ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM Regional Advisory Council Project Proposal Review

Transcription

1 ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM Regional Advisory Council Project Proposal Review ODFW Region / A&H Regional Council: West Region / South Willamette Council Project Proposal Title: Willamette Private Lands Law Enforcement (Scott Mt and N Alsea Cooperative Travel Management Area) Applicants(s): Forest Landowners in Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Linn Polk, Marion and Yamhill counties in conjunction with ODFW and OSP Fish and Wildlife Division. Date of Council Review: 12/15/14 Type of Project: Access X Habitat Other Damage Motion: Ray Fiori made a motion to pass and Ed Munson seconded it Council Member Position Vote Vacant Chair Ray Fiori Landowner Representative Yes Nels Jenson Landowner Representative Yes Steve Gilbert Landowner Representative Abstained Tom Zandoli Hunter Representative Yes Ed Munson Hunter Representative Yes Vacant Hunter Representative Disposition of Vote: 4 in favor and 1 abstained Project Strengths: Increased funding for much needed law enforcement and easy of citing violations. Better access and to 1.25 million acres or private lands. Close proximity to majority of Oregonians. Help alleviate deer and elk damage through hunting Project Concerns: How Weyerhaeuser fee permit will affect access to other lands and the overall program

2

3 ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM Application for Grant Funds 1 Project Title: Willamette Private Lands Law Enforcement (including Stott Mt. N Alsea Cooperative Travel Management Area) 2 Applicant: Forest Landowners in Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Linn Polk, Marion and Yamhill counties in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State Police, Fish and Wildlife Division. Phone: Grantee: (as will appear on contract/payments) If private nonprofit, attach IRS letter of 501(c)(3) status Address: Oregon Dept. Fish and Wildlife, 2040 SE Marine Sciences Dr. City/State/Zip: Newport, OR Phone: Signature: Date: Location: ODFW Region (see attached map) West Region / NCWD, NWWD, SWWD / All of or portions of Units 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 : County Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Linn Polk, Marion, Yamhill 4. Type of Project: Access 5. Number of Acres of Habitat to be Improved: N/A 6. Number of Acres of Access to be Provided: 1.25 million 7. Proposed Start Date: August 15, Estimated Cost of Project: 9. Access and Habitat Fund Request: 10. Briefly explain what the project proposes to do: Provide law enforcement via 6 State Police Retired Senior Troopers to allow landowners to permit and/or continue to allow access to their lands by hunters during hunting seasons. Two of these troopers will be dedicated to the Stott Mt.- North Alsea Cooperative Travel Management Area which is located in Polk and Lincoln Counties. The project also provides signage and maps for the Stott Mtn North Alsea Travel Management Area. Note: Filing of this application does not guarantee acceptance of the proposal nor any portion thereof. Applicants whose projects are approved by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be notified by mail.

4 Background: (Address how current management actions benefit public access and/or wildlife and their habitat needs. Describe the wildlife habitat and/or access challenge or opportunity this project will address.) Approximately 1.25 million acres of large industrial private forest land exists in the northwest portion of the West Region of ODFW. These private timber lands provide area where the majority of hunters prefer to hunt in the region where most Oregon residents live. In the years prior to 1994, vandalism, garbage dumping, illegal drug activity and hunter related problems resulted in thousands of gates being installed and locked, preventing access to hunters. Ungated roads allowed access to any of the public on a 24 hours basis, year round. Hunter related problems include, among other issues, damage to gravel and dirt roads due to high volume vehicle traffic. With a combined effort of increased law enforcement and education of the public to address hunter and non-hunter related problems, many gates have since remained open during the hunting seasons because of this access program funded in part by the Access and Habitat Board. In some areas, such as the Stott Mtn-North Alsea Travel Management Area (TMA), many spur roads remain gated but are open to walk-in hunting. With the creation of a travel management area, OSP can more effectively enforce motor vehicle related trespass problems. A violation of the TMA is a citable offense that does not require the landowner to press charges and appear in court. In addition, TMA s provide areas that hunters can easily walk or bike without disturbance by motorized vehicles. Timber companies and other landowners benefit from hunters harvesting big game to control their population and address wildlife related damage to tree plantations. However, for some big game species, such as elk, ODFW biologists must manage to meet population and bull ratios objectives as well as address damage. Private timber lands are actively logged and road densities are typically high which increases the vulnerability of elk and deer to hunting and illegal take. As a result, law enforcement is crucial to reducing problems for landowners that allow access to their property during hunting seasons; and, aiding ODFW in managing the harvest. Past History: (Describe any past Access & Habitat project, especially if the proposed project deals with the same objectives.) In 1995 the A&H board approved funding for the Northwest Lands Access Project. Funding was allocated for five years to cover 1995 through 1999 hunting seasons. Initially this program was staffed with OSP Cadets. In 1998, the project was amended to employ retired Senior Troopers in place of the Cadets due to safety concerns. In 2000, the project was renamed the Willamette Private Lands Law Enforcement Project (WPL), extended for 5 years and continued with four retired Senior Troopers. The Stott Mt. North Alsea Travel Management Area project was approved and funded by A&H in 2002 as a separate project but later combined in 2003 with the WPL project. The objective of merging the two existing projects was to provide the support necessary to fully implement the new TMA by adding one OSP trooper. This trooper acted as a coordinator with ODFW and the landowners, monitored signs and gates, and worked primarily within the TMA while on patrol. In 2004, there was expansion of the lands included within the TMA and it was determined that another position dedicated solely to the TMA would be needed to enforce it effectively. Since 2004 there have been six OSP retired senior trooper positions dedicated to this project each year, two of them working primarily in the TMA. During the hunting seasons of and (archery season until January),

