Resource 

Management 

Plan 

25 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Resource Management Plan 

Planning Area 

The entire planning area analyzed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Revision of the 

Resource Management Plans of the Western Oregon Bureau of Land Management includes all lands 

(private, local, state, and federal) in western Oregon. See Figure 1 (Entire planning area of the Western 

Oregon BLM resource management plan revisions). The Coos Bay District Resource Management Plan and 

the coordinated resource management plans for the other districts affect BLM-administered lands in the 

BLM districts and counties of western Oregon that are listed in Table 1 (BLM districts and Oregon counties 

included in the planning area of the Western Oregon BLM resource management plan revisions). 

The six coordinated resource management plans provide requirements for management of approximately 

2,557,800 acres of federal land within the planning area. These BLM-administered lands are widely scattered and 

represent only about 11% of the planning area. Of the approximately 2,557,800 acres administered by the BLM, 

approximately 2,151,200 acres are managed primarily under the O&C Act and are commonly referred to as the 

O&C lands. The remaining 406,600 acres are public domain lands (394,600 acres) and other lands (12,000 acres) 

that are managed primarily under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. See Table 2 (Legal status of lands 

administered by the BLM in Western Oregon) for the status of all federal lands in the planning area per district. 

(Note: The Western Oregon BLM Resource Management Plans also apply to an additional 69,000 acres that are 

split-estate lands for which the BLM manages only the subsurface mineral estate.) 

Figure 1. Entire Planning Area Of The Western Oregon BLM Resource 

26 

Management Plan Revisions 
Resource Management Plan 

Table 1. BLM Districts And Oregon Counties Included In The Planning Area Of 

The Resource Management Plan Revisions 

BLM Districts Oregon Counties 

Coos Bay Benton Lane 

Eugene Clackamas Lincoln 

Lakeview (Klamath Falls Resource Area only) Columbia Linn 

Medford Coos Marion 

Roseburg Curry Multnomah 

Salem Douglas Polk 

Jackson Tillamook 

Josephine Washington 

Klamath Yamhill 

Table 2. Legal Status Of Lands Administered By The BLM In Western Oregon 

BLM District 

O&C and Coos Bay 

Wagon Road Lands Public Domain Other Total 

(acres) 

Salem 349,300 51,600 2,100 403,000 

Eugene 304,200 10,500 400 315,100 

Roseburg 406,500 19,800 0 426,300 

Coos Bay 279,400 41,800 1,500 322,700 

Medford 764,900 96,100 4,800 865,800 

Klamath Falls Resource Area 

(Lakeview District) 46,900 174,800 3,200 224,900 

Total Acres 2,151,200 394,600 12,000 2,557,800 

27 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Introduction 

This document describes the resource management plan (RMP) for the Bureau of Land Management Coos 

Bay District. 

The Resource Management Plan consists of management objectives, land use allocations, and management 

direction. 

• Management objectives. Describe desired outcomes from management of particular resources. 

• Land use allocations. Areas where specific activities are allowed, restricted, or excluded in all or 

part of a planning area. 

• Management direction. Provide measures that will be applied to planning activities to achieve 

management objectives for resources. 

Management direction will be used where and when necessary and practical to achieve management 

objectives. However, the BLM may decide not to apply a management direction when: 

• Site-specific circumstances would make application of the management direction unnecessary to 

achieve resource management plan objectives. 

• Site-specific circumstances would make application of the management direction impractical. 

• Application of the management direction would be inconsistent with other resource management 

plan decisions. 

For a depiction of the Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District’s portion of the planning area, see 

Figure 2. The lands in the Coos Bay District are divided into two resource areas: Umpqua and Myrtlewood. 

The locations of these two resource areas are shown in Figure 1. 

See Appendix A - Guidance for Use of the Resource Management Plan and Appendix B - Monitoring for the 

monitoring that will be conducted and reported. 

Land Use Allocations 

The BLM-administered lands within the Coos Bay District planning area are allocated to one of the 

following six land use allocations: 

1. National Landscape Conservation System/Congressionally Designated/Acquired Lands (2,500 acres) 

2. Administratively Withdrawn Area (59,800 acres) 

3. Late-Successional Management Area (116,500 acres) 

4. Riparian Management Area (34,200 acres) 

5. Deferred Timber Management Area (8,700 acres) 

6. Timber Management Area (99,500 acres) 

For land use allocations by resource area in the Coos Bay District, see the map packet: Map 1A for the 

Umpqua Resource Area, and Map 1B for the Myrtlewood Resource Area. 

Some land use allocations (such as Late-Successional Management Area and Riparian Management Area) 

overlap. For consistency and acreage display purposes, such overlaps are displayed in only one category 

according to the above hierarchy. 

Riparian Management Area management objectives and management direction will be applied to streams, 

lakes, wetlands, etc. as defined in Table 8 (in the Riparian Management Area section below) within the LateSuccessional Management Area, Deferred Timber Management Area, and Timber Management Area. 

28 
Figure 2. Coos Bay District’s Portion of the Planning Area 

 29 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

National Landscape Conservation System, Congressionally Designated Lands, 

and Acquired Lands 

The National Landscape Conservation System designations on BLM-administered lands in the Coos Bay 

District include: 

• Wild and scenic rivers 

• Wilderness instant study areas 

Management Objective 

Conserve, protect, and restore the identified outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values of the 

National Landscape Conservation System and Congressionally designated lands. 

Manage acquired lands consistent with the purpose for which they were acquired. 

Management Direction
 

Wild and Scenic Rivers
 

Provide interim protection to wild and scenic river corridors (including those classified as wild, scenic, or 

recreational) that are eligible, but have not yet been studied for suitability as components of the National 

Wild and Scenic Rivers System pending suitability evaluations. 

See Table 3 (Eligible wild and scenic rivers and river segments, Coos Bay District). 

Wilderness Instant Study Areas 

Maintain the wilderness suitability of wilderness instant study areas.
 

See Table 4 (Wilderness instant study areas, Coos Bay District).
 

Table 3. Eligible Wild And Scenic Rivers And River Segments, Coos Bay 

District 

Eligible Potential 

Classification 

Outstandingly Remarkable 

Values 

Total 

Milesa 

Acresb (BLM 

lands only) 

Sixes Recreational Fish, History 28 271 

South Fork Coos Recreational Fish, Recreation 37 503 

South Fork Coquille Recreational Fish, Prehistory 35 139 

Umpqua

(Mouth to Kellogg) 

Recreational Ecology, Fish, Geology, 

History, Prehistory, Recreation, 

Scenery 

70 1,045 

Totals 170 1,958 

a

Mileage calculations include both BLM-administered and non-BLM-administered lands. 

b

Acreage calculations are for BLM-administered lands only and based on the amount of BLM-administered lands that are located within a half mile wide river corridor.
 

