Blue Skies Ahead... 

Take It Outside!
 

The BLM’s Annual Photo Contest! Wild NorthWest! 

We’ll Be your Huckleberry

Preserving Sustainability Through Stewardship

Creatures of THE NIGHT 

*See Page 24! 

The BLM 

wants to hear 

Your Voice!

*

PLUS!

Up Close and Personal with BLM Bats 

BLM MUSTANGS NEWS FROM THE A TRIBUTE A 40 YEAR OLD 

GET EXTREME! BLM DISTRICTS! TO GUNNER PHOTO OF 

EXTREME WHAT’S THE A HEROIC K9 BLM WILDLIFE 

MAKEOVERS, LATEST IN YOUR RANGER SAYS INSPIRES A 

THAT IS! COMMUNITY? FAREWELL PAINTING! 

PAGE 8 PAGE 12 PAGE 26 PAGE 28 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Op - “Ed” 

Greetings and hope you’re enjoying 

these first days of spring! 

Once the temperatures start to 

rise, we’ve got a whole new variety of 

outdoor activities and natural wonders 

beckoning us to get outside and enjoy 

all that Oregon and Washington have 

to offer. And we imagine our friends 

and partners who share our love for 

the public lands are looking forward 

to the change of seasons as much as 

we are. 

Speaking of experiencing the 

marvels of Oregon and Washington, 

our theme for this installment of 

Northwest Passage is the Wild 

Northwest. Wild, you say? 

Absolutely. As the seasons change 

and life returns from hibernation, 

we took this issue to explore all the 

awe-inspiring wildlife native to 

Oregon and Washington. And we’re 

happy you’re here to join us. 

First we’ll take you on a visit to 

an Extreme Mustang Makeover, one 

of the nation’s preeminent venues to 

increase awareness about America’s 

cherished symbols of courage and 

freedom. The BLM is proud to 

partner with the Mustang Heritage 

Foundation to present these events. 

And during our most recent Mustang 

Makeover, the first ever in the 

northwest, more than 3,500 spectators 

watched us help place 28 mustangs 

with families who love them. 

Then, if you dare, travel with us on 

a midnight trip to visit BLM scientists 

who study bats after twilight. We’ll 

learn all about how the BLM tracks 

these nocturnal creatures to better 

understand their behavior and the 

land they inhabit in order to manage 

for long-term sustainability. 

We also pay tribute to the legacy of 

a BLM canine agent who served with 

honor. Gunner, a beloved member 

of the Salem District force, is fondly 

remembered by all who knew him 

to include his partner, Ranger Mike 

Roop. 

Throughout this issue we feature 

fantastic photos shot by BLM 

employees on public lands. Not only 

do our multifaceted folks serve as 

biologists, firefighters, accountants, 

cartographers, and more, they 

also share their skill through their 

incredibly artistic photographs. And 

we present a special layout of the first 

place winners from our employees’ 

2008 Photo Contest! 

Plus we’ve got our District 

Round-Up with great news from 

around Oregon and Washington. 

Finally, I’d like to echo the 

sentiment of President Obama and 

end my column with a call for 

volunteers. The BLM lives in the 

communities where we work. We 

thrive on a spirit of cooperation that 

inspires us to continually reach out 

to our neighbors. We’re currently 

looking for new volunteers to join our 

Resource Advisory Councils (RAC). 

I hope you’ll be excited by this issue’s 

article on RACs to come out and help 

us as we manage the public lands. 

So with all that inspires you, let’s 

get out there and enjoy this spring! 

Edward W. Shepard 

State Director 

Oregon/Washington 

Bureau of Land Management 

2
Contents dePartMents

 oP - “ed” 2
 

ContrIButors 5

 dIstrICt round-uP 12
 

BLMeetuP 24
 

PIoneers 26
 

BaCkCountry 28
 

Features 

I shot that! 2008 BLM
 Photo Contest WInners! 6
 by OregOn & WashingtOn bLM staff

 extreMe Mustang Makeover! 8
 

by ethan schOWaLter-hay 

Creatures oF the nIght 16

 traCkIng MIdnIght avIators aFter tWILIght 

by scOtt stOffeL 

LookIng to the Future 18
 the Bureau oF Land ManageMent huCkLeBerry steWardshIP ProjeCt 

by cheyne rOssbach Mar/Apr

2009 3
 

 

This Month’s Cover
 

Take it Outside! 

Vo l u m e 1 , Issue 4 

WWW.BLM.GOV/OR 

Ed Shepard / publisher 

Jody Weil / editorial director 

Matt Christenson / editor /art director 

Teddi Duling / copy editor 

Shelly York / production designer 

contributors 

Kathy Bertalotto, Matt Christenson, 

Bob Hall, Megan Harper, Trish 

Hogervorst, Doug Huntington, Tara 

Martinak, Pam Robbins, Cheyne 

Rossbach, Ethan Schowalter-Hay, 

Scott Stoffel, Mark Wilkening 

photographers 

Billy Brown, Ron Exeter, Terry 

Fennel, David Garcia, Bob Hall, Trish 

Hogervorst, Doug Huntington, Clifford 

R. Johnson, Tara Martinak, Diane 

Pritchard, Cheyne Rossbach, J.T. Sohr, 

Scott Stoffel, Mark Wilkening 

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. 

This month’s cover was provided by the First Place winner of the Fire 

Category from the 2008 BLM Photo Contest. Photographer J.T. Sohr, an 

Engine Boss with six summer’s experience fighting fires, snapped this 

shot while his fatigued crew was taking a well-deserved break. 

“We’d just finished a long period of putting out fires and saw some more storms 

on the way,” said J.T. “Everybody knew we’d be busy, so I took this photo of us 

taking a breather. It was the calm before the storm.” 

Right after this photo, J.T. and his crew got up and went back to work. 

“Hey, you’ve got to respond to the fires. And we all worked together and took 

care of them.” 

When asked how the rainbow affected their mood, J.T. laughs, “That wasn’t 

usual. We’d never seen a rainbow that strong. And I can tell you we all 

appreciated it that day.” 

