n n 

 

 

 

 

Conserve, Reuse, Recreate! 

Take it Outside! 

Taking the Path Less Traveled

Celebrating 10 Years of the national landsCape Conservation sYstem 

Mountaintop MacGyver 

on a mission to clean up the land 

the BiG payBack! 

blm conservation creates local jobs 

islands in the sound 

visit the san juans with the 

blm’s award-winning expert 

District Round-Up BLM Cartographers Greening our Streams!
 
 

 

 

 

 

– 

– 

 

 

-

 

-

Op - “Ed” 

Greetings and welcome to 

a very special issue of Northwest 

Passage, the BLM’s magazine 

for Oregon and Washington. 

We’re thrilled to celebrate our 10th 

Anniversary of the National Landscape 

Conservation System (NLCS). 

So what is the NLCS, you say? 

Well, starting in 2000 the BLM began 

designating lands and rivers with 

significant cultural, scientific, historical, 

and recreational values under a single 

system to conserve and protect them for 

current and future generations. And ten 

years later, the BLM is proud to report 

that 27 million acres from moose 

habitat in Alaska to lava flows in New 

Mexico have been brought together as 

part of the NLCS brand. 

Under the BLM’s multiple use 

mandate, lands designated as part of 

the NLCS are unique and working 

landscapes. In addition to their Federal 

protection, they also reflect historical, 

ecological, and local values to include 

such uses as hiking, hunting, and 

grazing as appropriate. 

Continuing our theme of sustaining 

the public land, our current issue also 

includes 

an article on 

Landscape Level 

C o n s e r v a t i o n . 

This effort finds the 

BLM working with 

our stakeholders in Federal, 

State, and local agencies as 

well as neighboring landowners 

and interested citizens to create plans 

that take into account all the social, 

economic, and ecological connections 

between private and public lands. It’s 

a holistic approach that endeavors to 

incorporate all factors when managing 

unique regions for many years to come. 

Then we move from the national to 

the individual view as Norm Maxwell 

from the BLM’s Eugene District gives 

us a first person account of hauling 

his 700th abandoned vehicle off 

public lands. Folks like Norm are an 

inspiration to everyone committed to 

keeping local forests, hiking trails, and 

grasslands natural and beautiful. 

So after hearing about the NLCS and 

the BLM’s efforts to protect the land, 

you may be 

asking yourself, 

“what can I do?” We’re 

glad you’ve asked! There are a 

number of opportunities for every 

American interested in preserving the 

beauty of his or her own community. 

For example, you might want to 

help clean up your favorite recreation 

spot during our National Public Lands 

Day. Or don an “Indiana Jones” hat to 

help BLM archaeologists record ancient 

petroglyphs. 

No matter where your interests lie, 

we’ve got a one stop answer shop for 

all your volunteer questions. Just visit 

us online at blm.gov/or/volunteers/ 

volunteer_ projects.php. 

2
 

– 

 

 

 

Contents 

Features

6 Greening Our Streams 

12 Lost & Found 

26 Islands in the Sound 

Departments
 

2 Op - “Ed”
 

4 This Month’s Cover
 

5 Our Contributors
 

8 Dispatches
 

16 District Round-Up 

20 Public Lands Live 

24 Pioneers 

32 BackCountry 

You’ll find our 

online volunteer 

form as well as an easy link to 

your local volunteer representative 

who’s dedicated to helping folks get 

started! 

We hope you’ll keep learning about 

NLCS and the BLM’s commitment to 

our public lands and that you’ll join 

us! Edward W. Shepard 

In the meantime, let’s check out some State Director 

great articles and photography. Thanks Oregon/Washington 

for reading and see you out there. Bureau of Land Management 

Original Photo by David Garcia Winter
 2010
 3
 

’

This Month’s Cover 

Take it Outside! 

V o l u m e 2 I s s u e 2 

W W W . B L M . G O V / O R 

Ed Shepard / publisher 

Jody Weil / editorial director 

Matt Christenson / editor /art director 

Teddi Duling / copy editor 

Shelly York / production coordinator 

contributors 

Michael Campbell, Matt Christenson, 

Randy Eardley, Bob Hall, Candy 

Harmon, Megan Harper, Trish 

Hogervorst, Christina Lilienthal, 

Tara Martinak, Norm Maxwell, Pam 

Robbins, Cheyne Rossbach, Jim 

Rounds, Scott Stoffel, Maria Thi Mai, 

Mark Wilkening 

photographers 

BLM Staff, Richard Bailey, Scott 

Batchelar, Matt Christenson, John 

Craig, David Garcia, Trish Hogervorst, 

Christina Lilienthal, Doug McCutchen, 

Rob Roninger, Cheyne Rossbach, Scott 

Stoffel, Nick Teague 

contact 

Northwest Passage is a publication of 

Bureau of Land Management 

Oregon State Office 

333 SW 1st Ave 

6th Floor 

Portland, OR 97204 

503.808.6035 

or_northwest_passage@blm.gov 

mission 

The BLM’s mission is to sustain the 

health, diversity, and productivity of the 

public lands for the use and enjoyment 

of present and future generations. In 

Oregon and Washington, the BLM 

provides innovative leadership in 

managing natural resources of the 

Pacific Northwest. 

A lovely winter s view of sunrise over Mount Hood 

taken from the BLM’s Oregon State Office in Portland 

Up for a challenge? A really, really big challenge? Good! Can you guess 

where the photo from our cover was taken? Do you know which recreation 

site or campground or forest it comes from? 

l

Is that your final answer? 

Because this month’s cover comes from...wait for it... The BLM’s Oregon State 

Office in Portland, Oregon?! 

Yep, Portland! 

Even in our most metropolitan city in all of Oregon (but not the Pacific 

Northwest – we hear there’s a slightly bigger burg somewhere in Washington), 

you can still enjoy a world-class picturesque view. 

And while this photo of Mt. Hood comes courtesy of our sister land management 

agency, the U.S. Forest Service, the BLM also plays an active role on the mountain. 

Believe it or not, the newly anointed Mt. Hood Wilderness contains a number 

of BLM National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) parts and locations, 

including elements of the Fish Creek Wild and Scenic River; the Lower White 

River Wilderness; the Shellrock Mountain National Recreation Area; and the 

South Fork Clackamas River Wild and Scenic River. 

And heck, as the weather gets warmer and you’re thinking about trying out 

some of these new NLCS lands, the BLM has got a deal for you. Just try our 

easy-to-use recreation search engine at: blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/search 

You can instantly scan every region in Oregon and Washington to find the site 

that provides your favorite recreation activities! And don’t forget that no matter 

where you are to keep looking at the beauty outside your door... 

