UPDATE SOUTH FORK MCKENZIE RIVER WATERSHED ANALYSIS McKenzie River Ranger District Willamette National Forest September 2010

Photo: Roaring Springs

Prepared by: McKenzie River IDT

______Mary Allison District Ranger McKenzie River Ranger District

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 1994 the Record of Decision for the Northwest Forest Plan was signed. That same year a “pilot” watershed analysis was completed for the South Fork McKenzie watershed by employees of the Willamette National Forest and the Blue River Ranger District. The South Fork McKenzie Watershed Analysis (1994) thoroughly documented existing conditions in the South Fork and made recommendations on restoration actions and management activities. In 2010 the employees of the McKenzie River Ranger District were charged with updating the 1994 analysis. With limited funding the interdisciplinary team sought to update the original watershed analysis with information on the existing condition, completed restoration projects, and recommendations for future activities. Significant changes have occurred in the fisheries and recreation arenas. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has constructed a water temperature control tower at Cougar Dam that has restored the historic temperature regime to the South Fork McKenzie downstream of the dam. More recently, the Corps of Engineers completed an adult fish collection facility downstream of Cougar Dam to collect and transport spring Chinook salmon, bull trout, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout upstream of the dam during their spawning migrations. By the end of calendar year 2010 the Corps of Engineers will decide on how to implement safe and effective downstream passage for native fishes. There are 16 developed recreation sites within the South Fork watershed, and of these, ten are operated under a concessionaire special use permit. Nearly all developed sites have been upgraded with CXT vault toilet facilities and Homestead Campground has been decommissioned. Roaring River campground has been converted to a group site and placed on the reservation system. Terwilliger Hot Springs, which was added to the concessionaire permit in 2007, has also seen improvements in management issues. The constant on-site presence of the concessionaire has dramatically reduced visitor problems at the hot springs. Although this site continues to be a challenge to operate and maintain, changing to concessionaire management has provided visitors with a safer and cleaner recreation site. As team leader I would like to acknowledge the interdisciplinary team for the hard work and effort it took to complete this update with limited funds and during a summer when a project fire (the Scott Mountain Fire) occurred on the district in the upper McKenzie River watershed. Special acknowledgement goes to Kevin Bruce (Natural Resource Planner) for compiling and formatting various reports into a document that is professional and hopefully useful to future managers. And to Jon Belcher (GIS), who provided tons of support and was a sounding board for ideas regarding the climate change discussion in the watershed update. /s/Ramon Rivera Fisheries Biologist and Team Leader ii

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... II RECREATION ...... 1

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS ...... 1 FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE ...... 4 FISHERIES ...... 6

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS ...... 6 FINDINGS ...... 21 MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE ...... 22 REFERENCES ...... 23 MONITORING CRITERIA AND RESULTS ...... 25 HYDROLOGY ...... 30

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS ...... 30 FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE ...... 31 REFERENCES ...... 31 CLIMATE AND GEOLOGY ...... 32

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS ...... 32 FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE ...... 36 REFERENCES ...... 38 WILDLIFE...... 40

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS ...... 40 FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE ...... 41 VEGETATION ...... 43 METHODS ...... 43 PAST, CURRENT, AND FUTURE CONDITIONS ...... 43 MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE ...... 45 TABLES AND FIGURES ...... 46 BOTANICAL RESOURCES AND SPECIAL HABITATS ...... 49

PAST, CURRENT, AND FUTURE CONDITIONS ...... 49 FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE ...... 55 REFERENCES ...... 58 TRANSPORTATION SYTEM ...... 59

FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE ...... 59

iii

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 1. DEVELOPED RECREATION SITES WITHIN THE SOUTH FORK MCKENZIE RIVER WATERSHED. .... 1 TABLE 2. RELEASES OF HATCHERY ORIGIN SPRING CHINOOK SALMON INTO THE MCKENZIE SUB- BASIN (1993-2009)...... 9 TABLE 3. REFERENCE CONDITIONS USED TO EVALUATE EXISTING AQUATIC HABITAT AND CHANNEL CONDITION...... 27 TABLE 4: GEOLOGIC SUMMARY OF SOUTH FORK MCKENZIE SUB-WATERSHEDS ...... 36 TABLE 5. WILDLIFE HABITAT RESTORATION ACTIVITIES (1994-2009) ...... 42 TABLE 6: COMPARISON OF WATERSHED PAST (1900) AND CURRENT VEGETATION CONDITIONS ...... 46 TABLE 7: COMPARISON OF PAST AND CURRENT VEGETATION CONDITION BY AREAS ...... 46 TABLE 8: NATURAL RANGE OF VARIABILITY (NRV) BY PLANT SERIES ...... 47 TABLE 9. ROADS IN THE SOUTH FORK MCKENZIE WATERSHED WITH CHRONIC MAINTENANCE ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN THE WA...... 59 TABLE 10. ROADS FOR STORM PROOFING OR DECOMMISSIONING ...... 62

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1: BULL TROUT REDD COUNTS FROM SOUTH FORK MCKENZIE RIVER SUB-BASIN SPAWNING SURVEYS BY ODFW AND FOREST SERVICE; 1993-2009...... 7 FIGURE 2: HOMESTEAD LOGJAM PHOTO POINT MONITORING RESULTS. (TOP LEFT - LOG JAM IN 2008 AFTER TIPPING AND HELICOPTER PLACEMENT. BOTTOM LEFT - LOG JAM IN 2009 AFTER YCC CREW ADDED FINE WOODY MATERIAL. BOTTOM RIGHT - LOG JAM IN 2010 AFTER JUNE FLOWS MOVED FINER MATERIAL INTO THE LOG JAM...... 14 FIGURE 3: A MATURE STAND OF DOUGLAS FIR GROWS OVER A DEPOSIT OF OLD LARGE WOODY MATERIAL. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE WOOD IS FIRE SCARRED AND WAS PERHAPS TRANSPORTED THERE BY DEBRIS TORRENT FOLLOWING FIRE ON THE FLANKS OF CHUCKSNEY O O MOUNTAIN. THIS MATERIAL IS LOCATED AT 43 57’ 22.5” N LATITUDE; 122 06’ 19.9” W LONGITUDE, AT THE TOE OF STEEP SLOPES BENEATH CHUCKSNEY MOUNTAIN (PHOTOS TAKEN BY DAVE BICKFORD)...... 19 FIGURE 4: SOME OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS AND IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH WARMING AIR TEMPERATURES, REDUCED SUMMER PRECIPITATION, INCREASED WINTER PRECIPITATION, AND MORE SEVERE STORM EVENTS...... 32 FIGURE 5: THE PERCENTAGE OF THE AREAS WITHIN THE TRANSIENT SNOW ZONE IN THE MCKENZIE RIVER WATERSHED (CURRENT AND PROJECTED WITH A 500’ AND 1,000’ RISE IN TSZ) ...... 33 FIGURE 6: GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE MCKENZIE RIVER RANGER DISTRICT...... 35 FIGURE 7: THE ELEVATION RANGE FOR THE MCKENZIE RIVER WATERSHEDS IN 500 FOOT INCREMENTS...... 39

iv

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

FIGURE 8: INSECT AND DISEASE MAP FOR THE SOUTH FORK MCKENZIE WATERSHED BASED ON AERIAL SURVEYS FROM 1994-2008...... 41 FIGURE 9: COMPARISON OF PAST AND CURRENT VEGETATION CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTH FORK MCKENZIE WATERSHED...... 48 FIGURE 10: BOLES OF THE MATURE QUACKING ASPEN TREES IN THE QUAKING ASPEN SWAMP...... 56

v

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

RECREATION

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS

This portion of the 2010 Recreation Update appends the 1994 South Fork McKenzie River Watershed Analysis (SFWA) with updated information about recreation.

DEVELOPED RECREATION There are 16 developed recreation sites within the South Fork watershed (Table 1). Of these, ten are operated under a concessionaire special use permit (Table 1). All sites are fee sites, except Box Canyon Horse Camp and Cougar Crossing Day Use. Since 1994, two of the dispersed campsites were converted to developed sites and put under concessionaire operations: Hard Rock and Red Diamond, listed below. These sites are part of the National Recreation Reservation Service as group campgrounds. As stated in the initial WA, sanitation issues were commonly associated with dispersed campsites. Hard Rock and Red Diamond were two areas in particular that presented management problems. The conversion to developed sites and to the concessionaire as reservation sites has alleviated many of the problems that once occurred at these sites.

Terwilliger Hot Springs, which was added to the concessionaire permit in 2007, has also seen improvements in management issues. The constant on-site presence of the concessionaire has dramatically reduced visitor problems at the hot springs. Although this site continues to be a challenge to operate and maintain, changing to concessionaire management has provided visitors with a safer and cleaner recreation site.

Table 1. Developed recreation sites within the South Fork McKenzie River watershed. Recreation Site Concessionaire Use Level1 Amenities (all sites have toilets) Box Canyon Guard Station M Rental cabin Box Canyon Horse Camp L 13 sites with horse corrals Cougar Crossing Campground X M 11 sites Primitive boat launch, interpretive Cougar Crossing Day Use X M wayside, toilet 38 sites, 2 picnic sites, amphitheater, Delta Campground X M host, drinking water, interpretive trail East Fork Trailhead L Parking area, toilet Echo Day Use L Boat launch, 7 picnic sites French Pete Campground X H 17 sites, drinking water Hard Rock Group X L 2 sites Campground Indian Ridge Lookout H Rental cabin Red Diamond Group X L 3 sites Campground Roaring River Group M 5 sites

1

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 1. Developed recreation sites within the South Fork McKenzie River watershed. Recreation Site Concessionaire Use Level1 Amenities (all sites have toilets) Campground Slide Creek Campground X M 16 sites, host, drinking water Boat launch, 2 picnic sites, drinking Slide Creek Day Use X M water Sunnyside Campground X M 13 sites Terwilliger Hot Springs X H Hot springs, access trail 1 H = Full during peak use times (i.e., July/August weekends and holidays) and moderate use on weekdays, M = sometimes full during peak use times and low use on weekdays, L = not full during peak use times and little or no occupancy on weekdays Other Changes to Developed Recreation Include: Two developed sites have been converted to dispersed recreation sites: Twin Springs and Dutch Oven Campgrounds. Entrance signs, tables and fire rings were removed and the sites were removed from the developed recreation sites inventory. However, the vault toilets are still operated and maintained until the structures are no longer safe for use.

Homestead Campground was permanently closed in 2008 after a blowdown event destroyed many of the campground facilities. The site is currently in the process of rehabilitation. This site is also slated for use as a Corps of Engineers fish stocking site and as an interpretive scenic byway wayside.

Roaring River Campground was converted to a group site and added to the reservation system.

Facility improvements have occurred at nearly all of the developed sites. Old, deteriorating toilets have been replaced with CXT concrete vault toilets. These structures are very durable, built to withstand snow loads, and are resistant to vandalism. In addition to a CXT vault toilet at the Terwilliger parking area, two composting toilets were constructed near the pools. Bruckart Boat Launch was relocated off of the busy Highway 126 corridor to a much safer and better designed river access off of Forest Road 19. Indian Ridge Lookout and Box Canyon Guard Station both had roof replacements and other repairs done in 2009.

Forest Road 19 was designated a National Forest Scenic Byway (as Aufderheide) in 1995, an Oregon State Scenic Byway in 1997, and most recently designated as part of the West Cascades National Scenic Byway in 2000. This byway is a 220-mile route between Estacada and Oakridge that takes travelers through the lush forests and scenic river drainages along the western slopes of the Cascades. There are numerous interpretive waysides located along the stretch of byway that runs through the South Fork watershed and there are plans for improvements and additional wayside exhibits.

2

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Cougar Reservoir was drawn down during temperature control tower construction and was essentially empty and not available for the numerous recreation activities normally occurring at the reservoir. This temporary change resulted in a significant decrease in use of nearby developed recreation sites during that period. Use numbers have been slowly increasing since the project was completed, but levels are still less than they were prior to the project.

DISPERSED RECREATION The South Fork riparian corridor continues to be a destination for those visitors seeking a more primitive experience. The evidence described above of visitors using dispersed sites that have been blocked or limited to vehicle access is a clear indicator of a continued desire for dispersed recreation opportunities within the riparian corridor. Some changes that have occurred that affect dispersed recreation include:

Travel Management Plan – 2005 Travel Management Rule (the Rule) requires each Forest to designate a travel system to be open to motor vehicle use by vehicle class and time of year to reduce and prevent adverse resource impacts caused by unmanaged motorized use. The Rule requires the Willamette National Forest to publish a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) displaying a designated system of routes, including travel restrictions and exceptions. Following the publication of this map, motor vehicle use occurring outside of the designated system (motorized cross-country travel) will be prohibited. Exceptions to this rule are provided for accessing dispersed camping sites. This process was finalized in 2009 for the Willamette National Forest. These actions will result in a change in motorized travel management from “open unless posted closed” to “closed unless designated as open,” and will result in the following regulatory and management actions:

• Public access will be retained on roads and trails currently managed as open to use by motor vehicles. Public access will not be allowed on Operational Maintenance Level 1 roads or roads with existing closures.

• Access zones will be designated as needed by managers to allow continued public access to dispersed camping opportunities in all Management Areas except Wilderness (1), Research Natural Areas (4), Wild Rivers (6a), Semi-primitive Non-motorized Recreation (10d, 10e, 10f), and Developed Recreation (12a, 12b).

• The Motor Vehicle Use Map will be used as an enforcement and public education tool, and will display motor vehicle uses allowed by type of vehicle and time of year.

