Whychus Creek Wild and Scenic River Management Plan
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Whychus Creek Wild and Scenic River Management Plan Decision Notice, Site Specific Non-Significant Plan Amendment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Response to Public Comments April 25, 2010 Sisters Ranger District, Deschutes National Forest Deschutes County, Oregon The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (voice). TDD users can contact USDA through local relay or the Federal relay at (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 2 Decision Notice, Site Specific Non-significant Plan Amendment & Finding of No Significant Impact Whychus Creek Wild and Scenic River Management Plan USDA Forest Service Sisters Ranger District, Deschutes National Forest Deschutes County, Oregon T17S R8E, T16S R8E and R9E, T15S R9E, T15S R10E Introduction Background Wild rivers are one of our nation’s greatest treasures. Congress recognized this in 1968 when they passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (P.L. 90-542) and established a nationwide system of outstanding free-flowing rivers. These rivers are protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. Whychus Creek (formerly Squaw Creek) is located in Central Oregon on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. It is a perennial stream that is a tributary of the Deschutes River. It is approximately 41 miles long from its headwaters in the Three Sisters Wilderness to it’s confluence with the Deschutes River. The upper reaches of Whychus Creek and its wilderness tributaries were designated by Congress as a Wild and Scenic River as part of the Omnibus Oregon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-557 - Oct.28, 1988) – an amendment to Section 3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (P.L. 90 - 542); USC 1274(a). The designated area includes 15.4 miles, beginning at its source on the glaciers of the Three Sisters mountains and ending at the hydrological gauging station that is approximately 4 miles southwest of the City of Sisters in Central Oregon. The 6.6 mile segment of the creek within the Three Sisters Wilderness from its sources on the Three Sisters mountains to the Three Sisters Wilderness boundary is classified as “Wild”. The sources of Whychus Creek begin on the glaciers of the Three Sisters mountains and include Soap Creek, the South and North Forks of Whychus Creek, and Park Creek, including the East and West Forks of Park Creek. Wild rivers are defined in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act as: “Those rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments and generally inaccessible except by trail, with watersheds or shorelines essentially primitive and waters unpolluted. These represent vestiges of primitive America.” The 8.8 mile segment from the Three Sisters Wilderness boundary to the USGS hydrological gauging station is classified as “Scenic.” Scenic Rivers are defined in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act as: “Those rivers or sections of rivers that are free of impoundments, with shorelines or watersheds still largely primitive and shorelines largely undeveloped, but accessible in places by roads.” Special consideration of Carver Lake, a high-elevation moraine lake on South Sister, is included in the designation. In the mid-1980’s Carver Lake was identified as a potential flood risk for Sisters and homes along Whychus Creek by the U.S. Geological Survey. The risks have been downgraded in more recent reports, but still exist. The Oregon Omnibus Wild and Scenic Rivers Act designation states: “Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the construction of facilities necessary for emergency protection for the town of Sisters relative to a rapid discharge of Carver Lake if no reasonable flood warning or control alternative exists.” 3 The 2007 Whychus Creek Wild and Scenic River Resource Assessment found that certain aspects of Whychus Creek are unique on a Regional or National Scale. People are astonished by the diverse geology born from volcanoes and glaciers which displays water polished basalts, caves, cliffs along remote steep canyons, and channel-filling boulders. The complexity of the creek’s channels, including an abundance of waterfalls, wetlands, and a glacier moraine lake as part of the headwaters makes the hydrology of the creek another unique feature. Whychus Creek is poised to regain its importance as the most significant tributary in the Upper Deschutes basin for the reintroduction of threatened Mid- Columbia steelhead and sustains a native strain of Interior Columbia Basin redband trout which shows little genetic influence from hatchery fish. The glacial headwaters of Whychus Creek on the Three Sisters mountains are a symbol of Central Oregon and the wild unmodified scenery within the corridor will become more valuable as a refuge for people as the years pass. Its long history of use by Native Americans as a travel corridor to and from the obsidian sources in the High Cascades provides a window into the past and how people lived. The traditional use of river-related resources of the creek which gave it several of its historic names remains as a unique feature today to tribal ceded lands, treaty rights, and Native American history. For these reasons Geology, Hydrology, Fisheries, Scenery, Prehistory and Traditional Use were found to be the Outstandingly Remarkable Values of Whychus Creek that we are required to protect or enhance for present and future generations. Other river related values such as Wildlife, Ecology/Vegetation, Cultural History and Recreation were found to be significant and need some additional protection and management. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of the Whychus Creek Wild and Scenic River Plan Environmental Assessment is to provide the basis to develop a Comprehensive River Management Plan and boundary for Whychus Creek Wild and Scenic River. This decision amends the Deschutes National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan goals, objectives, and Standards and Guidelines to provide specific management direction where needed to protect or enhance the Outstandingly Remarkable or Significant Values of Whychus Creek and address issues related to river management. This decision also establishes a final river corridor boundary and describes existing conditions, desired future conditions, standards and guidelines, and directs future management and monitoring. This action is needed to fulfill the requirements of Section 3(d)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act that states that “the Federal agency charged with the administration of each component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System shall prepare a comprehensive management plan…to provide for the protection of river values. The plan shall address resource protection, development of lands and facilities, user capacities, and other management practices necessary or desirable to achieve the purposes of this Act. The plan shall be prepared, after consultation with State and local governments and the interested public within three full fiscal years after the designation.” The proposed Forest Plan Amendment provides an opportunity to achieve the overall goals and objectives of the Deschutes National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan without significantly altering them. Two alternatives were analyzed in detail: No action (Alternative 1) and one action alternative (Alternative 2). The Proposed Action is Alternative 2. 4 Summary of Decision and Rationale Based on my careful review of the Project Purpose and Need, Interdisciplinary Team analysis, and the public comments I (John Allen, Forest Supervisor, Deschutes National Forest) received throughout the project I have decided to implement Alternative 2 with some modifications that I will discuss. Alternative 2 has been changed in response to public comments and updated information. I believe that Alternative 2, as I have modified it, best meets the purpose and need of the project (EA, pg 19). The goal of Alternative 2 is to protect and enhance the Outstandingly Remarkable Values of Whychus Creek, restore degraded resources, and maintain the creek’s wild, scenic, and often remote character. Alternative 2 utilizes both existing direction from the many existing plans that apply to the area and introduces new standards and guidelines to address situations that are not addressed in other applicable laws and plans. My conclusions are based on a review of the record that shows a thorough analysis of the relevant scientific information, as well as the acknowledgement of incomplete or unavailable literature. Some features of Alternative 2 include: A Wild and Scenic River boundary which protects elements related to the Outstandingly Remarkable Values of Whychus Creek, includes hydrologically significant areas, and will be easier to locate on the ground. A gradient of management controls intended to provide the desired recreation experience, so that areas closer to the City of Sisters have more managed access and visible controls of visitor use with developed facilities while higher reaches closer to the wilderness have less. The plan will allow development of limited improvements (for example: parking areas, a limited managed trail system, restrooms) close to the City of Sisters to manage use, protect river values, and provide interpretive and stewardship information. Near and within the Wilderness we will manage the area for more primitive character. New standards for protection of geological features such as requirements for “Leave No Trace” rock climbing.