Central Cascades Wilderness

Strategies Project

What makes designated Wilderness different from other national forest lands?

Wilderness is

Unique

Wilderness Act of 1964…to assure that an increasing population…does not

occupy and modify all areas within the United States…

…it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to

secure for the American people of present and future

generations the benefits of an enduring resource of

wilderness.

How the Wilderness Act defines WildernessA wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own

works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area

where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man,

where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.

How much designated Wilderness is there in the United States and what agencies manages it?

Designated

Wilderness in the

United States

National Wilderness System

765 Wildernesses

109 Million Acres

In 44 States

National Wilderness System

96

81

87

47

4

19

13

53

BLM

FOREST SERVICE

F ISH AND W ILDLIFE SERVICE

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Designated Wilderness by Federal Land Management Agency

(as a percent of land base)

Other than Designated Wilderness Designated Wilderness

Designated Wilderness In

Oregon

47 Wildernesses

2.7 Million Acres

Wilderness in Oregon

9786

3 14

BLM FOREST SERVICE

Percent of Land Base in Oregon that is Designated Wilderness by Federal AgencyLand Base Outside of Designated Wilderness Designated Wilderness

The National Park Service has no Designated Wilderness in Oregon and

the Fish and Wildlife manages 400 acres of Wilderness in Oregon.

3

Central Cascades

Wildernesses in Project Area

• 5 Wildernesses

• 532,800 Acres

Mo

un

tJe

ffe

rson • 1968

• 104,500 acres

Mo

un

t W

ash

ingto

n • 1964

• 54,300 acres

Th

ree

Sis

ters • 1964

• 284,000 acres

Wa

ldo L

ake • 1984

• 37,000 acres

Dia

mo

nd

Pe

ak • 1964

• 53,000 acres

Central Cascade Wildernesses

Current SituationWhat trends are we seeing in Central Oregon?

Increasing Visitation

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington and Diamond Peak Wildernesses

Mount Jefferson Mount Washington Diamond Peak

Over the past 5 years use in the:

• Mount Jefferson Wilderness increased by 31%

• Mount Washington Wilderness increased by 119%

• Diamond Peak Wilderness increased by 129%

Increasing Visitation

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Three Sisters Wilderness

Three Sisters

Over the past 5 years use in the:

Three Sisters Wilderness increased by 200%

Changing Visitation

Overnight camping ongoing and… day use and long-distance

trail running increasing.

Effects of Increased Recreation

Social AspectsCrowding and loss of solitude are difficult to quantify.

For some people this is a

Wilderness experience.For other people they see this

as a wilderness experience.

Social AspectsHowever, as recreation use increases people can experience

more conflicts between different types of recreational use.

Biophysical Impacts

Common biophysical impacts include:

• trampling,

• campfires and wood collection,

• tree damage,

• invasive weed spread,

• wildlife disturbance and

• trash.

Trampling of Fragile Alpine and Riparian

Vegetation

Overnight camping can increase bare

land next to riparian areas

As new “social”

trails develop they

contribute to loss of

fragile native

vegetation.

Campfire Ring Development

Campfire rings in Central Cascade Wildernesses

Nearly 1,800 campfire rings were dismantled by wilderness

rangers and volunteers in 2016.

Damage to Trees for Firewood or Trail

Marking

Tree damage in the Central Cascade Wildernesses

Spread of Invasive Plants

Meadow Hawkweed Diffuse Knapweed

Wildlife Disturbance

Black bear in the Three Sisters Wilderness going through food.

Elk

Increasing Trash Left in the Wilderness

Trash left in the Three Sisters Wilderness

Over 1,200 lbs. of trash were

removed in 2016.

Increasing Human and Dog Waste

improperly left in the Wilderness

Toilet paper and human waste in the Three Sisters Wilderness.

Over 1,000 incidences of human waste were buried by wilderness

rangers in 2016.

Dismantling of Unauthorized Structures

A “toilet” built in the Wilderness and left behind for others to dismantle.

Parking Congestion at Trailheads

What are we doing to address

these issues now?Increasing staffing, where possible.

Creating new partnerships.

Increasing and developing new volunteers and groups.

Using interns to double our Wilderness ranger staffing.

Developing educational materials and doing outreach.

Enforcing existing regulations

• Designated campsites (in some areas)

• Campfire bans (in some areas)

• Two limited entry areas (Obsidian and Pamelia)

Why do we need to address these

impacts today?

The Why of this Joint

Planning Effort

Our Intent for this Project

To work together in community for the greatest

good for visitors, communities and our Wilderness

landscapes.

• Balance human needs and ecological health.

• Meet long-term needs of the community and the

Wilderness.

• Sustain long-term access to Wilderness for

current and future generations.

• Maintain high-quality Wilderness experiences for

future generations.

• Recognize that the public’s values and priorities

are important for effective management of

Wilderness.

Our Responsibilities

Follow Our Mandates from the

Wilderness Act

Follow Our Forest Plans

Listen to Public Voices and

Values

What will happen next?

The How of this

Planning Process

What potential types of Visitor Use

Strategies are we considering?

We are looking at a range of possible actions:

• No change in visitor use management

• Limited entry permit system

• Day Use

• Overnight Use

• Recreation fees

• Additional Designated camping

• Parking management

• Additional campfire bans

• Setting thresholds for implementation of new

strategies

Our Timeline

Gather information on

Existing Conditions

Develop strategy for visitor use

management Proposed

Action

Identify issues and develop alternatives and analyze

effects of alternatives

Release environmental

analysis document to the public for

comment

Refine the analysis based on

public comments and issue

Draft Decision Notice

Forest Supervisors issue Final Decision Notice

Fo

rma

l P

ub

lic

Sco

pin

g C

om

me

nt

Period

Form

al P

ublic

Re

vie

w a

nd

Co

mm

en

t P

erio

d

Fo

rma

l F

ore

st

Se

rvic

e O

bje

ctio

n

Period

Informing and Engaging the Public

Project Development NEPA Process

May 2017 Jan 2018 April 2018

Ways to be involved and engaged

How You Can Help?

Share what you are thinking

early and specifically!

• What motivated you to come to this meeting?

• What actions would you like the Forest Service to

take that would be the most meaningful to you?

• What do you value about these Wildernesses?

Volunteer!

Many people and organized groups care deeply about

Wilderness and their recreational activities.

Find your place and engage in our Central Cascade

Wildernesses!

To Get Updates on the

Project

.