• Forest Order was established in 1998 prohibiting camping within ¼ mile of Forest Road 19 from the junction of Highway 126 to Forest Road 1927. This ¼ restriction was also put in place around Hidden Lake.

3

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Cougar Reservoir Drawdown: As mentioned above, this resulted in significant decreases in recreation use associated with the reservoir, including dispersed recreation. Since the drawdown, dispersed recreation appears to have returned to use levels prior to the drawdown.

Homeless/Transient Population: Has increased and the ability of law enforcement to manage this issue has been and continues to be a challenge in the court system.

Changes in Access to Dispersed Sites: Along the South Fork riparian corridor – see Step 1 for details

FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

This section will summarize some of the recent findings as a result of the update to the analysis of conditions and processes. In addition a validation of unaccomplished past recommendations is conducted, as well as the identification of new management recommendations.

REVIEW OF WATERSHED ANALYSIS RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendation: “Evaluate non system roads that provide recreational access but are causing resource damage. A large number of these non system roads are related to dispersed campsites along the South fork.” (p. 270)

Evaluations of system and non system roads leading to dispersed campsites within the riparian area along the South Fork were conducted and mitigation actions implemented for identified sites. Actions included prohibiting vehicle access to dispersed campsites by installing barriers at the road entrance. In some cases, space was left for vehicle parking along Forest Road 19 and use of the campsite remained as a walk-in site. In other cases, sites were completely closed to vehicle access and parking.

The Hidden Lake area was specifically identified in the initial WA as an area of concern due to dispersed recreation resource damage. In 1998, a Forest Order was established limiting use around the lake to day use only. Boulders were placed near the road shoulders on Road 1980-230 to restrict vehicle entry. A large portion of the road surrounding the lake was closed in 1998 to minimize resource damage to the lake and surrounding vegetation. The dispersed sites, fire rings and litter were removed. With the night time closure, the number of visitors decreased and the vegetation around the dispersed sites began to come back. However, with the continued visitor use at Hidden Lake, the trampled and eroding conditions still exist along the shoreline.

A number of sites on the east side of Cougar Reservoir along Forest Road 1900-500 were closed with jersey barriers during the reservoir drawdown (see Step 3, Developed Recreation for more

4

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update information). Some of these barriers have been moved by the public and vehicle access to the sites has been reestablished.

VALIDATION OF UNACCOMPLISHED RECOMMENDATIONS& IDENTIFICATION OF NEW RECOMMENDATIONS A visit in 2009 to several of the closed or bermed dispersed sites along the South Fork showed mixed success with the closures. Many of the sites are clearly still being used for camping, fishing, picnicking, and other related uses. In most places, the road berms or boulders continue to block vehicle access, but show clear evidence of foot traffic to the river bank or campsites. However, some of the road blockages have been cut away or moved and now allow access by smaller vehicles. Dispersed recreation sites in other areas of the watershed show similar effects. For example, some sites along the east side of Cougar Reservoir have been re-opened to vehicle access by the public.

Recommended Actions: Re-evaluate dispersed recreation sites within in the riparian corridor and at Hidden Lake for vehicle and pedestrian access. Make a determination for complete closure (i.e., rehab and block access), vehicle closure only, or keep open to vehicle access.

Extend restricted camping boundary from ¼ mile to ½ mile off Forest Road 19 from the junction of Highway 126 to Forest Road 1927.

Develop a public education plan for communicating the past, current, and future restoration efforts occurring in the South Fork.

Institute the Respect the River program to share restoration accomplishments with the public, educate visitors about proper dispersed recreation etiquette, and track dispersed recreation use. Utilize signs, interpretive displays, and Respect the River Contact Rangers to disseminate information. Rangers can also track dispersed recreation use and monitor for program effectiveness.

Evaluate developed recreation sites for meeting current and future recreation needs.

Finish the South Fork McKenzie and Hidden Lake SIA Implementation Guides.

Develop vegetation management plans for all developed recreation sites.

Develop an interpretive strategy for Road 19 segment of the West Cascades National Scenic Byway.

5

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

FISHERIES

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS

This portion of the 2010 Fisheries Update appends the 1994 South Fork McKenzie River Watershed Analysis (SFWA) with updated information about fisheries and habitat condition. As described in the SFWA, aquatic and fisheries issues focus on “at-risk” species and prominent aquatic habitat issues that repeat on a regional scale; namely the current and future of aquatic habitat, particularly as it relates to at-risk species, and the current and future of mitigations for Cougar Dam.

BULL TROUT AND SPRING CHINOOK SALMON UPDATE The SFWA (1994) found that “while the South Fork probably does serve as refugia for bull trout, very little is known about population trends or conditions.” In the past 15 years extensive efforts by ODFW, the Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps), the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Willamette National Forest have sought to remedy our lack of knowledge. For example, ODFW under contract with the Corps has radio tagged bull trout adults to in order to better locate spawning areas in Roaring River. Tissue sampling has been conducted to better understand the genetics of the McKenzie River sub-populations (Trail Bridge, Mainstem, and South Fork sub-populations). In the Fisheries section of this update a summary of findings will be provided. To better understand the specifics of those findings a reading of the cited reports and plans would be necessary.

Bull trout were listed as Threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act on June 10, 1998. Prior to listing, the South Fork McKenzie River bull trout population was described by Ratliff and Howell (1992) as “At Moderate Risk of Extinction”. In the most recent characterization of population condition, Buchanan and others (1997) downgraded their status and described the population as “At High Risk of Extinction”. That assessment was based upon a small number and decreasing trend of redds observed in spawning counts between 1994, 1995, and 1996, (Figure 1) and probable illegal harvest of adults by anglers.

Figure 1 provides trend information on bull trout redds counted in Roaring River. Roaring River remains the only known stream in the South Fork that provides the required stream temperatures for bull trout spawning and early rearing.

If the assessment were made today, the favorable increase in number of bull trout adults in the years following 1997 would expectedly be better, especially when viewed in the context of improvements described in this update.

6

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Figure 1: Bull trout redd counts from South Fork McKenzie River sub-basin spawning surveys by ODFW and Forest Service; 1993-2009.

Spring Chinook Salmon were listed as Threatened on March 24, 1999 and threatened status was reaffirmed on June 28, 2005 following lawsuit (NOAA 2005). The extent of current migratory access to the South Fork by Chinook adults is to the base of Cougar Dam. However, since 1993 the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has transported mostly hatchery origin adults into spawning habitat isolated above Cougar Dam, collected from adults trapped at McKenzie Salmon Hatchery (Table 2).

Suppressing factors for the South Fork McKenzie population of bull trout described by Ratliff and Howell (1992) and Buchanan, et al. (1997) are: habitat degradation, passage barriers, overharvest, and possible hybridization and competition with non-native brook trout. How managers have addressed each suppressing factor since the completion the original watershed analysis in 1994 is described below. A parallel bull trout recovery planning document constructed by participants of the Willamette Basin Recovery Unit is contained in the Bull Trout Draft Recovery Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002). Specific projects and planning are described in the basin specific action plan (Upper Willamette Basin Bull Trout Action Plan, 2010) assembled by the Upper Willamette Bull Trout Working Group, updated annually.

7

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

DeHaan (2010) suggests that genetic differentiation of the SF McKenzie may be due to low levels of historic gene flow or genetic drift as a result of recent population declines. The presence of unique alleles in the SF McKenzie suggests that gene flow between the SF McKenzie and other upper Willamette tributaries had been limited, even prior to contemporary fragmentation of the river network by dams. The now-isolated population in the SF McKenzie persisted at relatively low abundance until it recently began increasing following changes in fisheries management implemented to benefit bull trout. It seems likely that the SF McKenzie population was genetically distinct before recent population declines and that the level of variation among the SF McKenzie and other populations was accentuated by genetic drift when this population persisted at a much smaller size.

This is important when considering translocating SF McKenzie bull trout as is the current practice with Anderson Creek fish in the McKenzie Mainstem sub-population. DeHaan (2010) suggests that since information on outbreeding does not exist for bull trout, it’s difficult to say what the implications of moving fish from the SF McKenzie into genetically differentiated populations (and vice versa) might be. The exchange of a small number of individuals (e.g. 1 or 2 fish) from the SF McKenzie with other Willamette populations over the course of multiple generations would likely mimic historic patterns of gene flow and may have a positive effect on levels of variation within populations. Alternatively, translocation of large numbers of fish between the SF McKenzie and other populations over a short time period could result in homogenization of genetically unique populations and the loss of local adaptations in some of these populations.

As spring Chinook salmon and bull trout utilize similar habitats in the South Fork McKenzie, suppressing factors described for bull trout are very similar for salmon in their freshwater life history use of habitat. The one exception is hybridization with brook trout, described above as a suppressing factor for bull trout. However hybridization among wild salmon with hatchery origin salmon is substituted in this case, as genetic loss is believed to have occurred among locally adapted runs of salmon that utilize the McKenzie River sub-basin. In 2010, a newly completed Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) fish collection facility at the base of Cougar Dam will begin operation and collect adult Chinook of natural origin for transport above the dam (described below in Fragmented Habitat Update). However, most adults to be collected at the base of Cougar Dam are believed to be of hatchery origin or hybrids of wild and hatchery salmon.

Suppressing factors for the Upper Willamette Spring Chinook Salmon ESU, which includes McKenzie River salmon runs, are described as habitat degradation (including water temperature and climate change), hatchery influence, harvest rates, and dams (as fragmentation of habitat)(NOAA 2008).

Spring Chinook salmon recovery efforts, particularly in and around Willamette Basin flood control dams are largely focused on operation of those dams and mitigating their effects. The Willamette River Basin Project is a management plan for 13 Willamette basin dams by three federal agencies

8

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 2. Releases of Hatchery Origin Spring Chinook Salmon into the McKenzie Sub-Basin (1993-2009). McKenzie Sub-basin Adult Spring Chinook Transport Year Above Cougar Reservoir Above Trail Bridge Reservoir Mohawk River 1993 55 ______1994 0 ______1995 0 ______1996 291 ______1997 1,038 63 _____ 1998 318 53 156 1999 549 40 204 2000 1,506 42 315 2001 2,055 61 0 2002 4,242 99 197 2003 2,981 141 0 2004 3,430 122 137 2005 923 111 34 2006 1,018 ______2007 743 ______2008 874 ______2009 1,387 ______

(ACOE, Bonneville Power Administration, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation). On July 11, 2008, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued Biological Opinions (BiOp) with additional guidance for their management pertaining to the effects on and recovery of 13 populations of salmon and steelhead, and bull trout, protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Cougar Dam and Reservoir are among the 13 Willamette flood control projects (NOAA 2008).

The McKenzie River salmon run continues to be the largest wild contributor to the Upper Willamette Spring Chinook Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU). The rationale within the BiOp for prioritizing South Fork McKenzie recovery projects early in the order of completion of projects, is the desire to retain genetics of the wild spring Chinook ESU, and to utilize the relative good quality of habitat in the McKenzie sub-basin (compared to other Willamette basin tributaries), including habitat isolated above Cougar Dam. The BiOp maintains that recovery of spring Chinook elsewhere in the basin depends upon conservation of remaining wild fish and basin-wide recovery of historic habitats. This

9

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update strategy places the McKenzie sub-basin as serving as refugia during Willamette spring Chinook ESU recovery.

HABITAT UPDATE – CHANNEL CONDITIONS AND RESTORATION PROJECTS The 1994 SFWA and findings served as rationale for several habitat improvement projects described below. In addition to those active restoration efforts, the favorable influence of passive restoration, bolstered by additional riparian and aquatic protections contained in the Willamette National Forest Plan as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan, was found to make slow but steady progress in aquatic habitat improvement.

Much of aquatic habitat degradation referred to in the watershed analysis and bull trout population assessments stemmed from salvage of in-stream wood over the course of two decades (1965-1985). Although salvage of in-stream wood ended in the mid-1980’s, degradation of South Fork McKenzie River channel conditions continued for another decade and was aggravated by recent large flood disturbance. Two flood events in 1996 during February and November continued to exacerbate degraded channel conditions in the absence of significant quantities of large in-stream woody material.

Upper South Fork McKenzie River Aquatic Restoration Project; Iteration 1 (1996-98) The 1996-98 project was implemented in response to the findings of the SFWA (USFS 1994), focusing on the reach emphasized in the analysis between Augusta Creek confluence (river mile 16.5) to the Roaring River confluence (river mile 21.5), and the lower ½ mile of Roaring River, a treatment distance of about 5.5 miles. Project objectives focused on restoration of conditions of value to spring Chinook salmon and bull trout through placement of 425 pieces of large woody material. This effort was implemented while attempting to maintain kayaking use in the upper South Fork. Boating (specifically kayaking) had been identified as an Outstandingly Remarkable Value of the Wild and Scenic Study River.

Restoration of 191 pieces of material occurred in 1996; timing of placement followed the February flood event and preceded a November flood event. The 1996 material was placed in river mile 16.5- 19.0. In 1998 an additional 234 pieces were placed upstream, from river mile 19.0-21.5, and in 1/2 mile of lower Roaring River.

Maintaining boating use was achieved by placing material in off-bank orientations, avoiding channel spanning structures, avoiding artificial forms of stabilization such as cabling, and utilizing a kayaking community review of project design. The project methods used large woody material salvaged from upland sources, and from material salvaged from area reservoirs (Blue River, Cougar and Trail Bridge reservoirs). About 20% of the material had root-mass attached. Material was placed in- stream using helicopter. This method was used to maintain Wild and Scenic Study River values and

10

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update avoid disturbance of riparian habitat. Project monitoring criteria and results are described in Appendix A. Those results were important to the 2007-09 South Fork project design.

