Land Use Allocations and Resource Programs

Introduction

This section provides a description of objectives, land use allocations, and management actions/direction for this RMP. The term "land use allocations" is used in two ways. First, it pertains to the major land use allocation categories derived from the SEIS and its ROD (e.g., Riparian Reserves and Late-Successional Reserves) and the still relevant allocations of the Coos Bay District Draft Resource Management Plan. The second use pertains to data and text describing specific allocations (e.g., acres, miles, and number of sites) under each land use allocation and resource program category.

The rest of the Land Use Allocation and Resource Program section has two major parts:

-		Major land use allocations - objectives, allocations, and management actions/direction for each major land use allocation.
-		Resource programs - objectives, allocations, and management actions/direction for each resource program.

Although described separately, each of these elements contributes collectively and cumulatively to meeting the overall management strategy and must be considered together to accurately reflect the concept of ecosystem management. There is some duplication of objectives and management actions/direction for land use allocations and resource programs. This duplication, however, enables a reader interested in either topic to find a basic package of related management guidance in one location.

All management actions/direction in this RMP are subject to refinement through planning based on watershed analysis and the adaptive management process. In some areas land use allocations overlap. A hierarchy of allocations and related management actions/direction will be used to guide plan implementation (see the SEIS ROD, Appendix B).

Most resource programs have basic requirements for activities such as inventory, site-specific analysis, planning, and environmental assessment prior to project implementation and monitoring after project implementation. Inherent in the RMP is a BLM commitment to continue these activities in the future. For the sake of simplifying text, these activities are generally not repeated in the management actions/direction that follow.

Major Land Use Allocations

The land use allocations developed for the SEIS ROD and applicable to BLM-administered lands in the Coos Bay District are Riparian Reserves, Late-Successional Reserves, and Matrix.

Two of the allocations in the SEIS ROD—Congressionally Reserved Areas and Administratively Withdrawn Areas—are simply recognition of valid resource management decisions in existing or proposed plans. These allocations are fully incorporated in the resource program elements of this proposed resource management plan. They are not described as separate land use allocations in this document.

The following areas in the district are Congressionally Reserved:

-		Squaw Island Wilderness
-		Cherry Creek Research Natural Area

The types of Administratively Withdrawn areas in the district are:

-		Existing and proposed Special Areas
-		Existing and proposed recreation areas/sites
-		Progeny test sites
-		Seed production areas
-		Quarry sites
-		Non-forest lands
-		Lands included in Timber Production Capability Classification (TPCC) categories of Nonsuitable Woodlands and Suitable Woodlands.

Land use allocations in the text are gross acres (i.e., overlaps with other allocations have not been removed).

The SEIS ROD provides management guidance for a specific list of plant and animal species which are, or may be found in the major land use allocation areas (see Appendix C). In this RMP, these species are referred to as "SEIS Special Attention Species". Management guidance is separated into two categories — "Survey and Manage" and "Protection Buffers".

Management Actions/Direction —

Survey and Manage for Amphibians, Mammals, Bryophytes, Mollusks, Vascular Plants, Fungi, Lichens, and Arthropods

Implement the survey and manage provision of the SEIS ROD within the range of SEIS special attention species and the particular habitats they are known to occupy. Table C-1 in Appendix C shows which species are covered by this provision, and which of the following four categories and management actions/direction are to be applied to each:

Manage known sites (highest priority).

Acquire information on these sites, make it available to all project planners, and use it to design or modify activities.

Protect known sites. For some species, apply specific management treatments such as prescribed fire.

For rare and endemic fungus species, temporarily withdraw known sites from ground-disturbing activities until the sites can be thoroughly surveyed and site-specific measures prescribed.

Survey prior to ground-disturbing activities and manage sites.

Continue existing efforts to survey and manage rare and sensitive species habitat.

For species without survey protocols, start immediately to design protocols and implement surveys.

Within the known or suspected ranges and within the habitat types of vegetation communities associated with the species, survey for:

-	Del Norte salamander
-	Siskiyou Mountains salamander
-	Red tree voles

These surveys will precede the design of all ground-disturbing activities that will be implemented in 1997 or later.

For the other species listed in Table C-1 of Appendix C, begin development of survey protocols promptly and proceed with surveys as soon as possible. These surveys will be completed prior to ground-disturbing activities that will be implemented in Fiscal Year 1999 or later. Work to establish habitat requirements and survey protocols may be prioritized relative to the estimated threats to the species as reflected in the SEIS.

Conduct surveys at a scale most appropriate to the species.

Develop management actions/direction to manage habitat for the species on sites where they are located.

Incorporate survey protocols and proposed site management in interagency conservation strategies developed as part of ongoing planning efforts coordinated by the Regional Ecosystem Office.

Conduct extensive surveys and manage sites.

Conduct extensive surveys for the species to find high-priority sites for species management. Specific surveys prior to ground-disturbing activities are not a requirement.

Conduct surveys according to a schedule that is most efficient and identify sites for protection at that time.

Design these surveys for efficiency and develop standardized protocols.

Begin these surveys by 1996.

Conduct general regional surveys.

Survey to acquire additional information and to determine necessary levels of protection for arthropods, fungi species not classed as rare and endemic, bryophytes, and lichens.

Initiate these surveys no later than Fiscal Year 1996 and complete them within 10 years.

Management Actions/Direction —

Protection Buffers for Amphibians, Nonvascular Plants, Birds, and Mammals

Provide protection buffers for specific rare and locally endemic species and other species in the upland forest matrix. A list of these species and related management actions/direction are presented in Table C-1 of Appendix C and the section on Special Status and SEIS Special Attention Species and Habitat. These species are likely to be assured viability if they occur within reserves. However, there might be occupied locations outside reserves that will be important to protect as well.

Apply the following management actions/direction:

-		Develop survey protocols that will ensure a high likelihood of locating sites occupied by these species.
-		Following development of survey protocols and prior to ground-disturbing activities, conduct surveys within the known or suspected ranges of the species and within the habitat types or vegetation communities occupied by the species. See the previous Survey and Manage section for an implementation schedule.
-		When located, protect the occupied sites.

See Special Status and SEIS Special Attention Species and Habitat section for additional details.