Map of the Lower Unmpqua Exchange Area.
Umpqua Land Exchange Project
Links to sections within this document:
Links to Umpqua Documents
Background - History and Legislation
The Umpqua Land Exchange Project originated with a concept put forward in 1994 by Aaron Jones, owner of the Eugene-based Seneca Sawmill Company. Jones envisioned a friendly swap between the federal government and private timberland owners in the Umpqua Basin that would maintain the timber supply from both private and federal lands while increasing habitat for wildlife. This would be accomplished in part by the voluntary transfer of ecologically sensitive private lands to federal ownership in exchange for federal lands considered more suitable for commercial timber production.
Backed by funding from Jones, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and other private sources, the Umpqua Land Exchange Project began in 1994.Congress authorized federal funding for the project under the Oregon Resource Conservation Act of 1996 to:
Identify general or specific areas within the basin where voluntary land exchanges could promote consolidation of forestland ownership for long-term, sustained timber production; protection and restoration of habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife (including any federally listed threatened or endangered species); protection and restoration of wetlands, riparian lands, and other environmentally sensitive areas; consolidation of land ownership for improved public access and a broad array of recreational uses; and consolidation of land ownership to achieve management efficiency and reduced costs of administration.
In 1995,an independent science team began preparing a Multi-Resource Land Allocation Model to help evaluate potential land exchanges. The model was tested in 1998 on a 100,000-acre portion of the Umpqua Watershed and subjected to an independent scientific peer review. Based on that peer review, numerous changes were made to the model. Combined with computerized mapping technology known as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and basin-wide data, (e.g., ownership, vegetation, streams, topography, timber volume, fish and wildlife habitat, roads, erosion hazards and other information) the state-of-the-art model is one of the analytical tools that will be used to assess the socio-economic and ecological effects of changes in land ownership over a variety of scales and time periods.
Map of the Lower Unmpqua Exchange Area
Map of the Lower Unmpqua Exchange Area.
The Umpqua Land Exchange Project area extends from the mouth of the Umpqua River east to the community of Drain and south to the community of Umpqua. Click on the Umpqua Map (PDF) link on the left to go to the full size map. The map is in PDF format and will allow you to print it out, or enlarge the view to see details.
(Note: This PDF file is over 400KB and will take a while to download.)
This report was transmitted to Congress on July 8, 2002. Specifically Section 349 of Public Law 106-291 requires "...No later than March 31, 2002, the Secretary and the Foundation shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate, and the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, a joint report summarizing the Plan..."
See the Report to Congress (PDF) link at the top of this page for the full report. The report is in PDF format.
Environmental Impact Statement and Habitat Conservation Plan
Congress directed the Foundation in 2000 to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a land ownership adjustment plan. The BLM is the lead federal agency in this project and the BLM has the final responsibility for approval of the EIS. Over the course of ULEP project several planning-related documents have been developed including:
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (Federal Register, Monday, July 9, 2001) - see the Notice of Intent (PDF) link on the left for this document.
Preliminary Planning Criteria
Development of planning criteria is requirement for the BLM (43 CFR 1610.4-2; and the BLM's Planning Handbook, H1601-1, Chapter III, section B. 2.). Planning criteria influence all aspects of the planning process including inventory and data collection, formulation of alternatives, analysis of effects, and identification of the preferred alternative. Planning criteria can be in the form of limits or constraints, or they can be statements of goals or standards to be achieved. Planning criteria:
- streamline and focus the plan's preparation;
- establish standards, rules, and measures to be used in the process;
- guide development of the plan to ensure it is tailored to the issues;
- guide and direct the resolution of planning issues;
- indicate factors and data that must be considered in making decisions.
The following general planning criteria are preliminary, they will be modified if additional criteria are identified during scoping:
The plan will be completed in compliance with existing laws and regulations, and the BLM's policies. Decisions in the plan will strive to be compatible with applicable existing plans, programs, and policies of affected federal agencies, state and local governments, and American Indian tribes, while being in conformance with legal mandates of BLM-administered lands and National Forests.
The plan will be consistent with Northwest Forest Plan objectives; however, modifications to management direction and/or land allocations may be recommended.
The existence of valid existing rights will be recognized in the plan.
The planning process will include an environmental impact statement that will comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) standards.
