1

Year: 2017 Inventory Unit Number/Name: OR-015-71/ Gray’s Butte

FORM 1

DOCUMENTATION OF BLM WILDERNESS INVENTORY

FINDINGS ON RECORD

1. Is there existing BLM wilderness inventory information on all or part of

this area?

No _______ Yes X (if more than one unit is within the area, list the

names/numbers of those units.): NA

a) Inventory Source: Wilderness Inventory: Oregon and Washington Final

Intensive Inventory Decisions November 1980

b) Inventory Unit Number(s)/Name(s): 1-71/ Gray’s Butte

c) Map Name(s)/Number(s): U.S. Department of the Interior: Bureau of Land

Management Oregon: Intensive Wilderness Inventory Final Decisions

November, 1980

d) BLM District(s)/Field Office(s): Lakeview District, Lakeview Resource

Area, Lakeview, Oregon

2. BLM Inventory Findings on Record:

Existing inventory information regarding wilderness characteristics (if more than one

BLM inventory unit is associated with the area, list each unit and answer each question

individually for each inventory unit):

Ownership Size

(historic

acres)

Natural

Condition?

Y/N

Outstanding

Solitude?

Y/N

Outstanding

Primitive &

Unconfined

Recreation?

Y/N

Supplemental

Values?

Y/N

1-71^ 25,040 N N N Y

1-71* 25,636 N N N N/A

^ Including 250 acres of private/state lands inholdings.

* The inventory of this unit was updated in 2008. However, due to a State Office-

sponsored Wilderness Inventory Consistency Evaluation and subsequent guidance,

the 2008 inventory analysis and findings are being replaced by this current 2017

inventory review. Documentation of the 2008 inventory can be found in the

wilderness inventory project record.

2

Summarize any known primary reasons for prior inventory findings listed in this table):

In 1980, unit 1-71 was described as long and narrow, running 20 miles along the northern

end of Abert Rim and varies in width from 1 to 3 miles wide. The unit above the rim is

sagebrush flats, while the unit below the rim is covered with crested wheatgrass seedings

along highway 395. The area contains six substantially unnoticeable small reservoirs,

Highway Well Rest Area, a developed cattle camp and overall was not found to meet the

wilderness criteria. The unit offered no reasonable opportunity for solitude due primarily

to flat terrain and the long narrow shape. The unit also offered little other than hunting in

the way of unconfined recreation potential. However, the unit was found to possess

supplemental values associated with bighorn sheep.

FORM 2

DOCUMENTATION OF CURRENT WILDERNESS INVENTORY

CONDITIONS

Unit Number/Name: OR-015-71/ Gray’s Butte

(1) Is the unit of sufficient size? Yes X No _____

In 2005, the BLM received a citizen proposal from the Oregon Natural Desert

Association (ONDA) for the 67,948-acre Juniper Mountain proposed WSA. ONDA

included in their information a narrative report, maps, photos, photo and route logs, and

GIS data. All of these materials were considered during the wilderness inventory

maintenance process for this area. The photos submitted by ONDA were taken in July of

2004 and June of 2005. Additional photos were provided in 2007. They proposed the

Juniper Mountain proposed WSA was one large area (comprised of four former inventory

units: 1-71, 1-72, 1-85, and 1-86) having no interior routes which meet the wilderness

inventory definition of a boundary road.

In 2008 and 2016, BLM conducted a field inventory of the area to update its road and

wilderness inventory and to gather additional information to supplement ONDA’s

wilderness information. This fieldwork included photo documentation of the boundary

and interior routes and a re-evaluation of wilderness characteristics for this area. Using

both ONDA and BLM photos, field logs, and staff field knowledge, the BLM completed

route analysis within the area in 2017.

The BLM determined that several of the routes ONDA identified, as “ways” are, in fact,

still boundary roads. The BLM found the Juniper Mountain proposed WSA is not one

large roadless unit, but is made of several smaller units that are similar, though not

exactly the same, as those units identified during the 1979 and 1980 wilderness inventory

effort.