To learn more about NLCS, visit us online at: blm.gov/or/resources/nlcs/index.php 

PHOTO BY david Garcia 

4
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Contributors 

David Garcia 

j

Tara

martinak 

k

m

Norm Maxwell 

l

Michael Campbell 

Cheyne Rossbach 

n

o

Randy Eardley 

j None of us can believe this is the first official contributor’s 

note for BLM Graphic designer “danger” david Garcia. So much 

of his work has already graced the pages of Northwest Passage that we assumed 

he’d had a spotlight already. In addition to creating professional graphics and 

video, David provided our cover photo and inside spread for this issue. And 

what about his nickname? You mean, “Danger?” Oh, that’s just a joke. David 

isn’t really accident prone. Nope. Not at all. (Psst... If Dave asks to give 

you a ride on his motorcycle? Take the bus instead. You’ll thank us later.) 

l We’re thrilled to welcome another published author to 

the ranks of Northwest Passage! Norm Maxwell hails from the 

BLM’s Eugene District where he hauls abandoned vehicles off public 

lands in between creating some of the best writing this side of Kerouac. 

In honor of his 700th abandoned vehicle (Page 12), Norm gave us a firstperson account of what it takes to drag away a ‘63 Shasta travel trailer 

replete with the entire Steven Seagal film collection – on VHS, natch. 

n Former (un)official ambassador to Rarotonga and member 

of the exclusive Federal Witness Protection Program, randy 

Eardley wrote about the BLM’s 10th anniversary of the National 

Landscape conservation System (Page 20). Fittingly, when asked about 

his background, Randy became highly secretive. BLM experience? Firefighting. 

Hobbies? Occasional musician, woodworker, and canoe captain. Background? 

Checkered. Writing? Sublime. (Okay, we added the last one...) 

k campbell! Campbell! Campbell! All right, Michael.... You just 

returned from successfully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. What are you going 

to do now? Oh. You’re going to listen to Slayer’s latest album over a freshly 

brewed cup of coffee from Stumptown? Hmm. No, no...that’s cool. We just 

kinda thought you might want to write something new for Northwest Passage. 

Wait, you did!? You had us going, you ol’ trickster. Michael writes about 

all the fantastic new maps created by the BLM’s own talented cartographers 

(Page 24). And next time you see Michael, ask him why this vegetarian had to 

trade his pants for a goat when he was in Africa. We’re kinda curious too... 

m Hey, want to adopt a wild horse? Tara Martinak is your 

expert! And now after helming a previous article about the BLM’s mustang 

adoption program, Tara is back with a timely feature about Landscape Level 

Conservation (Page 8). And in chronicling the BLM’s partnership with public 

and private stakeholders working together on a more holistic approach to 

protecting the public lands, Tara uncovered how the BLM’s efforts toward 

conservation are also creating jobs and putting money into local economies! 

o it’s always a pleasure to type the name, “cheyne Newin Necog 

Bemo Sewin von rossbach.” Isn’t that a cool name? We sure think so. 

And it belongs to an even cooler person. This issue Cheyne brings us news 

from Washington’s coast where the BLM manages public lands on the San Juan 

Islands (Page 26). Serving as his Virgil crossing the Puget Sound is the BLM’s 

award-winning educator Nick Teague. 

Winter 

2010 5
 

 

Question: 

Why is the BLM putting logs back into streams? 

Answer: To improve ecosystem health.
 

6PHOTOS BY rOB rONiNGEr 
 

 

 

 

 

 

T

he waters of a Klamath river tributary can be 

seen moving slower than they have for 100 years 

thanks to 54 log structures inserted into a threemile section of Spencer creek northwest of 

Keno, Oregon, near the border with california. 

This improvement in ecosystem function is a result of 

the BLM’s efforts to reestablish the stream’s original 

make-up of sinuosity, channel complexity, and gravel 

accumulations. By slowing down this stream, the 

creek’s natural habitat may see subsequent increases 

to the population and distribution of aquatic species. 

In 1995, the BLM created a partnership with the U.S. 

Forest Service (USFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Equipped with this knowledge, the BLM prepared the 

Spencer Creek Restoration Treatments Assessment in 2004. 

The intent of this planning document was to improve a 

significant section – over six miles total – of Spencer Creek 

by: (1) increasing channel roughness to provide a diversity 

of aquatic habitats, (2) retaining and increasing spawning 

habitat, (3) creating low-velocity holding and rearing 

habitat for juvenile fish, and (4) enhancing pool complexity 

and cover. The addition of woody debris into this section 

of Spencer Creek was identified as the primary means for 

achieving these objectives. 

The most recent phase of the Spencer Creek Helicopter 

Log Placement Project was implemented in October 

2009. The services of Columbia Helicopters Incorporated, 

a leading expert on stream restoration in the Pacific 

Greening 

our Streams 

story by scott stoffel 

Service (USFWS) to jointly develop the Spencer Creek 

Watershed Analysis and evaluate the stream’s physical 

condition. Their investigation revealed the creek’s capacity 

to support a healthy fishery which had degraded over time 

due to a reduction in naturally occurring logs in the stream. 

The significant role large woody debris plays in stream 

ecosystem health has been misunderstood in the past. This 

was evident throughout the 20th Century when logs were 

actively removed from streams for utilization as lumber as 

well as to prevent flooding and erosion. 

As a result, a significant number of trees had been 

removed in and around the creek’s channel, leaving 

unnaturally low levels of logs within the streambed. And 

without these natural barriers to maintain a proper level of 

gravel in the stream, the water saw a decline in the quality of 

pools and cover that fish normally use for resting, holding, 

and rearing necessary to spawning their young. 

Today, however, the multiple environmental benefits 

derived from leaving this material in watersheds are better 

understood. Large woody debris provides shelter for 

stream inhabitants, traps organic materials that serve as a 

food source for algae and invertebrates, and generates pools 

of deep water that provide a home for fish. 

Northwest, were contracted to place the 54 log structures. 

These structures were created from 220 logs salvaged from 

timber sales from the BLM and JWTR, a private timber 

company. The individual logs weighed up to 14,000 pounds 

each and ranged from 10 to 51 inches in diameter and 10 to 

70 feet in length. 

The total project cost is estimated at $145,000. The 

BLM provided a majority of funding and participated in all 

planning and contracting activities. The BLM’s contracting 

officer’s representative was on site to oversee project 

execution. Additionally, the USFWS participated in the 

same capacity as the BLM, and JWTR contributed towards 

contractor expenses and in-kind labor. 

