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Little Deschutes River Subbasin Assessment

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Little Deschutes River Subbasin Assessment Little Deschutes River Subbasin Assessment May 2002 Prepared for Upper Deschutes Watershed Council P.O. Box 1812 Bend, Oregon 97709 Prepared by Watershed Professionals Network Boise, Idaho Corvallis, Oregon Little Deschutes River Subbasin Assessment Summary The purpose of the assessment is to use existing information to characterize historical and current watershed conditions for the Little Deschutes River Subbasin. The assessment findings will help the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council (UDWC) and others identify opportunities for voluntary actions to improve fish and wildlife habitat and water quality. Many of the impacts to fish and wildlife habitat and water quality in the Little Deschutes River Subbasin are concentrated in the areas of housing, roads, and other human development. Most of the human population in the subbasin is concentrated around the community centers of La Pine, Gilchrist, Crescent, and Crescent Lake. There is significant dispersed development along the lower reaches of the Little Deschutes River between the communities of Sunriver and La Pine – an area characterized by gentle topography and depressions with forested wetlands, marshes and shallow lakes. Streams in this area, as illustrated by the Little Deschutes River, are low gradient and originate in the high elevation areas in the southwest portion of the watershed where there is higher precipitation. This ownership pattern has significant implications for natural resource management, as lower gradient floodplain areas tend to provide important wetland, fish, and wildlife habitat. Key Findings Fuel Loading: Having homes safe from wildfires is a concern for many residents. Fire suppression has increased the amount of dry wood in the area, creating a ready source for major wildfires. Riparian Areas and Wetlands: Loss of wetland and riparian areas, especially in the lower areas along the Little Deschutes River, has affected a number of resources. Water quality has been affected by the reduced wetlands that act as filters of nitrogen; the loss of streamside trees and other vegetation reduces shade that helps to cool water temperatures. Finally, loss of wetlands and riparian vegetation has reduced important fish and wildlife habitats. Wildlife: The growth and development have altered wildlife habitats. Loss of wetlands, streamside vegetation, and other changes in the watershed have reduced important wildlife habitat. Roads and development have impacted migrating mule deer, increasing collisions between deer and cars and altering their migration pathways. Fish: There has been a significant loss of native trout and an increase in introduced brook and brown trout in the Little Deschutes River and tributaries. Loss of native trout is from competition with introduced species and changes in aquatic habitat and water temperatures. Water Quality: A major concern about the water in the river is unusually high temperatures in the summer and the abnormal growth of algae. Other studies indicated that there are problems with groundwater loading of nitrogen. The high water table and porous pumice soils contribute to increased nitrates, a by-product of septic systems and an indicator of human pathogens. Little Deschutes River Subbasin Assessment Summary TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project Assumptions....................................................................................................... 1 2.0 WATERSHED OVERVIEW................................................................................................ 2 2.1 Physical Description....................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Geology........................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Ecoregions....................................................................................................................... 2 2.4 Federally Protected Areas............................................................................................... 3 3.0 HISTORIC CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT ....................................................................... 5 3.1 Critical Questions............................................................................................................ 5 3.2 Historical Conditions and Trends ................................................................................... 5 4.0 FUTURE PROJECTIONS ................................................................................................. 11 4.1 Critical Questions.......................................................................................................... 11 4.2 Land Ownership............................................................................................................ 11 4.3 Population Growth........................................................................................................ 12 5.0 UPLAND VEGETATION & FIRE.................................................................................... 16 5.1 Critical Questions.......................................................................................................... 16 5.2 Findings......................................................................................................................... 16 5.3 Condition and Trend of Terrestrial Vegetation............................................................. 20 5.4 Fire/Fuel Load Issues.................................................................................................... 27 6.0 WETLANDS/ RIPARIAN VEGETATION ...................................................................... 31 6.1 Critical Questions.......................................................................................................... 31 6.2 The Role of Wetlands and Riparian Vegetation ........................................................... 31 6.3 Riparian Vegetation...................................................................................................... 32 6.4 Wetlands ....................................................................................................................... 34 6.5 Impacts to Wetland/Riparian Habitats.......................................................................... 36 6.6 Current Conditions of Wetland/Riparian Habitats........................................................ 37 6.7 Wetland/Riparian Restoration....................................................................................... 37 7.0 WILDLIFE........................................................................................................................... 38 7.1 Critical Questions.......................................................................................................... 38 7.2 Species of Special Concern........................................................................................... 38 7.3 Mule Deer Migration.................................................................................................... 43 8.0 FISHERIES AND AQUATIC HABITAT......................................................................... 46 8.1 Critical Questions.......................................................................................................... 46 8.2 Methods......................................................................................................................... 46 8.3 Findings......................................................................................................................... 47 9.0 SURFACE WATER QUALITY......................................................................................... 54 9.1 Critical Questions.......................................................................................................... 54 9.2 Methods......................................................................................................................... 54 9.3 Water Quality Regulations............................................................................................ 54 9.4 Findings......................................................................................................................... 55 10.0 SURFACE WATER QUANTITY, GROUNDWATER QUANTITY & QUALITY ... 61 10.1 Critical Questions.......................................................................................................... 61 Little Deschutes River Subbasin Assessment i 10.2 Methods......................................................................................................................... 62 10.3 Surface Water................................................................................................................ 62 10.4 Groundwater ................................................................................................................. 65 10.5 Hydrologic Budget Components and Estimates ........................................................... 66 10.6 Groundwater Fluctuations............................................................................................. 71 10.7 Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions..................................................................... 73 10.8 Groundwater Quality.................................................................................................... 74 11.0 CONCLUSIONS AND ACTION OPPORTUNITIES .................................................... 75 11.1 Upland
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