The Grays Butte unit is bounded to the west by state land, U.S. Highway 395 right-of-

way, three mineral site right-of-ways, a power line right of way, and interim road 7135-

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B0; on the south by County Road 3-10 (Hogback Road) right-of-way; on the east by

BLM Roads 6165-00, 7155-00, 7155-A0, and interim road 7155-AE; and on the north by

a power line and BLM Road 6185-00. The boundary of this unit was changed to remove

approximately 600 acres of right-of-ways and disturbance (rest area, mineral pits, and

water storage tanks). Additionally, a portion of interim road 7135-B0 was determined to

not meet the definition of a road. However, the route persisted as a boundary to cut out a

high concentration of unnatural features (pipelines). A portion of route 7155-A0 was also

found to no longer meet the definition of a road, which resulted in approximately a 1,200-

acre addition to the unit.

Thus, based on these boundary and road determinations, the BLM identified the Grays

Butte inventory unit to exceed the minimum size criteria at approximately 26,222 acres of

BLM-administered land.

Additional background on the process that the BLM followed during this evaluation is

contained in the document, Wilderness Inventory Maintenance Process for the Lakeview

Resource Area, BLM and in the Route Analysis Forms. Both documents can be found in

the wilderness inventory file.

DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT CONDITIONS: The inventory unit is located immediately east of U.S. Highway 395 and Alkali Lake,

Oregon. The unit is approximately 20 miles long and 1 to 4 miles wide. The unit is

dominated by Abert Rim running north to south and Gray’s Butte in the northern portion

of the area. Areas east of the rim are comprised of sagebrush, rolling terrain and several

small, ephemeral lakes, while the western half of the area below the rim is comprised of

crested wheatgrass and mainly flat terrain with a few foothills and minor rims. The unit

contains one 340-acre inholding in the southern third of the area.

(2) Is the unit in a natural condition? Yes X No ____ N/A _____

In 1980, portions of the unit above the rim were described as generally natural with the

exception of six small waterholes that were so dispersed they were substantially

unnoticeable. Below the rim, approximately 7,500 acres of the unit consisted of crested

wheatgrass seeding. The western boundary of the unit also included Highway Well Rest

Area and a developed cattle camp, which were found to be substantially noticeable

human imprints on the landscape.

ONDA’s 2005 Juniper Mountain proposed WSA inventory found that unit 1-71 has

reverted to native vegetation and noted that they could not find evidence of the cow camp

mentioned in the 1980 BLM inventory. ONDA also proposed to exclude Highway Well

and a nearby seeding from their proposal. The inventory concluded that the area as whole

appears to have healthy native vegetation and other aspects of the unit appear completely

natural.

The unit currently contains the following man-made developments/disturbances: 22

waterholes, 3 reservoirs, 8 troughs, 6 guzzlers, 12.5 miles of fence line, 1 mile of ditch

4

lines, 22.5 miles of motorized routes, 6.5 miles of reclaiming routes, 1,266 acres of

historically plowed ground, 1,204 acres of chemical weed treatments, 2,878 acres of drill

seedings, and 674 acres of wildfire.

Presently, almost 4 decades after the original inventory, these developments are

weathered and grown over with herbaceous grasses, sagebrush, and a few pockets of

western juniper. As a result, developments now fade into the background of the unit and

are largely only noticeable at a close distance (1/4th mile or less) and are thus

substantially unnoticeable from further distances. The topography of the area also plays a

large role in screening disturbances and man-made developments. Areas that possessed

obvious visual impacts and/or high concentrations of disturbances have been excluded

from the unit (Highway Well Rest Area, large water tanks, several mineral pits, and a

pipeline). Additionally, like ONDA, the BLM could not locate evidence of a historic

cattle camp within the unit.

