ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM Regional Advisory Council Project

Proposal Review ODFW Region / A&H Regional Council: Northwest / South Willamette Project Proposal Title: Lincoln County Forest Patrol Program Applicants(s): Lincoln County Solid Waste District Date of Council Review: February 24th, 2012 Type of Project: Access X Habitat Other Damage ____ Motion: Nels Jenson made a motion to accept the project as proposed, Rod Mossman seconded. Council Member Position Vote

Rich Owen Chairman Yes

Nels Jensen Landowner Representative Yes

Bill Harris Landowner Representative Yes

Gregg Munson Landowner Representative Absent

Rod Johnson Hunter Representative Yes

Rod Mossman Hunter Representative Yes

VACANT Hunter Representative VACANT

Disposition of Vote: Motion passed 5:0 Project Strengths:

• Project provides 300,000+ acres of hunting opportunity for a very reasonable cost (approximately $0.10 per acre).

• Strong cooperator match (almost 5:1 match in funding).

• Landowner contact names and numbers are available to hunters. Project Concerns:

• Council would like to know how much use the project area sees during hunting seasons.

• Council would like to see clearly marked access points on the project area.

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Background: (Describe the wildlife habitat and/or access challenge or opportunity this project will address.) Due to high incidences of trespassing, dumping, and other illegal activity, a group of private landowners in Lincoln County formed the Association of Concerned Landowners (ACL) to explore ways to prevent such activity while still keeping private lands open for recreational use. In 1994, the ACL, along with the Lincoln County Solid Waste District (the District), began providing funds to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office to provide a deputy whose role would be patrol of the lands held by members of the ACL. Currently, the salary and limited materials and services for the deputy in the field is split evenly between the District and the ACL. The Sheriff’s Office provides support by providing a vehicle and maintenance, uniform, training and other services. With the slowed economy, the District has lost about $50,000 in user fees and has drained reserve funding to support this and other vital programs. Without additional funding support the District will likely be unable to continue the forest enforcement program. Without an active deputy most, if not all, landowners would likely close their gates year-round, including during hunting seasons. Past History: (Describe any past Access & Habitat project, especially if the proposed project deals with the same objectives.) Submitted by ODFW: The forest deputy has been integral to the success of A&H-funded law enforcment programs in the region. The Alsea / Stott Mountain Private Lands Law Enforcement project was funded by A&H in 1994 and served as the foundation for today's Willamette Private Lands project. The 1994 project included A&H funding for the Lincoln County forest deputy. Since that time, the forest deputy has continued to work alongside ODFW and OSP to patrol private timberlands, help minimize garbarge dumping and vandelism, and keep these lands open for public hunting. In 2006, the Lincoln County Solid Waste District first requested A&H funds to continue the forest deputy program, which was no longer funded through Willamette Private Lands. The District was first granted funds from the Access & Habitat Program (A&H) for a one year period, beginning July 2006. The second request for five years of A&H funding was approved in 2007 and will end June 30, 2012. This grant allowed hunting (and other recreational activities) to occur on private timber land; helped increase awareness of the problems associated with illegal dumping, coordinated the cleanup of many of the worst dumping areas, and achieved very positive remarks from the general public. The District has had numerous comments from members of the ACL expressing satisfaction with the deputy and the services provided by him. Project Objective(s): (a) What is the objective of the proposed project? To ensure that 308,510 acres of privately held lands remain open to hunting and other recreational activities via protection from illegal activities provided by a full-time Forest Enforcement Officer (Lincoln County Sheriff).

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(b) How will the project benefit wildlife habitat and/or public access? Due to many factors, Lincoln County has had a high rate of illegal dumping, trespassing, and other issues on its private timberlands. As a result, the owners of the private lands suffer direct and indirect costs when they leave gates open for recreational activity. The presence of an enforcement deputy has provided a valuable solution to the problem. Although the illegal activity has not stopped completely, the landowners feel the program has resulted in abatement sufficient to justify permitting public access. (c) If damage related, how will the project alleviate/eliminate the problem? N/A Project Location: (Attach a map and provide description of the location and how to get there from a major highway.) The attached map encompasses all of Lincoln County, with affected areas shown. Procedure: Specifically describe how the project will be conducted--use separate page for additional information, drawings or pictures. The funds, if granted, will be used to support the Lincoln County Forest Patrol Program by assisting with the salary of the Forest Control Deputy. The deputy will patrol private lands, assist with the removal of illegal dump sites and abandoned vehicles, and pursue prosecution of persons caught using the lands for illegal activities. The deputy works directly with the District and the ACL, and coordinates with Oregon State Police, ODFW and other law enforcement personnel. The deputy patrols the designated lands year-round. 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) N/A Scheduling: What is the estimated project schedule? (a) Start Date: July 1, 2012 Completion Date: June 30, 2017 (b) List major project activities and time schedule for each. Activity Time (month/year)

The deputy will patrol private Year-round lands, focusing on high use and high-problem areas as identified by the land owners.

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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 Lincoln County Association of Monetary contribution, signs Concerned Landowners Lincoln County Sheriffs Office Vehicle, support services, administration Funding: (a) List other sources and amount of project funds (include in budget). Lincoln County Solid Waste District $40,170/year avg Association of Concerned Landowners $42,980/year avg Lincoln County Sheriffs Office $32,200/year avg (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. N/A Project Maintenance and Monitoring: (a) Who will maintain the project and fund long-term maintenance and/or operation if needed? Lincoln County Solid Waste District Association of Concerned Landowners Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (b) What element(s) of the project will be monitored, how often, for how long? The deputy will maintain a daily log of activities which is submitted monthly to the District See attached sample). The District distributes the log to the ACL, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, the Lincoln County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and other interested parties. The landowners communicate directly with the deputy regarding areas of high use/illegal activity.