The outcome of this restoration project will continue to 

be examined over the next several years. Spencer Creek’s 

aquatic habitat will be monitored to determine how it has 

been impacted by the log structures’ presence. Surveys will 

be conducted to measure the project’s effects upon native 

fish and amphibians, including Klamath River redband 

trout, Klamath small-scale suckers, lampreys, and Pacific 

giant salamanders. Knowledge gained from this effort will 

be used as the foundation for designing, implementing, and 

managing future stream restoration activities. 

Winter 

2010 7
Dispatches 

The 

photos by matt christenson 

8
Winter 9

2010 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

story by tara martinak 

 Big Payback!

Landscape Level Conservation, A Partnership-Based Success 

Landscape level conservation is no longer just a big idea, too complicated to comprehend. 

It’s here and now and more important than ever. 

So when it comes to organizing plans that take into account all the social, economic, and 

ecological connections between private and public lands, landscape level conservation is of 

vital importance and growing popular interest. 

In fact, a quick Google search retrieves over a million pages from authors around the world 

who are either planning or implementing large-scale conservation projects that focus on 

protecting and preserving land across all physical and administrative boundaries. 

So what’s the BLM doing about landscape level conservation? 
10

“In addition to bringing all the partners 

together and creating a healthy landscape, 

the Five Creeks project is also creating jobs 

and putting money into the local economy.” 

nter the Five creeks rangeland restoration Project in 

the BLM’s Burns district in southeast Oregon... 

On the north side of nearby Steens Mountain, an ambitious 

ecosystem restoration effort is currently underway. The 

Five Creeks project covers nearly 75,000 acres of public and 

private land. Its goals are to restore sagebrush steppe and 

riparian plant communities and to create conditions to protect 

natural wildlife, wild horses, fish, and livestock. 

Five Creeks is the culmination of 6 private landowners/ 

permittees, 5 cooperating agencies, 4 strutting birds, 3 main 

concerns over juniper expansion on our rangelands, 2 eager 

project leads, and 1 need for action. (If you didn’t already 

catch it, sage-grouse are the “strutting birds.” And while they 

do exist in the project area, I shamelessly referenced them 

solely to keep the song in order. (“What? No Partridge in a 

Pear Tree?” – Ed.) 

Lisa Grant, project co-lead, states, “Juniper expansion on 

our rangelands is adversely affecting forage availability, soil 

stability, and overall watershed health.” So taking inspiration 

from previous successes in treating juniper with natural 

and prescribed fire, the BLM already had a management 

mechanism in place to address this issue, although at a 

much smaller scale. Next came the wager for support from 

project area landowners and permittees. Fortunately their 

cooperation came easy thanks to all the informed participants 

who understand the seriousness of juniper expansion as well 

as support the use of fire to treat the problem. 

Permittees and landowners have stepped forward to allow 

the use of their private roads for access to the project area 

by BLM officials. More importantly, they are generously 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Big Payback! 

Landscape Level Conservation, A Partnership-Based Success 

E Working the Land... 
 

Dispatches 

adjusting their operations for several years to provide the 

necessary rest from livestock grazing prior to and following 

prescribed burns. 

Additional partners – the Harney Soil and Watershed 

Conservation District and the Harney County Watershed Council 

– have been working closely with the private landowners to 

apply for and acquire grant monies through the State of Oregon 

Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) to fund portions of 

the project such as juniper cutting on private land. The U.S. 

Geological Service and the Agricultural Research Service are 

conducting an investigation within the project area as well. 

And the results of all these studies allow the BLM to adjust 

implementation techniques and be most successful in achieving 

resource objectives for this and future projects. 

Fellow project co-lead Lindsay Davies says that “The Five 

Creeks project would not have been possible without our 

partners. Together we’ve completed Phases I and II, which 

include 16,000 acres of mechanical juniper treatment, 21,876 

acres of prescribed fire treatment, 14 miles of stream/riparian 

juniper treatments, 3,761 acres of post-prescribed fire aerial 

seeding, and 21 acres of noxious weed treatments.” 

...and Putting America to Work 

In addition to bringing all the partners together and creating 

a healthy landscape for thousands of acres, the Five Creeks 

project is also creating jobs and putting money into the local 

economy. Davies added, “In three years, more than $2 million 

from a variety of sources has been spent on the Five Creeks 

project. BLM program funding, OWEB, the Burns Interagency 

Fire Zone, the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and 

private contributors have all played an important role in our 

success.” 

A project of this magnitude and success will likely inspire 

other regions to follow suit. Better environment. More jobs. 

The bottom line is perhaps best described by private landowner 

and Five Creeks partner Fred Otley: “It’s really pretty simple. 

Landscape level conservation is a win-win situation, so ‘why’ 

isn’t really important here. Maybe ‘why not’ is a better 

question?” l

For more information on landscape level conservation, 

please contact the BLM’s Burns District at (541) 573-4400. 

Winter 

2010 11
 

 

Lost & Found

As told by Norm mAxwell 

One BLM employee’s mission to clean up abandoned vehicles 

Right before Thanksgiving 

day 2009, i removed 

my 700th piece of junk 

from Federal lands. 

Someone abandoned 

a 1963 Shasta travel 

trailer in the woods 

of the BLM’s Eugene 

District. I found this 

(past-)vintage vehicle 

amidst an amazing array of 

household trash, black & white television sets, and 

soggy cartons of VCR tapes. (Oh, and in case he’s 

looking for it, I found the remnants of Steven Seagal’s 

movie career next to a holiday collection of Peanuts.) 

I was amazed by a TV antenna set precariously high 

in a rotten stump to allow a viewer (or many viewers?) 

to watch any of the five televisions. Or perhaps all 

five sets at once? In any event, I figured this might 

have been a deer hunter’s campsite. 

Yes, sir. That’s good country livin’. 

As I sleuthed further, I found that this old Shasta 

trailer was so overfull that it couldn’t be slept in, 

cooked in, or even occupied in any way. 

A backwoods Grey Gardens for the Convoy set, if 

you will. [CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE] 

from public lands – one ‘67 Ford Fairlane at a time... 

12
 

 The Impossible 

 Just Takes 

 a Little 

 Longer 

Photo by mAtt christeNsoN / PostcArds by eugeNe district 

Winter
 2010
 13
14

Lost & T 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 - 

 

– 

[CONTINUES FROM PREVIOUS PAGE]

hough this impromptu landfill was far from the beaten path, some passersby stumbled upon it only to 

dump new trash and search vainly for valuables. The license plate was grossly expired. The trailer had no 

tail lights. The door fell off years ago only to be replaced with a heavy black canvas curtain. I knew without 

even having to check that the registered owner had sold the trailer to someone else who didn’t bother to change 

the title. The owner simply left tons of mushy, rusting garbage in the woods and walked away. 

