Long Prairie Grazing Allotment
Long Prairie is one of four grazing allotments on Mt. Hood National Forest and the first that Bark has had the opportunity to challenge. Despite serious degradation of riparian areas on the allotment, including bank trampling, sedimentation, channel downcutting, and water quality violations, the Forest Service published a Finding of No Significant Impact for the allotment, authorizing 52 cow/calf pairs (with a potential increase of up to 105 cow/calf pairs if there is an upward trend in resource recovery ") from June 15th to September 30th. Rather than reduce the permitted number of cows on the allotment the Forest Service decided to 'mitigate ' the damage by erecting fences and placing downed logs in the streams. Unfortunately, our appeal of this decision was denied on 12-9-06. Bark will watchdog future management of this allotment and plans to head out to Long Prairie for a hike mid-grazing season this year so stay tuned.'
General Info
- District: Hood River
- Total Acres: 5700
- Watershed: North Fork Mill CreekWest Fork Neal Creek
- Sub-Watersheds: North Fork Mill CreekWest Fork Neal CreekMosier CreekNeal Creek
- Basic Location: The grazing allotment is located off of Highway 35 south of Hood River at the end of Forest Service Road 17.
- Driving Directions: Take Highway 84 east from Portland to Highway 35. Take Highway 35 to FS Road 17 and go south on FS Road 17, which will lead directly into the allotment after the road crosses West Fork Neal Creek.
- Legal Description: T1N, R10E, Sections 31, 35, 36 T1S, R10E, Sections 1-3, 10-15, 22, 23 T1S, R11E, Sections 7, 8, 17, 18.
- LMRP (Forest Plan) Land Management Classification: LSR
Prescriptions
- "Purpose & Need:" Long Prairie is an existing allotment. The purpose of the proposed action in the EA is to continue authorization of livestock grazing in a manner that is consistent with the Mt. Hood Forest Plan, as amended. In addition, there is a need to improve areas that are receiving high use where cattle are congregating along streams and in prairies, and move the allotment toward the desired future condition based on the Mt. Hood Forest Plan.
Habitat & Species
- T&E Species: Northern spotted owl
- Other Species: Lower Columbia River Steelhead Middle Columbia River SteelheadCutthroat trout
Restrictions
- 6/15-9/30
- 3/1-7/16
Updated 5/7/09
