Magone Project Final Environmental 

Impact Statement (FEIS)

Appendix C – Project Design Criteria

Blue Mountain Ranger District

Malheur National Forest
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FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Table of Contents

Project Design Criteria .................................................................................................................... 1

Attachment 1: Aquatic Design Features and Best Management Practices.................................... 18

Section A—General Water Drafting Guidance for Road Maintenance and Non-emergency Fire 

Use for Watersheds with Anadromous Fish in the Blue Mountain Tri-Forest Area................. 18

Section B—National Marine Fisheries Service Juvenile Fish Screen Criteria for Pump Intakes

................................................................................................................................................... 20

Definitions used in pump intake screen criteria .................................................................... 20

Pump Intake Screen Flow Criteria ........................................................................................ 20

Pump Intake Screen Mesh Material ...................................................................................... 20

Pump Intake Screen Location................................................................................................ 21

Pump Intake Screen Protection ............................................................................................. 21

Section C—Relevant Project Implementation Criteria for Road Maintenance Activities........ 21

Road Reshaping and Blading ................................................................................................ 21

Drainage Structure Maintenance ........................................................................................... 22

Ditch Relief Culvert Replacement, Installation, or Removal................................................ 23

Sign Maintenance and Construction...................................................................................... 23

Road Snag or Danger Tree Felling........................................................................................ 24

Logging Out .......................................................................................................................... 24

Roadside Brushing................................................................................................................. 25

Dust Abatement..................................................................................................................... 26

Snow Removal ...................................................................................................................... 26

Road Closures........................................................................................................................ 27

Material Sources.................................................................................................................... 28

Section D—Project Design Criteria (PDCs) Relevant to Aquatics Developed by Blue 

Mountain Ranger District Interdisciplinary Team .................................................................... 29

Project Design Criteria Relevant to All Project Elements..................................................... 29

Timber Felling....................................................................................................................... 29

Timber Yarding ..................................................................................................................... 30

Hauling .................................................................................................................................. 30

Fuels Treatments ................................................................................................................... 31

Temporary Road and Landing Construction ......................................................................... 31

Road Maintenance and New Road Construction................................................................... 32

Culvert Installation ................................................................................................................ 32

Road Decommissioning......................................................................................................... 33

“Fish Sticks” and “Fish Crib” Magone Lake Project Design Criteria................................... 33

Aquatic Restoration Decision Project Design Criteria for Livestock Crossings and 

Recreational Trail Crossings within Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Critical Habitat ......... 34

Section E—Best Management Practices................................................................................... 36

T-1 – Timber Sale Planning Process..................................................................................... 36

T-4 – Use of Sale Area Maps for Designating Water Quality Protection Needs .................. 36

T-7 – Streamside Management Unit Designations................................................................ 36

T-10 – Log Landing Location ............................................................................................... 37

T-11 – Tractor Skid Trail Location and Design .................................................................... 37

T-13 – Erosion Prevention Measures during Timber Sale Operations.................................. 37

T-18 – Erosion Control Structure Maintenance .................................................................... 37

T-19 – Acceptance of Timber Sale Erosion Control Measures before Sale Closure ............ 37

R-1 – General Guidelines for the Location and Design of Roads......................................... 38

R-2 – Erosion Control Plan ................................................................................................... 38
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R-3 – Timing of Construction Activities............................................................................... 38

R-6 and R-7 – Dispersion of Subsurface and Surface Drainage Associated with Roads...... 38

R-12 – Control of Construction in Streamside Management Units....................................... 38

R-18 – Maintenance of Roads............................................................................................... 38

R-19 – Road Surface Treatment to Prevent Loss of Material ............................................... 39

R-21 – Snow Removal Controls to Avoid Resource Damage............................................... 39

R-22 – Restoration of Borrow Pits and Quarries................................................................... 39

R-23 – Obliteration of Temporary Roads.............................................................................. 39

F-3 – Protection of Water Quality during Prescribed Fire Operations.................................. 39

W-5 – Cumulative Watershed Effects................................................................................... 40

Tables

Table C-1. Project design criteria to be applied during implementation......................................... 1
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Project Design Criteria

Project design criteria (PDCs) are an integral part of each action alternative and serve to mitigate impacts 

of activities on resource areas. In addition to best management practices and legal requirements, these 

measures would be applied during implementation (Table C-1).

Table C-1. Project design criteria to be applied during implementation

Botany

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

1 In areas where project activities may potentially adversely impact known sensitive 

plant populations, occupied locations will be designated as “areas-to-protect” 

(ATPs). These ATPs shall be protected from all ground-disturbing activities. This 

will be achieved by implementing a no ground disturbance buffer around each site 

of a size adequate to provide protection. Each buffered area will be determined 

based upon the site-specific setting, although a recommended standard is 100 

feet from the outside edge of the population. All off-road vehicles, trucks, and 

equipment shall avoid these areas. Decking, yarding, and piling and burning of 

slash, shall not occur in these areas. Camps and staging areas shall not be 

allowed. Fire control lines shall not be constructed in these areas. Aerial, hand or 

vehicle-based ignition of fire in these areas may be done in consultation with a 

botanist (this will depend upon the particular species expected response to fire). 

These ATPs shall be identified on sale maps and implementation plans. They may 

be also identified on the ground with flagging.

All known 

sensitive plant 

populations

2 A Forest Service botanist shall be consulted prior to implementation of activities 

within 200 feet of ATPs. The botanist may flag the site, and/or help lay out in the 

field the location of nearby skid trails, landings, and roads.

All known 

sensitive plant 

populations

3 A Forest Service botanist shall be consulted prior to implementation of prescribed 

burn treatments in units containing ATPs.

All known 

sensitive plant 

populations

4 Logging, non-commercial thinning with ground-based equipment, road 

construction, and operation of trucks, off-road vehicles, and heavy equipment 

shall generally not occur in wetlands, wet meadows, springs, seeps, or lithosols 

(scablands). Skid trails and landings shall not be constructed within, or at the 

interface of, lithosols (scablands) and forest edges. The main exception to these 

restrictions will be if it is determined that the activity will benefit a particular 

sensitive species. When a decision is made to operate in these areas, 

consultation with a botanist shall occur. If feasible, heavy equipment will only be 

used in such areas over snow or frozen ground.

All unique 

habitats

5 Decking, piling, and burning of slash piles shall not occur in non-forested 

openings, such as lithosols (scablands), meadows, wetlands, springs, and seeps. 

Lopping and scattering of slash, broadcast burning, and burning of lopped slash 

under cool, wet conditions shall be allowed in these areas.

All unique 

habitats

6 Pre-implementation monitoring of selected high probability habitats for sensitive 

plants may be conducted in specific areas of proposed activities.

Sensitive plants 

and unique 

habitats

7 If any new sensitive plant populations are located before, or during project 

implementation, a Forest Service botanist will be notified. The population will be 

evaluated, and a mitigation plan shall be developed in consultation with the 

botanist.

Sensitive plants 

and unique 

habitats

8 The integrity of unique habitats shall be maintained. Unique habitats include 

meadows, rimrock, talus slopes, cliffs, animal dens, wallows, bogs, seeps and 

springs. This shall be accomplished by incorporating cover buffers approximately 

100 feet in width. Utilize additional mitigations/enhancement measures identified 

All unique 

habitats
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Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

through project level analysis (Malheur Forest Plan Forest-wide Standard 56).

9 When conducting prescribed burning in areas with Pacific yew, the crew should

use tactics to minimize fire severity in those areas. All efforts will be made to keep 

mortality of yew trees to a minimum. Before implementation of burning in areas 

with high concentrations of yew, the fuels specialist shall consult with a botanist to 

allow the opportunity to participate in the burning, and/or to conduct monitoring of 

populations.

Prescribed 

burning in areas 

with Pacific yew

10 Newly planted areas should be protected from animals and activities that may 

prevent or retard establishment. This may include building fences, piling slash, 

closing areas to vehicles, and/or temporarily changing grazing regimes.

Revegetated 

areas

11 Native plant materials are the first choice in revegetation for restoration and 

rehabilitation where timely natural regeneration of the native plant community is 

not likely to occur. Non-native, non-invasive plant species may be used in any of 

the following situations: 1) when needed in emergency conditions to protect basic 

resource values (e.g., soil stability, water quality and to help prevent the 

establishment of invasive species), 2) as an interim, non-persistent measure 

designed to aid in the re-establishment of native plants, 3) if native plant materials 

are not available, or 4) in permanently altered plant communities. Under no 

circumstances will non-native invasive plant species be used for revegetation.

Revegetated 

areas

Non-native invasive plants 

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

12 To prevent the introduction and proliferation of invasive plants and to protect 

sensitive plants, sensitive plant habitat, and general plant habitat from competition, 

the following standards from the Pacific Northwest Region Invasive Plant Program: 

Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants Record of Decision (USDA Forest Service, 

Sept. 2005) will be incorporated into all action alternatives, project implementation 

plans, and contracts.

Prevention Standard 1: Prevention of invasive plant introduction, establishment and 

spread will be addressed in watershed analysis; roads analysis; fire and fuels 

management plans, Burned Area Emergency Recovery Plans; emergency wildland 

fire situation analysis; wildland fire implementation plans; grazing allotment 

management plans, recreation management plans, vegetation management plans, 

and other land management assessments.

Prevention Standard 2: Actions conducted or authorized by written permit by the 

Forest Service that will operate outside the limits of the road prism (including public 

works and service contracts), require the cleaning of all heavy equipment (bulldozers, 

skidders, graders, backhoes, dump trucks, etc.) prior to entering National Forest 

System Lands.

Prevention Standard 3: Use weed-free straw and mulch for all projects, conducted 

or authorized by the Forest Service, on National Forest System Lands. If State 

certified straw and/or mulch is not available, individual Forests should require 

sources certified to be weed free using the North American Weed Free Forage 

Program standards, or a similar certification process.

Prevention Standard 4: Use only pelletized or certified weed free feed on all 

National Forest System lands. If state certified weed free feed is not available, 

individual Forests should require feed certified to be weed free using North American 

Weed Free Forage Program standards or a similar certification process. Choose 

weed-free project staging areas, livestock and packhorse corrals, and trailheads.

Note: No prevention standard 5.

Prevention Standard 6: Use available administrative mechanisms to incorporate 

invasive plant prevention practices into rangeland management. Examples of 

Non-native 

invasive plants
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

administrative mechanisms include, but are not limited to, revising permits and 

grazing allotment management plans, providing annual operating instructions, and 

adaptive management. Plan and implement practices in cooperation with the grazing 

permit holder.

Prevention Standard 7: Inspect active gravel, fill, sand stockpiles, quarry sites, and 

borrow material for invasive plants before use and transport. Treat or require 

treatment of infested sources before any use of pit material. Use only gravel, fill, 

sand, and rock that is judged to be weed free by District or Forest weed specialists.

Prevention Standard 8: Conduct road blading, brushing and ditch cleaning in areas 

with high concentrations of invasive plants in consultation with District or Forest-level 

invasive plant specialists, incorporate invasive plant prevention practices as 

appropriate.

13 When it is deemed necessary to help reestablish native vegetation, and to prevent 

non-native invasive species infestations, seeding and/or planting of native plants 

shall be implemented after ground disturbing activities. Areas that may need 

treatment include log decks, staging areas, landing zones, temporary roads; slash 

piles, skid trails, decommissioned roads, and any other disturbed site. A Forest 

Service botanist, or revegetation specialist, shall be consulted to prescribe 

appropriate seed mixes, sowing guidelines, and provide assistance with application, 

protection, and cultivation of seeds and plants.

Revegetation 

with native plants

14 Conduct road blading, brushing, and ditch cleaning in areas with high concentrations 

of targeted non-native invasive plants in consultation with invasive plant specialist

and incorporate non-native invasive plant species prevention practices as 

appropriate.

Road 

maintenance 

activities

15 Ensure all equipment and vehicles used on National Forest lands are cleaned and 

free of targeted non-native invasive plant material and seeds. Notify the Forest 

Service prior to moving each piece of equipment onto National Forest Lands or when 

moving between units by identifying the location of the most recent operations. Upon 

request of the Forest Service, arrangements would be made for inspection of each 

piece of equipment. Contractor and Forest Service shall agree on locations of 

cleaning and control of off-site impacts, if any.

All equipment 

and vehicles 

used on NFS 

lands

16 Targeted non-native invasive plants that are known to spread due to burning should

be appropriately treated prior to prescribed burning. Direct burning through these 

areas would be avoided. Avoid ignition and burning in areas at high risk for targeted 

non-native invasive plant establishment or spread due to fire effects.

Prescribed 

burning

17 Minimize soil disturbance to no more than needed to meet vegetation management 

objectives

All project 

activities

Range

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

18 Range, fire specialist, and permittees would coordinate activities including scheduling 

of burning activities in grazing units.

Prescribed 

burning

19 Use the Forest Post-Fire Interim Grazing Guidelines to aid in determining when to 

resume grazing after prescribed burning is complete.

Prescribed 

burning

20 Whenever possible, units to be rested would be burned in the spring of the year to be 

rested or in the fall prior to the rest year.

Prescribed 

burning

21 The permittee has the option to exclude cattle grazing from those portions of a 

pasture that were burned through the use of fencing and could continue to graze the 

unburned areas of a unit.

Prescribed 

burning

22 All existing structural range improvements (fences, gates, spring developments, etc.) Silviculture and 
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

and permanent ecological plots would be contractually protected. If these structural 

improvements are damaged during project operations they would be repaired to 

Forest Service standards prior to livestock scheduled use by the party responsible for 

causing the damage.

prescribed 

burning

23 Fence right of ways (6 feet either side of fence), trails, other developments and 

access to them would be cleared of slash produced by logging or post-sale activities.

Silviculture and 

prescribed 

burning

24 If structural improvements are damaged during project operations they would be 

repaired to Forest Service standards prior to livestock scheduled use by the party 

responsible for causing the damage.

