Summary

Description

The Double0 Plan is a stepdown plan of the 1985 Refuge Master Plan and Environmental Assessment. The purpose of this plan is to guide the management, protection, and restoration of habitat on the Double0 Unit of the Malheur Refuge. Although this is a longrange plan , it will be evaluated after five years and will be updated as better management information is developed or to reflect changes in resource priorities. This plan will focus on the goal of improving wildlife habitat at the Double0 Unit. Major actions will include: 1 protection of sensitive habitats and sites such as Research Natural Areas and archaeological sites; 2 Haying, grazing and burning of meadow vegetation to enhance habitat for spring feeding and breeding activity for waterbirds and nesting shorebirds; 3 management of water supplies to provide additional late season brood water; 4 maintenance and enhancement of nesting cover in uplands, marshes, meadows and riparian areas; 5 elimination of interior fencing to reduce wildlife losses; 6 development of a grain field to provide a fall feeding and staging area for greater sandhill cranes; and 7 restoration of willow riparian zones that once existed downstream from the springheads and along Silver Creek. Two issues which have a major influence on wildlife viability at Double0 are addressed in this plan. These issues are 1 management of limited water supplies for the benefit of wildlife species and 2 management of vegetation to enhance habitat conditions for wildlife species. Other issues which have a direct impact on the habitat, specifically carp and predators, are covered in depth in other management plans. Refuge land management practices will change with implementation of this plan. It will result in a reduction from 2400 to 1500 acres grazed. Areas to be managed by haying will increase from about 350 acres a year to 750. Areas to be managed using prescribed burning will increase from about 50 acres a year to an average of 700 acres a year. The remaining 15,600 acres of the Double0 Unit will remain idle under this plan. The total estimated cost to enhance habitat under this plan is 115,000 over a fiveyear period.