Aquatic Management Indicator Species Analysis Steelhead Trout Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland

Aquatic Management Indicator Species Analysis Steelhead Trout Ochoco National Forest And Crooked River National Grassland

July 20, 2011

Prepared by:

Mark Lehner – Paulina RD Fisheries Biologist

Reviewed by:

Daniel Rife - Forest Fisheries Program Manager

Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION ...... 3 Forest MIS discussion ...... 3 II. CONSERVATION STATUS ...... 5 III. BROADVIEW DESCRIPTION OF ANALYSIS AREA ...... 10 Deschutes Basin ...... 10 John Day Basin ...... 10 IV. SPECIES DISTRIBUTION ...... 12 MID‐COLUMBIA ESU STEELHEAD TROUT, Deschutes River Basin DPS ...... 15 MID‐COLUMBIA ESU STEELHEAD TROUT, John Day River Basin DPS ...... 18 Critical Habitat ...... 21 V. LIFE HISTORY ...... 23 Habitat requirements ...... 25 VI. POPULATION STATUS AND TREND ...... 27 Ochoco National Forest – Deschutes Basin Steelhead ...... 28 Ochoco National Forest – John Day Basin Steelhead ...... 32 VII. HABITAT AND TREND ...... 43 VIII. VIABILITY DETERMINATION ...... 78 Literature Cited ...... 80 Appendix A ...... 81

Ochoco National Forest Aquatics

Management Indicator Species Viability Analysis for

Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

I. INTRODUCTION

Forest MIS discussion In the Ochoco National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and the Crooked River National Grassland Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), three aquatic management indicator species (MIS) have been identified. They are rainbow trout, brook trout, and steelhead trout. Subsequent to the signing of these LRMP’s rainbow trout on the east side of Cascade mountain crest in the Columbia basin and elsewhere were described as redband trout by Behnke (1992). Brook trout are a non-native trout that was planted for fishing opportunities in the 1920’s and 1930’s. They are known to exist in only a few streams on the Forest including Allen Creek, Lookout Creek, and Brush Creek.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland states that management indicator species, or groups of species, were chosen to help determine the effects of management activities on fish habitat. The habitat requirements of MIS are assumed to be similar for other fish species. If a selected species and its habitat are influenced significantly by management activities, like effects can be expected on other fish species with similar habitat requirements. Redband trout, brook trout, and steelhead trout were selected as an indicator group because salmonids have a broad distribution across the Forest and Grassland and are of economic importance resulting from commercial and recreational harvest. The group generally has similar habitat requirements which are narrow enough to ensure viability of most other game fish. The habitat requirements make the group a good indicator of riparian habitat and aquatic habitat condition for both the Ochoco National Forest and the Crooked River National Grassland.

The LRMP’s state that management of these species will occur through providing habitat by managing per riparian prescriptions (Management Area F-15 Riparian). Within the MA-15 Riparian description the LRMP states that “Fully functional riparian areas are essential for the maintenance of viable fish populations on the Forest. Riparian areas provide food, cover, and a source of large woody material for aquatic insects, fish and land animals. The vegetation of streamside areas filter sediment and shade the water surface to help maintain stable stream temperatures.”

Attributes of a healthy aquatic ecosystem includes: cold and clean water; clean channel substrates; stable streambanks; healthy streamside vegetation; complex channel habitat created by large wood, cobles, boulders, streamside vegetation, and undercut banks; deep pools; and waterways free of barriers. Healthy riparian areas maintain adequate temperature regulation, nutrient cycles, natural erosion rates, and provide for instream wood recruitment.

Implementation of the LRMP’s includes monitoring of the following to determine viability of the management indicator species:

Monitoring Actions/Effects Units of Measure Variability Suggested Item Monitored Threshold Methods Fisheries: Determine if 1. Sedimentation Loss in habitat 1. Bucket or Habitat habitat meets 2. Temperature, capability, objectives ocular capability and management 3. Channel morphology not being met 2. Thermograph productivity, objectives for 4. Riparian community 3. Cross section species and size John Day River composition 4. Line transects composition Tributaries and 5. Large woody material 5. Riparian plant Trout Creek 6. Smolt numbers survey 6. Electrofishing

There has been no monitoring of smolt numbers on Forest, therefore redd counts will be used as a substitute for determining population trend.

II. CONSERVATION STATUS

Table 1 Status Summary of Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Species Federal State Forest (Ochoco LRMP) Steelhead Threatened Not listed MIS (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Federal

The Middle Columbia River steelhead distinct population segment (DPS) was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) on January 5, 2006 (71 FR 834).

ESA STATUS - THREATENED (unless otherwise cites the following population information was obtained from the Middle Columbia River Recovery Plan available at: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Salmon-Recovery- Planning/Recovery-Domains/Interior-Columbia/Mid-Columbia/Mid-Col-Plan.cfm

The Mid-Columbia River (MCR) Steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS) were listed as threatened under the ESA on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14517) and NMFS reaffirmed its threatened status on January 5, 2006 (71 FR 834). The MCR steelhead DPS includes all naturally-spawned populations in streams within the Columbia River Basin from above the Wind River in Washington and the Hood River in Oregon (exclusive), upstream to and including the Yakima River in Washington, excluding steelhead from the Snake River Basin (71 FR 834 January 5, 2006; 64 FR 14517 March 25, 1999). MCR steelhead do not include resident forms of O.mykiss (redband or rainbow trout) co-occurring with these steelhead. Seven steelhead hatchery programs including the Round Butte Hatchery within the Action area are considered are considered part of the MCR steelhead DPS,

Four Major Population Groups (MPG) have been identified within the DPS:

 Cascades Eastern Slope tributaries,  Yakima River,  John Day River  Umatilla/WallaWalla Rivers

The ONF includes portions of the John Day River MPG and Cascades Eastern Slope tributaries MPG, either directly inhabited by steelhead or designated as critical habitat. Within the Cascade Eastern Slope MPG, the Deschutes River Eastside population is included within the analysis area covered by this assessment. Figure 1 below shows designated critical steelhead habitat in the area covered by this analysis.

Critical Habitat

5 vegetation, access, water, velocity, space, and safe passage. These features also describe the habitat factors associated with viability for all ESUs and DPSs. The specific habitat requirements for each ESU or DPS differ by life history type and life stage. Critical Habitat is further discussed below in Section III (Species Distribution).

NatureServe

(Oncorhynchus mykiss) – Steelhead Trout

Global Status: G5T4 Global Status Last Reviewed: 10Feb2003 Global Status Last Changed: 10May2001 Rounded Global Status: T4 - Apparently Secure Nation: United States National Status: N4 Nation: Canada National Status: NNR

U.S. & Canada State/Province Status United States Colorado (SNA), Idaho (S2S3), Montana (S1), Nevada (S2), Oregon (S3) Canada British Columbia (S4), Manitoba (SNA)

Interpreting NatureServe Conservation Status Ranks

The conservation status of a species or ecosystem is designated by a number from 1 to 5, preceded by a letter reflecting the appropriate geographic scale of the assessment (G = Global), N = National, and S = Subnational). The numbers have the following meaning: Refer the map below in the Species Distribution section – page 12.

1 = critically imperiled 2 = imperiled 3 = vulnerable 4 = apparently secure 5 = secure.

For example, G1 would indicate that a species is critically imperiled across its entire range (i.e., globally). In this sense the species as a whole is regarded as being at very high risk of extinction. A rank of S3 would indicate the species is vulnerable and at moderate risk within a particular state or province, even though it may be more secure elsewhere.

State of Oregon

Middle Columbia River steelhead are not listed by the State of Oregon as Threatened or Endangered http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/diversity/species/threatened_endangered_candidate_list.asp

Ochoco National Forest

Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are listed as a Management Indicator Species in the Ochoco National Forest LRMP.

Other Organizations

American Fisheries Society-designated as ‘vulnerable’.

III. BROADVIEW DESCRIPTION OF ANALYSIS AREA

The Analysis Area includes lands within the Deschutes and John Day River Basins managed by the Ochoco NF. Figure 1 above displays steelhead habitat (same as critical habitat) within the boundaries of the Ochoco NF. The Deschutes River Basin is located in the north central part of Oregon and drains an area of approximately 10,400 square miles. The John Day River Basin is located east of the Deschutes basin and drains an area of 8,100 square miles. The ONF is 1,330 square miles.

The analysis area is predominantly forested ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, juniper woodlands, and high elevation mountain hemlock plant associations. The Deschutes and John Day River Basins are primary watersheds (as defined in PACFISH and INFISH). This analysis includes portions of three 4th field sub- basins of the Deschutes (Trout) and John Day Rivers (Lower and Upper John Day River). Brief descriptions of these 4th field HUCs are included below.

This assessment focuses in 5th field HUC’s, within the boundary of the Ochoco NF. Table 2 lists river basins and watersheds within the area covered by this analysis. Federal lands are generally contiguous with some intermingled private lands. The following are brief descriptions of the sub-basins within or adjacent to the analysis area.

Table 2—MIS Analysis Area by Watershed. MPGs Populations 3rd Field WA 4th Field WA 5th Field WA Cascades Deschutes Basin Trout Eastern Slope Deschutes River Tributaries Eastside Upper Trout John Day River John Day River John Day Basin Lower John Day MPG lower mainstem tributaries Bridge John Day Basin Upper John Day Mountain John Day Basin Upper John Day Rock John Day Basin Upper John Day Upper Middle John

Day South Fork John Day John Day Basin Upper John Day Lower South Fork River John Day River

Deschutes Basin TROUT CREEK WATERSHED (4th Field HUC)

The Trout Creek Watershed comprises 446,080 acres; the Ochoco NF manages almost 35,000 acres (5%). Predominant management actions in this watershed include timber management, recreation, agriculture, and livestock. Much of the agriculture is irrigated with water diverted from Trout Creek or one of its tributaries. Push-up dams are still in use on lower Trout Creek to divert water for irrigation. By August, the water withdrawals in Trout Creek have essentially diverted all the water from the stream at Willowdale. However perennial streams on the Forest are important refugia habitats. On the ONF, the upper Trout Creek 5th Field watershed functions as important refugia habitat for steelhead.

John Day Basin LOWER JOHN DAY SUBBASIN (4th Field HUC)

The John Day River drains nearly 8,100 square miles in east-central Oregon, the longest free-flowing river with wild anadromous salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin. The basin includes a major part of Gilliam, Grant, and Wheeler Counties; and portions of Crook, Harney, Jefferson, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, and Wasco Counties. The Columbia River bounds the basin to the north, the Blue Mountains to the east, the Aldrich Mountains and Strawberry Range to the south, and the Ochoco Mountains to the west.

The lower basin is a plateau of nearly level to rolling Columbia River basalt deeply dissected by the John Day River and its tributaries. The lower basin’s vegetation was essentially a bunchgrass climax community with some timber at higher elevations, but the introduction of livestock grazing and farming altered its character.

The mainstem John Day River flows 284 miles from its source at an elevation near 9,000 feet in the Strawberry Mountains to its mouth at River Mile (RM) 218 on the Columbia River (EPA Reach 17070101- 004-00). The upper mainstem down to Picture Gorge near Dayville constitutes the Upper John Day Valley. Picture Gorge extends about 20 miles along the mainstem to Kimberly and creates a natural divide between the upper and lower basin. The lower John Day River from Service Creek (RM 185) downstream to Tumwater Falls (RM 10) is included in the federal and Oregon Scenic Waterways System.

The climate of the John Day Basin is semiarid characterized by low winter and high summer temperatures, low average annual precipitation, and dry summers. Most precipitation occurs between late fall and spring. Summertime temperatures reflect hot days and cool nights. Precipitation is low over the whole plateau with much of the moisture falling on the Coast Range and Cascade Mountains before reaching the lower John Day Basin. The Blue Mountains exhibit a great range of climates because of the diversity of the region. Low elevation areas are generally warmer and receive less precipitation than higher elevations. As part of this assessment, the Bridge Creek 5th field Watershed contains important headwater streams on the Ochoco National Forest.

UPPER JOHN DAY SUBBASIN (4th Field HUC)

Though similar to the lower basin, the upper basin is one of Oregon’s most diverse regions comprised of mountains, rugged hills, plateaus cut by streams, alluvial basins, and valleys. Soils are equally diverse and support a number of vegetation types. Coniferous forests and meadows are prevalent above 4,000 feet; the plant communities include grasses, sagebrush, and juniper trees, except on north facing slopes where higher moisture levels support vigorous perennial grasses. The lower basin is a plateau of nearly level to rolling Columbia River basalt deeply dissected by the John Day River and its tributaries. The lower basin’s vegetation was essentially a bunchgrass climax community with some timber at higher elevations, but the introduction of livestock grazing and farming altered its character. This assessment includes sections of the following 5th field sub watersheds within the Ochoco National Forest: Mountain, Rock, Upper Middle John Day and Lower South Fork John Day River.

IV. SPECIES DISTRIBUTION

Global Distribution (from NaturServe) – Figure 2

U.S. States and Canadian Provinces

Global Range: >2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)

Global Range Comments: Native to streams along the Pacific coast of North America from the Kuskokwim River, Alaska, south to northern Baja California; also the upper Mackenzie River drainage (Arctic basin), Alberta and British Columbia, and endorheic (i.e. having no outflow of water) basins of southern Oregon (Page and Burr 1991). The species has been widely introduced and established in suitable habitats all over the world (Lee et al. 1980). At sea, O. mykiss occurs hroughout the North Pacific above 40° N from the North American coast to the Sea of Okhotsk (Burgner et al. 1992); it is most abundant in the Gulf of Alaska and eastern part of the North Pacific, conforming to the 5°C isotherm in the north and 15°C isotherm in the south. Seasonal shifts in distribution are correlated with changes in water temperature (Sutherland 1973).

Global Short Term Trend Comments: Of 867 steelhead stocks in British Columbia and the Yukon, Slaney et al. (1996) categorized 9 as extirpated, 8 as high risk, 10 as moderate risk, 143 as special concern, 282 as unthreatened, and 415 as of unknown status. Many winter steelhead populations are at very low levels; populations have declined in nearly all streams in central and southern California (see Nehlsen et al. 1991 for further details). Winter steelhead stocks from Siuslaw River north to Tillamook Bay, Oregon, have been declining since 1990 (Nehlsen et al. 1991). In the Illinois River (tributary to the Rogue River), Oregon, winter steelhead catches have declined since the mid-1970s (Nehlsen et al. 1991). Several winter populations in the Puget Sound area of Washington have also experienced declines (Nehlsen et al. 1991).

Global Protection: Very many (>40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed Global Protection Comments: Many occurrences are in protected areas. Threats: On a range-wide scale, this species is not significantly threatened. However, many subspecies and populations face serious threats (see separate accounts).

Declines in winter steelhead stocks from the Siuslaw River north to Tillamook Bay, Oregon, may have resulted from deterioration of ocean feeding conditions, widespread use of hatchery stock, predation by marine mammals, and ocean drift-net fishing (Nehlsen et al. 1991). Declining winter catches on the Illinois River (tributary to the Rogue River), Oregon, since the mid-1970s have been attributed to water withdrawal for irrigation (Nehlsen et al. 1991). In the Columbia River basin, winter stocks are threatened by habitat degradation, main stem passage problems, and interactions with hatchery fish (Nehlson et al. 1991). Declines in several winter populations in the Puget Sound area of Washington have resulted from habitat degradation (e.g., water quality problems, siltation, and sedimentation); predation by sea lions has been reported as a problem for the Lake Washington population (Nehlsen et al. 1991). Whirling disease has caused population declines in some areas. The disease is caused by a protozoan pathogen (inadvertently introduced from Europe) and involves tubifex worms as an alternate host. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) are unaffected by the protozoan and serve as a reservoir.

Regional and State of Oregon Distribution

The spawning range of the Middle Columbia River steelhead DPS extends over an area of approximately 35,000 square miles in the Columbia plateau of eastern Washington and eastern Oregon. The DPS includes all naturally spawned populations of steelhead in drainages upstream of the Wind River, Washington, and the Hood River, Oregon (exclusive), up to, and including, the Yakima River, Washington, excluding steelhead from the Snake River Basin (64 FR 14517; 71 FR 849). Major drainages in this DPS are the Deschutes, John Day, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Yakima, and Klickitat river systems. The Cascade Mountains form the western border of the plateau in both Oregon and Washington, while the Blue Mountains form the eastern edge. The southern border is marked by the divides that separate the upper Deschutes and John Day basins from the Oregon High Desert and drainages to the south. The Wenatchee Mountains and Palouse areas of eastern Washington border the Middle Columbia on the north.

Figure 3 – Mid-Columbia ESU

As referenced in Section II Conservation Status, Four Major Population Groups (MPG) have been identified within the DPS: 14

 Cascades Eastern Slope tributaries,  Yakima River,  John Day River  Umatilla/WallaWalla Rivers

The analysis area covered by this assessment includes portions of the John Day River MPG and Cascades Eastern Slope tributaries MPG, either directly inhabited by steelhead or designated as critical habitat. Within the Cascade Eastern Slope MPG, two populations (Deschutes River Eastside and Deschutes Crooked River), are included, however only the Deschutes River Eastside population is within the analysis area covered by this assessment (ONF Forest Plan). Within the John Day River MPG, two populations (John Day River Lower Mainstem Tributaries and South Fork John Day River), are included within the anlaysis area covered by this assessment. Figure 1 above shows designated critical steelhead habitat in the area covered by this analysis.

MID‐COLUMBIA ESU STEELHEAD TROUT, Deschutes River Basin DPS

DESCHUTES BASIN

The Deschutes subbasin stretches over 10,700 square miles of land in central Oregon and covers 11 percent of Oregon’s land area. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Indian Reservation of Oregon covers approximately 641,000 acres, includes several tributaries of the Deschutes, and is bordered to the south and east by the mainstem Deschutes and the Round Butte dam complex.

Summer steelhead occur throughout the mainstem lower Deschutes River below Pelton Reregulating Dam (RM 100) and in most tributaries below the dam. Before construction of the Pelton Round Butte hydroelectric complex, summer steelhead were also found in the Deschutes River upstream to Big Falls (RM 128), in Whychus Creek, and in the Crooked River (Nehlsen 1995). Historic summer steelhead presence in the Metolius River is uncertain (Nehlsen 1995).

Construction of Pelton and Round Butte dams, completed in 1958 and 1964, respectively, included upstream passage facilities for adult chinook salmon and steelhead and downstream facilities for migrating juveniles. By the late 1960’s, it became apparent that the upriver runs could not be sustained naturally with these facilities, due primarily to inadequate downstream passage of juveniles through the complex, and summer steelhead production upstream of the dam complex was lost. With the new FERC license, passage at the complex is being restored and started with releases in 2008 of juveniles. Some juvenile MCR steelhead were released above Round Butte Dam in 2006 for monitoring purposes. Metolius River, Whychus Creek, Crooked River and McKay Creek are part of the implementation of this reintroduction.

Summer steelhead enter the Deschutes subbasin, primarily from June through March, with peak movement in September or early October. Wild females consistently outnumber males in a run year. Information on sex:age ratio at age of return, and length:weight ratio of wild summer steelhead is not available.

Spawning in the lower Deschutes River and westside tributaries usually begins in March and continues through June. Spawning in eastside tributaries occurs from January through mid-April, and may have evolved to an earlier time than westside tributaries or the mainstem because stream flow tends to decrease earlier in the more arid eastside streams (Olsen et al. 1991).

Fry emerge in spring or early summer depending on time of spawning and water temperature during incubation. Zimmerman and Reeves (1996) documented summer steelhead emergence in late May through June. Juvenile summer steelhead emigrate from the tributaries in spring at age 0 to age 3. Many of the juveniles that migrate from the tributaries continue to rear in the mainstem lower Deschutes River before smolting.

Wild summer steelhead juveniles rear in the lower Deschutes River for 1 to 4 years before migrating to the ocean. Lower Deschutes River origin wild summer steelhead typically return after 1 or 2 years in the Pacific Ocean. A total of eight life history patterns were identified on scales collected from a sample of lower Deschutes River origin wild adult summer steelhead (Olsen et al. 1991). Typical of other summer steelhead stocks, very few steelhead return to spawn multiple times

Wild summer steelhead spawn in the lower Deschutes River, Warm Springs River system, White River, Shitike Creek, Wapinitia Creek, Eagle Creek, Nena Creek, the Trout Creek system, the Bakeoven system, the Buck Hollow Creek system and other small tributaries with adequate flow and a lack of barriers to fish migration. Spawning in White River is limited to the 2 miles below White River Falls, an impassable barrier. A natural barrier also limits spawning opportunities in Nena Creek.