All project 

activities

25 Fences cut during the timber sale operations would be repaired by the party 

responsible for cutting them and would be repaired according to Forest Service 

standards.

All project 

activities

26 Actions that result in roads being closed for any period of time, even if detours are 

present, need to be coordinated with the Blue Mountain Ranger District (BMRD) 

range program to ensure adequate passage for the purpose of livestock 

management and activities associated with FS-2200-10: term grazing permit.

Permanent and 

temporary road 

closures

27 No structural improvements associated with livestock grazing will be removed, 

modified, excluded, or otherwise acted upon that would result in a change of livestock 

management.

All project 

activities

28 Construction of fencing for the purpose of protection of a resource will be coordinated 

with the BMRD range program and will not result in loss of grazing land in such a 

manner that the contractual obligations between the Forest Service and a term 

grazing permit holder require modification or are no longer able to be achieved.

Fence 

construction

29 Fences constructed for the purpose of aspen protection, hardwood planting 

protection, and other restoration activities will not be responsibility of the livestock 

grazing permit holder to maintain or preserve. The area enclosed within these fences 

will not be considered excluded from livestock grazing and no permit action or 

adaptive management action will be taken against a permittee if livestock 

unintentionally access a fenced area that is designated for restoration.

Fence 

construction

30 All structural improvements constructed will be done so in accordance with guidance 

from General Technical Report PNW-GTR-250 (Sanderson et al.1990) and the 

expertise of a Rangeland Management Specialist.

Rangeland 

structural 

improvements

Visuals

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

31 Unit design and layout – general requirements applicable to all foreground and 

middleground areas:

 In order to blend treatment units and create free-form vegetation patterns that 

mimic natural patterns, straight lines and geometric shapes for unit boundaries 

should be avoided or minimized.

 Tree or shrub islands of various shapes and sizes would be retained in a random 

distribution pattern where possible, to provide a characteristic vegetation 

appearance while meeting objectives for fuel reduction and bark-beetle risk 

reduction.

This PDC applies to the portions of the following units that intersect the foreground 

and middleground areas:

Alternative 2 units: 101, 103, 107, 109, 115, 117, 121, 123, 125, 127, 131, 133, 135, 

139, 141, 143, 147, 151, 153, 157, 159, 161, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 179, 181, 

183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 211, 213, 215, 265, 267, 269, 

Harvest activities
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

271, 273, 283, 285, 289, 321, 419, 421, 425, 427, 431 R, 433 R, 435, 437 R, 439, 

441, 443, 450, 452, 454, 455, 456, 458, 460 R, 481 R, 482 R, 497, 499, 501, 503, 

516, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, 530, 585 R, 586 R, 587 R, 589, 591 R, 615, 617, 619, 

621, 623, 625, 627, 629, 631, 633, 635, 637, 639, 641, 649, 653, 655, 661, 663, 665, 

669, 2045 PROG, 2055 PROG, 4001 R, 4007 R, and 4009 R.

Alternative 3 units: 101, 103, 107, 109, 115, 117, 121, 123, 125, 127, 131, 133, 135, 

139, 141, 143, 147, 151, 153, 157, 159, 161, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 179, 181, 

183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 211, 213, 215, 265, 267, 269, 

271, 273, 283, 285, 289, 291, 321, 419, 421, 425, 427, 431 R, 433 R, 435, 437 R, 

439, 441, 443, 450, 452, 454, 455, 456, 458, 460 R, 481 R, 482 R, 497, 499, 501, 

503, 519, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, 530, 585 R, 586 R, 587 R, 589, 591 R, 615, 617, 

619, 621, 623, 625, 627, 629, 631, 633, 635, 637, 639, 641, 649, 653, 655, 661, 663, 

665, 669, 705, 707, 733, 734, 735, 736, 737, 741, 743 R, 745, 746, 747, 749, 755 R, 

759, 761, 763, 765, 767, 769, 774, 775, 776 R, 777, 778, 779, 780, 782 R, 784, 785, 

787, 791, 831, 2045 PROG, 2055 PROG, 4001 R, 4007 R, and 4009 R.

Alternative 4 units: 101, 103, 107, 115, 121, 127, 131, 139, 141, 143, 147, 151, 153, 

159, 161, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 191, 199, 201, 203, 

205, 207, 211, 213, 265, 267, 269, 271, 273, 285, 289, 321, 421, 425, 427, 439, 441, 

443, 455, 497, 499, 501, 503, 615, 617, 619, 621, 623, 625, 627, 629, 631, 633, 635, 

639, 641, 649, 653, 655, 661, 663, 665, 669, and 831.

Responsible: Layout crew, sale administrator

32 Management Area 14 immediate foreground design and layout – specific 

requirements:

 The following design features are specific to treatment areas that fall within the 

immediate foreground of visual corridors or recreation sites. The immediate

foreground is 150 feet from the visual/scenic corridor center point (road, lake or 

trail) into the project planning area or 150 feet on either side of a recreation site. 

The following design features apply to the first 150 feet unless otherwise stated:

 If necessary, unburned slash in the foreground area should be scattered to reduce 

the color contrast of any exposed soil at burn-pile sites.

 On slopes facing the road/lake/trail, slash piles would be placed 50 feet or more 

away from the road/lake/trail where practicable to reduce visual impacts. Slash 

within 150 feet of the road should be removed, grapple-piled and burned, or handpiled and burned.

 If after one year pile-burned sites are visible from the road/lake/trail, reburning, 

scattering, covering with natural duff, or masticating burned piles should be 

accomplished in order to minimize visual impact of management activities. 

 Where marking paint can be seen, it is to be applied to the side of the tree facing 

away from the road/lake/trail. Flagging and signs that are visible from the 

road/river/trail should be removed upon completion of the harvest unit activities.

 Stumps should be cut flush or close to the ground where practicable and always 

within 6 inches of the ground on the uphill side.

 The number of landings along Forest Roads 3618, 3620, and County Road 18 

should be kept to a minimum. Landing size should be minimized and landings 

should be shaped to blend with the contours of the landscape to maintain visual 

standards. Use established openings or old landings where possible. Natural 

vegetation should be retained between the landing and the road to serve as 

vegetative screening where practical and not in conflict with WUI objectives.

 Prior to harvest, the locations and clearing for all temporary roads and landings 

within 150 feet of Forest Roads 3618, 3620 and County Road 18 will be reviewed 

by a landscape architect or recreation specialist. Harvest activities in this zone must 

maintain a partial retention (slightly altered) visual objective. The ground 

disturbance must be minimal and the size and number of landings in the zone must 

be minimized. If the burning of the landing piles in this zone would cause more than 

20 percent tree mortality surrounding the piles, consider either chipping or hauling 

Harvest activities, 

landings, skid 

trails, and 

prescribed 

burning
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

6

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

the slash to a disposal area should be considered.

 Landings and skid trails should be returned to their original/natural profile, with no 

continuous berms or soil piles left behind. This does not preclude the use of water 

bars to reduce erosion on skid trails. Landings and skid trails should be revegetated with native grasses and forbs to protect soils and watershed processes.

 Landings and skid trails should be returned to their original/natural profile, with no 

continuous berms or soil piles left behind. This does not preclude the use of water 

bars to reduce erosion on skid trails.

 Landings and skid trails should be re-vegetated with local, native grasses and forbs 

to enhance skip and gap structure, protect soils, and watershed processes.

 Where practical minimize skid trails and roads located perpendicular to the road in 

order to minimize the forest visitor’s direct views into landings. Avoid placing skid 

trails within 100 feet of the road where practical. 

 Harvest units within the immediate foreground shall have a mosaic of stocking 

levels and tree sizes will be retained. Abrupt transitions between thinned and 

unthinned stands should be avoided in the foreground.

 Burning prescriptions in visual foreground areas should be developed to produce 

low intensity fire, minimizing damage to the larger-diameter overstory trees. Those 

trees greater than 21 inches DBH within 200 feet of the road/lake/trail would be 

protected from high intensity flames that could cause mortality. This protection 

could include such activities as raking needles away from the base of trees or 

wetting down the area around the tree prior to ignition. Burning intensities will be 

controlled by ignition methods and techniques to retain a minimum of 80 percent of 

the live crowns. Isolated small trees within a stand of larger trees may end up 

having less than 80 percent of the live crown remaining.

 No marking paint should be applied within the Magone Lake Recreation Area if 

applicable, if not apply marking paint to the backside of the tree out of view from the 

lake and Forest Roads 3618 and 3620 and County Road 18.

 Shall provide signing that is minimal and low key by avoiding shiny or metallic 

materials and bright or white colors.

This PDC applies to the portions of the following units that are located 150 feet from 

the visual/scenic corridor center point (road, lake or trail) or 150 feet on either side of 

a recreation site:

Alternative 2 units: 101, 103, 107, 109, 117, 121, 125, 127, 131, 133, 139, 141, 143, 

147, 151, 153, 157, 159, 161, 165, 167, 169, 173, 175, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 

191, 199, 203, 205, 207, 267, 283, 285, 427, 431 R, 433 R, 435, 437 R, 441, 443, 

455, 458, 497, 621, 625, 633, 637, 639, 663, 665, and 2045 PROG.

Alternative 3 units: 101, 103, 109, 117, 121, 125, 127, 131, 133, 139, 141, 143, 147, 

151, 153, 157, 159, 161, 165, 167, 169, 173, 175, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 

199, 203, 205, 207, 267, 283, 285, 291, 427, 431 R, 433 R, 435, 437 R, 441, 443, 

455, 458, 497, 621, 625, 633, 637, 639, 663, 665, 777, 831, and 2045 PROG.

Alternative 4 units: 101, 103, 107, 121, 127, 131, 139, 141, 143, 147, 151, 153, 159, 

161, 165, 167, 169, 173, 175, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 191, 199, 203, 205, 207, 267, 

285, 427, 441, 443, 455, 497, 621, 625, 633, 639, 663, 665, and 831.

Responsible: Layout crew, sale administrator

33 Design and install facilities that are:

 Simple and durable in nature, adequate for the intended function, and devoid of 

unnecessary frills and personal preference options.

 Cost-efficient both from the standpoint of initial installation and continued operation 

and maintenance.

 In close harmony with the surrounding environment.

 Safe to use and in conformance with all applicable standards.

 Suitable for both traditional and nontraditional users.

Facility 

installation
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

 In compliance with the authorities at FSM 2330.12 setting out Federal and agency 

requirements related to the accessibility and design of recreation programs, sites, 

and facilities.

Design facilities so that they are as natural, simple, and unobtrusive as possible. 

Design and build rustic-looking facilities so that they become part of the attraction.

Recreation

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

34 Protect water lines at Magone Lake Recreation Area.

35 Protect fencing and trees around and within the springs at Township 12 South, 

Range 32 East, section 16 off Forest Service Road 3600-015 and 3600-102.

36 The integrity of established dispersed campsites shall be preserved. Placement of 

landings should only occur at established dispersed campsites when no other 

allowable option exists.

37 To maintain the natural appearances of the setting and maintain Recreation 

Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) norms:

After trail construction as soon as practicable, restore areas impacted of vegetation 

as a result of project activities.

Maintain natural features in the landscape such as tree clumping and large trees 

when construction or alteration of trails.

To the extent possible, provide for curvature in trail layout and alignment so that the 

rider can experience views and surrounding landscape.

38 To meet the following Designed Use and Trail Class standards for a paved path on 

the east side of Magone Lake:

Designed use: Hiker/Pedestrian1

Trail Class 5, Fully Developed

Tread wide, firm, stable, and generally uniform

Width generally accommodates two-lane and two-directional travel, or provided 

frequent passing turnouts if not a two-lane.

Commonly hardened with asphalt or other imported material 

Utilize FS Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG) and Forest 

Service Trails Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG)2

Prohibit recreational use of motorized vehicles and equestrian use on all paved trail 

section. Allow motorized wheelchairs or mobility devices3 on the paved path in 

pursuant to 36 CFR 212.1.

 

1 Designed use: The managed use of a trail that requires the most demanding design, construction, and maintenance 

parameters and that, in conjunction with the applicable trail class, determines which design parameters will apply to 

a trail.

2 The FSTAG apply only to trails that meet all three of the following criteria: 1) The trail is new or altered. An 

alteration to a trail is a change in the original purpose, intent, or function for which the trail was designed. 2) The 

trail has a designed-use (in accordance with the Forest Service trails terminology, design and management 

processes) for hiker/pedestrian use. 3) The trail connects either directly to a trailhead or to a currently accessible 

trail.

3 A wheelchair or mobility device, including one that is battery-powered, is a device that is designed solely for use 

by a mobility-impaired person for locomotion and that is suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area (Title V, sec. 

507c, of the ADA; 36 CFR 212.1). “Designed solely for use by a mobility-impaired person for locomotion” means 
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

8

Soils

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

39 Keep soil impacts as small as practical (as determined by the line officer), especially 

long-lasting impacts; and keep detrimental soil impacts from this project to less than 

20% of the area of each unit.

All ground 

disturbing 

activities

40 For harvesting with low ground pressure harvesters and forwarders, the following 

design elements apply:

 Forwarders shall have a maximum of 12.0 pounds/square inch.

 Forwarder trails shall be spaced a minimum of 50 feet apart, center to 

center.

 The machinery will be operated only when the soil is not wet. (For 

forwarders “wet” means when ruts would be 3 inches or deeper on a 

continuous 50 feet or more of forwarder trails.)

The machinery will be operated only on slopes of 35% or less, except for short 

distances.

Logging and 

biomass

41 No heavy equipment shall be allowed on inclusions of highly erodible soil. “Inclusions 

of highly erodible soil” generally means areas larger than 50 feet diameter, and either 

1) steeper than 30%, with less than 75% ground cover, 2) 20-30% slope with less 

than 50% ground cover, or 3) 10-20% slope with less than 25% ground cover. A 

Forest Service soils specialist can approve exceptions (either stricter or less strict). 