Photographer J.T. Sohr began fighting fires for the Oregon Department of Forestry 

while still in high school. Both of his parents also worked fire with his dad retiring 

from the U.S. Forest Service and his mom continuing to volunteer as a fire lookout. 

PHOTO BY J.T. SOHR 

4
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Contributors
 

j Volunteer Ethan Schowalter-Hay recently moved k Right after taking this photo, Spokane Public Affairs 

to Oregon City from the beautiful eastern side of the Specialist Cheyne Rossbach challenged Smokey Bear to an 

state and is enjoying the wet wilderness of the Cascades arm wrasslin’ match. Channeling the great Lincoln Hawk, Cheyne 

and coast. Although he studied wildlife and geography in college, went “over the top” to defeat the pride of the U.S. Forest Service. And how 

Ethan most recently worked as a newspaper reporter in La Grande. did he celebrate? By flexing his brain next! Cheyne displays his equally 

Ethan’s next career is to become an explorer-in-residence with National prodigious mental skills in writing about the BLM’s continuing efforts 

Geographic (or the BLM...) with an extremely lucrative side gig to partner with local communities and contractors and serve as a steward 

as a world-renown recording artist. Enjoy his article on Mustangs managing to a sustainable future for public lands. (Page 18). And speaking 

(Page 8) now so you can say you read him before he was famous! of the future, should Smokey ever want a rematch? Cheyne’s ready! 

l Are you afraid of ghosts, monsters, and robot zombies? m Making her first appearance in Northwest Passage 

Then you may want to read Scott Stoffel’s article on the BLM’s Bats is Trish Hogervorst of Salem, Oregon. Trish has served 

(Page 16) with the lights on! Scott, a Public Affairs Specialist from the BLM in Public Affairs under five different U.S. Presidents! And 

Lakeview, spent some time with scientists who were studying these so with her background and knowledge, we’re honored to count her 

legendary creatures to determine their habits as well as to ensure the among our contributors. Given her deft touch and experience, it’s fitting 

BLM can provide the best resource management possible to keep our that Trish write a moving tribute to Gunner, a BLM K9 Ranger who 

nocturnal friends healthy and flyin’ after midnight for a long, long time. recently passed after many years of distinguished service (Page 26). 

n Writer and Public Affairs expert Pam Robbins makes her triumphant return to Northwest Passage with a plea! The BLM is 

reaching out to our neighbors to help us manage the public lands in our communities. Want to join us? Check out Pam’s article on the BLM’s Resource Advisory 

Councils (Page 24) and contact us to start making your voice heard! 

j

k

m

Ethan Schowalter-Hay Cheyne Rossbach 

Scott Stoffel 

Trish Hogervorst 

l

Pam Robbins 

n

Mar/Apr

2009 5
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

I Shot That! 2008 BLM Photo Contest Winners 

Show Off their Blue Ribbons 

ron exeter salem district 

terry Fennel salem district 

Each year, the BLM

across seven categor

talented and creative

the rest of our amazi

Library at blm.gov an

Blm at Work 

ron exeter salem district

artistic 

J.t. sohr Vale district 

Fire 

Public Lands Live! 
 

 

 

 

Mar/Apr 7

2009 

Oregon is 

for Lovers 

(of Public Lands!) 

kathy Bertalotto Vale district 

diane Pritchard Vale district 

holds a photo contest open to all employees

ries. These shots are just a sample from the many

e photographers who work at the BLM. To see

ing employees’ art, please visit the BLM Photo

nd do a search for “2008 Photo Contest!” 

WildliFe / Plants 

cultural 

landscaPe 

Peo Pl e / r ecr e at ion 

Bil ly BroW n Prin eV il l e dist r ic t 
Extreme Mustang Makeover!
 

by ETHAN SCHOWALTER-HAy 

88
 
T 

 

 

 

 

hey are foaled in some rimrock valley, 

under hard sun and wind. They are familiar 

with coyotes, ravens, pronghorn, golden eagles, badgers, 

and great flocks of migrating fowl. They are adept at gracefully 

negotiating the rough terrain of shrub-steppe, juniper 

savanna, ponderosa pine, and white fir forests. 

They are eastern Oregon’s untamed horses – the wild mustangs. 

And this March they showed off their stuff at the first-ever 

Northwest Extreme Mustang Makeover in Albany, Oregon. 

Mar/Apr Mar/Apr 2009 2009 

99
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mustang Extreme


TWO yEARS AGO, the Bureau of Land 

Management partnered with the Mustang Heritage 

Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes 

the adoption of wild horses and burros, on the initial 

round of Mustang Makeovers. As you might guess, 

the name is a nod to the popular ABC television 

franchise. And trainers apply to compete in a variety 

of horsemanship contests with mustangs fresh off 

the range, culminating in the animals’ adoption by 

successful bidders. 

“The Makeovers have gone really well ever since our 

first competition in 2007,” said Tara Martinak, a public 

affairs specialist with the BLM’s Burns District who’s 

heavily involved in the agency’s mustang adoption 

programs. “The general idea was to create an event that 

demonstrates the trainability (of wild horses).” 

THE ALBAnY EVEnT, held March 20 – 22 in 

conjunction with the Northwest Horse Fair & Expo, 

reflected Oregon’s renown for wild 

horses: Around 1,200 roam the 

open country east of the 

Cascades. And most 

famous of all are 

Steens Mountain’s 

Kiger mustangs, 

a striking 

breed strongly 

reminiscent of 

the Spanish 

ponies from 

PHOTOS by bLm STAff 

which they are thought to have descended. The name 

“mustang” derives from the Spanish, “mesteno,” which 

originally referred to an “unclaimed sheep” and later to 

a free-range horse. 

Most famous of all are Steens 


Mountain’s Kiger mustangs, a striking 


breed reminiscent of Spanish ponies
 

Because younger horses with flashier coats like 

paints or the patterned Kigers have little trouble finding 

willing adopters, the Mustang Makeover features 

mustangs of blander color – brown, black, and gray. 

