April 8, 2024 2:50 a.m.
On Thursday, the Bureau of Land Management released a draft update to the management plan for the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument.
The Monument, which sits at the intersection of the Cascade, Klamath and Siskiyou mountain ranges in Southwest Oregon and Northern California, is the first U.S. national monument set aside primarily for the preservation of biodiversity. Originally established by Presidential Proclamation in 2000, Cascade-Siskiyou was expanded in 2017. The Monument is managed under BLM’s National Conservation Lands.
A release from the Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, said the BLM’s draft plan will allow the BLM to consolidate management of the Monument, currently addressed under three separate management plans, providing consistency for the BLM and public. The draft plan updates Bureau management of the entire Monument to protect important biological, historic and public resources, including objects of scientific interest, while addressing important resource issues, such as fire and fuels, wildlife, livestock grazing and recreation. The draft also proposes to designate two areas of critical environmental concern within the Monument, covering roughly 354 acres.
BLM Oregon/Washington State Director Barry Bushue said, “We appreciate how unique and important this landscape is, not just for Oregon, but for the entire United States”. Bushue said, “We look forward to hearing from the public about how we might better manage this landscape. Your input is essential as we work to refine this updated and expanded and management plan”.
A Notice of Availability for the draft resource management plan update recently published in the Federal Register, which kicked of a 90-day public comment period for the draft plan and the associated draft environmental impact statement.
BLM will host one virtual and three in-person public meetings on the proposed plan. Members of the public will have an opportunity to meet with specialists to learn more about the draft plan and provide substantive comments. More information regarding the public meetings will be posted to the events section of BLM’s website when available.
Interested parties may submit written comments to the BLM through the following methods:
*Online via the “participate now” feature at the BLM National NEPA Register
*By mail to the BLM Medford District Office, ATTN: Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Planning, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504.
The comment period closes on July 5, 2024 or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
For more information contact the BLM at 458-246-8861.