5 magnetic traffic counters were deployed to estimate hunter/fisher use within the Stott Mt. North Alsea TMA. The data was used to determine more ideal locations for traffic counters and to estimate how well they functioned. Five counters were placed on 5 main roads for the hunting seasons and the number of hunters per vehicle during both elk and deer seasons were estimated by ODFW staff who recorded the number of vehicles and hunters observed on opening weekends. The results showed 1.76 and 1.86 hunters per vehicle during deer and elk seasons, respectively. The data indicated the TMA provided a minimum 15,207 hunter days of use during the rifle deer and elk seasons. The greatest amount of hunter traffic occurred on the opening weekend of the second bull elk rifle season. More than half of all deer hunter days in the Stott Mt unit occur on and adjacent to only 3 of these main roads. Hunter use outside of the North Alsea TMA is difficult to estimate due to the large number of access points and varying types of access provided (walk-in, weekends only, 7 days per week). Traffic counters used to monitor the Wendling TMA have been sporadically used to monitor hunter use when the Wendling TMA is concluded for the season. In 2011, traffic counters recorded 1,328 hunter vehicle entries at two gates in the McKenzie unit during the late hunting seasons (Nov 19, 2011 Dec 4, 2014). In 2013, 823 late season hunter vehicle entries in the McKenzie unit were record at one gate (Nov. 8 Dec. 16). The Access and Habitat Board contributes $30,000 annually to another project, Lincoln County Forest Patrol Project, where the county solid waste district, sheriff s department and Association of Lincoln County Landowners contribute $115, combined. Those additional funds supplement this application as well due to the deputies annual work schedule. The Access and Habitat Board also contributes $12,000 annually to the Linn County Forest Patrol Project. This project provides a year-round Linn County Sheriff Deputy to patrol industrial timberland in Linn County. Landowners, in part through the Linn County Forest Protection Association contribute $837,324 annually to this program, private security, night watchman, and other property protection programs. Project Objective(s): (a) What is the objective of the proposed project? The primary objective of this project is to allow access and continue to allow access to private lands for hunting in 7 WMU s. To meet this object we need to provide additional law enforcement to allow large timberland owners and other landowners who have problems with vandalism, garbage dumping, and/or hunter ethics to open gates, keep gates open, or provide walk-in hunting opportunities. Much of the funding necessary for this part of the project has been provided by the County Sheriff Departments with Woods Deputies, County Solid Waste Districts, and forest landowners. A secondary objective is to maintain a seasonal travel management area that will assist ODFW in maintaining bull ratios in the Stott Mt. WMU while providing forest landowners with hunters during cow elk seasons to help reduce damage to tree plantations. (b) How will the project benefit wildlife habitat and/or public access?

