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16 Exhibit E Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Access & Habitat Program Access & Habitat Project Completion Report Project Number: Project Title: Zumwalt Prairie Elk Hazing and Habitat Protection Grantee / Project Manager: Walowa Resources, Mark Porter Location: Address: 401 NE 1 st Street, Suite A City/Zip: Enterprise, OR Phone: County: Wallowa ODFW NE Region Oregon, Snake Imnaha/ Chesnimnus ODFW Wildlife Management Unit: Chesnimnus Township/Range/Section: See Map 1 (attached) Type of Project (check): Access Habitat Improvement Other (specify) Date Completed: 9/30/2013 Project Area Size (Acres): 116,600 Wildlife Species Benefited: elk, mule deer, grassland song birds Acres of Access Provided: 92,000 (by permission) Acres of Habitat Enhanced / Improved: 116,000

17 Landowner: (Please list all private landowners of property where the work was done.) Birkmaier, Prairie Creek Holdings LLC., Triple Creek Cattle Co., Derrell Witty, DMcD, The Nature Conservancy, Tippett Ranch Inc., Douglas Young, Frasch, McClaran, Krebs, Ketscher, Bob Lathrop, Crow Creek, Buckhorn, Phelps, Fleshman, Tom Butterfield,Cook, Simmons, Sullivan, and Yost ranches. Participation: List and describe participation of other organizations that participated in this project. Zumwalt landowners: provided input to ODFW regarding hunting tag allocations, hunt season dates and harvest numbers; provided hunting and hazing/monitoring access & help, monitored elk impact and repaired fences and replaced standard fences with wildlife friendly fences, provided input on project implementation and impact. Wallowa Resources provided project coordination, landowner group communications, outreach to hunters, placed signs, produced maps of ownership and landowner contact lists for hunters, managed grant funds, stimulated cost share options with landowners, monitored and repaired fences, monitored and reported elk numbers, and assisted with aerial and ground elk counts. ODFW managed hunts and checked hunters, provided an elk hazer as needed, provided expertise regarding management decisions and monitoring efforts. The Nature Conservancy provided hunting and hazing access. WWNF worked to improve elk habitat in thet northern part of the Chesnimnus unit. They implemented RMEF funded controlled burn in the Summit Creek area. They allowed hazing on selected National Forest lands. Wallowa County NRCS provided expertise on native grassland management, wildlife friendly fences, general project support. Wallowa County SWCD offered cost share for fence wildife friendly construction, helped with applications for and inspection of wildlife friendly fences. OSU Extension provided meeting facilitation, landowner contacts, organization of groups, input to steering committee.

18 Equipment and Supplies: List all A&H equipment & supplies that are on hand after completion of this project. None Funding: Access and Habitat Funds Utilized: $24, by WR Matching Dollars Utilized: $ ODFW $7,232 (through this A&H grant), Other in kind dollars: ~$76,491 Final Payment Request: If final A&H payment is needed, indicate requested A&H fund amount: $0.00 (Note: this should correspond to attached invoices, Fund Release Form & budget summary table) 1. Briefly describe the project objective(s): Mitigate impacts of elk herds on Zumwalt grasslands and fences by decreasing elk use of Zumawalt private lands through increased hunting and private land hunting access and through hazing by ODFW, modify fencing to reduce elk injury and fence damage, help improve habitat conditions on historic winter and transitional ranges with USFS and partners, capitalize on three years of success of Zumwalt Landowners Elk Management Group, and monitor the effectiveness of our actions. 2. Describe the project accomplishments (indicate any changes from proposed to actual accomplishments in scheduling, treatment methods, treatment acres, miles of fence, plantings, seedings, patrol efforts, cooperator activities, etc. if applicable) The elk on Zumwalt Prairie are at once a public value and a landowner s burden. It is a tough problem with no short term or easy answers. The continued cohesion of the Zumwalt Landowner Group has provided a vehicle for implementing constructive change. Twenty two landowners participated in the group allowing public hunting access to at least 92,000 acres. All of the Zumwalt tags made available by ODFW for the 2012 season were bought. There were 73 LOP opportunities in the Chesnimnus Unit (almost all of these would be on the Zumwalt where the lions share of the private land is in Chesnimnus)