Table 4. Wilderness Instant Study Areas, Coos Bay District 

Wilderness Instant Study Areas Classification Administered by the BLM 

(acres) 

Cherry Creek/Douglas fir Instant Study 590 

30 
Resource Management Plan 

Administratively Withdrawn Area 

The Administratively Withdrawn land use allocation is established to include lands withdrawn from the 

harvest land base (supports the ASQ) for specific reasons, including: 

• Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, including Research Natural Areas 

• Areas dedicated to specific purposes such as roads, buildings, maintenance yards, quarries, and 

other facilities and infrastructure 

• Recreation sites (such as campgrounds, trails, and day-use areas) 

• Sites designated for species management (such as Bald Eagle Management Areas) that are not 

included in other land use allocations 

• Areas identified through the timber production capability classification (TPCC) system as 

withdrawn from sustained yield timber production (non-suitable woodlands, low site and noncommercial species categories of suitable woodlands) or identified as nonforest 

Management Objectives and Management Direction 

The management objectives and management direction for areas of critical environmental concern, 

recreation sites/facilities, and special status species are addressed in the Resource Programs section of this 

resource management plan. 

Areas identified as withdrawn from the harvest land base through the timber production capability 

classification system do not have specific management objectives or management direction. They may be 

managed similarly to the adjacent or surrounding land use allocations, if those uses are not incompatible 

with the reason for which the lands were withdrawn (as identified by the timber production capability 

classification codes). Areas will be periodically added to or deleted from those withdrawn from sustained 

yield timber production through updates to the timber production capability classification system when onthe-ground examinations indicate the existing classification is in error. 

Roads, maintenance yards, buildings, quarries, and other facilities also do not have specific management 

objectives or management direction but will be managed for the purpose for which the facilities were constructed. 

Late-Successional Management Area 

The Late-Successional Management Area land use allocation is established as follows: 

• In the areas shown in the map packet: Map 1A for the Umpqua Resource Area, and Map 1B for the 

Myrtlewood Resource Area. 

• In the areas of contiguous marbled murrelet suitable habitat and recruitment habitat (stands 

capable of becoming habitat for the marbled murrelet within 25 years) within the range of the 

marbled murrelet that are within 0.5 mile of occupied sites. Occupation will be determined, 

through surveys in accordance with this protocol (Mack et al. 2003), by the presence of an active 

nest, a fecal ring, eggshell fragments, or birds demonstrating occupying behavior. Sites found 

during future project implementation will be added to the Late-Successional Management Area. 

Management Objectives 

Maintain habitat for the northern spotted owl and the marbled murrelet. 

Promote development of habitat suitable for nesting, roosting, or foraging for the northern spotted owl in 

stands that do not currently meet suitable habitat criteria. 

Promote development of nesting habitat for the marbled murrelet in stands that do not currently meet 

nesting habitat criteria. 

Recover economic value from timber harvested after a stand-replacement disturbance, such as a fire, 

windstorm, disease, or insect infestation. 

31 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Management Direction 

Apply thinning harvest and other silvicultural treatments to: promote development of habitat suitable for 

nesting, roosting, or foraging for the northern spotted owl; promote development of nesting habitat for the 

marbled murrelet; or reduce the potential for uncharacteristic wildfire. 

Retain snags and coarse woody debris during thinning harvest of stands, except for safety or operational 

reasons. Create new snags and coarse woody debris when existing levels of snags and CWD do not meet the 

levels defined in Table 5 and Table 6. For the purpose of defining stands of large trees and small trees: 

• Stands where the quadratic mean diameter is greater than 14 inches before stand treatment are 

considered stands of large trees. 

• Stands where the quadratic mean diameter is less than 14 inches before stand treatment are 

considered stands of small trees. 

There is no requirement to create new snags or coarse woody debris when thinning and other silvicultural 

treatments do not remove cut trees from the stand. 

Fall and remove trees as needed for safety or operational reasons, including, but not limited to, hazard 

tree removal, creation of yarding corridors adjacent to nearby harvest units, and road construction, 

improvement, or maintenance. 

Meet snag and coarse woody debris levels depicted in Table 5 and Table 6 by any combination of the creation 

of new snags and coarse woody debris from live conifer trees and the retention of existing levels of snags 

(Class I and Class II) and coarse woody debris (Class I and Class II). If existing levels of snags and coarse 

woody debris are insufficient to meet these levels in a thinning harvest unit, the desired levels can be 

satisfied by including in the project decision the creation of snags and coarse woody debris within five years 

to meet these levels after completion of the thinning harvest. Snag and coarse woody debris retention or 

Table 5. Snag And Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) Levels For Stands Of Larger 

Trees In The Late-Successional Management Area 

Vegetation Series 

Snag Retention Or Creation Cwd Retention Or Creation 

Total Trees 

Per Acre 

Component 

Diametera Total Component Diametera 

Component 

Length 

Western Hemlock 6 > 14 inches dbh 240 feet/Acre > 14 inches > 20 feet 

Douglas Fir And True Firs 3 > 14 inches dbh 120 feet/Acre > 14 inches > 16 feet 

Tanoak 4 > 14 inches dbh 120 feet/Acre > 14 inches > 16 feet a

 Diameter measured at the small end of the log 

dbh – diameter at breast height 

Table 6. Snag And Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) Levels For Stands Of Smaller 

Trees In The Late-Successional Management Area 

Vegetation Series 

Snag Retention or Creation CWD Retention or Creation 

Total Trees 

Per Acre 

Component 

Diametera 

Total Component 

Diametera 

Component

Length 

Western hemlock 3 > 12 inches dbh 120 feet/acre > 12 inches > 20 feet 

Douglas fir and true firs 2 > 10 inches dbh 60 feet/acre > 10 inches > 16 feet 

Tanoak 2 > 10 inches dbh 60 feet/acre > 10 inches > 16 feet 

a

 Diameter measured at the small end of the log 

dbh – diameter at breast height 

32 
Resource Management Plan 

creation levels are to be met at the scale of the harvest unit and are not intended to be attained on every acre. 

Figure 3. Forest 

Vegetation Series 

Snag and coarse woody debris retention will be variable per acre throughout the area being treated. Retain 

noncommercial snags and coarse woody debris, except for safety or operational reasons. 

Implement salvage harvest of timber after a stand-replacing disturbance to recover economic value of the 

stand, so long as the salvage harvest retention standards for snags and coarse woody debris described in Table 

7 (Snag and coarse woody debris retention for salvaging of timber after a stand-replacement disturbance) are 

met. Snags and coarse woody debris retention standards are to be met as an average at the scale of the salvage 

harvest unit, and are not intended to be attained on every acre. Retain an equivalent number of smaller snags 

or coarse woody debris if sufficient snags or coarse woody debris of the minimum sizes are not available. 

Make timber to be cut from thinning, tree-falling, and salvage operations available for sale. 

Table 7. Snag And Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) Retention For Salvaging Timber 

After A Stand-Replacement Disturbance In The Late-Successional Management Area 

Vegetation Series 

Snag Retention CWD Retention 

Total Trees 

Per Acre Component Diametera Total Component 

Diametera 

Component

Length 

Western hemlock 8 > 20 inches dbh 480 feet/acre > 20 inches > 20 feet 

Douglas fir and true firs 4 > 16 inches dbh 240 feet/acre > 16 inches > 16 feet 

Tanoak 4 > 20 inches dbh 240 feet/acre > 20 inches > 20 feet 

a

Diameter measured at the small end of the log 

dbh - diameter breast height 

33 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Riparian Management Area 

The Riparian Management Area land use allocation is established according to Table 8 (Criteria established 

for the Riparian Management Area land use allocation). See the map packet: Map 1A for the Umpqua 

Resource Area and Map 1B for the Myrtlewood Resource Area. 