The scope of the analysis will be limited to lands in the lower Umpqua River Basin, which is approximately 675,000 acres, in western Oregon. The preferred alternative will be limited to lands administered by the BLM or the Forest Service and other landowners that are potentially interested in exchanging land with either of these federal agencies. However, if an area is included in the preferred alternative, the landowner is not obligated to exchange any of their lands.
Lifestyles and concerns of area residents will be recognized and given consideration in the planning process. Past and present use of public and adjacent lands will be considered in the planning process.
Agencies' and the public's needs and desires for existing or potential resource commodities and values will be considered in the planning process. This will include both the quantity and quality of commodity and non-commodity resource values, as well as past, present, and potential future use of federal and non-federal lands.
The plan will recognize the state's responsibility to manage wildlife populations, including uses such as hunting and fishing; and the federal regulatory agencies' responsibility to manage listed and proposed species, clean air, and clean water in the planning area.
Public input will be considered, as required by NEPA. Public benefits of providing goods and services relative to costs will be considered. Environmental and socio-economic impacts will be weighed in selecting a preferred alternative.
The Multi-Resource Land Allocation Model will be one of the tools used to assist in developing alternatives and analyzing effects. Additional program-specific criteria may be identified through the scoping process. Final planning criteria will be available for public review and comment prior to their final approval.
Proposed Action and Purpose and Need Statement
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to exchange land in the lower Umpqua Basin of the Coast Range in western Oregon with potentially willing landowners. The BLM will work with the Foundation for Voluntary Land Exchanges (Foundation) to complete a land ownership adjustment plan by late 2002. The selected strategy will amend the Coos Bay, Eugene, and Roseburg District Resource Management Plans, and the Siuslaw National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, unless the no-action alternative is selected.
This action and time line are directed by Section 349 of the FY2001 Department of Interior Appropriations Act (Public Law 106-291). The Appropriations Act also requires the Lower Umpqua Land Ownership Adjustment Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to identify the following:
- non-federal lands or interests in land in the planning area that are recommended, with concurrence of the landowner, for acquisition or exchange by the United States;
- federal lands or interests in land recommended for disposal into non-federal ownership in exchange for acquired lands of equal value; and,
- specific land exchanges that would occur.
Purpose and Need
The purpose of the action is to exchange for lands with special characteristics or resource values that would enhance the BLM's resource management objectives and/or provide better protection and management under federal ownership. Lands currently under federal jurisdiction with special characteristics or resource values that would be better managed in private ownership would be exchanged. Where meeting current BLM management objectives is constrained by existing land ownership patterns, the underlying needs for the action are to:
- enhance protection of threatened, endangered, or proposed species' habitats;
- improve connectivity of fragmented habitat patches;
- improve ecological health;
- increase certainty of a sustainable timber harvest;
- continue timber supply to small businesses;
- continue similar amount of revenues to state and local governments;
- protect cultural resources and other unique resource values;
- provide recreation access and other human uses; and
- improve efficiency of land and resource management.
The Model
The Multi-Resource Land Allocation Model (the Model) was developed by the Foundation for Voluntary Land Exchanges (the Foundation). Model development, testing, and modifications have been accomplished over six years by an interdisciplinary team of scientists (the Consulting Science Team). In addition, the model has undergone extensive review by outside experts.
The model is a tool to help answer the question, "Is there a land ownership pattern in the Coast Range of the Umpqua River Basin, other than the one that exists today, that would improve habitat for species at risk and protect sensitive sites while maintaining commercial timber value and acreage on both private and public lands?" The fundamental strategy around which the model was designed is to evaluate conditions associated with the current ownership pattern now through 100 years into the future. Once this baseline information is established for a range of fish, plant, watershed, wildlife, and timber variables, the model searches for alternative ownership patterns to answer the question. When alternative land ownership patterns are identified, they can be compared to the existing ownership pattern to determine if things improve. Conditions for several fish and wildlife species and other resources and values can be evaluated periodically over the 100-year projection period.
The Model is flexible in that it allows for different variables or groups of variables to be emphasized or have more importance than others. For example, if it is more important to improve habitat for coho salmon than for the northern spotted owl, this could be evaluated. It is also possible to identify specific land parcels, change its ownership from private to public or from public to private, and then evaluate the potential consequences. The model facilitates discussion and evaluation of various alternatives through its flexibility and the number of maps, graphs, and charts it can produce. The scenarios developed using the model are generalized land ownership patterns designed to show interested land owners some potential opportunities.
