for winter feed, with some fall grazing on crop residue. The leased BLM land, intermixed with the private land, in general provides spring and summer forage. In some cases, additional forage is provided in the summer from

Forest Service lands.

Of the 119 grazing lessees in the SYUS, 60 are at least partially dependent on BLM for spring range, 14 for summer range, and 45 for both. Most of this use occurs in Jackson County. Livestock use on the spring range starts April 1 or later, due to wet soil conditions. Spring range is normally below the 3,500 foot level, but varies between the north and the south half of the planning area. Livestock use on the summer range generally begins after June 1 and ends by October 15.

Livestock forage value in the planning area is relatively high because of grasses, forbs, and brush high in protein. Livestock forage value in the forested areas is related to the amount of logging that has taken place within the allotment and the amount of time that has elapsed since the final cut. Livestock generally seek out grass and forb species earlier in the summer, then change to brush species when grass cures, though always eating a certain amount of grass throughout the summer. After logging, brush is dominant in the north and west portions of the SYUS while grasses are dominant in the south and east. Livestock tend to concentrate on the better grass, shrubs, and wet meadows, resulting in a distribution problem and some overuse of the better forage areas.

Most of the land identified as "non-forest land" and "non-commercial forest land" under TPCC (grassland, brushland, and woodland composed of oak and other noncommercial species), is leased for grazing; this amounts to about onefourth of the public lands within the SYUS (see Table 1-3 in Section 1.2.1). Approximately 285,000 acres of land with commercial timber are also contained within grazing allotments.

Trend studies have recently been initiated, but data are not yet available. Based on visual observation by district personnel, the trend on most of the lease areas is downward, generally due to continuous season-long grazing use and lack of intensive grazing management systems.

Presently there are six allotments totaling 82,000 acres that have grazing management systems on them: they are Big Butte (24), Summit Prairie (31), Cascade Ranch (121), Soda Mountain (110), Laubacher (102) and Hopkins (107). Most plans were developed cooperatively with the ranchers, Soil Conservation Service, Forest Service, and adjacent private land owners. These plans incorporate rest-rotation grazing principles on the spring range and deferred or rest-rotation on the coniferous forest areas during the summer. Fencing the allotments into pastures is also a facet of some plans. Management of public lands alone is difficult, because of the large amount of intermingled private lands involved.

There are no recorded land treatment projects for livestock forage development. Management facilities such as water developments and fencing are necessary for livestock management. Many more such facilities are needed to

MISCELLANEOUS LAND USE

adequately control and manage the grazing use, so that additional damage does not occur to the soil and vegetation resources. However, these facilities are often considered a nuisance in commercial forest during timber harvest.

Absence of adequate management facilities and grazing systems results in poor distribution which causes problems with wildlife habitat and silviculture activities. Livestock that enter areas too early in the spring can also cause soil compaction and trample vegetation, including tree seedlings.

An adequate quantity of water, mainly from springs and creeks, is available. Fire protection reservoirs add to the natural water resource. Approximately 90,000 gallons of water are used daily by livestock. Available water affects livestock distribution and results in some areas being excessively grazed.

2.16 MISCELLANEOUS LAND USE

2.16.1 Mining

A variety of minerals are known or suspected to occur on lands administered by the BLM. These include gold, silver, silica, tungsten chromium, manganese, oil shale, coal, geothermal energy, and quarry products.

Generally, these minerals are not presently economical to extract. With the exception of a few one or two person gold placer operations in the Applegate area, most mines are inactive.

Saleable mineral commodities in the planning area consist mostly of sand and gravel deposits occupying lower valley areas and quarry products in mountainous areas. Sand and gravel in valleys occur mostly on private land and are used locally for construction material. Quarry products from public lands are used for construction and maintenance of timber access roads. Based on 1972-1976 data, an average of 136, 120 cubic yards of quarry products per year have been required for BLM roads in the SYUS.

2.16.2 Urban and Built-up Areas

Approximately 37,800 acres in Jackson County were considered urban and builtup as of 1977. Types of land use in this category are residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, and transportation (personal communication, Webber 1979).

The area between Ashland and the Rogue River (which includes the built-up areas of Ashland, Phoenix, Talent, Medford, Jacksonville, White City, and Central Point) is known as the Bear Creek Urbanizing Area (BCUA). The largest concentration of urban residential land uses occurs in the Medford area including White City and Central Point, and in the Phoenix-Talent-Ashland area. Almost 400 acres of BLM-administered lands lie within the BCUA.