The relative proportion of mainstem and tributary spawning is unknown. Based on limited spawning ground counts in the mainstem and tributaries, managers believe that mainstem spawning accounts for 30% to 60% of natural production (ODFW 1987, 1994). A residualized population of landlocked summer steelhead may persist in Lake Billy Chinook and spawn in tributaries formerly occupied by steelhead (e.g. Whychus Creek and the Crooked River). Groves (2002) noted substantial portion of redband trout in the littoral areas of Lake Billy Chinook exhibited “smolt like” characteristics.

A large number of wild and hatchery steelhead from other Columbia Basin production areas stray into the lower Deschutes River. An unknown number of these stray steelhead leave the lower Deschutes River and continue their migration up the Columbia River. Others are harvested in fisheries in the lower Deschutes River and some remain in the subbasin to spawn. The amount of genetic interchange between out of basin and lower Deschutes River origin wild summer steelhead is unknown.

The Warm Springs River system is believed to contribute a large portion of the tributary-spawned wild summer steelhead in the lower Deschutes River. Tributary spawning ground counts are incomplete most years because many tributaries are inaccessible during spawning. The Warm Springs system is particularly valuable as a refuge for wild summer steelhead since all hatchery marked or suspected hatchery origin summer steelhead are not allowed to pass the barrier dam at Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery (WSNFH Operational Plan 2002-2006). This effectively excludes all non-Deschutes River origin summer steelhead except stray wild summer steelhead. The number of stray wild summer steelhead being passed above the barrier dam is unknown.

The most recent 5 year geometric mean population estimate for the Deschutes steelhead in aggregate is 5113 natural spawners, slightly below the recovery target of 5,400 with a population growth rate between, about 0.8 to just over 1 depending upon assumptions around the reproductive success of hatchery spawners (Good et al 2005).

Threats and Limiting Factors

The Mid Columbia River Steelhead ESA Recovery Plan identified limiting factors for Trout Creek. One of the primary limiting factors is tributary habitat that has degraded riparian condition, low flows, high water temperatures, degraded channel structure/complexity and floodplain connectivity, and impaired fish passage. Additionally threats that were identified included current land use practices (grazing, roads, residences, forestry and agricultural practices that simplify habitats and irrigation withdrawals.

The Deschutes River Eastside population as it relates to habitat on the ONF will be further addressed in Section VI (Population Status and Trend) and Section VII (Habitat and Trend) within the Upper Trout Creek 5th Field WA. Limiting Factors and Threats will also be further addressed.

Figure 4. (Figure ES-3. Management Units and Populations for the Middle Columbia River Steelhead DPS. P. 9 (MCR Plan Summary Document))

Segments within the ONF are included in the Deschutes River Eastside, John Day lower mainstem tributaries, and South Fork John Day River populations.

MID‐COLUMBIA ESU STEELHEAD TROUT, John Day River Basin DPS

ESA STATUS -- THREATENED

The John Day River is the longest free flowing river with wild steelhead in the Columbia River Basin. The John Day Basin has the distinction of being one of the few large basins in Oregon with no steelhead hatchery program. In the early 1960’s, managers released approximately 500,000 hatchery winter steelhead fry and limited numbers of pre-smolts used for experimental purposes. Few likely survived due to the use of improper stocks and hauling mortality (90% of the fish were dead on arrival to the release site). No production releases of hatchery steelhead pre-smolts were ever made in the John Day Basin. Hatchery releases for any purpose ceased in 1966 in favor of wild stocks. The John Day River steelhead populations are currently managed entirely as wild populations. There are five populations of John Day steelhead: Lower Main stem (below Picture Gorge), Upper Main stem (above Picture Gorge), North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork.

Wild summer steelhead juveniles rear in the lower John Day River for 1-4 years before migrating to the ocean. John Day River-origin wild summer steelhead typically returns after 1 or 2 years in the Pacific Ocean. Typical of other summer steelhead stocks, very few steelhead return to spawn multiple times.

Although stray hatchery steelhead are caught in the Lower Mainstem John Day River, especially below Cottonwood Bridge, they have been rare in the upper John Day basin. Stray rates have been estimated at 4- 8% or less. A rate accepted by experts to be normal and necessary to maintain genetic diversity of the wild stock.

Summer steelhead enter the John Day River Basin in late August and or September when stream temperatures drop and stream flows increase. Steelhead reach spawning areas from March through mid-May while stream flows are suitable. They spawn from March through mid-June. Fry emergence is usually from May through mid-July depending on time of spawning and water temperature during incubation. Fry emergence has been noted as late as August. Rearing is from 1-4 years and juvenile summer steelhead emigrate from April to July.

The Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan indicates that survival of egg to smolts typically ranges from 0.5-1.5%. Survival of smolts to adults range from 2-5%.

Passage conditions for both juvenile and adult anadromous fish at Columbia River mainstem dams contribute to declines in wild summer steelhead. The Dalles Dam, which all John Day River migrants must pass, has one of the lower rates of juvenile salmonid passage efficiency for mainstem Columbia River dams due to a lack of turbine screening and effective juvenile bypass facilities. Bonneville Dam, particularly Powerhouse 2, does not have an effective juvenile turbine screening. Increased spill of water at both The Dalles and Bonneville dams, to increase survival of federally listed Snake River salmon, should result in better survival of wild John Day River summer steelhead at these dams. Longer travel time for juveniles through dam-

18 created reservoirs in the Columbia River, increased water temperature in the reservoir environment, and increased predation near mainstem dams all contribute to increased losses of juvenile and adult wild summer steelhead.

The Columbia River Fish Management Plan governs harvest of wild summer steelhead by treaty tribal fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River. This plan, agreed to by the four treaty tribes, the United States of America, and the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, directs mainstem harvest decisions on wild summer steelhead using run sizes at Bonneville Dam. Treaty tribal impacts to wild summer steelhead are not to exceed 15% of the Group A (those crossing Bonneville Dam April 1 to August 25) wild escapement and 32% of the Group B (those crossing Bonneville Dam August 26 to October 31) wild escapement during fall treaty seasons. Harvest of wild summer steelhead by treaty tribal fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River has been and will continue to be a source of mortality to lower Deschutes River and John Day River wild summer steelhead.

Limiting Factors and Threats pertaining to the John Day River tributaries (From the Mid-Columbia Recovery Plan)

Within the Mid-Columbia River steelhead recovery plan are identified limiting factors and threats and then management strategies and actions that are recommended to address these limiting factors or threats. While many of these factors and strategies apply basin wide these are specific ones that have been identified for various tributaries to the John Day that originate on the Ochoco National Forest. One of the primary limiting factors is tributary habitat that has degraded riparian condition, low flows, high water temperatures, degraded channel structure/complexity and floodplain connectivity, and impaired fish passage. Additionally threats that were identified included current land use practices (grazing, roads, residences, forestry and agricultural practices that simplify habitats and irrigation withdrawals.

The ONF supports habitat for two of the populations within the John Day River Basin MPG; Lower Mainstem Tributaries and South Fork (Figure 4 above). These populations as they relate to habitat on the ONF, will be further addressed in Section VI (Population Status and Trend) and Section VII (Habitat and Trend) within the various 5th field watersheds: Bridge, Mountain, Rock, Upper Middle John Day, and Lower South Fork John Day. Limiting Factors and Threats will also be further addressed.

Limiting Factors and Threats common to all steelhead populations (Deschutes and JohnDay MPGs) on the ONF

Section 8 of the MCR plan describes limiting factors and threats to the viability of Mid-C steelhead in Oregon. The findings were identified based on many sources of information, including the Mid-Csteelhead Expert Panel’s report, subbasin plans, ODEQ reports, ICTRT reports, NOAA’s limiting factors modules, ODFW reports, hydrosystem biological opinion remand documents, and numerous other sources. The limiting factors and threats analyses referenced above are specific to individual populations under their respective MPGs (Deschutes and John Day). In addition, climate change, is anticipated to affect all populations to some degree within the MCR DPS. The following is also form Section 8 of the MCR Plan:

Climate change is expected to increase the loss and degradation of steelhead habitat. Many of the environmental attributes that will be influenced by climate change (temperature and hydrograph) are those that have already been influenced significantly by past land use and are currently considered key limiting factors. Environmental changes associated with climate change that pose particular threats to salmonid

19 viability include: increased air and stream temperatures; reduced snow pack and a shift in precipitation from snow to rain; altered hydrographs with earlier and higher peak flows, and lower summer-fall flows; more frequent extreme storm events; increased periods of drought; changing ocean temperatures and current patterns; and more frequent and severe fire events (O’Neal 2002; Mote et al. 2003; ISAB 2007a; Michael and O’Brien 2008). Such environmental changes will impact all life stages of Oregon’s Mid- Columbia River steelhead. The magnitude of environmental change will vary considerable across ecoregions; however, habitats at lower elevations east of the Cascade Mountains in the southern portion of the Columbia River basin will generally experience the greatest level of change (ISAB 2007a).

Critical Habitat Critical habitat was designated on February 16, 2000 [65 FR 7764], but vacated (undesignated)by court order on April 30, 2002. On September 2, 2005, NMFS published a final rule (70 FR 52630) to designate critical habitat for Mid-C steelhead and 12 other ESUs/DPSs of salmon and steelhead. The final rule took effect on January 2, 2006. The Critical Habitat Assessment Review Team (CHART) (NMFS 2004c) rated the conservation value of all 5th-field HUCs supporting populations of Mid-C steelhead.

Essential features of designated critical habitat include substrate, water quality, water quantity, water temperature, food, riparian vegetation, access, water, velocity, space, and safe passage. These features also describe the habitat factors associated with viability for all ESUs and DPSs. The specific habitat requirements for each ESU or DPS differ by life history type and life stage. Primary constituent elements (PCEs) consist of the physical and biological elements identified as essential to the conservation of the species in the documents identifying critical habitat (Table 3-1). Figure 5 (MCR plan 3-4) depicts those streams designated critical habitat for Mid-C steelhead.

Figure 5 (3-4 in MCR Plan) Critical habitat designated for salmon and steelhead in Oregon.

See also Figure 1 for a more detail for the ONF.

Ochoco National Forest Distribution

On the Ochoco National Forest, a total of 77.4 miles of stream (Critical Habitat) have habitat for steelhead trout. Critical habitat was mapped as known steelhead distribution. Table 3 below shows miles of steelhead trout by stream by 5th field watershed. Additional information is included within 5th field watershed discussions below.

Habitat availability for MCR steelhead is fairly limited on the ONF. Habitat primarily consists of smaller (stream order) headwater streams on the north and east slope of the Forest, including tributaries to the Deschutes and John Day Rivers.

Table 3 Ochoco National Forest Critical Habitat (miles) 5th Field WA Critical Habitat (Miles) UPPER TROUT CREEK 13.7 BRIDGE CREEK 3.9 MOUNTAIN CREEK 9.3 ROCK CREEK 9.5 UPPER MIDDLE JOHN DAY 10.0 LOWER SOUTH FORK JOHN DAY 31.0 Total 77.4

V. LIFE HISTORY

Life History from (3.4, p. 110 of Appendix A-MCR plan)

‘Steelhead’ is the name commonly applied to the anadromous form of the biological species O. mykiss. The present distribution of steelhead extends from Kamchatka in Asia, east to Alaska, and down to southern California (NMFS 1999c), although the historical range of O. mykiss extended at least to the Mexico border (Busby et al. 1996). O. mykiss exhibit perhaps the most complex suite of life history traits of any species of Pacific salmonid. They can be anadromous or freshwater residents (and under some circumstances, yield offspring of the opposite form). Those that are anadromous can spend up to seven years in fresh water before smoltification, and then spend up to three years in salt water before first spawning. This species can also spawn more than once (iteroparous), whereas all other species of Oncorhynchus except cutthroat trout (O. clarki) spawn once and then die (semelparous).

The anadromous form of O. mykiss is presently under NMFS jurisdiction, while the resident freshwater forms, usually called “rainbow” or “redband” trout, are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Within the range of West Coast steelhead, spawning migrations occur throughout the year, with seasonal peaks of activity. In a given river basin there may be one or more peaks in migration activity; since these “runs” are usually named for the season in which the peak occurs, some rivers may have runs known as winter, spring, summer, or fall steelhead. For example, large rivers, such as the Columbia, Rogue, and Klamath rivers, have migrating adult steelhead at all times of the year. There are local variations in the names used to identify the seasonal runs of steelhead; in Northern California, some biologists have retained the use of the terms spring and fall steelhead to describe what others would call summer steelhead.

Steelhead can be divided into two basic reproductive ecotypes, based on the state of sexual maturity at the time of river entry, and duration of spawning migration (Burgner et al. 1992). The “stream-maturing” type (summer steelhead in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California) enters fresh water in a sexually immature condition between May and October and requires several months to mature and spawn. The “ocean-maturing” type (winter steelhead in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California) enters fresh water between November and April with well-developed gonads and spawns shortly thereafter. In basins with both summer and winter steelhead runs, it appears that the summer run occurs where habitat is not fully utilized by the winter run or a seasonal hydrologic barrier, such as a waterfall, separates them. Summer steelhead usually spawn farther upstream than winter steelhead (Withler 1966, Roelofs 1983, Behnke 1992). Coastal streams are dominated by winter steelhead, whereas inland steelhead of the Columbia River Basin are almost exclusively summer steelhead. Winter steelhead may have been excluded from inland areas of the Columbia River Basin by Celilo Falls or by the considerable migration distance from the ocean.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Basin may have historically had multiple runs of steelhead that probably included both ocean-maturing and stream-maturing stocks (CDFG 1995, McEwan and Jackson 1996). These steelhead are referred to as winter steelhead by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG); however, some biologists call them fall steelhead (Cramer et. al 1995). Fifteenmile Creek and the Klickitat River support the populations of winter steelhead that are furthest inland in the Columbia Basin. Inland summer steelhead of the Columbia River Basin, especially the Snake River Subbasin, are commonly referred to as either “A-run” or “B-run.” These designations are based on a bimodal migration of adult steelhead at Bonneville Dam (235 km from the mouth of the Columbia River), and differences in age (1 versus 2 years in the ocean) and adult size observed among Snake River steelhead. It is unclear, however, to what degree the life history and body size differences observed upstream are correlated back to the groups forming the bimodal migration observed at Bonneville Dam. A-run steelhead are believed to occur throughout the steelhead-bearing streams of the Snake River Basin and the inland Columbia River. B-run steelhead are thought to be produced only in the Clearwater, Middle Fork Salmon, and South Fork Salmon rivers (IDFG

1994).

Life history characteristics for Mid-C steelhead are similar to those of other inland steelhead DPSs. Most fish smolt at two years and spend one to two years in salt water before reentering freshwater, where they may remain up to a year before spawning. All steelhead upstream of The Dalles Dam are summer-run fish that enter the Columbia River from June to August. Adult steelhead ascend mainstem rivers and their tributaries throughout the winter, spawning in the late winter and early spring. Fry emergence typically occurs between May and the end of June. A nonanadromous form of O. mykiss co-occurs with the anadromous form in this DPS; information suggests that the two forms may not be isolated reproductively.

Additional information on Life Histories of individual populations (Deschutes River Eastside, John Day River Lower Mainstem Tributaries and South Fork John Day River) of Mid-C steelhead is included in Section IV (Species Distribution) and Section VI (Population Status Trend).

Species Biology (Natureserve)

Basic Description: A partially anadromous salmonid.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Montana: both pure and moderately hybridized populations of westslope cutthroat trout have a high incidence of basibranchial teeth, whereas pure rainbow trout lack these teeth; presence of basibranchial teeth in some individuals of a rainbow trout population indicates hybridization with westslope cutthroat trout (Leary et al. 1996).

Reproduction Comments: Spawns usually in spring (February-June), or later depending on water temperature and location. Lays 200-9000 eggs (Wydoski and Whitney 1979), which hatch in 3-4 weeks at 10-15 C. Fry emerge from gravel 2-3 weeks after hatching. Many are sexually mature in 2-3 years. See Stearley (1992) for a discussion of the historical ecology and life history evolution of Pacific salmons and trouts (Oncorhynchus).

Ecology Comments: Normal life span 5-6 years (Simpson and Wallace 1982). Predation by Caspian terns and double-crested cormorants causes significant mortality of juvenile steelhead in the Columbia River estuary (Ryan et al. 2003). Aggressively defends feeding territories in streams and has caused contraction of range of native brook trout in southern Appalachian Mountains region (Larson and Moore 1985).

Habitat Type: Freshwater Non-Migrant: Y Locally Migrant: Y Long Distance Migrant: Y

Mobility and Migration Comments: Anadromous forms migrate up to at least hundreds of miles between spawning streams and nonspawning marine waters. Stream-dwelling trout may spend an entire life in few hundred meters of stream (Moyle 1976). Lake-dwelling trout typically migrate to tributaries to spawn.

Habitat Comments: Capable of surviving in a wide range of temperature conditions. Does best where dissolved oxygen concentration is at least 7 ppm. Anadromous populations occur in coastal rivers. Resident populations now inhabit small headwater streams, large rivers, lakes, or reservoirs; often in cool clear lakes and cool swift streams with silt-free substrate. In streams, deep low velocity pools are important wintering habitats (Sublette et al. 1990). Usually requires a gravel stream riffle for successful spawning. Lake populations move to tributaries to spawn. Eggs are laid in gravel in a depression made by the female. Salinity of 8 ppt is the upper limit for normal development of eggs and alevins (Morgan et al. 1992).

Food Comments: In lakes, feeds mostly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates (e.g., aquatic insects, amphipods, worms, fish eggs, sometimes small fish) and plankton. In streams, feeds primarily on drift organisms. May ingest aquatic vegetation (probably for attached invertebrates). Diet changes seasonally. In the ocean, the diet consists of fishes and crustaceans.

Phenology Comments: May feed at any time throughout a 24-hour period, but usually feeds most actively around dusk.

Additional Information is available on the NOAA website and others, including: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/species/steelhead_detailed.pdf and http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Salmon- Recovery-Planning/Recovery-Domains/Interior-Columbia/Mid-Columbia/Mid-Col-Plan.cfm and http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Speciessummary.php?id=239

Habitat requirements As previously discussed, critical habitat for Mid-Columbia steelhead trout occurs in most all of the tributaries along the north and east facing slopes of the Ochoco National Forest that flow into the John Day River or South Fork of the John Day River (Figures 1 and 5). Primary constituent elements (PCEs) were developed with the critical habitat designation.

For anadromous fish, the essential features of designated critical habitat include substrate, water quality, water quantity, water temperature, food, riparian vegetation, access, water, velocity, space, and safe passage. Primary constituent elements of critical habitat for steelhead, i.e., the physical and biological elements that support one or more life stages and are considered essential to the conservation of the species were identified (Table 4).

Table 4 (section 3-13 MCR Plan) Types of sites and essential physical and biological features designated as PCEs for steelhead, and the life stage each PCE supports.l andBiological Features ESU/DPS Life Stage Freshwater spawning Water quality, water quantity, Spawning, incubation, and larval and substrate, development,

Freshwater rearing Water quantity and floodplain, Juvenile growth and mobility, connectivity

Water quality and forage Juvenile development,

Natural cover Juvenile mobility and survival

Freshwater migration Free of artificial obstructions, Juvenile and adult mobility and, water quality and quantity, and survival natural cover

Estuarine areas Free of obstruction, water quality Juvenile and adult physiological, and quantity, and salinity transitions between salt and freshwater, freshwater

Natural cover, forage, and, water Growth and maturation, quantity

Nearshore marine areas Free of obstruction, water Growth and maturation, survival, quality, and quantity, natural cover, and forage,

Offshore marine areas Water quality and forage Growth and maturation

VI. POPULATION STATUS AND TREND

As discussed above under the Species Distribution section, the analysis area (ONF) covered by this assessment includes portions of the John Day River MPG and Cascades Eastern Slope tributaries MPG, either directly inhabited by steelhead or designated as critical habitat. Within the Cascade Eastern Slope MPG, two populations (Deschutes River Eastside and Deschutes-Crooked River), are included within the ONF boundary. However, this analysis only addresses the Deschutes River Eastside population as directed in the ONFLRMP. The Deschutes-Crooked River population is technically listed as extinct in the MCR Plan. However, significant efforts are underway to reestablish the population. Within the John Day River MPG, two populations (John Day River Lower Mainstem Tributaries and South Fork John Day River), are included in this analysis.