Our BLM District in Eugene, Oregon, previously contracted wrecking removal with local companies. But 

a BLM employee still had to meet the pros and lead them out to the site. And that BLM employee was me. So 

once this region became a popular dumping ground, it made more sense for us to start the BLM’s own wrecking 

business. And thus the BLM’s organic abandoned vehicle removal was soon handled in house by yours truly. 

So after locating my latest dump site, it was a snap to load up Ol’ No. 700 on the tiltbed trailer with a rear 

facing winch. My 700th large scale removal. No problem. 

The BLM “Wrecking Crew” 

14

14

But as 

the price of 

scrap steel went 

For a number of years, scrap prices had bottomed out. So it was 

simply easier for folks to engage in “recreational 

dumping” by towing their dead car out 

into the woods rather than 

transport a heap 

to the steel yard 

for chump change. 

Unfortunately for 

the public, many 

of these dumped 

vehicles quickly 

become targets 

(literally) for folks 

with shootin’ 

irons. And like 

ants at a picnic, 

once we found 

one piece of 

junk on BLM 

lands, it would 

often lead to 

more. 

up, so did the cost/benefit ratio 

of dumping a heap worth scrap value which 

reduced the number of abandoned vehicles. But travel 

trailers are still more trouble than they’re worth...so they continue 

to wind up in the woods. 
Winter 15

2010 

 

 

 

 

Found
 Making Crime Pay 

I learned this business from my predecessor 

when I inherited his “other duties as assigned” in 

the used and abandoned car business. I discovered 

that his method of dealing with abandoned vehicles 

was to utilize a parade of road maintenance heavy 

equipment once or twice a year and haul the heaps 

in dump trucks. 

When I took over, I trained Oregon’s DMV 

to allow me to write my own paper for abandoned 

vehicles. There was some initial foot dragging at 

the beginning. But once I established the procedure, 

operations went smoothly, and the local steel yard was 

very happy to accept worn-out automobiles. And our 

proceeds go into an account earmarked for cleaning up 

public lands. 

Travel trailers are another matter. But I worked out 

a partnership with the county jail. A crew at the county 

landfill dismantles the trailers I haul. Then I come back 

for the frame and bring it to the steel yard. Convert 

scrap to money. Money gets put in account to pay for 

cleaning up public lands. 

Win-win. 

Yee-haw! (is that the General Lee?) 

Sometimes an illegal dumper manages to cause 

their abandoned vehicle to roll down the hill while 

reenacting a favorite scene from The Dukes of Hazzard. 

In these cases, I utilize Echo Company from the 

162nd Infantry Regiment with the Oregon National 

Guard. These hearty folks bring out their five-ton 

wrecker to haul junk off the public lands. In addition 

to cleaning up the environment, the National Guard 

soldiers enjoy getting out in the woods and practicing a 

little engineering extrication. As a former Guardsman 

myself, I know how things work in the military and am 

able to effectively communicate with Warrant Officer 

Barnaby and the rest of his gang. And at the end of the 

day, the BLM gets cleaner public lands and the soldiers 

enjoy some additional training. 

Well...maybe “enjoy” is too strong a word. 

What Would Macgyver Do? 

These days the National Guard has been pretty busy 

with other missions. So I’ve been working mostly solo. 

I can manage smaller cars found closer to the road with 

my own field expedient high lead system. That’s just 

a fancy way of saying I “Macgyver” my winch line to 

hoist abandoned vehicles with my own truck shifted 

into 4 Low. To be honest, I prefer a smaller truck as my 

prime mover even though some may think that bigger 

is better. A short wheel base makes it easier to turn the 

outfit around on small landings. 

When I use a bigger vehicle, our 18 foot tilt bed 

trailer is my main rig. It was originally designed 

to haul classic automobiles to the car show. Now it 

carries long-abandoned Ford Fairlanes and Airstream 

trailers. I’ve gotten this one to work harder than its 

builders ever envisioned. My personal best so far is 

a 25-foot Winnebago. Even I have to admit that this 

one may have come close to the absolute limit. I’ve 

also cut a full-sized school bus into three pieces just to 

15

haul it out of the woods. Cars, pickups, campers, boats, 

motorhomes, trailers...the difficult we’ll move at once. 

The impossible just takes a little longer. 
 

 

 

 

16

District Round-Up

Burns, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/burns 

• The Burns District recently sold 1.5 million board feet 

as part of the Rudy timber sale. Much credit 

is due to the State of Oregon Economic and 

Community Development Department and 

Harney Soil and Water Conservation District 

who assisted to secure grant funding for five 

unemployed residents of Harney County and one 

Oregon Department of Forestry staff member to 

work the sale layout and timber marking. These extra 

workers allowed the sale to be offered two years 

ahead of schedule - all the while complementing the 

BLM’s Otis Mountain Fuels Management Project which 

is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 

of 2009 (ARRA). This effort will increase forest health, 

reduce hazardous fuels, and provide a source of biomass 

fuel for eastern Oregon – all the while providing and 

maintaining local jobs and generating funds for the local 

economy. 

• The Burns District won a top honor for their generous 

participation in the 2009 Combined Federal Campaign 

(CFC). Burns was awarded the Pacific Northwest 

Region’s Chair Award for their total contributions and 

number of contributors. Their 2009 increase was 

nearly five times that of the previous year. CFC 

Coordinator Candy Harmon and Burns District 

Manager Kenny McDaniel accepted the 

award at a ceremony on January 27. Marking a tree for sale. 

Coos Bay, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay 

• Kathy Westenskow was selected as the new 

Myrtlewood Field Manager. As Field Manager, 

Westenskow is responsible for management of 

approximately 126,000 acres of public land in the 

southern half of the Coos Bay District. Westenskow 

assumes her new position with a great deal of past 

natural resource work experience, including her most 

recent position as an Assistant Field Manager on the 

BLM Coos Bay District. She 

began her BLM career in 

1991 as a student intern, 

before becoming a wildlife 

biologist and natural 

resource specialist. “Kathy 

is very experienced in 

managing the complex forest 

management issues in western 

Oregon,” said Mark Johnson, 

Coos Bay District Manager.
 

blm.gov/or/districts/eugene Eugene, Oregon 

Another 

beautiful 

sunset in 

Coos Bay 

• The Eugene District bid a fond farewell to our longstanding “mouthpiece” (and valued contributor to 

Northwest Passage and other BLM publications), “Ranger” 

Doug Huntington. After more than 30 years of service 

with the BLM – 20 as the Eugene Public Affairs Officer – 

Doug’s BLM Family gathered for a fitting send-off at the 

Oregon Horse Center. Doug was feted with tasty BBQ, an 

amazing video, the BLM Band, an original Lee Lauritzen 

PHOTOS BY BLM STaFF 

painting, and many kind words. 

