The project is located at the Pumice Springs waterholes, just west of the BPA Substation north of Forest Road 23.  It is south of Pine Mountain in northern Lake County.  The focus of the project is to protect and enhance two natural waterholes that provide water for wildlife as they represent 66% of the only natural water in the area. The larger waterhole provides water throughout the year and the smaller one usually has water throughout much of the summer. These waterholes are in a low basin that is generally open from conifers that surround the site in a pumice basin. There is sensitive plant habitat in the open pumice flat to protect and enhance. Currently there are multiple roads that access the area and there has been repeated off road use by OHVs across the flat.

The project would construct an exterior fence around the pumice flat, an area of approximately 110 acres and about 1.5 miles of new “wildlife friendly” fence. The fence would include four special wildlife passage braces to enhance access for mammals, but would prevent livestock from entering the area. American pronghorn and deer regularly visit the waterholes. The three strand fence would also exclude motorized access and block five existing road access points into the flat. The fence would allow for foot traffic into the flat and waterholes.

The project would also propose to construct one to two wildlife viewing blinds for birds and ungulates. Access would be walk-in only with a parking area nearby. Constructing a viewing blind that is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible will be evaluated.

In addition, there is a need to reconstruct the two existing bird blinds at the Cabin Lake site some distance to the southwest of this location. They could be evaluated under this proposal for compliance with NEPA.

ECAS is partnering with the USFS to complete bird surveys and provide volunteers for this project.