Inclusions of highly erodible soil probably occur in units 219, 615, and others.

Logging and 

biomass

42 Grapple piling and mastication shall be done with low ground pressure (< 8.5 psi) 

machinery on dry, frozen, or snow covered soil, and machinery will stay on existing 

skid trails where possible. “Dry” means July through September, or obviously dry in 

the top 4 inches during other months. “Frozen” means frozen to a depth of 4 inches 

or more. “Snow covered” means sufficient snow strength and depth to prevent soil 

disturbance and compaction.

Logging and 

biomass activities 

(grapple piling)

43 Slash shall not be dozer piled, unless the soil scientist determines that Forest Plan 

soil quality standards would be met.

Slash treatment

44 Skid trail locations shall be designated and approved prior to logging. On areas 

where existing skid trails spaced 100-140 feet apart can be reused, reuse the old skid 

trails. Otherwise, space skid trails about 120 feet apart where practical, using existing 

skid trails where possible and appropriate. Skid trails should average less than 14 

feet wide.

Skid trails

45 Draw bottoms are not appropriate for skidding or forwarding. If the only way to log a 

particular part of a unit is to skid in the draw bottom, that part of the unit will be 

excluded from harvest. This may affect parts of units 169, 197, 199, 229, 277, 619, 

778, 793, 798, and others.

Skid or forwarder 

trails

46 Avoid downhill skidding or forwarding on slopes steeper than 35%, where feasible, 

using directional felling and tractor winching. There shall be no downhill skidding or 

forwarding on slopes steeper than 44% for more than 40 feet.

Logging and 

biomass activities

47 Avoid skidding or forwarding uphill for more than 40 feet on slopes steeper than 35%. Logging and 

biomass activities

48 No skidding will be done under wet soil conditions, when ruts 6 inches or deeper 

would form on a continuous 50 feet or more of skid trails. This includes places with 

moist soil, probably including parts of units 643, 703, and others.

Logging and 

biomass activities 

(skidding)

49 No skidding or forwarding would be allowed in moist meadows unless approved by a Logging and 

 

that the wheelchair was designed and manufactured solely for use for mobility by a person with a disability. Thus, 

this term does not include a motorized unit that has been retrofitted to make it usable by a person with a disability.

“Suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area” means usable inside home, mall, courthouse, or other indoor 

pedestrian area.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

9

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

soil scientist or hydrologist. biomass activities

50 Re-use existing landings where feasible and where they are away from shallow soil 

areas and ephemeral draws unless approved by a hydrologist, soil scientist, or 

fisheries biologist.

Landings

51 Skidders or forwarders shall not be allowed off trails unless the soil is frozen or other 

conditions approved by a soil scientist. Directional felling and/or winching shall be 

used when necessary. Low ground-pressure equipment (<8.5 pounds per square 

inch) can be allowed off skid trails under, dry, frozen, or snow covered conditions.

Logging and 

biomass activities

52 Runoff and erosion from skid trails, skyline corridors, and tractor-winch furrows shall 

be controlled by the use of cross drains or comparable measures. Outfalls of the 

cross drains shall be clear and located on soil where water will infiltrate, not on 

shallow or impermeable soil. Cross drains on skid trails should be spaced 

appropriately for the terrain.

Logging and 

biomass activities

53 Erosion from subsoiled skid or forwarder trails shall be controlled by subsoiling in a 

“J” pattern, by water bars, or by comparable measures. If runoff cannot be diverted 

out of the furrows (such as in draw bottoms), do not subsoil. Skid trails on slopes 

steeper than 28% should not be subsoiled. Do not subsoil sections of skid trails 

where excessive rock will be pulled to the surface.

Logging and 

biomass activities

54 For units 239 (alternatives 2 and 3), 617 (alternatives 2, 3, and 4), 653 (alternatives 

2, 3, and 4), 703 (alternative 3), 723 (alternative 3), and 795 (alternative 3), either (a) 

they shall be logged with a low ground-pressure forwarder-harvester system, or (b) 

they shall not have biomass removal, except at the time of logging, with the same 

equipment, or (c) they shall be logged on snow covered or frozen soil.

Logging and 

biomass activities

55 For unit 615 (alternatives 2, 3, and 4) either (a) it shall not have biomass removal, 

except at the time of logging, with the same equipment, or (b) it shall logged on snow 

covered or frozen soil.

Logging and 

biomass activities

56 For units 230 (alternatives 2, 3, and 4) and 603 (alternatives 2, 3, and 4), either (a) 

they shall be logged on snow covered or frozen soil, or (b) skid trails shall be 

subsoiled by the purchaser, or (c) they shall be logged with a low ground-pressure 

forwarder-harvester system. In addition, for options (b) or (c) no biomass harvest 

shall be allowed on these units unless it is done at the same time as the logging, 

using the same equipment.

Logging and 

biomass activities

57 For units 179 (alternatives 2, 3, and 4) and 241 (alternatives 2, 3, and 4), either 

(a) they shall be logged on snow covered or frozen soil, or (b) skidtrails shall be 

subsoiled by the purchaser. In addition, for option (b) no biomass harvest shall be 

allowed on these units unless it is done at the same time as the logging, using the 

same equipment.

Logging and 

biomass activities

58 Heavy equipment shall not be used more than 10 feet off roads during juniper

removal, except in stands with a commercial thinning prescription.

Juniper removal

59 Prescribed fire control lines shall not be built down draw bottoms. Prescribed 

burning

60 Slash piles shall not cover more than 5 percent of any unit. Pile burning

61 Temporary roads in scabs shall not be steeper than 6%. They shall be constructed 

and used only when the soil is obviously dry to a depth of 10 inches or throughout the 

profile (whichever is less), or frozen, or protected by snow. After use, 4 inches of 

slash shall be placed at outfall of waterbars, and slash shall be scattered on the 

surface of the road. Exceptions can be approved in advance by a soil scientist or 

hydrologist.

Temporary road 

construction
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

10

Heritage

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

62 The archaeological sites within the Magone project planning area that are eligible or 

potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) will 

be protected from adverse impacts caused by timber, fuels reduction, precommercial 

thinning, and aquatic actions.

Other management actions that may have potential to adversely impact 

archaeological sites will be assessed on a case by case basis. A report will be 

generated and submitted to SHPO for review and concurrence.

All project 

activities

63 If during project activities cultural material is encountered, all work will cease 

immediately and a Forest Service archaeologist contacted to evaluate the inadvertent 

discovery. A mitigation plan, if needed, will be developed in consultation with the 

Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

All project 

activities

64 A “No Effect” determination will apply in those areas where sites and commercial 

logging activities coincide if the sites are avoided completely or over-snow logging 

protocols are implemented then refer to attached Appendix B.

Harvest activities

65 There will be no slash piling to exceed 4 x 4 x 4 feet in size, either by hand or groundbased machines, within site boundaries. Burning of slash is preferred to be 

conducted outside site boundaries. If burning of slash is necessary, however, the 

project lead must check with the archaeologist / heritage specialist for concurrence 

regarding historic sites, rare isolates, and / or features.

Harvest activities

66 All eligible and potentially eligible (unevaluated) historic properties with structural 

remains or other combustible feature types will be avoided / protected during all 

burning activities. Eligible historic remains will be identified on the ground and proper 

protection measures will be conducted during the burning activities.

Prescribed 

burning

67 Low intensity burning that will have no effect on pre-contact lithic assemblages is 

permitted under the terms of the Management Strategy for the Treatment of Lithic 

Scatter Sites (Keyser et al. 1988).

Prescribed 

burning

68 Landings will not be located within 100 feet of known cultural resource sites. Landings

69 All units or proposed land treatments that require fencing to facilitate aspen 

restoration and, that also contain eligible or potentially eligible sites, will utilize above 

ground buck and pole fencing in order to avoid potential adverse effects to the sites.

Aspen restoration

70 All aspen units that contain and / or are adjacent to eligible and unevaluated 

archaeological sites will be monitored during and / or after project implementation. 

These units are identified. Please notify the project archaeologist prior to 

implementation.

Aspen restoration

Silviculture

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

71 No direct ignition will occur in plantations until mean tree size is at least 7.0 inches 

DBH.

All plantations

Wildlife

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

72 Raptors: If an occupied bald or golden eagle nest is found within the project 

planning area, management activities would be prohibited within 1⁄2 mile of the nest 

from March 15th – July 15th. In addition, a nest stand would be delineated to protect 

nest site structure and no management activities would take place in or within 500 

All project 

activities
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

11

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

feet of designated nest stands.

73 Raptors: If an occupied Peregrine falcon nest is found within the project planning 

area, management activities within 1⁄4 mile of the nest would be prohibited from April 

1st – August 31st.

All project 

activities

74 Raptors: There is one designated northern goshawk PFA within the project planning 

area. No activities are allowed within northern goshawk PFAs or within 1⁄2 mile of 

occupied goshawk nest sites from April 1st -Sept 30. No timing restrictions apply to 

unoccupied nest sites.

All project 

activities

75 Raptors: The district wildlife biologist will be consulted if any raptor nest is 

discovered prior to or during project implementation. Nests will be flagged and a 1⁄4 

mile disturbance buffer will be designated until species determination is validated. In 

addition, a nest stand will be delineated to protect nest site structure. Determination 

of restrictive periods and activity buffers will be species-specific and based upon 

current Forest and Regional guidance.

All project 

activities

76 Project Management Restrictions for Raptors

Wildlife 

resource

Timing—all 

activities 

prohibited

Timing 

restriction 

buffer—

activities 

prohibited

Timing—

activities 

permitted

Management 

restriction for all 

activities

Northern 

goshawk nest 

sites

Activities 

prohibited: 

April 01 –

Sept 30

Within 1⁄2 mile 

of nest site

Activities 

can occur: 

October 1-

March 31

No habitat removal 

within 30-acre nest 

stands or 

designated nest 

stands

Occupied 

raptor nest 

sites 

(excluding 

eagles and 

great grey 

owls)

Activities 

prohibited: 

March 01-

July 31

Within 660 

feet (1/4 mile)

Activities 

can occur:

August 1-

February 28

No management 

activities (i.e.,

thinning) within 

100 feet of nest 

sites

All project 

activities

77 Big game: Activities will be restricted, on a site-specific basis, from December 1 –

April 15, in areas with known concentrated winter range use.

Areas with known 

concentrated big 

game winter 

range use

78 Big game: Where possible, provide screening / hiding cover >150 feet from existing 

road corridors.

Areas within 150 

feet of existing 

roads

79 Big game: Any fence construction or replacement will incorporate protective design 

modifications for wildlife following BMRD wildlife fencing guidelines (i.e., smooth 

bottom wire, total height <42 inches).

Fencing activities

80 Snags and downed wood / old growth: Please see ‘Wildlife Habitat Requirements’ 

in Silviculture Prescription Section.

Harvest activities

81 Snags and downed wood / old growth: No treatments will occur in Dedicated Old 

Growth stands

All project 

activities

82 Snags and downed wood / old growth: Treatments in Replacement Old Growth 

stands will be such that old-growth characteristics will be achieved quicker or 

enhanced in that stand.

Harvest activities

83 Snags and downed wood / old growth: Snags will not be targeted for removal All project 
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

12

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

unless identified as a safety hazard. Hazard snags felled will be left on site and 

stumped as high as possible to alleviate the safety hazard.

activities

84 Roads: Effectively close or obliterate all temporary roads created for project entry. 

Subsoil or utilize excavator bucket teeth to loosen compacted soils on all temporary 

roads. Pull slash and woody materials over treated surfaces to establish effective 

ground cover protection, where available. Reseed with native vegetation where 

possible.

Temporary roads

85 Roads: Ensure previously closed roads and new road closure proposals become 

effectively closed in Management Area 4a to protect wintering big game and winter 

range habitat.

Road closures

86 Mechanical treatments (harvest and precommercial thinning): Horizontal hiding 

cover will be provided by retaining non-thinned patches of forest trees as necessary 

throughout the project planning area and on relatively flat topography. Leave 5-25% 

of the area untreated in patches of 1-10 acres. Patches in larger units may be 

greater than 10 acres in size. These patches should not be near the boundary of 

private land or roads. Wherever possible, align cover patches with designated 

connectivity corridors, particularly in larger treatment units. Leave patches must

contain satisfactory to marginal cover to be considered effective leave patches.

Harvest activities

87 Mechanical treatments (harvest and precommercial thinning): Please see 

‘Wildlife Habitat Requirements’ in Silviculture Prescription Section for additional 

information.

Harvest activities

88 Prescribed burning (underburning and pile burning): Underburn units will be 

designed to include areas of similar fuels conditions using trails and roads as 

boundaries, wherever possible, to reduce resource damage from fireline 

construction.

Prescribed 

burning

89 Prescribed burning (underburning and pile burning): To protect riparian wildlife 

habitat, direction ignition in riparian corridors would take place only when needed for 

prescribed burning control and containment and in relation to site-specific riparian 

restoration treatments. Fire may be allowed to back into riparian areas with the 

objective of maintaining a minimum of 40-50% of the shrub layer to meet migratory 

bird objectives.

Prescribed 

burning

90 Prescribed burning (underburning and pile burning): Individual burn blocks, 

located in riparian areas, larger than 500 contiguous acres will require a wildlife 

biologist’s input to ensure that wildlife objectives such as big game forage for winter 

range and neo-tropical migratory bird objectives are being met.

Prescribed 

burning

91 Prescribed burning (underburning and pile burning): Prescribed burning will be 

‘fall only’ in riparian zones, except for site-specific riparian restoration treatment 

areas.

Prescribed 

burning

92 Prescribed burning (underburning and pile burning): Burn crews would watch 

for signs of calving and fawning areas (such as lone animals, fawns, or calves; May 

1 –June 30). If it is determined that the burn unit could be in fawning or calving 

areas, crews would search the immediate area for calves/fawns and avoid lighting 

where young are discovered.

