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Deadwood Allotments, Rogue River National Forest, Prospect Ranger
District.
Click here to see pictures of cattle
grazing impacts to two areas within the Deadwood Allotments during 2005.
The areas photographed are Walch Fen, a wet meadow and riparian area, and King
Spruce Meadow, a spring-filled meadow and riparian area.
Click here
to see pictures of grazing impacts to King Spruce Meadow, within the Sky Lakes
Wilderness, 2003 and 2004.
Deadwood Facts/Issues:
- Complex of 5 allotments in the Southern Oregon Cascade Mountains is
84,318 acres.
- Almost 80% of the allotment area is designated as Late-Successional
Reserve.
- The 5 permittees graze 1,066 cows in the allotment area.
- Under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, Dead Indian Creek,
North Fork Little Butte Creek, South Fork Little Butte Creek are listed
as “Water Quality Limited” due to excessive water temperatures.
Grazing increases stream temperatures by removing streambank shading and
promoting channel widening. South Fork Little Butte Creek is also
listed as “Water Quality Limited” due to sedimentation.
- The 5 permittees paid a total of $3,245.37 in fees to graze cattle in 2001.
($1.35 per AUM). The Deadwood Allotments represent almost half of
the cows that Rogue River NF allows on public land.
Coho Salmon, listed under the Endangered Species Act, and
steelhead trout (candidate for listing) are present within the allotments and
are affected by fine sediments entering streams, removal of streamside
vegetation/shading (temperature increase), and channel modification. The allotment contains critical habitat for the Coho Salmon.
Rare plant species in particular risk of removal and harm in the allotment area
include Sierra Onion, Howell’s Yampah, Quaking Aspen (sprouts killed), Drooping
Bulrush, Ashland Thistle, Coville’s Lip-Fern, Calypogeia, and Blandow’s Feather
Moss.
Grazing should not be allowed in
the Sky Lakes Wilderness. Cattle grazing is continuing to have
significant impacts on Three and Four Mile Meadow and areas along the
Alta Lake and King Spruce Trails. The soil is being compacted and
disturbed; water quality is being degraded; recreation conflicts exist
with those wishing a non-polluted wilderness experience; and rare plant
and wildlife species are also being affected within the wilderness by
cattle grazing.
Click here to read FLOW's comments on
the Deadwood Complex EA.
FLOW and the
Rogue Group Sierra Club filed an appeal of the Rogue River NF decision.
Click here
to read the appeal.
Pictures from within the Deadwood Complex:
Beaver dam along South Fork Little Butte Creek.
Beavers working on this tree along South Fork Little
Butte Creek.
Cattle trample the wet meadows of Walch Fen, near South Fork Little Butte
Creek.
The se
high-elevation wet meadows contain rare botanical diversity that is very
susceptible to damage from cattle hooves.
Cows regularly herd up in the Daley Creek drainage. This has
resulted in significant riparian damage and violations of the Aquatic
Conservation Strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan.
Trespass cows on the Middle Fork Rogue River Trail in the Sky Lakes
Wilderness, outside the allotment boundary.
Cows polluting the stream and streambank along South Fork Little Butte
Creek in violation of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the Northwest Forest
Plan.
Streamside trampling is common throughout the allotment.
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