6 Vandalism, dumping, and hunter problems are the largest threats to hunting access on a majority of lands in the northwest portion of the West Region of ODFW. With cooperation of forest landowners, county law enforcement entities and others financing and obtaining additional funds for year round law enforcement, combined with additional funding from the Access and Habitat Program for six retired State Police Senior Troopers, approximately a million acres of private land will remain accessible to hunters. In the Stott Mtn North Alsea Travel Management Area, illegal entry by motor vehicles allows more bulls to be harvested than is desired and walk-in hunters are denied a quality hunt. This project will enable the OSP to better enforce the non-motorized hunting access allowed by the landowners. With the TMA in place, any illegal entry by motor vehicle into designated roads closed to motor vehicles can be enforced by the OSP through a citation instead of trespass. (c) Length of time benefits provided <3yr 3-6yr X >6yr. This project is proposed to be funded for 5 years. (d) If damage related, how will the project alleviate/eliminate the problem? Allowing access by hunters to private lands allows harvest of big game species that are causing damage to agricultural crops such as timber.

7 Project Location: (Attach a map and provide description of the location and how to get there from a major highway.) Most large industrial private lands allowing free hunter access in Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Polk, Marion, and Yamhill Counties are included in this project. Location of the Stott Mtn North Alsea TMA is defined in the Big Game Regulations as: All gated, posted, and barrier closed roads within the Alsea Unit north of US Highway 20 and west of State Highway 223 (Kings Valley Highway); and in the Stott Mountain Unit. Road systems included in the TMA in 2013 were on lands owned by Hancock Forest Management, Plum Creek Timber, and Weyerhaeuser. Hancock Forest Management company represents 10 different landowners. Procedure: Specifically describe how the project will be conducted--use separate page for additional information, drawings or pictures. Six Oregon State Police retired Senior Troopers will be hired to work a total of 770 hours each per hunting season, beginning in mid-august. Two troopers will be dedicated primarily to the Stott Mtn North Alsea TMA; one stationed in Newport and one in Salem. One trooper stationed in Albany will cover Linn and Benton Counties, one in Springfield will cover Lane County, one in Salem will cover Marion Counties, and one position in Newport will cover Lincoln and portions of Benton and Lane Counties with some time spent in the TMA. Enforcement activities will be coordinated by OSP, County Sheriff s Department Woods Deputies, and industry representatives to provide coverage by law enforcement officers seven days a week. OSP retired Senior Troopers provide needed enforcement presence during the hunting seasons in addition to the year round enforcement activities of the Woods Deputies. For the Stott Mtn North Alsea TMA most activity will start in August of each year. Signs will be posted by ODFW district staff, ODFW volunteers, OSP troopers, and landowner representatives indicating which roads are closed to motorized vehicles. The road closure is seasonal: starting two days before the beginning of archery season and ending immediately after the end of the 2nd bull elk rifle season. Timber landowners will not allow employees or contractors to carry weapons for the purposes of hunting into road closure areas where they are working. If employees want to hunt they may park their vehicles outside the closed roads and walk-in when the landowner allows it during non-work hours. Private company employees will not be given special access rights by motor vehicle to hunt. Areas may also be closed to all entry due to active logging, road construction, etc. at the discretion of landowners. Cooperating landowners will sign a memorandum of understanding with ODFW regarding these details. An example MOU is attached. (Attachment A). ODFW staff will receive the bulk of inquiries for information on hunting within the TMA, and will provide hunters with a detailed map (attached) for the TMA. Permits: Have all of the appropriate permits been secured or applied for? (Examples: Water Resources Department for water rights, Division of State Lands for fill-removal or wetlands projects) None needed

8 Scheduling: What is the estimated project schedule? (a) Habitat Work Start Date: Habitat Work Completion Date: (b) Access Agreement Start Date: August Access Agreement End Date: March (c) List major project activities and time schedule for each. Activity Time (month/year) Sign posting of TMA August November, Monitoring of TMA August November, Law Enforcement (A&H funded) Law Enforcement (Deputy Sheriffs) Hunting season (August March) All Year Participation: (Will other organizations participate in the project? If so, list and describe participation, and attach letters of commitment or verification of grant awards. You do not need to include individuals.) Participant Activity Funding: (a) List other sources and amount of project funds (include in budget on page 7). (b) Have any conditions been placed on the funds listed in (a) which may affect the completion of the project? If so, identify and explain. None Project Maintenance and Monitoring: (a) Who will maintain the project and fund long-term maintenance and/or operation if needed? The OSP, ODFW and cooperating landowners will maintain the project.

9 (b) What element(s) of the project will be monitored, how often, for how long? During the hunting seasons daily monitoring and coordination will occur between the Oregon State Police and County Sheriff Departments and ODFW district wildlife staff. Each year, the OSP will document their law enforcement actions during the hunting seasons and while travel management restrictions are in place, as they normally do. ODFW will monitor elk and deer harvest; bull to cow ratios; hunter activities and concentrations; maintain road closures, and concerns of landowners and hunters regarding problems.