Prescribed 

burning

93 Prescribed burning (underburning and pile burning): Avoid ignition within 50 feet 

of standing dead trees (12 inch DBH or greater) and 100 feet of designated wildlife 

trees.

Prescribed 

burning

94 Prescribed burning (underburning and pile burning): Burning prescriptions in 

designated connectivity corridors will be designed to produce low intensity fire, 

minimizing damage to large diameter overstory trees.

Prescribed 

burning

95 Prescribed burning (underburning and pile burning): In order to protect habitat 

for old-growth dependent species, limited pile burning (in a mosaic) in OFMS stands 

adjacent to designated DOGs and ROGs. Some piles (maximum of 6 feet by 6 feet) 

Prescribed 

burning
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

13

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

will be kept intact and unburned to increase wildlife habitat (for pine marten, small

mammals, etc.)

96 Prescribed burning (underburning and pile burning): Prescribed burning within 

aspen stands will be site-specific, but may include the following to protect wildlife 

habitat:

 Burning within aspen stands will be avoided if extensive aspen suckering is 

already present.

 Direct ignition in aspen stands on a case-by-case basis and for pile burning 

only.

 If direct ignition occurs with underburning, the stand must be fenced and wildlife 

breeding season restrictions will be established. 

To improve stand health and productivity, competing conifers will be removed and 

the stand will be fenced whenever possible (preferably fall burning).

Prescribed 

burning

97 Connectivity: Connectivity corridors established between late and old structure 

(LOS) stands and between designated MA13 “Old Growth” (as per LRMP direction) 

would be maintained to meet Forest Plan Amendment # 2. Amendment # 2 directs 

maintenance of connectivity between LOS habitats to allow free movement old 

growth-related wildlife species.

All project 

activities

98 Connectivity: As per Forest Plan Amendment #2 (connectivity corridors) 

“...manage canopy closure at the upper 1/3 of site potential. Corridors must be at 

least 400 feet wide at their narrowest point.”

All project 

activities

99 Connectivity: Where LOS stands do not exist and connectivity is not required, 

connectivity will be created and maintained to facilitate big game movement across 

large treated landscapes.

All project 

activities

100 If a waiver is requested to operate outside of the timelines and restrictions as 

described in the above measures, the District Wildlife Biologist and District Ranger 

will be consulted prior to approval.

All project 

activities

Aquatic Resources

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

101 See Attachment 1 for aquatic project design features. All project 

activities

Watershed

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

102 Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) for Category 1, 2, and 4 streams and 

for Category 3 and 4 wetlands shall be consistent with PACFISH (100-300 foot 

standard buffer widths).

All project 

activities

103 The General Water Quality Best Management Practices, Pacific Northwest Region, 

November 1988 (USDA Forest Service 1988) and the National Best Management 

Practices for Water Quality Management on National Forest System Lands, Vol. 1: 

National Core BMP Technical Guide (2012) shall be applied to project activities. Full 

descriptions of each BMP may be found in the Attachment 1, Section E.

All project 

activities

104 PACFISH standards and guidelines shall be applied to project activities. Timber 

Management, Roads Management, and Fire/Fuels Management standards and 

guides apply to this project.

Harvest activities, 

prescribed 

burning, and 

roads activities
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

14

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

105 Trees felled within or into RHCAs (including danger trees and those felled for road 

construction/reconstruction and landings, and aspen restoration) shall be felled into 

streams where feasible to provide LWD or left within the RHCA in accordance with 

PACFISH Standard RA-2 because streams in the aquatics analysis area are 

deficient in LWD. Felled trees may be removed by self-loading log trucks (from 

roads) or tracked excavators or similar equipment and transported off-site for use in 

aquatic restoration projects as determined by a MNF aquatics specialist. Where 

feasible, trees to be felled shall be pushed over with rootwad intact, rather than 

cutting (unless felled as part of riparian thinning treatments).

Trees felled 

within or into 

RHCAs

106 The Forest Service will require a Hazardous Substances Plan and Prevention of Oil 

Spill Plan from contractor which will be reviewed and approved prior to 

implementation activities. Fuels and other toxicants shall not be stored within 

RHCAs, and other provisions of PACFISH Standard RA-4 shall be implemented.

Equipment use

107 Heavy equipment and machinery shall be inspected for hydraulic or other leaks 

before working near RHCAs. Leaking or faulty equipment will not be used. 

Equipment with accumulations of oil, grease, or other toxic materials will be cleaned 

in pre-approved sites outside RHCAs.

Equipment use

108 The work period for instream work on fish-bearing streams shall be July 15 through 

August 15, as specified in the Oregon Guidelines for Timing of In-Water Work to 

Protect Fish and Wildlife Resources, June 2008. Conduct In-stream activities shall 

be conducted during dry-field conditions – low to moderate soil moisture levels. See 

Soils PDCs for definition of dry conditions. [The work period for instream work, 

including road decommissioning within or immediately adjacent to the active 

channel will be July 15 through August 15, as specified in the Oregon Guidelines for 

Timing of In-Water Work to Protect Fish and Wildlife Resources, June 2008.]

All project 

activities

109 Heavy equipment, except for instream or related work, shall not be used in RHCAs 

and road vehicles shall not be used off road within 100 feet of streams, springs, or 

wetlands. Heavy equipment used for road construction, reconstruction, and 

decommissioning shall operate within the prism of the road or of the prism of the 

road under construction. Heavy equipment used for aquatic restoration activities 

shall follow appropriate Project Design Criteria included in the Aquatic Restoration 

Biological Opinion II.

Heavy equipment 

use

110 Placement of the new culverts would be consistent with Region 6 fish passage 

guidance and in accordance with the Regional General Permit issued by the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers. Minimization measures for fisheries, watershed function, 

water quality, and soil conditions include those identified in the National Marine 

Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) 2013 Aquatic 

Restoration Programmatic Biological Opinion version 2 (ARBO) as well as PDCs 

developed by the Blue Mountain Ranger District interdisciplinary team.

Culvert 

placement

111 Product haul shall occur during the Commercial Use Period (June 1 – January 15), 

unless otherwise authorized by the Forest Engineer. The Commercial Use Period is 

intended to prevent weather-related road damage, but actual field conditions may 

necessitate suspending haul to prevent road damage at any time. Product haul is 

also limited to conditions that will not result in Resource Damage, as described in 

the June 2009 Malheur National Forest Commercial Road Use Rules (CRUR).

Haul

112 The Design Elements included in the Malheur National Forest Timber Haul 

Guidelines shall be applied. 

 During product haul, weather conditions are monitored daily for the chance of 

precipitation by the Timber Sale Administrator, Hydrologist or Fish Biologist.

 During product haul, road conditions shall be monitored by the Timber Sale 

Administrator daily for indications of Road Distress, defined in the CRUR as 

visible road conditions that occur as a result of road use, or a combination of 

road use and weather, which indicate that damage to a road or the adjacent 

resources may occur under existing conditions. Examples of indicators include, 

Haul
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

15

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

but are not limited to, excessive dust, compromised or improper functioning 

road drainage, muddy ditch water, mud tracked onto asphalt or aggregate 

surfaced roads, and significant distortions of the road surface such as tracks, 

ruts, potholes, washboarding, asphalt cracking or settling.

 When the Timber Sale Administrator observes indications of Road Distress, 

one or more of the following actions would be taken: 1) perform maintenance 

work (including installation of additional erosion control materials); 2) change 

method of operations; 3) strengthen road surface to avoid damage; or 4) 

suspend operations until conditions change.

 Haul will cease at any time when the travelway of the road is wet and turbid 

water or fines are observed moving off the road surface to ditchlines that deliver 

to stream channels regardless of time of year.

 Timber haul on gravel and native-surface roads will be limited to dry and/or 

frozen conditions.

 During product haul on native-surface roads, the road surface at all approaches 

to stream crossings will be rocked to maintain as close to an 8-inch lift as the 

travelway width allows, for a distance of 100 feet on either side of the stream. 

This action will lead to a reduction in sediment delivery.

 Prior to annual haul, mitigations will be implemented to minimize sediment 

delivery to critical habitat for MCR steelhead and Columbia River bull trout. 

Examples of mitigation measures will include but are not limited to sediment 

fences or certified weed free straw bales in ditch lines and mulching.

 Apply mitigation and BMPs for dust abatement (water) during dry conditions, as 

directed by physical scientist or road engineer.

Roads exempt from haul restrictions (due to no mechanism for sediment delivery) 

include paved roads, surfaced ridge top roads, surfaced outsloped roads with no 

ditch or stream crossings, and any roads while hauling over snow or frozen 

conditions.

113 Utilize erosion control measures (sediment filters or certified weed free straw bales) 

and operate machinery only on road prism during road construction and 

reconstruction activities.

All project 

activities

114 Locate temporary roads outside sediment delivery zones (determined by soil type, 

ground vegetation, and slope), meet best management practices for controlling 

surface runoff and erosion, and keep machinery on approved roadway.

Temporary road 

construction

115 Obliterate temporary roads by some combination of the following: recontouring 

slopes (removing cut and fill slopes); subsoiling (loosening) compacted soils in a “J” 

pattern to a depth of 16 inches (unless prevented by bedrock or rock content of 

soils); pulling berm; pulling slash (where available); planting or seeding disturbed 

areas with native species that naturally occur in the project planning area to achieve 

a minimum of 35% ground cover; restoring natural drainage patterns and 

waterbarring as needed; and/or disguising the first hundred yards of travel way with 

large pieces of organic material such as cull logs and tops of trees. Methods will be 

determined in consultation with a hydrologist, fisheries biologist, or soil scientist.

Temporary road 

construction

116 The Malheur National Forest guidance for removing culverts and re-shaping stream 

crossings shall be followed for road decommissioning or storm-proofing of closed 

roads. (Obtain approval from district fisheries biologist and hydrologist on specific 

methods for removing culverts from first or second order streams.)

Culvert 

placement

117 Erosion control measures (sediment filters or certified weed free straw bales) shall 

be applied during road decommissioning and machinery shall be operated only on 

road prism during road decommissioning.

Road 

decommissioning

118 Roads shall be decommissioned using the following practices or a combination of 

the following: recontouring slopes (removing cut and fill slopes); subsoiling 

(loosening) compacted soils in a “J” pattern to a depth of 16 inches (unless 

Road 

decommissioning
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

16

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

prevented by bedrock or rock content of soils); pulling berm; pulling slash (where 

available); planting or seeding disturbed areas with native species that naturally 

occur in the project planning area to achieve a minimum of 35% ground cover; 

restoring natural drainage patterns and waterbarring as needed; disguising the first 

hundred yards of travel way with large pieces of organic material such as cull logs 

and tops of trees or by other practices that shall be approved in advance by the 

project a hydrologist, fisheries biologist, or soil scientist. Methods shall be 

determined in consultation with a hydrologist, fisheries biologist, or soil scientist. 

(Road decommissioning would be completed in accordance with the Regional 

General Permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Minimization 

measures for fisheries, watershed function, water quality, and soil conditions include 

those identified in the NMFS and FWS 2013 ARBO as well as PDCs developed by 

the Blue Mountain Ranger District interdisciplinary team.)

119 Road decommissioning and road stormproofing on closed roads shall be conducted 

during dry-field conditions – low to moderate soil moisture levels. See Soils Design 

Criteria for definition of dry conditions.

Road 

decommissioning

120 Timber harvest units, including skid trails and landings, shall not be located within 

RHCAs unless approved in advance by the project hydrologist or fish biologist.

Designated crossings of Category IV streams shall be approved in advance by the 

project hydrologist, fish biologist or soil scientist.

Harvest

121 Ephemeral draws shall be protected by site-determined, no commercial (or 

biomass) cut buffers (10-50 feet on each side). Small trees, commonly referred to as 

precommercial or non-commercial, may be thinned within ephemeral draw buffers; 

thinned small trees shall be left in the draws up to a maximum fuel loading 

(approximately 8-15 tons/acre) determined by the project fuels specialist.

Ephemeral stream channels should have protections to minimize equipment 

disturbance of duff and soil, and should not be used as skid trails, landing sites, or 

as road locations. Ephemeral draws, not within RHCAs, are to meet the following 

down wood requirements to reduce risk of upward migration and channel initiation: 

retain all wood embedded in the soil; retain at least 5 pieces of wood >12 inches 

diameter and >20 feet in length per 1,000 feet of draw bottom (average 1 piece per 

200 feet); retain at least 20 pieces of wood >6 inches diameter and >10 feet in 

length per 1,000 feet of draw bottom (average 1 piece per 50 feet). Ephemeral 

draws with a gradient of 5% or more will need to be visited by the hydrologist to 

determine if any additional site specific mitigation is required.

Harvest

122 Heavy equipment shall be permitted only at designated crossings within the 

ephemeral draw buffer.

Harvest

123 Skyline yarding corridors (sky roads) are permitted across streams and tailholds, 

including heavy equipment that is “walked” in, may be located within RHCAs with 

approval of the project hydrologist or fish biologist. Corridors shall be less than 12 

feet wide, spaced greater than 100 feet apart where they cross the streams, be 

located as close to perpendicular to the channel as possible, and can range from 

350 to 1000 feet in length.

Harvest

124 Skyline logging shall use one end suspension at the minimum. Logs shall be fully 

suspended over streams.

Harvest

125 Skyline corridors shall not be located in ephemeral draws. Skyline corridors that 

cross ephemeral draws at less (or more) than an approximate perpendicular angle 

shall be approved in advance by the project hydrologist or soil scientist.

Harvest

126 Ignition of underburning may occur in RHCAs but ignition shall not occur within 25 

feet of the edge of the stream channel; fire may be allowed to back into riparian 

areas.

