South Lewis County Habitat Analysis Report
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife South Lewis County Habitat Analysis Report John Carleton, Conservation Planner John Jacobson, Geographic Information Systems Analyst 5/14/2009 South Lewis County Habitat Analysis Report Introduction To inform the South Lewis County Subarea planning process, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) were consulted to analyze habitats and ecosystem processes, respectively, across the local area. The purpose of the two agencies’ work is to provide information on natural systems that will allow the planners to accommodate growth while avoiding unintended consequences, such as loss of local biodiversity, or increased flooding. This habitat report is to be incorporated as an appendix to the watershed characterization. South County Subarea The south county subarea, shown on the right, was drawn as a rectangular zone incorporating the cities of Winlock, Toledo, and Vader, plus some of the surrounding unincorporated county. As of 2008, population in the subarea was approximately 10,200. Although the three cities have concentrations of residences and businesses, most of the subarea is rural, with agriculture and residential land uses predominant, and with a significant portion of undeveloped land. Figure 1. South Lewis County Subarea The primary landform feature is a series of relatively flat terraces at increasing elevation, leading away from the Cowlitz River. Forested habitats include conifer and mixed conifer/hardwood; oak woodlands are a minor component. A major portion of the land was historically prairie, now largely converted to agricultural use, although featuring patches of remnant native vegetation. Cowlitz River and several tributaries run across the subarea.
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