Coyote Creek South Management Plan
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Coyote Creek South Management Plan Photo credit: Philip Bayles Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 4034 Fairiew Industrial Drive SE Salem, Oregon 97302 March 2016 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS The following individuals, mainly consisting of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists and program coordinators, provided valuable input into this plan: • Ann Kreager, Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Project Biologist, South Willamette Watershed, ODFW • Emily Steel, Restoration Ecologist, City of Eugene • Trevor Taylor, Natural Areas Restoration Team Supervisor, City of Eugene • Bruce Newhouse, Ecologist, Salix Associates • David Stroppel, Habitat Program Manager, South Willamette Watershed, ODFW • Wayne Morrow, Wildlife Manager, Fern Ridge Wildlife Area, ODFW • Kevin Roth, Wildlife Technician Senior, Fern Ridge Wildlife Area, ODFW In addition, the plan draws on the work of professional ecologists and planners, and feedback from a wide variety of representatives from ODFW and partner agencies, including: • Ed Alverson, Botanist • Diane Steeck, Wetland Ecologist, City of Eugene • Paul Gordon, Wetland Technical Specialist, City of Eugene • Steve Marx, SW Watershed District Manager, ODFW • Bernadette Graham-Hudson, Fish & Wildlife Operations and Policy Analyst, ODFW • Laura Tesler, Wildlife Wildlife Mitigation Staff Biologist, ODFW • Shawn Woods, Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Restoration Biologist, ODFW • Sue Beilke, Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Project Biologist, ODFW • Susan Barnes, NW Region Wildlife Diversity Biologist, ODFW • Keith Kohl, Wildlife Area Operations Coordinator, ODFW • David Budeau, Assistant Staff Biologist, ODFW • Chris Yee, Asst. Wildlife Biologist, ODFW • David Budeau, Game Bird Staff Biologist, ODFW • Chris Yee, Asst. Wildlife Biologist, ODFW • Katie MacKendrick, Restoration Ecologist, Long Tom Watershed Council • Jarod Jabousek, Wildlife Biologist, USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program • Wes Messinger, Botanist, US Army Corps of Engineers • Garrett Dorsey, Wildlife Biologist, US Army Corps of Engineers • Bob Altman, American Bird Conservancy • Stan van de Wetering, Confederated tribes of Siletz Indians • Kelly Warren, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs • Lawrence Schwabe, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde FINAL Executive Summary ............................................................................................... 6 1 Introduction and Background ................................................................ 8 1.1 Purpose of the Management Plan ............................................................................. 10 1.2 Conservation Values........................................................................................................ 10 1.3 ODFW Mission and Authority ...................................................................................... 11 1.4 Property and Administrative Oversight ................................................................... 11 1.5 Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program ................................................................. 11 1.6 Ecological Significance of the Coyote Creek South Site.................................... 12 2 Site Description and Public Use ........................................................... 14 2.1 Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................... 14 2.1.1 Landscape Setting ................................................................................... 14 2.1.2 Physical Description, Topography, and Boundaries ............................... 14 2.1.3 Habitat Types/Land Use/Invasive Vegetation ........................................ 18 2.1.4 Coyote Creek ........................................................................................... 20 2.1.5 Soils and Geology .................................................................................... 22 2.1.6 Facilities, Roads, and Maintenance Access ............................................. 24 2.2 Site History ......................................................................................................................... 25 2.2.1 Historic Vegetation ................................................................................. 25 2.2.2 Historic and Cultural Land Use ................................................................ 25 2.2.3 Cultural Resources/SHPO Consultation .................................................. 27 2.3 Public Access and Site Use ........................................................................................... 28 2.3.1 Public Access, Use, and Recreation ........................................................ 28 2.3.2 BPA Conservation Easement ................................................................... 31 2.3.3 Zoning ..................................................................................................... 32 2.3.4 Agricultural Lease ................................................................................... 32 2.4 Environmental Setting .................................................................................................... 32 2.4.1 Climate .................................................................................................... 32 2.4.2 Hazardous Waste .................................................................................... 33 2.4.3 Water Rights ........................................................................................... 33 3 Strategy Habitats and Species: Existing Conditions, Threats, and Conservation Importance ..................................................................... 33 3.1 Strategy Habitats .............................................................................................................. 35 3.1.1 Priority Habitats ...................................................................................... 35 3.1.2 Important Restorable Habitats ............................................................... 47 3.2 Priority Conservation Species ...................................................................................... 49 4 Strategy Habitats: Desired Future Conditions and Management Goals and Objectives ............................................................................. 50 4.1 Priority Habitats ................................................................................................................ 52 4.1.1 Wetlands ................................................................................................. 52 4.1.2 Riparian Forest ........................................................................................ 57 FINAL 4.1.3 Freshwater Aquatic ................................................................................. 59 4.2 Important Restorable Habitats .................................................................................... 61 4.2.1 Oak Savanna ........................................................................................... 61 4.2.2 Grasslands ............................................................................................... 63 5 Public Access and Use ........................................................................... 65 5.1 Desired Future Conditions and Goals, Objectives, and Strategies ................ 65 6 Management Plan Implementation ..................................................... 69 6.1 Prioritization of Restoration and Enhancement Actions with Suggested Timeframes ................................................................................................................................... 69 6.2 Projected Restoration Timeline and Activities ...................................................... 70 6.3 Adaptive Management .................................................................................................. 77 6.4 Monitoring .......................................................................................................................... 78 6.4.1 Effectiveness Monitoring ........................................................................ 78 6.4.2 Compliance Monitoring .......................................................................... 79 6.5 Planning Process and Public Participation ............................................................. 79 6.6 Regulatory Requirements ............................................................................................. 80 6.7 Operations & Management ......................................................................................... 81 6.8 Management Plan Development and Reporting ................................................. 81 6.9 Management Staff Contact Information ................................................................. 82 7 References Cited .................................................................................... 83 FINAL List of Figures Figure 1. Landscape Setting ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Figure 2. Conservation Context .............................................................................................................................. 16 Figure 3. Site Features and Topography ............................................................................................................ 17 Figure 4. Habitat Type and Land Use .................................................................................................................. 19 Figure 5. Hydrology ..................................................................................................................................................