Upper Deschutes Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan ce Management Plan 

c. Area H: Vehicles restricted to designated roads only. Dismounted soldiers 

permiĴed off road. 

Guidelines: Guidelines: 

1. BLM administered lands within the designated training areas, not withdrawn for 

exclusive use by the Military, will be open to and shared with the public except 

when OMD and the BLM agree that the security of OMD resources or public and/or 

OMD personnel safety will be at risk as a result of the intermingling of military and 

civilian activities. civilian activities. 

2. Restricted access to public lands during military operations will be temporary and 

procedures for establishing location and duration of closures will be established in 

the terms and conditions of the use authorization agreement between the BLM and 

the OMD the OMD 

3. All military activity will be consistent with direction provided by the following 

Documents and references cited therein: Documents and references cited therein: 

a. Environmental Assessment: Fielding the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and Cavalry 

Fighting Vehicle and Other Proposed Federal Actions at the Central Oregon 

Training Site by the Oregon National Guard (OMD, 1995). raining Site by the Oregon National Guard (OMD, 1995). 

b. Biak Training Center Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan and 

Environmental Environmental Assessment (“INRMP”, OMD, 2001). Assessment (“INRMP”, OMD, 2001). 

c. Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan for the Oregon Army National 

Guard (“ICRMP”, OMD, 2002). Guard (“ICRMP”, OMD, 2002). 

4. Amendments to existing or new NEPA decisions that support authorization of 

military activities will not require amendment to the RMP unless they modify 

specific objectives or allowable uses. able uses. 

5. When necessary to meet training needs the BLM may authorize exemptions 

from travel management restrictions for military operations consistent with 

administrative access guidelines included in Transportation and Utilities. ransportation and Utilities. 

6. The use of extended training areas (G, H) may be used as needed for maneuvers 

when ground and vegetation conditions meet or exceed established baseline 

conditions. conditions. 

7. Military training use will be designed to minimize use conflicts with livestock 

grazing, recreation, and wildlife while still meeting the objectives for military 

training. training. 

8. Baseline conditions will be established by an interdisciplinary process and will 

include consultation with interested and affected government agencies. ernment agencies. 

9. Use of small areas of concentration which have been treated by providing gravel 

cover, barriers, road improvement/maintenance or other engineering works to 

reduce general area resource damage is encouraged. reduce general area resource damage is encouraged. 

10. Meeting objectives for public uses of BLM administered lands will be a secondary 

objective when selecting types and locations of improvements 

11. OMD will provide the BLM with a quarterly training summary of unit(s) that will 

be using any of the designated training area 30 days prior to use of the area. This 

summary will include but not be limited to: the designated area to be used, the 

training unit identification, and unit contact. cation, and unit contact. 

12. Military use will be reviewed by BLM and OMD staff on a yearly basis. early basis. 

Visual Resources isual Resources 

Objective VR - 1: Manage all BLM administered lands in the planning area to meet the 

following Visual Resource Management Classes: isual Resource Management Classes: 

• VRM Class 1 areas – Preserve the existing character of landscapes. Manage VRM 

Class 1 lands to preserve the existing character of the landscape. Natural, ecological 

changes dominate; the level of change provided by management actions should be 

very low and not aĴract aĴention. (See also Wilderness Study ilderness Study Area section) Area section) 

• VRM Class 2 areas – Retain the existing character of landscapes. Manage landscapes 

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seen from high use travel routes, recreation destinations, special management areas, 

or that provide a visual backdrop to communities for low levels of change to the 

characteristic landscape. In these areas, management activities may be seen but 

should not aĴract the aĴention of the casual observer. Changes should repeat the 

basic elements of form, line, color, texture, and scale found in the predominant natural 

features of the characteristic landscape. features of the characteristic landscape. 

• VRM Class 3 areas – Partially retain the existing character of the landscape. Manage 

VRM Class 3 lands for moderate levels of change to the characteristic landscape. 

Management activities may aĴract aĴention but should not dominate the view of the 

casual observer. Changes should repeat the basic elements of form, line, color, texture, 

and scale found in the predominant natural features of the characteristic landscape. and scale found in the predominant natural features of the characteristic landscape. 