Management Objectives 

Provide for conservation of special status fish and other special status aquatic species. 

Provide for riparian and aquatic conditions that supply stream channels with shade, sediment filtering, leaf 

litter and large wood, and streambank stability. 

Maintain and restore water quality. 

Maintain and restore access to stream channels for all life stages of fish species. 

Management Direction 

For Perennial and Intermittent Fish-Bearing Streams and Perennial Non-Fish-Bearing Streams: 

• Apply thinning and other silvicultural treatments to speed development of large trees to provide 

an eventual source of large woody debris to stream channels and to reduce the potential for 

uncharacteristic wildfire. These treatments: 

–	 Will re tain a minimum of 50 percent canopy closure; and 

–	 Will not be applied within 60 feet (slope distance) on either side of the edge of the stream 

channel, as measured from the ordinary high water line. 

• Retain all snags and coarse woody debris in thinning operations, except for safety or operational 

reasons (e.g., maintaining access to roads and facilities). 

• Make timber to be cut in thinning, tree-falling, and salvage operations available for sale. 

Table 8. Criteria Established For The Riparian Management Area Land Use 

Allocation 

Riparian Management Areas Distancea 

Perennial and intermittent fish-bearing streams and 

perennial non-fish-bearing streams 

One site-potential tree heightb on each side of a stream channel as 

measured from the ordinary high water line. 

Intermittent non-fish-bearing streams Half of one site-potential tree height on each side of a stream channel as 

measured from the ordinary high water line. 

Natural lakes, ponds > .25 acre One site-potential tree height extending from the edge of the water body 

as measured from the ordinary high water line. 

Ponds < .25 acre, natural wetlands, springs, seeps, 

constructed reservoirs, ditches, and canals 

The edge of a body of water or wetland to the outer edge of its riparian 

vegetation, or to the extent of seasonally saturated soil, whichever is greatest. 

a

 Riparian Management Areas are measured by slope (not horizontal) distance from the ordinary high water line. 

b The site-potential tree height for the purposes of determining riparian management areas will be based on district averages measured at a scale no finer than the 

fifth-field watershed. 

34 
Resource Management Plan 

For Intermittent Non-Fish-Bearing Streams: 

• Apply thinning and other silvicultural treatments to speed the development of large trees to 

provide an eventual source of large woody debris to stream channels. Do not apply thinning and 

other silvicultural treatments within 35 feet (slope distance) on either side of the edge of the stream 

channel, as measured from the ordinary high water line. 

• Retain all snags and coarse woody in thinning operations except for safety or operational reasons 

(e.g., maintaining access to roads and facilities). 

• Make timber to be cut in thinning, tree-falling, and salvage operations available for sale. 

For Natural Lakes and Ponds: 

• Fall and remove trees only as needed for safety or operational reasons, including, but not limited 

to, danger tree removal, creation of yarding corridors, and road construction, improvement, or 

maintenance. 

For Natural Wetlands, Springs, Seeps, Constructed Reservoirs, Ditches, and Canals: 

• Do not apply thinning and other silvicultural treatments, including fuels treatments within the area 

of riparian vegetation or seasonally saturated soils (whichever is greatest). 

Note: The management direction below applies within the entirety of the Riparian Management Area, 

including the 60-feet and 35-feet zones. See Table 8 (Criteria established for the riparian management 

area land use allocation) for a description of Riparian Management Areas. 

Implement salvage harvest of timber after a stand-replacing disturbance as needed to reduce hazards to 

public health and safety in the Wildland Urban Interface. 

Fall and remove trees as needed for safety or operational reasons, including but not limited to: hazard 

tree removal, creation of yarding corridors adjacent to nearby harvest units, and road construction, 

improvement, or maintenance. 

Fall and remove trees as needed for riparian restoration projects, including but not limited to alder or 

brush field conversions, or for treatment of diseases including but not limited to Port-Orford-cedar root rot 

disease and sudden oak death outbreaks. 

Implement instream and riparian restoration activities, such as placement of boulders and large wood in 

streams including tree lining from adjacent riparian areas for all streams. Place an emphasis on streams that 

have high intrinsic potential for fish, high priority fish populations (such as those defined in recovery plans), 

or high levels of chronic sediment inputs. 

Remove or modify constructed fish passage barriers to restore access to stream channels for all life stages of 

fish species. 

Apply fuels treatments and prescribed burns in Riparian Management Areas as needed to reduce the 

potential for uncharacteristic wildfires. 

Restrict livestock from Riparian Management Areas of streams with ESA-listed or anadromous fish species 

until 30 days following the emergence of salmonids from spawning beds. 

Manage livestock grazing in Riparian Management Areas at a level that allows maintenance or development 

of the proper functioning condition of riparian and wetland plant communities. Implement practices such 

as installing and maintaining livestock exclosures, managing season of use and intensity, developing offstream watering facilities, and other appropriate techniques to attain this condition. 

35 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Deferred Timber Management Area 

The Deferred Timber Management Area land use allocation in the Coos Bay District is established as shown 

in the map packet: Map 1A for the Umpqua Resource Area, and Map 1B for the Myrtlewood Resource Area. 

The acres included in the deferred areas are taken from the underlying land use allocation, which for the 

Coos Bay District is the Timber Management Area. After year 2023, the deferred acres will revert back to 

their underlying land use allocation and associated management objectives and management direction. 

Management Objective 

Maintain substantially all of the existing levels of older and more structurally complex multi-layered conifer 

forests through the year 2023.

 Management Direction 

Defer timber harvest of stands until after the year 2023. 

Apply fuels treatments to reduce the fuel hazard. Treatments that reduce crown bulk density or remove trees 

over 8 inches dbh are prohibited. 

Fall and remove trees as needed for safety or operational reasons, including but not limited to hazard 

tree removal, creation of yarding corridors adjacent to nearby harvest units, and road construction, 

improvement, or maintenance. 

Return deferred areas to the Timber Management Area land use allocation after a stand-replacement 

disturbance. 

Timber Management Area 

The Timber Management Area land use allocation in the Coos Bay District is established and consists of 

commercial forest lands that are not included in the following land use allocations: 

• Lands of the National Landscape Conservation System 

• Administratively Withdrawn Area 

• Late-Successional Management Area 

• Riparian Management Area 

• Deferred Timber Management Area 

For detailed views of the Timber Management Area land use allocation by resource area in the Coos Bay 

District, see the map packet: Map 1A for the Umpqua Resource Area, and Map 1B for the Myrtlewood 

Resource Area. 

Management Objectives 

Manage forests to achieve continuous timber production that could be sustained through a balance of 

growth and harvest. 

Offer for sale annually the declared annual productive capacity (allowable sale quantity) of 75 million board feet. 

36 
Resource Management Plan 

Management Direction 

Offer annual timber volume for sale that does not vary more than ten percent from the declared annual 

productive capacity (allowable sale quantity). 

Maintain the cumulative offering of annual timber volume within five percent of the annual productive 

capacity (allowable sale quantity) over two or more years by adjusting annual timber volume within the 

allowed annual variation of ten percent. 

Offer timber for sale from regeneration harvest units. 

See Table 9 (Estimated Decadal Allowable Sale Quantity Offered For Sale In The Timber Management Area, 

Coos Bay District) for the estimated portion of the decadal allowable sale quantity offered for sale from 

regeneration harvest units in the Timber Management Area. 