Synthesis of 96-98 Project Monitoring Results Abandonment of off-channel habitats continued as the South Fork McKenzie River rarely inundated its flood plain in response to the 1996, 50-year events upstream of Cougar Dam. Had adequate quantities of large woody material been present during these events, we expect to have witnessed an improved resilience in the treated channel response. Responses include the following habitat forming processes: greater rate of channel migration; point bar formation; development of woody material jams; and inundation of the flood plain. These are processes essential to development and maintenance of complex channel conditions in Northwest forests and of importance to native aquatic animals. Evolutionarily, they are the conditions to which at-risk species have adapted.

Monitoring of the 1996-98 project during 1993 through 2006 yielded results valuable in interpretation of effectiveness of project methods at meeting desired channel response. A 2006 project proposal and environmental analysis used monitoring results with a modified approach to restoration methods. Notable results are reflected in the proposed placement of material large enough to serve as “key wood”, placed to contribute to formation of large wood jams, especially in historical depositional areas. Due to limitations of placing large material with traditional equipment, the use of river- adjacent live trees was considered as a source of key wood. Analysis of existing riparian stands found an insignificant influence on sources of river shade through utilization of forty river-adjacent trees along the 8.5 mile restoration reach (USFS 2006).

After review with boating public interests of the 1996-98 projects, the 2006 proposal included placement of channel spanning features provided by tipping river adjacent trees. The updated proposal was scoped with the boating public and met kayaking and rafting interests by avoidance of treatment in desired boating destinations (river mile 16 to 8). Spanning the channel with key wood, particularly in low gradient, historical depositional areas, is believed to reestablish LWM jams necessary to the processes described above.

The likelihood restoration material would migrate to a downstream key wood or point bar location was very low if material was placed off-bank. Using the 96-98 findings, the 2006 proposal included smaller material of value in accumulations to be placed upstream of key wood, in mid-channel locations, to encourage its migration to the next downstream key wood, bar or jam.

Collection of upland large woody material, especially with root-mass, continued to be dependent upon availability of road side salvage and reservoir material in the 2006 proposal. Of greatest value for in-stream stability is material with root mass. The 2006 proposal did not modify collection strategy, but future restoration efforts might consider using material gathered from thinning stands in the vicinity of wood deficient channels. Ideally, stable upland sources could be utilized to avoid

11

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update borrowing from future in-stream supply (in areas not prone to in-stream wood delivery processes), and provide that material directly to the channel. If material with root is necessary, current restoration methods often knock trees down within a stand and transport them directly to the wood deficient channel. This approach would result in a comparatively higher degree of project efficiency and lower transport cost per unit, compared to the 2007-08 project collection and delivery methods.

Upper South Fork McKenzie River Project; Iteration 2 (2007-09) The most recent additions of large woody material in 2007-08, included materials considered large enough to function as key wood and consisted of volumes of large woody material considered significant and within the range of historic condition, placed to restore the processes described above. In 2009, woody material that would be considered “fine material” in relation to whole trees was placed upstream of large wood by hand crews. This material primarily consisted of branches found in the riparian area.

Wood totals placed during 2007-08 were 40 tipped key trees, 250 new trees, and 225 pieces of re- positioned (i.e. previous project material judged to be minimally effective). Wood density along the 8.5 mile reach climbed to 55 pieces per mile in the medium to large-size class (>24 inch diameter X 50 feet long). Wood in all size classes is 78 pieces per mile (> 12 inch diameter X 25 feet long). About 30% of 2007-08 project wood has root-mass attached. An additional 20 natural key trees (non- human tipped) were utilized during placement of helicopter wood, to contribute to development of jams.

Upper South Fork McKenzie River Project (2007-09) Monitoring Monitoring criteria utilized by the first iteration of the South Fork project are available to the current project. Measure of side channel area, pool:riffle ratio, biological response, channel sinuosity, and LWM density, migration and recruitment, are possible criteria.

Methods used in measurement are remote sensing using LiDAR and TIR, as those flights gathered pre-project conditions in 2009, and provide a high resolution baseline condition of stream channel and floodplain prior to channel response. Periodic remote sensing using LiDAR/TIR will be conducted approximately every 10-20 years, following flood disturbance of significant magnitude (10+ year recurrence interval). Mapping river features such as side channel location and characteristics is being conducted using GPS and may be used to ground verify LiDAR/TIR interpretation.

All wood of project origin is tagged with a unique identifier and location GPS’d. Following significant flow events, tagged wood may be re-inventoried to track wood movement, accumulation formation, recruitment of natural wood, migration of project wood out of the restoration reach, project wood association with certain river features, or a host of other research possibility. Photo-

12

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update point monitoring in the pre-treatment and post-treatment channel and following flood disturbance are planned. Photo point monitoring of selected log jams should also continue.

Monitoring biological response is available through tracking adult bull trout numbers in spawning ground surveys. Response of a dwindling salmon life history form, those spring Chinook remaining resident in fresh water for more than one year, is possible as juvenile outmigrants are trapped by Corps and ODFW biologists. An anticipated response would be a greater proportion of Age 1+ smolts trapped as side channel area increases in the restoration reach.

Homestead campground experienced a wind-throw event that destroyed most of the campgrounds facilities. It was decided to decommission the site, but portions of the existing road were left in case the site is used as an adult release site for spring Chinook and bull trout in the future. The following photos show the successful results of the technique used in the 2007-2009 project (Figure 2). That is, first tipping anchor trees in order to use the rootwad as ballast. Second, use a helicopter to place other logs upstream of the anchor tree. And finally, place finer woody material by hand upstream of the jam in order to increase complexity.

HABITAT UPDATE – ALTERED TEMPERATURE REGIME BY COUGAR DAM AND THE COUGAR WATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL PROJECT; 1999-2005. Cougar Dam altered the temperature regime of water delivered to the lowest 4.5 miles of South Fork McKenzie River, and mainstem McKenzie River downstream of the confluence, to the extent that native fish life history was adversely affected. Modification of spring Chinook salmon adult migration, spawning, incubation, rearing, and juvenile migration were severely influenced so as to reduce salmon survival in those waters downstream of Cougar Dam. Similar problems exist in many “high-head” dams delivering water from deep depths of a reservoir.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers addressed the problem by designing a retrofitted water delivery system through construction of a multi-level water intake system. This solution is the second to be applied to a deep delivery reservoir in the nation, after Shasta Dam in California. The project was implemented during 1999-2005, and required drawdown of the reservoir during construction (2002- 2004), to levels that were 150 feet below ordinary low pool elevations, in order to expose a suitable foundation for construction of the intake tower. The strategy involved the modification of the original water collection tower (completed in 1963) with construction of an additional tower with new intakes for delivery of water to the penstock. The new parallel tower contains computer operable ports at all reservoir levels, to deliver water that mimics historically available water temperatures. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will conduct effectiveness monitoring.

Concern about the loss of adult bull trout foraging habitat during the drawdown of Cougar Reservoir, shrinking from 1280 to 120 acres, led to numerous potential emergency measures to temporarily

13

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Figure 2: Homestead Logjam Photo Point Monitoring Results. (Top Left - Log Jam in 2008 after tipping and helicopter placement. Bottom Left - Log jam in 2009 after YCC crew added fine woody material. Bottom Right - Log jam in 2010 after June flows moved finer material into the log jam.

remove bull trout adults from the South Fork McKenzie sub-basin (ODFW 2000). However, emergency measures did not appear necessary through monitoring adult abundance (Figure 1). The adult bull trout population appeared to remain steady during the project, and in the years following completion of the project and restoration of reservoir elevation, appear to have responded favorably to the return of normal reservoir operation. This work was conducted by the Cougar Bull Trout Research Group; ODFW biologists contracted by the Corps during the project construction.

The implementation of the Cougar Water Temperature Control Project and formation of the Cougar Bull Trout Research Group allowed the Corps to respond in a timely manner to potential project 14

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update generated adverse effects to ESA listed bull trout. Numerous bull trout monitoring stations above and below Cougar Dam allowed researchers to count, tag, and track bull trout movements and habitat use through the life of the project. The research group has collected and disseminated considerable information about bull trout life history and specifically addressed unknowns about bull trout desired in the SFWA. That information has been used in management decisions throughout the McKenzie sub-basin and is also of value to recovery of the species throughout its range. The ODFW bull trout group continues its bull trout research and has increased its scope to include Upper Willamette Basin bull trout, including reintroduction of bull trout into historic habitat in the Middle Fork Willamette sub-basin.

FRAGMENTED HABITAT UPDATE – TRAP-AND-HAUL AT COUGAR DAM Cougar Dam, a 519 foot tall earth-fill dam, was conceived as a flood-control dam with accommodations for important salmon runs. A trap-and-haul facility was constructed in the late 1950’s at the base of Cougar Dam to collect adult spring Chinook salmon and haul them to reproductive habitat upstream of the dam. An associated structure upstream of the dam was a tower to collect downstream migrant juvenile Chinook salmon and deliver them through the project. The downstream migrant structure failed to deliver salmon without high mortality, and the Corps salmon mitigation effort shifted emphasis to additional obligation at McKenzie Salmon Hatchery.

Current efforts to recover native migratory fish have focused on construction of a new trap and sorting facility at the base of Cougar Dam (2007-2010). A trap facility that attracts migrants with river water pumped through a series of steps, or fish ladder, into a holding tank from which the fish cannot escape. Native rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Pacific lamprey, bull trout, and spring Chinook salmon are anticipated in the collections from the trap. Native fish collected primarily during their reproductive migration will be sorted from the holding tank and transported by truck to the South Fork McKenzie River above the dam.

Reintroduction of adult Chinook salmon into the upper South Fork McKenzie by ODFW beginning in 1993 has had the beneficial influence of supplying salmon reproduction, their offspring, and nutrients once again into habitat above the dam. The original objective of the ODFW was to restore marine derived nutrients and a source of prey for at-risk bull trout. Direct effects are also positive for terrestrial and aquatic animals, and bird populations preying upon juvenile salmon or feeding on fish carrion. For example, migrations of turkey vultures and bald eagles pause in the South Fork during salmon’s fall spawning season, a likely migration route for these birds historically, due to the size of salmon runs prior to Cougar Dam.

An unanticipated result of reintroduction of salmon adults was favorable juvenile salmon survival through Cougar Dam; its intakes thought to kill nearly all downstream migrants. However, trapping of downstream migrants below Cougar Dam since reintroduction found favorable survival rates of up to 82-93% through the turbines, and 68-82% through regulating outlet (Taylor, 2000). This discovery 15

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update likely accelerated development of fish passage plans at Cougar Dam or contributed to its priority as a fish passage site. Most certainly, the proportion of wild spring Chinook production coming from the McKenzie River sub-basin and its contribution to Upper Willamette spring Chinook viability, led to Cougar’s high priority in the Willamette Basin.

However, utilization of hatchery origin spring Chinook above Cougar Dam since 1993, and straying of hatchery origin adults above Leaburg Dam (and likely hybridization with wild fish currently using the lower South Fork McKenzie) present potential hazard to wild stocks in the sub-basin. It is probable that unmarked adults of hatchery or hatchery-wild hybrid origin will be transported above Cougar Dam because they lack fin-clips administered at McKenzie Salmon Hatchery. The extent of hatchery influence is unknown and estimates unreliable due to the relatively recent practice of marking all hatchery origin salmon, and absence of fish sorting facility at Leaburg Dam.

However, the prospect of conserving remnants of locally adapted salmon is encouraging through measures required in the Willamette Biological Opinion. A full-time fish sorting facility at Leaburg Dam will enable managers to begin establishing a salmon reproductive refuge upstream of Leaburg Dam (McKenzie River mile 37) that would include adult migrants to the South Fork McKenzie River. That facility is planned for completion by 2014.

Reconnection of the upper South Fork McKenzie through a fish sorting facility at Cougar Dam is expected to reestablish a South Fork McKenzie River salmon run - the eventual development within the salmon run of traits specific to the watershed, and to the landscape as managed. How long and what direction adaptation will take will be a fascinating process as wild salmon use of the South Fork McKenzie will be entirely dependent upon human intervention. In combination with temperature control of the river downstream of Cougar Dam, and all upstream migrants passing through the sorting facility, there may be means of mitigating climatic change to a level less detrimental to native fish ability to adapt.

Favorable benefits are anticipated with new connectivity between isolated Roaring River bull trout and McKenzie Mainstem bull trout (and potential Trail Bridge bull trout population connectivity following possible fish passage restoration there expected by 2017). DeHaan (2010) stated that ideally fish passage at these two dams will facilitate genetic exchange among spawning populations and help to reduce the effects of isolation on many of these populations. Additionally, increased hydrologic connectivity in the system may also create opportunities for bull trout to establish new spawning populations in areas that were previously inaccessible above barriers.

A downstream migrant collection facility is in the planning stages for Cougar Dam. The Corps may construct a screen facility to collect downstream migrant fish near the dam. Another design being considered is a trap facility near the South Fork McKenzie’s entrance into Cougar Reservoir. Such a

16

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update facility will be designed to improve fish survival through or around the dam. The Willamette Biological Opinion requires that facility to be completed in 2014.

AQUATIC HABITAT QUALITY AND HISTORIC DISTURBANCE REGIME Cougar Dam continues to be the primary influence on aquatic habitat quality in the 4.5 mile channel downstream of the dam. Beyond restoration of the historic temperature regime, little has changed in terms of aquatic habitat quality from the SFWA findings. Minor additions of spawning substrate have occurred in the channel as byproducts of the Temperature Control and Trap-and-Haul Facility.