• VRM Class 4 areas – Allow major modifications of existing character of landscapes. 

Manage VRM Class 4 lands for moderate levels of change to the characteristic 

landscape. Management activities may dominate the view and be the major focus of 

viewer aĴention. Every aĴempt will be made to minimize the effect of management 

actions through careful location, minimal disturbance, and repeating the basic 

elements of form, line, color, and texture found in the predominant natural features of 

the characteristic landscape. the characteristic landscape. 

• VRM Class 5 areas – VRM Class 5 areas – Areas in need of rehabilitation from a visual resource standpoint. Areas in need of rehabilitation from a visual resource standpoint. 

Rationale: Rationale: 

Section 102(8) of FLPMA declares that public land will be managed to protect the quality 

of scenic values and, where appropriate, to preserve and protect certain public land in 

its natural condition. NEPA, Section 101(b), requires Federal agencies to “assure for all 

Americans...esthetically pleasing surroundings.” Section 102 of NEPA requires agencies 

to “utilize a systematic, interdisciplinary approach, which will ensure the integrated use 

of...environmental design in the planning and decision making process.” The rapid 

development of rural lands in Central Oregon increases the value of and concern over the 

scenic resources that BLM administered lands possess. scenic resources that BLM administered lands possess. 

VRM Process: Objectives for managing visual resources on BLM administered lands are 

established through the RMP process by defining visual resource management (VRM) 

classes. The establishment of visual resource management classes on public land is based 

on an evaluation of the landscape’s scenic qualities (mapped as Variety Classes), public 

sensitivity about scenic qualities of certain areas (mapped as Sensitivity Levels), and 

the visibility of affected land from Key Observation Points (KOPs) such as major travel 

corridors (mapped as Distance Zones). VRM classes represent the relative value of visual 

resources, with Class 1 and 2 being the most valued, Class 3 representing a moderate 

value, and Class 4 being of least value. Areas can also be identified through the RMP 

process as Class 5, where the natural character of the landscape has been disturbed to a 

point where rehabilitation is needed to bring it up to one of the four other classifications. 

This classification also applies to areas where there is potential to increase an area’s 

visual quality; Class 5 is oĞen used as an interim classification until objectives of another 

VRM Class can be reached. Key Observation Points are identified to establish these 

distance zones and levels of visual sensitivity (See Appendix H for a description of the 

establishment of VRM classes and KOPs in the planning area). establishment of VRM classes and KOPs in the planning area). 

Allocations/Allowable Uses: Allocations/Allowable Uses: 

1. Specific VRM classifications for lands within the planning area are shown on RMP 

Map 10. The following list identifies general areas that are included in each VRM 

Class in the RMP area: 

a. VRM Class 1 – 32,928 acres:
1

Badlands WSA
1

Steelhead Falls WSA
1

Horse Ridge RNA/ACEC/ISA
1

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b. VRM Class 2 - 37,590 acres: VRM Class 2 - 37,590 acres: 

Areas visible from Prineville Reservoir (foreground views) oir (foreground views) 

Smith Rock block Smith Rock block 

Horse Ridge and Dry River Canyon 

Portions of West BuĴe area 

Dry Canyon in Cline BuĴes 

Deschutes River corridor er corridor 

Crooked River corridor er corridor 

Ochoco Reservoir parcel oir parcel 

Cline BuĴes slopes visible from the Redmond area es slopes visible from the Redmond area 

Wagon Roads agon Roads ACEC 

Powell BuĴe RNA 

Redmond Caves parcel es parcel 

State Highway 31/Outback Scenic Byway 

LiĴle Deschutes River Parcel 

c. VRM Class 3 - 88,179 acres: VRM Class 3 - 88,179 acres: 

Skeleton Fire area Skeleton Fire area 

West BuĴe area 

Areas visible from Prineville Reservoir (background views) oir (background views) 

