Field Office

Allotment Name

NumberAcres BLM

Initial S&G Cat.

Standards
Suspected Not Met

Reasons Not Met-Initial

Information Used for Initial Categorization

Alturas

McDonald Mountain

12,276

1

Riparian

7 riparian sites/streams reaches not in PFC.

12 riparian PFC assessments, trend and utilization.

Alturas

South McDonald

11,260

1

NA

1 riparian site/stream reach not in PFC

7 riparian PFC assessments, trend and utilization.

Alturas

West Beaver Creek

7,371

1

Riparian

2 riparian areas not in PFC, based on initial analysis.

Utilization and professional judgment.

Bakersfield

Canebrake

9,837

1

Riparian and Water Quality

past monitoring data indicated non-functioning stream reaches.

monitoring data, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Case Mountain

5,576

1

Riparian, Water Quality

summer grazing of unprotected springs and seeps. Potential impact to giant sequoias.

observations, monitoring, spring inventory data, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Chico Martinez

8,353

1

Species

uplands not functioning to support populations of SSS.

monitoring data, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Freedom Hill

2,278

1

Riparian

portion of Riparian not functioning

observations, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Goldpan Canyon

470

1,4

Riparian & Water Quality

summer grazing in stream, road encroachment

observations, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Kettleman Hills

4,193

1,4

Species

grazing and wildfire impacts to saltbush

past monitoring and observations, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Loco Bill Canyon

640

1

Riparian, Water Quality

summer grazing of unprotected intermittent stream.

monitoring data, observations, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Loraine

678

1,4

Riparian and Water Quality

summer grazing of unprotected intermittent stream and road encroachment of the stream.

observations, monitoring data, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Maricopa Range

5,364

1

species

saltbush scrub not meeting standards for habitat of SSS.

past monitoring and observations, professional judgment.

Bakersfield

North Fork River

5,653

1

Riparian and Water Quality

Summer grazing

monitoring data, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Oak Grove

2,841

1

Riparian, Water Quality

riparian veg at spring not functioning.

observations and professional judgment

Bakersfield

Old Arroyo

480

1,4

species

Fire and grazing not allowing native community to exist and support SSS.

past monitoring and observations, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Sand Canyon

2,702

1

Riparian

Riparian spring not functioning.

past monitoring photos, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Short Canyon

3,260

1

species

uplands not functioning or providing diverse wildlife populations.

observations, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Spanish Needle Creek

3,160

1

Riparian and Water Quality

heavy grazing?

past stream inventory data, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Studhorse Canyon

498

1

Riparian, Water Quality

Summer grazing in stream bed.

monitoring data, observations, professional judgment.

Bakersfield

Walker Pass West

14,566

1

Riparian

site functioning rating of previous data

1987 extensive stream inventory, professional judgment

Bakersfield

Washburn Ranch

8,190

1

Riparian

Riparian area on intermittant drainage not functioning.

professional judgment

Bakersfield

Western Minerals
Road

1,479

1

Species

upland not functioning to support SSS.

monitoring data, professional judgment.

Barstow

Ord Mountain

112,092

1

healthy, productive, diverse pop.

Livestock distribution problems resulting in localized, early and late season heavy utilization of key species. The cumulative effect of this historic and on-going practice has resulted in localized decadent, less productive, low diversity plant communities. Most of this allotment is located within designated critical habitat for desert tortoise. Current grazing practices may not be conducive or make positive progress towards recovery of the desert tortoise.

Professional judgment, rangeland monitoring, riparian PFC assessment.

Bishop

Aurora Canyon

17,832

1

Riparian and Water Quality

Water Quality: spring sites have physical and chemical degradation due to soil compaction and high nutrient loading from fecal material. No reliable water quality monitoring data has been collected. Riparian: 80-90% of 6 cross channel stream monitoring stations along 15 stream miles are either Static or Functioning at Risk. Riparian Indicators of: age class, structure and composition and stream shading are not being met.

