Special Areas

Objectives

Retain and modify existing Special Areas to maintain or protect the resource values for which they were originally designated. Designate new Special Areas where resource values have been identified that need special management attention. Remove Special Area designation from any area that does not meet relevance and importance criteria. Provide interim management to candidate Special Areas nominated since publication of the Draft RMP to protect resource values and preserve future management options.

Manage Areas of Critical Environmental Concern for the maintenance, protection, or restoration of relevant and important resource values.

Manage Research Natural Areas for the purpose of scientific study, research, and education and to provide a baseline against which human impacts on natural systems can be measured.

Manage Outstanding Natural Areas for recreation in a way which will not damage the natural features that make the area outstanding.

Land Use Allocations

Seven existing Special Areas will be retained, four of which will be expanded. Three new Special Areas will be designated. Total allocation will be 11,323 acres (see Table 3 and Map 5). The Brad's Creek and Golden Bar Areas of Critical Environmental Concern will be combined and expanded to form the new Umpqua Wildlife Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Seven areas have been nominated for Special Area designation since publication of the draft RMP. These areas include Ace Williams Mountain, Bilger Ridge, Canton Creek, Langell Ridge, North Myrtle Creek Headwaters, Lee Creek, and Odd Lots. Ace Williams Mountain, Bilger Ridge, Canton Creek, Langell Ridge, North Myrtle Creek Headwaters will be evaluated for future designation as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Lee Creek as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern/Research Natural Area, and Odd Lots as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern/Outstanding Natural Area (see Table 6).

Management Actions/Direction

Management activities will be implemented in such a manner so as to be compatible with specific management objectives identified in site specific activity management plans. Management plans with specific management objectives have already been prepared for all existing Areas of Critical Environmental Concerns and Research Natural Areas. New plans will be prepared for new and expanded Special Areas. These new plans will define specific management objectives and address a wide spectrum of management activities such as land acquisition, the role of fire, and public outreach. Interim management will be provided areas without activity management plans to protect the natural features for which the areas were designated and preserve future management options.

Land acquisition will be pursued for the Beatty Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern/Research Natural Area to block up ownership and improve management opportunities. Land acquisition for other Special Areas will be addressed in site specific management plans or activity level environmental assessments.

Management restrictions for Special Areas are summarized below. Additional restrictions may be identified in site specific management plans or activity level environmental assessments.

Mineral withdrawal of all Areas of Critical Environmental Concern/Research Natural Areas. Mining will be permitted in other Special Areas with a plan of operations to avoid undue and unnecessary degradation.
No salable mineral development and no surface occupancy for leasable minerals in Special Areas.
Closure of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern/Research Natural Areas to Off Highway Vehicle use and the restriction of Off Highway Vehicle use to existing roads and trails in all other Special Areas.
No timber harvest, road construction, or the operation of ground based fire suppression equipment off existing roads or other surface disturbing activity in Areas of Critical Environmental Concern/Research Natural Areas.