“They are all about the same age as well – between 

three and four years old – which is the age where 

adoption rates generally start to decline,” 

Martinak noted. 

1010
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makeover! 

OVER 33,000 WILD HORSES AND BURROS 

inhabit BLM lands in the United States, and the 

agency manages the animals to maintain the health of 

the rangeland and the herds themselves. The public 

adoptions and sales of mustangs and burros brought into 

captivity are a fundamental component of that process. 

Seventeen designated mustang herds are 

managed in Oregon. Thirty four 

horses participated in the Albany 

Makeover this year, and they hail 

from three bands: Jackies Butte, 

not far west of the Idaho border 

in southeastern Oregon; Beaty 

Butte, along Highway 140 at the 

Nevada line; and Murderers 

Creek southwest of John Day, 

jointly managed with the 

U.S. Forest Service. 

T R A I N E R S 

COMPETING IN THE MAKEOVER have 100 

days to transform their charges into obedient, 

cooperative, and domestic creatures. 

“The very first thing they try 

to do is establish trust 

with the animal,” said 

Martinak. “That 

then determines 

how far they 

can go with the training.” 

The contest evaluates trainers based on the physical 

condition of their horse and a variety of exercises from 

picking up the animal’s hoof and loading it into a trailer 

to steering it through obstacles. The top 10 finalists 

compete in a freestyle event. 

PRIzES AREN’T THE ONLy REWARD for the 

trainers’ impressive labor. The culmination of the event 

is, of course, the adoption of newly trained mustangs – 

the successful transfer from Oregon’s wide open spaces 

to the welcoming pastures of its ranches and farms. 

l

AS THIS ISSUE WENT TO PRINT, the BLM 

received fantastic results from this most recent 

Extreme Mustang Makeover. The largest-ever turnout 

of over 3,500 attendees showed up to cheer on and 

adopt 28 Mustangs into enthusiastic families, homes, 

and farms. Laird McCabe of yamhill, Oregon and his 

Mustang “Sally” were crowned competition champions 

at the event. Trainer Jani Mari zigray-Cochran of 

Rogue River, Oregon found her mustang “Cayuse” 

at the top of the bidding list bringing $5,000 to the 

Mustang Heritage Foundation and the BLM’s Wild 

Horse and Burro Program. The program hopes to bring 

the Extreme Mustang Makeover back to Albany in 

2010. Watch for updates! 

For more details and to learn how you can attend a future Extreme Mustang Makeover, please

 visit www.blm.gov/or/index or call 1-866-FORMUSTANGS for more great mustang information. 

Mar/Apr Mar/Apr 2009 2009 

11
 

 

 

 

 

District Round-Up

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

12

PHOTOS BY BLM STAFF 

• Burns welcomed its new District Manager Kenny 

McDaniel with an official ceremony on Wednesday, 

February 18. After 21 years in Medford in addition 

to working in both Washington D.C. and Gunnison, 

Colorado, McDaniel says he’s happy to return to Oregon 

and pleased to be working with the unique resources 

and relationships in the Burns District. 

• Two employees from the Burns Interagency Fire Zone 

are among 63 firefighters nationwide who traveled 

halfway around the world to Australia to assist with 

managing and suppressing wildfires that have burned 

more than 1 million acres. Burns firefighters Steve 

Morefield and Jeff Whalen may be in Australia for up to 

five weeks under an international mutual-aid agreement. 

• Burns District Three Rivers Resource Area recently 

received the Harney Soil and Water Conservation 

District’s ‘Agency Partner of the Year’ honor for 2008. 

The award recognizes the “tireless efforts to coordinate 

resource management activities for the benefit of both 

public and privately managed lands in Harney County.” 

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

• Hundreds of southwest Oregon kids descended on 

the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve 

in March to participate in the annual Forestry Education 

Days. The students rotated through stations taught by 

BLM staff, members of the Society of American Foresters, 

private industry foresters, and researchers to learn about 

tree growth, plant identification, ecology, soils, and 

wildlife habitat. 

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

• Progress continues on the new office building for the 

Eugene District. The main building was completed in 

January and two of the BLM’s office mates have already 

moved into the facility. The Willamette National Forest 

Headquarters and the Oregon National Guard moved 

into the building in February and are getting settled 

into their space. The BLM is awaiting completion of 

the warehouse prior to moving to the new site which is 

located in Springfield, approximately five miles east 

of the existing District office. The current plan is for 

the warehouse addition to be completed in May and 

actual move-in to occur in early June. The new office is 

a beautiful facility with many high-tech amenities for 

employees and visitors to utilize. The BLM and U.S Forest 

Service will share a spacious public room which should 

provide improved customer service for the public. 

• In addition, Eugene resident Greg Poitra just 

celebrated his 10th year as a volunteer at the West 

Eugene 

Wetlands! 

Thank you, 

Greg! 

• With the advent of spring on the Oregon coast comes 

the start of the western snowy plover nesting season. The 

snowy plover is a federally listed threatened species that 

lays its eggs and raises its young in the open dry sand. 

The Coos Bay District manages snowy plover nesting sites 

at Coos Bay’s North Spit and New River Areas of Critical 

Environmental Concern. March 15 marks the start of 

the beach access restrictions that provide protection for 

the nesting plovers. During this time only the wet sand 

portion of nesting beaches will be open to the public. All 

of the work is paying off! Last year the BLM-managed 

North Spit was the most productive nesting site for the 

western snowy plover, producing 40 of the 71 total birds 

hatched last year. 

Greg Poitra 

Kenny McDaniel

Snowy

Plover 
 

 

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

Welcome to news from around the BLM’s Districts of Oregon and Washington!

Please join us for an update on

all of our community happenings! 

• State Director Ed Shepard visited the Lakeview District 

on February 19 for Carol Benkosky’s formal reception 

as the new Lakeview District Manager. The morning 

swearing-in ceremony included all Lakeview District 

employees. Following this event, a public open house 

introduced Shepard, Benkosky, and other BLM officials to 

the community to discuss local issues. The day’s activities 

ended with Benkosky and several Lakeview District staff 

guiding Shepard on a tour of the new Warner Wetlands 

pump and fish screen. 