Fuels treatments

127 Firelines shall not be constructed within RHCAs except fireline may be constructed 

by hand within RHCAs where needed to control burning near sensitive areas and 

Fuels treatments
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

17

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

private property.

128 Waterbars shall be installed on fireline for each 10 feet of elevation change due to 

the widespread occurrence of soils that tend to channel overland flow when 

disturbed. Utilize natural barriers such as existing roads and streams when 

constructing fireline. Machine fireline shall be rehabilitated to a natural state after 

use. Fireline construction shall not occur down draw bottoms or on sensitive soils 

(see Botany Design Criteria).

Fuels treatments

129 Grapple piling shall not be located within RHCAs. Fuels treatments

130 Felled trees from juniper thinning activities shall be left in place or re-oriented to 

slow overland flow unless fuel loading objectives are likely to be exceeded.

Fuels treatments

131 The project hydrologist or soil scientist shall approve drainage and soil stabilization 

measures for new trail locations and (engineering) designs, prior to implementation.

The project hydrologist or soil scientist shall approve selection and application of

Watershed Best Management Practices for trail maintenance and relocation and 

design and implementation of other recreation-related activities including 

improvements at Magone Lake Recreation Area in advance.

Trail construction

132 There shall be no measureable loss in stream side shade within the project planning 

area from fence construction on fishbearing streams. If a measurable reduction in 

stream shade cannot be avoided, the project will be designed to obtain recovery of 

stream side shade within an approximate five year period, including the use of 

riparian plantings.

All project 

activities

Fuels

Project 

design 

criteria 

number

Project design criteria description Applies to

133 Control lines used for prescribed fire will be located along natural barriers such as 

roads or other areas where fire can no longer spread due to a lack of burnable 

vegetation. Firelines may be constructed by hand or machine to prevent fire from 

entering sensitive areas or non-Forest Service land. Firelines will be rehabilitated to 

a natural state and water barred as needed.

All areas with 

prescribed 

burning
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

18

Attachment 1: Aquatic Design Features and Best 

Management Practices

Section A: This section includes provides guidance for water drafting activities mainly associated with 

road maintenance and non-emergency fire suppression activities in the Blue Mountain Tri-Forest area 

(Umatilla, Malheur, and Wallowa Whitman National Forests). The goal is to create an understandable and 

workable protocol that will allow water drafting to occur while avoiding or minimizing risks to 

Endangered Species Act-listed fish.

Section B: This section includes criteria that serve as an addendum to current National Marine Fisheries 

Service gravity intake juvenile fish screen criteria. These criteria apply to new pump intake screens and 

existing inadequate pump intake screens, as determined by fisheries agencies with project jurisdiction 

Section C: This section includes road maintenance activities and the relevant project implementation 

criteria described in the Malheur National Forest Road Maintenance Program Biological Assessment.

Section D: This section includes aquatics project design criteria developed by the Blue Mountain Ranger 

District interdisciplinary team.

Section E: This section describes key best management practices that have been selected.

Section A—General Water Drafting Guidance for Road 

Maintenance and Non-emergency Fire Use for Watersheds with 

Anadromous Fish in the Blue Mountain Tri-Forest Area

Within the Blue Mountain Tri-Forest area (Malheur National Forest, Umatilla National Forest, and 

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest), water drafting regularly occurs to accomplish road maintenance 

activities as well as control fires. Because of the wide distribution of Endangered Species Act (ESA)-

listed anadromous salmonids within the Tri-Forest area, and frequency of drafting water for Federal 

activities, there is potential for water drafting activities interfering with ESA listed anadromous 

salmonids. This is particularly true in northeast Oregon where streams used for water are small and 

support ESA-listed anadromous salmonids.

Water drafting for road maintenance activities can happen at any time of the year, though the largest water 

withdrawals typically occur in spring. Water is used to soften soil for road shaping, grading, and rocking. 

These activities usually involve tanker trucks ranging from 500 gallons to 3,500 gallons which fill their 

tanks from local surface water sources and distribute water on roads as they drive. Most tankers used for 

this application are equipped with power take off (PTO) pumps which are powered by the vehicles 

engine. PTO pumps for these types of tankers typically range from about 150 gallons per minute (gpm) 

(approximately 0.3 cubic feet per second (cfs)) to about 550 gpm (approximately 1.2 cfs) and are often 

not capable of varying pump rates. Because these types of pumps are capable of removing large volumes 

of water at high rates, and streams available for water drafting are often small, it is important to avoid or 

minimize the potential to harm or harass ESA-listed anadromous salmonids.

Water drafting for prescribed fire use can vary from use of small pumps (less than 40 gpm/0.1 cfs) for 

direct use with hoses to larger pumps as described above for filling tanks or water tenders.

Regardless of pump rate, physical damage to redds, spawning adults, or juveniles can occur from 

incorrect placement of water drafting equipment. Proper equipment handling and placement in sensitive 

areas is important to reduce the likelihood of direct harm of ESA-listed anadromous salmonids.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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This document provides guidance for water drafting activities mainly associated with road maintenance 

and non-emergency fire suppression activities in the Blue Mountain Tri-Forest area (Umatilla, Malheur, 

and Wallowa Whitman National Forests). The goal is to create an understandable and workable protocol 

that will allow water drafting to occur while avoiding or minimizing risks to ESA-listed fish.

The following guidance is intended to minimize or avoid adverse effects to listed fish in the Blue 

Mountain Tri-Forest area when engaging in water drafting activities. As with any activity, site specific or 

project specific information may require more stringent or relaxed criteria to avoid adverse effects. In 

addition, compliance with these criteria may not minimize adverse effects to avoid take of listed fish in all 

cases, and therefore does not preclude the need for consultation. Projects will be reviewed on a case by 

case basis to ensure that guidance is reasonable, prudent, and adequately avoids or minimizes adverse 

effects to listed species.

1. Any intake used for drafting water will be screened according to National Marine Fisheries 

Service Juvenile Fish Screen Criteria for Pump Intakes for salmonid fry (see Section B).

2. Non-stream water (i.e., ponds) sources will be used prior to the use of stream sources whenever 

feasible.

3. When non-stream sources are unavailable, streams with the greatest flow will be used whenever 

feasible.

4. Water withdrawal will not reduce stream flow by more than 1/10th. In order to accomplish the 

lowest reduction of flow from marginal water sources (sources in which water drafting will 

reduce flows by more than 5 percent), the lowest drafting rate on pumps that have adjustable draft 

rates, and the smallest volume tender appropriate for the project will be used. Whenever feasible, 

marginal water sources will be avoided.

5. During drafting, streams will be monitored for reduced flows. If a flow concern is identified, 

operators will reduce pumping rates to ensure that flow reduction is not more than 1/10th of the 

existing stream flow is being removed or discontinue drafting.

6. If marginal water sources are used, withdrawal from single marginal sites will be limited to 

18,000 gallons per day.

7. No more than one high-volume pump per site will be used, except sites in which the use of 

multiple pumps will not measurably decrease stream flows.

8. To avoid disturbing fish that may be spawning, No drafting will occur from any pools which 

contain adult salmonids.

9. Operators will avoid direct effects to redds or pre-emergence alevins by placing the intake hose in 

the deepest part of a drafting pool (where redds are unlikely to be present) and will avoid placing

equipment on areas that redds are known or suspected to be. Operators will also ensure that 

tailout areas of pools that are known or suspected to have redds will not be dewatered.

10. Blading, shaping, aggregate placement, and dust control should be performed in spring and early 

summer when flows are high, to take advantage of available road soil moisture content to 

minimize the need for water drafting. Exceptions during the low-flow period will be limited to 

roads receiving heavy summer through fall traffic creating hazardous road surface conditions that 

require maintenance for human safety reasons. Essential maintenance during low-flow conditions 

will be deferred, when possible, until fall precipitation reduces the need for water drafting. Spring 

and fall blading and shaping will minimize demands for water usage, will minimize dust 

production, and will reduce sediment generated from surface erosion.

11. National Marine Fisheries Service may periodically review drafting activities to ensure that these 

measures are adequate for the protection of listed fish.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Section B—National Marine Fisheries Service Juvenile Fish 

Screen Criteria for Pump Intakes

The following criteria serve as an addendum to current National Marine Fisheries Service gravity intake 

juvenile fish screen criteria. These criteria apply to new pump intake screens and existing inadequate 

pump intake screens, as determined by fisheries agencies with project jurisdiction.

Developed by:

National Marine Fisheries Service

Environmental & Technical Services Division

Portland, Oregon

May 9, 1996

Definitions used in pump intake screen criteria

Pump intake screens are defined as screening devices attached directly to a pressurized diversion intake 

pipe. Effective screen area is calculated by subtracting screen area occluded by structural members from 

the total screen area. Screen mesh opening is the narrowest opening in screen mesh. Approach velocity is 

the calculated velocity component perpendicular to the screen face. Sweeping velocity is the flow velocity 

component parallel to the screen face with the pump turned off.

Active pump intake screens are equipped with a cleaning system with proven cleaning capability, and are 

cleaned as frequently as necessary to keep the screens clean. Passive pump intake screens have no 

cleaning system and should only be used when the debris load is expected to be low, and:

1. if a small screen (less than 1 cfs pump) is over-sized to eliminate debris impingement, and

2. where sufficient sweeping velocity exists to eliminate debris build-up on the screen surface, and

3. if the maximum diverted flow is less than 0.01 percent of the total minimum streamflow, or

4. the intake is deep in a reservoir, away from the shoreline.

Pump Intake Screen Flow Criteria

The minimum effective screen area in square feet for an active pump intake screen is calculated by 

dividing the maximum flow rate in cubic feet per second (cfs) by an approach velocity of 0.4 feet per 

second (fps). The minimum effective screen area in square feet for a passive pump intake screen is 

calculated by dividing the maximum flow rate in cfs by an approach velocity of 0.2 fps. Certain site 

conditions may allow for a waiver of the 0.2 fps approach velocity criteria and allow a passive screen to 

be installed using 0.4 fps as implementation criteria. These cases will be considered on a site-by-site basis 

by the fisheries agencies.

If fry-sized salmonids (i.e., less than 60 millimeter fork length) are not ever present at the site and larger 

juvenile salmonids are present (as determined by agency biologists), approach velocity shall not exceed 

0.8 fps for active pump intake screens, or 0.4 fps for passive pump intake screens. The allowable flow 

should be distributed to achieve uniform approach velocity (plus or minus 10 percent) over the entire 

screen area. Additional screen area or flow baffling may be required to account for designs with nonuniform approach velocity.

Pump Intake Screen Mesh Material

Screen mesh openings shall not exceed 3/32 inch (2.38 millimeters) for woven wire or perforated plate 

screens, or 0.0689 inches (1.75 millimeters) for profile wire screens, with a minimum 27 percent open 
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

21

area. If fry-sized salmonids are never present at the site (by determination of agency biologists) screen 

mesh openings shall not exceed 1/4 inch (6.35 millimeters) for woven wire, perforated plate screens, or 

profile wire screens, with a minimum of 40 percent open area.

Screen mesh material and support structure shall work in tandem to be sufficiently durable to withstand 

the rigors of the installation site. No gaps greater than 3/32 inch shall exist in any type screen mesh or at 

points of mesh attachment. Special mesh materials that inhibit aquatic growth may be required at some 

sites.

Pump Intake Screen Location

When possible, pump intake screens shall be placed in locations with sufficient sweeping velocity to 

sweep away debris removed from the screen face. Pump intake screens shall be submerged to a depth of 

at least one screen radius below the minimum water surface, with a minimum of one screen radius 

clearance between screen surfaces and adjacent natural or constructed features. A clear escape route 

should exist for fish that approach the intake volitionally or otherwise. For example, if a pump intake is 

located off of the river (such as in an intake lagoon), a conventional open channel screen should be 

considered, placed in the channel or at the edge of the river. Intakes in reservoirs should be as deep as 

practical, to reduce the numbers of juvenile salmonids that approach the intake. Adverse alterations to 

riverine habitat shall be minimized.

Pump Intake Screen Protection

Pump intake screens shall be protected from heavy debris, icing and other conditions that may 

compromise screen integrity. Protection can be provided by using log booms, trash racks or mechanisms 

for removing the intake from the river during adverse conditions. An inspection and maintenance plan for 

the pump intake screen is required, to ensure that the screen is operating as designed per these criteria.

Section C—Relevant Project Implementation Criteria for Road 

Maintenance Activities

The following road maintenance activities and the relevant project implementation criteria were described 

in the Malheur National Forest Road Maintenance Program Biological Assessment and are contained in: 

National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2010. Endangered Species Act –

Section 7 Informal Consultation and MSA Essential Fish Habitat Consultation for the Malheur National 

Forest Road Maintenance Activities 2010-2015 – dated January 4, 2010.

Road Reshaping and Blading

Forest roads can be hydrologically connected to fish bearing waters. Precipitation and snow melt can 

create runoff that, in turn, can create sediment depositions and delivery to those hydrologically connected 

roads and streams. Maintenance of the road prisms and the water flow controls incorporated in the 

roadways are vital to minimizing the deterioration of the ability of the water controls to keep sediment 

from entering stream systems. Reshaping road surfacing is intended to remove irregularities from the road 

surface, which can cause the concentration of runoff in amounts, which result in soil and aggregate 

displacement through rills, ruts, and pot holes. Maintenance Level III and IV roads open to travel on an 

annual basis and possessing crushed aggregate in the base or surface are shaped at least once a year if 

funding is available.

Road maintenance activities occur primarily from April 15 to November 1 depending on the actual 

condition of the road and the moisture level. If rutting will occur, the standard practice is to delay 

maintenance until the road is dry enough to allow equipment to the site without damaging the road. These 
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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activities within riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) including bull trout and steelhead waters 

will be completed during the appropriate instream work window. Proposals to work outside this window 

will be reviewed by Malheur National Forest fisheries biologist and or hydrologist prior to taking action.

