LOWER PORTNEUF WATERSHED ANALYSIS March 2010
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LOWER PORTNEUF WATERSHED ANALYSIS March 2010 LINE OFFICER CONCURRENCE As the District Ranger of the Westside Ranger District, I have worked directly with the watershed analysis interdisciplinary team, other agencies, and the public in the preparation of this document. I have confidence that this document will guide the District in the informed management of the Lower Portneuf Watershed and will serve as a clearinghouse for the most recent data for the analysis area. In addition, the Lower Portneuf Watershed Analysis will help future Westside District Rangers understand the ecological interactions and management complexities associated with the management of this very popular watershed. Jeffery J. Hammes Jeffery J. Hammes District Ranger Westside Ranger District 25 March 2010 INTRODUCTION The Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960 directs the USDA Forest Service to manage the renewable surface resources of the Forests for multiple uses and to provide those resources (products and services) at a conservative rate that is sustained over time. The Lower Portneuf Watershed Analysis Area features a diversity of resource uses and landownership. The competing uses of some resources in particular places within the analysis area have limited the decision space of Forest Officials. The watershed analysis process allows decision- makers and their staff an opportunity to step back and take a holistic, interdisciplinary watershed- level look at an analysis area. It is a chance to assess resource uses and ensure they occur at a sustainable level. The watershed analysis process culminates with a list of recommendations the Forest Officials can use to address resource management challenges and opportunities. Project Area Description The Lower Portneuf watershed analysis area includes the Trail Creek-Portneuf River, Pocatello Creek, Upper Rapid Creek, Lower Rapid Creek, Gipson Jack Creek-Portneuf River, Indian Creek-Portneuf River, and Mink Creek 6th level hydrologic unit codes (HUCs). These 6th Code HUCs compose the Lower Portneuf River 5th level HUC that drains into American Falls Reservoir. The analysis area is approximately 160,000 acres in surface area and includes approximately 72,000 acres of the Westside Ranger District, Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Approximately 45% of the analysis area is managed by Introduction the Forest Service, 20% is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, 31% is privately owned, 3% is owned by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and 1% managed by the State of Idaho. Primary resource uses on the Forest and BLM lands include developed and dispersed camping, hiking, fishing, livestock grazing, and motorized recreation. Management activities also include prescribed burning and fire suppression. The proximity of the analysis area to Pocatello and the ease of accessibility to the drainage make it an attractive location for motorized vehicle use. Areas of conifer encroachment upon aspen stands and increased ladder fuels created by multiple layer forests have attracted the attention of fire management specialists, particularly where residential development has occurred near the Forest boundaries. The intent of this analysis is to use the most powerful tool that the Forest Service has, the interdisciplinary team, to analyze past and current conditions and trends within the analysis area to develop recommendations for the management and restoration of this area. Lower Portneuf Watershed Analysis 3 Introduction Figure 1: Watershed Analysis Area Lower Portneuf Watershed Analysis 4 Introduction Watershed Analysis Process The purpose of watershed analysis is to develop and document a scientifically based understanding of the processes and interactions occurring within a watershed. This document is our current understanding of the Lower Portneuf Watershed Analysis Area. A watershed analysis is an interdisciplinary process that compares the past and current conditions of an analysis area to develop an understanding of resource trends. The report culminates with several recommendations developed to address the identified trends. No decisions are made with this document. The findings represent a foundation on which to develop site-specific project proposals and base specific decisions. The Lower Portneuf Watershed Analysis was conducted by a Forest Service interdisciplinary team, with data source assistance from involved citizens and agencies. There are numerous information sources pertaining to the analysis area. The interdisciplinary team used these and their personal knowledge and experiences of the analysis area to prepare the document. The document is organized per the watershed analysis steps; Issues/Key Questions, Characterization, Past Conditions, Current Conditions, Trends, and Recommendations. Each chapter includes sections discussing soils and geology, water, vegetation (including forested vegetation, non-forested vegetation, weeds, rare plants, Research Natural Areas, and fire), range, fish, wildlife, recreation, and cultural resources. Contributors Interdisciplinary Team Leader: James Capurso Soil Scientist: John Lott Hydrologist: Brad Higginson Forested Vegetation Specialist: Jesse Smith Rangeland Specialist: Elle Scalese Rare Plant/Research Natural Area Specialist: Rose Lehman Geology/Minerals Specialist: Steve Robison Fisheries Biologist: Corey Lyman Wildlife Biologist: Chris Colt and Ann Keysor Recreation: Debrah Tiller Cultural Resource Specialist: Randy Thompson We thank Mike Settell, Jim Mende, Greg Mladenka for their assistance with this analysis. We thank District Ranger Jeff Hammes for providing edits and participating in the interdisciplinary team meetings. Cover Photo: Shoshone-Bannock Winter Camp in South Pocatello Area (1884). Lower Portneuf Watershed Analysis 5 Introduction CONTENTS INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 2 ISSUES AND KEY QUESTIONS ......................................................................... 12 SOILS AND GEOLOGY ..................................................................................... 13 WATER ................................................................................................................ 15 VEGETATION ..................................................................................................... 16 RANGE ................................................................................................................. 19 FISH ...................................................................................................................... 20 WILDLIFE ............................................................................................................ 21 RECREATION ..................................................................................................... 24 CULTURAL RESOURCES ................................................................................. 25 CHARACTERIZATION ....................................................................................... 26 SOILS AND GEOLOGY ..................................................................................... 27 WATER ................................................................................................................ 42 VEGETATION ..................................................................................................... 47 RANGE ................................................................................................................. 58 FISH ...................................................................................................................... 61 WILDLIFE ............................................................................................................ 64 RECREATION ..................................................................................................... 68 CULTURAL RESOURCES ................................................................................. 69 PAST CONDITIONS.............................................................................................. 72 SOILS AND GEOLOGY ..................................................................................... 73 WATER ................................................................................................................ 79 VEGETATION ..................................................................................................... 83 RANGE ................................................................................................................. 89 FISH ...................................................................................................................... 92 WILDLIFE ............................................................................................................ 99 RECREATION ................................................................................................... 104 CULTURAL RESOURCES ............................................................................... 107 CURRENT CONDITIONS .................................................................................. 109 SOILS AND GEOLOGY ................................................................................... 110 WATER .............................................................................................................. 117 VEGETATION ................................................................................................... 128 RANGE ..............................................................................................................