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Rogue-Grants Pass Watershed Analysis Note to the Reader: This web version may appear different from the office copy of this document, although the content is the same. This is a consequence of converting the document for publication to the web site. Rogue-Grants Pass Watershed Analysis Grants Pass, 1884. Percy T. Booth collection REO Watershed #1710030804 U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Medford District Grants Pass Resource Area August 1998 8/21/98 - Version 1.0 Grants Pass Watershed Analysis August 1998 Dear Reader: The purpose of this watershed analysis is to identify the various ecosystem components in the Grants Pass ­ Rogue River fifth field watershed and their interactions at a landscape scale. It looks at historical ecological components, current ecological components and trends. It makes recommendations for future management actions that are needed to reach recommended ecological conditions. As you read this document, it is important to keep in mind that the watershed analysis process is an iterative and ongoing process. As new information becomes available it will be included and updating will occur. It is also important to keep in mind that this analysis document is not a decision document. Recommendations outlined in this watershed analysis are a points of departure for project specific planning and evaluation work. Project planning then includes the preparation of environmental assessments and formal decision records as required by National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Project planning and land management actions would also be designed to meet the objectives and directives of our Medford District Resource Management Plan (RMP). This watershed analysis will thus be used as a tool in land management planning and project implementation within the Grants Pass watershed on BLM-administered lands. Although ecological information, discussions and recommendations are presented at the landscape scale irrespective of administrative ownership, please understand that the BLM will only be implementing management actions on the lands it administers. Preparation of this watershed analysis follows the format outlined in the federal watershed analysis guidelines found in the document entitled Ecosystem Analysis at the Watershed Scale: Federal Guide For Watershed Analysis, Version 2.2 (August 1995). If you have additional resource or social information that would contribute to our better understanding the ecological and social processes within the watershed, we would appreciate hearing about them. Robert C. Korfhage Field Manager Grants Pass Resource Area 8/21/98 - Version 1.0 Grants Pass Watershed Analysis Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS I. CHARACTERIZATION ...................................................... 3 A. PURPOSE ........................................................... 3 B. INTRODUCTION ..................................................... 3 C. LAND STATUS ...................................................... 3 1. Ownership ..................................................... 3 2. County Zoning .................................................. 4 3. Grants Pass Urban Growth Area .................................... 4 4. Northwest Forest Plan Land Allocations .............................. 4 D. CLIMATE ........................................................... 6 E. AIR QUALITY ....................................................... 6 F. EROSION PROCESSES ................................................ 6 1. Dominant Erosion Types .......................................... 6 2. Erosion and Road Density ......................................... 7 G. HYDROLOGY ....................................................... 8 1. Stream Flow.................................................... 8 H. WATER QUALITY .................................................... 8 I. STREAM CHANNEL .................................................. 8 J. VEGETATION ....................................................... 9 K. FIRE REGIMES ...................................................... 9 1. Fire Disturbance................................................ 10 2. Fire Risk...................................................... 10 L. UNIQUE SPECIES AND HABITATS .................................... 11 1. Terrestrial Habitats.............................................. 11 a. Special Status Plants ...................................... 11 b. Wildlife ................................................ 11 2. Aquatic Habitats ................................................ 12 a. Fisheries ................................................ 12 M. HUMAN USES ...................................................... 13 N. REGULATORYCONSIDERATIONS .................................... 14 II. KEY ISSUES .............................................................. 15 A. RURAL INTERFACE AND CITY OF GRANTS PASS URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY ........................................................ 15 B. HIGH ROAD DENSITIES ............................................. 17 C. UNDERSIZED DRAINAGE PIPES ON BLM ROADS ....................... 17 D. SEDIMENT IN STREAMS............................................. 17 E. SENSITIVE SPECIES................................................. 17 F. FUELS AND FIRE ................................................... 18 III. CURRENT CONDITION .................................................... 19 A. PURPOSE .......................................................... 19 8/21/98 - Version 1.0 i Grants Pass Watershed Analysis Table of Contents B. CLIMATE .......................................................... 19 C. EROSIONPROCESSES ............................................... 20 1. Steep granitic soils .............................................. 21 2. Steep Soils Derived from Other Minerals in the Watershed .............. 21 3. High Road Densities ............................................ 22 D. HYDROGRAPHY .................................................... 22 E. HYDROLOGY ...................................................... 24 1. Water Quality .................................................. 24 a. Section 303(d) Streams .................................... 24 2. Water Temperature ............................................. 26 a. Stream Flow............................................. 26 F. STREAM CHANNEL ................................................. 29 G. VEGETATION ...................................................... 32 1. Major Plant Series .............................................. 32 2. Vegetation Classes .............................................. 33 3. Site Productivity ................................................ 34 H. HUMANUSE ....................................................... 36 1. Socioeconomic Overview ........................................ 36 2. Recreation .................................................... 36 a. Urban Recreation ......................................... 36 b. River Recreation ......................................... 36 c. Trails .................................................. 37 d. Dispersed Recreation ...................................... 37 3. Roads ........................................................ 37 a. BLM Roads ............................................. 37 b. Culverts ................................................ 37 c. Road Density ............................................ 38 4. Minerals ...................................................... 38 a. Introduction ............................................. 38 b. Surface Uses of a Mining Claim ............................. 40 c. Mineral Potential ......................................... 40 d. Current Physical Condition Resulting from Past Mining Activities . 40 e. Cultural Resources........................................ 40 f. Lands/Realty ............................................ 40 g. Illegal Dumping .......................................... 41 I. FIRE MANAGEMENT ................................................ 41 1. Fundamental Changes to the Fire Regime ............................ 41 2. Current Condition .............................................. 42 J. SPECIES AND HABITATS ............................................ 44 1. Terrestrial Habitats.............................................. 44 a. Botanical ............................................... 44 b. Wildlife Species and Habitats ............................... 47 2. Aquatic Habitats................................................ 61 8/21/98 - Version 1.0 ii Grants Pass Watershed Analysis Table of Contents a. Current Stream Conditions ................................. 62 b. Macroinvertebrates........................................ 63 c. Rogue River ............................................. 63 IV. REFERENCE CONDITION .................................................. 65 A. PURPOSE .......................................................... 65 B. CLIMATE .......................................................... 65 C. EROSION PROCESSES ............................................... 65 1. Road Effects................................................... 66 D. HYDROLOGY ...................................................... 66 1. Floods ........................................................ 66 2. Droughts...................................................... 67 3. Dams ........................................................ 67 4. Mining Effects ................................................. 67 E. STREAM CHANNEL ................................................. 67 F. WATER QUALITY ..................................................
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