Design Criteria

 Side casting of materials will not occur where these materials could be directly or indirectly 

introduced into a stream, or where the placement of these materials will contribute to 

destabilization of the slope.

 Before working in a RHCA, all heavy equipment or other machinery will be inspected for 

hydraulic or other leaks. Leaking or faulty equipment will not be used. Equipment with 

accumulations of oil, grease, or other toxic materials will be cleaned in pre-approved sites outside 

RHCAs.

 Undercutting of cut slopes will be avoided during ditch maintenance activities.

 Fuel storage and fueling of equipment will not occur within RHCAs.

 Disposal materials will be deposited in approved disposal areas.

 Grader operators will backslope away from areas adjacent to streams where there is a potential 

for sediment delivery into streams. Sediment control devices will be placed to trap sediment in 

hot spots where sediment could reach a stream.

 Grassy areas are maintained around culverts to minimize the potential for sediment delivery to 

streams from road grading. Sediment control devices will be placed to trap sediment in hot spots 

where sediment could reach a stream.

 Sloughing material is deposited in a disposal site away from any stream and left to vegetate 

naturally. If the annual amount of slough is substantial and the road has become narrowed by loss 

of material from cut banks or by machine removal of the slough, the slough material is hauled to 

an approved stable waste site where it is deposited and seeded.

Drainage Structure Maintenance

Drainage maintenance is one of, if not, the most important item of maintenance. Drainage maintenance is 

performed in order to disperse runoff and minimize road-generated sediment and delivery to surface 

waters. Drainage maintenance includes the maintenance of drainage structures including culverts, water 

bars, drain dips, and ditches. Actions include removal of coarse and fine materials and brush from catch 

basins, inlets, outlets, outlet channels, leadoff ditches, trash racks, drop inlets, water bars, open-top 

culverts, and rolling dips.

Drainage structure work accomplished under maintenance includes opening plugged culverts, adding 

water bars to road surfaces, maintaining and forming drivable drainage dips into road surface, adding 

ditch relief culverts, replacing plugged or damaged ditch relief culverts, and cleaning drainage ditches. 

These proposed actions will be reviewed by fisheries biologist and or hydrologist prior to taking action if 

they occur within Category 1 or in Category 2 streams where sediment could enter fish habitat.

Plugged culverts are opened using hand shovels or power equipment. The material removed by hand is 

spread away from drainage so it will not fall or wash back into the drainage channel or structure. When 

cleaned with backhoe, the material is hauled to a disposal area by dump truck away from areas subject to 

erosion or discharge into streams. These proposed actions will be reviewed by fisheries biologist and or 

hydrologist prior to taking action if they occur within PACFISH/INFISH Category 1 or in Category 2 

streams where sediment could enter fish habitat unless they are emergency situations and are consulted on 

under emergency consultation procedures.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Roadside ditches and lead off ditches shall be cleaned of any material, which would obstruct the flow of 

water. When possible, grassed ditches are not disturbed, except where necessary to re-establish functional 

drainage.

Water bars are used on roads to disperse water at variable intervals to slow the velocity and decrease the 

volume of water traveling on the road prism, thus decreasing the risk of sedimentation due to erosion. 

These water bars are cut into the road surface at spacing intervals, which control the accumulation of 

water volumes and velocities. Backhoes and excavators are generally used to perform drainage repair or 

replacement.

Design Criteria

 Waste materials removed during maintenance activities and cleaned materials from culverts and 

open tops will be deposited in approved disposal areas outside flood plains in pre-approved 

disposal sites.

 Before working in a riparian habitat conservation area (RHCA), all heavy equipment or other 

machinery will be inspected for hydraulic or other leaks. Leaking or faulty equipment will not be 

used. Equipment with accumulations of oil, grease, or other toxic materials will be cleaned in preapproved sites outside RHCAs.

 Berms, sediment basins, or sediment traps will be constructed where required to contain sediment 

from the damage/repair site.

Ditch Relief Culvert Replacement, Installation, or Removal

Ditch relief culverts remove water from roadside ditches, decreasing sedimentation to streams by 

reducing the concentration of water exiting roadside ditches. Replacement, removal, or installation of 

ditch relief culverts can occur outside riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) or in RHCAs, 

although culverts located in RHCAs are not located in a streambed. Backhoes and excavators are 

generally used to perform ditch relief culvert construction activities. Ditch relief culvert construction 

activities outside of RHCAs would occur as part of this consultation but would be limited to dry 

conditions and would use appropriate sediment control measures to ensure sediment does not reach 

streams. Ditch relief culverts construction activities occurring inside RHCAs will occur only during dry 

conditions. Sediment controls will ensure that sediment will not enter streams. The proposed activities 

will be reviewed by Malheur National Forest fisheries biologist and/or hydrologist before being carried 

out. Culvert removal, replacement, or installation in perennial or intermittent streams will be consulted on 

separately as a separate project.

Design Criteria

 Work would be done only during dry conditions.

 During installation, efforts are taken to prevent the escapement of soil into streams.

 Sediment filters, certified weed free hay bales, or other devices will be installed at the culvert 

outlet if natural filters are not present.

 Culvert work inside RHCAs will be reviewed with engineering and hydrology or fisheries staff 

and designed to conform the project design criteria, standards, guides, and best management 

practices.

Sign Maintenance and Construction

When selecting sign locations, sites adjacent to fish bearing streams will be avoided if at all possible to 

avoid disturbance and potential for sediment delivery to the stream and to prevent the need for brushing 

for visibility.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Sign maintenance includes: straightening rock basket and sign post, cleaning the sign face, brushing for 

sign visibility, installing hazard markers that denote road hazards, and replacing missing lag screws. 

When a sign degenerates to an unacceptable degree it will be replaced. When not applicable to the public, 

signs will be removed, covered, hinged, turned, or supplemented with another sign that indicates periods 

of time that signing is applicable. When signs are installed in rock baskets, the rock basket shall be no less 

than 113 inches circumference and 32 inches high. For posts 12 feet or higher, baskets shall be no less 

than 151 inches in circumference and 52 inches high. All posts shall be placed to the proper height and be 

thoroughly tamped in. They shall in no case be less than 2 feet or a quarter of the post height in the 

ground, or which is greater. Multiple post installation shall be used on signs 40 inches or more in width. 

The elevation of the lowest marker (an arrow symbol) will be 4 feet from near edge of road surface to 

bottom of sign. Reassurance markers or other single route markers will also be 4 feet. Destination and 

warning (any signs other than route markers) should be a minimum of 5 feet.

Road Snag or Danger Tree Felling

An interagency field guild for Danger Tree identification and response was developed in 2005 and then 

amended in 2008. The Forest is currently following this direction to comply with Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and to maintain safe driving conditions.

Danger trees within a riparian habitat conservation area (RHCA) will be felled and left onsite. Danger 

trees will not be directionally felled into Category 1 streams as part of this consultation.

Logging Out

Logging out is the bucking, removal, and disposal of downed trees, logs, and debris, which have fallen on 

or across the road bed or lie within the traveled way, thus presenting safety and access concerns. Logging 

out is performed to provide safe travel for the road users and provide adequate room to achieve road 

maintenance activities with maintenance equipment. All roads except Maintenance Level I roads require 

logging out as part of the road maintenance program, unless funding or priorities determine differently. It 

is intended for all arterial and main collectors to be logged out as early in the year as possible.

Logging out removes fallen trees, snags, or protruding trees that extend into the travel way. Additional 

width shall be cleared if needed for maintenance. Any wood, slash or debris over four inches in diameter 

and 2 feet long either existing or created from logging out operations, will be removed from ditches, 

drainage channels, traveled way, shoulders, and turnouts and scattered on the downhill slope away from 

drainage. Trees within the travel way shall be cut, limbed, and placed outside the travel way and turnouts 

and out of drainages and ditches. Trees standing outside travel way but having branches extending into 

the area shall be limbed to a height of 14 feet. Trees that are blocking ditches or drainage structures may 

be cut. Some slash will be used as sediment filters at outlets for cross road drainage. Some of the slash 

will be chipped and placed on cut or fill slopes or disturbed areas. The chipped material provides 

sediment control, holds in moisture improving sprouting of native seed, and is incorporated more rapidly 

into the duff layer.

Any portion of a tree, which has fallen into a riparian habitat conservation area (RHCA) will be left in 

place outside of the roadway. Merchantable logs outside the RHCA shall be cut and removed from the 

traveled way to facilitate safe passage and proper maintenance. Non-merchantable logs may be cut any 

length to facilitate safe removal. If these logs are decked to provide designated firewood to the forest 

users, the deck will not be adjacent to live streams in order to prevent fuel contamination.

When removing downed logs in the road, which extend into a stream, any material on the fill slope and in 

the stream will be retained to provide for instream woody debris recruitment. If the woody debris is 
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

25

endangering nearby culverts, bridges, or road fill, the debris will be relocated in its original condition to 

the fill slope or stream channel downstream of the structure.

Design Criteria

 When removing down logs, which extend into a stream, from a road, any material on the fill slope 

and in the stream will remain (not be removed) to provide for woody debris recruitment, except in 

cases where the retention of this material would result in a safety concern (i.e. downstream 

facilities). Any felled hazard trees or blow down in RHCAs will be left in the RHCA and off the 

roadway.

Roadside Brushing

Roadside brushing is performed to provide visibility, safe stopping distance, clearance for maintenance 

equipment, unimpeded travel and unobstructed flow of water by the removal of standing vegetation in 

ditches which may divert water out of the intended course of flow within the clearing limits. Safety and 

drainage issues will be the primary need for brushing.

On designated open roads, maintenance Level II, brush is removed when it reaches a damage threshold 

described below.

The threshold for roadside vegetation is exceeded when:

 Growth blocks the view of oncoming traffic to the degree that a driver could not determine the 

speed or existence of an oncoming vehicle thus affecting adequate stopping distance.

 Growth interferes with the steady flow of water in ditches or through drainage structures.

Roadside brushing on Level II roads will consist of cutting and disposing of vegetative growth to provide 

at least 12 feet of continuous traveled way and 8 feet of turnout width where they exist plus any additional 

width needed for maintenance. All vegetation shall be cut within 2 inches of the traveled way. Limbing 

may be done with a chainsaw or hand tools. Limbs are cut flush to the tree trunk. Debris from cutting 

operations shall be removed from the brushed area and scattered or chipped. Some slash from cutting 

operations will be used as sediment filters at outlets for cross road drainage. Some of the slash will be 

scattered or chipped and placed on cut or fill slopes or disturbed areas. The chipped material provides 

sediment control, holds in moisture improving sprouting of native seed, and is incorporated more rapidly 

into the duff layer.

Roadside brushing along main access roads consists of cutting and disposing of vegetative growth 

including trees less than 6 inches in diameter. The area to be brushed includes cut slopes, fill slopes, 

ditches, roadbed, turnouts, and vertical clearance. Additional area shall be brushed on the inside of curves 

as necessary to achieve adequate sight distance. Trees outside the roadbed or ditch, but within the 

brushing limits, which are over 6 inches in diameter will be limbed in lieu of cutting. Trimming or 

limbing may be done with a chainsaw or hand tools. Limbs are cut flush to the tree trunk. Debris from 

cutting operations shall be removed from the brushed area and scattered or chipped. Some slash from 

cutting operations will be used as sediment filters at outlets for cross road drainage. Some of the slash will 

be scattered or chipped and placed on cut or fill slopes or disturbed areas. The chipped material provides 

sediment control, holds in moisture improving sprouting of native seed, and is incorporated more rapidly 

into the duff layer.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Design Criteria

 In road segments that parallel stream courses, brushing operations will maintain stream shade 

along with safety considerations. This may necessitate hand brushing, partial brushing, or 

limbing, with consideration for providing growth for future shade.

 Brush removal will occur within riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) where safety is an 

issue. Options other than complete "removal" will be considered in order to leave ground cover to 

help control water and sediment flow off the road surface into the RHCA and stream channels on 

sites where brush removal would cause sediment to be delivered to a stream.

 When brush cutting is necessary at stream crossings, it will be cut only to a minimum height of 6 

inches above the ground to prevent sediment delivery to a live stream and will be left in ditches. 

Brush and other standing vegetation provide shade and filtering of dust delivery to streams and 

will be maintained except where public safety is an issue.

 Roadside brushing that involves more than minimal removal of vegetation (i.e., limbing of trees 

or removal of brush) in RHCAs will be reviewed by a Malheur National Forest fish biologist or 

hydrologist.

Dust Abatement

During the summer months some roads will receive dust abatement treatment. Dust abatement is the 

application of a product, which either bonds dust particles and fines to larger matter or makes them 

heavier so they tend not to rise with the passage of vehicles. The purpose of dust abatement is to prevent 

loss of surface fines, enhance vehicle safety, and in some cases, prevent pollution and provide vehicle 

occupant comfort. Water is the only agent that will be used for dust abatement within RHCAs.

Water source development is not part of the action alternatives. Where water can be drafted from 

designated water sources, it can occur only as long as supply is adequate to provide for both fish and 

withdrawal. Screens are attached to intake hoses to prevent pulling fish and other small matter. NOAA 

FISHERIES developed criteria for pump intake screens will be used on all water pump intakes as 

described in the attached "Appendix B, Juvenile Fish Screen Criteria For Pump Intakes" (NMFS, 

May 9, 1996). Screen mesh openings shall not exceed 3/32 inch for woven wire or perforated plate 

screens, or 0.0689 inch for profile wire screens, with a minimum 27 percent open area. Trucks will be 

maintained to prevent oil leaks. Loading is done in a manner to minimize overflowing and discharge of 

wash into stream.

Storage water will be pumped or gravity fed into a holding tank or pond, using less than ten percent of the 

stream volume. All systems will have screened intake pipes and return systems will be designed that 

prevents sediment from entering the stream. The maximum withdrawal from one site in an 8-hour period 

will be 18,000 gallons of water.