10 Project Cost Estimate (provide as much detail as possible) Category A&H Funds Other Funds 1 Total Cost Administration Personnel OSP 6 retirees x 770 hrs $171,448.50/yr $171,448.50/yr ($36.76/hr includes wages, OPE, vehicle, mileage) OSP Overtime ($50.83/hr x 30hr) ODFW NRS 2 (wages, OPE) 6,436.00/yr 6,436.00/yr ODFW Supervisor F&W Bio (wages, OPE) 13,133.00/yr 13,133.00/yr Transportation Mileage for ODFW 2,100.00/yr 2,100.00/yr Total Supplies Signs for TMA /yr /yr Misc. signing supplies (tools, nails, etc.) /yr /yr Equipment 4 TOTAL COSTS: 2015 $171, $22, $193, $171, $22, $193, (2% increase) $174, $22, $197, $174, $22, $197, (2% increase) $178, $23, $201, Grand Total $871, $112, $983, List detail in funding (page 7). 2 Provide amounts and cost per unit. 3 Attach subcontractor estimates. 4 Individual pieces of equipment costing over $

11 Attachment A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE OREGON STATE POLICE and CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF SILETZ INDIANS OF OREGON and PLUM CREEK TIMBERLANDS, L.P. FOREST CAPITAL PARTNERS WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY. HANCOCK TIMBER RESOURCE GROUP This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into between the State of Oregon, acting by and through its Department of Fish and Wildlife ( Department ), and Oregon State Police (OSP), and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon, and Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P., Forest Capital Partners, Weyerhaeuser Company, and Hancock Timber Resource Group (collectively the Parties ). WHEREAS, the Department is authorized to enter into agreement with the landowners to manage the operation of motor-propelled vehicles, pursuant to ORS , and OAR (9). WHEREAS, the Department and the landowners have agreed that controlling the operation of motorpropelled vehicles is desirable on certain lands owned by the landowners to: 1. Maintain, improve and restore access to private lands for hunting. 2. Protect soils, water quality, roads and wildlife habitat. 3. Protect against theft, vandalism, littering and damage to land caused by off-highway vehicles and all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and hunters ill-prepared for regulated use. 4. Reduce fire danger. 5. Reduce illegal kill and harassment of deer and elk 6. Improve the quality of hunting for deer and elk. 7. Allow the Department to achieve elk management objectives in the Stott Mountain Unit and northern portions of the Alsea Unit by increasing bull ratios and decreasing cow herd size. NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree that the area in which the restrictions are desirable is outlined in Exhibit A, attached, and further, that the kinds of restrictions and the time they shall apply are as outlined in said Exhibit A. THE LANDOWNERS AGREE: 1. To close roads which they so designate as closed to public motor vehicle traffic by use of gates, posted signs and/or barriers. 2. To allow non-motorized use of all roads and land holdings during the period of closure, unless specifically posted otherwise. 3. To permit the landowner, the Department, the Oregon State Police, and designated Oregon State Police volunteers to patrol the area marked for closure. THE DEPARTMENT AGREES:

12 1. To provide annual administration of the Travel Management Area as outlined in Exhibit A. 2. To help enforce the restrictions outlined in Exhibit A through a separate contract with the Oregon State Police. 3. To provide information to the public on road closure areas prior to and during the hunting season. 4. To continue in its attempts to achieve elk management objectives in the Stott Mountain Unit and northern portions of the Alsea Unit by increasing bull ratios and decreasing cow herd size. ALL PARTIES AGREE: 1. Unauthorized motor-propelled vehicles will not enter the closed roads except for an emergency, law enforcement, or necessary work by the above parties during the closure period. Personal vehicles entering road closure areas for regular work activities will display an appropriate entry permit on their windshield/dash where the landowner requires such a permit. 2. At no time are motor-propelled vehicles to be used to hunt or transport hunters or game during theperiod of restrictions on designated closed roads pursuant to OAR (9). 3. The conditions of this Agreement apply only to areas open to public hunting. Law enforcement officers dedicated to the TMA shall patrol only areas that provide public hunting access during big game hunting seasons. 4. The period of this Agreement shall extend from the Effective Date (date of last signature) until December 15, 2014, unless extended prior to the Completion Date by written amendment signed by all Parties, except as described in Paragraph 5 below, and approved by the State of Oregon. 5. The agreement may be terminated by any party for any reason, on 30 days prior written notice, delivered by certified mail or in person, at any time. 6. This MOU may be revised as necessary by the mutual consent of the parties, upon issuance of a written amendment, signed and dated by all parties, except as defined below in subparagraph i and ii: i. In the event a party (landowner) to this agreement sells their property, and the new landowner chooses to become a party to this Agreement, an amendment shall occur: a. Between the Department and the selling party; and b. Between the Department and the new landowner. c. The Department shall notify, in writing ( acceptable), the other parties to this agreement of said amendment via notification. ii. In the event a party (landowner) to this agreement sells their property and the new landowner chooses not to participate in this Agreement, no amendment shall be required. OSP enforcement to sold property shall be revoked under this agreement. However, the Department shall notify, in writing ( acceptable), the remaining parties under this agreement. 7. Each party shall indemnify and hold harmless the other parties from all claims, costs, damages, or expenses of any kind, including attorneys fees and other costs and expenses of litigation, for personal or property damage arising out of that party s performance or non-performance required by this Agreement. The Department and OSP s obligation is limited by Article XI, Section 7 of the Oregon Constitution and the Oregon Tort Claims Act. 8. The execution of this agreement will not create any right or interest on the part of the Department or the public to enter upon or hunt on the land of the Landowners at any time or for any purpose other than as specifically permitted and during the term of the agreement. 9. The period of restriction will be: From 1 day prior to the opening of general archery season through the close of all bull elk rifle seasons each year from , or as identified in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Big Game Hunting Regulations.

13 10. Landowners may use their discretion to close their lands to public access at any time due to extreme fire danger. 11. This MOU is neither a fiscal nor a funds obligation document. 12. This MOU in no way restricts the parties under this agreement from participating in similar activities with other public or private agencies, organizations, and individuals. 13. General Provisions Integration. This agreement supersedes all prior oral or written agreements between the parties regarding this site. It represents the entire agreement between the parties. Time is of the essence in all terms, provisions, covenants and conditions in this agreement. Savings. Should any clause or section of this Agreement be declared by a court to be void or voidable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Jurisdiction; Law. This Agreement is executed in the State of Oregon, and is subject to Oregon laws and jurisdiction. Acknowledgement: EACH PARTY REPRESENTS TO THE OTHER BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW THAT EACH HAS READ, UNDERSTANDS, AND AGREES TO ALL COVENANTS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY REPRESENTS TO THE OTHER TO HAVE THE ACTUAL AND/OR APPARENT AUTHORITY TO BIND THEIR RESPECTIVE LEGAL PERSONS, CORORATE OR OTHERWISE, IN CONTRACT. COOPERATOR DATE.

14 Form Revised July 2012 Access and Habitat Program Project Evaluation Form Program Objective: The Access and Habitat Program s motto, Landowners & Hunters Together for Wildlife, conveys the program s basic mission to foster partnerships between landowners and hunters for the benefit of the wildlife they value. The program also seeks to recognize and encourage the important contributions made by landowners to the state s wildlife resource. Project Name: Project #: Access Acres "Welcome" Private 1.2m By-Permission Private 0 Inaccessible Public*? Accessible Public*? Habitat Acres Habitat Category: (range: 1-6; see flow chart on page 4. Not applicable to access-only projects) Total Score: Total Possible: Instructions: Complete these sections General Access Project Type Criteria Criteria Habitat Criteria Access Only X X Habitat Only X X Access & Habitat X X X Mark 1 point in the corresponding "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met. Example: for question 2, if partnerships include 4 sports groups, award points for the first 2 criteria. Do not mark more than 1 point per box. Point schedule is designed to weigh access-only and habitat-only projects equally. Definitions: Inaccessible Public*: Accessible Public*: Access will be provided through private land to public land that is completely landlocked (surrounded) by private land, legally precluding public hunting access. Total area includes only public land within the boundary of private ownership. Access through private land will improve accessibility to public land. Public land may be extremely difficult to access otherwise, but is not legally surrounded by private land. Total area includes only public land that is closer (in linear distance) to the landowner's access point(s) than any other public access point. * Access to public land MUST be provided on a "Welcome to Hunt" basis General Criteria 1. Habitat Condition (mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met) Score 1 point only if the property contains the resource in sufficient abundance/quality to support target species referenced in questions 11, 15, 16 and 19 (during at least one season of the year). For habitat projects, use the predicted future condition. Justify your score. Food: 1 Water: 1 Cover: 1 Project Score 2. Partnerships Partners contributing financial or in-kind support: 1 or more Sports groups. 1 3 or more Sports groups. Educational programs / non-governmental organizations. 1 Other government agencies or ODFW programs (i.e. OWEB, R&E). Page 1