Doug 

Huntington! 

• Speaking of retirements, Eugene as a whole lost 

over 180 years of service at the end of 2009 with the 

retirements of John Hackbarth, Larry Larson, Jerry Crostek, 

Emily Rice, and Wayne Elliott. 
 

 

 

 

 

Winter 17

2010

Lakeview, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/lakeview 

had upon present-day archaeologists, 

Welcome to News from 

- the BLM Districts

in Oregon and Washington!

Medford, Oregon 

Please join us for an update on all of our community happenings! 

From: District Round-Up

To: You

Bill Cannon & the BLM’s award 

Winter 17

2010 

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) 

funding is being used to monitor Sage-grouse activity 

across 325,000 acres of shrub-steppe grassland. 

Initiated last September, this study will establish baseline 

sage-grouse habitat data for consideration by the BLM 

when reviewing wind energy development proposals. 

• For the past 15 years, the Nevada State Museum 

and the Lakeview District have collaborated to 

create exhibits, sort museum collections, and perform 

radiocarbon dating of archaeological findings. Together, 

they’ve educated the public on the important role 

everyone plays in preserving and protecting our cultural 

heritage. Most recently, the two organizations joined 

forces to bring the Rock Art Perspectives: Pictographs 

and Petroglyphs exhibit to Carson City, Nevada. This 

was done to underscore the impact early Native 

American rock carvings and paintings have 

photographers, and artists. During the Rock Art 

Perspectives opening reception held on January 21, the 

Lakeview District’s partnership with the Nevada State 

Museum was formally honored. Michael Fisher, Director 

of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs, presented 

Archaeologist Bill Cannon with an award plaque “In 

recognition of the BLM Lakeview District’s Partnership in 

Preservation, Research and Education.” Upon acceptance 

of the award, Bill Cannon stated “It’s a tremendous honor 

to have the Lakeview District’s efforts acknowledged. 

It has been a privilege to work with the Nevada State 

Museum since 1995.” 

blm.gov/or/districts/medford 

M e d f o r d ’ s 

B e a u t i f u l 

M e a d o w 

n e a r B u t t e 

F a l l s ! 

• Medford will install a commercial-sized solar 

grid system with 250 or more photovoltaic 

panels for the Medford Interagency Office 

(MIO). This ARRA project will help create and 

maintain local jobs, reduce the BLM’s carbon 

footprint by using renewable energy, and support 

alternative energy technology development. 

CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE 
 

 

 

 

 

18

Prineville, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/prineville 

• In 2002, Native American Pictographs at the BLM’s 

Badlands east of Bend, Oregon were vandalized by 

unknown individuals. Several ancient art pieces were 

destroyed completely. The Prineville District quickly took 

steps to rehabilitate the site by hiring a professional 

conservator who was assisted by the Archaeological 

Society of Central Oregon (ASCO). During the process 

of rehabilitation, they discovered that many more images 

existed than were previously reported. Over the next 

several years, the Prineville District – with substantial 

assistance from ASCO – documented the entire suite 

of pictographs by producing a scale map of individual 

panels located throughout the site. Each panel was 

numbered, photographed, and drawn to scale. And as 

a happy coda, the Badlands have since been designated 

as a Wilderness! 

Roseburg, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg 

• Volunteers recently planted over 2,500 willow poles 

in an area known as Soggy Bottoms located in the North 

Bank Habitat Management Area. The project was the 

culmination of a multi-year habitat restoration project to 

benefit the hairy popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys hirtus), 

a special status plant species. This work was also to 

improve hydrologic conditions in the area. During the 

pole planting, over 80 hours of work were donated by 

22 volunteers from the Oregon Hunter’s Association, and 

Salem, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/salem 

• Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in 

Newport has a new manager. Timothy Fisher brings 

23 years of Federal public lands experience to the 

Salem District. He previously served as the director of 

the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. Fisher will be 

redeveloping the 15-year-old management plan for 

Yaquina which encompasses 100 acres that include the 

lighthouse, an interpretive center, and surrounding area. 

the National Wild Turkey Foundation. A tremendous 

amount of work was completed in a short amount of 

time, and the Roseburg District plans to make this willow 

pole planting an annual event in the future. 

PHOTOS BY BLM STaFF 

The

BLM’s 

Badlands! 

District Round-Up

continues

from

previous

page

Welcome, Timothy! 

Volunteers Gave Over 80 Hours! 
 

 

An Antelope Surveys Vale! 

Spokane, Washington blm.gov/or/districts/spokane 

• The Spokane District participated in the Washington 

Arid Lands Initiative Workshop in Wenatchee, 

Washington. The goal of the initiative was to develop 

and implement a coordinated strategy for the 

conservation of Washington’s shrub-steppe habitats, 

ecosystems, and communities. Core members of the 

initiative include the BLM, several state agencies, and 

The Nature Conservancy along with local land owners, 

users, and Native American Tribes. 

• The Spokane District’s Chris Shafer was featured on a 

Spokane Community College advertisement describing 

his journey from a job in steel production to his current 

career as a Rangeland Management Specialist. Chris’s 

story can be read online at: 

www.ccs.spokane.edu/Promotions/Find-your-field-at-CCS.aspx

Vale, Oregon 

YOUR OREGON & WASHINGTON BLM DISTRICTS

• Also in the Salem District, members of the Chemeketan 

friends celebrated their 62nd birthdays by signing up 

for Senior Access Passes. These passes provide them 

access to Federal recreation areas to include National 

Parks and BLM-administered recreation sites throughout 

the country. The Chemeketans were founded in 1928 

and boast a current roster of 700 members. Their 

primary activity is day hiking but they also enjoy crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing, bicycle rides, canoeing, 

mountain climbing, and more! We hope they enjoy and 

get great use out of their new passes visiting BLM lands! 

L opez 

Island 

in the 

Sp okane 

District 

blm.gov/or/districts/vale 

• Vale District said good-bye to former District Manager 

Dave Henderson and welcomed new District Manager 

Don Gonzalez! Don will be responsible for management 

of 5.1 million acres of BLM lands in eastern Oregon and 

southeast Washington. He was previously the Natural 

Resources Staff Officer for the Colville National Forest in 

Colville, Washington. Don has over 30 years of broadbased experience in natural resource management and 

has demonstrated effective leadership in a variety of roles 

including Natural Resources Staff Officer, Acting District 

Manager, Acting Deputy Forest Supervisor, Ecosystem 

Planning and Monitoring Staff, and District Ranger. 

