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Floras Creek Watershed Assessment Was Prepared for the Floras Creek Watershed Council Whose Members Are Dedicated to Sustaining the Health of Their Watershed

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Floras Creek Watershed Assessment Was Prepared for the Floras Creek Watershed Council Whose Members Are Dedicated to Sustaining the Health of Their Watershed FLORAS CREEK WATERSHED ASSESSMENT Prepared for The Floras Creek Watershed Council Prepared by Mike Maguire South Coast Watershed Council June 2001 South Coast Watershed Council PO Box 666 Gold Beach, Oregon 97444 (541) 247-2755 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………...…i INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE………………………………………………..…..ii I WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION………………………….…………..1 INTRODUCTION AND SUBWATERSHEDS……………………..…………………………..1-2 LAND USE AND OWNERSHIP………………………………………………………………..2-4 II WATERSHED ISSUES………………………………………………………….5 BACKGROUND, INTRODUCTION AND RESULTS…………………………………………..5 III HISTORICAL CONDITIONS………………………………………………….6 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………6 HISTORICAL NARRATIVE……………………………………………………………….…6-10 HISTORICAL TIMELINE…………………………………………………………………....10-16 IV ECOREGIONS………………………………………………………………....18 BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION………………………………………………..…18-19 DESCRIPTION OF ECOREGIONS………………………………………………………….19-23 V CHANNEL HABITAT TYPES……………………………………………..…24 BACKGROUND……………………………………………………………………………..…..24 INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY………….……………………………………..24-25 CHANNEL SENSITIVITY / RESPONSIVENESS…………………………………………..25-26 DESCRIPTION OF CHANNEL HABITAT TYPES………………………...………………27-32 RESULTS………………………………………………………………………………………...33 KEY FINDINGS………………………………………………………………………………….34 VI FISH……………………………………………………………………………..36 BACKGROUND……………………………………………………………………………...36-40 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………….40-44 KEY FINDINGS……………………………………………………………………………...44-45 VII WATER QUALITY…………………………………………………………….46 BACKGROUND……………………………………………………………………………...46-49 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………….49-51 METHODOLOGY……………………………………………………………………………….52 RESULTS……………………………………………………………………………………..52-53 STREAM TEMPERATURE………………………………………………………………….53-55 OREGON WATER QUALITY INDEX……………..……………………………………….55-56 KEY FINDINGS………………………………………………..…………………………….56-57 VIII SEDIMENT SOURCES…………………………………..……………………59 BACKGROUND……………………………………………………………….………………..59 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………...…………..60-61 METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………...……….61-62 RESULTS………………………………………………………………………………………...62 KEY FINDINGS………………………………………………………………………………….62 OTHER……………………………………………………………………………………...……63 IX RIPARIAN………………………………………………………………………64 BACKGROUND……………………………………………………………………………...64-65 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………..65 METHODOLOGY……………………………………………………………...…………….66-67 RESULTS………………………………………………………………………….………….67-68 KEY FINDINGS………………………………………………………..…………………….68-69 X WETLANDS………………………………………………………….…………70 BACKGROUND………………………………………………………………………….…..70-71 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………...…..71-73 METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………………....73-75 RESULTS AND KEY FINDINGS……………………………………………………………….75 DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………………………75-76 XI HYDROLOGY…………………………………………………….……………77 BACKGROUND…………………………………………………………………..……………..77 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………..78 FORESTRY IMPACTS ON HYDROLOGY……………………………………………...…80-82 METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS…………………………………………..………..81 KEY FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION……………………………………………....81-82 AGRICULTURE AND RANGELAND IMPACTS ON HYDROLOGY……………………83-87 METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS……………………………………………..….85-86 KEY FINDINGS AND DATA GAPS…………………………………………………..87 FOREST AND RURAL ROAD IMPACTS ON HYDROLOGY……………………………87-91 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………….88 METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………...88-89 RESULTS…………………………………………………………………………….89-90 KEY FINDINGS………………………………………………………………..……90-91 XII WATER USE……………………………………………………………………92 BACKGROUND…………………………………………………………………….………..93-95 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………..95 METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………………....95-96 RESULTS………………………………………………………………………………….….97-98 KEY FINDINGS…………………………………………………………………………..….98-99 XIII WATERSHED SYNTHESIS………………………………………………....100 XIV APPENDIX…………………………………………………………………….102 ABSTRACT The Floras Creek Watershed Assessment was prepared for the Floras Creek Watershed Council whose members are dedicated to sustaining the health of their watershed. This document contains detailed information about the Floras Creek watershed and follows guidelines described in the Governor’s Watershed Enhancement Board’s 1999 Draft Oregon Watershed Assessment Manual. Funding was provided by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, United States Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Curry County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Oregon State University Extension Service. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of the Floras Creek Watershed Assessment was accomplished through the combined effort of private citizens, watershed council members, contracted technical specialists, and local state and federal government agencies. The South Coast Watershed Council would like to thank the following people who generously provided time and energy to improve the quality of this assessment. Additional people helped whose names are not included below. We also acknowledge them. CONTRIBUTORS Cindy Meyers Riparian, Sediment and Fish Matt Swanson Wetland George Fleming History Joe Wierzba and Harry Hoogesteger Fish Hyatt Barnes Computer Support Chris Massingill Watershed Synthesis Elizabeth White Riparian REVIEWERS Harry Hoogesteger South Coast Watershed Council Cindy Meyers South Coast Watershed Council Matt Swanson South Coast Watershed Council Chris Massingill South Coast Watershed Council Connie Risley United States Forest Service Frank Burris Oregon State University Extension Service Dale Stewart United States Bureau of Land Management Todd Confer Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Kathy Wiggins Oregon Department of Forestry Bruce Follansbee Lower Rogue Watershed Council Russ Stauff Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Lloyd Van Gordon Oregon Department of Water Resources Floras Creek Watershed Assessment i INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE The Floras Creek Watershed Assessment contains technical information about past and present conditions in the watershed. This document updates and expands on information presented in the South Coast Watershed Action Plan (1995). This assessment is a resource to promote better understanding of Floras Creek and its drainage area. The assessment was conducted in response to a need for more detailed information on salmonid fish and their habitat as well as water quality within the watershed. Particular emphasis was placed on private lands within the basin. The Floras Creek Watershed Assessment is based on current information and should be periodically updated, as new information becomes available. The assessment methodology followed guidance provided by the Governor’s Watershed Enhancement Board’s 1999 Draft Oregon Watershed Assessment Manual. In some instances, diversions were made from this manual based on discussions with technical specialists and/or limitations pertaining to the time and scope of the project. The assessment examined historical conditions, ecoregions, channel habitat types, salmonid fish and their habitat, water quality, sediment sources, riparian and wetland conditions, hydrology and water use. Among the components addressed in the Oregon Watershed Assessment Manual that were not included in this assessment was an assessment of channel modifications. The purpose of this assessment was to compile, summarize and synthesize existing data and information pertaining to Floras Creek’s watershed conditions. Near completion of this document an interdisciplinary team, comprised of twelve technical specialists, reviewed the individual components of this assessment. The interdisciplinary team later met to discuss key findings, issues and/or concerns related to each of the assessment components. This information was then synthesized to provide a foundation for the prioritization of projects outlined in the Floras Creek Watershed Action Plan (August, 2001). The action plan is a complementary document that addresses site specific and watershed wide recommendations for achieving restoration, enhancement and protection goals. Floras Creek Watershed Assessment ii I WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION A INTRODUCTION Floras Creek, a tributary of the New River basin, drains approximately 51,652 acres or 81 square miles of land. Floras Creek is located primarily in Curry County with a small portion of the East Fork extending into Coos County. It is also the most northern watershed in Curry County and crosses Highway 101 just south of the community of Langlois. Elevations in the watershed range from sea level to approximately 2,786 feet on Edson Butte. Major tributaries include the North Fork, East Fork, South Fork, West Fork, Willow Creek, and Floras Lake. The upper portion of the basin is characterized by steeply sloped forested areas with narrow valleys and tributary streams that have moderately steep to very steep gradient. Grazing, rural residential development and other agricultural uses are dominant in the lower portion of the basin. Streams throughout the lower basin have been diked, ditched, and drained. Flow regimes have been considerably altered in order to confine or reduce the impact of winter flooding and/or to increase areas available for pasture and cranberry production (ODFW 1995). Over 90% of the watershed is in private ownership. Note: Due in part to the very complex nature of the New River basin as well as limitations of time and scope of this project only Floras Creek and its tributaries were assessed. In some cases however, information pertaining to New River was readily available and is therefore presented in this document. B SUBWATERSHEDS The
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