Implement regeneration harvests to remove volume and replace slower-growing stands with young, rapidly 

growing stands. Generally, schedule regeneration harvests for stands to maximize potential growth and 

yield. 

The minimum age of stands for regeneration harvesting are stands as young as the 40-year age class. 

Generally, harvest stands above the minimum age. 

Apply regeneration harvests to younger stands for purposes that include management of: 

• Age class distribution 

• Diseased stands 

• A change in species composition to a more commercially desirable species 

• Overstocked stands with poor vigor and low crown ratio 

• Areas affected by natural disturbance 

Remove all merchantable material from regeneration harvest units. Retain noncommercial trees, snags, and 

coarse woody debris except for safety or operational reasons, including but not limited to: hazard tree and 

log removal, creation of yarding corridors, and road construction. Noncommercial trees, snags, and coarse 

woody debris may also be removed as part of biomass recovery. 

In 6th field watersheds susceptible to peak flow increases in the rain-on-snow hydroregion, where 

regeneration harvest would result in peak flow increases that would cause adverse effects to stream form 

or fish, retain 7 trees per acre greater than 20" diameter breast height so as to reduce wind speed across 

regeneration harvest units. If sufficient noncommercial trees are not available in regeneration harvest units 

to accomplish the purpose, retain additional merchantable trees to provide an average over the harvest unit 

of 7 total trees per acre greater than 20" diameter breast height. 

Offer timber for sale from commercial thinning harvest units. See Table 9 for the estimated portion of 

the decadal allowable sale quantity offered for sale from commercial thinning harvest units in the Timber 

Management Area. 

Table 9. Estimated Decadal Allowable Sale Quantity Offered For Sale In The 

Timber Management Area, Coos Bay District 

Estimated Portion of the Decadal ASQ Offered for Sale 10-Year Volume (mmbf) 

From regeneration harvest units in the Timber Management Area 480 

From commercial thinning harvest units in the Timber Management Area 270 

37 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Apply commercial thinning to recover anticipated mortality; to adjust stand composition or dominance; to 

reduce stand susceptibility to disturbances such as a fire, windstorm, disease, or insect infestation; and to 

improve merchantability and value. 

Maintain stand densities through commercial thinning at levels above that needed to occupy the site, but 

below densities that will result in loss of stand vigor and health. 

Convert stands with a composition of commercially undesirable tree species or an inadequate stocking 

of commercially desirable tree species to stands that are fully stocked by desirable tree species. Treatment 

projects designed to convert stands to desirable tree species are not subject to the minimum age 

requirements of regeneration harvests. 

Implement salvage harvest in a timely manner after natural disturbances to recover volume and economic 

value, and to minimize commercial loss or deterioration of damaged trees. 

Management Objective 

In harvested or disturbed areas, assure the establishment and survival of commercially desirable trees and 

enhance their growth. 

Management Direction 

Prepare newly harvested and inadequately stocked areas for the regeneration of commercially desirable tree 

species as determined by the BLM.
 

Site preparation methods include mechanical or manual procedures, and prescribed burns.
 

Achieve adequate reforestation as promptly as practical following timber harvests, as follows:
 

• Reforest harvested areas with indigenous tree species. 

• Manage identified root disease centers for indigenous disease-resistant tree species. 

• Utilize genetically improved indigenous trees in reforestation to the extent available. 

Promote the establishment and survival of commercially desirable coniferous seedlings and saplings 

through stand maintenance and protective treatments.
 

Management Objective 

Enhance the health, stability, growth, vigor, and economic value of forest stands. 

Management Direction 

Convert lands historically supporting conifer species that are currently growing primarily brush or 

hardwoods to conifer species suitable to the site, unless the hardwoods would produce a higher net 

monetary return.
 

Apply precommercial thinning to forest stands to achieve appropriate stocking levels. 

Apply fertilizer to forest stands that are at suitable density levels and where treatment will increase stand 

growth and timber yields. 

Apply pruning to enhance timber value and for fuels and disease management. 

38 
Resource Management Plan 

Resource Programs 

The management direction in this section is by individual resource programs and will be applied in any land 

use allocation. 

Air
 

Management Objective
 

Avoid impacts to air quality in areas designated as Class I for air quality and nonattainment areas. 

Management Direction 

Implement prescribed burns in accordance with the Oregon Smoke Management Plan to reduce emissions, 

to avoid smoke intrusions into designated areas, and to avoid degrading the visibility in Class I areas. 

Utilize dust palliatives where needed to reduce dust during timber hauling operations and other 

management activities that utilize native, cinder, or crushed rock surfaced roads. 

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Including Research Natural Areas 

Designate Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, including Research Natural Areas, as listed in Table 10 

(Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Coos Bay District) and as shown in the map packet: Map 2A for 

the Umpqua Resource Area, and Map 2B for the Myrtlewood Resource Area. 

Table 10. Areas Of Critical Environmental Concern, Coos Bay District 

Location # 

on Map 2A/2Ba ACEC Name Total Area (acres) 

Map 2A Umpqua Resource Area 

54 Cherry Creek RNA 592 

60 North Fork Coquille River 310 

62 North Spit 682 

64 Roman Nose 205 

66 Tioga Creek 42 

68 Wasson Creek 3,394 

Map 2B Myrtlewood Resource Area 

53 Brownson Ridge 369 

55 China Wall 302 

56 Euphoria Ridge 239 

57 Hunter Creek Bog 721 

58 New River 1,133 

59 North Fork Chetco 603 

61 North Fork Hunter Creek 1,757 

63 Rocky Peak 1,827 

65 Steel Creek 1,204 

67 Upper Rock Creek 387 

a

Map numbers start at 53 because ACECs were numbered consecutively across the planning area in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. 

39 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Management Objective 

Maintain or restore important and relevant values in Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, including 

research natural areas and outstanding natural areas. 

Management Direction 

Implement activities as necessary to maintain or restore important and relevant values (see Appendix D - 

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern). 

Botany 

Special Status Plant and Fungi Species 

Management Objective 

Provide for conservation of BLM special status species. 

Management Direction 

Manage plant species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act consistent with recovery plans and 

designated critical habitat. 

Manage BLM special status plant and fungi species to maintain or restore populations and habitat consistent 

with species conservation needs. Protection measures may include altering the type, timing, extent, and 

intensity of actions; and other strategies designed to maintain populations of species. Restorative measures 

may include establishing new populations or augmenting existing populations. 

Implement conservation and cooperative plans, strategies, and agreements for special status species. 

Plant Communities on Nonforest and Noncommercial Forest Lands 

Management Objective 

Maintain or restore natural plant communities on nonforest and noncommercial forest lands. 

Management Direction 

Maintain or restore natural plant communities through activities including the use of disturbances (such 

as prescribed burning and cutting of vegetation), retention of legacy components, and removal of invading 

vegetation (such as conifers in meadows, grasslands, or oak woodlands). 

Re-vegetate degraded or disturbed areas with native seed or plants to maintain the native plant community. 

Design road construction, road maintenance, and culvert replacement to retain or reconnect the hydrologic 

flows to streams, wetlands, springs, fens, ponds, and vernal pools. 

40 
Resource Management Plan 

Invasive Plants 

Management Objective 

Avoid the introduction of invasive plants and the spread of existing invasive plant infestations on 

administered lands. 