Smith Canyon area on area 

Immediate foreground view of State Highway 20, 26, 27, 126, Powell BuĴe 

Highway, 

Juniper Canyon Road, Reservoir Road, except where superseded by other VRM 

Class designations Class designations 

d. VRM Class 4 - 246,163 acres: VRM Class 4 - 246,163 acres: 

Remainder of planning area Remainder of planning area 

e. VRM Class 5 - 8 acres: VRM Class 5 - 8 acres: 

Crooked River Canyon area north of Chimney Rock Wild and Scenic River 

segment segment 

Guidelines: Guidelines: 

General General 

1. Work with State and local governments to manage visual resources and interpretive 

opportunities along roads and highways including the Hwy 31/Outback Scenic 

Byway. 

2. Project specific analysis may require an increase or decrease in VRM Class 

depending on existence of new Key Observation Points or project specific 

determination of seen areas. determination of seen areas. 

All Activities All Activities 

3. All surface disturbing activities under permit or lease or done by BLM will require 

visual resource analysis using BLM’s contrast rating methodology. Visual design 

considerations will be incorporated into all surface-disturbing projects regardless of 

size or potential impact. Projects will be designed to resolve and minimize potential 

impacts and meet or exceed the visual resource management class objectives. 

Project specific analysis will be done based on the following: c analysis will be done based on the following: 

a. Provide this input at the earliest stage of project or permit planning, so as to 

minimize costly redesign or mitigation at later phases of project design and 

development. BLM will request project specific visual resource information 

from project proponents, including design plans, construction drawings, 

concept plans, etc. prior to starting work on permit approval or environmental 

assessments or environmental impact statements. assessments or environmental impact statements. 

b. Project specific analysis of visual resource impacts will include an evaluation 

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of new Key Observation Points, including new recreation facilities, trails, and 

community areas. A project specific determination of seen areas, distance zones 

and appropriate VRM Class will be done using the VRM mapping in the RMP 

as a baseline. as a baseline. 

c. Emphasize monitoring during project construction to assure visual resource 

mitigation measures are met. mitigation measures are met. 

4. Landscapes containing negative visual elements, including, but not limited to, 

braided or extremely dense road networks, garbage piles, unstable cut or fill slopes, 

open pits, or numerous damaged trees/stumps, will be rehabilitated as funding 

allows. allows. 

5. Identify and rehabilitate negative visual elements on public lands within the 

immediate foreground (0 to 1/4 mile) corridor of travel routes through special areas 

(ACECs, RNAs, Wild and Scenic River Corridors, WSAs) and along designated 

scenic or backcountry byways, trails, and major travel routes through the planning 

area. 

Facilities Facilities 

6. Parking facilities, structures, structural range improvements, and recreational 

facilities will normally be placed where they are not visible from key observations 

points (KOPs). Emphasis will be placed on providing signs to direct recreational 

visitors to parking areas and facilities instead. Where it is not possible to screen 

recreational facilities or other structures, or where public safety issues require these 

facilities to be visible, they will be designed to blend with the elements found in the 

natural landscape and remain subordinate to the overall strength of the landscape 

being viewed. 

7. New heliports, gravel pits, gravel stockpile locations, clay pits, and borrow areas 

will be located out of foreground view from KOPs. If a site is not available outside 

of the immediate (0 to 1/4 mile) foreground view of KOPs, then appropriate 

mitigation will be determined (e.g., screening, project design, berms, etc.) prior to 

permits being issued. permits being issued. 

8. Improve entry signage to BLM administered lands in the planning area, considering 

the use of native rock foundations, BLM logo signs, and wording that identifies the 

name of each specific area, etc. A priority will be made on using these higher sign 

standards first on WSAs, rst on WSAs, ACECs and developed sites. eloped sites. 

9. All transmission line towers, conductors, and communication antennas will utilize 

non-reflective surfaces or be painted to minimize visual impacts. e surfaces or be painted to minimize visual impacts. 