Water drafting guidelines prepared by NOAA Fisheries are included in Appendix A.

Snow Removal

Removal of snow from roads is needed to facilitate logging operations and access for project work (e.g., 

reforestation). As snow plowing is done in connection or association with timber harvest and/or 

reforestation, it will be included as an activity with those projects for consultation.

Snow removal is also done to ensure safe and efficient transportation and to prevent unacceptable erosion 

damage to roads, streams, and adjacent lands. Removal includes the entire road width and turnouts. Snow 

slides, minor earth slides, fallen timber, and boulders that obstruct normal road surface width, including 
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

27

turnouts, are also removed. If culverts and ditches are restricted by snow or ice, they will be opened to 

allow proper drainage.

Design Criteria

 Any type of equipment may be used to remove snow, providing:

 Type or use of equipment is not restricted in contract or permit clauses or Forest Road Rules 

document.

 Equipment is of the size and type commonly used to remove snow and will not cause damage to 

the road.

 The use of dozers to remove snow requires written Forest Service approval. All equipment shall 

be equipped with shoes or runners, unless agreed otherwise, that are designed to leave 4 to 6 

inches of snow on roadway. Snow will not be completely removed.

 Berms shall be opened (surface trenches or drainage holes) to prevent the accumulation of runoff 

during melt off. Drainage holes will be spaced as required to obtain satisfactory surface drainage 

without discharge on erodible fills and will be placed above vegetation filters.

 Side casting of snow will be avoided in areas adjacent to streams where there is potential to cause 

snow or ice damming.

 Side cast material will not include dirt and gravel.

 Damage from, or as a result of snow removal, will be restored in a timely manner.

Road Closures

Road closure actions will include the installation of a physical device to restrict vehicle traffic. A closed 

road is an operating facility on which motorized traffic has been removed (yearlong or seasonally). These 

roads remain on the Forest Road Transportation System. Closed roads may not be drivable because they 

are usually not logged out or brushed out. They are closed to vehicles except for emergency or permitted 

use. One objective of road closures is to limit motorized vehicle traffic on native surface roads to reduce 

erosion. The roads are left in a stable condition and are maintained on an “as needed” basis. Inspections 

are made following a storm event or at least every 5 years.

Roads are most commonly closed with pole gates, steel gates, closure signs, slash, or earth berms as 

applicable for effective closure. These roads will be treated to provide self-maintenance prior to closure. 

Self-maintenance includes a variety of actions. Ditch relief culverts will be removed behind roads closed 

using earth-berms. Earth berms will not be used on roads with culverts at channel crossings still installed. 

Water bars will be installed with appropriate skew, outlet, and spacing. Sediment barriers of available 

woody material such as slash, brush, etc., will be placed at water bar outlets. Side ditches will be bladed 

where needed; culverts will be cleaned to drain; catch basins will be functional and free of debris. Drain 

dips, grade sags, and cross ditches will be reshaped/rocked as necessary to assure proper functioning. All 

actions will be considered on a site-specific basis with each road or road segment actions suited to the 

needs and condition of the road and related resources.

Road closure actions, whether the initial closure or re-closing a breached road will occur only during 

sufficiently dry conditions to prevent damage and runoff. Road closure are also confined to time periods 

such that key fish or spawning areas are not impacted and soil movement is not likely to occur. All road 

closure activities will be reviewed by a fisheries biologist and who will inspect the site for adequate 

design criteria. The Forest will consult separately on road decommissioning projects of any type and 

on self-maintenance closures, which contribute sediment delivery to water. This would entail 

removing the road from the transportation system, contouring when needed, and rehabilitation of 

the area to as natural a condition as possible.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Material Sources

The Forest maintains an inventory of all active rock material (quarry) sources and many closed, inactive, 

and unopened sources. Over 28 years ago, the Forest began locating centralized sources to provide rock 

material needs, especially for those projects that required large quantities of material. A primary goal of 

centralized sources is to limit the magnitude of surface disturbances while extracting quality materials to 

meet demand. Most roads which access developed sources have aggregate surfaces.

Some of the larger sites have been designed to impound water. These sites provide storage for rain and 

runoff, which may be used as water sources for road construction and maintenance activities, dust 

abatement, and fire suppression. An associated benefit of these ponds is use by wildlife and grazing 

animals.

Most sources are located in rocky terrain and are at a sufficient distance from any drainages or riparian 

habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) so as to have no impact on sediment contribution. A few sources 

have been developed in the past, which are located within RHCA buffers. The portions of sources within 

RHCAs will not be expanded into the RHCAs.

U.S. Forest Service engineers are responsible for following all Malheur Forest Plan Standards and 

Guidelines, PACFISH Standards and Guidelines, and PACFISH Riparian Management Objectives. Dust 

abatement will be used as needed, and safety guidelines will be used.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Section D—Project Design Criteria (PDCs) Relevant to Aquatics 

Developed by Blue Mountain Ranger District Interdisciplinary 

Team

Project Design Criteria Relevant to All Project Elements

Aquatics Project Design Criteria

 Riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) for Category 1, 2, and 4 streams and for Category 3 

and 4 wetlands shall be consistent with PACFISH (100 to 300 foot standard buffer widths).

 The Forest Service will require a Hazardous Substances Plan and Prevention of Oil Spill Plan 

from contractor which will be reviewed and approved prior to implementation activities. Fuels 

and other toxicants shall not be stored within RHCAs, and other provisions of PACFISH Standard 

RA-4 shall be implemented.

 Inspect all heavy equipment and machinery for hydraulic or other leaks before working near 

RHCAs. Leaking or faulty equipment will not be used. Equipment with accumulations of oil, 

grease, or other toxic materials will be cleaned in pre-approved sites outside RHCAs.

 Industrial camping permits will be required. Locations within RHCAs will be coordinated with a 

Malheur National Forest aquatics specialist before permits are issued.

 Because streams in the aquatics analysis area are deficient in large woody debris (LWD) in 

accordance with PACFISH Standard RA-2, all trees felled within or into RHCAs (including 

danger trees, those felled for road construction, aspen restoration, and aquatic restoration) will 

either be felled into streams where feasible to provide LWD, or left within the RHCA. Trees 

felled shall be pushed over with rootwad intact where feasible, rather than cutting (unless felled 

as part of riparian thinning treatments).

Watershed Project Design Criteria

 Apply all applicable best management practices (BMPs) listed in General Water Quality Best 

Management Practices (USDA Forest Service 1988). Full descriptions of each BMP may be 

found in the Appendix D. Specific BMPs for watershed and fisheries applicable to this project 

are: T1-T22, R1-R15, R17-R23, F2-F3, VM1-VM4, RM1, and W5.

 Do not use heavy equipment in RHCAs and do not use off road vehicles within 100 feet of 

streams, springs, or wetlands. Exceptions include activities associated with road construction, 

maintenance, decommissioning, culvert installation, and aquatic restoration activities.

Timber Felling

Aquatics Project Design Criteria

 Timber harvest units will not be located within riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs.)

Watershed Project Design Criteria

 No timber harvest within ephemeral draw buffer (10 to 50 feet on each side).
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Timber Yarding

Aquatics Project Design Criteria

 Skyline yarding corridors (sky roads) and tailholds are permitted across streams. Corridors must 

be less than 12 feet wide, spaced greater than 100 feet apart when crossing the stream, as close to 

perpendicular to the channel as possible, and can range from 350 to 1,000 feet in length.

Watershed Project Design Criteria

 Require one end suspension on >90 percent of skyline logging corridors. Logs will be fully 

suspended over streams.

 Heavy equipment is permitted only at designated crossings within the ephemeral draw buffer.

 Skyline corridors shall be oriented perpendicular across ephemeral draws, not running lengthways 

along them.

Hauling

Aquatics Project Design Criteria

Log Haul – (Designed to support a “May effect, Not likely to Adversely affect” determination call 

for Aquatic Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive species and meet Clean Water Act obligations.) 

Log haul will occur on designated haul routes with the following design criteria. If additional haul routes 

are needed and were not identified during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process then 

additional NEPA and consultation may be required.

 Product haul will occur during the commercial use period (June 1 – January 15), unless otherwise 

authorized by the Forest Engineer. The commercial use period is intended to prevent weatherrelated road damage, but actual field conditions may necessitate suspending haul to prevent road 

damage at any time. Product haul is also limited to conditions that will not result in Resource 

Damage, as described in the June 2009 Malheur National Forest Commercial Road Use Rules 

(CRUR).

 During product haul, weather conditions are monitored daily for the chance of precipitation by 

the timber sale administrator, hydrologist or fish biologist.

 During product haul, road conditions shall be monitored by the timber sale administrator daily for 

indications of road distress, defined in the CRUR as visible road conditions that occur as a result 

of road use, or a combination of road use and weather, which indicate that damage to a road or the 

adjacent resources, may occur under existing conditions. Examples of indicators include, but are 

not limited to, excessive dust, compromised or improper functioning road drainage, muddy ditch 

water, mud tracked onto asphalt or aggregate surfaced roads, and significant distortions of the 

road surface such as tracks, ruts, potholes, washboarding, asphalt cracking, or settling.

 Timber haul on gravel and native surface roads will be limited to dry or frozen conditions. Haul 

will cease at any time when the travelway of the road is wet and turbid water or fines are 

observed moving off the road surface to ditchlines that deliver to stream channels regardless of 

time of year.

 Haul will cease under periods of thawing conditions, as this is the most critical period for 

sediment delivery. Heavy truck traffic during thaw periods can cause failure of the entire road 

prism and can deliver sediment to streams. The Forest Service will attempt to provide a warning 

of impending thaw conditions 3 to 4 days before possible shutdown and also attempt to notify 

purchasers 48 hours before operational shutdown.

 When the timber sale administrator observes indications of road distress during haul (haul should 

be halted prior to road distress in riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) due to the 
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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mechanism for sediment delivery), one or more of the following actions would be taken: 1) 

perform maintenance work (including installation of additional erosion control materials); 2) 

change method of operations; 3) strengthen road surface to avoid damage; or 4) suspend 

operations until conditions change.

 During product haul on native-surface roads, the road surface will be rocked for a distance of 100 

feet on either side of approaches to: 1) perennial stream crossings (RHCA Category 1 and 2) and 

2) intermittent stream crossings (RHCA Category 4) where they occur within 1⁄4 mile upstream of 

perennial streams. Rocking will maintain as close to an 8-inch lift as the travelway width allows 

(minimum 6-inch lift).

 Native-surfaced road crossings on Category 4 streams greater than 1⁄4 mile upstream from 

Category 1 and 2 streams will be rocked (as described in above bullet) unless identified to be 

exempt by aquatic specialists. Exceptions to rocking crossings in category 4 streams can be made 

on a site specific basis, based on professional judgment and consensus of both the hydrologist and 

fisheries biologist in relation to sediment delivery and resource effects. This will ensure that 

effects to threatened, endangered, and sensitive species will be considered and the Forest is 

meeting its obligations under the Clean Water Act.

 Prior to annual haul, mitigations will be implemented to minimize sediment delivery to Critical 

Habitat for Mid-Columbia River steelhead and Columbia River bull trout where needed as 

identified by an aquatics specialist. Examples of mitigation measures will include but are not 

limited to sediment fences or certified weed-free straw bales in ditch lines, mulching or additions 

of coarse wood to stream channels.

 Apply mitigation and best management practices (BMPs) for dust abatement (water) during dry 

conditions, as directed by physical scientist or road engineer. Drafting sites should be identified 

and designated by aquatic specialists. Follow National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) drafting 

guidelines for water withdrawals. Juvenile fish screen criteria for pump intakes. Revised May 9, 

1996. Portland, OR: NMFS. Juvenile fish screen criteria. Revised February 16, 1995. Portland, 

OR: NMFS.

Fuels Treatments

Aquatics Project Design Criteria

• Grapple/hand piling areas will not be located within riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs).

Fire and Fuels Project Design Criteria

• Firelines will not be constructed within RHCAs and will be waterbarred on slopes greater than 35 

percent. Firelines will utilize natural barriers such as existing roads and streams and will be rehabilitated 

to a natural state after use. Fireline construction will not occur down draw bottoms. Hand lines may be 

used to keep fire out of sensitive areas and private property.

Temporary Road and Landing Construction

Aquatics Project Design Criteria

 Landings/staging areas will not be located within riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs).

 Temporary roads—see watershed project design criteria.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Watershed Project Design Criteria

 Locate temporary roads outside sediment delivery zones (determined by soil type, ground 

vegetation, and slope), meet best management practices for controlling surface runoff and 

erosion, and keep machinery on approved roadway.

 Obliterate temporary roads by some combination of the following: recontouring slopes (removing 

cut and fill slopes); subsoiling (loosening) compacted soils in a “J” pattern to a depth of 16 inches 

(unless prevented by bedrock or rock content of soils); pulling berm; pulling slash (where 

available); planting or seeding disturbed areas with native species that naturally occur in the 

project planning area to achieve a minimum of 35 percent ground cover; restoring natural 

drainage patterns and waterbarring as needed; and/or disguising the first hundred yards of 

travelway with large pieces of organic material such as cull logs and tops of trees. Methods will 

be determined in consultation with a hydrologist, fisheries biologist, or soil scientist.

Road Maintenance and New Road Construction

Watershed Project Design Criteria

 Utilize erosion control measures (sediment filters or certified weed free straw bales) and operate 

machinery only on road prism during road construction and maintenance activities.

Culvert Installation

Aquatics Project Design Criteria

 The work period for instream work, including culvert installations on fish-bearing streams will be 

July 15 through August 15, as specified in the Oregon Guidelines for Timing of In-Water Work to 

Protect Fish and Wildlife Resources, June 2008.

 Conduct activities during dry-field conditions – low to moderate soil moisture levels.