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Project Cost Estimate (provide as much detail as possible)

Category A&H Funds Other Funds1

Total Cost

Administration Personnel Benefits @ ___% Total

Construction Materials2 Supplies & Services Towing $2000/year $2000/year Dump Fees $1000/year $1000/year Travel $600/year $600/year Uniform $450/year $450/year Repair & Cleaning $800/year $800/year

Continuing Education ___________ $250/year $250/year

Contract Services3 (itemize) Forest Deputy $30,000/year $85,250/year $110,150/year

Equipment4 (itemize) Patrol Vehicle $25,000/year $25,000/year

Access Payment

ANNUAL COSTS $30,000/ year $115,350 _$145,350 _

TOTAL COST $150,000 $576,750 $726,750 _ 1 List detail in funding (page 6). 2 Provide amounts and cost per unit. 3 Attach subcontractor estimates. 4 Individual pieces of equipment costing over $100.00.

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Project Name: Project #: 2012

"Welcome" Private 294,372By-Permission PrivateInaccessible Public*Accessible Public* 200,000

Instructions:

Access Only X XHabitat Only X XAccess & Habitat X X X

Definitions:

Inaccessible Public*:

Accessible Public*:

General Criteria (mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met)

1. Habitat Condition

Food: 1 1 n/a 1Water: 1 1 n/a 1Cover: 1 1 n/a 1Space: 1 1 n/a 1

2. Partnerships Partners contributing financial or in-kind support:1 or more Sports groups………………………………………………………….3 or more Sports groups………………………………………………………….Educational programs / non-governmental organizations……………………. 1Other government agencies or ODFW programs (i.e. OWEB, R&E)………. 1

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.

Habitat Category: 20Total Score:

Lincoln County Forest Protection

Complete these sectionsAccess Criteria

36(range: 1-6; see flow chart on page 4. Not applicable to access-only projects)

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.

Total Possible:

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.

Access and Habitat Program

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.

Project Type

Project Score

General Criteria

Habitat Criteria

Access Acres

Habitat Acres

n/a 1

* Access to public land MUST be provided on a "Welcome to Hunt" basis

1

Access Fee Assessment

Private Land

Inacc. Public

Acc. Public

Clearcuts and uneven-aged forestSeveral creeks/drainages/waterwaysDense forest and shrub/scrub habitatNearly 300,000 acres of forest habitat

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3. Matching Funds Total matching funds (monetary and in-kind)> 1% matching funds…………………………………………………………….. 1> 25% matching funds…………………………………………………………… 1> 50% matching funds…………………………………………………………… 1

4. Under-rep. Location* Project is in an under-represented watershed in the A&H Program …………………. 1 1 n/a 1

5. Under-rep. Species* Project provides access to under-represented species in the watershed……………. 1 1 n/a 1

6. Damage Project would mitigate current damage to private property:Wildlife damage occuring on private property…………………………………. 1Landowner participates in ODFW damage control programs………………..

7. Public Land Project located in Wildlife Management Unit with <50% public land………………….. 1 1 n/a 1

General Total 13 9 n/a 9General Possible 16 9 9 9

8. Private access Private land access type:Project would provide access to private land………………………………….. 1Private land access would be on a "Welcome to Hunt" basis………………. 1

9. Public access Access through private lands would:improve access to public land………..………....…………..……………….... 1provide access to otherwise inaccessible public land…………...……...…..

10.Special Access Project would provide special youth or disabled hunter access opportunities…………. 0 n/a 0

11.Species Permitted

2+ species groups available and permitted……….…………………………… 1 1 n/a 14+ species groups available and permitted……….…………………………… 0 n/a 0

12.Harvest Restriction Landowner would not restrict sex or species permitted for lawful harvest……………… 1 1 n/a 1

13.Season Restriction Landowner would not restrict access to any hunting season(s)……………………….. 1 1 n/a 1

14.Dispersion 1 1 n/a

Access Total 7 4 n/a 3Access Possible 10 6 6 5Payment Fee Total 13 n/a 12

Habitat Criteria (mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met)

15.Location importance:

Area populations < 90% of management objective (deer and elk)…………

Project will increase wintering populations of upland birds/waterfowl………

Area populations < 75% of management objective (deer and elk)………….

Project will increase breeding populations of upland birds/waterfowl………

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:

{

{

* lists of under-represented watersheds and species opportunities will be created by A&H state coordinator and approved by A&H Board

Project Score

Access Criteria - Applies to private land access that would be provided under the proposed project.

1 n/a

Access Fee Assessment

1

Project Score

(mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met)

or:

or:

Species groups include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, turkey, and predators/varmints.

Property would provide access to animals pushed off of publicly accessible land during hunting season………………………………………………………………………………..

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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

Project meets requirements of Habitat Categories 1-4………………………Project meets requirements of Habitat Categories 1-2………………………

18.Habitat Impact

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:

19.Population Impact

Local abundance of at least one game species should increase >25%......Local abundance of at least one game species should increase >50%......

Habitat Total 0Habitat Possible 10

Grand Total 20Total Possible 36

20.Miscellaneous

Post-treatment

Estimated Abundance

Describes the predicted impact that the habitat improvements (excluding external variables such as weather, etc.) will have on game animals on the project site. Provide estimates for all targeted species.

Describes the predicted impact that the project will have on the habitat. Habitat work must benefit game species.

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 Score

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

SpeciesPre-

treatment

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