• Lakeview Resource Area Archaeologist Bill Cannon 

is passionate about promoting public awareness of 

the historical and cultural significance of early Native 

American rock carvings and paintings. To that end, he 

has collaborated over the last several months with the 

High Desert Museum to create an exhibition titled Rock 

Art Perspectives: Pictographs and Petroglyphs. On display 

are various sculptures, paintings, photographs, and 

archeological findings. Biographies of each participating 

archaeologist, photographer, and Native American artist 

Medford, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/medford

Carol Benkosky

are portrayed, offering varying perspectives on the 

importance of rock art and the impact it has had on their 

work. 

Bill 

Cannon’s 

Rock Art 

The purpose of the exhibit is to inform visitors of the 

value of this art form and the need to conserve and 

protect America’s archaeological resources. Cannon is 

designated as the guest curator of the exhibition which 

will run through May 31 at the High Desert Museum 

located south of Bend, Oregon. 

• On Saturday, May 16, the public is invited to 

celebrate 30 years of partnership at the Table Rocks as 

well as Take Care of Oregon Day by joining a volunteer 

work party, participating in interpretive activities, and 

honoring cultural heritage through a Native American 

ceremony. Visit our website for more details. 

continues on next page 

Mar/Apr

2009 13
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

continues from previous page 

District Round-Up

• Prineville firefighters left from their hometowns and 

rendezvoused in Los Angeles with other firefighters 

before heading to Melbourne to help with fire 

suppression and related activities in the State of Victoria. 

Beautiful

Flowers! 

• The BLM transferred approximately 640 acres to the 

State of Oregon as part of the celebration of Oregon’s 

Sesquicentennial! This land is located in Crook County 

about six miles south of Prineville and is commonly 

referred to as the Juniper Canyon parcel. “Continuing 

with our commitment to the State of Oregon we thought 

this land would be a nice way to say ‘Happy Birthday’ to 

the State,” said Oregon/Washington BLM State Director, 

Ed Shepard. 

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

• The 13th annual Douglas County Sportsmen’s and 

Outdoor Recreation Show was held at the Douglas 

County Fairgrounds from February 13 – 15, 2009. 

Roseburg Recreation program specialists planned and 

built the exhibit highlighting this year’s theme: What’s 

New For You – Discoveries Close to Home. This booth 

was a joint effort by the Roseburg BLM, the Umpqua 

National Forest, and the Douglas County Parks 

Department. Some of the highlights were the new 

interpretive panels installed at recreation sites; the 

Comstock Day-use Area open at the North Bank Ranch; 

the new online reservations going live for Millpond, 

Tyee, and Rock Creek pavilions and for Lone Pine and 

Millpond Group Campgrounds; and the new Tioga 

Bridge Project in planning stages. Over 1,800 attendees 

visited the BLM’s Douglas County booth. 

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

Douglas County Booth 

• The advent of the internet has brought together likeminded people from around the world! In December 

2006, Salem District Botanist Ron Exeter, professional 

mycologist Lorelei Norvell, and senior research assistant 

professor at Oregon State University Efren Cazares, 

published a scientific mushroom book entitled Ramaria of 

the Pacific Northwestern United States.

From

Ron Exeter’s 

Mushroom 

Book 

Upon publication, Ron received emails from the 

international mycological community requesting copies 

be sent to far-away places such as Australia, Italy, Spain, 

and the Philippines as well as Canada and the eastern 

United States. 

The book has been reviewed in several mycological 

publications to wide acclaim. The September issue of 

Inoculum, the newsletter for the Mycological Society of 

America, said, “The authors have struck a fine balance 

PHOTOS BY BLM STAFF 

14
eb 

 

 

 

Vale, Oregon blm.gov/or/districts/vale 

• Andy Bumgarner, Rangeland Management Specialist in the 

Jordan Field Office, was recognized at the 62nd meeting of 

the Society of Rangeland Management in Albuquerque, New 

Mexico, as the Outstanding Rangeland Management Specialist 

for 2008. Congratulations, Andy! Additionally, District 

Ranger Lynn Miracle was recognized as 2008 Field Training 

Officer. 

between the needs of taxonomists and the professionals 

charged with managing these species by packing in an 

impressive amount of detailed information in a carefully 

organized and usable format that should prove useful to 

experts and generalists alike.”

 Fungi Magazine writes “...this book should be on the 

shelf of any serious field mycologist in North America 

who enjoys these coral fungi.”

 And Ron isn’t sitting on his laurels! He’s already 

teamed up with Lorelei Norvell for another fungal 

publication, Phaeocollybia of the Pacific Northwest, 

currently at press. He is also working with plant 

ecologist Reid Schuller in publishing guidebooks to the 

Salem BLM’s Lost Prairie and Rickreall Ridge Areas of 

Critical Environmental Concern. Copies of the Ramaria 

publication can be obtained by contacting the Salem 

District Bureau of Land Management at (503) 375-5646. 

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

• Debbie Plummer, Kyle Dashiell, and Cheyne Rossbach 

of the Spokane District Office participated in Adventures 

in Reading at Progress Elementary School in Spokane 

Valley. The school went all out decorating the gym like 

a forest with tents and camping props – even Smokey 

Bear made a special surprise appearance! Then BLM 

employees read to students and parents in small groups. 

The evening was a huge success as children of all ages 

got excited about reading! 

Smokey Bear

Debbie Plummer 

YOUR OREGON & WASHINGTON BLM DISTRICTS 

• A number of Vale District employees participated in the 

2008 Human Resources Development Committee Photo 

Contest by submitting over 90 creative and artistic photos! 

So how’d they do? They took three first places across the 

seven categories, that’s how! Diane Pritchard took first place 

in the Cultural category while Kathy Bertalotto received 

first place in Wildlife and Plants. And J.T. Sohr snagged 

first in Fire. Kathy also received third place in People and 

Recreation while Bob Williams grabbed a third place in 

Landscapes. Plus Dan Thomas achieved honorable mention in 

People and Recreation. Congratulations to all who submitted 

their fantastic photos! 

