Snow River Landscape Assessment
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Snow River Landscape Assessment Prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Chugach National Forest Seward Ranger District August 2005 SNOW RIVER LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT August 2005 Prepared by: Team Leader s Mary Ann Benoit Recreation Karen Kromrey Geology Carol Huber Minerals Sherry Nelson Cultural Resources Leslie Schick Tessa Villalobos Hydrology Bill MacFarlane Soils Ricardo Velarde Fire Brian Sines Dave Lockwood Fisheries Eric Johansen Ruth D’Amico Wildlife Mary Ann Benoit Michelle Dragoo Vegetation/Ecology Elizabeth Bella GIS Trey Schillie Lands Karen O’Leary Josh Milligan Approved by: _____________________________ ____________ Deb Cooper, Seward District Ranger Date Snow River Landscape Assessment August 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................ 1 1.2 The Analysis Area ............................................................................................. 2 2 Watershed Characterization ..................................................................................... 3 2.1 Lands ................................................................................................................ 3 2.2 Geology, Minerals, and Soils ............................................................................. 4 2.2.1 Geology ....................................................................................................... 4 2.2.2 Minerals ....................................................................................................... 5 2.2.3 Soils ............................................................................................................. 5 2.3 Hydrology .......................................................................................................... 6 2.3.1 Climate ........................................................................................................ 6 2.3.2 Watershed Morphometry .............................................................................. 9 2.3.3 Glaciers........................................................................................................ 9 2.3.4 Streams ..................................................................................................... 11 2.3.5 Wetlands .................................................................................................... 12 2.3.6 Streamflows ............................................................................................... 12 2.3.7 Water Quality ............................................................................................. 14 2.4 Vegetation and Ecology .................................................................................. 14 2.5 Fire ................................................................................................................. 15 2.6 Aquatic Species and Habitats.......................................................................... 18 2.7 Terrestrial Species and Habitats ..................................................................... 19 2.7.1 Sensitive Species, Management Indicator Species and Species of Special Interest 20 2.8 Human Uses ................................................................................................... 21 2.8.1 Human Uses: Past ..................................................................................... 21 2.8.2 Human Uses: Present ................................................................................ 21 3 Key Issues and Questions ...................................................................................... 23 3.1 Lands .............................................................................................................. 23 3.2 Geology, Minerals and Soils ............................................................................ 23 3.2.1 Geology and Minerals ................................................................................ 23 3.2.2 Soils ........................................................................................................... 23 3.3 Hydrology ........................................................................................................ 23 3.4 Vegetation and Ecology .................................................................................. 24 3.5 Fire ................................................................................................................. 24 3.6 Aquatic Species and Habitats.......................................................................... 25 3.7 Terrestrial Species and Habitats ..................................................................... 25 3.8 Human Uses ................................................................................................... 26 3.8.1 Human Uses: Past ..................................................................................... 26 3.8.2 Human Uses: Present ................................................................................ 27 4 Current Conditions ................................................................................................. 28 4.1 Lands .............................................................................................................. 28 4.2 Geology, Minerals and Soils ............................................................................ 29 4.2.1 Geology and Minerals ................................................................................ 29 4.2.2 Soils ........................................................................................................... 33 4.3 Hydrology ........................................................................................................ 40 4.3.1 Climate ...................................................................................................... 40 4.3.2 Glaciers...................................................................................................... 40 4.3.3 Streamflows ............................................................................................... 41 i Snow River Landscape Assessment August 2005 4.3.4 Stream Channel ......................................................................................... 43 4.3.5 Alluvial Fans .............................................................................................. 43 4.3.6 Avalanches ................................................................................................ 44 4.3.7 Water Quality ............................................................................................. 44 4.4 Vegetation and Ecology .................................................................................. 45 4.4.1 Natural Disturbance ................................................................................... 49 4.4.2 Human Disturbance ................................................................................... 49 4.4.3 Sensitive Plants ......................................................................................... 49 4.4.4 Invasive and Non-Native Species .............................................................. 50 4.4.5 Spruce Bark Beetle Effects ........................................................................ 50 4.5 Fire ................................................................................................................. 50 4.6 Aquatic Species and Habitats.......................................................................... 51 4.7 Terrestrial Species and Habitats ..................................................................... 51 4.7.1 Sensitive Species ....................................................................................... 52 4.7.2 Management Indicator Species .................................................................. 54 4.7.3 Species of Special Interest ......................................................................... 56 4.8 Human Uses ................................................................................................... 60 4.8.1 Human Uses: Past ..................................................................................... 60 4.8.2 Human Uses: Present ................................................................................ 69 5 Reference conditions.............................................................................................. 73 5.1 Lands .............................................................................................................. 73 5.2 Geology, Minerals and Soils ............................................................................ 73 5.2.1 Geology and Minerals ................................................................................ 73 5.2.2 Soils and Erosion Processes ...................................................................... 74 5.3 Hydrology ........................................................................................................ 75 5.4 Vegetation and Ecology .................................................................................. 76 5.5 Fire ................................................................................................................. 76 5.6 Aquatic Species and Habitats.......................................................................... 76 5.7 Terrestrial Species and Habitats ..................................................................... 76 5.7.1