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• <br /> more stable, permanent solution. The trail needs to be upgraded and will get a minor face -lift this fall on NPLD. There is capacity <br /> within the partnership to accomplish the overdue maintenance of the Stewart Pond recreational site, however, one -time funding is <br /> lacking. <br /> There have been mixed messages around the use of O &C funds to support the WEW Project. Specifically, EDO is seeking Tong -term <br /> stable funding for the WEW. Ideally this would mean a targeted base funding to support the project and basic needs. By completing <br /> a comprehensive RMP (land use plan) over the landscape, opportunistic funding could be sought (and secured) to implement <br /> projects. Currently, the EDO management staff is considering seeking strategic funds to develop this RMP. A BPS proposal will also <br /> be developed and submitted that describes the need for an RMP and the costs. <br /> Realistically, the Management of Land and Resources (MLR) accounts are already meeting statewide BLM resource needs on other <br /> districts and are not likely available to meet the needs of the WEW project. <br /> Bonnie Lippitt recommended looking at the three EDO priorities stated for the WEW, analyzing them as components, instead of <br /> taking them on as a collective. This type of analysis could articulate recommendations to help management understand and <br /> inform decisions around: <br /> a. What is BLM's role? To what degree does BLM want to be involved with each of the stated priorities? BLM in lead <br /> or supportive role? <br /> b. What are the costs? One -time? Long -term? <br /> Education Center example as described by Bonnie Lippitt: The Education Center is essentially "low hanging fruit." BLM can divest <br /> 'tself of the EE Center project /Danebo facility site, as soon as the minimum financial threshold is met and WREN can build the first <br /> phase of the Education Center, a one -time cost. It makes sense that BLM consider seeing this through so that this is off of BLM's <br /> plate and the long term reoccurring costs associated with Danebo site are transitioned to the non - profit WREN and the City of <br /> Eugene. We have not yet met this funding threshold of disengaging, due to the strings attached with the land transfer and <br /> reluctance of our partners to accept responsibilities until specifically stated criteria is met. <br /> a. What should BLM's role be in this situation? Should BLM continue in a leadership role to help build the capacity needed to <br /> finish this task? What is the cost and resources to accomplish this? <br /> Discussion of EE Program Funding: <br /> Once the Education Center is built, BLM could still engage in EE programs, where opportunities present themselves, but it becomes a <br /> different role for BLM. Once the land is transferred and the EE Center is constructed, there is less pressure on BLM to carry the <br /> heavy load, both programmatically and associated facility costs and liabilities. Right now however, the success of the education <br /> center and WREN program funding are intertwined. If WREN were to fail, it jeopardizes the education center, the land transfer and <br /> BLM's 10 year investment in this project, as well as congressional land transfer and the city's $1.75 million bond funds earmarked for <br /> this project. <br /> In general, Environmental Education within the BLM is project oriented and initiative funded. This is soft money. The BLM EE <br /> program is currently in flux. Even with a projected tripling of funding for youth conservation /EE programs within BLM, its impact is <br /> unknown, but expected to be relatively small. (Le. last year the WEW received about $3,000 for a Take it Outside project, doing the <br /> math alone might mean that we could get possibly $9,000.) <br /> It appears that DOI funding will be (economic stimulus) employment driven for youth to stimulate jobs. Youth employment funding <br /> will likely be more readily available through our partnerships with organizations such as the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps. <br /> More often than not these organizations can get funding, but lack the ability to create projects for these youth. Another potential <br /> point of engagement for the BLM, could be the budding Citizen Science program at WREN, where high school and college students <br /> will be trained to a sufficiently high level to provide the BLM with statistically viable monitoring data. It might be possible to weave <br /> the DOI 21 Century Youth program with this Citizen Science Project. <br /> Recreation could be thought of in a similar way. There is less than a total of two miles of trail in the WEW on BLM- administered <br /> lands. BLM's responsibilities to the WEW recreation program are fairly discrete, they are the Stewart Pond site and Tsanchiifin Trail. <br /> The Danebo site is currently a BLM site, however it is slated to be moved out of BLM's administration. Again these are discrete <br /> projects that are currently covered by the WEW Recreation, Access, EE Plan /EA, a comprehensive Interpretive Plan, specific <br /> Interpretive Site Plans, as well as project plans that articulate project design /costs: Implementation currently will require one -time <br /> investments to bring the long overdue maintenance up to safe standards. <br /> Conference Call OSO Leads September 21, 2009 _ _ page 2 - -- — - -- — -- -- - -- -- <br />