15 Form Revised July 2012 Project 3. Matching Funds Total matching funds (monetary and in-kind) > 1% matching funds.. Score 1 > 25% matching funds > 50% matching funds 4. Damage Project would mitigate current damage to private property: Wildlife damage occuring on private property. Landowner participates in ODFW damage control programs.. 1 General Total 7 General Possible 12 Access Criteria - Applies to private land access that would be provided under the proposed project. (mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met) 5. Public Land Project located in Wildlife Management Unit with <50% public land Private access Private land access type: Project would provide access to private land.. 1 Private land access would be on a "Welcome to Hunt" basis Public access Access through private lands would: improve access to public land provide access to otherwise inaccessible public land Special Access Project would provide special youth or disabled hunter access opportunities. 9. Species Permitted Species groups include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, turkey, and predators/varmints. 2+ species groups available and permitted species groups available and permitted Under-rep. Species* Project provides access to under-represented species in the watershed. 11. Harvest Restriction Landowner would not restrict sex or species permitted for lawful harvest Season Restriction Landowner would not restrict access to any hunting season(s) Dispersion Property would provide access to animals pushed off of publicly accessible land during hunting season.. 1 Access Total 10 Access Possible 12 Payment Fee Total * lists of under-represented species will be created by A&H state coordinator and approved by A&H Board Habitat Criteria (mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met) Project Score Page 2

16 Form Revised July Department Priorities Project is located within target area and will benefit target species identified in any of these Department programs: Mule Deer Initiative, Sage Grouse Initiative, Black-tailed Deer Plan Implementation. 15. Location importance: Applies to species that the habitat work will benefit. Question structured to equally weigh big game and game bird projects - score "1" if either item in each bracket is true: Area populations < 90% of management objective (deer and elk) or: { Project will increase wintering populations of upland birds/waterfowl { Area populations < 75% of management objective (deer and elk). or: Project will increase breeding populations of upland birds/waterfowl 16. Conservation Strategy Project addresses Oregon Conservation Strategy (OCS) concerns: Project action benefits Strategy Habitat or Strategy Species. [above] AND action occurs in Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) 17. Critical Habitat Applies to the specific GAME habitat that the project will maintain or enhance. Use accompanying flow chart and definitions to determine habitat category. Definitions are slightly amended from OAR Division 415 to be game-specific. Project meets requirements of Habitat Categories Project meets requirements of Habitat Categories Habitat Connectivity Project will help facilitate local animal movement (fence removal, etc.).. Project will help establish or maintain a wildlife habitat corridor or otherwise reduce fragmentation on landscape level.. Description of habitat connectivity benefit (required): 19. Habitat Impact Describes the predicted impact that the project will have on the habitat. Habitat work must benefit game species. Project will increase the habitat quantity/quality >25% per unit treated Project will increase the habitat quantity/quality >50% per unit treated Description of habitat impact: 20. Population Impact Describes the predicted impact that habitat improvements (excluding external variables such as weather, etc.) will have on game species on the project site. Provide estimates for all targeted species. Local abundance of at least one targeted game species should increase >25%... Species Estimated Abundance Pretreatment Posttreatment Habitat Total Habitat Possible 12 Grand Total 17 Total Possible Miscellaneous Describe other project details that may help with prioritization or fee assessment (i.e. current market value of similar hunting leases in the vicinity).... NO POINTS Access and Habitat Project Evaluation - Appendix Page 3

17 Form Revised July 2012 Under-represented Species Definition: game species that exist in the watershed district in huntable numbers, but that the general public does not have reasonable hunting access to (via public land, current A&H properties, etc.) Watershed Species Watershed Species Malheur pheasant, waterfowl, turkey Deschutes waterfowl, valley quail, chukar, dove South Willamette waterfowl, turkey, valley quail John Day upland game birds North Coast predators, waterfowl Umpqua waterfowl, dove, turkey Grande Ronde upland game birds Klamath waterfowl, quail Rogue dove, waterfowl North Willamette waterfowl A&H Habitat Category Flow Chart Note: These definitions have been amended from OAR Division 415 to be game-specific and applied on a watershed basis. Habitat Category designations made on this Evaluation Form are for Access & Habitat Program use only, and do not have any legal implications associated with OAR 415. Page 4