• Finally it is with great sadness that we let everyone know 

Jim Johnson, Vale District Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, 

passed away February 27th from complications resulting 

from a brain aneurysm and stroke. Jim had been the District 

Wild Horse and Burro Specialist since 1999 and worked in 

Vale for over 17 years. Jim also served on several national 

teams to provide input on issues critical to the program. Jim 

conducted several gathers and adoptions and was willing 

to share his knowledge and expertise with the public and 

employees. He is greatly missed. 

Mar/Apr 15

2009

Mar/Apr Jan/F

2009 

Jim Johnson 
 

 

 

 

Even adorable bats are shy around the paparazzi. 

CreaTUres of 

1616

Up Close and Personal with the BLM’s Bats...What Mus

A

s the sun si nk s i nto the hor i zon on a warm August 

afternoon, BLM Wi ld l i fe Biolog ist Glenn Lor ton 

and h is summer work crew depar t the Lakev iew 

District Office for the field. After a 45-minute drive 

through the high desert landscape, they arrive at an 

unassuming pond in a meadow surrounded by a 

ponderosa pine forest. At the scene, crew members 

emerge from their vehicle, inhale the sage-infused 

air, and initiate setup of their night operation. Three 

mist nets are stretched across the pool of water, a 

data collection table is assembled amongst the brush 

at the pond’s edge, and instruments and equipment 

are prepped. 

After setting the stage for the night’s impending 

performance, the team members assume their 

positions in a makeshift observation post and direct 

their gaze towards the heavens. At twilight, the sky 

becomes alive with the subject of their investigation, 

multiple species of bats. 

A big brown bat is among the group of acrobats 

playfully maneuvering through the air in pursuit of 

insects. After completing several minutes of 

gymnastic feats, it approaches the surface 

A big brown bat is among the group 

of acrobats playfully maneuvering 

through the air in pursuit of insects. 

ic They Make.
 

And you thought you didn’t 

like going to the dentist? 

of the water in an attempt to quench its thirst. Within seconds 

of decreasing its elevation, the bat is captured in one of the 

mist nets set by the crew. 

Lorton wastes no time responding to the entrapment. He 

wades knee-deep through mud, water, and aquatic plants 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The NighT 

to free the captive animal. Gripped 

gently in his hand, he carefully 

releases the big brown bat from the 

woven mesh and brings it to the data 

collection station. In accordance 

with strict protocols, the team records 

various measurements including the 

bat’s weight, sex, and reproductive 

status. A light is held under the 

animal’s wing to assess bone 

formation in order to determine the 

bat’s age. A DNA sample is collected 

to genetically differentiate species and 

provide a reference sample of the bats 

inhabiting the region. This process 

is repeated throughout the night for 

multiple bats captured. 

AROund MidniGHT, THE 

OPERATiOn’S ACTiViTiES 

COME TO An End. The 

temperature has now dropped 

significantly, crew member fatigue 

is beginning to set in, and the bats 

have completed their closing act. 

Final entries are entered into the data 

log, the field laboratory dismantled 

and packed into the vehicle, and 

the trip home commences. It has 

Tracking the BLM’s 

Midnight Aviators 

After Twilight 

been a successful night. Significant 

information has been gathered that 

will increase human knowledge of the 

habits and characteristics of local bat 

colonies. 

Management strategies 

consider all animals needs, 

including those whose 

existence is enshrouded in 

darkness. 

The crew’s monitoring and 

inventorying efforts will continue to be 

conducted as long as program funding 

is available. Their efforts are part of a 

collaborativeBLM,U.S.ForestService 

and Humboldt University project. 

They are one of several teams located 

throughout Oregon and Washington 

tasked with collecting and entering 

bat measurements into a database for 

scientific analysis. The final outcome 

of this regional effort will be threefold: 

(1) data will be utilized to develop a 

bat species identification software 

program, (2) study records will be 

entered into a database for the purpose 

STORy & PHOTOS by SCOTT STOffEL 

of tracking bat species distribution 

and relative abundance throughout 

the area, and (3) research findings 

will be used to assess the impacts of 

resource management practices upon 

bat species.
	

This 

promises 

e n l i g h t e n 

us 

regard to the 

full 

our 

have upon 

natural 

It will 

study 

to 

with 

impact 

actions 

the 

world. 

bring a deeper 

Hey, can you hold this for a second? 

level of awareness to our 

decision making and the long-term 

consequences of our choices. It will 

help us prepare balanced resource 

management strategies that consider 

all plant and animal needs, including 

those whose existence is enshrouded 

in darkness.
	

For more on the BLM’s bats, 

please visit us at blm.gov/or 

and do a search for “bats!” 

Mar/Apr Mar/Apr 2009 2009 

1177
 

 

The Bureau of Land 

Huckleberry 

to the 

1188
Mar/Apr

 

 

 

Management 

Stewardship Project

 Looking 

Future
 STORy by CHEyNE ROSSbACH 

Jan/Feb 

2009 19
 

 

 

 

 

Logs are sorted at the landing by species and size 

for different mills on the Huckleberry Stewardship 

I

’m standing with Al Gardner, forester for the Spokane 

District BLM, on a dirt road within the Huckleberry 

Stewardship Project area in northeastern Washington. 

Gardner points out stands of treated timber 

and masticated brush. Trees on the north side of 

the road are thinned and have about 10 feet of 

crown spacing. Brush growing under the canopy 

is sparse, and ladder fuels are minimal. Scattered 

throughout the treated areas are small spots of 

brush left for wildlife habitat and cover. 

In contrast, Gardner points out a stand of trees 

to the south side of the road that have not received 

fuels treatment. A wall of vegetation is all that can 

be seen. At closer inspection the south-facing slope 

has ninebark, oceanspray, vine maple and alder. 

The brush and trees are in heavy competition, 

and trying to make your way through the wall of 

vegetation would be a daunting task. With such 

high vegetative competition, trees are stressed and 

many are susceptible to disease and insect attack. 