This section addresses population status and trend of the steelhead trout. This section also includes a discussion at the 5th field watershed level on the segments of these populations that are within lands administered by the ONF, e.g, the Deschutes River Eastside population within the Upper Trout Creek 5th field watershed. Additional information from ODFW, USFS and others is integrated into the analysis including a recent Biological Assessment on grazing in anadromous watersheds within the ONF (ONF, 2011). The following information is summarized from the 2009 MCR plan (Current Population Status (MCR plan 1.6):

The status of a salmon or steelhead species is expressed in terms of likelihood of persistence over 100 years, or in terms of risk of extinction within 100 years. The ICTRT defined viability at two levels: less than 5 percent risk of extinction within 100 years (viable) and less than 1 percent risk of extinction within 100 years (highly viable). A third category, “maintained,” represents a less than 25 percent risk. The risk level of the DPS as a whole is built up from the aggregate risk levels of the populations and MPGs. The abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity of the component populations (the “viable salmonid population,” or VSP, parameters) must be taken into account to determine the risk level.

Assessing the current status of the populations according to the viability criteria is a critical first step in determining a path towards MPG and DPS viability. Following ICTRT guidelines, we completed viability assessments for Oregon’s ten extant Mid-C steelhead populations. The assessments describe the current status of the populations relative to the abundance/productivity and spatial structure/diversity viability criteria. Overall, the viability assessments show that only three of Oregon’s Mid-C steelhead populations currently meet the viability criteria. The North Fork John Day population is highly viable and the Fifteenmile Creek and Deschutes River Eastside populations are viable. The remaining populations rated as either maintained or extinct. Assessment findings are provided for each of the ten populations in the population summaries (later in this section-1.14) and in Section 6 of the recovery plan. Appendix B contains the detailed individual population viability assessments, including population-specific data sources and methods used to estimate abundance. We also completed viability assessments for the three MPGs containing the Oregon populations. The assessment findings indicate that the three MPGs are currently below viable status based on the status of the constituent populations.

These findings are shown below in Tables 5 and 8 below.

Ochoco National Forest – Deschutes Basin Steelhead

Population Overview- The Deschutes River Eastside steelhead population occupies the mainstem Deschutes River from the mouth upstream to the confluence of Trout Creek and the tributaries entering the Deschutes from the east: Buck Hollow, Bakeoven, and Trout Creeks. Fish that spawn in the mainstem within the population boundary are included with their respective tributary population due to uncertainty concerning the relationship between mainstem and tributary spawners. The population is separated from the other extant Deschutes population, Deschutes River Westside, due to significant habitat and life history differences. The Deschutes River Eastside population occupies tributaries that drain drier, lower elevation areas than the Westside tributaries, resulting in very different flow and temperature patterns.

Cascades Eastern Slope Tributaries MPG

Table 5 (Table 1-2 MCR Plan) Viability assessment results for Mid-C steelhead populations in the Cascades Eastern Slope Tributaries MPG. Abundance Productivity Population Extant/ Mean Lower Mean Lower A/P Goal A Goal B Integrated Overall Extinct 90% CI 90% CI Risk Natural Diversity SS/D Risk Population Mean Mean Processes Risk Viability Risk Rating Fifteenmile Extant 703 481 1.82 1.23 Low Very Low Low Low Viable Creek Deschutes Extant 1,599 896 1.89 1.10 Low Low Moderate Moderate Viable River Eastside Deschutes Extant 456 306 1.05 0.76 High Low Moderate Moderate High Risk River Westside Deschutes Extinct 0 NA 0 NA Extinct NA NA NA Extinct Crooked River

Findings: The Cascades Eastern Slope Tributaries MPG is currently below viable status. The Fifteenmile Creek and the Deschutes River Eastside are viable (Includes Trout Creek). The Deschutes River Westside population does not meet viability criteria. The Deschutes Crooked River population is extinct. Table 1-2. Viability assessment results for Mid-C steelhead populations in the Cascades Eastern Slope Tributaries MPG.

Population Status – The Deschutes River Eastside Population includes six Major Spawning Areas (MaSA): Buck Hollow, Bakeoven, Ward/Antelope/Cold Carp, Lower Trout, Upper Trout (includes the ONF) and Willow. There are two Minor Spawning Areas (MiSa): Jones Canyon and Campbell. The Willow Creek MaSA and Campbell MiSA are above the Pelton-Round Butte Complex and no longer accessible. The Deschutes River Eastside population currently meets recommendations for viable status with the most recent (from 2009 Mid Columbia Steelhead ESA Recovery Plan) 10 year geometric mean of natural fish abundance of 1,599, well above the threshold of 1,000 and a productivity of 1.89 (table 5). However, the population viability is considered to be low to moderate risk due to large confidence interval around the productivity estimate, tributary habitat changes, and loss of historical spawning habitat and out of DPS hatchery spawners.

Trout Creek subbasin (4th Field HUC) is the only habitat occupied by Deschutes River Eastside steelhead within the analysis area. The Trout Creek watershed covers approximately 675 square miles with about 140 miles of mainstem and tributaries. Trout Creek is the upper-most, eastside tributary of the Deschutes River below the Pelton Round Butte complex. The headwaters originate in the Ochoco Mountains with a mainstem 28 distance of 52 river miles. The Trout Creek watershed is currently the only network of drainages on both the Ochoco and Deschutes NFs where Deschutes River summer steelhead spawning and rearing occurs. Trout Creek enters the Deschutes River downstream from the Pelton Round Butte complex at RM 88.5.

Trout Creek 5th Field Watershed Population and Trend

Subpopulation Size: Functioning At Risk. Steelhead and resident redband trout spawn within the Trout Creek watershed on the Ochoco National Forest. Historically, the Trout Creek watershed supported populations of steelhead, redband trout and chinook salmon numbering an estimated 7,000 total salmonids (Northwest Biological Consulting 1983). The Bureau of Reclamation (USDI Bureau of Reclamation 1981) reported that the number of spawning steelhead trout had dropped from 800 in 1972 to 250 in 1981. Trout Creek watershed was estimated to sustain 10% of the historic level of salmonids (USDA FS 1995b). There were no population estimates for Trout Creek in the Mid Columbia River Steelhead ESA Recovery Plan (2009), but the Deschutes Eastside population, that Trout Creek is a part of, was considered viable, therefore we consider the Trout Creek population as Functioning at Risk. Additional information relative to population status from a recent analysis (ONF, 2011) is included below:

Growth and Survival: Functioning At Risk. Unknown at this time. No current or historic growth and survival work by the USFS or ODFW has been done recently (last 15 years). It is assumed that this is Functioning at Risk.

Life History Diversity: Functioning At Risk - Unknown.

Persistence and Genetic Integrity: Functioning Appropriately. No known hatchery fish.

Trout Creek on the Ochoco National Forest is used as spawning and rearing for steelhead. It is not the primary spawning area for steelhead as that occurs off forest on flatter more meandering sections that are below the forest boundary. It is important for rearing of steelhead in colder waters that occur on forest (refer to the Baseline section below for specifics on numbers of spawners and stream conditions).

Table 6. *Most recent spawning surveys for Upper Trout Creek Watershed, 2008. Stream Location of Survey Distance Date Number of Redds Augar Creek mouth to USFS bndy 1.5 8-May 21 Augar Creek USFS bndy to 300 rd 2.1 12-May 8 Big Log Creek AY culvert to FS bndy. 1.5 21-May 30 Big Log Creek USFS bndy. To 2720 rd 1.25 8-April 0 Cartwight Creek mouth to canyon barrier 1.25 2-Jun 3 Dutchman Creek Mouth to FS bndy 1.75 21-May 14 Dutchman Creek FS bndy to 2720 rd 0.8 8-April 0 Potlid Creek mouth to USFS bndy 0.5 7-May 16 Potlid Creek USFS bndy to 2720 rd 2.1 8-April 0 Trout Creek Opal Cr to USFS bndy 1.4 7-May 20 Trout Creek FS Bndy to 2725 rd 1.2 29-April 11 Trout Creek 2725 rd to 2725-100 rd 0.5 29-April 0 Trout Creek (repeat) FS Bndy to 2725-100 rd 1.2 21-May 0 *Surveys were not conducted in most locations in 2009-2010 due to numerous high water events

Limiting Factors Trout Creek – The 2009 Mid Columbia River Steelhead ESA Recovery Plan (MCR plan) identified limiting factors for Trout Creek. One of the primary limiting factors is tributary habitat that has degraded riparian condition, low flows, high water temperatures, degraded channel structure/complexity and floodplain connectivity, and impaired fish passage. Additional threats that were identified included: current land use practices (grazing, roads, residences, forestry and agricultural practices that simplify habitats and

30 irrigation withdrawals. Other non restoration actions are limited in the watershed, sheep grazing in Trout Creek is one of the primary activities currently occurring in the watershed. Sheep grazing could be connected to riparian conditions, high water temperatures, channel structure /complexity, and floodplain connectivity. It does not affect fish passage, road issues, forestry issues or irrigation issues.

The ONF has developed management strategies to address these factors and threats that have been identified and they include protection and conservation of natural ecological processes. This includes protecting the highest quality habitats and applying Best Management Practices (BMPs) in priority areas that include Trout Cr (Little Trout Cr. to headwaters). Another strategy includes restoring riparian conditions and LWD recruitment with a key action of restore natural plant communities, maintain fencing, and adjust grazing strategies in the priority area of Trout Creek. In additional to these two strategies is the restoration of degraded and maintenance of properly functioning channel structure and complexity. Key actions include restoring natural channel form, increasing LWD, and stabilizing streambanks in the Trout Creek drainage. Threats and limiting factors that specifically address habitat elements are addressed in Section VI (Habitat and Trend).

Physical Barriers: Functioning Appropriately on Forest – Functioning at Unacceptable Risk for 5th Field. The ability of fish to freely distribute throughout the watershed is being inhibited by fish passage barriers, low base flows, degraded riparian habitats, and degraded stream channels off Forest. Dewatering of Trout Creek downstream of the Ochoco National Forest boundary for irrigation and push up dams causes barriers for upstream migration. Fish populations within the Ochoco National Forest portions of the watershed are currently functioning appropriately due to culvert replacements throughout the watershed on Forest. On the National Forest, since 1997, culverts are being designed and replaced to provide fish passage and have included twelve culverts that have been replaced or redesigned to provide steelhead passage (table 7). Currently, all pipes located with critical habitat areas have been replaced to provide unobstructed passage for steelhead. It is anticipated that these actions have had beneficial, incremental effects on improving fish populations as access to habitats has increased habitat capability.

Table 7 Fish passage restoration in Upper Trout 5th field watershed. Pipe Location Year Replaced Potlid Creek Arch 1997 Trout Creek Pipe Arch 1997 Upper Big Log Pipe Arch 1999 Lower Big Log Bottomless Arch 1999 Dutchman Bottomless Arch 1999 Cartright Bottomless Arch 1999 Bull Creek Culvert 1999 Trout Creek Bottomless Arch 2000 Dick Creek Round Pipe 2005 with a reset for 2011 Dick Creek Bottomless Arch 2010 Trout Creek Reset 2009 Auger Creek Bottomless Arch 2010

Ochoco National Forest – John Day Basin Steelhead

Population Overview-Within the John Day River MPG, two populations (John Day River Lower Mainstem Tributaries and South Fork John Day River), are included in this analysis.

Findings: The John Day River MPG is currently below viable status. The North Fork population is highly viable; however, all of the other John Day River populations were below viable status..

Table 8 Viability assessment results for Mid-C steelhead populations in the John Day River MPG. Abundance Productivity Population Extant/ Mean Lower Mean Lower A/P Goal A Goal B Integrated Overall Extinct 90% CI 90% CI Risk Natural Diversity SS/D Population Mean Mean Processes Risk Risk Viability Risk Rating Lower Extant 1,800 1,065 2.99 1.91 Moderate Very Low Moderate Moderate Maintained Mainstem John Day River North Fork Extant 1,740 1,375 2.41 1.62 Very Low Very Low Low Low Highly John Viable Day River Middle Fork Extant 756 508 2.45 1.81 Moderate Low Low Low Maintained John Day River South Fork Extant 259 168 2.06 1.25 Moderate Very Low Low Low Maintained John Day River Upper Extant 524 399 2.14 1.15 Moderate Very Low Moderate Moderate Maintained Mainstem John Day River

John Day River Lower Mainstem Tributaries Population

Population Overview-The Lower Mainstem John Day River population occupies the Lower John Day watershed below the town of Dayville at the mouth of the South Fork John Day River. Steelhead in the Lower Mainstem John Day River population spawn in tributary streams connected by the lower John Day River, including Bridge, Butte, Thirtymile, Service, Mountain and Rock creeks. Multiple smaller drainages also support production. The population contains 11 MaSAs and 19 MiSAs. MaSAs include: Bridge, Mountain, Cottonwood, Middle Rock, Upper Rock, Pine Hollow, Lone Rock, Thirtymile, Butte, Hay, and Grass Valley. MiSAs include: Esau Canyon, Kahler, Jackknife, Pine (John Day), Service, Ferry, Rhodes Canyon, Rowe, Currant, Johnson (John Day), Shoofly, Girds, Cherry, Bologna, Buckhorn, Cottonwood Canyon, Lower Rock 1, Lower Rock 2, and Haystack.

The Lower Mainstem John Day River Summer Steelhead population is at moderate risk based on current abundance and productivity. Spawner abundance in recent years has been highly variable; the most recent 10-year geomean number of natural-origin spawners was 1,800. During the period 1975-1997, returns per spawner for steelhead in the population ranged from 0.14 (1987) to 17.5 (1979). The most recent 19-year (1980-1998) SAR adjusted and delimited geomean of returns per spawner was 2.99 (Appendix B of MCR plan).

The Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan estimates that the recent 10-year geomean natural-origin abundance of 1,800 spawners is 72% of the threshold abundance of 2,250. The current productivity of 2.99 recruits per spawner is well above the minimum required at threshold abundance to meet the 1% risk level. The table below is from the Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan. See below for occurrence on the ONF.

Abundance Productivity Popul Extant/ Mean Lower Mea Lower A/P Goal A Goal B Overall ation Extinct 90% n 90% risk Natural Diversity Population CI CI Proces Risk Viability ses Rating Risk Lower Extant 1800 1065 2.99 1.91 Mode Very Moderate Maintained Mainst rate Low em John Day River

South Fork John Day River Population

Steelhead spawn, rear, and migrate through the lower South Fork John Day River up to Izee Falls, a natural barrier at RM 28.5, and into Murderers Creek, Canyon Creek and other tributaries. The population contains three MaSAs (Upper South Fork John Day, Lower South Fork John Day and Murderers Creek) and no MiSAs.

The South Fork John Day River Steelhead population is at moderate risk based on current abundance and productivity. Spawner abundance in recent years has been moderately variable; the most recent 10-year geomean number of natural-origin spawners was 259. During the period 1961-1998, returns per spawner for steelhead in the South Fork John Day River ranged from 0.20 (1987) to 13.54 (1968). The most recent 20- year (1979-1998) geomean of returns per spawner, adjusted for marine survival and delimited, was 2.06 (Appendix B).

The Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan estimates that the recent 10-year geomean natural-origin abundance of 259 is 51.8% of the threshold abundance of 500. The current productivity of 2.00 recruits per spawner is greater than the minimum required at the abundance threshold. The table below is from the Mid- Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan.

Abundance Productivity Populat Extant/E Mean Lower 90% Mean Lower A/P Goal A Goal B Overall ion xtinct CI 90% CI risk Natural Diversity Population Processes Risk Viability Risk Rating South Extant 259 168 2.06 1.26 Mod Very Low Low Maintained Fork erate John Day River

The Ochoco NF manages partial stream reaches in Bridge Creek, Mountain Creek, Rock Creek, Lower South Fork, and Upper Middle John Day watersheds. Summer steelhead access stream reaches in all of these watersheds. Redd surveys are conducted annually in coordination with ODFW on various stream reaches within the basin. The average number of miles that were surveyed within the John Day River Basin was 26.6 for the years of 1959-2000. The average number of steelhead observed was 41.3 per mile, while the average number of redds per mile was 5.9. In a study done in 2009 funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA 2009) they estimated 1,934 redds in the basin from 7,368 spawners. Surveys

33 have shown that preferred steelhead spawning streams on the Ochoco NF include, but are not limited to: Badger Creek, Rock Creek, Black Canyon Creek, Cottonwood Creek, and Wind Creek. In the 2009 BPA study they found 5 redds in Rock Creek, 6 redds in Bear Creek, and no redds in Dodds or West Branch Bridge Creek. Barriers on private land are the most limiting factor to upstream migration onto Forest Service administered lands.

Bridge Creek 5th Field Watershed - Population and Trend

Subpopulation Size: Unknown – Functioning at Risk. The Bridge Creek 5th Field watershed, is part of the Lower Mainstem John Day River Summer Steelhead Population and Bridge Creek Major Spawning Area (MaSA) as identified in the Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan (2009). Bridge Creek is one of 11 MaSA’s in the Lower John Day Major Population Group. Populations are unknown at this time. The Lower Mainstem John Day River Summer Steelhead population is at moderate risk based on current abundance and productivity.

ODFW has surveyed Bear Creek below the ONF boundary consistently since 2002, intermittent surveys were conducted since 1959. Bear Creek is an index stream for ODFW. It is unknown whether actual surveys have ever been conducted on the ONF in the Bridge Creek WA.

REDDS COUNTED 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005a 2004 2003 2002 BEAR (wheeler) 17 33 9 68 9 11 14 31 86

Recently (approximately 2007) the Natural Resources Conservation Service replaced an irrigation diversion dam on private land approximately 1/4 mile downstream of the National Forest Boundary that blocked steelhead access to the portion of mainstem of Bridge Creek on National Forest. Steelhead are now able to access approximately 2.7 miles of critical habitat within the Bridge Creek drainage.

Historical documents and discussions with the ODFW John Day Field office have confirmed steelhead have spawned on the National Forest administered lands in Bridge Creek up to ½ mile above the confluence of Bridge Creek and Maxwell Creek. It is assumed that, because the blockage caused by the historic irrigation dam is passable, MCR steelhead will be able to repopulate the lower 2.7 miles of available critical habitat. At approximately RM 31 there are a series of falls/cascade-plunge pools that have been determined to be a steelhead trout barrier (ODFW 1971). The West Fork of Bridge Creek currently has barrier culverts off Forest. All pipes located with critical habitat areas have been replaced to provide unobstructed passage for steelhead on Forest along with additional channel restoration work.

Bridge Creek 5th field Watershed Restoration Projects. Activity Accomplishment Year Bridge Creek Wild Fire Various BAER work, road closures, slope 2008 stabilization, etc. West Branch Bridge Creek MP 0.15, 0.40, 0.92, 1.15; culvert replacements and 2003 stream structures Maxwell Wild Fire Various BAER work, road closures, slope 2006 stabilization, etc. Plant riparian shrubs 2 miles of Allen Creek and 3 miles of East Fork 2007/2008 Allen Creek Milk Creek fish passage Remove culverts on 2200-903, 2200-750 2006/2007 Badger Creek fish passage Replace culverts on FR2200 and 2630; add 4 relief 2003 ditch pipes; replace culvert with bridge FR2200 Badger Creek stream restoration Large wood placement 1989 Bear Creek stream restoration Stream structures; root wads 1992 Kitty Creek stream restoration 80 log structures in Critter Timber Sale 1992

Redband trout do spawn and rear on the National Forest throughout the watershed. Steelhead spawn within the Bear Creek watershed up to the confluence with Dodds Creek. Limited spawning occurs in Dodds and Heflin Creeks on the National Forest land. Historically, the Bear Creek watershed supported populations of steelhead and redband trout up to natural barrier (1 mile below Forest Boundary on the mainstem of Bear Creek).

Limiting Factors – Bridge Creek: These are primarily addressed in the Section VI, Habitat and Trend.

Currently, there is no access to Critical Habitat on the Forest in Bear Creek due to off Forest natural blockage. It is anticipated that these actions have had beneficial, incremental effects on improving fish populations as access to habitats has increased habitat capability. Overall conditions would indicate that Bridge Creek is functioning appropriately as a 5th field watershed. At risk is only for passage issues on some tributary locations for resident fish. Steelhead critical habitat and populations are generally well connected in Bridge Creek and the watershed is providing refugia areas with respect to cold water habitats.