BLMManagement Direction 

Implement measures to prevent, detect, and rapidly control new invasive plant infestations. 

Utilize manual, mechanical, cultural, chemical, and biological treatments to manage invasive plant 

infestations. 

Treat invasive plants in accordance with the Records of Decision (RODs) for the Northwest Area 

Noxious Weed Control Program EIS and the Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land 

Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (September 2007). 

Cultural and Paleontological Resources, Including American Indian 

Traditional Uses 

Management Objective 

Conserve scientific, traditional use, heritage, educational, public, and recreational values of cultural and 

paleontological resource sites. 

Management Direction 

Avoid ground-disturbing actions on sites that are listed (or eligible for listing) on the National Register 

of Historic Places. Salvage sites with scientific value prior to disturbance through practices such as data 

recovery, which include excavation, relocation, or documentation if avoidance is not practical. 

Classify cultural properties to the following use categories: 

• Classify cultural properties that are determined to be available for consideration as the subject of 

scientific or historical study as scientific use sites or experimental use sites. 

• Classify unusual cultural properties that are not currently available for scientific or historical study, 

because of scarcity, a research potential that surpasses the current state-of-the-art, singular historic 

importance, cultural importance, tribal importance, architectural interest, or comparable reasons as 

conservation for future use sites. Select sites for the purpose of retaining a representative sample of 

site types from those available in areas where conflicts with other resource management activities 

are not anticipated. Preserve these sites. 

• Classify cultural properties known to be important in maintaining the cultural identity, heritage, 

or well being of a specified and recognized tribes as traditional use sites. Manage these sites to 

accommodate their continuing traditional use. 

• Classify cultural properties found to be appropriate for use as interpretive exhibits at their original 

location (i.e., in place), or found to be appropriate for related educational and recreational uses as 

public use sites. Priority locations for these interpretive exhibits will include developed recreation 

sites, recreation corridors, and locations where recreation is being promoted. Preserve these sites. 

• Provide no special management for cultural properties that are only important for their scientific 

values, and whose research potential is effectively exhausted (ones where the salient information 

has been collected and preserved or has been destroyed by natural or human activity). These are 

discharged use sites. 

41 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

The use categories for existing sites and new sites may be assigned or changed by comparing the site’s 

characteristics to these use category descriptions. 

Acquire significant cultural resource properties for public, cultural heritage, and scientific purposes when 

such properties are adjacent to or are inholdings of BLM-administered land. 

Excavate and recover the data where warranted by the scientific importance of the cultural and 

paleontological sites threatened by natural processes or human activity.
 

Energy and Minerals 

Management Objective 

Maintain existing opportunities and develop new opportunities for the exploration and development of 

locatable, leasable, and salable energy and mineral resources, wind energy development, and casual mineral 

prospecting. 

Management Direction 

Provide for energy and mineral resource exploration and development. 

Provide for biomass availability from harvesting actions, silvicultural treatments, and forest health and fuels 

treatments for use as combustible fuel or other energy products. 

Utilize new and existing quarry and pit sites to provide economical sources of rock and aggregate. Existing 

quarry and pit sites, along with the areas involved in their incremental expansion will be managed as 

existing facilities and will not be available for other management uses. 

See Table 11 (Areas open or closed to energy and mineral developments) for the areas that are open or closed 

to energy and mineral developments. 

See Appendix E - Energy and Minerals for a reasonably foreseeable development scenario and the 

stipulations that will be applied to the development. 

Table 11. Areas Open Or Closed To Energy And Mineral Developments, Coos 

Bay District 

Categories and Subcategories Acres 

Federal Surface and Mineral Estate 329,600 

Federal Minerals/Private Surface 12,200 

Closed Nondiscretionary 1,000 

Closed Discretionary 11,500 

Open Standard Restrictions and/or Stipulations 99,500 

Open Additional Restrictions 217,600 

Locatable (e.g., metallics and gemstones) 

Salable (e.g., sand, gravel, stone, clays, pumice) 

Closed Nondiscretionary 600 

Closed Discretionary 14,700 

Open Standard Restrictions/Stipulations 84,600 

Open Additional Restrictions 229,700 

Leasable (e.g., oil, gas, geothermal, coal, chemical mineralsa

) 

Closed Nondiscretionary 0 

Open Standard Restrictions/Stipulations 94,300 

Open Additional Restrictions 212,000 

Open No Surface Occupancy 15,000 a

Chemical minerals include phosphate, sodium, potassium, sulphur, etc. that may or may not be present in the planning area. These minerals are commonly used by 

industry to prepare brines or acids, or to serve as chemical bases in the manufacture of other products. 

42 
Resource Management Plan 

Fire and Fuels Management 

Management Objectives 

Reduce the fire hazards to communities that are at risk from uncharacteristic wildfires. 

Decrease the risk of large wildfires, and reduce the cost and associated hazard of fire suppression.
 

Reduce the risk of resource damage due to uncharacteristic wildfires.
 

Management Direction 

Treat hazardous fuels generated by management activity, particularly in wildland urban interface areas. See 

Figure 4 (Wildland urban interface). 

Urban Interface

Figure 4. Wildland 

Urban Interface 

43 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Apply fuels treatment to stands of any age in order to reduce the fuel hazards. Fuel treatments will include 

such activities as tree cutting and removal, brush cutting, pruning, reducing crown bulk density (except in 

the Deferred Timber Management Area), treating of activity fuels, removing of biomass, and prescribed 

burning. 

Fuels treatments will occur in various combinations of Fire Regimes and Fire Regime Condition Classes, 

with an emphasis on those combinations identified as high priority in Table 12 (Fuel treatment emphasis 

areas using Fire Regime and Fire Regime Condition Class). 

Apply vegetation treatments in noncommercial oak woodlands to create open conditions with large fireresistant oaks. 

Utilize prescribed burns in low intensity, high frequency fire regimes to emulate natural fire occurrences. 

Remove vegetation and implement other associated maintenance activities to maintain access around ponds 

and water sources that have been constructed as fire suppression water sources. 

Table 12. Fuel Treatment Emphasis Areas Using Fire Regime And Fire Regime 

Condition Class 

Fire Regime Fire Regime Condition Class Priority 

1 3 HIGH 

1 2 HIGH 

1 1 HIGH 

2 3 HIGH 

2 2 HIGH 

2 1 MODERATE 

3 3 HIGH 

3 2 HIGH 

3 1 MODERATE 

4 3 LOW 

4 2 LOW 

4 1 LOW 

5 3 LOW 

5 2 LOW 

5 1 LOW 

Fish 

Management objectives and management direction for fish habitat are included under the Riparian 

Management Area land use allocation section in this resource management plan. 

Grazing 

Management Objective 

Provide livestock grazing permits and leases while maintaining or improving public rangelands. 

Management Direction 

Discontinue the authorization of livestock grazing through the issuance of grazing leases. Authorize grazing 

through management agreements, temporary nonrenewable grazing permits or leases, or special-use 

permits in a manner consistent with the grazing regulations. 

44 
Resource Management Plan 

Hazardous Materials 

Management Objectives 

Limit the use of hazardous materials. 

Eliminate hazardous wastes. 

Management Direction 

Respond to hazardous material incidents through actions such as cleanup, proper notifications, criminal 

investigations, and site assessments.
 

