Medford, Ore. —The Bureau of Land Management today announced a proposed plan for the management and protection of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in southcentral Oregon and northern California. If approved, the plan will guide management of the monument’s approximately 113,500 acres by protecting its exceptional biodiversity, while ensuring continued stewardship of historical, archaeological, and natural resources, as well as opportunities for public access and recreation.
“The plan ensures that we’re managing for the unique resources the monument protects,” said BLM Oregon/ Washington State Director Barry Bushue. “This plan is a combined effort of communities, Tribes, local governments, and other partners. Together, we have developed a plan that reflects shared values and effective conservation of this remarkable area.”
Cascade Siskiyou National Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation 7318 in 2000 and expanded through Presidential Proclamation 9564 in 2017. The area provides habitat for an array of rare plant and animal species across its three ecoregions (Cascade, Klamath, and Siskyou), including ancient sugar and ponderosa pine, rock buckwheat, tall bugbane, the threatened northern spotted owl, endangered gray wolves, Lost River sucker, and more. Native American occupancy of the area dates back thousands of years, as visible in dwellings and gathering sites, and the monument is home to exceptional natural features, including Pilot Rock.
The BLM is responsible for managing the monument’s natural resources and the integrity of its diverse ecosystems, as well as preserving its cultural and historical legacy for the benefit of all Americans. Currently operating under three separate plans, the BLM’s new, consolidated plan will ensure more consistent management of this important area.
The Notice of Availability will publish in tomorrow’s Federal Register and will begin a 30-day protest period for the Proposed Resource Management Plan and the associated Final Environmental Impact Statement. The protest period ends Nov. 12, 2024.
Those who participated in the planning process and have an interest that may be adversely affected by the proposed plan may file a plan protest electronically via the BLM National NEPA Register (preferred) or deliver it to: BLM Director, Attention: Protest Coordinator (HQ210), Denver Federal Center, Building 40 (Door W-4), Lakewood, CO 80215. Please visit the BLM Filing a Plan Protest page for instructions.
For more information or questions, contact the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Resource Management Plan team at (458) 246-8861 or [email protected]