To a forester like Al Gardner, this situation 

shows the stark contrast of how comprehensive 

stewardship management is improving forest 

health in areas that have suffered from the absence 

of fire. It is also the dividing line between a forest 

capable of surviving fire and one that would 

leave little more than matchsticks in the wake of 

flames.
	

The BLM, like many forest landowners 

and land management agencies in the Pacific 

Northwest, is dealing with a legacy of 100 years 

of fire suppression. Heavy fuel loads and dense 

understory of vegetation have primed conditions 

in the Huckleberry Mountains that could lead to a 

catastrophic stand-replacing wildfire. 

the goal for the long term is to 

eventually have an old-growth forest 

The Huckleberry Stewardship Project was 

developed to restore tree stands to a condition 

that could withstand wildland fire. According to 

Gardner, the goal for the long term is to eventually 

have an old-growth forest reminiscent of what 

existed prior to European intervention in the fire 

cycle. In the short term, an intense regime of stand 

thinning and biomass removal is giving the forest 

2020
 

a second chance. The BLM Manages for Multiple Use The Spokane BLM District 

manages about 4,800 acres within the 

project area north of Fort Spokane, 

Washington. Forest stands consist 

mainly of south-facing slopes with 

ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir with 

a Douglas-fir/ninebark association. 

Stands on north-facing slopes consist 

of Douglas-fir, western redcedar, and 

grand fir. 

The Spokane Tribe has been 

working closely with the BLM 

The BLM project area is bordered 

by Spokane Tribal lands and private 

homes. For years these neighboring 

forest landowners have recognized 

the need for fuels management, 

and they, according to Gardner, 

“have been very cooperative. They 

want this done; they wanted it done 

yesterday.” 

The Spokane Tribe, whose lands 

border four miles of the southern 

project boundary, has been working 

closely with the BLM to manage 

hazardous fuels. During our tour 

through the project, the Spokane 

Tribe was busy performing controlled 

burns on their forestlands a few miles 

to the south of the project area. This 

burning is occurring in concert with 

the Huckleberry Stewardship Project 

to increase the total area treated for 

fuels reduction and to create buffers 

for residential housing areas on 

reservation lands. 

Another advantage of this 

comprehensive approach to forest 

management is that the project is 

creating a great deal of biomass, and 

the BLM is finding ways to use this 

renewable energy source. In the 2007 

to 2008 operating season, 5,900 tons 

of biomass was removed in the form 

of clean chips that were marketed to 

the paper making industry. Over 

(continued on next page) 

The Bureau of Land Management is 

responsible for some of the most beautiful 

landscapes in the West, including forests and 

rangelands, beaches and mountains across 

more than 16.1 million acres in Oregon 

and over 400,000 acres in Washington. 

These public lands contain more than 800 

miles of wild and scenic rivers, hundreds of 

opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, 

and hunting, and a landscape full of diverse 

plants and ecosystems. 

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 western Oregon, the BLM manages 

two million acres of forest in a checkerboard 

ownership pattern. These forests provide 

important habitat for many threatened and 

endangered fish and wildlife species and 

are considered some of the most productive 

forests in the world. 

The public land found in eastern Oregon 

is characterized by large swaths of basin and 

range topography. These dramatic, semiarid landscapes provide a wide variety of 

recreation and commercial opportunities 

while also proving habitat for a diverse array 

of fish and wildlife species. 

In Washington, the BLM lands are found 

predominantly east of the Cascade Mountain 

Range, but can be visited as far west as 

the San Juan Islands. Habitats include the 

maritime Puget Sound lowlands, the central 

Columbia Basin sagebrush regime, many 

riparian zones, and the coniferous forest and 

sub-alpine areas of northeast Washington. 

The BLM’s roots go back to the Land 

Ordinance of 1785 and the northwest 

Ordinance of 1787. These laws provided 

for the survey and settlement of the lands that 

the original 13 colonies ceded to the federal 

government after the War of Independence. 

As additional lands were acquired by the 

United States from Spain, France, and other 

countries, Congress directed that they be 

explored, surveyed, and made available for 

settlement. 

In 1812, Congress established the 

General Land Office in the Department of the 

Treasury to oversee the disposition of these 

federal lands. As the 19th century progressed 

and the nation’s land base expanded further 

west, Congress encouraged the settlement of 

the land by enacting a wide variety of laws 

to include the Homesteading Laws and the 

Mining Law of 1872. 

These statutes served one of the major 

policy goals of the young country – 

settlement of the Western territories. With 

the exception of the Mining Law of 1872 

and the Desert Land Act of 1877 (which was 

amended), all have since been repealed or 

superseded by other statutes. 

The late 19th century marked a shift 

in federal land management priorities 

with the creation of the first national 

parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. By 

withdrawing these lands from settlement, 

Congress signaled a shift in the policy 

goals served by the public lands. Instead of 

using them to promote settlement, Congress 

recognized that they should be held in public 

ownership because of their other resource 

values. 

In the early 20th century, Congress 

took additional steps toward recognizing 

the value of the assets on public lands and 

directed the Executive Branch to manage 

activities on the remaining public lands. 

The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 allowed 

leasing, exploration, and production of 

selected commodities such as coal, oil, gas, 

and sodium to take place on public lands. 

The Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 established 

the U.S. Grazing Service to manage the 

public rangelands. And the Oregon and 

California (O&C) Act of August 28, 1937, 

required sustained yield management of 

the timberlands in western Oregon. 

In 1946, the Grazing Service was merged 

with the General Land Office to form the 

Bureau of Land Management within the 

Department of the Interior. When the BLM 

was initially created, there were over 2,000 

unrelated and often conflicting laws for 

managing the public lands. The BLM had no 

unified legislative mandate until Congress 

enacted the Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). 

In FLPMA, Congress recognized the 

value of the remaining public lands by 

declaring that these lands would remain in 

public ownership. Congress also gave the 

BLM the term “multiple use” management, 

defined as “management of the public lands 

and their various resource values so that 

they are utilized in the combination that will 

best meet the present and future needs of the 

American people.” 

