MDF Projects
Aldrich Front
MDF teams with RMEF to secure critical habitat for mule deer and other wildlife
Aldrich Front Project, Oregon.
Significant numbers of elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep migrate from the Malheur National Forest and Strawberry Mountain Wilderness northward toward the John Day River to find lower elevation winter range, which is primarily comprised of private lands. The historic large cattle ranches adjacent to National Forest lands are under increasing development pressure. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is joining with The Grant County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to develop a project that secures critical river and wetland habits, protects important upland winter range from development, and seeks to promote a balance between conservation and the concerns of local grazing interests in maintaining traditional economies. The project centers on a large ranch north of the Aldrich Range that was originally targeted for division into separate parcels. The ranch owns lands along the mainstem John Day River and also holds a 31,000-acre grazing allotment on the adjacent National Forest.
The “Aldrich” parcel (2,275 acres) borders public land, and contains high value winter range. Large numbers of mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk and some antelope utilize this parcel, in addition to mountain lion, turkey, six species of upland game birds (including mountain quail), neotropical migratory birds and raptors. This parcel is the first major tract of private land north of the Fields Peak/Aldrich Mountain roadless area offered for development on the real estate market since 1977. This parcel will remain in private ownership and will be protected with a conservation easement that restricts development and ensures perpetual management of the property with attention to the conservation needs of fish and wildlife.
The river parcel (83 acres) borders the John Day River and is contiguous to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW) Moon Creek Wildlife Management Area. This relatively small parcel contains most of the riparian and wetland areas of significance on the ranch and will be purchased by the local Grant Soil and Water Conservation District, In addition, the landowner has committed to transfer his 31,000-acre grazing allotment on the Malheur National Forest back to the Forest to be placed in a conservation status termed a “forage bank”. The lands within the allotment contain 71 miles of perennial streams with significant summer steelhead populations in addition to Westslope Cutthroat and Rainbow Trout. The allotment also contains significant elk and mule deer summer range, plus critical core habitat for the healthiest bighorn sheep habitat in the area. The intent of the forage bank is to promote conservation management of the allotment by a board, whose members will be the Soil Conservation District, ODFW, and other interests to be determined later. Grazing on the forage reserve allotment will be carefully designed and controlled with the intent to allow other grazing interests to use the forage reserve when other important habitat areas are being rested or restored. For example, if a local landowner wishes to accomplish a controlled burn or noxious weed control project across significant portions of their land or were interested in resting their range for the benefit of the resource, they could have access to the grass bank lands during the period that their own lands were being rested. Sensitive portions of the allotment are intended to be set aside for fish and wildlife, but the majority will be available to local ranchers on an application basis.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is supported by the Grant Soil and Water Conservation District in a unique partnership, with the additional support of Oregon Trout, Grant County Farm Bureau, Grant County Commissioners, South Fork Watershed Council, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mule Deer Foundation, and others. Funding for the project has been received from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Oregon Access and Habitat Board, The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Mule Deer Foundation
The OWEB/NRCS funds are being used to purchase the conservation easement on the south side parcel, which was negotiated between the RMEF and landowner and will be held and managed by the Soil and Water Conservation District. The river parcel will be purchased and managed by the Grant County Soil and Water Conservation District. While the allotment will be returned to the Forest Service, the intent is to advise and participate in managing the allotment with a broad coalition of interests.
The landowner has also recently purchased a nearby 4,000-acre ranch with critical elk and mule deer winter range value. The RMEF is currently in the process of negotiating a donated conservation easement on this new ranch.