Modification of the flow regime and its products by Cougar Dam remains the primary obstacle to recovery of aquatic habitats. Significant additions of spawning substrates are staged to be distributed in the channel downstream of the dam, to address the absence of natural bed-load supply from above the dam. Restoring a smaller particle substrate is a salmon spawning habitat restoration project of the BiOp, and will likely contribute an improved level of supply provided the main stem McKenzie River as well.

A collaborative Habitat Team representing state, tribes and federal agencies will recommend and assist in prioritization of restoration actions as part of the BiOp. Actions prioritized and implemented thus far are described in this update and pending proposals include restoration of large wood supply to the channel downstream of Cougar Dam, its migration also interrupted by the flood-control dam. The Habitat Team plans to complete two habitat projects per year in the Willamette Basin, associated with the BiOp starting in 2010. The BiOp is current through 2034.

The dramatic loss of side channel habitats downstream of the dam described in the SFWA has not changed for the better. Increasing channel efficiency has further simplified the channel, particularly in the area of the chute-cutoffs described in the analysis. Likely aggravating the rate of channel downcutting are broad boulder berms left during dam construction and now effectively functioning as rip-rap and assisting the channel in its narrowing and deepening. In these same areas, the channel was purposefully contained and channelized during Cougar Dam construction (upstream of Road 19 bridge). However now, the unnaturally constrained channel serves no purpose to the operation of the Cougar flood control project and it continues to efficiently transport substrates and remain disconnected from its floodplain.

Periodic mimicry of flood downstream of Cougar Dam will likely be found necessary to formation and maintenance of channel conditions. During the February and November 1996 floods, no more than a 2-year recurrence interval flood (pre-dam) was realized in the lower South Fork McKenzie River channel. A 2-year recurrence flood (pre-dam) has only been briefly exceeded once since completion of Cougar Dam, during 1965 as a 3-year event. A periodic release of controlled flood waters at Cougar Dam, coordinated with other Willamette Basin projects maintaining non-flood flows, would be feasible in this largely federally managed watershed with no development in its

17

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update floodplain. A flood of proportion to present no risk to private and developed portions of the McKenzie River floodplain lower in the sub-basin would be feasible and beneficial to channel morphology, habitat restoration and maintenance.

Disturbance processes important to aquatic habitat quality upstream of Cougar Dam do not include as significant an alteration of flow regime. A moderate-to-low road density and managed timber stands in a recovered condition (in terms of transient snow zone) or that area of the watershed subject to rain-on-snow events, lend themselves to place the South Fork watershed at the low end of the range of peak flow events. The watershed likely had a higher proportion of its surface area in a younger or recently fire-disturbed state. If present, those disturbed areas would yield a greater volume of water and more quickly than current condition, resulting in naturally higher peak flow events.

However, fire suppression beginning in the early 1900’s and continuing today has effectively extended fire frequency on the order of several or more centuries, where it had been as frequent as a half-century. Fire was an important aquatic habitat forming disturbance in the watershed, responsible for delivery of significant volumes of large woody material and sediments to tributary and river channels. The stream and river processing of fire impacted forest and torrent delivered pulses of large wood and sediment is important to Northwest stream and river morphology (Naiman and others 2010). Evidence of this process was encountered recently along the South Fork channel near Chucksney Mountain.

What appears to be an old fire-scarred torrent deposit, perhaps ancient, is located along the South Fork McKenzie channel, at the toe of Chucksney Mountain. Chucksney Mountain, with its high ridges subject to lightning ignitions is described as frequent to intermediate (100-200 year) fire interval of moderate to high intensity and of medium to large patch size (Fire Regime #3, SFWA).

BULL TROUT HYBRIDIZATION/COMPETITION WITH BROOK TROUT The potential for the South Fork McKenzie bull trout population to suffer adverse effects of hybridization or competition with non-native brook trout is considered remote, since brook trout have not been observed to overlap South Fork McKenzie habitats with bull trout. However, the source of brook trout remains possible following the introduction and naturalization of brook trout in numerous high elevation lakes within Three Sisters Wilderness. Unknown to managers is the extent of brook trout range in upper South Fork McKenzie lakes and streams, and potential to expand their range with changes in climate. Six lakes within the basin are known to contain naturalized populations of brook trout, stocked in lakes as early as the 1920’s; Penn, Porky, Boat, Corner, Goose, and Smith Lakes. The extent of brook trout reproduction and connectivity through perennial and seasonal channels to habitats occupied by bull trout is unknown.

18

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Figure 3: A mature stand of Douglas fir grows over a deposit of old large woody material. Upon closer inspection, the wood is fire scarred and was perhaps transported there by debris torrent following fire on the flanks of Chucksney Mountain. This material is located at 43o 57’ 22.5” N Latitude; 122o 06’ 19.9” W Longitude, at the toe of steep slopes beneath Chucksney Mountain (photos taken by Dave Bickford). The connection between Three Sisters Wilderness high plateau and the upper reaches of the South Fork McKenzie River, located just downstream are of particular interest concerning potential physical links between brook trout and bull trout habitats. These reaches are described as the Elk Meadow/Shroy Meadow Complex including Lindh Lake, and Beaver Marsh Complex including Boat Lake, Plumb Lake and outlets. Numerous high elevation lakes have unknown spawning potential and sub-basin connectivity and should be examined. Once those conditions are known, recommendations to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and stocking strategies can be made. Oregon Native Fish conservation policies recommend against stocking brook trout in lakes and streams with known connection to bull trout populations.

Simultaneous to potential brook trout expansion of range is the probable likelihood that bull trout range is expanding in the South Fork McKenzie sub-basin. Redd surveys conducted in the sub-basin examine Roaring River habitats, with periodic probes or sampling of suitable reproductive habitat in

19

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update the upper South Fork McKenzie above Roaring River confluence, and Elk Creek. The trend of bull trout adult numbers is increasing as described in Figure 1. As adult bull trout numbers increase and competition for habitat increases, so may the range of bull trout within sub-basin cold water habitats. Elk Creek is in an improving condition since original timber harvest and road building activities. The upper South Fork McKenzie River is located largely within the Three Sisters Wilderness. While Roaring River provides the best quality reproductive habitat within the sub-basin, these two additional stream channels also provide habitat suitable for the reproductive and early life history needs of bull trout.

Some of the known brook trout source lakes are in conflict with Spotted Frog (Rana pretoisa), including Penn, Goose and Corner Lakes. The introduced brook trout are found preying upon native fauna including spotted frog, a species of concern, in its various life history stages. A conservation/recovery plan and efforts over the past decade (USFWS 2000), (Pearl et.al 2007) have been conducted that include efforts to eradicate brook trout. Also, an experimental use of sterile triploid brook trout in various fertile diploid brook trout lakes is being tested by ODFW.

OVERHARVEST Overharvest of bull trout in the South Fork McKenzie remains a concern, but was especially so as the watershed analysis was being written in 1994, due to the very low number of adults upstream of Cougar Dam. Angling restrictions protecting bull trout from harvest were first instituted in 1991 in the upper Willamette Basin. Because of the rarity of bull trout and likelihood an angler would misidentify a bull trout and confuse it with legally harvested fish, there was a pressing need to communicate bull trout characteristics and identification. The focus among state and federal managers in the South Fork became proper bull trout identification and the need for their release. Means used to increase awareness of bull trout conservation in the watershed utilized “Please Release Me” posters near occupied habitat, emphasis in state angling regulations, public contact using fisheries and law enforcement personnel along streams, reservoirs and rivers, and presentations to media, schools, angling clubs, and conservation groups.

The ODFW ceased stocking a catchable size rainbow fishery in the South Fork McKenzie River above Cougar Reservoir in 1996 and changed angling regulations to protect all native fish with Catch-and-Release requirements. While use of bait is not allowed (and bull trout are particularly susceptible to use of bait), baits historical use is one of the difficult barriers to bull trout conservation. Even so, bull trout population response to the change in fishery management was immediate as growing numbers of adults were observed on their spawning grounds (Table 12). Later in 2001, the ODFW ceased stocking Cougar Reservoir with fingerling rainbow trout. Currently a 5-fish daily limit and use of bait are allowed in Cougar Reservoir, which also serves as adult bull trout foraging habitat, and spring Chinook juvenile rearing habitat. Catchable size salmon, rainbow, cutthroat and bull trout are among the reservoir catch. Only rainbow, cutthroat, and salmon are legally kept.

20

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

The harvest rate of spring Chinook salmon, as a listed species, is regulated by state and federal fishery managers attempting to provide for escapement, after commercial and recreational fisheries harvest, sufficient to maintain viable population levels. The South Fork McKenzie River watershed is on the verge of functioning as refugia as envisioned by watershed analysis authors. By 2014, the McKenzie River fish sorting ladders at Leaburg Dam and downstream migrant passage at Cougar Dam, coupled with restoration described in this update, will effectively transform the South Fork McKenzie into salmon and bull trout refugia.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND LISTED FISH SPECIES Changes in stream and ambient temperatures, flow regimes, and hillslope processes could have substantial impacts on bull trout and spring Chinook salmon. Of all the native Salmonid fishes found in the McKenzie River sub-basin, bull trout require the coldest water temperatures in order to fulfill their life history requirements. Those bull trout in the Columbia River basin that rely on glaciers to maintain cold stream temperatures would likely suffer ill effects from atmospheric warming. Bull trout in the McKenzie River system rely on cold-water springs whose sources are the High Cascades geologic areas.

These ground water source areas should still provide cold, clean water that will benefit bull trout and spring Chinook salmon. However, changes in flow regimes during base flow conditions could reduce the amount of spawning habitat available for bull trout and Chinook since they spawn during the months of September and October during base flow conditions. Gravel patches at the margin of the rivers could become unsuitable depending on changes in river stage.

FINDINGS

This section will summarize some of the recent findings as a result of the update to the analysis of conditions and processes. Of particular interest is the value of the South Fork McKenzie River to serve as refugia to at-risk species, and as such, to serve in the recovery of aquatic species in peril. The SFWA authors recognized the potential of the watershed to serve this purpose, the main barrier, Cougar Dam. If restoration efforts function as desired, the watershed is well on its way to benefit native fish.

REFUGIA/AQUATIC CORE AREAS Since the SFWA in 1994, human intervention in the South Fork McKenzie River is responsible for restoration of the historic temperature regime downstream of Cougar Dam, the re-establishment of migration of reproductive runs upstream of the dam, restoration of large woody material and LWM dependent processes, and in 2014, the completion of downstream migrant trapping in the watershed. While dependent upon human operation, by 2014, if as designed, the watershed will function as the

21

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

SFWA authors envisioned, as aquatic refugia and an area essential to recovery of at-risk species in the Willamette Basin.

For example, within the watershed, the status of the South Fork McKenzie River bull trout population would likely be upgraded from “At High Risk of Extinction”, an assessment made shortly after the SFWA. Current assessment would likely look favorably on population numbers, the new connectivity at Cougar Dam, anticipated benefits of habitat improvement, and effectiveness of harvest restrictions.

Monitoring of projects described above is essential to determine their effectiveness. Largely a Corps task in operating and tracking Cougar Dam improvement projects, monitoring habitat improvements is conducted largely by USFS. New technologies in remote sensing such as LiDAR and TIR, make the task much less labor intensive, with a greater degree of resolution. Important to determine in habitat project effectiveness is – are the processes of wood delivery and channel formation restored? A current barrier to wood delivery to above-dam channels is an altered fire regime. Monitoring may reveal human assistance is necessary to mimic fire origin large woody material to the above-dam channel.

The facilities at Cougar Dam are dependent upon continuing human operation. The South Fork McKenzie River channel downstream of the dam will require human intervention to restore processes and materials essential to channel morphology.

Climate change and its effects will likely have dramatic adverse effect upon the range of aquatic species as the rate of change forecast is believed beyond many species ability to adapt. The South Fork, a largely human-operated watershed in terms of aquatic habitat condition, quality and access, may give managers the ability to buffer adverse change (for example through operation of temperature control), and further the ability of the watershed to serve as refugia.

MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

Work with ODFW to change regulations in Cougar Reservoir. At present, Chinook salmon in Cougar Reservoir under 24 inches in length are considered trout and can be kept (bag limit is 5 trout per day). Cougar Reservoir is open to trout fishing all year long. The 2010 salmon run collected at the trap and haul facility is presumably transporting “wild” salmon over the dam. In 2011 those juvenile salmon that grow over 8 inches in length in the reservoir could legally be caught by anglers.

Work with the Corps of Engineers on adult release sites upstream of Cougar Reservoir. An interagency field trip in 2009 found that Dutch Oven campground (currently a dispersed site)

22

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

and Homestead campground (decommissioned in 2010) were good candidates for release sites.

Work with the Corps of Engineers on projects downstream of Cougar Dam. The South Fork WA (1994) found that the river below the dam did not serve as refugia for bull trout or spring Chinook salmon because biophysical disturbances overwhelm the ability of that habitat to provide resilience to the biotic communities. The Corps recently installed a water temperature control tower at Cougar Dam. Before the tower was constructed river temperatures below the dam were too warm in the winter and too cold in the summer compared to river gage recordings upstream of Cougar Reservoir. This had the effect of disrupting Chinook spawning migrations, fry emergence, and macroinvertebrate production. Stream temperature monitoring has shown that the tower is effective in emulating natural temperature fluctuations and spring Chinook are returning to the lower river. The NMFS biological opinion recommended that the Corps work in cooperation with the Forest Service to improve habitat downstream of Cougar Dam by reconnecting off-channel habitats, large wood restoration, gravel augmentation, and flow regime changes.