Based on a review of all the available information including photos, staff knowledge, and

field review, the BLM concluded that the natural condition of the unit has improved since

the original inventory. The Grays Butte unit appears in natural condition where the

imprint of man is substantially unnoticeable. Thus, the unit overall was found to be

primarily affected by the forces of nature.

(3) Does the unit have outstanding opportunities for solitude?

Yes X No ____ N/A _____

The original 1980 inventory found the unit offered no reasonable opportunity for solitude

due primarily to flat terrain and the unit’s long narrow shape.

In 2005, ONDA’s inventory identified the larger Juniper Mountain proposed WSA as

having outstanding opportunities for solitude based on sheer size as their proposal is

contiguous with other inventory units and therefore no longer stands alone. Additionally,

the proposal states that there is extensive topographic diversity in the Gray’s Butte area,

which provides screening from other visitors and offers hikers and horseback riders a

sense of outstanding solitude.

The BLM determined that there are opportunities for solitude along Abert Rim’s many

draws, folds, and broken rims. Additionally, the northern portion of the unit is a

topographically diverse formation dominated by Gray’ Butte (approx. 6200 ft.), with

several sharp peaks, steep ridges, and many closed in ravines and drainages that one

would easily be able to avoid the sights and sounds of others.

Thus, for the reasons specified above and based on a review of all the available

information including (BLM and citizen provided) photos, staff knowledge, and field

review, the BLM concluded the Gray’s Butte unit possess outstanding opportunities for

solitude.

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(4) Does the unit have outstanding opportunities for primitive and unconfined

recreation? Yes X No ____ N/A _____

The original 1980 inventory found the unit offered little in the way of unconfined

recreation potential other than some hunting opportunities.

In 2005, ONDA’s inventory identified the larger Juniper Mountain proposed WSA as

having outstanding opportunities for primitive recreation based on sheer size as their

proposal is contiguous with other inventory units and therefore no longer stands alone.

Recreation activities abound with outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing,

photography, and backpacking.

The BLM finds all activities listed above in combination with the diversity of hunting,

camping, horseback riding, exploration, and sightseeing are exceptional. The BLM

determined that opportunities for hiking along Abert Rim and within the Gray’s Butte

area represent unique opportunities for primitive and unconfined recreation.

(5) Does the unit have supplemental values? Yes X No ____ N/A _____

The original 1980 inventory found the unit to possess supplemental values associated

with bighorn sheep. The BLM also noted the presence of raptor nesting (golden eagle),

chucker, pigmy rabbit, pronghorn, deer winter range, and priority sage-grouse habitat as

potential supplemental values.

Summary of Findings and Conclusion

Unit Number and Name: OR-015-71/ Gray’s Butte

Summary Results of Analysis:

1. Does the area meet the size requirements? X Yes ____ No

2. Does the area appear to be natural? X Yes ____ No

3. Does the area offer outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and

unconfined type of recreation? X Yes ____ No ____ NA

4. Does the area have supplemental values? X Yes ____ No ____ NA

Conclusion (Check One):

X The area- or a portion of the area- has wilderness character (items 1, 2

and 3 are checked “yes”).

________ The area does not have wilderness character (any of items 1, 2 and 3

are checked “no”).

Prepared by (Member Names and Titles):

'1 /1s--j-zo\1-Date

Approved by:

odd Forbes Date

This form documents information that constitutes an inventory finding on wilderness characteristics. It does not represent a formal land use allocation or a final agency decision subject to administrative remedies under either 43 CFR parts 4 or 1610.5-2.

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Wilderness Character Inventory Vicinity Map for Unit:

. 10 0 10 20 305

Miles

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Wilderness Character Inventory Unit:

1 0 1 2 3 4 50.5

Miles

.Water Developments

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Pipelines and Ditches! Ditch! Water Pipeline

DD Fences

Motorized RoutesOwnershipBureau of Land ManagementU.S. Forest ServiceStatePrivate/Unknown

Wilderness Character Inventory Unit Roads/Trails ú Dam

D Water Diversion

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Grays Butte

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