19 and 28 depradation tags in Zumwalt. Eight of the 22 landowners accounted for 435 total hunting opportunities to hunters on their private lands (different landowners may offer the same hunters opportunities to hunt). To help facilitate hunting opportunites WR produced a map of private landownership in the project area and a list of 11 landowners who shared their numbers with any hunter (both attached, Map 2 and Table II). These two documents were made available to any hunter that requested information by having them available to the local ODFW office, the State A&H managers office, our SWCD, NRCS and OSU Extension offices, as well as WR s office. This project provided $7,232 funding to ODFW s Enterprise field office office to haze elk on an as needed basis. The hazer spent 1.5 months of time between February and April 2013 on multiple properties moving elk. WR hired 1 person to monitor elk numbers through the winter and to fix fence in the spring. However, one person could not cover enough ground to keep good track of numbers across such a vast area. This year efforts were largely focussed on identifying and repairing downed fence. WR contracted with Spence Air service to fly ODFW/WR staff on 3 aerial counts of elk on the Zumwalt. The flights were on November , January23, and again in June of ODFW also did their standard elk counts in March of The November 2012 count included the margins of the Zumwalt area (i.e.fence Creek) and counted just over 3,500 head of elk. Neither 2013 count included the margins of the prairie and were substantially lower than the 2012 count. The January count found was 940. The March count was 2548 with 390 in the Fence Creek drainage on the northern margin of Zumwalt and another 261 in Corral and Tulley Creek (an easy days walk from the prairie). In June 2013, 1301 elk were counted on the prairie. Even though this may seem like a decreasing trend, it is likely the result of elk moving on and off the prairie proper due to season, rather that a reduction in the herd or an actual change in their habits. Cost share was made available to landowners for elk friendly fence projects during the 2013 field season. Landowners constructed or modified 4.2 miles of wildlife friendly fence and created 14 elk friendly crossings (see photos 3 & 4) using $5352 of cost share.

20 3. Summarize how Access & Habitat and Cooperator funds were spent on this project (indicate any changes from proposed to actual spending activities): Expenditure Category A&H Cooperators* Total Cost (i.e. materials, labor, equipment) Personnel $ 15, $ 40,600 $ 55, Supplies $ 6, $ 11,500 $ 17, Contract $ 1, $ 30,000 $ 31, Travel/vehicle $ 1, $ 1,632 $ 3, TOTALS $ 24, $ 83,732 $108, *Projected participation and estimated project in kind levels were very close with the following exceptions. Cost share for fencing was not nearly as popular an idea as the steering committee thought. It was projected that SWCD would put $18,000 into the fencing project but there was only enough demand for just what was available through ODFW A& H. NRCS participation was also not at the level projected because formal monitoring was not pursued and there was no easy opportunity for the agency to contribute to cost share. Not included in the above project cost estimates are landowners hours and costs of elk related activities that positvely impact elk populations like normal fencing maintainence rebuilds, salting, forage preparation by grazing etc. 4. Summarize the public access provided through this project (if applicable): Was Access Recreation Number of Number of Season New Provided Activity Individuals Recreation Days (Fall/Winter/Spring) Access? Pre-project? Deer hunting Elk hunting Emergency hunts Damage hunts Other hunting NA 435 (minimum by 8 of 22 landowners) 73 (LOP, Chesnimnus) 28 (Emergency hunts, Zumwalt) NA Viewing/Other Numerous Numerous