Rights-of-Way 

10. New roads, ROWs and other surface disturbing projects will be designed to meet 

the Visual Resource Management Class of the affected area. Routes likely to be 

popular with recreational visitors will be designed and maintained to enhance 

the area’s scenic qualities. Road improvements or new road construction in VRM 

Class I or II areas will use non-reflective surfaces such as Corten Steel guard rails 

to minimize contrast with the surrounding landscape. Materials will be specified 

before ROW permits are issued. before ROW permits are issued. 

11. New roads or utility ROWs will be constructed when new routes will enhance, 

improve, or protect an area’s scenic qualities beĴer than improvement of existing 

roads or expanding or co-located ROWs. roads or expanding or co-located ROWs. 

Vegetation egetation 

12. Vegetation manipulation such as brush removal, juniper thinning, reseeding and 

prescribed burning will be designed to meet or exceed VRM Classes. Vegetation 

manipulation projects may include the following design concepts to enhance visual 

quality: quality: 

a. Treatment objectives in old growth juniper woodlands/savanna will include 

enhancing foreground visual characteristics of the old-growth juniper 

woodlands/ savanna and the overall scenic quality of the area. Juniper 

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woodland characteristics that are expected to generate high visual appeal 

include: include: 

i. “Healthy” woodlands with large and old trees of various densities and 

structure structure 

ii. Understories of diverse native shrub, grasses and forbs e shrub, grasses and forbs 

iii.A low occurrence of noxious w low occurrence of noxious weeds and other non-native species e species 

iv. High visual diversity with regard to vegetative and geologic features of the 

characteristic landscape. characteristic landscape. 

b. Where possible and appropriate, background and vista views will be enhanced 

by treatments such as thinning, pruning, or clearing corridors through 

foreground juniper woodlands, emphasizing removal of younger, smaller trees. , smaller trees. 

c. Treatments in old growth juniper woodlands will emphasize treating the “best” 

old-growth juniper woodlands within major travel corridors, along backcountry 

byways, and near recreation and residential/urban areas. Primary objectives 

will be to maintain old woodland health and longevity and to improve or 

highlight scenic values. 

d. CuĴing or pruning to produce small openings in dense stands to clear vistas or 

expose other natural features of interest. expose other natural features of interest. 

e. Stand management to clear dead and down trees or promote different ages, 

sizes, densities, species composition, and vertical layers for increased visual 

diversity. 

f. Rehabilitation of sites with noxious weeds, exotic annuals, and other disturbed/ 

unbalanced vegetative communities to transition toward a more natural 

vegetative landscape. e landscape. 

g. Enhancement of visually interesting meadows, riparian areas, and old-growth 

trees. 

h. Treatments to improve wildlife viewing, education, and interpretation 

opportunities. opportunities. 

i. All other standard operating procedures for reducing visual effects from 

mechanical vegetative treatments and prescribed burning will be implemented. 

Examples of mitigating measures for reducing visual effects could include: 

closing, scarifying and seeding roads, smoothing berms, chipping or removal 

of juniper thinning slash instead of piling, cuĴing stumps at ground level, low 

intensity prescribed burning to reduce scorch height, and concealing higher 

intensity juniper treatments with vegetative and topographic screening, leaving 

individual and groups of trees, and unit edge feathering. individual and groups of trees, and unit edge feathering. 

j. Vegetation treatments designed solely for long-term ecosystem health may 

entail short term impacts to visual quality (up to 5 years). However, these 

treatments would be designed and implemented in a way that reduces impacts 

to visual quality and maintains VRM Class standards to the maximum degree. to visual quality and maintains VRM Class standards to the maximum degree. 

Recreation Recreation 

Management direction for recreation is provided with planning area-wide direction and 

with management guidance specific to the High Desert Special Recreation sub-units. 

These geographic areas are described following the Planning Area direction. One existing 

Special Recreation Management Area – the Millican Valley OHV area was incorporated 

into the High Desert Special Recreation Management Area. It includes three subunits of 

the High Desert SRMA, Millican Plateau, North Millican, and South Millican. These are 

grouped together in the objectives and guidelines. es and guidelines. 

Planning Area Wide Direction ide Direction 

Objective R - 1: Provide and maintain a wide range of recreation opportunities and 

resource management objectives within the planning area and urban interface seĴing. 

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