Monitoring, initial water source inventory, ESI comparison and professional judgment.

Bishop

Bodie Mountain

46,547

1

Riparian, Water Quality and Soils.

Water Quality: spring sites have physical and chemical degradation due to soil compaction and high nutrient loading from fecal material. No reliable water quality monitoring data has been collected. Riparian: 65% of 14 cross channel stream monitoring stations along 19 stream miles are either Non-Functional or Functioning at Risk. Riparian Indicators of: cover, age class, structure and composition and stream shading are not being met. Soils: Erosion exceed acceptable levels adjacent to certain stream channels and some hummocking and plant pedestaling at wet meadows and spring areas.

Monitoring, initial water source inventory, ESI comparison and professional judgment.

Bishop

Hot Creek

6,203

1

Species & Water Quality

Water Quality: spring sites have physical & chemical degradation due to soil compaction & high nutrient loading from fecal material. No reliable water quality monitoring data has been collected. Species: decline in % composition of grasses, forbs & shrubs, high utilization levels on key species, and grazing before seed set in majority of allotment. Degraded condition of sage grouse & mule deer habitat.

Monitoring, initial water source inventory, ESI comparison & professional judgement.

Bishop

Laws

3,065

1

Riparian & Water Quality

Riparian: grazing of riparian vegetation, removal of vegetation to improve irrigation flows & livestock watering along 1 mile of man-made stream channel. Permittee was contacted a few years ago & CONDITIONS ARE MUCH IMPROVED since initial categorization. Allotment is not used on an annual basis. This allotment should be Cat. 2 by 1999 or 2000. Water Quality: Fecal contamination, increased sedimentation & channel alteration. No chemical sampling done.

Riparian PFC assessment & professional judgement

Bishop

Mormon Ranch

3,358

1

Water Quality

Location of 2 roads contributes to erosion/ sedimentation due to road maintenance/ use and storm events. Livestock is not a major contributor to the problem. Allotment should have been categorized as Cat. 4.

Professional judgement

Bishop

Sawmill Creek

2,082

1

Riparian & Water Quality

Riparian: grazing of riparian vegetation & livestock watering along 1/2 mile of stream reach. Permittee was contacted 2 years ago & CONDITIONS ARE MUCH IMPROVED since initial categorization. This allotment should be Cat. 2 by 1999 or 2000. Water Quality: fecal contamination, increased sedimentation & channel alteration. No chemical sampling done.

Riparian PFC assessment & professional judgement.

Bishop

Travertine Hills

8,467

1

Riparian & Water Quality

For both standards, the geomorphology, past erosion and grazing by cattle have degraded Hot Spring Canyon riparian & water quality conditions. It is believed that little can be done to reverse this and that conditions have stabilized. This allotment should have been categorized as Cat. 4.

Professional judgement & monitoring

Bishop

Wells Meadow

1,263

1

Species

Decline in % composition of grasses, forbs & shrubs, high utilization levels on key species, and grazing before seed set in majority of allotment. Degraded condition of mule deer habitat. Added factor is allotment is within crucial mule deer winter range and high amount of deer use, before & after livestock use period and bitterbrush habitat (key species) habitat is on very low end of precipitation requirements (avgs. 7" on site).

Monitoring, ESI comparison & professional judgement.

Bishop

Wilfred Creek

6,965

1

Species

Species: decline in % composition of grasses, forbs & shrubs, high utilization levels on key species, and grazing before seed set in majority of allotment. Degraded condition of sage grouse & mule deer habitat. Grazing impacts to sensitive plant List 1B species during peak growth period.

Monitoring, ESI comparison & professional judgement.