The environmental impact statement (EIS) team can then develop alternatives using the scenarios developed with the model, along with other analysis tools.
Model Chronology
1995 - The Consulting Science Team was assembled and began to prepare a draft study plan to examine the Umpqua Basin.
Spring 1996 - The draft study plan received outside review and analysis.
August 1996 - The study plan was finalized.
September 1996 - A pilot study of the area began to examine approximately 100,000 acres in the Umpqua Basin.
November 1996 - The President signed Public Law 104-333 that directed the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to assist the Umpqua Land Exchange Project's (ULEP) efforts to study eight specific areas.
October 1997 - The Consulting Science Team presented its preliminary results.
November 1997 - The President signed Public Law 105-83, appropriating $800,000 to ULEP to finalize the pilot study and conduct peer review of the model.
January 1998 - Pursuant to Public Law 104-333, ULEP submitted a report to the Congress with detailed findings about the model.
October 2000 -- The President signed Public Law 106-291, appropriating $4.3 million for the Foundation to work with the BLM to produce a land ownership adjustment plan and environmental impact statement to analyze the impacts of alternative land exchanges.
July 8, 2001 - Scoping period begins for the environmental impact statement.
Spring, 2004 -- A draft EIS for the project is slated for completion during the spring of 2004
Project Manager
Patrick H. Geehan
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
P.O. Box 2965
Portland, OR 97208
503-808-6446
pat_geehan@or.blm.gov
Public Information --
BLM, State Office Michael Campbell
BLM, Oregon State Office
P.O. Box 2965
Portland, OR 97208
503-808-6031
michael_campbell@or.blm.gov
Public Information --
BLM, Coos Bay
Alan Hoffmeister, Public Affairs Officer
1300 Airport Lane
North Bend, OR 97459
541-751-4249
alan_hoffmeister@or.blm.gov
Public Information --
BLM, Roseburg
Bob Hall, Public Affairs Officer
777 NW Garden Valley Blvd.
Roseburg, OR 97470
541-464-3245
Robert_hall@or.blm.gov
Project Manager, Foundation for Voluntary Land Exchanges
Rob Gill
4033 SW Canyon Road
Portland, OR 97221
503-274-2855
(Assistance Agreement) - About The Foundation for Voluntary Land Exchanges
See the Assistance Agreement (PDF) link on the left for this Agreement.
Emergency Purchase of Private Lands
Process for Emergency Purchase of Private Lands
Section 349 of the FY2001 Interior Appropriates Bill states:
(b) In preparing the Plan, the Secretary shall identify, no later than March 31, 2001, those lands or interests in land with willing sellers which merit emergency purchase by the United States due to critical environmental values or possibility of imminent development. For lands or interests in land so identified, the Secretary and the Foundation shall arrange with landowners to complete appraisals and purchase clearances required by law so that the Secretary may thereafter consummate purchases as soon as funds therefor are appropriated by the Congress.
The process used for nominating private lands to be considered was:
Private land owners submitted nomination work sheets to the BLM
See the Nomination Work Sheet (PDF) link on the left for the form.
The BLM reviewed nominations to determine if the property met the intent of the legislation. ("merit emergency purchase by the United States due to critical environmental values or possibility of imminent development.") See the Priority List (PDF) link on the left.
The BLM State Director Recommendations to the BLM National Director. See the State Director Memo (PDF) link on the left.
Public Meetings -- July 2001
This post card (See the Public Meetings - 2001 (PDF) link on the left) was mailed to residents of the lower Umpqua Basin and interested publics and agencies. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, send the following information to ulep@or.blm.gov.
Full Name
Organization You Represent
Mailing Address
E-mail Address (optional)
Meeting Times and Locations
July 16, 2001 - Reedsport
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Reedsport High School
Pacific Auditorium
2260 Longwood Drive
July 17, 2001--Roseburg
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Douglas County Courthouse
1036 SE Douglas Ave, #216
July 18, 2001 - Drain
6 p.m. to 8.p.m.
Drain Branch Library
205 West A Ave.
July 19, 2001 - Eugene
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Eugene City Council Chambers
777 Pearl St #105