Write a your own comment to the BLM regarding the John Day RMP

Form to make public comments on the John Day Resource Management Plan

Thank you for taking the time to comment on the John Day RMP!  Your message to the BLM will help them make the right decision for wildlife, clean water and public recreation.

Please write your comments on the John Day RMP in the following form, and feel free to use the talking points below as a guide.  When you are done, press submit, and your message will be sent to the BLM. 

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the John Day Resource Management Plan.  Although the current draft of the plan is comprehensive in its scope, I do have some major concerns with the way that the BLM’s preferred alternative will impact wildlife habitat, primitive recreation and the ecological health of the John Day Basin. 

Public lands grazing in the John Day Basin is a major concern of mine, as it contributes to riparian vegetation damage, bank erosion, soil compaction, water pollution, and other negative ecological impacts.  The vast majority of streams in the John Day basin are Clean Water Act 303d listed for sedimentation, temperature, and fecal coliform, which is a clear sign of the current impacts of cattle grazing.  I urge the BLM to implement alternative 4 of the grazing matrix, allowing for the retirement of grazing permits of willing permitees on public lands for the life of the plan.

 Additionally, I encourage you to continue to keep grazing and off-highway vehicle use off of North Fork lands to protect the extremely high values for fish and wildlife habitat. 

Any lands that have been identified as having wilderness qualities, whether by the BLM or volunteer inventories, are too sensitive to handle any motorized activities.  The BLM should close all wilderness-quality lands to off-road vehicles and limit motorized use outside of closed areas to protect wildlife.

The best use of all BLM water rights are for endangered fish habitat in a heavily over-allocated basin  Please permanently transfer all current rights for in-stream use and DO NOT allow the diversion of more water.

Thank you again for the opportunity to comment on the John Day Resource Management Plan.  Please take my comments into consideration when making your decision about the final management plan for the area.