Eagle Lake

Chilcoot Community

3,040

1

Biodiversity, soils health

It is believed that annual spring grazing in the west pasture is preventing re-establishment of vigor of perennial grasses on approximately 240 acres, allowing the pre-existing dominant cheatgrass community to stay dominant. There is also a gully system in this pasture which would seem to indicate that the upper watershed has cover problems. BLM's hydrologist, however, suspects that the gully system was initiated by old wagon roads that lead to an abandoned homestead.

Draft allotment management evaluation, 1991. Honey Lake Grazing EIS, 1985. SSP species inventory - periodic.

Eagle Lake

Cottonwood

1,680

1,4

Riparian - Functioning at Risk

The only creek in the allotment (which is mostly private) has riparian impacts occurring which include livestock and juniper tree encroachment. There is some inventory and assessment work needed to determine if the aspen stand is healthy and sustainable.

Professional judgement, photo monitoring, aspen inventory, and PFC assessment.

Eagle Lake

Deep Cut

54,538

1,4

Biodiversity, Soils

High percent of cheatgrass, medusahead, and other weedy annuals in understory of some sage and rabbitbrush communities. Concerns over livestock impacts to soil structure on "vertisol" type soils.

Monitoring and professional judgement.

Eagle Lake

North Fort Sage

2,920

1,4

Riparian, Biodiversity

Primarily grazing use by wild horses in the mountainous areas (where the riparian is) and by cattle use in the flats (where the potential habitat for Astragalus geyeri and Loeflingia squarrosa var. art. is). Turns out that the riparian area where the standards are not met is not on public land. Regardless, we are entering into parnership with the permittee, landowner and Mule Deer Foundation to exclude the spring from seasonlong trampling and overuse by wild horses.

1982 and 1993 field notes and information maintained by the botanist.

Eagle Lake

North Horse Lake

24,300

1,4

Riparian, Upland Juniper Encroachment

Livestock and juniper encroachment impacts primarily on riparian areas (Pine Creek). 50% of riparian areas at risk but with an upward trend. Upland areas impacted by juniper overstory reducing desirable understory vegetation. Other areas where natural wildfire has been limited are in need of reducing or breaking up monotype big sage brush areas. Fire needed to stimulate native perennial plants.

Riparian and upland assessment, professional judgement and monitoring.

Eagle Lake

Pitchfork

40

1

Soils, Biodiversity

Allotment is unfenced from and grazed in conjunction with the lessee's surrounding 900 private acres. The authorization is for the spring, annually; however, in reality it is grazed as per the management of the lessee's private land. Allotment is slated for disposal by sale or exchange but so far, no takers.

1984 field notes. More current condition data is lacking, but it is unlikely the situation changed from the conditions observed in 1984.

Eagle Lake

Rice Canyon

11,520

1,4

Soils

Annual grasses (medusahead and cheatgrass) dominate about 30% of the allotment. An assessment needs to be done to determine if livestock are limiting recovery.

Professional judgement, monitoring.

Eagle Lake

Shaffer Mt.

25,752

1,4

Soils, Riparian

Impacts due to past heavy cattle concentration and erosion. Frequent wildfires and invasion of annuals are a major concern on the allotment. Annuals have displaced desirable perennials and are limiting seedling establishment.

Monitoring, photo history, RFA, and professional judgement.

Eagle Lake

Spanish Springs
AMP

6,986

1

Biodiversity

Excessive utilization in some years, livestock impacts to aspen communities are of concern.

Monitoring, and professional judgement, riparian PFC assessment.

Eagle Lake

Tablelands

16,052

1,4

Riparian and Soils

The major riparian area is 50-50% at risk and PFC. Medusahead infestation is limiting native perennial plants and soil health.

Monitoring, photo history, and professional judgement.

Eagle Lake

Twin Peaks

379,788

1,4

Riparian, Biodiversity, Soils

34 of 117 riparian sites not meeting riparian standard (livestock contributing to not meeting standards for 27 sites). High percent of cheatgrass and other weedy annuals in understory of some sage and rabbitbrush communities.

