OAR 635-140-0010
Habitat Management
(1)
Goals: The Department’s habitat goals are to achieve the following, recognizing that such achievement is dependent upon authorities, programs, collaborative partnerships, and other factors beyond those within the Department’s authority alone:(a)
Maintain or enhance the distribution of sagebrush habitats within greater sage-grouse range in Oregon;(b)
Manage those habitats in a variety of structural stages to benefit greater sage-grouse while reducing or minimizing habitat threats and promoting resilience;(c)
Avoid development actions in sage-grouse core, low density, and general habitats which adversely impact sage-grouse habitat or sage-grouse use of those habitats;(d)
Limit the extent, location, and negative impacts of development actions over time within sage-grouse core, low density, and general habitats. In core areas, direct impact levels from development actions will be limited to no more than 3% of any “Priority Area for Conservation” and a rate not to exceed 1.0% over a ten year period, as described in OAR 660-023-0115 (Greater Sage-Grouse);(e)
Require compensatory mitigation for direct and indirect impacts from developments within sage-grouse core, low density, and general habitats. Ensure such mitigation provides a net conservation benefit to sage-grouse and their habitat by providing an increase in the functionality of their habitat to support sage-grouse, consistent with OAR 635-140-0025 (Mitigation Hierarchy of Impacts in Sage-grouse Core, Low Density, and General Habitats).(2)
Objective: Manage a minimum of 70% of greater sage-grouse range for sagebrush habitat in advanced structural stages, sagebrush class 3, 4 or 5, with an emphasis on classes 4 and 5. The remaining approximately 30% includes areas of juniper encroachment, non-sagebrush shrub land, and grassland and should be managed to increase available habitat within greater sage-grouse range.(3)
Objective: Maintain and enhance existing sagebrush habitats and enhance potential habitats that have been disturbed such that there is a net conservation gain of sagebrush habitat in the following regions:(a)
Baker Resource Area BLM: 82% sagebrush and 18% disturbed habitats.(b)
Vale District BLM (excluding Baker Resource Area): 70% sagebrush and 30% disturbed habitats.(c)
Burns District BLM: 68% sagebrush and 32% disturbed habitats.(d)
Lakeview District BLM: 72% sagebrush and 28% disturbed habitats.(e)
Prineville District BLM: 47% sagebrush and 53% disturbed habitats.
Source:
Rule 635-140-0010 — Habitat Management, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/view.action?ruleNumber=635-140-0010.