Continue to work with the Upper Willamette River Bull Trout Working Group on implementing a genetic monitoring and evaluation plan.

The Elk Creek sub-watershed contains High Cascades geology. Continue to monitor stream temperatures and habitat conditions in this creek for potential colonization by bull trout. Periodically snorkel the lower reaches of Elk Creek to determine presence of bull trout juveniles and/or fry.

REFERENCES

Buchanan, D.V., M.L. Hanson, and R.M. Hooton. 1997. Status of Oregon’s Bull Trout. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Portland.

Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT). 1993. Forest ecosystem management: an ecological, economic, and social assessment. U.S. Government Printing Office 1993-793-071 for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Portland, OR.

Naiman, R.J., J.S. Bechtold, T.J. Beechie, J.J.Latterell, and R. Van Pelt. 2010. A Process-Based View of Floodplain Forest Patterns in Coastal River Valleys of the Pacific Northwest. Ecosystems 13:1-31.

NOAA 2005. Updated Status of Federally Listed ESUs of West Coast Salmon and Steelhead. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NWFSC-66. Seattle, WA

23

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

NOAA 2008. Willamette River Basin Flood Control Project Biological Opinion, Consultation under the Endangered Species Act for continuing operation of 13 Willamette Basin Flood Control Dams conducted by NOAA Fisheries Service, Northwest Region, Seattle, WA

ODFW 2000. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2000. Minimizing risks and mitigation of impacts to bull trout Salvelinus confluentus from construction of temperature control facilities at Cougar Reservoir, Oregon. Project proposal to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. ODFW, South Willamette District, Springfield.

ODFW 2001. Upper Willamette River Spring Chinook in Freshwater Fisheries of the Willamette Basin and Lower Columbia River Mainstem. A fisheries management and evaluation plan; ODFW, Portland, OR

ODFW 2003. Native Fish Conservation Policy. ODFW; Salem, OR

Primozich, D. and R. Bastach 2004. Draft Willamette Subbasin Plan; Appendix K: Assessment of Aquatic Habitat in the McKenzie Subbasin. Willamette Restoration Initiative, Portland, OR

Pearl, C.A and K.A. Cushman 2007. A Conservation Assessment for the Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa) USDA Forest Service Region 6 and USDI Bureau of Land Mangement, Oregon and Washington.

Ratliff, D.E. and P.J. Howell. 1992. The status of bull trout populations in Oregon. Pages 10-17 in Proceedings of the Gearhart Mountain bull trout workshop. P.J. Howell and D.V. Buchanan, editors. Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Corvallis.

Taylor, G.A. 2000. Monitoring of Downstream Passage at Cougar Dam in the South Fork McKenzie River, Oregon 1998-00. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; Springfield, OR. Unpublished.

Upper Willamette Basin Bull Trout Action Plan. 2010. A conservation and recovery plan by the Upper Willamette Basin Bull Trout Working Group, Springfield.

U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of the Interior. 1994. Record of decision for Amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl. U.S Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, Washington D.C.

USFS 1990. Willamette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Eugene, OR

USFS 1994. South Fork McKenzie River Watershed Analysis . Blue River Ranger District; Willamette National Forest, Eugene, OR

24

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

USFS 1995. Upper South Fork McKenzie River Restoration Project Environmental Assessment. Blue River Ranger District, Willamette National Forest, Eugene, OR

USFS 2004. Upper McKenzie River Aquatic Restoration Project Environmental Assessment. McKenzie River Ranger District; Willamette National Forest, Eugene, OR

USFS 2005. South Fork McKenzie River Stream Survey (Hankin-Reeves level II survey). McKenzie River Ranger District, Willamette National Forest, Eugene, OR. Unpublished.

USFS 2006. South Fork McKenzie River Enhancement Project Environmental Assessment. McKenzie River Ranger District, Willamette National Forest, Eugene, OR

USFWS 2000. Conservation Agreement for the Oregon spotted frog Mink Lake Basin population. USFWS (Portland, Oregon) with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and USDA Forest Service, Willamette National Forest.

USFWS 2002. Bull Trout Draft Recovery Plan, Chapter 5 Willamette River Recovery Unit 4, Oregon. 96 p. In: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) Draft Recovery Plan, Portland, OR

USFWS. DeHaan, P. 2010. Genetic monitoring and evaluation plan for bull trout in the upper Willamette River, Oregon. Second Draft submitted July 12, 2010 to the Army Corps of Engineers and the Upper Willamette River Bull Trout Working Group. Abernathy Fish Technology Center. Longview, Washington.

Monitoring Criteria and Results

Upper South Fork McKenzie River Aquatic Restoration Project 1996-98 Project Monitoring Criteria 1. Large Woody Material Density (including natural recruitment of LWM)

Method: Pre-project wood density was measured in pieces per mile among three size classes. Size classes of large wood are Small: 12-24" diameter by 25 foot length; Medium: 24-36" diameter by 50 foot length; Large: greater than 36" diameter by 50 foot length. Desired densities are in the range of 80-106 pieces in the medium and large size classes (Table A).

2. Pool:Riffle Ratio and Side Channel Area and Sinuosity

Method: Pre-project pool:riffle ratio, side channel area and sinuosity measurement are available from aerial flights and physical habitat surveys. Post-project flights are scheduled to follow significant flow events (>10-year events) and physical habitat surveys, which repeat about every

25

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

10 years. Analysis of pre- and post-treatment surveys and flights utilizes results from both methods. Desired pool frequencies are described in Table 12. Recovery of side channel habitat approaching pre-salvage side channel area is desired. Reduction in channel straightening and improvement of channel lateral migration, and greater sinuosity, is an expected response to restoration LWM.

3. Biological Response

Method: Monitoring of bull trout population size. Bull trout are expected to respond with increasing population size due to desired changes in physical habitat. Desired changes for bull trout are increased frequency and area of side channel habitat (of value to rearing juveniles and foraging adults) and increased frequency and area of pool habitat (of value to sub-adults and adults as foraging habitat). This method of monitoring uses annual egg nest counts in known spawning streams, currently Roaring River, to approximate adult abundance.

A life history form of spring Chinook salmon is being lost in the McKenzie sub-basin with loss of side channel habitat. An improvement in recruitment and retention of Chinook fry into restored side channel habitat is expected to help recover loss of the Age 1+ Chinook smolt life history form. Improvement in abundance among this life history form may be detected by ACOE outmigrant monitoring above and below Cougar Dam in future years. This monitoring is not conducted by USFS, however ACOE results may be referred to in interpreting restoration effectiveness.

4. Maintaining Recreation Values

Method: Pre-project – The project design was reviewed with the boating public and incorporated methods of wood stabilization to meet both aquatic restoration and recreation needs. Review post-treatment reaches with the boating public was used to evaluate effectiveness of restoration methods in meeting boating needs. This evaluation was based on feedback from participating boating public.

Project Monitoring Results (from data collected 1993-2006) The project nearly doubled large woody material densities in treatment reaches; however it was only marginally effective at reaching desired densities of large diameter wood (wood in medium and large size classes).

Pre-project densities of LWM in medium and large size classes totaled 17.6 pieces/mile. Measurement of project effectiveness uses two measures; medium and large sized LWM. Desired densities in this size range from 80-106 pieces/mile (Table 12). Human-placed wood density in medium and large size classes totaled 16.4 pieces/mile in the treatment reach, for a natural/restoration

26

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update total of 34 pieces/mile. While project actions nearly doubled LWM density in the medium and large size class, they were only marginally effective at meeting desired in-stream density. Off-bank orientations were minimally effective at improving channel roughness, contributing to depositional areas, or influencing channel lateral migration as would historic in-stream wood volumes.

Project method of collection of available blow down, transportation and storage at staging sites was limited by supply and equipment capability. Often, the largest material would need to be immediately adjacent to a road to allow equipment (shovel loaders and log trucks) to transport LWM to a staging site. The largest of material and potentially most stable in-stream, simply could not be moved intact by available contracted equipment. Skidding large wood with a root more than a short distance is difficult with available skidding equipment. These observations were important to the future iteration of upper South Fork Restoration.

Table 3. Reference conditions used to evaluate existing aquatic habitat and channel condition. Habitat Parameter Channel Range Reference Condition Source Columbia River Basin Policy & Number of Large In- 80 pieces/mile measuring >24 Cascades Implementation Guide, stream Wood inch diameter by 50 feet in length PACFISH and PNW Research 106 pieces/mile measuring >25 Number of Large In- Willamette NF- Willamette Forest Plan, inch diameter by longer than stream Wood low gradient Appendix E channel width Number of Large Cascades - 0.5-2% one pool every 4-10 channel PNW Research Pools gradient widths Number of Large Cascades - 2-10% one pool every 2-3 channel widths PNW Research Pools gradient Bull trout spawning/rearing < 7-day Maximum 10.0o Celsius Anadromous Western Cascades o ODEQ Standards Water Temperature spawning < 12.8 Celsius Perennial stream < 17.7o Celsius

Treatment reach response to flood impact included observation of a rate of natural input from a relatively intact riparian area. The natural rate of input ranged from 1-4 pieces/mile in response to an estimated 50-year event. The natural rate of input during non-disturbance years was less than 1 piece/mile.

Of material recruited during flood disturbance, about one whole tree with root was recruited per mile (from immediate river adjacent sources), plus 0-3 small pieces per mile migrating into the treatment reach (chunk wood without root, migrating from upstream sources). This observation is believed to reflect the slow rate of natural (passive) replenishment of woody material into salvaged, entrenched

27

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update reaches of the South Fork McKenzie River channel. During non-disturbance years, monitoring found less than one piece per mile recruited among all size classes.

A low rate of material migration was observed among restoration material in response to the November 1996 flood.

No restoration wood migrated beyond the lower extent of the treatment reach. Also of interest to restoration and recreation interests, the percentage of human-placed LWM that migrated in response to the November 1996 flood was 15% in all size classes. No wood migrated as far as the "filter jam", a large wood accumulation located about 1/4 mile below the lowest extent of the treatment reach (a natural filter jam used to monitor potential migration of restoration material).

Of the 29 pieces that migrated in response to the November 1996 flood, the distance averaged 84 feet, and ranged from 25 to 300 feet. Migrating wood was most often captured by stable restoration or stable natural wood and added to an accumulation of 3 or more pieces, or came to rest on an inside river bend or point bar. These observations were important to the future iteration of upper South Fork Restoration.

An apparent favorable increase in adult bull trout population cannot be interpreted as having occurred as a result of 1996 and 1998 project work.

Figure 1 reflects a significant increase in number of adult bull trout surviving to reproduce after 1998. However, no significant improvement in channel character occurred in response to flood events or during typical bank full events. Although salvage of in-stream wood ended in the mid-1980’s, degradation of South Fork McKenzie River channel conditions continued for another decade and tended to be aggravated by recent large flood disturbances. Two flood events in 1996, during February and November, continued to exacerbate degraded channel conditions in the absence of significant quantities of large in-stream woody material. Effectiveness monitoring that followed flood events noted only marginal inundation of the flood plain, and witnessed flood plains functioning consistently as terraces.

Limited favorable response included one pool formation at the confluence of Cascade Creek and is attributed to project woody material accumulation (forming where the channel had migrated laterally and a large natural key structure had fallen), and one side channel habitat of about 300 foot length, attributed to project material (side channel reconnected at a project woody material accumulation). The development of channel spanning structures and associated channel response were observations important to the future iteration of upper South Fork Restoration.

Maintenance of recreational boating access was found to be of little concern to the kayaking public, due to the character of the restoration channel.

28

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Further review by Willamette Kayak and Canoe Club and other boating public interests described the restoration reach as an undesirable boating destination, due to low channel gradient, lack of rapids and frequently required portages. This response by the boating public was made regardless of large woody material placed in configurations to accommodate kayaking. The WKCC described river mile 16 to 8 (Dutch Oven to Cougar Reservoir) as important to them recreationally; a desirable destination frequented by kayakers and sometimes rafters. The treatment reach was only rarely visited by kayaking public, and in project related instances, at the request of project personnel. This finding was important to the future iteration of the upper South Fork Restoration.

29

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

HYDROLOGY

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS

This portion of the 2010 Hydrologic Update appends the 1994 South Fork McKenzie River Watershed Analysis (SFWA) with updated information about watershed hydrology.

Research conducted since 1994 has provided a better understanding of the influence of the High Cascade geology on the streams within the South Fork McKenzie River watershed. The West Cascades geology, characterized by flashy stream systems, dominates the northern and western portions of the watershed while the younger lava flows characteristics of the High Cascades dominate the upper reaches and the source area for many of the larger streams.

The High Cascades have highly permeable soils atop relatively young igneous bedrock which provides a conduit for water infiltrating into deep groundwater reservoirs. Water transit time within these geologic formations is considerably longer than that of the West Cascades - between 4 to 10+ years versus 1 to 2 years. Research using radiometric dating suggests that these lava flows are relatively young with numerous springs surfacing in rocks between ~700 to 180 ka. (Jefferson et. al. 2010). These cold-water spring systems emerging from the deep aquifers exhibit complex relationships among surface topography, lava flow geometries, and groundwater flow patterns. Streams within these systems have more stable flow regimes and are less sensitive to air temperature variation than their shallow subsurface-flow dominated counterparts. Thus, they play an integral part in providing for critical bull trout and chinook habitat. These systems may also provide important cold water refugia in the face of potential climate change.