Riparian PFC assessment, professional judgement, monitoring. Biodiversity assessment, upland range health field assessment scheduled for 1999 field season.

Eagle Lake

Willow Creek

7,124

1,4

Soils, and Riparian

Annual grasses (medusahead and cheatgrass) dominate about 70% of the allotment. An assessment needs to be done to determine if livestock are limiting recovery.

Monitoring, long term photos, professional judgement, RFA assessment.

Folsom

Appling Estate

1,178

1

Riparian/wetland; Guidelines 3, 6, 8, and 11

See below.

Grazing utilization records, range condition and trend studies, soil and water resource assessments and inventories, riparian proper functioning condition (PFC) assessments, photographs, wildlife habitat information, vegetation studies, etc. Resource management specialists familiar with the on-the-ground situation in conjunction with the preceding information then recommended priorities for implementation or identified needs for further assessments.

Folsom

Bigelow

110

1

Guideline 6: sustain native populations & communit

Oak seedlings are not being established due to grazing impacts.

Grazing utilization records, range condition and trend studies, soil and water resource assessments and inventories, riparian proper functioning condition (PFC) assessments, photographs, wildlife habitat information, vegetation studies, etc. Resource management specialists familiar with the on-the-ground situation in conjunction with the preceding information then recommended priorities for implementation or identified needs for further assessments.

Folsom

Rapini, Delbert

140

1

Riparian/Wetland; Guidelines 3, 6, 8, 11, and 12

N/A

Grazing utilization records, range condition and trend studies, soil and water resource assessments and inventories, riparian proper functioning condition (PFC) assessments, photographs, wildlife habitat information, vegetation studies, etc. Resource management specialists familiar with the on-the-ground situation in conjuction with the preceding information then recommended priorities for implementation or identified needs for further assessments.

Hollister

Gates

1,511

1

Riparian

Reach of SB River w/o Willows

Professional Judgement

Redding

Dutch Gulch

1,661

1

Habitat

Unauthorized water diversion from small minor drainage (approx. 500' in length) causing decline in riparian vegetation. Also, there are four areas (less than 1/4 acre total) which tend to be over-utilized due to possible gathering activities.

Ongoing monitoring and professional judgement.

Ridgecrest

Lacey-Cactus-
McCloud

421,172

1

Fallback Standard 2: Riparian/ Wetland

Ridgecrest

Last Chance

70,000

1

N/A

N/A

Rangeland Health Assessment has not been conducted.

Surprise

Nevada Cowhead

38,460

1

Stream Function and Native Species

Portions of one intermittent stream believed to be functional-at-risk. Hot season cattle grazing effects on riparian vegetation and water quality conditions within the watershed of the Warner Sucker, a federally listed threatened fish species.

Utilization, actual use, riparian green-line, and professional judgement.

Surprise

Sand Creek

65,716

1

Stream Function, Native Species

Inappropriate width to depth ratio and lack of structural vegetation diversity on portions of one perennial, warm water stream which supports native fish populations.

Utilization, actual use, monitoring, and professional judgement.

Surprise

Selic Alaska

4,982

1

Riparian/Wetland

Cattle and sheep hot season grazing impacts on riparian habitat along two streams with the potential to support cold water fisheries.

Actual use, utilization, monitoring, and professional observation.

Surprise

Tuledad

143,307

1

Stream Function and Native Species

Portions of two intermittent drainages believed to be functional-at-risk. Some bitterbrush, aspen, and riparian communities are being impacted by livestock grazing which is affecting survival of native mule deer populations.

Utilization, professional judgement, and Cole browse monitoring in upland communities.

Surprise

Wall Canyon West

36,475

1

Stream Function and Native Species

Hot season cattle grazing effects on riparian vegetation and water quality conditions on one perennial, warm water stream with a known population of an undescribed (potentially unique) species of sucker (fish).

Utilization, actual use, monitoring, and professional judgement.