Malheur Lake Drainage Basin Oregon
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Preliminary,Subject toRevision USDA Report on WATER and RELATED LAND RESOURCES MALHEUR LAKE DRAINAGE BASIN OREGON * * *:;*—u——, * * * * * ** ** I." -w * * * * * * * *,* ********* — * ** ** ** * * ** * * * * reCdt SC 3. S * * Based on a cooperativeSurvey by THE STATE WATER RESOURCES BOARD OF OREGON and THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Economic Research Service Forest Service Soil Conservation Service APRIL 1967 USDA Report on WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCES MALHEUR LAKE DRAINAGE BASIN OREGON Based on a Cooperative Survey by THE STATE WATER RESOURCES BOARD OF OREGON and THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Report Prepared by USDA Oregon River Basin SurveyStaff,Salem, Oregon H. E.Carnahan,Soil ConservationService,Leader M. C.Vesterby,Economic Research Service G. H.Berscheid,Forest Service D. G. Price, Soil Conservation Service B. B. Shook, Soil Conservation Service Under Direction of USDA Field Advisory Committee A. J.Webber,Soil Conservation Service, Chairman C. E.Stewart,Economic Research Service T. B.Glazebrook,Forest Service April 1967 Cover Picture A view of the high desertcountry,Malheur Lake Drainage Basin. Oregon State Highway Commission photo CONTENTS SUMMARY ............................................................. INTRODUCTION ........................................................ NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE BASIN ...................................... LOCATION ....................................................... CLIMATE ........................................................ PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY ....................................... Topography and Structure .................................. Basin and Range Area ................................. Harney High Lava Plain ............................... Central Mountains .................................... Geologic Formations ....................................... Crystalline and Metamorphosed Rocks of Permian to Miocene Age ........................................ Silicic Flows, Sedimentary Rocks, and Welded Tuffs of Miocene Age ..................................... Lava Flows and Flow Breccias of Miocene Age .......... Silicic Flows, Sedimentary Rocks, and Welded Tuffs of Pliocene Age .................................... Basalt Flows of Miocene to Recent Age ................ Unconsolidated Sediments of Pliocene to Recent Age... LAND RESOURCES ................................................. Soils ..................................................... Fan and Flood-plain Soils ............................ Strongly Alkaline Flood-plain Soils .................. Mixed Area ........................................... Lake Basin Soils ..................................... Older Fan and Terrace Soils .......................... Mixed Area ........................................... Upland Soils--Below 5,600 Feet ....................... Upland Soils--Above 5,600 Feet ....................... Upland Soils--Under Forest Cover ..................... Miscellaneous Land Types ............................. Land Capability ........................................... WATER RESOURCES ................................................ Water Yield ............................................... Geographical and Seasonal Distribution .................... Water Quality ............................................. Ground Water .............................................. Water Use and Management .................................. FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES .................................... Big Game .................................................. Small Game ................................................ Waterfowl ................................................. Fishlife .................................................. HabitatAvailabilityand Conditions....................... QUALITY OF THE NATURALRESOURCE................................ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Population and Social Structure........................... Major Types of EconomicActivity, Employment,and Income.. Current Growth Characteristics............................ Land Use and Ownership.................................... Transportation............................................. AGRICULTURE AND RELATED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY...................... Major Crop Enterprises.................................... Major Livestock Enterprises............................... Volume and Value of Farm Output........................... Employment and Income..................................... Capital Investment and Number of Farms.................... Agricultural Projections.................................. RANGE RESOURCES AND RELATED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.................. Extent and Nature of the Resource......................... Utilization................................................ Current and Projected Growth............................... FOREST RESOURCES AND RELATED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY Extent and Nature of the Resource......................... Characteristics of the Resource........................... Utilization: Kind,Volume,and Value of Output........... Current and Projected Growth.............................. Outdoor Recreation and Related Economic Activities........ Trends in Use. WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCE PROBLEMS. INTRODUCTION................................................... LAND RESOURCE PROBLEMS......................................... Erosion Damage............................................ Sediment Damage........................................... Floodwater Damage......................................... Impaired Drainage......................................... Range and Forest Fires.................................... WATER PROBLEMS................................................. Phreatophytes............................................. Water Shortages........................................... Agricultural Crops................................... Livestock and Rural Domestic......................... Nonagricultural...................................... Pollution. PRESENT AND FUTURE NEEDS FOR RELATED LAND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT...... INTRODUCTION................................................... LAND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS......................................... Watershed Protection and Management....................... Flood Protection.......................................... Land Stabilization and Sediment Control................... Drainage Improvement...................................... WATER DEVELOPMENT NEEDS. 92 Irrigation ................................................ 92 Rural Domestic and Livestock Water Supply ................. 95 Municipal and Industrial Water Supply ................... 95 Recreation ................................................ 95 Fish and Wildlife ......................................... 95 Water Quality Control ..................................... 96 EXISTING WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS...... INTRODUCTION ................................................... FARMER-ORIENTED PROGRAMS....................................... Soil and Water Conservation District Activities........... Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service....... Cooperative Extension Service ............................. Farmers Home Administration ............................... AGENCY-ORIENTED PROGRAMS....................................... Cooperative State-Federal Forestry Programs ............... National Forest Development............................... Other Lands ................................................ State Developments for Recreation and Fish and Wildlife... WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL. 101 INTRODUCTION ................................................... 101 LAND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL............................ 101 Availability of Land for Potential Development............ 101 Irrigation Systems........................................ 102 Channel Improvements and Levees........................... 102 Recreational Developments................................. 102 Associated Land Treatment and Adjustments................. 103 WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL........................... 103 Impoundments ............................................ 103 Ground Water Development.................................. 104 Water Table Control ....................................... 107 Fish and Wildlife Developments............................ 107 OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF USDA PROGRAMS. 109 INTRODUCTION ................................................... 109 PROJECT POTENTIAL UNDER PUBLIC LAW 566. 109 Description of P. L. 566. 109 Watershed Survey.......................................... 109 Factors that Improve Feasibility.......................... 110 Factors that Limit Feasibility............................ 110 Factors that Could Change Feasibility in the Future........ 121 Other Development Opportunities........................... 121 PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LANDS.......................... 122 Cooperative State-Federal Forestry Program ................ 122 National Forest Development............................... 122 Development and Management on Other Public Lands.......... 122 COORDINATION AND PROGRAMS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. 123 APPENDIX. 125 RECONNAISSANCE REPORTS FOR WATERSHEDS. 127 INTRODUCTION................................................... 127 SOURCE OF WATERSHED INFORMATION................................ 127 WATERSHED REPORTS .............................................. 128 Silvies Subbasin.........................................