Metolius River LLID: 1212861445954
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ODFW AQUATIC INVENTORY PROJECT STREAM REPORT STREAM: Metolius River LLID: 1212861445954 BASIN: Deschutes River HUC NUMBER: 17070301 DATES: June 21 - July 14, 2011 SURVEY CREWS: Frank Drake / Mark McLaughlin REPORT PREPARED BY: Staci Stein USGS MAPS: Black Butte, Candle Creek, Prairie Spring Farm ECOREGION: Cascade Eastern North BASIN AREA: 795 km2 FIRST ORDER TRIBUTARIES: 50+ GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Metolius River habitat survey began at the confluence of Jefferson Creek and continued upstream 21,049 meters to end at the headwater springs surfacing from the hillside. Nine reaches were designated based on changes in channel morphology and contributions from major tributary junctions. The river channel was constrained by terraces and hillslopes. Land uses were mature trees (50-90cm dbh), large timber (30-50cm dbh), rural residential property, and second growth timber (15-30cm dbh). The crew floated the river with inflatable kayaks in the lower reaches (Reaches 1-4) where the river was too swift and deep for safe and accurate measurements by foot. The upper reaches (Reaches 5-9) of the river were surveyed by foot. Overall stream substrate was a combination of gravel (36%), sand (24%), cobble (18%), and silt and organic fines (11%). The stream habitat types were predominately riffles (50%), scour pools (28%), and rapids (14%). Large wood debris volume ranged from 1.5-17.8m3/100m. The trees observed most frequently in the riparian zones were conifers ranging from 3-50cm dbh (based on thirty-one riparian transects). REACH DESCRIPTIONS: Reach 1: (T12S-R09E-S02NE) Length 3029 meters. Reach 1 began at the confluence with Jefferson Creek and continued to Bridge 99. The channel was constrained by hillslopes in a moderate V-shaped valley floor. The average valley width index was 1.2 (range: 1.0-1.4). Land uses were mature trees and large timber. The average unit gradient was 1.2 percent. The stream habitats were scour pools (39%), rapids (23%), riffles (24%), and cascades (12%). Stream substrate was a combination of fine sediments (32%), gravel (27%), cobble (22%), and boulder (20%). Thirty-six percent of the banks had undercut. Large wood debris volume was 14.2m3/100m. The trees found most frequently in the riparian zones were hardwoods 3-15cm dbh (based on three riparian transects). Candle Creek and Abbott Creek entered the Metolius River in this reach. There was a trail along the west bank that allowed access to the river. An old avalanche was noted on the west bank. Reach 2: (T12S-R09E-S23NW) Length 5107 meters. Reach 2 began just downstream from Bridge 99 and continued upstream to Wizard Falls hatchery road crossing. The channel was constrained by multiple terraces across a broad valley floor. The average valley width index was 2.8 (range: 1.0-8.2). There were 1111 meters of secondary channel habitat. Land uses were rural residential and large trees. The average unit gradient was 0.5 percent. The primary stream habitats were riffles (53%) and scour pools (37%). Sand (31%), gravel (30%), and cobble (21%) were the predominant stream substrates. Sixty-seven percent of the reach length had undercut banks. Large wood debris volume was 27.2m3/100m. The composition of the riparian zones was predominately conifer trees 15-50cm dbh (based on eight riparian transects). There were numerous margin habitat logs placed by USFS. Evidence of beaver was noted. A trail on the west bank provided access to the river Reach 3: (T12S-R09E-S27SE) Length 3596 meters. Reach 3 began above Wizard Falls Hatchery Road and continued upstream to the confluence with Canyon Creek. The channel was constrained by hillslopes in a moderate V-shaped valley floor. The valley width index was 1.0. There were 729 meters of secondary channel habitat. Land uses were mature trees and large timber. The average unit gradient was 1.2 percent. The stream habitats were predominantly rapids (47%) and scour pools (32%). Stream substrate was a combination of boulders (24%), cobble (20%), bedrock (19%), and sand (19%). Thirty-eight percent of the banks had undercut. Large wood debris volume was 10.5m3/100m. The composition of the riparian zones was predominately conifer trees 3-15cm dbh (based on three riparian transects). This reach had several deep trenches through bedrock. A large spring was observed flowing out of the hillside on the east bank. There was a trail that followed the river on the west bank from Wizard Falls Hatchery to Canyon Creek Campground. Reach 4: (T12S-R09E-S27SW) Length 1766 meters. Reach 4 began at the confluence with Canyon Creek and continued upstream to a bedrock narrow at House on the Metolius. The channel was constrained alternately by hillslopes and multiple terraces in a broad valley floor. The