Mountain Creek 5th Field Population and Trend

Subpopulation Size: Unknown – Functioning at Risk. The Mountain Creek 5th field watershed, is part of the Lower Mainstem John Day River Summer Steelhead Population. The Lower Mainstem John Day River Summer Steelhead population is at moderate risk based on current abundance and productivity (Table 8 above). Steelhead habitat on Forest is part of the Mountain Creek Major Spawning Area (MaSA) as identified in the Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan (2009). Mountain Creek is one of 11 MaSA’s in the Lower John Day Major Population Group. Minor Spawning Areas were not specifically identified for these areas.

ODFW does yearly spawning surveys in the John Day basin, however there are no index reaches in the Mountain Creek watershed. They have only surveyed mountain creek twice (1970 and 1986) where they found 18 and 12 redds respectively, all off Forest in the lower 6 miles of stream.

In the John Day River Basin, summer steelhead production is limited primarily by existing rearing conditions. Livestock overgrazing, water withdrawals for irrigation, clearing of land, road building, logging, and channelization degrade fish habitat by disturbing or destroying riparian vegetation and destabilizing streambanks and watersheds. The results are wide, shallow channels, low, warm summer flows; high turbid spring flows; high sediment loads; and decreased fish production. In the Mid Columbia River Steelhead Recover Plan migration barriers were identified as a limiting factors and threat in the Mountain Creek 5th field. However, the plan did not identify barriers as a high priority management action. It is unknown how many or the extent of the barriers off Forest. Barriers on private land are the most limiting factor to upstream migration onto Forest Service administered lands (ONF, 2011).

On Forest in the Upper and Middle Mountain creek 6th fields, all barriers have been replaced (last ones in 2002) with open bottom culverts or bridges in steelhead habitat. It is anticipated that these actions have had beneficial, incremental effects on improving fish populations as access to habitats has increased habitat capability. On Keeton, Fry, Mac and Fort Creeks, the channel type is a Rosgen A3/4 which are naturally steep and may limit passage due to natural barriers. Therefore, fish populations within the Ochoco National Forest portions of the watershed are currently functioning appropriately due to culvert replacements throughout the watershed on Forest (ONF 2011). Steelhead critical habitat and populations are generally well connected in Mountain Creek and the watershed is providing refugia areas with respect to cold water habitats.

Off Forest, mountain Creek 5th Field watershed has many issues relative to steelhead populations and critical habitat. Of largest concern are the temperature, large woody debris, refugia and change in peak and base flows calls that are Functioning at Unacceptable Risk. While some areas of riparian cover and condition are improving overall on private land there are still some major issues in the watershed. The Forest only manages the very upper portions of the smaller tributaries and while these are generally in good condition, their overall influence on the watershed is minimal (ONF 2011).

As discussed in Section VI, Habitat and Trend, for Upper and Middle Mountain 6th Fields watersheds on Forest, many habitat elements are functioning appropriately and are in good condition, however, pools (frequency and quality) are a potential area of concern for juvenile steelhead.

Overall conditions would indicate that Mountain Creek, on Forest, is functioning appropriately as a 5th field watershed.

Rock Creek 5th Field WA -Population and Trend

Subpopulation Size: Unknown – Functioning at Risk. Limited fisheries information exists for this watershed. The Rock Creek 5th field watershed is part of the Lower Mainstem John Day River Summer Steelhead Population. The Lower Mainstem John Day River Summer Steelhead population is at moderate risk based on current abundance and productivity (Table 8 above). The Ochoco NF manages partial stream reaches in the watershed. Upper Rock Creek is one of the 11 MaSAs, delineated for the population. As stated in the 2006-2008 Programmatic BA, all of the subpopulation characteristics (subpopulation size, growth and survival, life history diversity, persistence and genetic variability) were rated Functioning at risk because of lack of information.

Redd surveys have been conducted intermittently in Rock Creek by both ODFW and USFS over the last several decades. Rock Creek is a non-index (exploratory) stream reach for ODFW. ODFW last surveyed Rock Creek in 1995, historic surveys are included in table 9 and 10 below. In a 2009 BPA study, 5 redds were found in Rock Creek. USFS surveys were conducted intermittently between 1995 and 2002 (table X).

Table 9. ODFW Redd survey data in Rock Creek. Year 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 Redds 2 5 6 33 14 14

Table 10. USFS Redd survey data in the Rock Creek. Reach Location Reach # Length Year/Date Redds FS bndy to ~1/4 mile below Balm Creek at a un-named class V channel Reach 1 1.25 5/18/1995 3 Redds end of R1 to Bear Creek Reach 2 1.25 6/6/1995 3 Redds 1 mile above Fir Tree Creek to Rd 38 stream crossing Reach 3 3 6/6/1995 7 Redds confluence with Squaw Creek up 2.25 miles 2.25 6/4/1998 1 redd R1 2.8 miles 6/6/1999 0 R2 3.8 miles 6/6/1999 0 T13S R24E S27 NE/NW to T14S R24E S3 SE/NE R1 2.5 5/26/2000 1 redd T13S R24E S13 SE/NW to T14S R25E S7 SW/SE 1 5/29/2002

The Mid-Columbia River steelhead recovery plan identified limiting factors and threats and then management strategies and actions that are recommended to address these limiting factors or threats. A key strategy is to restore passage and connectivity with key actions to remove or minimize use of push up dams; remove or replace barriers blocking passage; provide screening at all irrigation diversions; and replace screens that do not meet criteria. This would occur in priority areas of Upper Rock off Forest as all on Forest passage barriers have been dealt with. Specifically, one of the major physical barriers to habitat a water diversion structure close to the Forest boundary was repaired in 2007. It is anticipated that these actions have had beneficial, incremental effects on improving fish populations as access to habitats has increased habitat capability. However, barriers on private land remain the most limiting factor to upstream migration onto Forest Service administered lands.

Fish populations within the Ochoco National Forest portions of the watershed are currently believed to be functioning appropriately due to addressing fish passage issues on the watershed on Forest. Section VI, Habitat and Trend, for Upper and Middle Mountain 6th Fields watersheds on Forest, documents that many habitat elements are functioning appropriately and are in good condition. In summary, steelhead critical habitat and populations (on Forest) are generally well connected and the watershed is providing refugia areas with respect to cold water habitats.

Upper Middle John Day 5th Field Watershed- Population and Trend

Subpopulation Size: Unknown – Functioning at Risk. Limited fisheries information exists for this watershed. The Upper Middle John Day 5th Field watershed, is part of the Lower Mainstem John Day River Summer Steelhead Population. The Ochoco NF manages partial stream reaches in the upper watershed. Cottonwood (Creek) is one of the 11 MaSAs delineated for the population. The Lower Mainstem John Day River Summer Steelhead population is at moderate risk based on current abundance and productivity (Table 8 above).

Cottonwood Creek is used as an index stream by ODFW for evaluating status and trends of steelhead spawning escapement in the John Day River Basin. In 1990, the density of steelhead redds in Cottonwood Creek was 8.4 redds per mile. This ranked as the third highest density out of 39 index streams in the basin. The index reach is downstream from the National Forest Boundary on intermixed BLM and private ownership. As is the case with most Ochoco National Forest streams, access of steelhead to NF administered land is dependent on spring flows to provide passage to upstream spawning beds. In the drought years of 1990- 1994, limited spawning occurred on the forest. In 1990, one steelhead redd was found in Cottonwood Creek on the Ochoco National Forest.

ODFW index surveys did not occur between 1997-2001. Surveys resumed 2002 through 2010, redds per mile averaged (113/2.5mile), with a high of 29 redds during the 2002 survey. On the Ochoco National Forest, surveys were conducted intermittently between 1992-1999, no redds were detected.

The Mid-Columbia River steelhead recovery plan identified limiting factors and threats and then management strategies and actions that are recommended to address these limiting factors or threats. A key strategy is to restore passage and connectivity with key actions to remove or minimize use of push up dams; remove or replace barriers blocking passage; provide screening at all irrigation diversions; and replace screens that do not meet criteria. This would occur in priority areas of Cottonwood Creek off Forest as all on Forest passage barriers have been dealt with. However, barriers on private land remain the most limiting factor to upstream migration onto Forest Service administered lands.

Fish populations within the Ochoco National Forest portions of the watershed are currently believed to be functioning appropriately due to addressing fish passage issues and the fact that many habitat elements are functioning appropriately and are in good condition – reference Section VI Habitat and Trend. In summary, steelhead critical habitat and populations (on Forest) are generally well connected and the watershed is providing refugia areas with respect to cold water habitats.

Lower South Fork John Day 5th Field Watershed - Population and Trend

Subpopulation Size: Unknown – Functioning at Risk. Steelhead habitat in the watershed is part of the Lower South Fork Major Spawning Area (MaSA) as identified in the Mid-Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan (2009). Lower South Fork is one of 3 MaSA’s in the South Fork John Day Major Population Group. There are no MaSA’s for the South Fork John Day on Forest. Minor Spawning Areas were not specifically identified for these areas. According to the Recovery Plan the population does not currently meet the recommended viability criteria, although it does meet criteria for a “maintained” population (Table 8 above).

The Ochoco NF manages partial stream reaches in the Lower South Fork watershed. Surveys have shown that preferred steelhead spawning streams on the Ochoco NF include Black Canyon Creek and Wind Creek. Steelhead are potentially able to access 22.5 miles of habitat, all designated critical habitat. The partial barrier on the mainstem of Wind Creek limits access for steelhead from about 11 miles out of the total of 22.5. This is a barrier at least most years and passage is dependent on flow. The partial barrier on Wind Creek that is located just below the Forest boundary has passed steelhead at least once in the last twenty years. Most recent was in 2002 when a steelhead was observed above the barrier on FS lands.

Spawning surveys and discussions with the ODFW John Day Field office have confirmed steelhead have spawned on and downstream of the National Forest administered lands in the Wind Creek watershed and within the Black Canyon watershed (see table below).

Stream 10 ‘09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 '04 ’03 ’02 ‘01 ‘00 1999 1998 Black - 8 1 26 - - 9 16 17 - - 2 2 Canyon redds on Forest 3.0 miles surveyed Wind - 3 - 2 5 - 12 3 4 3 7 - - Creek redds off Forest 1.0 miles surveyed

The ability of fish to freely distribute throughout the watershed is not inhibited by man-made fish passage barriers. The watershed and all critical habitat are entirely in wilderness. Wind Creek is Functioning at Risk. Wind Creek mainstem, South Fork Wind Creek and Frazier Creek all have unimpeded fish passage. North Fork Wind and Squaw/Congleton are functioning at risk due to some existing pipes higher in the drainages. In 2004, one pipe was pulled and another replaced to facilitate passage in the lower reach of North Fork Wind Creek on Forest. There is a natural partial barrier on the mainstem Wind Creek at approximately RM 2.1, where passage is dependent upon flow. Fish populations within the Ochoco National Forest portions of the watershed are currently believed to be Functioning Appropriately due to addressing fish passage issues on the watershed on Forest (ONF 2011). It is anticipated that these actions have had beneficial, incremental effects on improving fish populations as access to habitats has increased habitat capability. In summary, steelhead critical habitat and populations (on Forest) are generally well connected and the watershed is providing refugia areas with respect to cold water habitats.

VII. HABITAT AND TREND

Ochoco National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan Monitoring Items

The ONF LRMP references six monitoring items: 1) Sedimentation (%embeddedness), 2) temperature (F), 3) channel morphology, 4) riparian community composition, 5) large woody material (number of pieces), 6) smolt numbers. Monitoring elements 1-5 are physical habitat attributes and item 6 is a biological element that addresses smolt productions numbers from a habitat capability model (see redd count data). All monitoring items are addressed at the 5th field scale in the following watersheds in the Deschutes and John Day basins: Trout (Deschutes), Bridge, Mountain, Upper Middle John Day, and Lower South Fork John Day.

Existing habitat conditions (all habitat conditions except for population information and barrier information) for this watershed are currently (2011) based on the most recent stream survey information from early 1990’s to present. Some information is summarized from a recent Biological Assessment conducted in anadromous streams across the Ochoco National Forest analyzing/authorizing grazing (ONF 2011). The following 5th field watersheds were included in this analysis: Upper Trout, Bridge, Mountain and Lower South Fork John Day, This analysis included information on watershed conditions that included professional judgment from recent field reconnaissance and range monitoring data. This information was used where appropriate to further evaluate the ONFLRMP monitoring items referenced above. Additionally, some PACFISH/INFISH Biological Opinion (PIBO) monitoring data was utilized where available.

Desired Conditions

Desired stream conditions for stream habitats covered under this analysis include the following that have been developed from watershed analyses, the Ochoco National Forest LRMP (1989), and PACFISH (1995). Desired conditions should be either at the following levels or moving towards those levels. These desired stream conditions are the basis for rating for the 5th field HUC existing conditions. Current baseline conditions and changes over time toward these desired conditions will be the basis for the trend monitoring.

Table 11. INFISH/PACFISH interim Riparian Management Objectives (RMOs). Habitat Feature Interim Objective

No measurable increase in maximum water temperature (7‐day moving average of daily maximum temperature measured as the average of the Water temperature maximum daily temperature of the warmest consecutive 7‐day period).

(PACFISH) <64°F (18c) maximum migration and rearing habitats and

<60°F within spawning habitat

*Shade > 80 percent of water surface shaded

<20% fines (<2mm) Sedimentation (%embeddedness) For purposes of this analysis, average percent fines less than 2mm is being utilized as surrogate for % embeddedness.

*Bank stability > 80 percent stable banks

>20 pieces per mile that are >12 inches in diameter and > 35 feet in length (PACFISH standard). Surveys in Bridge Creek Wilderness indicate that Large woody debris average is closer to 150 pieces per mile of large woody material in undisturbed areas. Desired condition on Trout Creek will be 150 pieces per mile.

< 10, mean wetted width divided by mean depth

modified that to align with Rosgen (1996) Width/depth ratio (W/D) Width to Depth Ratio by Stream Type (Rosgen and Silvey 1998) Width/Depth A B C D DA E F G Ratio <12 >12 >12 >40 <40 <12 >12 <12 This indicator addresses the function and condition of riparian vegetation Riparian community along streams, water bodies, and wetlands. composition Indicator further defined below

Denotes primary monitoring indicator, *denotes secondary monitoring indicator, i.e., helps further define primary indicator.

Riparian community composition

For this habitat monitoring element, this analysis utilizes the Watershed Condition Framework (WCF) analysis and rating process in conjunction with other data/information where available. In the WCF, indicator (5) Riparian Vegetation, addresses the function and condition of riparian vegetation along streams, water bodies, and wetlands (USDA 2010). A description of this indicator and evaluation methodology are included in the appendix of this document.

Smolt numbers

There has been no monitoring of smolt numbers on Forest, therefore redd counts will be used as a substitute for determining population trend where available.

Upper Trout Creek Watershed (HUC #1707030701) Habitat and Trend

TROUT CREEK WATERSHED (4th Field HUC)

The Trout Creek Watershed comprises 446,080 acres; the Ochoco NF manages almost 35,000 acres (5%). Predominant management actions in this watershed include timber management, recreation, agriculture, and livestock. Much of the agriculture is irrigated with water diverted from Trout Creek or one of its tributaries. Push-up dams are still in use on lower Trout Creek to divert water for irrigation. By August, the water withdrawals in Trout Creek have essentially diverted all the water from the stream at Willowdale. However perennial streams on the Forest are important refugia habitats. Streams on the Ochoco National Forest are critical in maintaining and improving refugia habitats in the upper Trout Creek 5th Field watershed.

UPPER TROUT CREEK WATERSHED (5th Field HUC)

The analysis area includes lands within the Deschutes River Basin managed by the Ochoco NF. The analysis area is predominantly forested ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, juniper woodlands, and high elevation mountain hemlock plant associations. The Deschutes River Basin is a primary watershed (as defined in PACFISH and INFISH); it includes portions of the Trout 4th field sub-basin. The analysis area is focused in the 5th field HUC on ONF lands in the Upper Trout Creek watershed in the Deschutes River system. Federal lands are generally contiguous with some intermingled private lands. The following is a brief description of the sub-basins within or adjacent to the analysis area.

The Upper Trout Creek 5th field watershed is 157,833 acres of which 21,233 acres are managed by the ONF. There are approximately 30 miles of fish bearing streams on FS lands in the Upper Trout Creek 5th field watershed. There are 13.7 miles of streams on FS lands that are occupied by steelhead and are designated CH (Table 12). There is one allotment (Trout Creek Allotment) in the Upper Trout Creek 5th field HUC. It is 27,205 acres in size and 1,953 sheep are grazed on this allotment.

The Trout Creek watershed includes steelhead habitat in Big Log, Dutchman, Cartwright, Potlid, Bull, Dick, and Auger Creeks that are all tributaries to Trout Creek. Critical habitat has been designated in all of these streams except for Bull and Dick Creeks which currently have unoccupied habitat (see table below).

Table 12 Miles of Designated Critical Habitat in Trout Creek Stream Miles of Designated Critical Habitat and Current Steelhead Distribution Big Log 2.5 Dutchman 3.0 Cartwright 2.0 Potlid 1.75 Auger 2.25 Trout 2.2 Totals 13.7

Channel types in Trout Creek are a combination of Rosgen C and B types in most cases. Some historic B and C channel types are now Rosgen F and G types that are incised, lack floodplain, laterally and vertically unstable, and may have headcuts. The areas that have F and G channel types are small site specific areas that are not whole reaches on stream. These sites can be unstable and may take as short as 3-5 years or as long as

10-15 years to stabilize with new C or B channels at the new base levels. Data for these channels was gathered in surveys from the mid to late 1990’s. These sections of unstable channels are thought to be improving based on visual trend information and consistently meeting the end of season monitoring on DMA’s in other areas of the watersheds.

C channel types are characterized by low gradient, meandering, point-bar, riffle/pool, alluvial channels with broad well defined floodplains. W:D ratios of >12, sinuosity of >1.2 and gradient generally lower than 2%. Channels in the Trout Creek watershed are gravel and cobble dominated in the bed and banks. They are more sensitive to grazing impacts then B type channels because their bedload and banks are predominately gravel dominated. However, they are stable when vegetation, both woody and sedge, is at levels prescribed for under Forest Plan and PACFISH standards (USDA 1991, 1995).

B type channels are moderately entrenched, moderate gradient (2-4%), riffle dominated channels with infrequently spaced pools. These are usually very stable vertically and horizontally with stable banks. B type channels within the Trout Creek drainage are generally resistant to impacts such as grazing because bedload type and bank configurations are predominately made of cobbles and gravels.

Vegetation conditions vary greatly across the watershed with a mixture of early, mid and late seral stages. Many sites on the northern, lower elevation areas are early to mid seral with large Ponderosa pine or mixed conifer. The southern two thirds of the watershed are dominated by pole and small size trees in all seral stages with some pockets of old growth forests. Woody species along streams appear to be a variety of age classes. See below for additional discussion on Riparian Community Composition.

MIS ONFLRMP Monitoring Elements

Environmental baseline conditions (all habitat conditions except for population information and barrier information) for this watershed are currently (2011) based on the most recent stream survey information from the mid to late 1990’s. No additional surveys have been completed since 1999. No PIBO sites are located within this watershed. Professional judgment is that overall conditions in the watershed have been improving since changing from cattle grazing to sheep in 1990, however actual data collection beyond 1999 has not been gathered. This judgment includes observations from fisheries biologists and hydrologists during redd counts in the drainage that indicate that banks are more stable than in the past and there is generally less erosion from raw banks. In addition, monitoring of end of season grazing administration to meet PDC have been met consistently for stream-bank alteration, woody browse, and stubble height (ONF 2011). Photo points on DMA’s indicate that shrub species have increased on sites that had shrub species to begin with (unpublished district data).

Water Temperature: Functioning at Unacceptable Risk. Trout Creek and seven tributaries are 303(d) listed streams for temperature on Forest. Off Forest in the lower portions of the Trout Creek 4th field HUC, the Bureau of Land Management data (2 sites: at the mouth and at Ashwood) had an average of the 7-day daily maximum of 79°F/83°F and (no data/86°F), respectively above the standard (64°F) in 1993/94. USDA Forest Service data at the Ochoco National Forest boundary had a 7-day average daily maximum of 66°F/65.84°F/65.6°F in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively with the threshold of 64.4 oF. An unpublished study by Jim Seymour, Zone Hydrologist for the Ochoco NF, shows that the average daily temperature flux over the years from 1992 to 1998 has decreased with the changing of livestock management from cattle to sheep (in 1990) and the implementation of PACFISH standards in 1995. Trout Creek above the 2725 road crossing is below the threshold for temperature. Upper Auger Creek and upper Dutchman Creek are also 46

below the threshold. Overall, while there are some sections of streams that are Functioning Appropriately, there are enough sections that are above threshold that the call for the Upper Trout Creek 5th field is Functioning at Unacceptable Risk.

