Rural Interface Areas

Objectives

Consider the interests of adjacent and nearby rural land owners, including residents, during analysis, planning, and monitoring related to managed rural interface areas. These interests include personal health and safety, improvements to property and quality of life. Determine how land owners might be or are affected by activities on BLM-administered lands.

Land Use Allocations

Managed rural interface areas encompass approximately 8,522 acres of BLM-administered land within 1/4-mile of private lands zoned for 1-5 acre lots located throughout the district (see Map 6 for locations).

Management Actions/Direction

Work with local governments to:

Improve the BLM data base regarding private land planning/zoning designations and residential development near BLM-administered land.
Provide information to local planners regarding BLM land allocations in Rural Interface Areas and the management objectives and guidelines for these lands.
Develop design features and mitigation measures that will minimize the possibility of conflicts between private and federal land management.
Monitor the effectiveness of design features and mitigation measures in Rural Interface Areas.

As a part of watershed analysis and project planning, work with local individuals and groups, including fire protection districts, to identify and address concerns related to possible impacts of proposed management activities on rural interface areas.

Use design features and mitigation measures to avoid/minimize impacts to health, life and property, and quality of life. The following timber management practices will not be applied on those lands: herbicide spraying, clearcutting, and broadcast burning.

Manage rural interface areas using Visual Resource Management class III standards (unless an area is classified as Visual Resource Management class I or II).