21 5. Describe the education opportunities provided through this project (if applicable): The Zumwalt Elk Management Group hosted two tours during this grant period. One was for the A& H Board, interested landowners and agency partners. Late this summer the group presented the problem and our work to the PNW chapter of the Society for Range Management. WR put one article in our newsletter about the project and requesting support for it. 6. Describe how the project has benefited fish and wildlife and/or fish and wildlife habitat: This project helps protect the grassland resource on Zumwalt Prairie by working to dispersing the grazing pressure of large elk herds on private grasslands of Zumwalt Prairie. Habitat has also been improved by providing 4.2 miles of wildlife friendly fence and creating 14 elk friendly crossings of wildife friendly fences. 7. Describe how the project has benefited you as a landowner ( or conservation group, association, agency, cooperator, etc.): Wallowa Resources has benefitted from this project because it has helped us build better relationships with the majority of landowners on the Zumwalt. The Zumwalt landowner group has provided a means for many of the areas landowners to implement solutions to a daunting problem on their lands. 8. Were photographs or slides taken of the completed project? YES X Photos/slides are included with this report X NO *Please attach a color photo(s) or slides of the completed project with the date, location and project number. 9. Additional comments (i.e. other information that may be helpful in evaluating the project, your comments/impressions of the Access & Habitat Program): Grantee Signature: Date:

22 Map 1: Zumwalt Project showing nearby towns for reference. The black line is the Zumwalt proper and the original project/hazing area. Yellow lines show the expansion of the project/hazing area in 2011/12. The red line includes the area impacted by USFS projects to improve habitat (burn).

23 Map 2: Zumwalt Area Hunting Map provided to ODFW and hunters to help hunters know where they are and to stay on property

24 Photo 1: A small group of elk on Zumwalt with the Seven Devils Mountains in the Background.

25 Photo 2: Elk Trail across a burned area on the Zumwalt. Over grazing on previously burned or grazed areas can hurt grasses.

26 Photo 3: Young elk temporarily stranded on the road as the herd passed through because they are less able to jump fences.

27 Picture 4: Elk Friendly crossings can be permanent or seasonal. The one in the foreground was built with labor provided by this grant and is seasonal as the pole may be removed and the wire put back to its usual height when cattle are present. The one in the background was put in on the landowners own initiative and provides a permanent crossing point. When elk are not pressured they seek out and use these crossings.

28 Table 1: Zumwalt Fencing Project Cost Share Detail Zumwalt Wildlife Friendly Fence 2013 ODFW A&H Landowner Fence Boundary/cross Total Cost Material Cost 50% Amount to Pay Rich Frasch 5280' new Fence Boundary/Shear $5, $2, $1, $1, Prairie Creek Holdings PO Box 622 Joseph, OR Triple Creek Ranch 5280' new Fence Boundary/Frasch $5, $2, $1, $1, Tucker Down Rd Joseph, OR Bret Witty 1-16 ft gate boundary $ $ $97.50 $ SE 1st Ave. 2000' new fence cross $1, $ $ $ Enterprise, OR TNC 5586' fence Along road $ $ 2, $ 1, $ 1, S. River Street 7 Crossings Along road Enterprise, OR gates Along road Casey Tippet 2640 Mile rebuilt fence $1, $1, $ $ PO Box 126 Enterprise, OR Doug young 1320 ft rebuilt fence $1, $1, $ $ SE Bellevue Pullman, WA TOTAL $14, $10, $5, $4,714.84

29 Table II: Landowner Contacts provided to ODFW and the public for permission to hunt Zumwalt Landowners to call about elk hunting opportunities Fall/Winter 2013 Ranch Name Contact Name Contact info 1 Birkmaier Ranch Tom & Kelly Birkmaier Tippet Ranch Casey Tippet The Nature Conservancy Justin Jones Witty Ranch Brett Witty Krebs Ranch Jim Zacharias jimz@jayzeelumber.com 7 Young Ranch Doug Young or Butterfield Ranch Tom Butterfield Triple Creek Ranch Scott Sheer Buckhorn Ranch Lloyd Loewen or Crow Creek Ranch Jeanne Lathrop (leave a message) Updated: September 4th, 2013 This is the current contact info for landowners who are willing to take calls from all interested hunters. Many other landowners will also allow hunting on their lands but do not wish to share their number publicly. Please keep in mind each ranch will have different abilities and parameters for access (#'s of people during each hunt, vehicles or not, etc) but all of these contacts are willing talk with hunters and will try and make hunting opportunities available. Early hunts may be limited due to the presence of cattle and/or fire danger