Store, treat, and dispose of hazardous materials in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
 

Protect employees and the public from known hazardous materials on BLM-administered lands.
 

Lands, Realty, Access, and Transportation 

Management Objectives 

Make land tenure adjustments to facilitate the management of resources.
 

Provide legal access to BLM-administered lands and facilities to support resource management programs.
 

Provide needed rights-of-way, permits, leases, and easements over BLM-administered lands in a manner 

that is consistent with federal and state laws.
 

Provide a road transportation system that serves resource management needs.
 

Protect lands that have important resource values or substantial levels of investment by withdrawing them, 

where necessary, from the implementation of nondiscretionary public land and mineral laws.
 

Management Direction 

Retain lands in Zone 1 under BLM administration. Lands in Zone 1 include: 

• National Landscape Conservation System designated lands 

• Areas of critical environmental concern 

• Research natural areas 

• Outstanding natural areas 

• Developed recreation sites 

• Critical habitat for threatened or endangered species 

Lands in Zone 2 will be available for exchange to enhance public resource values, improve management 

capabilities, or reduce the potential for land use conflict. Zone 2 lands consist of all lands not listed in the 

descriptions of Zone 1 lands and Zone 3 lands (see Appendix F – Lands). 

45 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Lands in Zone 3 will be available for disposal using appropriate disposal mechanisms. These lands will include: 

• Lands that are either not practical to manage, or are uneconomical to manage (because of their 

intermingled location and nonsuitability for management by another federal agency) 

• Survey hiatuses 

• Encroachments 

Assign lands with survey hiatuses and encroachments that are discovered in the future to Zone 3. For land 

tenure Zone 3 lands, see the map packet: Map 3A for the Umpqua Resource Area, and Map 3B for the 

Myrtlewood Resource Area. 

See Table 13 (Acres Of Land Tenure Zones) below for acres of land tenure zones in the Coos Bay BLM 

District. 

Assign lands in Zones 2 and 3 that are included in future designations of critical habitat by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service to Zone 1. 

Do not reduce through disposal, exchange or sale, the acres of O&C lands or Coos Bay Wagon Road Lands 

of all classifications, and the acres of O&C, Coos Bay Wagon Road Lands, and public domain lands that are 

available for harvesting. The total net change in land tenure in the planning area will be evaluated every 10 

years, dating from 1998. 

Lands will be acquired or disposed of to facilitate resource management objectives as opportunities occur. 

See the Land Tenure Adjustment Criteria section in Appendix F - Lands. 

Manage newly acquired lands for the purpose for which they were acquired or in a manner that is consistent 

with management objectives for adjacent BLM-administered lands or other BLM-administered lands having 

similar resource values. 

Issue temporary-use permits, as identified under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (Section 

302), for a variety of uses, such as, but not limited to, stockpile and storage sites and as tools to authorize 

unintentional trespass situations pending final resolution. 

Recognize existing rights-of-way, permits, and easements as valid uses. 

No new leases or permits will be issued for landfills or solid waste disposal sites. 

Utilize land-use authorizations to resolve agricultural and occupancy trespasses, where appropriate. 

Limit withdrawals to the area needed and restrict only those activities needed to accomplish the purposes of 

the withdrawal. 

Class I visual resource management areas are right-of-way exclusion areas where future rights-of-way will be 

granted only on a case-by-case basis or when mandated by law. 

Recreation sites, areas of critical environmental concern, research natural areas, wild and scenic rivers that 

are classified as scenic and recreational rivers, and Class II visual resource management areas will be rightof-way avoidance areas (i.e., rights-of-way will be granted only where no practical alternative is available). 

Table 13. Acres Of Land Tenure Zones, Coos Bay District 

Land Tenure Zone Acres 

Zone 1 – Retention and Acquisition 169,000 

Zone 2 – Suitable for Exchange and Consolidation 151,300 

Zone 3 – Suitable for Disposal 800 

46 
Resource Management Plan 

Utility corridors are the preferred location for energy transmission or distribution facilities. Corridors are 

generally 1,000 feet on each side of the centerline. Th e rights-of-way granted will be the minimum necessary 

to accommodate a specifi c request. No development or management activities will be permitted that would 

confl ict with construction, operation, or maintenance of facilities corresponding to the purpose of the utility 

corridor. See Figure 5 (Utility corridors and communication sites). 

New communication facilities will be allowed on existing developed communication sites where they do 

not confl ict with other management objectives. See Figure 5 (Utility corridors and communication sites) and 

Appendix F - Lands. 

Figure 5. Utility Corridors And Communication Sites 

47 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Expansion of existing communication sites and the development of new sites will be permitted. The priority 

for accommodating the need for additional capacity will be the use of existing sites and facilities. 

Manage existing roads to protect resource values, provide for safety, protect facility investment, and 

provide access for management activities. Remove hazard trees and downed trees along roads for safety or 

operational reasons. 

New permanent or temporary roads, and stream-crossing structures will be constructed where needed for 

the implementation of management direction. 

Roads that are not needed for long-term resource management will be decommissioned. 

Recreation 

Management Objective 

Provide a diversity of developed and dispersed outdoor recreational opportunities that contribute to 

meeting recreational demand and quality visitor experiences. 

Management Direction 

Pursue public access to BLM-administered lands that have high recreational potential.
 

Manage special recreation management areas in accordance with their planning frameworks.
 

See the following:
 

• Table 14 (Recreation management areas) 

• Appendix G – Recreation 

• Maps in the m ap packet: 

• Map 2A for recreation management areas in the Umpqua Resource Area 

• Map 2B for recreation management areas in the Myrtlewood Resource Area 

Table 14. Recreation Management Areas, Coos Bay District 

Location # 

on Map 2A/2Ba Recreation Management Area Acres 

Special Recreation Management Areas 

17 Coos Bay Shorelands 1,754 

18 Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area 1,136 

19 Loon Lake 126 

20 New River 1,133 

21 Sixes River 208 

22 Tioga 34,013 

Total Acres 38,370 

Extensive Recreation Management Areas 

Map 2A Umpqua 110,763 

Map 2B Myrtlewood 173,089 

Total Acres 283,852 

a

Map numbers start at 17 because Recreation Management Areas were numbered consecutively across the planning area in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. 

48 
Resource Management Plan 

Manage lands not designated as special recreation management areas as extensive recreation management 

areas for developed and dispersed recreational opportunities. See Table 14 (Recreation management areas). 

Maintain recreational developments, including sites and trails. See Table 15 (Recreation sites) and Table 16 

(Recreation trails). 

Table 15. Recreation Sites, Coos Bay District 

Location # on 

Map 2A/2Ba Recreation Site Acres 

57 Bear Creek Campground 80

58 Burnt Mountain Campground 

Cape Blanco Lighthouse 59 35 (under permit from the U.S .Coast Guard) 

60 Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area 1,136

61 East Shore Campground 52

62 Edson Creek Campground 

63 Fawn Creek Campground 

64 Loon Lake Campground 

65 North Spit Boat Ramp 

66 Park Creek Campground 

67 Sixes River Campground 162

68 Smith River Falls Campground 

69 Storm Ranch Day-Use Area 240

70 Vincent Creek Campground 

Total Acres 2,003

a

Map numbers start at 57 because Recreation Sites were numbered consecutively across the planning area in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. 