The upper and lower Roaring Springs are prime examples of these extensive spring systems. Though not the only spring in the watershed, these are one of the largest systems discovered so far. Roaring River is a spring fed system, and greater than 95% of the contributing watershed lies within the High Cascades (Farrell 2004). Upper Roaring Springs is the larger of the two springs. The lower spring is found approximately 328 yards to the north. The Roaring Springs complex issues from basaltic andesite that may have originated near Irish Mountain but cannot be definitely linked to that location based on existing published rock chemistry data. Research of the springs determined that the groundwater does not flow through fissures between multiple lava flows. Instead, the water appears to discharge through a fracture network within a single flow (Jefferson et. al. 2006). Essentially, it is an underground river captured by the lava flow and formed gushett springs issuing from the nose of the lava ridge. Research using the ratio of 3H/3He to calculate water transit times determined an average of 4.1 years and an average aquifer thickness of approximately 98 to 459 feet (Jefferson et. al. 2006). Temperature and d18O analysis on these spring systems seem to indicate they share a similar recharge area. (Grant et. al. 2004). Upper Roaring Springs feeds the perennial portion of Roaring River, and the orifice spans about 164ft. along a nearly horizontal line. The lower spring is 30

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update smaller, producing about 25.8ft³ /s spring (Jefferson et. al. 2006). Summer low-flow rates still need to be determined for both springs.

FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

Sustainable management of the South Fork McKenzie River watershed requires an understanding of the water sources and the discharge patterns from large-volume cold springs. Because of their importance to summer streamflow, water quality, and listed fish habitat in the McKenzie River basin, additional research should be undertaken to inventory and monitor these springs.

REFERENCES

Farrell, M. 2004. Geologic control of stream temperatures in the McKenzie River watershed and implications for sensitivity to climate change. Thesis. San Diego State University.

Grant, G., Jefferson, A., Lewis, S. 2004. Discharge, source area, and water ages of spring-fed streams and implications for water management in the McKenzie River Basin. Eugene Water and Electic Board. Grand period April 15, 2003 – April 14, 2004.

Jefferson, A., Grant, G., Rose, T. 2006. Influence of volcanic history on groundwater patterns on the west slope of the Oregon High Cascades. Water Resources Research. Vol 42, W12411.

Jefferson, A., Grant, G., Lewis, S., Lancaster, S. 2010. Coevolution of hydrology and topography on a basalt landscape in the Oregon Cacades Range, USA. Earth Surf. Process. Landforms (2010).

31

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

CLIMATE AND GEOLOGY

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS

Climate Furniss et. al. (2010) identified a broad suite of potential climate changes and their effects on forested ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. Among the effects that were identified were warming air temperatures and altered precipitation regimes. The changes to the precipitation regime fall into three discrete effects: reduced summer precipitation, increased winter precipitation, and more severe storm events. These four climatic inputs influence a complex net of watershed processes with impacts on the quality, quantity, geography, and timing of stream flows and sediment delivery. Most significantly, stream temperatures are expected to warm, summer low flows are expected to decrease, and frequency and size of flood events are expected to change, along with increased sediment delivery and potential changes in the geographic distribution of landslide activity.

Figure 4: Some of the More Significant Relationships and Impacts Associated with Warming Air Temperatures, Reduced Summer Precipitation, Increased Winter Precipitation, and More Severe Storm Events. 32

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Some of these relationships are relatively intuitive and well understood. For instance, the linkage between warmer ambient air temperatures and warmer stream temperatures through conductive and convective heat exchange is well known. The linkage between reduced snowpack and reduced summer precipitation is also well established in scientific literature. That more winter precipitation and more severe storm events would lead to more frequent flood events is also intuitive. Less intuitive is how warmer temperatures result in an upward migration of the transient snow zone (TSZ), and that depending on individual watershed hypsography, this could lead to either an increase or a decrease in the percentage of the watershed area in the TSZ. This would affect the magnitude of the more frequent flood events. As an example, Figure 5 displays the percentage of area of the watersheds in the McKenzie River using the current TSZ, as well as a 500 foot and a 1000 foot rise in the transient snow zone. 500 and 1000 feet are associated with a 1 – 2 degree Celsius and a 2 -4 degree Celsius increase in temperature respectively.

Figure 5: The percentage of the areas within the Transient Snow Zone in the McKenzie River Watershed (current and projected with a 500’ and 1,000’ rise in TSZ)

33

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Depending on individual watershed hypsography, 3 of the 5 watersheds will have an increased percentage of their area in the TSZ, while the other two will have a decreased percentage of their area in TSZ. Specifically, the South Fork will experience an increase in the percentage of the watershed within the TSZ, with the largest expansion occurring with the first 2 degrees of warming.

Paradoxically, the very largest floods may occur less frequently, or be of reduced magnitude. These events occur when multiple warm storms line up with the jet stream during winter months and produce prodigious amounts of rain on the snowpack, involving entire watersheds. Reduced snowpack would result in a reduction in the snow melt contribution to these events. In other words, while flooding is expected to occur more frequently, the distribution will not be linear. Smaller floods driven primarily by precipitation will occur more frequently and with greater magnitude, while very large rain on snow events may occur less frequently and with smaller absolute magnitudes.

Upward migration of the TSZ could also affect the geographic distribution of landslide activity. Currently, landslides occur most frequently on the Willamette National Forest on relatively steep slopes with shallow soils at mid elevations within the transient snow zone. It is believed that saturated soil conditions associated with rapid melt events increase the potential for slope failures. As the TSZ migrates upward, potentially susceptible slopes that previously were not exposed to rapid melt out will become exposed, possibly leading to an accompanying upward migration of landslide activity.

More severe storms will result in higher rainfall intensities, leading to increased erosion. With increased frequency of flood events, providing transport, the increased erosion will result in an increase in sediment delivered to streams.

Geology The geology of the South Fork can be coarsely separating into two fundamentally different geologic settings that are largely differentiated as a function of age. Both settings consist of volcanic rocks, with the younger “High Cascades” consisting of Quaternary deposits ranging from a few million years old to as young as a few thousand years old. These High Cascades rocks are located in the southeast portion of the watershed where it ramps up to the crest of the Cascades south of the Three Sisters. The older “West Cascades” consist of Tertiary and older deposits that range from a few million years old to nearly 30 million years old. West Cascades rocks occupy the northern and western portions of the watershed as is drains downward toward the main stem of the McKenzie River.

Over much of the watershed, surface landforms and soils on both High Cascades and West Cascades have been substantially re-worked by Pleistocene glaciation and subsequent earth flows. The glaciations and surface landforms have been thoroughly discussed in the soils report for the original South Fork Watershed Analysis. Some of these earth flows are still active such as the flow that enters

34

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Cougar Reservoir from the west in the vicinity of Ryder Creek. Other earth flows, such as the flow in Hardy Creek, are no longer active though toe slope erosion continues as displaced streams work to re- establish their profiles. Figure 6 provides rough map of the distribution of High Cascades and West Cascades geology on the McKenzie River Ranger District.

Figure 6: Geologic Map of the McKenzie River Ranger District.

35

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

The preceding Hydrology discussion detailed how water routing and residence times differ between West Cascades and High Cascades geology. In particular, residence time as ground water in High Cascade geology can be much longer than the older West Cascade geology. Other differences exist as well. For the most part, High Cascades rocks are relatively competent and stable and not subject to hill slope failure. West Cascades rocks have a more varied potential for hill slope failure. The youngest West Cascades rocks such as the ridge capping basalts and andesites that occupy the higher elevations are similar to High Cascades rocks in their resistance to failure, while older, more heavily weathered and altered West Cascades rocks are much more prone to hill slope failure. Table 4 summarizes the geology of the Sub-watersheds within the South Fork Watershed along with their respective hydrologic and hill-slope responses. This is a broad summarization and should be supplemented with field verification during project planning.

Table 4: Geologic Summary of South Fork McKenzie Sub-Watersheds Actual Dominant Sub-Watershed Hydrologic Response Hill-slope Response Geology Cougar Creek West Cascades West Cascades West Cascades East Fork West Cascades West Cascades High Cascades Cougar Reservoir (West West Cascades West Cascades West Cascades Side) Cougar Reservoir (East West Cascades West Cascades High Cascades Side) Hardy Creek/Rebel West Cascades West Cascades West Cascades Creek Augusta Creek West Cascades West Cascades High Cascades French Pete Creek West Cascades West Cascades High Cascades Roaring River High Cascades High Cascades High Cascades Elk Creek High Cascades High Cascades High Cascades

FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

Stream Temperatures In order to avoid exacerbation of climate related stream temperature increases, we should continue to avoid elimination of existing effective stream shading vegetation, and restore effective shade where prior management activities have removed shading vegetation. Existing regional direction for compliance with the Clean Water Act such as “Northwest Forest Plan Temperature TMDL Implementation Strategies” USFS, BLM 2005 provides sound guidance. In addition, practices that retain water in streams and create hyporheic exchange in stream systems should be encouraged. Large wood in streams creates pool habitat that can provide cool water refugia when other portions of the stream are comparatively warmer. Wood also traps and stores gravel which provides additional hyporheic exchange which can result in reduced stream temperatures. Burkholder et. al. (2008)

36

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Stream systems should be evaluated in their entirety, and silvicultural treatments prescribed to provide for both shade and large wood.

Retention of large wood and gravel and accompanying hyporheic habitat also help retain more water in the system. As stream flow increases, correspondingly more heat is required to raise stream temperatures. In addition to hyporheic storage, other actions that could help retain water in the landscape and the stream include retention of groundwater on hill slopes. Specifically, roads that intersect hill slopes often intercept ground water and convert it to surface flow. These roads also extend the stream network during run off events, facilitating the rapid transit of water from the system. Increasing the frequency or better location of ditch relief structures could minimize these effects. Roads that are not needed for future management could be decommissioned and restored to hydrologic function.

Walker Creek and French Pete Creek are relatively un-managed West Cascades drainages that are located pre-dominantly in the Three Sisters Wilderness. Stream temperature data has been collected on these streams for nearly a decade and is useful for reference condition comparison with managed streams that are located on West Cascades geology in the McKenzie River Ranger District. Collection of reference condition stream temperatures should be continued at these sites.

Flood and Sediment Routing As has been previously discussed, more intense rain events and more frequent flood events are anticipated on the Willamette National Forest as a result of climate driven impacts. However, it may be likely that the very largest floods will occur less frequently. Consequently, a strategy of increasing passage capacity of road crossings to levels greater than the existing 100 year flood requirement would be expensive and may not be needed. Instead, a focus on management of runoff and floodwater routing on hill slopes may be more effective.

With more intense and more frequent rain events, hill slope erosion may increase. This could result in the need for more frequent ditch cleanout along roads that are located on steep, erosive slopes. Increasing the frequency and improving the location of ditch relief structures would reduce roadway extension of the drainage network, slowing down the flow of water to streams, and buffering the magnitude of the flood event. Roads that are not needed for future management could be decommissioned and restored to hydrologic function. The need for these treatments would vary across the landscape, based on vulnerability. Particularly vulnerable may be road segments that could be newly exposed to rain on snow events at the local level, as a result of the upward migration of the transient snow zone. Geology and geomorphology also affect vulnerability, with road systems on West Cascade geology being much more vulnerable to these impacts, as well as potential increases in land slide activity, than road systems that are located on significantly less erosive and more stable High Cascade geology. Figure 7 displays the elevation range for the McKenzie River watersheds in 500 foot increments. 37

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

This elevation information combined with geologic information in Figure 5 and Table 3 should be used to assist with prioritization of restoration needs. As more sophisticated analysis tools such as NetMap, and better imagery such as LIDAR become available, this type of analysis could provide managers with much more powerful methods to help prioritize restoration work.

REFERENCES

Farrell, M. 2004. Geologic control of stream temperatures in the McKenzie River watershed and implications for sensitivity to climate change. Thesis. San Diego State University.

Grant, G., Jefferson, A., Lewis, S. 2004. Discharge, source area, and water ages of spring-fed streams and implications for water management in the McKenzie River Basin. Eugene Water and Electic Board. Grant period April 15, 2003 – April 14, 2004.

Jefferson, A., Grant, G., Rose, T. 2006. Influence of volcanic history on groundwater patterns on the west slope of the Oregon High Cascades. Water Resources Research. Vol 42, W12411.

Jefferson, A., Grant, G., Lewis, S., Lancaster, S. 2010. Coevolution of hydrology and topography on a basalt landscape in the Oregon Cacades Range, USA. Earth Surf. Process. Landforms (2010).

Walker, G., McLeod, N. 1991. Geologic Map of Oregon. USGS

Burkholder, B. et al. 2008. Influence of hyporheic flow and geomorphology on temperature of a large, gravel bedded river, Clackamas River, Oregon, USA. Hydrological Processes. Vol. 22 February 2008

Furniss, Michael J.; Staab, et.al. 2010. Water, Climate Change, and Forests: Watershed Stewardship for a Changing Climate. Gen Tech. Rep.PNW-GTR-812. Portland, OR: U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station.

38

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Figure 7: The elevation range for the McKenzie River watersheds in 500 foot increments.

39

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

WILDLIFE

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS

This portion of the 2010 Wildlife Update appends the 1994 South Fork McKenzie River Watershed Analysis (SFWA) with updated information about wildlife.

NATURAL PROCESSES Early Seral Habitat: Vegetation growth has continued to follow natural processes with the current early seral habitat (less than 10 years old) conditions being approximately one percent of the SFMW. The Ridgecat and Cascadecat timber sales have contributed to early seral habitat as well as some adjacent private timber lands on the Northwest edge of the watershed.

Insect and Disease: There has been noticeable insect and disease activity especially in the wilderness portion of the SFMW (see Figure 8).

