STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN October 2005 Update
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Initial Phase of the Scott River Watershed Council STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN October 2005 Update Fiscal Administrator: Siskiyou Resource Conservation District P.O. Box 268 Etna, CA 96027 ABSTRACT and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Scott River Watershed Council (SRWC) has developed this plan for the Scott River watershed for the purpose of cooperatively establishing a common strategy for restoration and management actions. Thus, the Scott River Watershed Strategic Action Plan (SAP) will form the basis for setting priorities for future projects and practices to be supported by the SRWC, the communities within the watershed, and the many funding sources. The SRWC is supported in its current efforts to develop a comprehensive watershed restoration plan through funding provided by the Klamath River Basin Fisheries Task Force (KRBFTF), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and the Cantara Trustee Council (CTC). Included in the SAP are identified goals, priorities, and strategic actions that will be used to develop projects and studies. Oversight of the planning process is the responsibility of the SRWC. The SRWC provides a multi-interest effort to cooperatively seek solutions, to help manage local resources, and to solve related problems. The primary role is to inform the community on resource issues, to aid in resource management, and to recommend to the Siskiyou Resource Conservation District (RCD) prioritized project opportunities in the Scott River Watershed for funding and implementation. The SAP has been organized using topical sections that describe the various components of the watershed. The abstract will provide a brief description of each of these sections. General Description The first few sections of the SAP: Introduction and Approach, Overview, Scott River Watershed, and Historic Watershed Conditions provides a general report which describes the planning process, history of community involvement, agency coordination, overall goals and objectives, and the background of watershed changes over time. The various sections relating to specific watershed topics (such as fisheries, water, riparian and habitat, etc.) include the following items: history; current conditions; findings; reference to current and past actions; and the goals, objectives and strategic actions that will be used to develop projects and studies to assist in filling critical gaps. Prioritized objectives and the strategic actions are identified in the topic areas and include indicators for the term of accomplishment1 (i.e. 2 year, 5 year, 10, year and 50 year). These watershed topics will be expanded with each phase of the SAP to further define current conditions and restoration needs. Planning sections: Monitoring Plan, Developing Strategic Actions, and Outstanding Issues/Questions provide the SRWC with detailed information that will be used to develop a detailed workplan, help set priorities and identify gaps. The remaining sections: Glossary of Terms, List of Acronyms, Works Cited, and Appendices contain reference material to assist the reader with information they may not be familiar with, provide supporting data, or for use when needing more information about a topic. 1 The term of accomplishment may not include completion of a project based on availability and receipt of funds. It will however include the completion of the proposal development. I Description by Section 1. Introduction and Approach This section provides background information about the watershed, the primary focus, the approach the SRWC has taken in developing a comprehensive plan, and details about the SRWC itself. 2. Overview The overview discusses restoration and conservation opportunities as well as the overall goals and objectives, the SRWC Mission Statement, and the Vision Statement for the Scott River watershed communities. In addition, reference is made to the coordination of the SRWC with various agencies and organizations. 3. Implementation Strategy This section describes the basis for the Plan, process issues, and planning elements specific to the development of projects and overall restoration. Also included in this section is a discussion on how the Plan will be updated over time. 4. Scott River Watershed Characteristics of the watershed (by region) along with location, precipitation, and climate are areas of information contained in this section. 5. Historical Watershed Conditions The description of watershed changes over time can be found in this section. Areas of information include a full range of topics that are addressed throughout the document. At the end of this section you will find a Chronology of Natural Resource Events. 6. Fisheries This section discusses the population, management, and issues of anadromous salmonids found in the Scott River watershed. This includes the Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead trout. Issues such as water quality (sediment) is also discussed within this section as it is directly related to fish habitat and survivability. 7. Summary of Limiting Factors The SRWC is in the process of developing a Limiting Factors Analysis (LFA) to identify the various factors limiting the production of anadromous salmonids. The initial phase of the SAP will incorporate further details of the analyses at the time data becomes available. 8. Wildlife This section will not be completed during the initial phase. However some listings and resources have been identified to provide information that will be useful in future phases. 9. Vegetation and Habitat Restoration The initial phase of the SAP uses this section to describe habitat restoration for fish populations only. The information regarding vegetation implies the potential impact of riparian and upslope vegetation as it relates to fisheries. Future phases of the SAP will II identify information needed to complete studies that will incorporate other wildlife habitat and vegetation issues. 10. Geology and Soils This section primarily describes the geological condition of the Scott River watershed for the purpose of providing information to the impact on fisheries as required for the initial phase of the SAP. The geology and soils of the watershed greatly influence the hydrology and biology of the watershed. Another way to view it is: the hydrology flows over the geology, and the biology lives in the hydrology (Mattole Restoration Council, 1995). 11. Hydrology/Water Supply The water supply produced by the Scott River watershed is used for economical as well as ecological resources. The continuing dilemma over identifying the required amount of water needed for a healthy ecological system remains the primary question for landowners in the watershed. The information contained in this section reports the estimated water supply that is currently available but does not address quantities that are needed to sustain the economy nor fish populations and habitat. The initial phase of the SAP will provide the SRWC with information about the potential implication of water supply as it relates to fisheries. 12. Water Quality The initial phase of the SAP has addressed water quality as it relates to fish populations and habitat. Primary issues are sediment and temperature. Other aspects of water quality “impairment” will be addressed through the efforts of the North Coast Regional Board to complete Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) assessments for temperature and sediment. The results of their assessments can then be incorporated into the SAP. 13. Land Use Under the initial phase of the SAP this section was developed for the purpose of addressing the potential impacts of land use on fish population and habitat. Studies that relate to the improvement of various land use activities are currently under discussion and will be addressed in future phases of the SAP. 14. Fire Wild fires remove riparian and upland vegetation which increases water temperatures. Destruction of duff layer increases sedimentation. These conditions have a negative impact on fisheries. This section discusses the attempt to reduce fire hazards in order to improve the health of streams and fish habitat as well as protection for the community and forest. 15. Community Resources & Socio-Economics Although the initial phase of the SAP has a primary focus on fisheries, this section discusses the information as it relates to Siskiyou County’s Community Action Plan and the revenues provided to the community through project implementation by the SRWC and RCD. Additional economic issues and discussions will be incorporated in future phases. The SRWC currently lacks estimated cost and benefits that would be derived from restoration activities. More information is needed about the potential for increasing viability of past practices that are currently declining due to regulatory requirements. III 16. Community Relations & Education This section focuses on the efforts of the SRWC to increase community relations for the purpose of providing education about all watershed issues. 17. Monitoring Plan This section is used to summarize the SRWC’s Monitoring Plan found in Appendix M. 18. Developing Strategic Actions Strategic actions are identified in each topic section and specify a priority indicator of high, medium, or low and the term of accomplishment (timelines of 2 to 50 years) for completing the action. Each strategic action is further defined with expected outcome, duration, and pre-requisites under this section. This will provide a mechanism for taking a controlled approach to completing project-specific