Mar/Apr Mar/Apr 2009 2009 

21
 

The BLM Today
	 Increasingly, the BLM has had to address the 

needs of a growing and changing west. Ten of the 

12 western states with significant proportions of 

BLM-managed lands have among the fastest rates 

of population growth in the United States. 

The American public values balanced 

use, conservation, environmental management, 

recreation and tourism. Public lands are increasingly viewed from the perspective of the recreational opportunities they offer, their cultural 

resources, and—in an increasingly urban world— 

their vast open spaces. However, against this 

backdrop, the more traditional land uses of grazing, timber production and mining are still in high 

demand. 

The BLM’s task is to recognize the increasing new demands of public land users while 

addressing the ongoing needs of traditional user 

groups. Perhaps one of the Bureau’s greatest challenges today is to develop more effective land 

management practices, while becoming more efficient at the same time. 

(continued from previous page) 

the length of the project, hog fuel – bark, tops and branches – will be 

ground and hauled to a cogeneration facility in Kettle Falls, Washington. 

Cogeneration is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously 

generate both electricity and useful heat.
	

Stewardship contracting was first authorized for federal land 

management agencies back in 2003 by Congress as part of President 

Bush’s Healthy Forests Initiative. This initiative allows the BLM to 

use revenues from forest products to offset the cost for treatments, like 

hazardous fuel reduction and restoration of wildlife or fish habitat. It 

also authorized the formation of contracts and agreements with public or 

private entities to further management goals.
	

For the BLM, the Huckleberry Stewardship Project is an example 

of how timber can be a by-product of forest restoration and hazardous 

fuel reduction treatments. Combining timber harvest and service work 

into one stewardship contract is improving the health and vitality of 

forestlands in a more efficient and collaborative manner. 

stewardship goals revolve around land Health and 

community needs rather than commercial products 

As a rule, stewardship goals revolve around land health and meeting 

community needs rather than focusing on the removal of commercial 

Stewardships benefit greatly from the use 

of technology to prepare and sort lumber 

22
23

 

 

 

 

The forest stand received thinning but no brush mastication. Having the flexibility 

to adjust treatments based on ground conditions is a benefit of stewardships 

wood products. In the Huckleberry Stewardship Project area, surrounding 

landowners and the BLM were highly concerned about the risks of fire so 

a focus on fuels reduction has been the primary interest with restoration 

and wildlife habitat improvement being secondary but fully integrated 

management objectives. 

The Huckleberry Stewardship operates on a performance-based 

contract. According to Gardner, “Our role is to describe what we want, 

and it is up to the contractor to tell us how they are going to do it. We tell 

them what we want it to look like and they prepare a prescription for BLM 

approval.” 

This is a large departure from the traditional process of timber sales 

where contractors were given specific direction with pre-marked trees and 

the primary concern was extracting the timber. Any restoration work was 

accomplished through separate projects. With the focus on fuels reduction 

and forest health, the contractors have more responsibility and ownership 

of the end result. 

Most BLM and U.S. Forest Service stewardship projects require 

appropriated funds to complete service work. They are focused on 

restoration, and many are too small to be economically viable when 

timber sales are balanced against the cost of restoration. The Huckleberry 

Stewardship Project is one of the few that is self-sustaining; the money that 

comes in through timber harvest removal exceeds the cost for restoration. 

The BLM is working closely with forest contractors, private landowners, 

and local communities to manage forestlands in a comprehensive manner 

through the use of stewardship projects. The partners are already seeing 

progress in restoring forestlands to a sustainable condition. 

l

BLM Facts
	

∙ The BLM is responsible for carrying out a variety of programs for the management and conservation, of resources on 258 million surface 

acres, as well as 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate, These public lands make up 

about 13 percent of the total land surface of the 

United States and more than 40 percent of all 

land managed by the federal government. 

∙ Most of the lands the BLM manages are located in the western United States, including 

Alaska. 

∙ The BLM administers public lands within a 

framework of numerous laws. The most comprehensive of these is the Federal Land Policy 

and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). All 

bureau policies, procedures and management 

actions must be consistent with FLPMA and the 

other laws that govern use of the public lands. 

∙ Under its multiple-use management mandate, 

the BLM administers more than 18,000 grazing 

permits and leases and nearly 13 million authorized livestock animal unit months on 160 million acres of public rangeland. BLM manages 

rangelands and facilities for 57,000 wild horses 

and burros. 

Mar/Apr Mar/Apr

2009 2009 23
 

-

 

u u The BLM is reaching out to our fellow champions 

of public lands to join us on Resource Advisory Councils 

here are neighborhoods where 

the only thing shared is their 

street name. In other places, 

everybody knows everybody. 

your neighbors keep an eye on 

your house when you’re away, visit 

with you as you shovel snow or pull 

experience between the BLM and our 

neighbors as we 

or change the way we administer the 

public land. 

neighborhood as 

T

one third of 

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? 

weeds, and generally treat you like a, 

well...like a neighbor. In the Western 

United States, the BLM administers 

lands that belong to everybody, and 

our neighbors can be found across all 

ranges and townships. 

With about 16 million acres of 

public lands mingled across most 

of Oregon and parts of Washington, 

there’s plenty to take care of. What 

the BLM does can affect our 

neighbors. And activities on their 

land can impact public lands. That’s 

why it’s so important for us to include 

our fellow stewards and neighbors in 

the decision making process of our 

collective backyard. 

Resource Advisory Councils 

(generally known as RACs) 

have been a great avenue 

for sharing the 

viewpoints and 

start new projects 

In order to reach out to the widest 

possible, 

the 

volunteer positions 

on each RAC 

expire every 

year. Thus 

the BLM is 

c o n s t a n t l y 

r e c r u i t i n g 

new residents 

to share their 

k n o w l e d g e 

and opinions 

about the 

2424
25

-

-

– 

- -

Building Communities Where 

Everybody Knows Your Name
 

BLMeetup 

Howdy Neighbor! by PAm RObbINS 

management of our 

shared legacy of land. 