Table 16. Recreation Trails, Coos Bay District 

Location # on Maps

2A/2Ba Recreation Trails Miles 

27 Blue Ridge 

28 Doerner Fir 0.5 

29 Euphoria Ridge 

30 Floras Lake 

31 Fourmile Creek 0.3 

32 Loon Lake Waterfall 0.5 

33 Lost Lake 

34 New River/Storm Ranch 

35 New River Water Trail 

36 North Fork Hunter Creek 

37 North Spit 

Total Miles 35.3 

a

Map numbers start at 27 because Recreation Trails were numbered consecutively across the planning area in the Final Environmental Impact Statement. 

49 

10 

4 

1 

1 

2 

5 

2 

9 

38

46

5

76

24

58

47

4
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Develop potential recreational sites and trails in the future depending on recreational demand and 

feasibility. See Table 17 (Potential recreation sites and trails) and Figures 6 and 7. 

Withdraw areas containing recreational developments from mineral entry or development. 

Develop closed or abandoned roads where feasible to provide additional trail opportunities. 

Provide service-oriented and outreach programs, including interpretation and education to visitors.
 

Manage environmental education areas to provide educational opportunities for the public. See Table 18 


(Environmental education areas). 

Table 17. Potential Recreation Sites And Potential Recreation Trails, Coos 

Bay District 

Location # on Figure 6a Potential Recreation Sitesb Acres 

21 Big Bend 200 

22 Fawn Creek Boat Ramp 11 

23 McKinley Camp 10 

24 Smith River Log Dump 5 

25 Spruce Reach Island Day-Use Area 15 

26 Tioga Basin 30 

27 Wells Creek Guard Station 1 

Total Acres 272 

Location # on Figure 7a Potential Recreation Trails b Miles 

25 Bear Creek Extension 3 

26 Brummit Creek Trail System 10 

27 Coos Head Trail System 3 

28 Doerner Fir Extension 1 

29 Hunter Creek Bog 1 

30 McKinley Camp Trail 1 

31 Rocky Peak Trail 6 

32 Roman Nose/Kentucky Creek 6 

33 Upper Rock Creek 2 

34 Wasson Creek 5 

Total Miles 38 

a

Figure numbers start at 21 and 25 because potential recreation sites and trails were numbered consecutively across the planning area in the Final Environmental 

Impact Statement.
 

b

See Figure 6 for general locations of potential recreation sites, and Figure 7 for general locations of potential recreation trails.
 

Table 18. Environmental Education Areas, Coos Bay District 

Environmental Education Areas Acres 

Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area 1,136 

New River ACEC 1,356 

Powers 70 

Total Acres 2,562 

50 
Resource Management Plan 

Figure 6. Potential Recreation Sites, Coos Bay District Potential Recreation Sites, Coos Bay District 

See Table 17 

51 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Figure 7. Potential Recreation Trails, Coos Bay District 

See Table 17 

52 
Resource Management Plan 

Manage recreation sites authorized under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act according to their lease 

agreements. See Table 19 (Recreation and public purpose leases). 

Areas listed in Table 20 (Areas closed to off-highway vehicle use) are designated as closed to off-highway 

vehicle use. 

Areas not designated as closed to off-highway vehicle use are designated as limited to designated roads and 


trails. See Table 21 (Off-highway vehicle area designations).
 

Manage the area listed in Table 22 as an off-highway vehicle emphasis area. 

See Figure 8 (Off-highway vehicle designations) and Figure 9 (Off-highway vehicle emphasis areas). 

Manage off-highway vehicle areas and off-highway vehicle emphasis areas according to interim management 

guidelines until subsequent comprehensive travel management plans are completed. See Appendix G - Recreation.
 

Table 19. Recreation And Public Purpose Leases (R&PP), Coos Bay District 

R&PP Leasesa Lessee Acres 

Frona Park Coos County 80 

Judge Hamilton Park Coos County 88 

Laverne County Park Coos County 120 

Middle Creek Park Coos County 78 

Rock Prairie Park Coos County 160 

Total Acres 526 

a

Recreational leases with Coos County were established prior to the R&PP Act as Congressional withdrawals to Coos County for recreational purposes and are termed 

Congressionally designated recreation withdrawals. 

Table 20. Areas Closed To Off-Highway Vehicle Use, Coos Bay District 

Areas Closed to Off-Highway Vehicle Use Acres 

Cherry Creek RNA/ACEC & ISA 592 

China Wall ACEC 302 

Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area (portion) 1,084 

Euphoria Ridge ACEC 239 

New River ACEC (portion) 883 

North Spit Snowy Plover Habitat Restoration Areas 68 

Powers Environmental Education Area 69 

Progeny Test Sites & Seed Orchards 565 

Tioga Creek ACEC 42 

Total Acres 3,844 

Table 21. Off-Highway Vehicle Area Designations, Coos Bay District 

Off-Highway Vehicle Area Designations Acres 

Open 0 

Limited to designated roads and trails 318,437 

Closed 3,844 

Total Acres 322,281 

Table 22. Off-Highway Vehicle Emphasis Areas, Coos Bay District 

Off-Highway Vehicle Emphasis Area Acres 

Blue Ridge 1,609 

53 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Figure 8. Off-Highway Vehicle Area Designations, Coos Bay District 

54 
Resource Management Plan 

Figure 9. Off-Highway Vehicle Emphasis Area, Coos Bay District 

55 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Research 

Management Objective 

Provide for research to support the management of lands and resources administered by the BLM in western 

Oregon. 

Management Direction 

Ongoing research projects will be continued according to current or updated study plans. Management 

direction on existing study sites that conflict with research objectives will be deferred until the research is 

complete. New research projects will require study plans that are consistent with the resource management 

plan or a plan amendment if they are not consistent with the resource management plan. 

Soils 

Management Objective 

Provide for long-term soil productivity. 

Management Direction 

Design management activities that affect soil productivity (such as prescribed burns, wildfire suppression, 

silviculture, timber harvesting, biomass removal, and grazing) to provide for long-term soil productivity. 

Special Forest Products 

Management Objective 

Provide for the harvest and collection of special forest products. 

Management Direction 

Restrict collection amounts and collection activities of special forest products in a manner that limits 

adverse impacts to other resources. 

Rotate areas for the collection of individual special forest products as needed to maintain the availability of 

special forest products. 

Timber 

Management Objectives and Management Direction for timber are included under the sections on Deferred

Timber Management Area and the Timber Management Area land use allocations. In addition, the 

following objective and direction applies to all land use allocations: 

Management Objective 

In harvested or disturbed areas, assure the establishment and survival of desirable trees and 

enhance their growth. 

Management Direction 

Manage Port-Orford-Cedar in accordance with the May 2004 Record Of Decision for the Management of 

Port-Orford-Cedar in southwest Oregon, Coos Bay, Medford, and Roseburg Districts. 

56 
Resource Management Plan 

Visual Resource Management 

Visual resource management classes are established as shown in the map packet: Map 3A for the Umpqua 

Resource Area, and Map 3B for the Myrtlewood Resource Area. Also see Table 23 (Acres of visual resource 

management classes). 

Management Objective 

Preserve the existing character of the landscape in Class I visual resource management areas. 