Meadow Encroachment: Meadow habitats within the SFMW continue to be encroached by conifers. Typically, isolated trees within a meadow provide refugia for pioneering seedlings that create a microenvironment in which other conifers can become established. Gradually, the conifers populate the meadow and eventually shade out other vegetation within the meadow.

STATUS OF SPECIES Bald Eagle: On August 9, 2007 the bald eagle was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. The post-delisting Monitoring Plan was released on June 3, 2010. Bald eagles are still protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Lacey Act. Observations of bald eagles continue to be recorded; however no confirmed bald eagle nests have been recorded in the SFMW.

Peregrine Falcon: On August 20, 1999 the peregrine falcon was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. A new peregrine nest site was discovered in 2008 near Cougar Reservoir and designated as site # OE-148.

Northern Spotted Owl: Due to widespread loss of habitat and adverse modification of suitable habitat throughout its range a draft Recovery Plan was completed in 1992 but not finalized. On May 16, 2008 a Northern Spotted Owl final Recovery Plan was released. After an intense review, a revised Spotted Owl Recovery Plan is expected by December 31, 2010.

Oregon Spotted Frog: The Oregon sensitive Species list shows the Oregon Spotted frog as a sensitive species with a critical status. The primary threat to the frogs is the loss of habitat. Other possible threats include Chytrid fungus and the introductions of non-native Brook trout.

40

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Figure 8: Insect and Disease Map for the South Fork McKenzie Watershed Based on Aerial Surveys from 1994-2008. FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

This section will summarize some of the recent findings as a result of the update to the analysis of conditions and processes. In addition a validation of unaccomplished past recommendations is conducted, as well as the identification of new management recommendations.

REVIEW OF WATERSHED ANALYSIS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The South Fork McKenzie Watershed Analysis found that that:

“results of elk habitat analysis indicate a general shortage of forage throughout the watershed (pg 239).”

41

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

In response to this finding the Cascade Thin project was designed in 2009 to introduce high quality forage to the area. In addition, future timber sale efforts are being planned that specifically target stands for a post harvest early seral condition that would provide forage for big game as well as habitat for many other species. The Elk wisdom model (1986) has been reviewed and a new Westside model (2010) is being tested. It is anticipated that a release of software for the new Westside model could be available for use in 2011.

Table 5. Wildlife Habitat Restoration Activities (1994-2009) Activity Accomplishment

Diversity Thinning / Wildlife Tree Release 325 acres

Snag Creation 3,401 snags Down Wood Creation 1,335 trees Wildlife Meadow Enhancement 47 acres Meadow Burn 201 acres Browse Cutback 491 acres Forage Seeding 723 acres Pond/Pool Maintenance 5 acres

IDENTIFICATION OF NEW RECOMMENDATIONS Potential beaver re-introductions

Develop strategy for prescribed burning of natural meadows and fire to select wilderness areas

Treatment in eleven meadows totaling 365 acres that would include tree cutting, hand piling and burning

Hidden Lake Management Plan

Oregon Spotted frog Management Plan in Mink Lake Basin

42

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

VEGETATION

METHODS

A GIS analysis was conducted to gather vegetation information for the South Fork Watershed Assessment (WA). ESRI ArcMap 9.3 software was used to query the Willamette NF corporate vegetation geodatabase for existing data, and view one-meter scale aerial satellite imagery (2009) to estimate vegetation age on private lands where corporate data is currently lacking. Estimated vegetation age on private grounds was located primarily in the lower watershed stratification area.

The original vegetation stratification area shapfiles (as shown in Figure 50 and 51 of the WA) could not be located, so new shapefiles were created for this analysis by referencing Figure 50 and 51 of the WA. The stratification areas in the WA are similar those defined for the current analysis; however some minor variation in acre amounts exists. One factor for this discrepancy, relates to a nearly 2,000 acre difference between the currently delineated 5th field watershed and the 1994 WA, with less acres being currently analyzed (see Table 18 in WA and Table 5).

Spatial analysis used to estimate fragmentation in 1994 was calculated using FRAGSTATS software. Current funding limitations did not allow the use of this software to update Tables 20 and 21 or Figures 52 and 53 of the WA. However, the estimated 1,500 acres of regeneration harvest within the South Fork Watershed since 1994 has likely not produced major changes in watershed fragmentation.

PAST, CURRENT, AND FUTURE CONDITIONS

Comparison of Past and Current Vegetation Conditions In general there appears to be some discrepancy between the mature and late vegetation analyses that were done in 1994 and the current analysis. It is noted in the watershed analysis (pg. 23) that the stand information was derived from 1988 Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery, and there was some discrepancy noted between this data and Forest service data. The 1994 analysis documented more late seral habitat in comparison to the amounts currently recorded. This is likely due to the accumulation of stand exam information from the watershed over the past 15 years, and inaccuracies in the 1988 Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery. When looking at the vegetation stand condition from 1900 and 1994 to the current vegetation condition there is differences in most seral stages. The current analysis indicates that late seral vegetation in the South Fork Watershed has decreased by approximately 12% (~16,000 acres) since 1994. Since 1994 there has been no large fire(s) within the watershed and only about 1,500 acres of timber harvest, which primarily occurred in late seral habitat. This indicates that there are differences in corporate layers used for each analysis. There has been a 10% (~ 14,000 acres) increase in mature vegetation since 1994. It is noted in the watershed analysis (pg. 23) that the primary discrepancies in the Landsat imagery occured between “mature”

43

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update and “old” forest; consequently, late and mature vegetative condition will be discussed together throughout this update.

Overall, there has been a shift in vegetative composition to older stand conditions within the South Fork Watershed since 1900. Mature and late stand conditions accounted for approximately 52% of the watershed in 1900 and accounted for approximately 77% in 1994 (Figure 9). This shift was due to a large portion of young fire-regenerated stands growing into mature stands. Currently, about 75% of the watershed is in mature and late condition. Since 1994 a large portion of early seral has developed into young stand conditions, with early seral stands currently representing about 1% of the watershed (Figure 9) versus about 5% in 1994. There has been approximately 725 acres of regeneration harvest (181 acres on federal grounds and 544 acres on private lands) in the watershed since 2000. Approximately 1,445 acres of commercial thinning harvest has also occurred within the South Fork Watershed since 1994.

In the past 100 years timber harvest has been the primary disturbance activity within the watershed. Wildfire has only occurred in the form of scattered, small events (generally <¼ acre due to suppression activity). Prescribed fire has been utilized in post-harvest fuel reduction, as well as in and meadow restoration. Larger disturbance events, like the large fires that occurred prior to 1900, have not taken place in the watershed over the 20th and 21st centuries, which is reflected in the current vegetation conditions within the watershed.

When looking at the stratification areas of the watershed, the changes in vegetation conditions becomes more apparent (Table 7). The largest change has been in the Lower Watershed Area. In 1900 there was approximately 89% of the area in late and mature conditions. Today there is approximately 37%. This is primarily due to timber harvest from both federal and private lands. Private lands make up about 1,855 acres (11%) of the 15,954 acre Lower Watershed Area. There has also been a major shift from younger to mature condition in the Wilderness Stratification Area as stands continue to develop and are excluded from harvest. In 1900 it was estimated that 56% of the watershed was in young forests where today there is approximately 4%. The High Cascades and Mid Watershed Stratification Areas have also seen a shift from younger to mature and late stand conditions. The Below Dam Stratification Area is similar in composition to what was estimated in 1900 with about a 12% reduction in mature and late habitat from current levels.

Overall within the South Fork Watershed, forests are continuing to develop and increase the mature and late seral forests condition. The past 15 years has witnessed a decrease in disturbance elements, due to a reduction in regeneration timber harvest and the continuation of fire suppression. This has caused an overall decrease in early stand conditions since 1994 with a small shift to young forests. Table 6 shows that majority of the watershed is in the mature condition (54%) followed by late (29%), young (16%), non-forest (11%), and early (1%) conditions.

44

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Discussion of Results of Past and Current Comparison The largest change between past (1900) and current (2010) conditions is in the young vegetation condition. There has been a reduction in young stands to mature stands in Western Hemlock, Pacific Silver fir, and Mountain Hemlock plant series (Table 8). Mature and late seral conditions have increased (2%) in Douglas-fir/Grand fir and have decreased about 3% in young stand conditions when compared to past (1900) conditions. Current late seral habitat is below the natural range of variability in Douglas-fir/Grand fir and Western Hemlock plant series. Pacific Silver fir is below the range of variability by 1% in late seral habitat. Mountain Hemlock currently is above the natural range of variability for late seral. All early seral plant series are below the natural range of variability.

MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

The South Fork Watershed is a highly productive area for growing vegetation, especially in the lower elevations. This coupled with lack of vegetation management through either prescribed fire or timber harvest can cause dense timber stand conditions. Dense stands cause inter-tree competition and consequently tree stress. Stressed trees are more susceptible to insect and disease outbreaks, as well as mortality from drought conditions that may be associated with future climate change. Aerial insect and disease surveys have documented tree stress, with the Wilderness Area being the largest area affected since 1994. Most of the damage has been caused by Douglas-fir and Mountain Pine Beetles (see Figure 8). The second-most prevalent form of tree damage is black bear tree girdling in younger stands. Thinning stands to increase the health and vigor of stands will increase the overall health of the watershed, decreasing the susceptibility of insect and disease outbreaks and reducing the risk of large, high severity wildfires.

Regeneration (early seral creation) is recommended for the watershed in absence of large, stand replacing fires. Currently, fire suppression and the relative lack of regeneration harvest in the watershed over the past 15 years has moved the vegetation condition outside the natural range of variability. Harvesting coupled with prescribed fire should be the preferred method to create early stand conditions, when in appropriate management allocations. In addition to the ecological benefits of creating more early seral habitat, which is lacking in the watershed, it also insures that a sustainable supply of timber products can continue to be produced on the district. In areas where regeneration harvest is not allowed, in wilderness and non-wilderness areas, prescribed fire may be the only appropriate method to use. Early seral creation should generally be chosen from the mature and old younger stands, so that the natural range of variability for late seral habitat can be achieved and maintained. Where plant associations are at or above the natural range of variability it may be appropriate to regenerate some late successional stands (i.e. Mountain Hemlock stands). Overall, it is recommended to take an active management approach where feasible/appropriate within the South Fork Watershed.

45

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

TABLES AND FIGURES

Table 6: Comparison of Watershed Past (1900) and Current Vegetation Conditions Vegetation Current Past 1994 Condition (2010) Early 1,650 1% 7,300 5% 1,310 1% Young 58,115 42% 15,375 11% 20,021 15% Mature 23,732 17% 54,500 39% 67,291 49% Late 48,230 35% 52,848 38% 35,531 26% Non-Forest 7,393 5% 9,093 7% 13,512 9%

Table 7: Comparison of Past and Current Vegetation Condition by Areas Area Veg. Condition Past 1994 Current Early 0% 8% 0% Young 30% 35% 31% Below Dam Mature 1% 27% 32% Late 66% 24% 23% Non-Forest 2% 7% 13%

Early 0% 9% 4% Young 9% 43% 49% Lower Watershed Mature 1% 8% 10% Late 88% 34% 27% Non-Forest 3% 7% 10%

Early 0% 12% 2% Young 37% 13% 23% Mid Watershed Mature 14% 29% 45% Late 45% 42% 25% Non-Forest 4% 4% 6%

Early 0% 2% 0% Young 37% 0% 7% High Cascade Mature 53% 37% 64% Late 6% 57% 21% Non-Forest 4% 4% 9%

46

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 7: Comparison of Past and Current Vegetation Condition by Areas Area Veg. Condition Past 1994 Current Early 3% 3% 0% Young 56% 5% 4% Wilderness Mature 7% 55% 55% Late 27% 29% 29% Non-Forest 7% 9% 12%

Table 8: Natural Range of Variability (NRV) by Plant Series Vegetation Series Past 1994 Current NRV Condition Douglas-fir/Grand fir 0% 11% 1% 3-30% Western Hemlock 2% 5% 1% 2-35% Early Pacific Silver fir 1% 7% 5% 3-35% Mountain Hemlock 1% 2% 0% 1-30%

Douglas -fir/Grand fir 25% 58% 22% ___ Western Hemlock 43% 18% 17% ___ Young Pacific Silver fir 49% 6% 14% ___ Mountain Hemlock 38% 8% 6% ___

Douglas -fir/Grand fir 6% 25% 52% ___ Western Hemlock 8% 42% 54% ___ Mature Pacific Silver fir 19% 46% 42% ___ Mountain Hemlock 49% 32% 64% ___

Douglas -fir/Grand fir 69% 6% 25% 50-90% Western Hemlock 47% 35% 28% 35-85% Late Pacific Silver fir 31% 1% 39% 40-70% Mountain Hemlock 11% 58% 30% 2-25%

47

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Figure 9: Comparison of Past and Current Vegetation Conditions in the South Fork McKenzie

48

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

BOTANICAL RESOURCES AND SPECIAL HABITATS

PAST, CURRENT, AND FUTURE CONDITIONS

SENSITIVE PLANTS Sensitive plants on the McKenzie River Ranger District have been documented and tracked for at least three decades. Sensitive native plant species must receive special management emphasis to ensure their viability and preclude trends toward endangerment that would result in the need for Federal listing. Since the last watershed analysis revision, the Willamette National Forest sensitive plant species list has changed considerably, however, the objectives of species diversity and population viability remain the same.

Three current sensitive plants are known to occur in the South Fork watershed:

Ophioglossum pusillum (Adder’s tongue): Found in Hidden Lake Special Interest Area.