Table 13 (303d and Temp), highlight 303d streams Stream Name 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2009

Auger 19.1 19.5 17.3 20.5 17.6 17.6 33.3 19.5 Auger 20.2 17.5 17.2 22.9 17.5 18.6 28.9 Auger 13.1 14.4 Big Log 22.3 19 21.8 20.7 21.1 22.7 19.8 22.6 23.5 20.7 Big Log 18.4 16.4 15.6 Bull 22.4 20.3 23.2 Cartwright 23.3 21.4 22.1 21.1 21 20.2 24.7 20.5 Cartwright 22.6 Dick 29.2 23.1 Dutchman 23 20.1 21.1 20.9 21.4 19.5 21.5 22.6 Dutchman 22.3 19.6 Dutchman 13.8 12.3 Potlid 21.1 19.9 21.3 20.2 21.6 20 20.1 Potlid 24.2 20.8 Potlid 21.9 Potlid 20.6 18.3 Potlid 15.2 14.8

Skookum Rock 18.8 16.4 19.8 Trout 22.8 20.5 21.3 19.3 19.9 19.2 21.1 19.9 24.8 21.5 18.9 18.8 18.7 18.9 Trout 20.5 21.6 Trout 17.7 18 19.6 Trout 18.6 22.4 17.6 Trout 14.8 15.4 Trout 15.1 West Trout 14.8 West Trout 14.8 12.5 *dry or not completely in shade, no data collected for 2008-2009

Shade estimates from the late 1990’s indicate that shade from both conifers and hardwoods ranged from 55% on two reaches on Big Log and Dutchman Creek to above 80% on other sections of Dutchman Creek and Dick Creek. Other tributaries and the mainstem Trout Creek were in the averaged about 75% shade in that same time period (unpublished data ONF district files). Harvest since the early 1990’s has been minimal in most of the tributary areas so many areas may now be at 100% potential for conifers, but maybe reduced in hardwoods due to road crossings and entrenchment from past management impacts (overgrazing, roads).

End of season grazing standards for change to woody browse and stubble height have been met in the DMA’s in the Trout Creek watershed every year since 2003. Photo points on DMA’s indicate that overall conditions for shade are getting better (unpublished data ONF district files).

Substrate Embeddedness: Functioning at Unacceptable Risk. Specific data on % substrate embeddedness is not available for streams in this watershed. For purposes of this analysis, average percent fines less than 2mm is being utilized as surrogate for % embeddedness. This data is presented in Table 14 below. Data is only available for one stream and meets standard. Several streams are also 303(d) listed streams for sediment, however, currently there is no State quantitative standard for sediment. Degradation of instream habitat, including high substrate embeddedness has reduced the amount of spawning habitat available (Ochoco National Forest Stream Surveys conducted in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, and 1999). Stream-bank alteration levels of <10% have been met at the Trout Creek Watershed DMA’s for all years since 2003.This additional information is contained below . Additionally, information on fine sediment from the recent (2011) grazing analysis within the watershed is included below (see Sediment/Turbidity).

Table 14. Percent embeddedness (Ave_PctLT2mm) Trout Creek and Tributaries Stream Name Survey Date Ave_PctLT2mm Dutchman Creek 8/10/1999 19.0 Dutchman Creek 8/10/1999 13.3

Sediment/Turbidity: Functioning at Risk. Fine sediment maybe an issue in a number of streams in this watershed as evidenced by fine sediment measurement of 15-25% in stream survey pebble counts from the 1990’s. In some areas, bank in-stability is contributing to this with Rosgen F and G channels in some reach sections as a result of historic headcuts from poor management both on and off forest. In the late 1990’s stream survey information indicated that bank stability ranged from 75% to 99% in streams dependent on historic headcuts and gullying. Most surveys noted that there was little to no evidence of grazing along streams with the change to sheep grazing in 1990. Historic effects of roads, harvest and over grazing from the early 1900’s were still contributing fine sediment to the systems. Spawning and incubating habitats had been deteriorated by elevated sediment inputs that had filled interstitial spaces in the stream substrate. It is unknown what current conditions are besides anecdotal information that habitats are getting better, however at best this would be functioning at risk. Stream-bank alteration levels of <10% have been met at the Trout Creek Watershed DMA’s for all years since 2003 (unpublished data ONF district files).

Large Wood: Functioning at Risk. Sixty miles of streams have been surveyed within the Ochoco National Forest portion of Trout Headwaters. Of the reaches surveyed, 40% had less than one piece of Large Woody Material (LWM) per 100 feet of channel and 80% had less than two pieces per 100 feet of channel. This meets the INFISH RMOs on the Ochoco NF but is low when to compared to similar streams within the Bridge Creek Wilderness, in which more than half of the reaches had more than three pieces of LWM per 100 feet. Data appears to be inconclusive to address trend.

Table 15. LWD per mile Upper Trout 5th field WA Small, Medium, Medium and and Large Wood Large Wood Percent of Small Year Stream Name /Mile /Mile Material 1990 Bull Creek 71.6 23.9 66.7% 1990 Auger Creek 15.5 10.3 33.3%

1991 Big Log Creek 196.3 88.7 54.8% 1995 Trout Creek 27.7 23.9 13.8% 1995 Trout Creek 120.7 65.7 45.6% 1997 Potlid Creek 41.5 18.4 55.8% 1997 Cartwright Creek 33.0 23.7 28.2% 1999 Dutchman Creek 42.4 16.5 61.1% 1999 Dutchman Creek 47.8 20.3 57.6%

Wetted Width/Max Depth Ratio: Functioning at Risk. Eight percent of the sampled streams transects indicate channel alteration to an F and or G channel type. All F and G channel types indicate channel alteration and an increase in the W/D ratios. These channels will continue to evolve until new base levels have been achieved and either Rosgen C or B type channels have been created at the new base level. The rest of the channels are Rosgen B and C types with W:D ratios of 10-12 on most with some ranging up to 14. While overall conditions appear to be improving, either through direct restoration or change in grazing to sheep, there are still some locations where channel type alteration is still evolving and stabilizing. See discussion on overall trends below.

Table 16. W/D Ratio by stream for Upper Trout 5th field WA. Rosgen Average Year of Channel Bankfull Stream Name Survey Class width(ft) Potlid Creek 1991 5.1 Big Log Creek 1991 6.2 Potlid Creek 1997 B 14.3 Cartwright Creek 1997 B 16.8 Dutchman Creek 1999 C 10.9 Dutchman Creek 1999 B 9.3

Riparian Community Composition –Functioning at Risk. This indicator rated as Fair (2) in the WCF process. However, this rating includes private lands within the WCF analysis area.

(RHCA’s): Functioning at Risk. Condition of RHCA’s, including the hardwood component is important for shade, bank stability, and terrestrial food base for salmonids. Professional judgment and observation indicates that the RHCAs are slowly improving with the changing of livestock grazing to sheep in 1990 and the implementation of PACFISH RHCAs in 1995. The forest has consistently met end of season grazing indicators of stubble height on grasses or sedges, change to woody browse, and stream bank alteration (see Table 6 below). The following are observations from the District Range Specialist on three streams:

Dick Creek: A large portion of the greenline is dominated by sedges with a conifer and hardwood overstory. There is some alder along the stream banks. Ponderosa pine and true fir dominate the overstory where alder is not present. Bank alteration has not been an issue along Dick Creek.

Potlid Creek: A large portion of the greenline is dominated by sedges with a conifer and hardwood overstory. There is a great deal of alder along the stream banks. Ponderosa pine and larch dominate the overstory where alder is not present. Bank alteration has not been an issue along Potlid Creek. Official trend data is lacking (No PIBO sites in this watershed) so overall condition of RHCA’s and rate of recovery 49 is unknown at this point. Some legacy issues continue to exist with old road beds that have not been replanted with trees or riparian shrubs.

Limiting Factors Trout Creek – The Mid Columbia River Steelhead ESA Recovery Plan identified limiting factors for Trout Creek. One of the primary limiting factors is tributary habitat that has degraded riparian condition, low flows, high water temperatures, degraded channel structure/complexity and floodplain connectivity, and impaired fish passage. Additionally threats that were identified included current land use practices (grazing, roads, residences, forestry and agricultural practices that simplify habitats and irrigation withdrawals. Because other non restoration actions are limited in the watershed, sheep grazing in Trout Creek is one of the primary activities currently occurring in the watershed. Sheep grazing could be connected to riparian conditions, high water temperatures, channel structure /complexity, and floodplain connectivity. It does not affect fish passage, road issues, forestry issues or irrigation issues.

In general, condition of the FP monitoring elements have improved overtime as numerous restoration activities (Table 17), changes in management, implementation of PACFISH/INFISH S&G, and improved livestock management (including changing from cows to sheep). These actions along with the available data suggest that overall watershed condition and steelhead habitat is improving.

Table 17 Restoration activities have occurred on the ONF within the Trout Creek Watershed since 1995. Activity Accomplished Year

Upper Trout mainstem 2500’ channel reconstruction LWD + large 2009 rock, increased pools PCT only in RHCAs 2831 acres 2008 Thin w Fire 800 acres 1995-2009 Road Closures in RHCAs or contribute 19.3 mi. 1995-present sediment to streams Road Obliteration in RHCAs or 19.6 mi. 1995-present contribute sediment to streams Riparian planting 10 mi. stream 1995-2008 Headcut repair 1 mi. Dick Creek & Ingram Meadows 2002 North end pond creation 10 in Trout Watershed Unknown years Changed grazing from cows to sheep Upper Trout Watershed on Forest-improved 1989 woody veg. in RHCAs

Bridge Creek 5th Field Habitat and Trend (HUC #17070020403)

The Bridge Creek 5th field watershed is located within the Lower John Day River 4th field sub-basin. See General Conditions for John Day Sub-basin. The Bridge Creek watershed (5th HUC) includes the Upper Bear Creek, Middle Bear Creek, west Branch Bridge Creek, Upper Bridge Creek, and Headwaters Bridge Creek sub-watersheds (6th HUC).

Bridge Creek, Mountain, Cottonwood and Upper Rock are all Major Spawning Areas (MaSA) in the steelhead recovery plan for the Lower John Day. Populations of steelhead within the area affected by this assessment are included in the previous Population and Trend Section in this document. Minor Spawning Areas were not specifically identified for these areas.

There are approximately 15 miles of fish bearing streams on FS lands in the Bridge Creek 5th field watershed. There are 3.9 miles of streams on FS lands that are occupied by steelhead and are designated CH (Table 1). Stream types are a combination of Rosgen B and C types (Rosgen 1996). Rosgen B type streams are steeper streams with narrow floodplains and cobble materials in the banks. Rosgen C streams in this watershed are more meandering, flatter, and have gravel dominated substrates and banks.

There are three allotments (Bear Creek, Snowshoe and Elkhorn) in the Bridge Creek 5th field HUC. Within these allotments there are 17,359 acres, 2,209 acres, and 13,127 acres in steelhead watersheds respectively. Allotments and pastures within allotments are all fenced. Historic land use impacts (primarily grazing and logging) are evident, specifically, the lower one-mile of the watershed on National Forest has been harvested in the past. However, the majority of the subwatershed is within a wilderness and has been disturbed only by natural wildfire and fire suppression activities. The majority of the fires have been less than one acre in size, but there have been two large fires in the past three years. The Maxwell fire covered about 10,000 acres in 2006, and the Bridge Creek fire covered about 7,000 acres in 2008. In Bear Creek 6th field Sub-WA, stream channel types have been altered from those types associated with depositional process to those associated with erosional processes as a result of legacy issues from roading, harvest and grazing. Overall channels are in an upward trend but legacy issues continue to exist (ONF 2011).

The Bridge Creek watershed includes steelhead habitat in Dodds and Bridge Creeks. Critical habitat has been designated in these streams (see table below).

Stream Name Miles of Designated Critical Habitat and current steelhead distribution

Dodds Creek 1.2

Bridge Creek 2.7

Channel types in the Bridge Creek 5th field HUC are a combination of Rosgen C and B types in most cases. Some historic B and C channel types are now Rosgen F and G types that are incised, lack floodplain, laterally and vertically unstable, and may have headcuts. The areas that have F and G channel types are small site specific areas that are not whole reaches of streams. These sites can be unstable and may take as short as 3-5 years or as long as 10-15 years to stabilize with new C or B channels at the new base levels. Data for these channels was gathered in surveys from the mid to late 1990’s. These sections of unstable 51 channels are thought to be improving based on visual trend information and consistently meeting the end of season monitoring on DMA’s in other areas of the watersheds (ONF 2011).

Habitat baseline conditions will be discussed for both the Bridge Creek 5th field watershed and for the Bear Creek 6th field sub-watershed to more specifically display habitat conditions in this sub-watershed where we have more specific information and have traditionally had more concerns about environmental conditions.

Existing habitat conditions (all habitat conditions except for population information and barrier information) for this watershed are currently (2011) based on the most recent stream survey information from the mid to late 1990’s. No additional surveys have been completed since 1999. Professional judgment is that overall conditions in the watershed have been improving since that time, however actual data collection beyond 1999 has not been accomplished. This judgment includes observations from fisheries biologists and hydrologists during redd counts in the drainage that indicate that banks are more stable than in the past and there is generally less erosion from raw banks. In addition, monitoring of end of season grazing administration to meet PDC have been met consistently for stream-bank alteration, woody browse, and stubble height. Photo points on DMA’s (See Proposed Action Effects Section) indicate that shrub species have increased on sites that are capable of growing shrub species to begin with (ONF 2011).

MIS ONF LRMP Monitoring Elements

Temperature: Bridge Creek - Functioning Appropriately on National Forest administered lands. Functioning at Risk for 5th Field. The highest daily temperature recorded on the National Forest from 6/29/99 to 10/1/99 was 58.4 ºF.

Bridge Creek is a 303D listed stream for temperature below the National Forest Boundary. BLM data (4 sites: Lower Bridge, Myer Canyon, Highway 26, Nelson Creek) had an average of the 7-day daily maximum of 88.5, 84, 79, and 72.8 respectively above the standard (64F) in the late 1990’s. Riparian area management has changed radically since then and riparian areas downstream of Mitchell are lined with willow for almost the entire 13 miles to its confluence with the John Day River. Functioning at Risk due to unknown current data.

Functioning at Risk (6th field Upper Bear Creek) Bear Creek is a 303 D listed stream for stream temperature. Temperature readings were 77/78/59/79 (Ochoco National Forest unpublished temperature files, 1991-1994). BLM data at a road crossing had an average of the 7-day daily maximum of 89.1, 82.5, 88.8 exceeding the standard (64F) (Bureau of Land Management unpublished temperature files, 1991-1994). Conditions throughout the drainage have improved since the mid 1990’s. The latest temperature information is from 2004. All streams in the Bear Creek drainage (Dodds, Grant, Bear and North Fork Bear) that were monitored were below the standard except for the downstream ends of North Fork Bear and Bear at the Forest boundary. Bear Creek data appears to have been influenced by low flows and in some years dry stream channels. Dodds Creek has good perennial flow and is therefore a good source of cold water and refugia habitat for steelhead and resident fish.

Table 18 Temperature data (7 day max average) for Bridge Creek 5th field WA 1996-2004. Stream 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Bear at FS 69 69.1 69.6 69.6 68 73.2 70 Boundary Bridge at FS 59 Boundary Bridge at 59 57.5 60.6 60.1 57.6 4330 Rd Bridge 62.6 62.5 above 2630 RD Dodds at 56.5 54 52.3 550 Rd NF Bear at 62.0 61 62.0 65.0 64.0 the mouth West Fork 59.3 63.5 Bridge

There is no more recent ONF data but professional observation from hydrologists, fisheries biologists, and range personnel indicate that hardwood cover and shade have improved as has conifer cover. We believe that currently the Bear Creek watershed is functioning at risk (ONF 2011).

PIBO trend data indicates that temperature is relatively constant over the monitoring period and that the number of days the weekly maximum temperature greater than 18°C (WMT18) decreased significantly over time (between 2001 and 2008) in the Bear Sub-WA and increased slightly in Bridge Creek between 2005 and 2010.

Table 19. PIBO temperature data for streams in the Bridge Creek 5th Field watershed. Temp WMT Avg. WMT WMT WMT Stream Year Days days Start Date End Date Temp 12 18 22

Bear 2001 48 42 16-Jul-01 01-Sep-01 14.40 42 40 0

Bear 2003 48 42 15-Jul-03 31-Aug-03 15.91 42 42 13

Bear 2008 48 42 15-Jul-08 31-Aug-08 13.33 42 8 0

Bridge 2005 48 42 15-Jul-05 31-Aug-05 9.03 0 0 0

Bridge 2010 48 42 15-Jul-10 31-Aug-10 10.85 31 2 0

Substrate Embeddedness: Bridge Creek - Functioning Appropriately on National Forest administered lands. Limited data is available. Level II surveys indicated (1993) that there are no embedded reaches on the National Forest. Channel Substrate on the Level II survey by reach are listed below: However, PIBO data (Table 20) indicates that % fines <2mm is extremely high. The same survey recorded Streambank stability to be nearly 100%.

Reach Length in Rosgen Gradient Substrate feet Stream Type 1 2500 A3/B3a 8 Cobble 2 5000 Ba3/C3a 7 Cobble 3 6900 A3a/B3a 13 Cobble

4 6100 A3 7 Cobble

5 2500 B3a 4 Cobble

6 4400 E5b 2 Sand

Bear Creek 6th Field Functioning at Risk. Bear Creek 1992 and 1997 stream survey indicates reaches surveyed were embedded, however stream banks have become stable in most areas with average stream bank stability exceeding 87% on the mainstem during the survey. No data since 1997 for Bear Creek has been taken. No PIBO data is available for Bear Creek.

Table 21. PIBO Monitoring data on streams within Bridge Creek 5th field WA. Stream Year HUCNUM6 WDRif PlFn2 Stab LWfreq LWvol Bridge 2005 170702040301 3.71 89.62 100 17.6 4.91 Bridge 2010 170702040301 100 97.73 21 3.64

Large Woody Debris: Bridge Creek - Functioning Appropriately on the National Forest. From the 1993 Level II stream survey on Bridge Creek the average LWD per 100 feet is 2.4 pieces. Within the Bridge Creek Wilderness more than half of the reaches had 2.4 pieces or greater, of LWD per 100 feet. It is unknown off Forest the amount of LWD. Functioning at Risk off Forest. PIBO data suggests that LW frequency (per kilometer) is increased between survey periods (2005 and 2010) in Bridge Creek.

Reach Length in feet LWD per mile 1 2500 114 2 5000 114 3 6900 187 4 6100 125 5 2500 166 6 4400 5.2

Bear Creek 6th field - Functioning at Unacceptable Risk. Large woody debris averaged 9 pieces per mile in 1993. The 1997 high water event moved significant amounts of large wood out of the channel but the relative amounts within the channel remained at about 9 pieces per mile. Most of the wood is still within the 100-year floodplain.

Wetted Width/ Depth Ratio: Bridge Creek Functioning Appropriately.

Reach Length LWD Stream Gradient Flow Substrate % W/d 54

in feet per Class Shade 100 feet 1 2500 2.2 A3/B3a 8 12.9 Cobble 55 8 2 5000 2.2 Ba3/C3a 7 6.5 Cobble 57 9 3 6900 3.6 A3a/B3a 13 5.7 Cobble 72 9

4 6100 2.4 A3 7 2.5 Cobble 70 5

5 2500 3.2 B3a 4 0.4 Cobble 55 4

6 4400 0.1 E5b 2 0.3 Sand 12 3

Predominate morphological characteristics of the upper reaches of the watershed are A3 (Rosgen 1996). Width to depth ratios are less than 12 and slopes are between from 4% to greater than 13%, which correspond to Rosgen’s classification for a stable stream system. The channel off forest, downstream of the town of Mitchell is stable and narrow.

Riparian Community Composition -- Bridge Creek Functioning At Risk

This indicator rated as Fair (2) in the WCF assessment for 4 of 5 of the 6th field watersheds within the Bridge Creek 5th field. This indicator utilized stream bank condition is surrogate for Riparian Community Composition. Streambank condition was rated Functioning Appropriately in Bridge and Functioning at Risk in Bear in the recent grazing BA (ONF 2011). Similarly, riparian reserves ratings were mixed—see below.