Management Direction 

Designated, suitable, and eligible wild and scenic rivers that are classified as wild; wilderness areas; 

wilderness study areas; and wilderness instant study areas will be managed as Class I visual resource 

management areas. 

Manage VRM I areas in accordance with natural ecological changes. Some very limited management 

activities will occur in these areas. The level of change to the characteristic landscape will be very low and 

will not attract attention. Changes will repeat the basic elements of form, line, color, texture, and scale found 

in the predominant natural features of the characteristic landscape. 

Management Objective 

Retain the existing character of the landscape in Class II visual resource management areas. 

Management Direction 

Designated, suitable, and eligible wild and scenic rivers that are classified as scenic will be managed as Class 

II visual resource management areas. 

Manage VRM II areas for low levels of change to the characteristic landscape. Management activities will be 

seen, but will not attract the attention of the casual observer. Changes will repeat the basic elements of form, 

line, color, texture, and scale found in the predominant natural features of the characteristic landscape. 

Management Objective 

Partially retain the existing character of the landscape in Class III visual resource management areas. 

Management Direction 

Designated, suitable, and eligible wild and scenic rivers that are classified as recreational will be managed as 

Class III visual resource management areas. 

Manage VRM III areas for moderate levels of change to the characteristic landscape. Management 

activities will attract attention but will not dominate the view of the casual observer. Changes will repeat 

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

characteristic landscape. 

Table 23. Acres Of Visual Resource Management (VRM) Classes, Coos Bay District 

Visual Resource Management (VRM) Classes Acres 

VRM Class I 7,545 

VRM Class II 10,345 

VRM Class III 14,729 

VRM Class IV 369,566 

57 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Management Objective 

Allow for major modification of the existing character of the landscape in Class IV visual resource 

management areas. 

Management Direction 

All lands that are not designated as Class I, Class II, or Class III will be managed as Class IV visual resource 

management areas. 

Manage VRM IV areas for high levels of change to the characteristic landscape. Management activities will 

dominate the view and will be the major focus of viewer attention. 

Water 

Management Objective 

Maintain and restore water quality. 

Management Direction 

Implement road improvement, storm-proofing, maintenance, or decommissioning to reduce chronic 

sediment inputs to stream channels and waterbodies. 

Apply Best Management Practices as needed to maintain or restore water quality. See Appendix C – Best 

Management Practices. 

Wilderness Characteristics 

Management Objective 

Maintain wilderness characteristics on those BLM-administered lands designated in Table 24 (Lands with 

wilderness characteristics maintained under special management). 

Management Direction 

Maintain wilderness characteristics on the BLM-administered lands that are listed in Table 24 (Lands 

with wilderness characteristics maintained under special management) and shown in Figure 10 (Lands with 

wilderness characteristics), excluding the portions of those areas that occur on O&C lands that are suitable 

for permanent timber production. 

Table 24. Lands With Wilderness Characteristics Maintained Under Special 

Management, Coos Bay District 

BLM-administered Lands Total 

(acres) 

Identified Wilderness Characteristics 

Naturalness 

Outstanding 

Opportunities for 

Solitude 

Outstanding Opportunities for 

Primitive, Unconfined Recreation 

Coos Bay District 

Wasson Creek 3,408 X X X 

58 
Resource Management Plan 

Figure 10. Lands With Wilderness Characteristics, Coos Bay District 

59 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Wildlife 

Management Objective 

Provide for the conservation of BLM special status species. 

Management Direction 

Manage species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act consistent with recovery plans and 

designated critical habitat. Wildlife species with currently approved recovery plans include the marbled 

murrelet and northern spotted owl. 

Manage BLM special status animal species to maintain or restore populations and habitat consistent with 

species conservation requirements. Protection measures will include altering the type, timing, extent, and 

intensity of actions; and other strategies designed to maintain populations of species. Restorative measures 

will include establishing new populations or augmenting existing populations. 

Implement conservation and cooperative plans, strategies, and agreements for special status animal species. 

Implement the following actions for the management of western snowy plover: 

• Activities that disrupt nesting will be restricted during nesting season where snowy plover have 

been found to be currently nesting. 

• Public use of nesting areas will be managed during the nesting season to reduce activities that 

would substantially reduce nesting success. 

• Predator controls will be employed when data demonstrates that loss of nests due to predators 

substantially reduces overall nesting success. 

• Control measures will be implemented if invasive plant species are creating a loss of suitable 

nesting habitat. 

• Measures will be implemented for supporting coastal dune processes to sustain suitable western 

snowy plover nesting habitat. 

Restrict activities that would disrupt nesting during nesting season where northern spotted owls have been 

found to be currently nesting. 

Prior to project implementation and using approved protocol standards, survey proposed projects that 

are within the range of the marbled murrelet and that could degrade or remove suitable marbled murrelet 

habitat. The Pacific Seabird Groups’ Method for Surveying Marbled Murrelets in Forests: A Revised Protocol 

for Land Management and Research (Mack et al. 2003) is the currently approved protocol. If surveys indicate 

that habitat is occupied, all contiguous suitable habitat and recruitment habitat (i.e., stands that are capable 

of becoming marbled murrelet habitat within 25 years) within a 0.5-mile radius will be protected. 

Restrict activities that would disrupt nesting during nesting season where marbled murrelets have been 

found to be currently nesting. 

Bald eagle management areas are established as shown on Figure 11(Habitat management areas for bald 

eagle, deer, and elk). These areas will be managed to protect bald eagle nest sites and winter roosting areas, 

and to develop replacement habitat for nesting and roosting. Additional bald eagle management areas 

will be established at a minimum of 20 acres to protect newly detected nest trees and adjacent roost areas. 

Management activities will include prescribed burns and other treatments (such as commercial thinning 

and density management) to reduce fuel loading and to accelerate growth and improve tree vigor. 

60 
Resource Management Plan 

Figure 11. Habitat Management Areas For Bald Eagle, Deer, And Elk, Coos Bay District 

61 
Coos Bay District ROD and RMP 

Management Objective 

Assist the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in meeting wildlife management goals on public domain 

lands and on O&C lands where the goals are consistent with the O&C Act. 

Management Direction 

Plant forage species along roadsides, skid trails, and on landings, or create forage plots when forage quality 

is determined to be a limiting factor in achieving the management goals of the Oregon Department of Fish 

and Wildlife. 

Include forage retention requirements for wildlife when implementing silvicultural treatments or habitat 

management activities. 

Administrative Actions 

Administrative actions are routine transactions and activities that are required to serve the public and to 

provide optimum management of resources. They will be applied in any land use allocation. 

Implement administrative actions including, but not limited to, the following: 

• Recreation site maintenance 

• Recreation site improvement 

• Competitive and commercial recreation activities 

• Lands and realty actions (including the issuance and administration of grants, leases, and permits 

issued under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act) 

• Resolution of trespasses 

• Facility maintenance 

• Improvements to existing facilities 

• Road maintenance 

• Issuance and administration of O&C unilateral and reciprocal rights-of-way agreements 

• Hazardous and solid waste materials removal 

• Law enforcement 

• Surveys to determine legal land or mineral estate ownership 

• Engineering support to assist in mapping 

• Design of projects including any needed surveys 

• Sampling (e.g., 3-P fall, buck, and scale sampling method) 

• Incidental removal of trees, snags, or logs for safety or operational reasons 

62