Goose Lake Basin Mule Deer Enhancement
Background
In 2023 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife modified their Mule Deer Initiative (MDI) grant opportunity to expand outside of the traditional MDI wildlife management units (WMU). For the first time in over a decade LCUWC was able to apply for mule deer habitat enhancement funding outside of the Warner and Silver Lake WMUs. To capitalize on this opportunity the LCUWC identified the Goose Lake Basin's transition zones as a priority.
This grant will help target the encroaching juniper at the transition of forest to rangeland. We seek to treat up to 2,000 acres of encroaching western juniper stands of post settlement juniper to reduce competition with mule deer forage.
Partners
Partners include Lake County Umbrella Watershed Council, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and private landowners.
Project Status
Due to the request of some landowners wanting to utilize machinery, we had to conduct a full cultural survey. This took quite a bit of time and money. We were lucky to have some funding from a NRCS sub-grant to pay for this portion of the project. After the report was finalized and cleared. We flagged areas of avoidance and buffered thinning treatments around those sites. Implementation is ongoing, with all acres are under contract. We were able to complete 112 acres of cutting and piling with another 455 acres in progress. The project will be complete by June 2025.