average valley width index was 6.8 (range: 4.5-9.0). There were 1201 meters of secondary channel habitat. Land uses were large trees and rural residential. The average unit gradient was 0.5 percent. Riffles (80%) dominated the stream habitat. Stream substrates were gravel (40%), sand (24%), silt and organic fines (19%) and cobble (13%). Seventy percent of the reach length had bank undercut. Large wood debris volume was 17.8m3/100m. The trees found most frequently in the riparian zones were conifer 15-30cm dbh (based on three riparian transects). Log habitat structures were placed in various locations by the Forest Service. A finger of Jack Creek enters this section of the river survey. Reach 5: (T12S-R09E-S34SE) Length 947 meters. Reach 5 began at House on the Metolius and ended at the confluence of First Creek. The channel was constrained by bedrock in a steep V-shaped valley floor. The valley width index was 1.0. The land uses were rural residential and second growth timber. The average unit gradient was 1.0 percent. The stream habitats were riffles (25%), scour pools (33%), and rapids (38%). Stream substrate was a combination of gravel (26%), cobble (18%), sand (23%), bedrock (15%), and boulder (8%). Fifty percent of the reach length had bank undercut. Large wood debris volume was 6.0m3/100m. No riparian transects were measured in this reach. Reach 6: (T12S-R09E-S34SE) Length 2444 meters. Reach 6 began at the confluence with First Creek and continued upstream to Davis Creek confluence. The channel was constrained alternately by terraces and hillslopes in a broad valley floor. The average valley width index was 3.5 (range: 2.2-5.5). There were 1297 meters of secondary channel habitat. Land uses were rural residential and mature trees. The average unit gradient was 0.6 percent. The stream habitats were riffles (66%) and scour pools (23%). Stream substrate was a combination of gravel (37%), sand (23%), cobble (21%), and silt and organic fines (13%). There was 52% of bank undercut for the reach length. Large wood debris volume was 20.3m3/100m. The predominant trees found in the riparian zones were conifers 3-15cm and 30-50cm dbh (based on five riparian transects). Large wood placement logs were along the stream margins in several locations. Four footbridges cross over the Metolius Rivers in the reach. Allingham Campground is located along the east bank. Reach 7: (T13S-R09E-S03SE) Length 1175 meters. Reach 7 began at the confluence with Davis Creek and continued upstream to the confluence with Spring Creek. The channel was constrained by terraces in a broad valley floor. The average valley width index was 3.1 (range: 2.1-4.1). There were 622 meters of secondary channel habitat. Land uses were rural residential and mature trees. The average unit gradient was 0.4 percent. The stream habitat was primarily riffle (84%). Stream substrates were gravel (42%), cobble (22%), and sand (22%). Fifty-eight percent of the reach had undercut banks. Large wood debris volume was 9.8m3/100m. Conifer trees in all size classes were present in the riparian zones; however, the 30-50cm dbh conifers were the most prevalent (based on three riparian transects). This section of the river flowed through Camp Sherman where houses and cabins were present along both banks. Reach 8: (T13S-R09E-S10SE) Length 488 meters. Reach 8 began at the confluence with Spring Creek and continued upstream to Lake Creek confluence. The channel was constrained by terraces in a broad valley floor. The average valley width index was 4.7 (range: 3.0-6.3). There were 312 meters of secondary channel habitat. Land uses were rural residential and mature trees. The average unit gradient was 0.6 percent. Riffles (91%) were the dominant stream habitat. Stream substrate was a combination of fine sediments (36%), gravel (34%), and cobble (24%). Sixty-five percent of the reach length had bank undercut. Large wood debris volume was 33.5m3/100m. The trees found most frequently in the riparian zones were hardwoods 3-15 cm dbh (based on two riparian transects). The stream became somewhat braided and had grassy islands separating the channels. Reach 9: (T13S-R09E-S10SE) Length 2497 meters. Reach 9 began at the confluence with Lake Creek and continued upstream to the headwaters of the Metolius Springs. The channel was alternately constrained by hillslopes and terraces in a broad valley floor. The average valley width index was 4.5 (range: 1.7-11.0). There were 1119 meters of secondary channel habitat. Land uses were rural residential and mature trees. The average unit gradient was 0.6 percent. Eighty-one percent of the stream habitats were riffles. Stream substrate was a combination of gravel (45%), sand (25%), silt and organic fines (12%), and cobble (12%). There was 58% of bank undercut in the reach length. Large wood debris volume was 11.3m3/100m.