Riparian Reserves: Bridge Creek Functioning Appropriately. Headwaters of the main-stem of Bridge Creek are the Bridge Creek Wilderness. Before 1995, harvest activities included harvest of the riparian areas. All activities since 1995 have followed PACFISH Guidelines. Visual observation by the District Range specialist (Holly Myers) indicates that there are multiple age classes of woody vegetation throughout the Bridge Creek watershed. Downstream of the town of Mitchell (off Forest) the RHCA’s are functioning appropriately (see photo below). PIBO (2010 PIBO report) trend data from Bridge Creek indicates on the one site monitored that greenline woody vegetation has increased at the site from 2% to 13% while effective ground cover has stayed relatively constant, averaging 99%. In the reach total greenline cover has increased from 50 to 73% with richness (number different species) of the native vegetation increasing from 43% to 64% (PIBO 2010).

Riparian Reserves: Bear Creek Functioning at Risk. Riparian reserves were fragmented and poorly connected in this drainage in the past due to overgrazing at the in the mid 1900’s, roading and harvest, with improvement over the last 15 years. Shade in the mid-1990’s was between 60-85% coverage. The District Range Specialist has observed multiple age classes of hardwoods throughout the streams in this sub- watershed. Alder, cottonwood, and willows dominated most areas and where these are not present the overstory is mixed conifer. Bank instability on all tributaries (but one) and on the mainstem has decreased and ranged from 0 to 13% from BLS surveys in the mid-1990’s. One tributary had 39% cutbanks from surveys in that era. In the two sites on Bear Creek that have PIBO trend data the total effective ground cover has increased from 68% to 94% and from 78% to 97%. In addition, woody cover increased from 23% to 47% on the one site in Bear Creek where it was collected.

Limiting Factors and Threats pertaining to the John Day River tributaries

Within the Mid-Columbia River steelhead recovery plan are identified limiting factors and threats and then management strategies and actions that are recommended to address these limiting factors or threats. While many of these factors and strategies apply basin wide these are specific ones that have been identified for various tributaries to the John Day that originate on the Ochoco National Forest. For Bridge Creek, altered sediment routing, degraded channel structure and complexity (habitat quantity and diversity), altered hydrology and low flow, and water temperature. The following primary threats were identified: riparian disturbance, stream channelization and relocation, and grazing.

Tributary Management Strategies and Actions (Highest Priority)

Habitat Strategies for Bridge Creek 5th Field WA include protect and conserve natural ecological processes with key actions of protect highest quality habitats and apply BMP’s. Specifically identified for Bridge Creek were the following strategies that could be affected by grazing and other land management activities: upland and riparian improvements, improvements in habitat complexity, reduction in water temperatures, stabilization of stream banks, and increasing floodplain connectivity.

Bear Creek – Currently, there is no access to the potential habitat on the Forest due to off Forest natural blockage. Downstream effects of Bear Creek (off Forest) should be limited to maximum temperatures that exceed 64.4 degrees F. This concern may be ameliorated by Dodds Creek that has temperatures in the mid to low 50 degrees. Sediment in the mainstem of Bear Creek does not appear to be an issue for downstream effects based on gravel/cobble substrates and streambanks that exceed 87% stable on the mainstem, therefore it is not expected to impact steelhead populations or critical habitat. Temperatures on Bear Creek at the Forest boundary are within statewide standards.

In general, condition of the ONFLRMP monitoring elements have generally improved overtime as numerous restoration activities (Table 22), changes in management, implementation of PACFISH/INFISH S&G, and improved livestock management (including changing from cows to sheep). These actions along with the available data suggest that overall watershed condition and steelhead habitat is improving.

Table 22 Restoration activities have occurred on the ONF within the Bridge Creek Watershed since 1990.

Activity Accomplishment Year Bridge Creek Wild Fire Various BAER work, road closures, slope 2008 stabilization, etc. West Branch Bridge Creek MP 0.15, 0.40, 0.92, 1.15; culvert replacements and 2003 stream structures Maxwell Wild Fire Various BAER work, road closures, slope 2006 stabilization, etc. Plant riparian shrubs 2 miles of Allen Creek and 3 miles of East Fork 2007/2008 Allen Creek Milk Creek fish passage Remove culverts on 2200-903, 2200-750 2006/2007 Badger Creek fish passage Replace culverts on FR2200 and 2630; add 4 relief 2003 ditch pipes; replace culvert with bridge FR2200 Badger Creek stream restoration Large wood placement 1989 Bear Creek stream restoration Stream structures; root wads 1992 Kitty Creek stream restoration 80 log structures in Critter Timber Sale 1992

Mountain Creek 5th Field Watershed Habitat and Trend (HUC #1707020112)

The Mountain Creek 5th field watershed is located within the Upper John Day River 4th field sub-basin. The Mountain Creek 5th field watershed includes steelhead habitat in Badger, Fort, Fry, Indian, Keeton, Mac, and Milk Creeks.

The analysis area is predominantly forested ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and high elevation mountain hemlock plant associations. The John Day River Basin is also a primary watershed (as defined in PACFISH and INFISH) and includes the John Day River and its tributary Mountain Creek along the north slopes of the Ochoco’s. The analysis area is focused in the 5th field HUC of Mountain Creek.

There are approximately 9.3 miles of fish bearing streams on FS lands in the Mountain Creek 5th field watershed. There are 9.3 miles of streams on FS lands that are occupied by steelhead and are designated CH (Table 23). Stream types are a combination of Rosgen A, B and C types (Rosgen 1996). Rosgen A and B type streams are steeper streams with narrow floodplains and boulder/cobble materials in the banks. Rosgen C streams in this watershed are more meandering, flatter, and have gravel dominated substrates and banks.

Table 23 Miles of Designated Critical Habitat in the Mountain Creek 5th Field Watershed. Mountain Creek 5th field Miles of Designated Critical Habitat watershed and Current Steelhead Distribution Unnamed 0.5 Badger Creek 2.0 Fort Creek 0.75 Fry Creek 0.8 Indian Creek 1.5 Keeton Creek 1.5 Mac Creek 0.75 Milk Creek 1.5 Total 9.3

Potential natural riparian communities are thought to be well represented from professional observation of the Range Specialists Holly Myers and Jamie McCormack that indicates that much of riparian vegetation is mid to late seral. There has been some harvest on National Forest lands in these drainages but nothing in the past 15 years. Grand fir has been dying off over the past 20 years and fire has been excluded over the past century. Fire frequency is functioning at risk due to fire exclusion on Forest over the last century.

Off Forest is dominated by sage brush and juniper woodlands along with grazing and hay fields in some reaches. The sage and juniper areas are functioning appropriately with the recent juniper reduction, and the hay fields are functioning at risk due to historic use of cows and grazing along these areas. There are currently restoration projects in the riparian areas that are focused on fencing and replanting riparian areas where grazing and haying have been traditionally done. Flood regime has been affected at least somewhat along the lower reaches due to highway 26 and associate runoff and restriction of the floodplain. Timber harvest has been limited in much the area.

Historic impacts include numerous timber sales and associated road building. Timber harvest in riparian zones did occur until the PACFISH and INFISH standards were implemented in 1995. In addition, summer grazing has occurred since the 1800's. Past grazing by domestic livestock has resulted in some stream bank 57 disturbances, soil compaction, and a reduction in the amount and variety of upland and riparian vegetation. The effects of grazing are particularly evident around water sources such as springs, seeps and some creeks. Domestic livestock grazing has decreased significantly since the early 1900's. Within the steelhead watersheds there are 11,452 acres in Badger allotment, 659 acres in the Indian Creek allotment, 6,084 acres in the Happy allotment, and approximately 1600 acres in the Derr allotment.

Habitat baseline conditions will be discussed for both the Mountain Creek 5th field watershed and for the Upper and Middle Mountain 6th field sub-watersheds (where information exists) to more specifically display habitat conditions in these sub-watersheds. Data for these channels was gathered in surveys from the mid to late 1997 and 2002. These channels are thought to be improving based on visual trend information, PIBO trend information, and consistently meeting the end of season monitoring on DMA’s.

Environmental baseline conditions (all habitat conditions except for population information and barrier information) for this watershed are currently (2011) based on the most recent stream survey information from the 1997 and 2002 and from PIBO trend data on one site in Badger Creek. No additional surveys have been completed. Professional judgment is that overall conditions in the watershed have been improving since that time, however actual data collection to verify that apart from the PIBO data in Badger Creek has not been accomplished. This judgment includes observations from fisheries biologists and hydrologists during redd counts in the drainage that indicate that banks are more stable than in the past and there is generally less erosion from raw banks. In addition, monitoring of end of season grazing administration to meet PDC have been met consistently for stream-bank alteration, woody browse, and stubble height (ONF 2011).

MIS ONFLRMP Monitoring Elements

Temperature: Mountain Creek - Functioning at Unacceptable Risk – 303d listed for temperature. Functioning at Risk in Upper Mountain sub-watershed and Functioning Appropriately in Middle Mountain sub-watershed on National Forest administered lands. Mountain Creek off Forest at the 5th field level is on the 303d list of stream for exceeding state standards. Badger Creek, in the Middle Mountain sub-watershed is functioning at risk. PIBO trend data from 2005 and 2010 indicates that conditions are improving. Average temperature improved from 14.4oC to 12.3oC from June to the beginning of August. The weekly maximum temp improved from 23.67oC to 20.24oC and the number of days over 22o C went from 24 to 0 between the two years. Similarly the number of days over 18o C went from 42 to 32. From stream survey information (1995 and 2002) the lower reach increased in shade to 58% in this E type stream, indicating an increase in hardwoods. However, in reach 2, Rosgen B, shade decreased from 45 to 32%. This is possibly due to grand fir mortality over that time period.

Table 24. PIBO temperature data for streams in the Mountain Creek 5th Field WA. Temp Stream Year Days StartDate EndDate MDMT MWMT WMT12 WMT18 WMT22

Badger 2010 48 15-Jul-10 31-Aug-10 21.40 20.24 42 32 0

Badger 2005 48 15-Jul-05 31-Aug-05 24.60 23.67 42 42 24

The following table includes temperature data collected on the ONF between 1995-2006. Temperature standards were exceeded on Badger Creek and tributary streams for most of the survey period.

Table 25. Temperature data (7 day max avg.) for streams within Mountain Creek 5th Field WA. Stream Name 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Badger 21.6 21.9 24.9 22 23.6 22.9 22.6 21.4 20.4 21.9 Badger 22.4 Badger 20.5 17.4 Badger 22.4 24.4 Hoffman 16.8 Indian 13.3 Kitty 20.5 Milk 12.3 *dry or not completely in shade

Table 26. Level 2 Stream Survey Shade data for Streams in Mtn. Creek WA. Date Reach number Total shade Hardwood shade

1995 1 53.6 31.5

2002 1 58.6 37.1

1995 2 45.7 2.8

2002 2 32.3 3.6

1995 3 5.5 0

2002 3 5.6 0

Keeton, Fry, and Fort Creeks are all functioning appropriately on Forest. Shade ranges from 77 to 81% and temperatures during stream surveys in June and August ranged from 7 to 13oC and long term temperature loggers for those years indicated that these streams never exceeded state standards. These streams are also known by local fish biologists and hydrologists to be good sources of cool water. In the 1997 surveys it was noted that grand fir was dying off in all these small basins. With this reduction in overstory there should be a corresponding increase in hard woods along these streams.

Substrate Embeddedness: Mountain Creek – Unknown - Functioning at Risk. Upper and Middle Mountain Creek sub-watersheds – Functioning Appropriately: . Specific data on substrate embeddedness is not available for streams in this watershed. See discussion below on sediment. PIBO long term trend data on the one reach of Badger Creek indicates that over the five years from 2005 to 2010 the D50 increased in size from 0.002 to 0.014. Level II surveys indicated (1997 and 2002) that there are no embedded reaches on the National Forest. Freshwater mussels were observed in the lower reach of Badger Creek, indicating good water quality (including lower levels of fines).

Sediment: Mountain Creek – Unknown - Functioning At Risk Although no quantitative data on actual sediment conditions has been collected, the Mid Columbia Steelhead Recovery plan does indicate that sediment is an issue in the Mountain Creek watershed. Grazing in the reaches downstream of the forest is the predominate use. The middle portion of Mountain Creek above the “canyon” section is dominated by grass fields and grazing. Over the last 4 years much of this area has been fenced to keep cows off stream banks which should improve the overall sediment condition in the 5th field (ONF 2011).

Upper and Middle Mountain 6th fields – Functioning Appropriately. On Forest sediment does not appear to be an issue from the stream survey reports in 1997 and 2002, along with PIBO data. Survey reports for Badger, Keeton, Fry, and Fort Creeks indicate that unstable banks range from 0.8% to 2% except in the third reach of Badger where unstable banks were recorded at 23% (Forest Plan and Pac Fish standard is no more than 20%). Photos from the stream survey report do not seem to indicate that the standard has been exceeded (see below). PIBO data on Badger for the long term trend site had stable banks increase from 90 to 95% in the years from 2005 to 2010. In addition, the Forest has met stream bank alteration end of season triggers on all DMA’s for the past 11 years except for two different DMA’s in 2003, 2006, and 2007(ONF 2011).

Table 27. PIBO habitat data for Mountain Creek 5th field WA. Stream Yr HUCNUM6 WDRif PlFn2 Stab LWfreq LWvol Badger 2005 170702011201 10.88 16.68 90.48 69 22.24 Badger 2010 170702011201 32.25 95.83 57.6 15.36

Large Woody Debris: Mountain Creek - Functioning at Unacceptable Risk. Upper and Middle Mountain – Functioning Appropriately on the National Forest. Management strategies and actions from the Mid Columbia River Steelhead Recover Plan included Mountain Creek and restoration of riparian conditions and LWD.

From the 1997 and 2002 Level II stream survey on Badger, Keeton, Fry, and Fort Creeks the average LWD per mile is presented below. Within the Bridge Creek Wilderness surveys have shown an average of about 150 pieces per mile. These small drainages are similar vegetatively to Bridge Creek Wilderness. PIBO data reflects a reduction in the frequency and volume of LWD in Badger Creek which may be attributable to the recent fire activity.

Stream LWD per mile Badger Reach 1 15 per mile (Rosgen E type – low woody debris naturally) Badger Reach 2 81 per mile – Reach is between two E types Badger Reach 3 17.6 per mile (Rosgen E type) Keeton 182 per mile Fry 171 per mile Fort 301 per mile Trib to Fort 125 per mile

Wetted Width/ Depth Ratio: Unknown -Mountain Creek Functioning At Risk of Forest.

Upper and Middle Mountain sub-watersheds – Functioning Appropriately

Badger Creek comparison between 2002 survey and BLS 1995

Date Reach number Width to depth

1995 1 13

2002 1 11

1995 2 12.8

2002 2 14

1995 3 10.2

2002 3 8.6

W:D for streams in Upper and Middle Mountain – Stream Survey Date W:D Keeton 1997 8.74 Fry 1997 5.8 Fort 1997 5.4 Fort Creek Trib 1997 5.9 Mac Creek 1997 5.8 Badger 2005 PIBO 10.88

Predominate morphological characteristics of the upper reaches of the sub-watersheds are A3 (Rosgen 1996). Width to depth ratios are less than 12 and slopes are between from 4% to greater than 21%, which correspond to Rosgen’s classification for a stable stream system.

Riparian Community Composition – Mountain 5th Field WA – Functioning at Risk

This indicator rated as Fair (2) in the WCF assessment for both 6th field watersheds. This indicator utilized streambank condition is surrogate for Riparian Community Composition. Streambank condition was rated Functioning at Risk in the 2011 grazing BA (ONF, 2011). Additional information from the aforementioned analysis relative to assessing riparian community composition is included below:

Riparian Reserves: Mountain Creek - Functioning At Risk

Unknown in most areas along Mountain Creek proper, however, the Mid Columbia Steelhead Recovery Plan indicates that riparian vegetation is a limiting factor/threat.

Limiting Factors and Management Strategies for John Day River Steelhead (From the Mid-Columbia Recovery Plan)

Limiting Factors and Threats pertaining to the John Day River tributaries

61 predominate habitat influencing activities. These actions could be connected to riparian conditions, high water temperatures, channel structure /complexity, and floodplain connectivity. They would be less likely to affect fish passage, road issues, forestry issues or irrigation issues. Limiting factors identified for the Mountain Creek MaSA include degraded floodplain and channel structure, altered sediment routing, water quality (temperature), altered hydrology, and impaired fish passage. Threats include agriculture and livestock grazing practices and irrigation withdrawals.

Tributary Management Strategies and Actions (Highest Priority)

Habitat Strategies for the Mountain Creek watershed in this BA and associated tributaries include restore riparian condition and LWD recruitment with key actions of restore natural plant communities, maintain fencing and adjust grazing strategies. An additional strategies includes restore the natural hydrograph to provide sufficient flow during critical periods and restore riparian condition. Key actions associated with this strategy include implement water conservation measures, improve irrigation conveyance and efficiency.

Mountain Creek 5th Field watershed has many issues relative to steelhead populations and critical habitat. Of largest concern are the temperature, large woody debris, refugia and change in peak and base flows calls that are Functioning at Unacceptable Risk. While some areas of riparian cover and condition are improving overall on private land there are still some major issues in the watershed. The Forest only manages the very upper portions of the smaller tributaries and while these are generally in good condition, their overall influence on the watershed is minimal.

Upper and Middle Mountain 6th Fields on Forest. Many habitat elements are functioning appropriately and are in good condition, however, pools (frequency and quality) are a potential area of concern for juvenile steelhead. In addition, disturbance regime and history are at risk due to fire exclusion and grand fir beetle killed trees. Overall call is Functioning at Risk (ONF 2011).

In general, condition of the Forest Plan monitoring elements have improved overtime as numerous restoration activities (Table 28), changes in management, implementation of PACFISH/INFISH S&G, and improved livestock management (including changing from cows to sheep). These actions along with the available data suggest that overall watershed condition and steelhead habitat is improving.

Table 28. Mountain Creek 5th field Watershed Restoration Projects. Activity Accomplishment Year Badger Creek fish passage Replace culverts on FR2200 and 2630; add 4 relief 2003 ditch pipes; replace culvert with bridge FR2200 Badger Creek stream restoration Large wood placement 1989 Kitty Creek stream restoration 80 log structures in Critter Timber Sale 1992

Rock Creek 5th Field Watershed (HUC #17070020113) - Habitat and Trend

The Rock Creek Watershed is 72,603 acres in size and is located on the Paulina Ranger District (22,369 Acres) of the Ochoco National Forest (ONF). The Rock Creek watershed is a large north facing basin that includes both the headwaters of Rock and West Birch Creek. Elevations in the area range from 6871 feet at Spanish Peak to around 4200 feet in the canyon bottoms of Rock Creek. Significant topographic features include: the 800-1000 foot deep Rock Creek Canyon, which runs from the southern to the northern boundaries of the unroaded area; the high ridges which run east, west and southeast from Spanish Peak and Windy Point; the 800-foot escarpment formed by the north face of Spanish Peak and the steep open ridges which run north/south between the tributaries of Birch Creek. Slopes in two-thirds of this area exceed 55 percent.

There have been numerous timber sales within the watershed as stated above. Timber harvest in riparian zones did occur until the PACFISH and INFISH standards were implemented. In addition, summer grazing has occurred since the 1800's. Past grazing by domestic livestock has resulted in some stream bank disturbances, soil compaction, and a reduction in the amount and variety of upland and riparian vegetation. The effects of grazing are particularly evident around water sources such as springs, seeps and some creeks. Domestic livestock grazing has decreased significantly since the early 1900's. There are several allotments within the watershed including: Bearskull/Cottonwood, Rock and Podo. Bearskull/Cottonwood which included the majority of mainstem Rock Creek and eastern tributaries was vacated in 1998 and closed in 2008. The Rock Creek allotment which includes upper Rock Creek and western tributaries was vacated in 1998 and closed in 2008.

The Rock Creek 5th field watershed is located within the Upper John Day River 4th field sub-basin. The Upper Rock Creek watershed includes steelhead habitat in Rock and tributaries (Table X). There are 6.5 miles of stream potentially occupied by steelhead or are considered Critical Habitat for steelhead (Table 29). Stream types are a combination of Rosgen A, B and C types (Rosgen 1996). Rosgen A stream types are steep boulder/bedrock dominated streams that are highly stable as a result of bed and bank configurations. Rosgen B type streams are steeper streams with narrow floodplains and cobble materials in the banks. Rosgen C streams in this watershed are more meandering, are flatter, and have gravel dominated substrates and banks.

