Road Maintenance Scheduled for Steens CMPA
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Hines, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management strives to provide quality access to public lands in Harney County. Over the next few weeks, or as staff time and weather and ground conditions allow, the BLM will maintain roads within the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area.
Under a stipulated settlement injunction (Rose v. ONDA, 2019) regarding travel management in the CMPA: “As long as the current Resource Management Plan for the Andrew/Steens Resource Area is in effect, BLM will provide at least 30 days' notice to the public of the BLM's intent to perform maintenance on Level 2 roads within the CMPA. BLM reserves the right to conduct emergency road maintenance without prior notice." This notice fulfills the agency’s obligation for the work and roads mentioned below.
Several miles of spot maintenance are on the fall schedule for the east side of Steens Mountain. Specifically, Stonehouse Road, Miners Cabin Road, Bone Creek Road, Burnt Flat Road, and the old county road from Neals Hill, past 15 Cent Lake, to its junction with the Burnt Flat Road at 10 Cent Lake, will receive attention in areas washed out by heavy winter and spring moisture. This work is necessary to support multiple-use resource management and protect resource values in the Steens CMPA.
BLM’s network of roads, bridges, and trails is an integral part of the western American infrastructure, providing access for recreation, commercial activities, and administrative operations, including wildfire management, wild horse and burro gathers, and conservation efforts. A well-maintained, well-connected transportation system is essential to making these activities possible.
Do you know of roads with significant damage from weather or wear, or roads that are simply in such bad shape your access to public lands is limited? Let us know! Stop by our office or call 541-573-4400.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.