Upper Bear Creek Watershed Analysis
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Upper Bear Creek Watershed Analysis Version 1.1 Bureau of Land Management, Medford District Ashland Resource Area February 2000 Upper Bear Creek Watershed Analysis - Version 1.1 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary .......................................................... v Introduction ............................................................... 1 Issues and Key Questions ..................................................... 4 Watershed Characterization ................................................... 16 Introduction ......................................................... 16 Human Uses ......................................................... 17 Climate ............................................................ 19 Geology ............................................................ 22 Erosion Processes .................................................... 23 Soil Productivity ..................................................... 24 Landscape Vegetation Pattern ........................................... 25 Plant Species and Habitats .............................................. 28 Fire and Air Quality ................................................... 30 Terrestrial Wildlife Species and Habitats ................................... 31 Hydrology .......................................................... 32 Stream Channel ...................................................... 35 Water Quality ....................................................... 36 Riparian Areas ....................................................... 37 Aquatic Wildlife Species and Habitats ..................................... 38 Current Conditions ......................................................... 40 Human Uses ......................................................... 40 Erosion Processes .................................................... 48 Soil Productivity ..................................................... 51 Plant Species and Habitats .............................................. 52 Forest Density and Vigor ............................................... 56 Fire and Air Quality ................................................... 60 Terrestrial Wildlife Species and Habitats ................................... 62 Hydrology .......................................................... 67 Stream Channel ...................................................... 71 Water Quality ....................................................... 74 Riparian Areas ....................................................... 81 Aquatic Wildlife Species and Habitats ..................................... 82 Reference Conditions ........................................................ 85 Human Uses ......................................................... 85 Erosion Processes .................................................... 95 Soil Productivity ..................................................... 97 Landscape Vegetation Pattern ........................................... 97 Plant Species and Habitats .............................................. 98 i Upper Bear Creek Watershed Analysis - Version 1.1 Table of Contents Forest Density and Vigor .............................................. 99 Fire and Air Quality .................................................. 100 Terrestrial Wildlife Species and Habitats .................................. 101 Hydrology ......................................................... 102 Stream Channel ..................................................... 103 Water Quality ...................................................... 104 Riparian Areas ...................................................... 105 Aquatic Wildlife Species and Habitats .................................... 106 Synthesis and Interpretation .................................................. 108 Human Uses ........................................................ 108 Erosion Processes ................................................... 110 Soil Productivity .................................................... 111 Landscape Vegetation Pattern .......................................... 111 Plant Species and Habitats ............................................. 112 Forest Density and Vigor ............................................. 114 Fire and Air Quality .................................................. 116 Terrestrial Wildlife Species and Habitats .................................. 117 Hydrology ......................................................... 120 Stream Channel ..................................................... 121 Water Quality ...................................................... 122 Riparian Areas ...................................................... 123 Aquatic Wildlife Species and Habitats .................................... 123 Management Objectives and Recommendations for BLM-Administered Lands ............ 124 Landscape Planning Objectives and Recommendations for BLM-Administered Lands ...... 146 Data Gaps ............................................................... 152 Monitoring Recommendations ................................................ 155 Research Recommendations ................................................. 158 Maps ................................................................... 160 List of Preparers .......................................................... 186 References ............................................................... 187 Appendices .............................................................. 196 ii Upper Bear Creek Watershed Analysis - Version 1.1 Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Land Ownership .................................................. 17 Table 2. Federal Land Use Allocations ........................................ 17 Table 3. Precipitation Zone Distribution ....................................... 20 Table 4. Structural Components by Vegetation Classification ...................... 26 Table 5. Vegetation Zones by Elevation ....................................... 30 Table 6. Ownership and Stream Information by Subwatershed ...................... 32 Table 7. Stream Miles by Stream Category for BLM-Administered Lands ............. 33 Table 8. Wetlands ........................................................ 33 Table 9. USGS Gaging Stations ............................................. 34 Table 10. Stream Channel Types .............................................. 36 Table 11. Acres Harvested and Volume Removed on BLM-Managed Lands ............ 44 Table 12. Grazing Information for BLM-Administered Lands ........................ 45 Table 13. Special Status Plants ............................................... 53 Table 14. Survey and Manage Plant Species and Habitats ........................... 55 Table 15. Values at Risk Due to Fire Exclusion, High Intensity Wildfire, or Wildfire Suppression Activities .............................................. 61 Table 16. Fire Hazard Ratings ............................................... 61 Table 17. Representative Wildlife Species ....................................... 63 Table 18. Special Status Terrestrial Vertebrate Wildlife Species ..................... 65 Table 19. Road Information by Subwatershed .................................... 69 Table 20. Estimated Percent of Hydrologic Recovery by Subwatershed ............... 70 Table 21. Surface Water Rights .............................................. 71 Table 22. Water Quality Limited Streams ....................................... 75 Table 23. Waterbodies Included in ODEQ’s Nonpoint Source Assessment ............. 75 Table 24. Probable Causes and Land Use Associated with Nonpoint Source Pollution .... 76 Table 25. Stream Temperature Monitoring Data .................................. 77 Table 26. Results of ODFW 1999 Electrofishing Surveys ........................... 83 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Precipitation at Green Springs Power Plant and Howard Prairie Dam NOAA Stations20 Figure 2. Air Temperature at Ashland NOAA Station ............................. 21 Figure 3. Air Temperature at Howard Prairie Dam NOAA Station .................... 21 iii Upper Bear Creek Watershed Analysis - Version 1.1 Table of Contents LIST OF MAPS Map 1. Watershed Analysis Area Location ..................................... 161 Map 2. Land Ownership ................................................... 162 Map 3. Federal Land Use Allocations ......................................... 163 Map 4. Transportation System .............................................. 164 Map 5. Average Annual Precipitation ......................................... 165 Map 6. Precipitation Zones ................................................. 166 Map 7. Geology ......................................................... 167 Map 8. General Soil Types ................................................. 168 Map 9. Forest Zones ...................................................... 169 Map 10. Vegetation Condition Classes ......................................... 170 Map 11. Subwatersheds .................................................... 171 Map 12. Stream Categories ................................................. 172 Map 13. Wetlands ........................................................ 173 Map 14. Channel Morphology Classification ..................................... 174 Map 15. Riparian Reserves .................................................. 175 Map 16. Fish Distribution ................................................... 176 Map 17. Grazing Allotments ................................................