Residential land uses also intermingle with agricultural uses. Communities and single residences are located on the flood plains of the Rogue River from Prospect to the city of Rogue River; along the Applegate River from the settlement of Buncom to the village of Applegate; and in the valleys formed by Butte Creek, Evans Creek, and Bear Creek, and their tributaries.

2.16.3 Rural Residential

In 1976, more than 48,000 Jackson County residents (42 percent) were living in the country or in communities of less than 1,000 population. There is an observed trend of increases in single family rural residence and rural subdivisions in Jackson County and throughout the SYUS. (No documented data available). Almost 500 acres of BLM-administered lands have been zoned by Jackson County for rural-residential uses. In addition to BLM lands located within the BCUA, over 200 acres of public lands are within a portion of Klamath County that is expected to increase in rural population.

2.16.3.1 Rural Residential Use on Public Lands

Some of the existing rural residences are on lands adjacent to public lands. Several residences are on BLM lands either as a result of mining or small tract leases or in trespass.

Tracts of public land less than 5 acres in size have previously been leased under the Small Tract Act of June 1, 1938 which was repealed by P.L. 9579. There are presently 19 small tract leases on 11.58 acres of BLM lands which expire in 1979 and 1980. In addition, there are four recently expired leases on 12.19 acres. It has not yet been decided what will happen to the homes when leases expire.

Six tracts comprising less than 23 acres have been leased on a life tenancy basis under the provisions of the Mining Claim Occupancy Act of October 23, 1962. This Act expired in 1971, precluding further leases.

There are 53 cases of registered trespass occupancy. At least 13 of these involve occupancy of unpatented mining claims. In addition to known residential trespass, 36 suspected cases remain to be investigated. There are also many abandoned structures in the SYUs, some of which are probably occupied.

2.16.4 Water Facilities

Numerous rights-of-way for water facilities have been granted on BLM lands. The exact number of grants has not been tabulated. Most applications are for pipeline rights-of-way to provide domestic water to private dwellings and ditch rights-of-way to provide irrigation water to agricultural lands. Approximately 15 residences are authorized to use water from BLM lands for domestic needs.

MISCELLANEOUS LAND USE

Many unauthorized domestic water facilities are suspected to exist on public lands. Often the facilities are already constructed when application for authorization is made. The number of such applications is increasing as the rural population grows.

2.16.5 Ecologically Significant Areas

Two parcels of land have been nominated for research natural ea designation. The Surveyor Area, a 60-acre site, represents a mature white fir-Douglas-fir forest in the High Cascades. Lost Lake, an example of a low elevation lake surrounded by mixed conifer forest, is about 480 acres in size. The Lost Lake area has an excellent representation of flora and fauna.

Upper Table Rock will be nominated for research natural area designation. It is a basaltic cap rock standing high above surrounding rural residential and agricultural land.

The Hollenbeck Natural Area is managed as an environmental study area, but no formal designation is expected. The area is of interest to local botanists, both amateur and academic.

Twenty-four additional sites, identified by the Oregon Natural Heritage Program as being ecologically valuable, are only partially on BLM land. Figure 2-12 shows the approximate location of all 24 areas, as identified by the Oregon Natural Heritage Program (Nature Conservancy 1977, 1978).

The major transportation route in the JKS YUs is Interstate 5 which traverses Bear Creek and Rogue River valleys. Several State highways cross the SYUS, providing access into BLM-administered lands. Since transportation routes generally follow the river valleys, right-of-way through BLM is negligible. Numerous county roads are found throughout the SYUS, frequently linking State highways with BLM access roads. Major transportation routes are depicted on Figure 1-1.

2.16.6.2 BLM Roads

BLM administers approximately 2,500 miles of roads within the SYUS. Roads and rights-of-way make up an estimated 11,700 acres. Most of the roads were constructed to standards necessary to carry logging traffic and equipment for logging activities. The mainlines are built to a higher standard than the spurs; they have better grade and alignment, and the surfaces are either gravelled or asphalt surface treated. Widths range from 17 to 24 feet.

There are approximately 130 miles of asphalt roads and 1,075 miles of gravel roads.