There are a total of 193 miles of stream on private, State, and federal lands within the Rock Creek watershed, of which, 64 miles are on the ONF. Of this total, 23 miles (36%) on Baldy Creek, Bear Creek #4, Fir Creek, Rock Creek, West Branch Rock Creek, West Fork Birch Creek, and a No Name Creek are the only perennial streams on the Ochoco NF portion. The rest of the streams are described as intermittent streams on-Forest include sections of Baldy Creek, Balm Creek, Bear Creek #4, East Fork Birch Creek, Fir Tree Creek, Second Creek, Squaw Creek #2, West Branch Rock Creek, and Windy Creek.

Table 29 Miles of Designated Critical Habitat in the Rock Creek 5th field Watershed. Stream Miles of Designated Critical Habitat and Current Steelhead Distribution Unnamed stream 0.3 Baldy Creek 1.5 Balm Creek 0.5 Bear Creek 0.6 Fir Tree Creek 0.6

First Creek 0.5 Little Windy Creek 0.5 Rock Creek 5.0 Second Creek 0.5 9.5

Limited information exists for this watershed. Existing habitat conditions (all habitat conditions except for population information and barrier information) for this watershed are currently (2011) based on the most recent stream survey information from 1991 to 2006. Professional judgment is that overall conditions in the watershed have been improving. This judgment includes observations from fisheries biologists and hydrologists during redd counts and other project reconnaissance in the drainage that indicate that banks are more stable than in the past and there is generally less erosion from raw banks.

Habitat Data – All data presented below is from Level II stream surveys or professional observation. There is one PIBO site in Rock Creek.

MIS ONFLRMP Monitoring Elements

Existing Condition information was summarized from 2006-2009 Programmatic BA and 2008 Draft Watershed Analysis:

Functioning at unacceptable risk indicators: water temperature and disturbance regime. Functioning appropriately indicators: 4 of the 6 habitat elements including, (substrate embeddeness, large woody debris, pool frequency, and pool quality), all 3 elements for Channel Condition & Dynamics including (wetted width/ max depth ratio, streambank condition and floodplain connectivity) and 2 watershed condition indicators (road location and riparian reserves). Functioning at risk indicators: all indicators for flow/hydrology (change in peak flows, and drainage network increase), disturbance regime in watershed condition, and integration of species and habitat conditions. These ratings are relevant to the Threats and Limiting Factors discussion below.

Existing Conditions (from Draft 2008 Watershed Analysis):

 Fish habitat is generally of good quality throughout the watershed.  Width to depth ratios are relatively low ranging from 3 in Windy to a high of 17 in Rock Creek.  Stable banks are above threshold values for all streams that were surveyed.  Average total shade is below the 80% threshold for all streams except on Little Windy (81%) in the 1991 survey and Windy Creek in both the 1991 (83%) and 1997 (84%) surveys. The range for the rest of the streams between 27% in Squaw Creek to a high of 70%. There are reaches within most of the watershed where shade is above the threshold values but they are the exception and not the rule (Unpublished data ONF district files).  All surveyed streams are meeting standards for large woody debris recruitment and streambank stability, and width-to-depth ratios appear adequate for A- and B- stream types.  PIBO data (table 30.) shows that LWD is increasing and W/D ratios decreasing.  For the Watershed Condition sections all of the Habitat Element Indicators measured are Functioning Appropriately (Substrate Embeddedness, Large Woody Debris, Pool Frequency and Pool Quality).

The following table summarizes stream habitat conditions in perennial streams in the Rock Creek 5th field WA (PACFISH/INFISH standards in parentheses): 64

Width: depth LWD/mile % Stable Stream Year % Shade Pools/mile ratio (varies by (>20 Streambank Name Surveyed (>80%) (>96) stream type) pieces/mile) (>80%) Baldy Creek 1972 64% low Baldy Creek 1991 52% 25 17.08 Baldy Creek 1997 11.6 61% 64 88% Birch Creek 1992 67% 231 90% Little Windy 1991 3.3 81% 68 Creek Little Windy 1997 70% 90 99% 127 Creek Rock Creek 1991 58% 16 Rock Creek 1992 10.3 52% 104 93% 11 Rock Creek 2004 16 46% 127 95% 54 Rock Creek 2006 17 64% 165 97% 63 Windy Creek 1972 Low low Windy Creek 1991 3 83% 55 Windy Creek 1997 84% 65 96% 105 Squaw Creek 1992 27% 42 Squaw Creek 1997 8.1 38% 42 98% 63

Substrate Embeddedness: Functioning At Risk. Unknown.

Specific data on % substrate embeddedness is not available for streams in this watershed. For purposes of this analysis, average percent fines less than 2mm is being utilized as surrogate for % embeddedness. This data is presented in Table 29 below. Data is only available for one stream (Rock) and meets standard. PIBO data shows % fines <2mm as 1.14 and also shows that bank stability is Properly Functioning and is incrementally increasing over time. There is not enough data available on substrate throughout the 5th field watershed to make a definitive call on functionality, therefore the call remains Functioning at Risk, however, data suggests that the condition is Functioning Appropriately in Rock Creek.

Table 29. Results of ONF stream survey data (Wolman Pebble Counts). Stream Survey Date Ave_PctLT2mm

Rock Creek 7/19/2004 0.9

Table 30. PIBO data for habitat elements the Rock Creek watershed. Stream Yr HUCNUM6 WDRif PlFn2 Stab LWfreq LWvol

Rock 2001 170702011301 32.34 97.5 185.9 98.53

Rock 2006 170702011301 31.1 1.14 97.62 210.7 297.31

Riparian Community Composition: Functioning Appropriately. 65

Lower Rock Creek 6th field watershed rated as Good (1) and Upper Rock Creek 6th field watershed rated as Fair (2) in the WCF process. This indicator utilized streambank condition is surrogate for Riparian Community Composition. Streambank condition was rated Functioning Appropriately in the 2006-2009 Programmatic BA (USDA, 2006) and results of the PIBO data (Table 30) document bank stability at 97% (2001/2006). From Draft 2008 Rock Creek WA:

Riparian vegetation comprises about 4% of the assessment area, roughly 3,480 acres, and occurs mostly adjacent to streams and springs. Major shrub species include: mountain alder, a variety of willow species, dogwood and gooseberries.

Temperature: Functioning at Unacceptable Risk.

Water temperature as shown is Functioning at Unacceptable risk. In 2004, Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 303(d) list Rock Creek was included for temperature due to exceeding 18oC for a seven day max average. Data shows that Windy Creek exceeded temperature standard in 1997, Baldy Creek in 2002 and 2003, Fir Tree Creek in 2002, Little Windy Creek in 2004, Balm Creek in 2002 and most years in Rock Creek except in 1997 and 2003 (table 31).

Table 31 Temperature data (7 day max avg.) for streams within the Rock Creek watershed. Stream Highest 7 Year Location day max avg. Windy 1997 Windy Creek 02 Creek 18.96 Windy 1997 Windy Creek 02 Creek 13.39 Windy Windy Creek @ 3820 Rd./Baldy Creek Creek 18.32 2004 confluence Baldy Creek 15.90 2004 Baldy Creek @ 3820 Rd. crossing (2003) Baldy Creek 23.68 2002 Baldy Creek @ Rock Creek confluence Baldy Creek 21.13 2003 Baldy Creek @ Rock Creek confluence Baldy Creek 17.39 1997 Baldy Creek 04 Bear Creek **38.23 2003 Bear Creek @ Rock Creek confluence Fir Tree Fir Tree Creek @ Rock Crk. Confluence Creek 23.14 2002 Little Windy 1997 Little Windy Creek 03 Creek 14.59 Little Windy Little Windy Creek @ 3820 Rd./Baldy Creek Creek 19.71 2004 confluence Little Windy Little Windy Creek @ Baldy Creek confluence Creek 15.59 2003 Rock Creek 21.79 2000 ROCK CR (2101) @ FS bndy Rock Creek 21.07 1998 Rock Cr (2101) Near FS Bndy Rock Creek 23.66 2007 Rock Creek Rock Creek 19.28 2008 Rock Creek Rock Creek 20.68 1996 Rock Creek 01 Rock Creek 21.12 1997 Rock Creek 14

Rock Creek 15.03 1997 Rock Creek 15 Rock Creek 34.82 2005 Rock Cr above Trail X-ing Rock Creek 15.68 2003 Rock Creek #1 @ FS boundary Rock Creek 19.15 2003 Rock Creek #2 in upper Rock Creek Rock Creek 20.14 2005 Rock Creek @ 38 Rd. Rock Creek 23.57 2004 Rock Creek @ FS boundary Rock Creek 38.17 2005 Rock Creek @ FS Boundary West Birch West Birch Creek @ FS boundary Creek 15.67 2004 Balm Creek 20.81 2002 Balm Creek @ Rock Creek confluence *Indicates 303d stream, **temperature unit may have been out of water for portion of data collection period.

PIBO trend data indicates that the standard was exceeded 19 days in 2002 and 13 days in 2006, suggesting temperature is relatively constant over the monitoring period and that the number of days the weekly maximum temperature greater than 18°C (WMT18) decreased over time.

Table 32. PIBO temperature data for streams in the Rock Creek 5th field watershed. Avg. TempDays WMTdays StartDate EndDate Temp MDMT MWMT WMT12 WMT18 WMT22

48 42 15-Jul-06 31-Aug-06 14.34 23.30 21.84 42 13 0

48 42 15-Jul-02 31-Aug-02 13.85 22.48 21.49 42 19 0

Desired Conditions (from 2008 Draft Rock Creek WA):

 Water quality will move toward attainment of State water quality objectives. Water quality issues within the Rock Creek Watershed will remain largely outside the control of the Ochoco NF; however, water quality in tributary streams will be maintained or improved further still.  Maintain robust steelhead, and redband trout populations in all accessible, perennial streams, particularly main stem of Rock Creek, and Baldy7 Creek.  Improved upland and riparian vegetation communities that are closer to historic ranges of variability.  Development of monitoring efforts that are repeatable over time and are sensitive enough to detect changes in fish populations, aquatic organisms, in-stream and riparian habitat, and water quality. Biological or physical changes would be detected and averted or mitigated. Proposed Actions to Achieve Desired Conditions

 Keep the allotment inactive within Rock Creek.  Continue stream restoration activities, particularly through vegetation management, road closure and decommissioning, and in-stream habitat enhancement.  Work with downstream landowners to improve habitat, remove potential migration barriers, and decrease stream temperatures on private land along lower Rock Creek.  Protect headwaters meadows

Limiting Factors and Threats pertaining to the John Day River tributaries 67

Habitat Strategies for Rock Creek and other tributaries include protect and conserve natural ecological processes with key actions of protect highest quality habitats and apply BMP’s to current (very limited) and future actions. An additional strategy is to restore passage and connectivity with key actions to remove/replace barriers and provide adequate screening of irrigation diversions in priority areas of Upper Rock. The strategy to restore degraded and maintain properly functioning channel structure and complexity with key actions to restore natural channel form, increase LWD, and stabilize streambanks would include priority areas of Rock Creek.

Another strategy is to restore passage and connectivity with key actions to remove or minimize use of push up dams; remove or replace barriers blocking passage; provide screening at all irrigation diversions; and replace screens that do not meet criteria. This would occur in priority areas of Upper Rock off Forest as all on Forest passage barriers have been dealt with. Specifically, one of the major physical barriers to habitat a water diversion structure close to the Forest boundary was repaired in 2007.

Table 33 Restoration and management activities in Rock Creek Watershed since 1991. Restoration or management Action/Project Year Affected area (e.g., length of project Removal of Livestock for Grazing 1998 All streams within watershed Permanent Closure of Grazing Allotment 2008 Rock Creek Diversion Structure Fish Passage 2007 Allowed passage to 6.5 miles upper Rock Creek 2 Culvert Replacement 2004 1.5 miles Culvert Removal 2004 0.5

In general, condition of the Forest Plan monitoring elements have improved overtime with implementation of PACFISH/INFISH S&G, numerous restoration activities (Table 33), and improved livestock management (vacated in 1998, closed in 2008). These actions along with the available data suggest that overall watershed condition and steelhead habitat is improving.

Upper Middle John Day Habitat and Trend (HUC #17070020111)

The Upper Middle John Day 5th field watershed is located within the Upper John Day River 4th field subbasin. The Upper Middle John Day 5th field watershed includes steelhead habitat in Cottonwood Creek and tributaries, including: Cougar Creek, and Black Creek. There are approximately 10 miles of occupied steelhead habitat and Critical Habitat for steelhead (Table 34). Stream types are a combination of Rosgen A, B and C types (Rosgen 1996). Rosgen A stream types are steep boulder/bedrock dominated streams that are highly stable as a result of bed and bank configurations. Rosgen B type streams are steeper streams with narrow floodplains and cobble materials in the banks. Rosgen C streams in this watershed are more meandering, are flatter, and have gravel dominated substrates and banks.

Timber harvest in riparian zones did occur until the PACFISH and INFISH standards were implemented. In addition, summer grazing has occurred since the 1800's. Past grazing by domestic livestock has resulted in some stream bank disturbances, soil compaction, and a reduction in the amount and variety of upland and riparian vegetation. Domestic livestock grazing has decreased significantly since the early 1900's. The Bearskull/Cottonwood allotment covers the entire ONF portion of the watershed. The allotment was vacated in 1998 and closed in 2008.

Table 34 Miles of Designated Critical Habitat in Upper Middle John Day Watershed. Stream Miles of Designated Critical Habitat and Current Steelhead Distribution Unnamed Tributaries 1.0 Back Creek 0.5 Cottonwood Creek 7.0 Cougar Creek 0.5 East Fork Cottonwood Creek 1.0 Upper Middle John Day Total 10.0

Limited information exists for this watershed. Existing habitat conditions (all habitat conditions except for population information and barrier information) for this watershed are currently (2011) based on the most recent stream survey information from 1990 and 1992. Professional judgment is that overall conditions in the watershed have been improving. This judgment includes observations from fisheries biologists and hydrologists during redd counts in the drainage that indicate that banks are more stable than in the past and there is generally less erosion from raw banks (unpublished district data).

Habitat Data – All data presented below is from Level II stream surveys or professional observation. There are no PIBO monitoring sites in the Upper Middle John Day Watershed.

MIS ONF LRMP Monitoring Elements

Temperature: Functioning at Unacceptable Risk. Upper Middle John Day and tributaries (including Cottonwood Creek) is on the ODEQ's 303D Listed Streams for stream temperature. Stream temperatures have exceeded standards 7 of 8 years of record (1995-2008)-see table 35 below. However, Cottonwood Creek, due to the relative low level of management in these drainages on the National Forest currently provides the type of water quality that is becoming rare throughout the John Day Basin. However, a robust data set is lacking to validate this assumption.

Table 35. Stream temperature summarized for the Upper Middle John Day 5th field Watershed. Stream Highest 7 day Year Location Max Avg. Cottonwood Creek Cottonwood @ FS Boundary 19.1 2004 Cottonwood Creek Cottonwood Cr (2301) @ FS boundary 19.2 1998 Cottonwood Creek Cottonwood Cr (2301) @ FS boundary 18.5 1999 Cottonwood Creek Cottonwood Creek 17.1 2008 Cottonwood Creek Cottonwood Creek @ FS boundary 19.8 2002 Cottonwood Creek Cottonwood Creek @ FS boundary 22.2 2003 Cottonwood Creek Cottonwood Creek 01 23.8 1995 Cottonwood Creek Cottonwood Creek 01 20.1 1996 East Fork Cottonwood East Fork Cottonwood Creek @ Creek Cottonwood Crk. Confluence *29.3 2002 *Indicates 303d stream, temperature unit may have been out of water for portion of data collection period.

Substrate Embeddedness: Functioning At Risk. Unknown.

Specific data on % substrate embeddedness is not available for streams in this watershed. Stream survey data (1990 & 1992) indicates that average cut-banks within watershed are <10 percent, indicating the system has some instability but is well within the Forest Plan and PACFISH/INFISH standards, i.e. Properly Functioning. The majority of the Cottonwood Creek watershed is roadless. However, there is not enough, or sufficient current data available throughout the 5th field watershed to make a definitive call on functionality, therefore the call remains Functioning at Risk

Large Woody Debris: Functioning Appropriately. >2 pieces per 100 feet (Unpublished data ONF district files, 1990 and 1992).

Wetted Width/Maximum Depth Ratio: Functioning Appropriately. Cottonwood Creek is in a near natural condition and is being used as a reference stream reach for the Forest (Unpublished data ONF district files, 1990 and 1992).

Riparian Community Composition: Functioning Appropriately. This indicator rated as Functioning Properly (1) in the WCF process. In general, RHCAs are in good condition. These areas are mostly northerly aspects and have dense timber stands, limiting livestock access to the RHCAs (USDA 2006).

Limiting Factors and Threats pertaining to the John Day River tributaries (from MCR plan)

While many of these factors and strategies apply basin wide these are specific ones that have been identified for various tributaries to the John Day that originate on the Ochoco National Forest. The MCR plan identified Tributary Management Strategies and Actions as the highest priority.

Habitat strategies include protection and conservation of natural ecological processes with key actions of protect highest quality habitats and apply BMP’s in Cottonwood Creek. Another strategy is to restore passage and connectivity with key actions to remove or minimize use of push up dams; remove or replace barriers blocking passage; provide screening at all irrigation diversions; and replace screens that do not meet criteria. This would occur in priority areas of the watershed off Forest as all known on Forest passage barriers have been dealt with.

Table 36 Restoration and management activities in the Upper Middle John Day Watershed since 1991. Restoration or management Action/Project Year Affected area (e.g., length of project Removal of Grazing from watershed 1998 All streams within watershed Closure of Allotment 2008 All streams within watershed

In general, condition of the Forest Plan monitoring elements have improved overtime with the implementation of PACFISH/INFISH S&Gs, numerous restoration activities (Table 36), changes in management, and improved livestock management (including closure of allotment in 2008). These actions along with the available data suggest that overall watershed condition and steelhead habitat is improving.

Lower South Fork John Day 5th field watershed (HUC #17070020104) Habitat and Trend

The Lower South Fork John Day (LSFJD) 5th field watershed is located within the Upper John Day River 4th field sub-basin. The LSFJD 5th field watershed includes steelhead habitat in Black Canyon Creek (all wilderness), Wind Creek and tributaries, and the South Fork of the John Day River. Black Canyon Creek is not in any allotment and does not have grazing occurring on it at this time.

There are approximately 31 miles of fish bearing streams on FS lands in the LSFJD 5th field watershed. All 31 miles are potentially occupied by steelhead or are considered Critical Habitat for steelhead (Table 37). Stream types are a combination of Rosgen A, B and C types (Rosgen 1996). Rosgen A stream types are steep boulder/bedrock dominated streams that are highly stable as a result of bed and bank configurations. Rosgen B type streams are steeper streams with narrow floodplains and cobble materials in the banks. Rosgen C streams in this watershed are more meandering, are flatter, and have gravel dominated substrates and banks. There are three allotments (Wind Creek, Sunflower, and Dry Corner) in the LSFJD watershed. Within these allotments there are 18,330 acres, 3,915 acres, and 3,900 acres in steelhead watersheds respectively. Allotments and pastures within allotments are all fenced. Besides grazing, there is limited management in the watershed in the recent past.

Additional historic impacts include numerous timber sales and associated road building. Timber harvest in riparian zones did occur until the PACFISH and INFISH standards were implemented in 1995. In addition, summer grazing has occurred since the 1800's. Past grazing by domestic livestock has resulted in some stream bank disturbances, soil compaction, and a reduction in the amount and variety of upland and riparian vegetation. The effects of grazing are particularly evident around water sources such as springs, seeps and some creeks. Domestic livestock grazing has decreased significantly since the early 1900's. The Bearskull/Cottonwood allotment which includes most of the 6th field Black Canyon Watershed was vacated in 1998 and closed in 2008.

The North Fork Wind Creek area is the one area where harvest has occurred in the “canyon” areas. The mainstem of Wind Creek, including the South Fork, where harvest has occurred has been mostly along the ridge tops. Black Canyon creek has some harvest along the very upper portions of the ridge tops. Most of this subwatershed is in wilderness. The lightening caused 747 fire in 2002 burned 17,900 acres in the Wilderness mostly in the lower three reaches. It burned along 7.2 miles of the mainstem (total of 12.6 miles of mainstem). Total burn severity was 8% high severity in the watershed, 23% moderate severity, 16% low severity and 53% unburned.