• In the spirit of conservation, the Vale District worked with 

the Department of the Interior Transportation Subsidy 

Program to establish a shuttle that helps employees carpool 

to and from work every day. It’s been a win-win situation 

with employees saving money while the transit company 

Winter

2010

Winter 

2010 

establishes a new rural route to Vale – and the environment 

is benefiting from reduced pollution! New District 

Manager Don Gonzalez was heard to remark on his 

first day of riding the shuttle, “I felt like I 

should be asking my 

Mom for lunch money.” 

19
 

 

Public lands Live 

20

Rewind. 

Years ago, my son was about eight years old when he saw his 

first whale. He was hanging pretty close to me as we explored 

the Yaquina Head lighthouse in the BLM’s Salem District. Then 

we saw it. There, down in the surf just below. A massive, 

beautiful grey creature repeatedly surfaced, blew a spout of 

water, and then disappeared for a few minutes as it lunched 

on the local fare. The Yaquina Head Natural Area is a frequent 

stopover for grey whales moving along the coast – and it isn’t 

the only place to see unspoiled magic.

 The National Landscape Conservation System Celebrates its 

Looking Back, Looking 
 

Oregon is 

for Lovers 

(of Public Lands!) 

Ahead 

10th Anniversary 

Winter 21

2010

Rewind Further. 

I was barely 21, a young and budding explorer and a 

seasonal employee for a Federal agency in central Oregon. 

On a three-day weekend with two companions, I explored 

the John Day River by kayak. I don’t recall the exact putin or take-out but it was along a corridor now dubbed as 

Wild and Scenic. What I do recall clearly is jaw-dropping 

scenery and rock formations like I’d never before seen.

[CONTINUES] Winter 21

2010 
–

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public lands Live 

The National Landscape Conservation System Celebrates its 10th Anniversary 

Looking Back, Looking Ahead 

[CONTINUES FROM PREVIOUS PAGE] Those were two very different experiences. Two special times. Two uniquely wonderful

places. And both sites would 

Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) in Oregon. 

later become components of the BLM’s National 

TEN YEARS AGO the BLM began identifying such areas across the nation for their significant 

cultural, scientific, historical, and recreational values and preserving them for current and future 

generations. Today, 886 areas covering 27 million acres as diverse as the Alaska tundra and the 

Colorado canyonlands bear the NLCS brand. 

For citizens in the Northwest, NLCS areas include the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument, 

the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, and the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management 

and Protection Area. Additional NLCS sites comprise eight wilderness areas in Oregon and one 

in Washington, one National Scenic Trail and two National Historic Trails in Oregon and one 

National Scenic Trail in Washington, and a combined total of 88 wilderness study areas. Oregon 

also is home to 25 wild and scenic rivers (four times more than any other state), the famed National 

Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in eastern Oregon, and much more. 

But many people don’t know these areas by their NLCS designation. They do, however, know 

the land. In fact, it may take Congressional or Presidential action to preserve these areas with the 

NLCS brand, but it’s the local individuals, groups, and organizations who have been the driving 

force behind those actions. They are the people who experience these areas and treasure them for 

the many diverse offerings they provide. 

Conserving, protecting, and restoring such treasured areas will continue as the NLCS mission 

into the next 10 years and beyond. Just as it did in its first decade, maintaining and adding to the 

current list of exceptional landscapes will require continued interest and partnership with citizens 

and stakeholder groups. 

PHOTOS BY ScOTT BaTcHELar, david Garcia & BLM STaFF 

[END] 22
AT PRESS TIME, we found a growing number of events 

celebrating the 10th Anniversary of NLCS coming up this year 

throughout Oregon & Washington! 

The BLM’s Prineville District will hold a dedication ceremony 

in June for the Badlands and Spring Basin Wilderness Areas. Then 

later this summer, Lakeview, Oregon, will hold its own celebration 

for the Upper Klamath River receiving both NLCS and Wild and 

Scenic River designations. 

Plus there will be NLCS curated exhibits at the National 

Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Burns, Oregon, and at 

the Yaquina Head Lighthouse in the BLM’s Salem District. And 

in the fall we’ll see multiple National Public Lands Days across 

Medford, Oregon all of which will be dedicated to celebrating 

and increasing awareness around the 10th Anniversary of NLCS. 

To learn about additional upcoming events in 

your area, drop by our webpage at blm.gov/or. 

You can also contact us for additional info through this magazine at: 

or_northwest_passage@blm.gov. 

Winter 23

2010 

[NWP] 

-

– 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pioneers 

Where the Heck is New 

Folding a map isn’t always the easiest job in the world... 

t may be hard for some people to fathom, I

but maps, both in tablet and paper form 

existed long before Google Earthtm ever hit 

the scene – or for that matter the BLM. 

In fact some of the oldest known maps are 

Babylonian clay tablets from about 2300 B.C. 

So while it’s true that the BLM has only been 

producing maps and cartographic work over 

the last two centuries, the agency has gained, 

shall we say, some experience in this field. 

The BLM’s mapping unit has been 

publishing maps, brochures, and graphic 

support for management plans, public 

recreation sites, and other public land-related 

activities. And without tooting our horn too 

much, we can say that from a cadastral survey 

perspective, a cartographic perspective, and 

well, probably quite a few other perspectives, 

the BLM sure knows how to make maps. 

Take that, Google Earthtm! 

Following this rich and well-worn tradition, 

the BLM has recently (re)produced some 

terrific wall-size maps showcasing the vast 

array of both Oregon and Washington public 

lands. These maps are a significant update 

to versions that were created in 1994. And 

not only do these maps highlight some pretty 

spectacular spots, but they also put a spotlight 

on some of our newest spectacular NLCS 

sites like the Spring Basin Wilderness, the 

Badlands Wilderness, and the Soda Mountain 

Wilderness. 

These maps are at the 1:500,000 scale 

and contain all new Federal surface 

management designations and updated 

base data information. For those of you 

who caught some z’s during the fractions 

lesson in 9th grade algebra, a “map scale” is 

the representation between distance on the map 

and distance on the ground. Amap scale usually 

is given as a fraction or a ratio: 1/500,000 or 

1:500,000. This means that one inch on a map 

equals 500,000 inches – or approximately 8 

miles – on the ground. 

Make sense? 

Good. 

Now let’s move on to trigonometry. 

Conjunction Junction 

Just kidding... But we didn’t stop there. Oh 

no... In addition to this newly anointed map, 

the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service have 

pooled their resources to jointly produce maps 

about Oregon and Washington recreation areas 

and amenities. What this means in practical 

terms is that visitors now need fewer maps to 

have full coverage of lands and resources for 

both agencies. Less clutter in your glovebox, 

and you can more easily find the coolest fishing 

spots throughout the region. 