 Placement of the new culverts would be consistent with Region 6 fish passage guidance and in 

accordance with the Regional General Permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Minimization measures for fisheries, watershed function, water quality, and soil conditions 

include those identified in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (FWS) 2013 Aquatic Restoration Programmatic Biological Opinion version 2 

(ARBO) as well as project design criteria developed by the Blue Mountain Ranger District 

interdisciplinary team.

 All quality pools (pools greater than 2 feet in depth or pools greater than 1.5 feet in depth with 

cover) will be noted and designed for retention within the project planning area.

 There should be no measureable loss in stream side shade within the project planning area from 

culvert replacement/installation on fishbearing streams. If a measurable reduction in stream shade 

cannot be avoided, the project will be designed to obtain recovery of stream side shade within an 

approximate five year period, including the use of riparian plantings.

Watershed Project Design Criteria

 In riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) or ephemeral draws, conduct culvert installation, 

replacement or removal during dry conditions or with approval from the district hydrologist and 

fish biologist. Prevent erosion of soil into streams during installation using appropriate best 

management practices (BMPs) (Section E). Cease work if a storm event increases stream flows.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Road Decommissioning

Aquatics Project Design Criteria

 The work period for instream work, including road decommissioning within or immediately 

adjacent to the active channel will be July 15 through August 15, as specified in the Oregon 

Guidelines for Timing of In-Water Work to Protect Fish and Wildlife Resources, June 2008.

 Conduct activities during dry-field conditions – low to moderate soil moisture levels.

 Road decommissioning would be completed in accordance with the Regional General Permit 

issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Minimization measures for fisheries, watershed 

function, water quality, and soil conditions include those identified in the National Marine 

Fisheries Service and Fish and Wildlife Service 2013 Aquatic Restoration Biological Opinion as 

well as project design criteria developed by the Blue Mountain Ranger District interdisciplinary 

team.

 Obtain approval from district fisheries biologist and hydrologist on specific methods for 

removing culverts from first or second order streams.

Watershed Project Design Criteria

 Decommission roads by some combination of the following: recontouring slopes (removing cut 

and fill slopes); subsoiling (loosening) compacted soils in a “J” pattern to a depth of 16 inches 

(unless prevented by bedrock or rock content of soils); pulling berm; pulling slash (where 

available); planting or seeding disturbed areas with native species that naturally occur in the 

project planning area to achieve a minimum of 35 percent ground cover; restoring natural 

drainage patterns and waterbarring as needed; and/or disguising the first hundred yards of travel 

way with large pieces of organic material such as cull logs and tops of trees. Methods will be 

determined in consultation with a hydrologist, fisheries biologist, or soil scientist.

 Utilize erosion control measures (sediment filters or certified weed free straw bales) and operate 

machinery only on road prism during road decommissioning.

“Fish Sticks” and “Fish Crib” Magone Lake Project Design Criteria

Aquatics Project Design Criteria

 All work with heavy equipment would occur over snow and frozen ground.

 All shoreline riparian hardwood vegetation would be left intact.

 Fish cribs would measure 8 feet long by 8 feet wide and 4 feet high. A minimum of 5 feet 

clearance from the top of the crib to the water surface.

 Certified weed-free rock material from existing gravel pits in the vicinity would be used for 

ballast.

 A minimum of 12 inches of “good” ice would be required before any small equipment (UTV, 

skidsteer) would be allowed on ice. When feasible 8 foot logs for cribs would be pulled into place 

on ice by manual labor and constructed onsite.

 Plowing of snow on ice to clear lake surface prior to construction of fish cribs and placement of 

fish cribs would only occur after the minimum of 12 inches of ice is met.

 All equipment will be checked for leaks (hydraulic, gas, oil) prior to beginning work.

 All fueling or staging of equipment will occur > 50 feet from the lake shoreline.

 Burn piles would not be located within the wetland RHCA (50 feet) and material from fuels and 

silviculture treatments would be used to construct fish cribs, and obtain “fish stick” material.

 Diameter of “fish sticks” material would follow silviculture and fuels treatment prescriptions for 

adjacent uplands on east side of Magone Lake.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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 Cabling of material would be kept to a minimum to ensure “fish sticks” do not drift offshore and 

create boating hazards.

Skidding Across Category 4 Drainages Aquatic Project Design Criteria

 Avoid skidding across drainages with a slope of x percent.

 Skidding across floodplain would be minimized by selecting the shortest route across the 

channel/floodplain and within the slope criteria.

 Logs and slash would be placed at all crossings within channel and floodplain to minimize soil 

compaction.

 Height of logs and slash within channel would be dependent on stream bank heights so as to 

avoid any contact of skidder tires with stream banks.

 Once skidding is complete logs and slash would be spread out across channel and floodplain 

especially in any visible bare spots where soil may have been exposed.

 See Watershed Project Design Criteria.

 Possible units – units 649, 601, 277, 245, 615.

 Unit 225 and Unit 203 have a class 2 on the other side of the closed road.

Recreational Trail Crossings Project Design Criteria

Recreational trail crossing design would follow the same design criteria as livestock trail crossings within 

Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Critical Habitat identified within the Malheur National Forest Aquatic 

Restoration Decision and Aquatic Restoration Biological Opinion (ARBO) II. Livestock are likely to also 

use the trails in addition to recreationists and would not cross on single logs or bridges therefore 

recreation trail crossings would follow those design criteria below.

Aquatic Restoration Decision Project Design Criteria for Livestock 

Crossings and Recreational Trail Crossings within Mid-Columbia River 

Steelhead Critical Habitat

9. Livestock Fencing, Stream Crossings and Off-Channel Livestock Watering

Livestock Stream Crossings

i. The number of crossings will be minimized.

ii. Locate crossings or water gaps where streambanks are naturally low. Livestock crossings or water 

gaps must not be located in areas where compaction or other damage can occur to sensitive soils 

and vegetation (e.g., wetlands) due to congregating livestock.

iii. To the extent possible, crossings will not be placed in areas where Endangered Species Act listed 

species spawn or are suspected of spawning (e.g., pool tailouts where spawning may occur), or 

within 300-feet upstream of such areas.

iv. Existing access roads and stream crossings will be used whenever possible, unless new 

construction would result in less habitat disturbance and the old trail or crossing is retired.

v. Access roads or trails will be provided with a vegetative buffer that is adequate to avoid or 

minimize runoff of sediment and other pollutants to surface waters.

vi. Essential crossings will be designed and constructed or improved to handle reasonably 

foreseeable flood risks, including associated bedload and debris, and to prevent the diversion of 

streamflow out of the channel and down the trail if the crossing fails.

vii. If necessary, the streambank and approach lanes can be stabilized with native vegetation or 

angular rock to reduce chronic sedimentation. The stream crossing or water gap should be 
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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armored with sufficient sized rock (e.g., cobble-size rock) and use angular rock if natural 

substrate is not of adequate size.

viii. Livestock crossings will not create barriers to the passage of adult and juvenile fish. Whenever a 

culvert or bridge—including bridges constructed from flatbed railroad cars, boxcars, or truck 

flatbeds—is used to create the crossing, the structure width will tier to project design criteria 

listed for Stream Simulation Culvert and Bridge Projects under Fish Passage Restoration (PDC 

21).

ix. Stream crossings and water gaps will be designed and constructed to a width of 10 to 15 feet in 

the upstream-downstream direction to minimize the time livestock will spend in the crossing or 

riparian area.

x. When using pressure treated lumber for fence posts, complete all cutting/drilling offsite (to the 

extent possible) so that treated wood chips and debris do not enter water or flood prone areas.

xi. Riparian fencing is not to be used to create livestock handling facilities or riparian pastures.

COTA Trail Standards that Apply for all RHCAs

Page 8 Aquatic Environments
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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Section E—Best Management Practices

Best management practices (BMPs) are the primary mechanism for achievement of water quality 

standards. This appendix describes key BMPs that have been selected in addition to those listed in Table 

E-3, Project Implementation Criteria and in PACFISH Standards and Guidelines for implementation with 

the action alternatives.

BMPs include but are not limited to structural and non-structural controls, operations, and maintenance 

procedures. BMPs would be applied before, during, or after pollution producing activities to reduce or 

eliminate the introduction of pollutants into receiving water-bodies.

BMPs are selected on the basis of site-specific conditions that reflect natural background conditions and 

political, social, economic, and technical feasibility. Blue Mountain Ranger District monitors some 

applications of BMPs to evaluate implementation and effectiveness and to determine if changes are 

needed.

The Memorandum of Understanding, between the USDA Forest Service and the Oregon Department of 

Environmental Quality, To Meet State and Federal Water Quality Rules and Regulations, specifically 

identifies the implementation of site specific BMPs as one of the Forest Service responsibilities to satisfy 

State and Federal point and nonpoint source pollution control requirements on National Forest Service 

lands.

Below are applicable BMPs, listed in the General Water Quality Best Management Practices (USDA 

Forest Service 1988) document that will be used with the Magone Project, along with information as to 

who will be responsible for implementing them, when they will be done, and a determination of ability to 

implement, and effectiveness:

T-1 – Timber Sale Planning Process

Estimates have been made on the potential changes to water quality and instream beneficial uses, and are 

disclosed in the environmental impact statement.

 Responsibility: Project soil scientist and fisheries biologists

 Timing: Prior to activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

T-4 – Use of Sale Area Maps for Designating Water Quality Protection 

Needs

The sale area map will include locations of streams to be protected and the required harvest method.

 Responsibility: Presale technician

 Timing: Prior to activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

T-7 – Streamside Management Unit Designations

The interdisciplinary team designated PACFISH riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs) as 

streamside management units. RHCAs will prevent potential adverse effects of nearby logging and 

prescribed burning.
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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 Responsibility: Presale technician

 Timing: Prior to activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

T-10 – Log Landing Location

Harvest plans will include proposed landing locations. Landing locations and size will be approved in 

advance by Forest Service personnel.

 Responsibility: Presale technician and sale administrator

 Timing: Prior to and during activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

T-11 – Tractor Skid Trail Location and Design

Harvest plans will include proposed yarding patterns. Skid trails will be approved in advance by Forest 

Service personnel.

 Responsibility: Presale technician and sale administrator

 Timing: Prior to and during activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

T-13 – Erosion Prevention Measures during Timber Sale Operations

Erosion control work will be kept current.

 Responsibility: Sale administrator

 Timing: During activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

T-18 – Erosion Control Structure Maintenance

The purchaser will provide maintenance of soil erosion control structures as required in the timber sale 

contract.

 Responsibility: Sale administrator

 Timing: During activity

 Ability to Implement: Moderate

 Effectiveness: High

T-19 – Acceptance of Timber Sale Erosion Control Measures before Sale 

Closure

The effectiveness of erosion control measures will be evaluated periodically during the life of the timber 

sale contract.

 Responsibility: Sale administrator and hydrologist

 Timing: During activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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R-1 – General Guidelines for the Location and Design of Roads

Temporary road construction and system road maintenance design creates minimal resource damage.

 Responsibility: Engineering representative and sale administrator

 Timing: Prior to activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

R-2 – Erosion Control Plan

Limit erosion and sedimentation through effective planning and contract administration.

 Responsibility: Engineering representative and sale administrator

 Timing: Prior to and during activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: Moderate

R-3 – Timing of Construction Activities

Road construction and temporary road construction will occur during minimal runoff periods to minimize 

erosion. 

 Responsibility: Sale administrator and engineering representative

 Timing: During activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: Moderate

R-6 and R-7 – Dispersion of Subsurface and Surface Drainage 

Associated with Roads

Ditch relief and cross drainage design will assure intercepted ground water and surface water is moved 

from road prism before it develops enough energy to undermine cut slopes or erode fill slopes.

 Responsibility: Sale administrator and engineering representative

 Timing: During activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: Moderate

R-12 – Control of Construction in Streamside Management Units

No road construction is planned within riparian habitat conservation areas.

 Responsibility: Sale administrator and engineering representative

 Timing: During activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

R-18 – Maintenance of Roads

Ditches and culverts will be kept open and ruts repaired

 Responsibility: Sale administrator and engineering representative

 Timing: During activity
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

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 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

R-19 – Road Surface Treatment to Prevent Loss of Material

Watering and grading will be kept on schedule to assure surface material is not lost.

 Responsibility: Sale administrator and engineering representative

 Timing: During activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

R-21 – Snow Removal Controls to Avoid Resource Damage

Snow removal will assure water can drain from road prism before it develops enough energy to erode 

road surface or fill slopes.

 Responsibility: Sale administrator, engineering representative, and silvicultural representative

 Timing: During activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

R-22 – Restoration of Borrow Pits and Quarries

Borrow pits will be stabilized such that banks are stable and access road provides necessary drainage.

 Responsibility: Engineering representative or sale administrator

 Timing: During activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

R-23 – Obliteration of Temporary Roads

Temporary roads will be decommissioned as described in the biological assessment. Future use of the 

road would be eliminated, and hydrological function would be restored using subsoiling and seeding as 

necessary.

 Responsibility: Sale administrator and engineering representative

 Timing: At the end of activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High

F-3 – Protection of Water Quality during Prescribed Fire Operations

The prescribed fire will follow the burn plan. Adjustments will be made during firing operations if 

objectives are not being met.

 Responsibility: Fire management officer, district ranger

 Timing: Prior to and during activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High
FEIS Appendix C – Project Design Criteria Magone Project

40

W-5 – Cumulative Watershed Effects

The interdisciplinary team analyzed and disclosed in the environmental impact statement the effects of the 

proposed management activities, when added to the existing conditions to ensure cumulative effects do 

not exceed thresholds of concern or result in adverse (degraded) water quality or channel/fish habitat 

conditions.

 Responsibility: Project soil scientist and fish biologists

 Timing: Prior to activity

 Ability to Implement: High

 Effectiveness: High