Table 37 Miles of Designated Critical Habitat in the Lower South Fork John Day Watershed Miles of Designated Critical Habitat Streams and Current Steelhead Distribution Unnamed Tributary 0.5 Black Canyon Creek 8.5 Frazier Creek 2.0 North Fork Wind Creek 4.0 Payten Creek 0.25 South Fork Wind Creek 2.25 South Prong Creek 4.0 Squaw Creek 2.5

Wind Creek 7.0 Total 31.0

Channel types in the LSFJD watershed are a combination of Rosgen A and B types in most cases. In some isolated places some historic B channel types are now Rosgen F and G types that are incised, lack floodplain, laterally and vertically unstable, and may have headcuts. The areas that have F and G channel types are small site specific areas that are not whole reaches of streams. These sites can be unstable and may take as short as 3-5 years or as long as 10-15 years to stabilize with newer B channels at the new base levels. Data for these channels was gathered in surveys from the mid to late 1990’s through the mid 2000’s. These sections of unstable channels are thought to be improving based on visual trend information and consistently meeting the end of season monitoring on DMA’s in other areas of the watersheds (ONF, 2011).

Existing habitat conditions (all habitat conditions except for population information and barrier information) for this watershed are currently (2011) based on the most recent stream survey information. This includes surveys on Frazier Creek (2004), North Fork Wind Creek (2006), South Fork Wind Creek (1996), PFC on Wind Creek and South Fork Wind Creek in 2005, and visual observations of Wind Creek from 2006, 2007, and 2008 by ONF Forest Fisheries Biologist. No additional surveys have been completed. Professional judgment is that overall conditions in the watershed have been improving. This judgment includes observations from fisheries biologists and hydrologists during redd counts in the drainage that indicate that banks are more stable than in the past and there is generally less erosion from raw banks. In addition, monitoring of end of season grazing administration to meet PDC have been met consistently for stream-bank alteration, woody browse, and stubble height (ONF, 2011).

Habitat Data – All data presented below is from Level II stream surveys, PFC assessments, or professional observation. There are no PIBO sites in the Wind Creek 6th field. Black Canyon 6th field, directly to the north of Wind Creek, does have a long term PIBO site, however, Black Canyon is ungrazed and has had two fires in the past decade. Because of this, PIBO long term trend data from Black Canyon may or may not be representative of conditions in Wind Creek.

MIS FP Monitoring Elements

Temperature: Unknown on the 5th Field - Functioning at Risk, Functioning at Unacceptable Risk in Wind Creek and Functioning Appropriately in Black Canyon. Stream temperatures in Wind Creek appear to have exceeded FP standards for most years on most streams with the exception of Frazier Creek in 2004 and NF Wind in 2008 (table 38). In Wind Creek, Level II stream surveys from the various streams included in table 39 below.

Table 38. Stream temperature data summarized for Lower South Fork John Day 5th field watershed. 7 Day Lower South Fork Max Year Location John Day River Avg. Frazier Creek 13.43 2004 Frazier at FS Frazier Creek 22.09 2002 Frazier Creek @ FS boundary North Fork Wind North Fork Wind Creek Creek 20.47 2007 North Fork Wind North Fork Wind Creek Creek 17.55 2008

North Fork Wind North Fork Wind Creek 01 Creek 18.85 1995 North Fork Wind North Fork Wind Creek 01 Creek 18.83 1996 North Fork Wind 1997 North Fork Wind Creek 01 Creek 19.23 North Fork Wind North Fork Wind Creek 03 Creek 20.80 1995 North Fork Wind North Fork Wind Creek 03 Creek 21.68 1996 North Fork Wind North Fork Wind Creek 04 Creek 29.10 1995 North Fork Wind North Fork Wind Creek @ FS Creek 19.35 2004 boundary North Fork Wind North Fork Wind Creek @ FS Creek 38.05 2005 Boundary South Fork Wind S. Fk. Wind Creek @ Wind Crk Creek 25.21 2003 confluence Wind Creek 32.65 1998 Wind Cr (3301) @ FS bndry Wind Creek 20.56 1999 Wind Cr (3301) @ FS bndry Wind Creek 21.46 2000 Wind Cr (Sf.)(3301) @ FS bndry Wind Creek 19.34 2008 Wind Creek Wind Creek 20.82 1995 Wind Creek 01 Wind Creek 20.62 1996 Wind Creek 01 Wind Creek 20.45 1997 Wind Creek 01 Wind Creek 21.40 1995 Wind Creek 03 Wind Creek 21.82 1996 Wind Creek 03 Wind Creek 32.33 2003 Wind Creek @ FS boundary Wind Creek 20.98 2004 Wind Creek @ FS boundary North Fork Wind N. Fk. Wind Cr (3201) @ FS bndry Creek 20.05 2000 Temperature unit may have been out of water for portion of data collection period.

Table 39. Stream temperature (Level II survey Wind Creek 6th Field WA) Stream Date Daily Max from Stream Survey Shade percent South Fork Wind July 710F unknown Frazier July 64.1oF Averages 71% NF Wind Late July 72oF Averages 66% Reach1 and 79% Reach 2

Black Canyon 6th Field – in the 2003 Level II survey the maximum temperature reached was 59oF. at 1430 hours on July 17th. By the end of the survey, temperatures were maximum of 44oF in the upper reaches in the first part of August (unpublished data-district files).

PIBO data displayed below highlights that the number of days the weekly maximum temperature (WMT) exceeds 18°C is 0 for the monitoring period (2003-2008).

Table 40. PIBO temperature data for Upper Middle John Day WA. Temp Start End WMT WMT WMT Stream Year Days Date Date MDMT MWMT 12 18 22

Black 15-Jul- 31-Aug- Canyon 2003 48 03 03 17.52 17.25 42 0 0

Black 15-Jul- 31-Aug- Canyon 2008 48 08 08 13.80 13.24 34 0 0

Shade on Black Canyon in the wilderness ranged from 0% to100% depending on the habitat unit in the 8.5 miles surveyed. Average in combining all the units was 48%. The 747 Fire in 2002 burned part of the lower reaches of Black Canyon and Black Canyon Fire burned the upper portions of the watershed in 2008 and contributed to the high variance. Even with the high variance, this entire drainage is wilderness and is assumed to be functioning appropriately.

Table 41. PIBO habitat data for LSFJD watershed. Stream Yr HUCNUM6 WDRif PlFn2 Stab LWfreq LWvol Black Canyon 2003 170702010403 21.11 24.43 100 139.5 Black Canyon 2008 170702010403 13.84 9.54 97.62 677.8 329.47

Substrate Embeddedness: Wind Creek - Functioning Appropriately on National Forest administered lands. Specific data on substrate embeddedness is not available for streams in this watershed. However, Level II surveys indicated that there are no embedded reaches on the ONF. Channel Substrates on the Level II survey by reach are listed below.

Black Canyon – Stream survey indicates that sand substrate averages 65%. That is thought to be incorrect especially in relation to channel type and percentage unstable banks (unpublished district data). It is believed to be Functioning Appropriately based on wilderness designation, channel type and bank stability. Additionally, PIBO data (Table X) from Black Canyon suggests that %<2mm has decreased by approximately 15% over survey period (2003-2008) and that the trend appears to be improving.

Stream Survey Date Ave_PctLT2mm Black Canyon Creek 7/17/2003 44.8 Black Canyon Creek 7/17/2003 12.0 Black Canyon Creek 7/17/2003 19.7 Black Canyon Creek 7/17/2003 59.4

Large Woody Debris: Wind Creek - Functioning At Risk on the National Forest. This area is similar to the McKay Creek drainage where surveys in unmanaged sections have found an average of 116 pieces per mile. Within Black Canyon Creek the systems is predominately in wilderness and appears to be functioning appropriately. Surveyors notes on abundance of LWD from the area that had been burned in the 747 Fire.

Channel types of predominately A in the upper half of the watershed do not normally contribute to large amounts of LWD as most pieces are suspended above the channel.

Table 42 Stream LWD per mile Frazier 31.0 SF Wind 55-130 NF Wind 120 Black Canyon 55

Additionally, PIBO data (Table 42) for Black Canyon suggests that LW frequency increased substantially over the survey period (2003-2008) and that the trend appears to be improving.

Wetted Width/ Depth Ratio: Lower South Fork John Day 5th Field - Functioning Appropriately.

Table 43 Stream Stream Class Substrate W/D Frazier Creek A3/B3a small gravel 5-13.4 depending on to cobble reach NF Wind Ba3/C3a Cobble 7.7-9.7 Creek SF Wind A3/B4 Cobble/Small 8-19 Creek Boulder Black Canyon A/B3 Cobble/Small 6-12 reaches 2-4 and boulder 11-23 reach 1

Additionally, PIBO data (Table 43) for Black Canyon suggests that W/D ratios decreased substantially (over 7 feet) over the survey period and that the trend appears to be improving.

Riparian Community Composition - Lower South Fork John Day - Functioning Appropriately This indicator rated as Good (1) in the WCF assessment for both Wind and Black Canyon Creeks 6th field watersheds. This indicator utilized stream bank condition is surrogate for Riparian Community Composition. Streambank condition was rated Functioning Appropriately in the 2011 grazing BA (ONF, 2011). Additional information relative to assessing riparian community composition is included below:

Riparian Reserves: Lower South Fork John Day Functioning Appropriately. Wind Creek subwatershed has good overall riparian vegetative condition with abundant alder and conifer vegetation along the mainstem and tributaries (survey reports). Black Canyon Creek, while having some impacts from the 747 Fire and the Black Canyon Fire, also has abundant riparian vegetation of all age classes.

Additionally, notes from a 2006 PFC assessment on Wind Creek references the following:

 Alder recruitment is excellent, Salix and several species of Carex present  Excellent composition of wetland species including alder, cornus, black cottonwood, aspen, chokecherry, lemon willow, bulrush and sedges. The stream is perennial below Blue Pot Spring. Vegetation becomes Salix dominated along with other obligate species indicating adequate moisture. Obligate and facultative wetland species indicate ample soil moisture, especially as represented by the young alder.  Streambanks are dominated by obligate species Salix and Carex species present. Streambanks are primarily cobble and bedrock substrate.

 Overall vigor is good and black cottonwood has no evident cavitation. Shrub form and number of stems indicate good vigor  Riparian cover provided by alder is substantial and adequate to dissipate energy during high stream flows. Wet graminoid species are also prevalent where springs occur. Banks are dominated by Salix, which are adequate to dissipate energy.  Mixed conifer community is present along reach. Plant communities are an adequate source of coarse and/or large woody material (for maintenance/recovery).

Limiting Factors and Management Strategies for John Day River Steelhead (From the Mid-Columbia Recovery Plan)

Limiting Factors and Threats pertaining to the John Day River tributaries

Within the Mid-Columbia River steelhead recovery plan are identified limiting factors and threats and then management strategies and actions that are recommended to address these limiting factors or threats. While many of these factors and strategies apply basin wide these are specific ones that have been identified for various tributaries to the John Day that originate on the Ochoco National Forest. Given that other land management activities are generally limited, livestock grazing is the primary activity affecting limiting factors. Livestock grazing could be connected to the following identified primary limiting factors identified for the South Fork John Day: altered sediment routing, degraded channel structure and complexity (habitat quantity and diversity), altered hydrology and low flow, and water temperature. The following primary threats were identified riparian disturbance, stream channelization and relocation, and grazing.

Tributary Management Strategies and Actions (Highest Priority)

Habitat Strategies for Lower South Fork John Day 5th Field WA include protect and conserve natural ecological processes with key actions of protect highest quality habitats and apply BMP’s in Wind Creek. Specifically identified for Wind Creek were the following strategies that could be affected by grazing: upland and riparian improvements, improvements in habitat complexity, reduction in water temperatures, stabilization of stream banks, and increasing floodplain connectivity (ONF, 2011).

The strategy to restore degraded and maintain properly functioning channel structure and complexity with key actions to restore natural channel form, increase LWD, and stabilize streambanks would include priority areas of LSFJD Watershed. Another strategy is to restore passage and connectivity with key actions to remove or minimize use of push up dams; remove or replace barriers blocking passage; provide screening at all irrigation diversions; and replace screens that do not meet criteria. This would occur in priority areas of, but not limited to Wind Creek off Forest as all on Forest passage barriers have been dealt with.

In general, condition of the Forest Plan monitoring elements have improved overtime with implementation of PACFISH/INFISH S&Gs, numerous restoration activities (Table 44), changes in management, and improved livestock management (including changing from cows to sheep). These actions along with the available data suggest that overall watershed condition and steelhead habitat is improving.

Table 44 Restoration and management activities in Lower South Fork John Day WA since 1991. Restoration or management Action/Project Year Affected area (e.g., length of project Grazing BA – amends Southside EA 2011 All streams within watershed 1 Culvert Replacement- Upper Black Canyon 2005 0.5 miles

VIII. VIABILITY DETERMINATION

The 1982 National Forest System Land Resource Management Planning Regulations (implementing the National Forest Management Act of 1976) directed that fish and wildlife habitat shall be managed to maintain viable populations of existing native and desired non-native vertebrate species in the planning area. For planning purposes, a viable population shall be regarded as one which has the estimated numbers and distribution of reproductive individuals to insure its continued existence and is well distributed in the planning area. In order to insure that viable populations will be maintained, habitat must be provided to support, at least, a minimum number of reproductive individuals and that habitat must be well distributed so that those individuals can interact with others in the planning area. For the purpose of meeting the requirements of the National Forest Management Act for species viability, the planning area for this assessment and viability determination is the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland.

For this analysis, habitat, and where available, redd surveys have been used as a proxy for population monitoring from smolt collection data. It has been determined by court decision that where population monitoring data are not available, due to lack of funding or feasibility of monitoring populations, the amount and quality of habitat can be used as a proxy for determining viability effects of projects on MIS (Lands Council v. McNair, 2010). In order to use habitat as a proxy the project analysis must at a minimum include: 1) a clear relationship between the species and its habitat based on habitat relationship models that utilize the best available science; 2) the amount of habitat available at the Forest scale; 3) species presence in the project area; 4) the amount of habitat being impacted at the project level in terms of both quality and quantity; and 5) a determination of the project impact on viability at the Forest scale.

Native to streams along the Pacific coast of North America from the Kuskokwim River, Alaska, south to northern Baja California, the upper Mackenzie River drainage (Arctic basin), Alberta and British Columbia, and endorheic (i.e. having no outflow of water) basins of southern Oregon (Page and Burr 1991). The species has been widely introduced and established in suitable habitats all over the world (Lee et al. 1980). At sea, steelhead occur throughout the North Pacific above 40° N from the North American coast to the Sea of Okhotsk (Burgner et al. 1992). It is most abundant in the Gulf of Alaska and eastern part of the North Pacific, conforming to the 5°C isotherm in the north and 15°C isotherm in the south. Seasonal shifts in distribution are correlated with changes in water temperature (Sutherland 1973).

Columbia River Basin from above the Wind River in Washington and the Hood River in Oregon (exclusive), upstream to and including the Yakima River in Washington, excluding steelhead from the Snake River Basin (71 FR 834 January 5, 2006; 64 FR 14517 March 25, 1999). MCR steelhead do not include resident forms of O.mykiss (redband or rainbow trout) co-occurring with these steelhead. Seven steelhead hatchery programs including the Round Butte Hatchery within the Action area are considered are considered part of the MCR steelhead DPS.

Critical habitat was designated on February 16, 2000 [65 FR 7764], but vacated (undesignated) by court order on April 30, 2002. On September 2, 2005, NMFS published a final rule (70 FR 52630) to designate critical habitat for Mid-C steelhead and 12 other ESUs/DPSs of salmon and steelhead. The final rule took effect on January 2, 2006. The Critical Habitat Assessment Review Team (CHART) (NMFS 2004c) rated the conservation value of all 5th-field HUCs supporting populations of Mid-C steelhead. Essential features of designated critical habitat include substrate, water quality, water quantity, water temperature, food, riparian vegetation, access, water, velocity, space, and safe passage. These features also describe the habitat factors associated with viability for all ESUs and DPSs. The specific habitat requirements for each ESU or DPS differ by life history type and life stage. Critical Habitat is further discussed below in Section III (Species Distribution).

Population status was summarized from the Recovery Plan: The status of a salmon or steelhead species is expressed in terms of likelihood of persistence over 100 years, or in terms of risk of extinction within 100 years. The ICTRT defined viability at two levels: less than 5 percent risk of extinction within 100 years (viable) and less than 1 percent risk of extinction within 100 years (highly viable). A third category, “maintained,” represents a less than 25 percent risk. The risk level of the DPS as a whole is built up from the aggregate risk levels of the populations and MPGs. The abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity of the component populations (the “viable salmonid population,” or VSP, parameters) must be taken into account to determine the risk level.

We completed viability assessments for Oregon’s ten extant Mid-C steelhead populations. The assessments describe the current status of the populations relative to the abundance/productivity and spatial structure/diversity viability criteria. Overall, the viability assessments show that only three of Oregon’s Mid- C steelhead populations currently meet the viability criteria. The North Fork John Day population is highly viable and the Fifteenmile Creek and Deschutes River Eastside (Trout Creek on the Ochoco National Forest) populations are viable. The remaining populations rated as either maintained or extinct (Lower Mainstem John Day River and South Fork John Day River are rated as “maintained” for the Ochoco National Forest).

There are no models developed to determine viability of the steelhead trout based on habitat. However, based on the local habitat surveys and redd counts, there appears to be appropriate habitat that is well distributed and available for steelhead trout across the Ochoco National Forest.

In conclusion, the viability assessment indicates that habitat of the steelhead trout is still available in adequate amounts, distribution, and quality to maintain steelhead trout viability on the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland.

Literature Cited

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2009. Middle Columbia Steelhead ESA Recovery Plan, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region. 260 pages

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 1994. Northwest Region stock status review. Unpublished report, La Grande Fish District. LaGrande, Oregon.

Rosgen, D. 1996. Applied River Morphology. Wildland Hydrology, Pagosa Springs, CO.

USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management. 1995. Decision notice/decision record, FONSI environmental assessment and appendices of the implementation of interim strategies for managing anadromous fish-producing watersheds in eastern Oregon and Washington, Idaho and portions of California (PACFISH).

USDA Forest Service. 1989. Land and Resource Management Plan. Ochoco National Forest. Prineville Oregon.

USDA Forest Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management. 1995. Implementation of Interim Strategies for Managing Anadromous Fish-producing Watersheds in Eastern Oregon and Washington, Idaho, and Portions of California (PACFISH). 72 pages

USDA Forest Service. 2003. Implementation Monitoring Program for PacFish, InFish and the 1998 Biological Opinions for Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout. Program Manual. July 1, 2003.

USDA Forest Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2009. Final Technical Report from the Regional Technical Team to the Regional Executive Team for the Malheur National Forest consultation elevation. December 11, 2009.

USDA Forest Service. 1991-2008. Level II and BLS Stream Surveys. Reports at Ochoco National Forest.

USDA Forest Service (ONF) 2011. Ochoco National Forest. Fisheries Biological Assessment for Trout, Mountain, Bridge, and Lower South Fork John Day Watersheds.

USDA Forest Service. 2010. Watershed Condition Classification Technical Guide.

Appendix A

Ochoco National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan Monitoring Items

Indicator 5: Riparian Vegetation

The following information is from p.7 of ‘WCF Datasets and Assumptions Used to Rate Subwatersheds on the Deschutes/ONF & CRG:

Attribute 5.1 – Vegetation Condition:

Data Sets:

 Ochoco Level II Riparian Survey Files 1993-1996  GIS dataset for Unstable banks (Ochoco and Deschutes NFs) T:\FS\NFS\Deschutes\Project\soopsDataMgmt2009\Fisheries\GIS\SO\Workspace\areischauer\WCATT Assumptions:

 Stream systems that are largely structurally controlled have riparian vegetation that is in good condition.  Unstable stream banks are directly correlated with early seral riparian vegetation components and indicate locations where water relationships have been altered.  Vertical instability (stream incision) indicates places where much of the riparian vegetation has been replaced by upland or more xeric vegetation types.  Subwatersheds with no perennial streams (Crooked River National Grasslands and Deschutes NF) were rated 1.  Subwatersheds with <5% unstable banks were rated 1  Subwatersheds with significant areas that have 5-10% unstable banks were rated 2  Subwatersheds with significant areas that have >10% unstable banks were rated 3

Issues:  No comprehensive riparian vegetation surveys exist to base a quanitative riparian vegetation analysis for either National Forest. This rating is therefore a qualitative assessment based on 19 years of experience in Central Oregon and the available stream bank stability ratings.  The Ochoco Riparian surveys assessed ~110 miles of streams (small % of total stream length on the Forest), but they are now approaching 10 years old. These surveys were used to validate the ratings based on unstable streambanks.