Plus, during these challenging economic 

times, we’re looking for opportunities to save 

money every chance we get. The new Pacific 

Northwest Recreation Map Series is but one 

example of cooperation between the BLM 

and the U.S. Forest Service that leverages our 

skills and resources to save production costs by 

reducing overlap and gaining economies of scale. 

So instead of 35 recreation maps, you’ll only 

need 27 to cover all of Oregon and Washington! 

So whether you’re looking to climb Ironside 

Mountain or you’re just looking for a nice 

spot to hike near Portland, these maps are for 

you. Now where the heck is New Princeton? 

Lemme get out my map and see... 

MaPS PrOvidEd BY JiM rOUNdS & BLM STaFF 

24
 

Winter 25

2010

*[Hint: It’s in southeast Oregon.] Winter 

2010 

Princeton, Oregon?* 

...but finding a map just got a whole lot easier! 

story by michAel cAmPbell 

The latest map in this series is the Willamette

Cascades. And a Steens Mountain area map will soon

be available, too. Every new series of maps is sold in

both BLM and U.S. Forest Service offices – with paper

maps selling for $7.00 each and $8.00 for a moistureresistant version. 

Additional mapping information can be found at the

BLM’s Online Services site at: 

http://www.blm.gov/or/onlineservices/index.php 
The BLM’s Only 

Islands in 

26
Island Resident Takes the Silver! 

story by cheyNe rossbAch 

 the Sound 

Award-Winning Educator, Gregario “Nick” Teague, 

joins us from the BLM’s most unique islands
 

to chat about recreation, community, and 

inspiring today’s youth to explore the outdoors!
 

Photo by doug mccutcheN 

Winter 

2010 27
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

F

PHOTO BY ricHard BaiLEY 

OR FIVE YEARS, Nick Teague, an 

Outdoor Recreation Planner for the 

BLM’s Spokane District, has lived 

and worked in the San Juan Islands, 

an archipelago off the coast of northwest 

Washington State in the heart of the Salish Sea. 

 

AND THIS FALL, Nick was awarded the 

BLM’s 2009 Silver Award for Excellence in 

Interpretation or Environmental Education. 

Every year a review panel comprised of 

both BLM staff and representatives from 

its partner organizations – to include the 

National Association for Interpretation (NAI) 

– identifies three individuals who demonstrate 

“Excellence” as interpreters and educators. 

This panel recognizes talented individuals who 

foster partnerships and work to enhance public 

appreciation and knowledge for our natural 

and cultural resources. 

28

l

Nick was highly praised for “fostering 

cohesive, citizen-based stewardship in the San 

Juan Islands.” And he received further accolades 

for his integral part in the development of 

the San Juan Islands Experiential Education 

Outdoor Classroom for island youth. 

So in honor of Nick’s well-deserved Silver 

Award, we spoke with him to learn more about 

his work with the island community. And in 

talking with us, Nick communicated his firm 

belief that “The Public is out there waiting. 

Introduce yourself and manifest something 

beautiful!” 

Islands in 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Winter 29

2010 

NT: This really has to be one of 

my f avor it e q ue s t io n s . T h e r e a r e 

m a ny u n iq u e r e s ou r c e s t he BL M 

i s r e s p on si ble for m a n ag i ng i n t h e 

San Juan Islands: a distinguished 

h i s t o r ic l ig ht hou s e, r ich c u lt u r a l 

a r e a s , r a r e pl a nt c o m mu n it ie s , 

d ive r s e r e c r e a t io n o p p or t u n it ie s , 

a nd it ju st ke e p s goi ng. Ye t , w h a t 

r e a l ly s e t s t he Sa n Ju a n’s a p a r t f r om 

a l l ot he r a r e a s i s t h i s a r ch ip el a go 

e c o s ys t e m fo u n d n owhe r e el s e i n 

the Pacific ocean. Nowhere in the 

BL M d o we h ave r o ck s , i sla n d s , 

a nd r e s o u r c e s t h at m at ch t h i s level 

of i nt r ig u e, ch a r a c t e r, a nd s p e cia l 

at t r i b u t e s . 

NWP: What are some of the local 

organizations and their specific 

interests? How have you bridged 

those varying interests in your 

work? 

NT: Outside of the Federal, 

s t a t e a n d c o u nt y a ge n c ie s , t h e 

non-profit sector makes up a 

s t r o n g p e r c e nt a ge of t he pa r t n e r 

p a r t ic ip a t io n ef for t . We wor k 

closely w it h Ke e p e r s of t he Pa t o s 

Lig ht , Wa sh i ng t o n Lig ht ke e p e r s 

A s so c i at ion , a n d t h e Tu r n 

Poi nt Lig ht hou s e P r e s e r vat ion 

S o cie t y. T he s e fol k s , a s you 

ca n p r oba bly a l r e a d y t el l , sh a r e 

a d e e p a p p r e c i a t io n fo r t he 

M a r it i m e H i s t o r y a nd C u lt u r e 

of t he a r e a . E a ch of t he s e 

Lig ht hou s e g r ou p s a r e 5 01(c) 3 

non-profits. And on Lopez 

I sla n d , we wo r k ve r y clo s ely 

w it h t he L o p e z I sl a nd C o n se r va t io n 

Corps, a non-profit organization 

c on n e c t i ng lo c a l yout h w it h t h e 

outdoors in a service-oriented, 

e d u c a t io n a l , s k i l l t r a i n i ng p r og r a m . 

T h is p a st s u m me r t he L o p ez I sl a n d 

C o n se r va t io n C o r p s r e c eive d t h e 

Ta ke P r ide I n A me r ic a Nat io n a l 

Aw a r d i n t h e Yout h G r ou p D iv i sio n . 

NWP: Speaking of awards, how does 

it feel to receive the Silver Award 

for Excellence in Interpretation or 

Environmental Education? 

NT: While I was on stage listening 

t o B ob A bb e y, D i r e c t o r of t he BL M , 

d e s c r i bi ng a c c om pl i s h me n t s i n t he 

San Juan Islands, I was filled with 

a n i m m e n se a m ou nt of p r id e t o 

r e p r e s e nt t he wh ole Sp ok a n e D i s t r ic t 

a nd a s a n a mb a s s a d or fo r t h e BL M . 

I w a s mo s t ly i n s pi r e d t o wor k eve n 

h a r d e r c ont i n u i ng t o sh a r e w it h 

ot h e r s t he won d e r s of t he n a t u r a l 

world a nd t he BLM m i s sio n a n d 

s t o r y. 

N

[CONTINUES] 

the Sound 

orthwest Passage (NWP): How 

long have you worked in the San 

Juan Islands? 