So, who are these people 

weighing in on your behalf? 

Well, they’re people just like 

you. They might be you! They 

care about what happens to 

their favorite fishing hole or 

want to make sure they can 

still take their off road vehicle 

to a place away from highway 

traffic to have fun. They’re 

the rancher who donates beef 

to the school district to help 

extend their budget. They’re 

the go getter searching for a new 

way to use the old mill to bring 

gainful employment to his or her 

hometown. 

you may not know it, but you’ve 

probably seen your hometown RAC 

members coaching youth soccer 

or bumped into them at the town 

store. you’ve rooted with them or 

against their team at football games 

or worked alongside them at your 

annual festivals. Just like you, they 

know a little something about a great 

many things and a whole lot about 

what they do for a living or really 

care about. 

And most importantly, they 

know the territory. Whether it’s 

the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes, 

the ruts of the Oregon Trail, 

Washington’s Inland Empire, or 

any of the places in between, RAC 

members know this country and its 

role in the lives of their neighbors 

and visitors. 

Just like you, they know 

a little something about 

a great many things 

If you’d like to help Federal 

managers shape resource policy 

and you 

can invest a 

small amount of time for 

the greater good, NOW is the time to 

take action. 

Have you ever wanted to 

help shape the way the BLM 

manages the public lands in 

your community? 

Terms will expire in all three of 

the RAC category areas: commercial, 

conservation, and community 

interests. The BLM will appoint 17 

members to these councils in the fall 

of 2009, but the process to solicit new 

members starts now. The BLM will 

take nominations until May. To find 

out more, visit blm.gov/or/rac/index 

or call Pam Robbins, the RAC Liaison, 

at (503) 808 6306. Or send an e mail 

to pam_robbins@blm.gov. This could 

be your big chance to help shape your 

community’s “public backyard!” 

Mar/Apr Mar/Apr

2009 2009 25
L

by TRISH HOgERvORST 

Gunner 

January 2003 – December 2008 

Police K9 

Badge #909 

ast spring, Salem BLM Rangers 

Mike Roop, Phil Rheiner, 

and Adam Sulley approached 

a group of 120 people in the 

Molalla River Corridor. “As 

we approached this large group, 

people were very aware of Gunner 

and much more willing to comply. 

If you have a barking dog in your 

truck, people tend to do what you 

ask” said Roop.

 In addition to patrolling the 

Salem District’s public forests 

looking for marijuana gardens 

and special forest products 

theft, Roop, who was recently 

promoted to State Staff Ranger, 

and Gunner lent their expertise 

to a number of out-of-state 

events such as off-road vehicles 

at Dumont Dunes, California 

and the Glamis Sand Dunes east 

of San Diego, Burning Man in 

Nevada, and the annual Sturgis 

A K9 Ranger 

Says Farewell
 Beloved BLM K9, Gunner, Answered the Call of Duty 

“Gunner evened up the numbers for us,” says 

his partner, Salem BLM Ranger Mike Roop. 

motorcycle rally in South Dakota. day where Gunner and Roop 

 “At these large events, worked with eleven other K-9 

Gunner and I focused on narcotics Teams. 

detection, crowd control, and officer On December 27, 2008, Roop 

safety,” said Roop. “We also went and Gunner drove to the Glamis 

on search warrants. At a site in Sand Dunes. Gunner became 

Tacoma, Washington, Gunner sick, and Roop took Gunner to 

kept high scenting (pointing his a veterinarian in El Centro. The 

nose at the ceiling). When we vet thought Gunner might be 

climbed into the attic, we found dehydrated and asked to keep him 

68 pounds of processed marijuana. overnight. That evening when 

the vet checked on Gunner to 

Training was a fun-filled change the IV, Gunner had died. day where Gunner and An autopsy showed a cancerous Ranger Roop worked with tumor in his lower intestine. eleven other K-9 Teams. Gunner was cremated in Palm 

Gunner lived in his kennel at the Desert, and his ashes were sent 

Roop family home when he was not home with Roop. Salem BLM 

in the BLM ranger truck. Every employees plan to plant a tree and 

Wednesday was training day – post a plaque in honor of their K9 

Roop and Gunner reviewed all they Ranger. Gunner is greatly missed 

had learned in training and while by Salem’s Law Enforcement 

working. Training was a fun-filled Program and all who knew him. 

26
27

Pioneers
 

Salem BLM Rangers Mike Roop & Gunner 

Mar/Apr Mar/Apr

2009 2009 27
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every Picture 

Tells A Story 

BackCountry 

2008 Blm Photo contest Winner 

WildliFe / Plants 

28

Kathy Bertalotto, Vale BLM 

PHOTO BY CLiFFORd R. JOHnSOn / OiL PAinTinG OF PHOTO BY dAVid GARCiA 

This photo of a cougar was taken 

in May of 1971 by my brother, 

Clifford R. Johnson, a smokejumper out of Missoula, Montana. He 

was on a raft trip down the Owyhee 

River enjoying a break from jumping 

out of airplanes to fight fires. 

Cliff, an avid photographer, happened 

to spot this cougar lying on a ledge. So 

while the cougar was watching him 

with great interest, Cliff moored his raft 

in a quiet eddy on the opposite side of 

the river. Then, before the cougar could 

leap up to the top of the rimrocks, Cliff 

snapped this photo. 

On this trip Cliff also got some 

excellent shots of Big Horn Sheep. But 

we never got to see all the photos. you 

see, Cliff took two cameras on this trip, 

but only one survived – the other one is 

lying somewhere at the bottom of the 

river. 

After a fire in Alaska during August 

of 1971, Cliff returned to Missoula 

where he gathered at the Bitterroot 

River with some friends. Sadly, Cliff 

drowned on August 4th, 1971. 

It’s a great honor for my family 

that Clifford can live on through his 

photographs. Thank you to the BLM 

for helping keep his memory alive! 

And now I’m taking photos, too! But 

I’m not too sure about jumping out of 

airplanes. 

Mar/Apr Jan/Feb

20098