tribe and fund an in-house weed crew to treat infestations.

 

The Field Office staff also focuses attention on youth activities and environmental education. This includes coordinating field trip opportunities with the Modoc National Forest and the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge as well as contributing time to programs such as 4-H.

 

 

 ALTURAS FIELD OFFICE PRIORITIES FY 2010

1.   Workplace Safety including Compliance Assessment Safety Health Environment (CASHE)

 

2.   Alturas RMP Implementation

 

3.   Grazing Permit Renewals/Cultural Resource Evaluations/Implementation of Yankee Jim PA

 

4.   Resource Monitoring and Use Supervision

 

5.   Sage-Grouse Conservation Planning, Implementation and Monitoring (SNC Coordination)

 

6.   Sagebrush Steppe Restoration Strategy Implementation and Adaptive Management

 

7.   Fire Suppression/Fire Use/Prescribed Fire/Fuels Reduction/Stewardship Projects

 

8.   Land Tenure Adjustment Plan Implementation (Infernal Caverns, Lava Beds, Twin Bridges)

 

9.   Noxious Weed Inventory and Control

 

10. Aspen Enhancement

 

11. Wind Energy Proposals

 

12. Integrated Resource Management Plan/Allotment Management Plan Implementation

 

13. McDonald Mtn. AMP Development

 

14. Pacific Forest and Watershed Stewardship Council Partnership

 

15. Rangeland Health Assessments

 

16. Budget Planning System/18 Month Planning Schedule

 

17. Enterprise Geographic Information System Database Development

 

18. Public Outreach (Migratory Bird Festival, Resource Academy, River Center, California 
      Archaeology Month, Pit River Watershed Alliance)

 

19. Ben Bridge Cinder Pit Production Verification

 

20. Medicine Lake Geothermal

 

21. Lauer Reservoir Road Right-of-Way and Dam Construction Right-of-Way

 

22. Disposition of Descent Into Goose Lake Interpretive Proposal