Nick Teague (NT): Five 

i nc r e d i ble ye a r s. I lef t t h e Sa le m 

D i s t r ic t i n Se pt e m b e r 20 0 4 t o 

perform a one-month assignment. 

I felt l i ke I wa s t a k i n g a ve r y 

hu ge “ le a p of f a it h ,” le av i ng my 

f u l l t i me p o sit io n , f r ie nd s , a nd 

f a m i ly i n t he ho p e s t h at t he 

Sp ok a n e D i s t r ic t wo u ld s u p p o r t 

a ne w a p p r o a ch t o how t h ey we r e 

r e p r e s e nt e d a nd e nga ge d w it h t he 

lo c a l c om mu n it ie s of t h e S a n Ju a n 

I sl a nd s. 

NWP: What has local community 

support been like – both in the past 

and as it stands today? 

NT: In the past, the community 

s u p p or t h a s b e e n p r e t t y lo c a l i z e d 

specifically with Lopez Island. 

T he L op e z c o m mu n it y h a s a nd 

c ont i n u e s t o b e h ig h ly s u p p or t ive 

of t h e BLM . Mo r e r e c e nt ly, o t he r 

c om mu n it ie s h ave d e m on s t r a t e d 

t h ei r s u p p o r t a n d e nd or s e me nt 

of t he BL M a s a n eig hb o r a nd 

i m p or t a nt p a r t n e r r eg a rd i ng t h e 

big ge r pic t u r e of t h i s e c or e g io n . I 

b el ie ve wh at h a s ch a nge d mo s t i s 

ou r Sp ok a ne D is t r ic t’s a p p r oa ch t o 

how we d i r e c t ly e ng age w it h t h e s e 

c om mu n it ie s. 

NWP: What are some of the 

unique resources the BLM is 

responsible for managing in the 

San Juan Islands? 

Rain or shine, Nick feels right at home in his “classroom” 
significance and contributions which 

even our seventh generation children 

will enjoy and be proud of. 

NWP: What advice would you give to 

other resource specialists looking to 

foster and develop community-based 

partnerships and public involvement? 

NT: My advice to other resource 

specialists would be this: be open, 

honest, and sincere. Partnerships 

are relationships. Relationships are 

about sharing, communicating, trust, 

and respect. Often the biggest thing 

which I believe holds us, the Feds, 

back is our inability to give up a little 

control. They are out there waiting. 

Introduce yourself and manifest 

something beautiful. 

NWP: Describe yourself in five words 

or less. 

NT: Motivated, inspired, dreamer, 

believer, and artist. 

30

[NWP] 

[CONTINUES FROM PREVIOUS PAGE] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NWP: What is the San Juan Island 

Experiential Education Outdoor 

Classroom? How did it come about? 

NT: The San Juan Islands Experiential 

Education Outdoor Classroom came 

about through the request of partners 

including local schools seeking a 

creative outlet and place for outdoor 

learning. Experiential education 

is a foundational component of the 

classroom with activities designed to 

engage folks with their surroundings. 

Working with established partners, 

the San Juan Islands Experiential 

Education Outdoor Classroom 

provides the setting and facilitates 

self-discovery and fosters a 

broader understanding of natural 

world systems and interconnected 

relationships 

NWP: Looking to the future, what 

would you like to see happen in the 

San Juan Islands as far as public 

lands are concerned? 

NT: I would like to see folks 

connected to the land in a way that 

fosters stewardship, participation, 

and direct engagement. I would like 

to see more “ah-ha moments” when 

folks deeply connect to the wonders 

of the natural world. I would also 

like to see the work of the BLM here 

in the San Juan Islands demonstrate 

leadership, empowerment, and 

begin the foundation for a legacy of 
 

 

Sidebar

[WANT yOUR OWN COPy OF ThIS MAP? CONTACT US AT or_spokane_mail@blm.gov!]] 

 

THE BLM’s SPOKANE 

DISTRICT manages over 800 

acres of public lands in the San 

Juan Islands, an archipelago in 

northwest Washington State, 

in the heart of the Salish Sea. 

These rocks and islands 

are home to unique cultural 

and natural resources and are 

extremely popular recreation 

destinations for everyone from 

their close-by neighbors to 

international vacationers. 

The BLM manages two 

historic lighthouse properties 

on Patos and Stuart Islands as well 

as numerous natural areas – some of habitat which houses 

which are designated as ACECs (Area 

of Critical Environmental Concern). 

Management of these lands and 

resources brings together a number of 

cooperative agreements and working 

partnerships with more than 60 other 

agencies, interest groups, organizations, 

and Native American tribes. 

The San Juan Islands are also speciesrich and ecologically unique. Their 

diversity of wildlife reflects the variety of 

habitats found in the islands: grasslands 

and old-growth forests, marshes and 

freshwater lakes, spruce bogs and camas 

meadows, gravel beaches and rocky 

coastlines, and the encompassing ocean. 

Additionally, the San Juans are wellknown for their special status species 

a range of sea and land animals. 

The islands are home to over 

100 bald eagle nesting territories 

and 20 peregrine falcon aeries. 

Uncommon endemic species 

include the rare Island Marble 

Butterfly and Shaw Island vole. 

And in the ocean, marine mammals 

such as orca, sea lion, and harbor 

seal thrive in abundant numbers. 

With such a variety of 

ecological, cultural, and 

recreational opportunities, it’s 

no wonder the San Juan Islands 

receive so many visitors each 

year. To learn more about this 

unique destination, please visit: 

blm.gov/or/districts/spokane. 

Winter 

2010 31
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of Steens Mountain by Matt Christenson 

these areas – and you can read more about 

them on page 20 inside this very issue! wilderness study areas; and much more. 

enjoy your 

areas are 

yours, so 

please be a 

eye out for 

to get 

involved in 

include the 

areas you 

BackCountry 

o what is this National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) that’s celebrating its 10th Anniversary? 

What? Where?

The NLCS is a system of special areas 

and sites under the BLM’s care that are 

known and preserved for their exceptional 

values. They include wilderness areas, 

interpretive sites, wild and scenic rivers, 

national scenic and historic trails, and more. 

Oregon and Washington are chock-full of 

NLCS lands are found across the country. 

Nationally, 887 areas covering more than 27 

million acres bear the NLCS designation. 

They includes more than 6,000 miles of 

scenic and historic trails; 2,400 miles 

of wild and scenic rivers; 16 national 

monuments; 21 national conservation areas; 

more than 20 million acres of wilderness and 

Head out and 

public lands — 

this map will 

give you some 

hints on where 

to get started. 

l

These special 

good steward 

of this legacy. 

And keep an 

opportunities 

supporting and 

participating 

in expanding 

the NLCS to 

cherish most! 

Summer Wint 

2009

32