Romanzoffia thomposonii (Thompson’s mistmaiden): Found on Aufderheide Drive. The population occurs on a rocky cliff created during the construction of Cougar Dam.

Utricularia minor (Lesser bladderwort): Found in Three Sisters Wilderness.

Ophioglossum pusillum (adder’s tongues) are so-called because the spore-bearing stalk is thought to resemble a snake's tongue. Each plant typically sends up a small, undivided leaf blade with netted venation and the spore stalk forks from the leaf stalk, terminating in sporangia which are partially concealed within a structure with slit sides. The plant grows from a central, budding, fleshy structure with fleshy, radiating roots. When the leaf blade is present, there is not always a spore stalk present, and the plants do not always send up a leaf, sometimes going for a year to a period of years living only under the soil, nourished by association with soil fungi.

Romanzoffia thomposonii (Thompson’s mistmaiden) is a genus of flowering plants in the waterleaf family known as mistmaidens. There are approximately 5 species which are native to western North America from California north to Alaska. Mistmaids may be annual or perennial and low patchy herbs to small bushes, depending on species. They bear attractive bell-shaped white flowers that make them desirable as ornamentals in the appropriate climates.

Utricularia minor (the lesser bladderwort) is a small, perennial carnivorous plant that belongs to the genus Utricularia. It is usually found affixed to the substrate but it can also survive suspended in a body of water. U. minor is a circumboreal species and is found in North America, Asia, and Europe.

49

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

The lesser bladderwort is found in small bodies of water approximately 15 ft. long, 6 ft. wide and 6 ft. deep. Therefore, it is likely suitable habitat for Utricularia has decreased the greatest of all sensitive plants known to occur in the South Fork watershed.

SPECIAL HABITATS Past geological activity combined with climatic events have created the landforms found in the South Fork watershed. Over time, the landforms have developed sites of differing soil types, vegetation composition, and microclimates. Non-forested habitats are often found within these environments, thus creating unique, special habitat areas.

In short, special habitats are non-forested habitats that are limited in size and distribution across the landscape. It is important to consider the biological diversity and ecosystem function of these small, scattered habitats for a number of reasons. Special habitats often play important roles for not only for full-time wildlife residents of the sites, but also for those who use them seasonally, or for only a portion of their life cycles. As previously stated, numerous factors contribute to the creation or maintenance of special habitats. Among such factors, topography and hydrology often determine the microclimatic conditions at these sites.

Individual plant ranges can extend over a variety of related communities. Contiguous plant communities offer potential habit for numerous species. A plant species growing in a meadow habitat may overlap into a nearby forest edge. Consequently, it is unlikely that a species can be found over a range of unrelated communities, such as meadows and rock outcrops.

For additional information on plant associations, species, environmental conditions, and other special habitat management considerations, refer to the Field Guide to the Forested Plant Associations of the Westside Central Cascades of Northwest Oregon (McCain and Diaz, 2002), Field Guide to Riparian Plant Communities in Northwestern Oregon (McCain and Christy, 2005), and Willamette National Forest Special Habitat Management Guide (Lippert, et al. 2010).

The following are general descriptions of the non-forested habitats known to occur in the South Fork watershed.

Lakes/Ponds This habitat is a body of standing water and its associated component of water-tolerant vegetation. The lake/pond may be permanent or ephemeral, with many drying each summer becoming Carex (sedge) meadows. The water body itself often attracts insects and functions as a breeding site for invertebrates. It also attracts bats and other insect predators. This habitat is highly susceptible to disturbance by logging and road building activities. Recreational foot traffic, stemming from adjacent trails, also causes varying levels of disturbance.

50

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Bogs Bogs are permanently wet areas dominated by Sphagnum and other acidophilic plants, notably the insectivorous Drosera (sundew) species in the South Fork watershed. Bogs are rare on the Willamette National Forest. They are susceptible to disturbance by timber harvest, road building, grazing, and recreation. As such, trails and other management activities that could lead to impacts from logging and road construction should be avoided in bog areas.

Swamps Swamps are permanently wet areas, often shaded by the canopy. There are three habitat types within the swamp community. A skunk cabbage swamp is usually small in area, covered by the canopy, and dominated by a single species. True swamps are larger in size, open, and often associated with Thuja plicata (western red cedar). Plant diversity is greater in these areas, often being inhabited by vine maple, alder, water hemlock, devil’s club, and skunk cabbage. Seeps/springs are areas where the water table is found at or near the soil surface. Like bogs and other wet habitats, swamps are highly susceptible to environmental change as a result of logging and road building in the vicinity.

Dry Meadows The Plant Association Management Guide identifies five dry meadow types. Most habitats are slopes with south to southwestern aspects and have water available only early in the season. Environmental concerns for dry meadows are focused on changes in hydrology, solar exposure, and the exclusion of fire. Sensitivity to disturbance varies within the five dry meadow communities, with most communities being moderately to highly sensitive to grazing and road building disturbance. This is likely a result of susceptibility to erosion and competition by invasive plants.

Mesic Meadows Mesic meadows are found on mountain slopes and flat ground where the soils are deep and saturated for at least a portion of the year. Plant vegetation is dense, which in turn, can reduce the soil moisture loss. Key environmental factors to habitat maintenance include hydrology, degree of solar exposure and insolation.

Wet Meadows Wet meadows can be either small or large depressions. Most are glacial cirques or colluvial failures, found adjacent to water or where water flows through. The ground is wet throughout the growing season, but can dry out by late summer. The wet meadow community is composed of a mixture of annuals and perennials. Changes in hydrology will influence the species composition of these habitats. Wet meadows are common on the Willamette National Forest. Susceptibility to logging, road building, and grazing is high in wet meadow areas. Vegetation disturbance caused by trails may be low, since soil profiles are generally unsuited for sustained recreational use.

51

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Rock Gardens The Plant Association Management Guide identifies two types of dry rock garden, which are often found on southern aspects with shallow soil. The plant species found in these habitats are adapted to thrive in dry soil conditions. Flat, xeric rock gardens are usually found on the tops of exposed, rocky ridges where soil development is minimal. Steep, xeric rock gardens are often protected from wind and solar exposure by an adjacent forest canopy. Rock garden communities are commonly found on exposed, rocky ridges within the South Fork watershed; namely, Rebel Rock, Ollalie, Lowder, and Chucksney Mountains. By mid to late summer, the plant communities in these areas have finished blooming and have become senescent.

Rock Outcrops Rock outcrops are present on the steeper, higher slopes of Rebel Rock and Chucksney mountains. Where outcrops have been exposed to the erosional forces of glaciations, they may be worn fairly smooth. Otherwise, they are apt to be serrate and jagged. Rock outcrops tend to warm up quickly in the spring, facilitating snow melt. Rock outcrops are common on the Willamette National Forest. Quarrying has damaged many rock outcrops; however, susceptibility to other forms of disturbance is generally low.

INVASIVE PLANTS The desired condition is prevention of new invader establishments and a cessation of established weed spread with a corresponding reduction in established weed presence. This provides for the return of infested areas to a more natural condition and ensures the viability of other native habitats. This condition can be advanced through implementation of best management practices, minimizing disturbance where possible, and using preventative measures such as equipment cleaning and rehabilitating disturbed areas with native species.

Many campgrounds located around Cougar Reservoir have established populations of Scotch broom and St. John’s wort that are displacing the native vegetation. These plants are often pioneer species, usually occurring in the first stage of plant succession, following a disturbance to the natural vegetation.

Invasive plants on the Willamette National Forest are categorized as potential invaders, new invaders and established invaders. The control strategies will differ, depending on species’ classification and other resource concerns.

52

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Potential invaders are those species located in adjacent National Forest or other lands that have a high probability of being detected on the Forest in the foreseeable future (next 15 years) because potential habitat exists here.

New invaders are those weed species just entering the National Forest and whose populations are possible to eradicate.

Established infestations include weed species that are so widespread on the Forest they are not likely to eradicate. Some species, such as blackberry, can have both new invader populations that are less than 10 plants and are outliers as well as established infestations such as those that are found bordering streams at lower elevations.

Invasive plants are distributed throughout most of the South Fork watershed due to activities associated with timber harvest and overall usage of the extensive road system. The road system serves as suitable habitat for invasive plants to colonize and it provides easy access for vectors to disseminate invasive plant seed to other un-infested areas. The following invasive plants are known to have established populations in the South Fork watershed: Centaurea maculosa (spotted knapweed), Cytsis scoparis (Scotch broom), Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort), Senecio jacobea (tansy ragwort), Geranium robertianum (Herb Robert), and Brachypodium sylvaticum (false brome). False brome and spotted knapweed have been identified as new invader species and are the highest priority for treatment and early detection-rapid response.

• Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) is a biennial or short-lived perennial with a stout taproot. It can have one or more stems, branched 1-3 feet tall, and produces purple-pink ray flowers. Spotted knapweed was introduced from Eurasia as contaminant of alfalfa and clover seed. Early spring growth makes spotted knapweed competitive for soil moisture and nutrients.

• Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) – Invades forests where it replaces natives and forms a dense monoculture. Herb Robert is highly aggressive, and quick to spread. Even in an undisturbed setting Herb Robert can invade forest in pristine conditions and establish vigorous populations. Reproducing solely by seed, Herb Robert plants often self-pollinate, making populations very uniform. The seed ejects from the parent plant is attaches itself to another plant or passing animal via a sticky thread. It is known to release allelopathic chemical, which inhibit native understory plants from establishing. Herb Robert seed remains viable for up to 5 years and it also attracts pollinators away from native species. In the South Fork watershed, Herb Robert is found streamside at Frissell Campground, but it is likely to be found elsewhere.

53

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

• False brome is a perennial grass species of Eurasian origin; and it is found from sea level up to 14,000 ft. in its native range. It has short bunches of bright green leaves that persist into fall and early winter. False brome can quickly become the dominant plant species in forest understories and in streamside corridors, demonstrating both shade-tolerance and moisture tolerance. Once established, false brome is spread by animal and vehicular traffic. From travel corridors false brome can move into forested stands. Small populations can be manually controlled, but large populations require herbicide application to eradicate. False brome populations can grow exponentially in short periods of time. False brome seed is also thought to be short-lived. Research indicates a combination of chemical and mulch treatments ranging 2-3 years may exhaust the seed bank (Kaye, et al. 2008).

OTHER BOTANICAL SPECIES AND RESOURCES OF CONCERN Fungi are important for their roles in forest succession and ecosystem processes. Several fungi are harvested for food and commercial value. Mycorrhizal fungi from symbiotic associations with live hosts, such as conifers and hardwoods; and in return host species depend of fungi to facilitate uptake of nutrients and water. Many of these mycorrhizal relationships are highly specific between host and fungi. Other types of fungal groups include saprobic and parasitic species. Saprobic fungi are considered the forest decomposers, living on organic materials from dead plants and animals; while parasitic fungi require living hosts for nourishment.

The Lamb Butte Scenic Area and Ollalie Ridge Research Natural Area are two areas that run along a ridgeline east to west along the northwest boundary of the watershed. Douglas-fir dominates the lower elevations and mountain hemlock, and true fir species dominate the higher ridges. This ridgeline has been recognized as an area of importance because it has been known to support a diversity of species and concentrations of rare and locally endemic fungi.

Mosses and liverworts are commonly found in moist areas. Many are aquatic or found on wake- splashed rocks near the shore line. Similar to lichens, mosses and liverworts absorb most of their nutrients from the air, and thus are susceptible to air pollution.

Lichens occur as either epiphytes growing on trees, exposed rock or soil. These species have important ecological roles as interceptors of wet and dry deposition, as nitrogen fixers in cyanobacteria-containing species, as carbon fixers in ecosystems where they are abundant, in the weathering of rocks, and the retention of soil in dry areas. They can survive under adverse climatic conditions by relying on their ability to withstand desiccation and remain dormant when dry. Lichens absorb all of their nutrients from the air, and therefore are very susceptible to air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide.

54

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Lichen distribution is closely related to forest continuity, stand age, and disturbance history. They provide important forage material for several species of mammals and nesting material for many bird species.

As organisms that absorb water mosses, lichens, and liverworts play an important role in a healthy ecosystem. A forest with an abundant moss, lichen, and liverwort flora maintains more water availability after rainfall, increasing the time vascular plants can absorb the rain water (Dorris, 1994). These species also maintain higher humidity levels. This humid environment decreases stress on the vegetation decreasing their susceptibility to disease, insects, and fire (Dorris, 1994).

FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

Sensitive Plants Vascular plants, lichens, bryophytes, and fungi are valued as indicators of biodiversity, stability, and the overall forest health. Data concerning the distribution of these species and how they affect ecological processes has been collected, but more is needed. It is assumed mature, late-successional stands function as refugia where many of these species can persist until suitable habitat condition become available in younger stands. Vegetation management should include the retention of clumped, green trees of various sizes and structural diversity to provide dispersal of these species. Variation in tree size contributes to the diversity of microhabitats, both vertically, and horizontally (Spies, Franklin 1988). The health and viability of the ecosystems within the South Fork watershed depend on maintaining riparian buffers, late-successional reserves, and mature timber stand well distributed throughout the landscape.

The Ophioglossum population in Hidden Lake SIA was confirmed to be stable and viable as of the last monitoring effort conducted summer 2008. Recently, projects aimed at improving wetlands for wildlife have been proposed in the Hidden Lake SIA. The actions proposed would likely have negative effects on the Ophioglossum population should the hydrology of the site become altered.

The Romanzoffia population on Auderheide Drive is thought to be viable and stable. Other Romanzoffia populations on the McKenzie River Ranger District have been found to be stable. Due to the location the Romanzoffia populations, they would most likely be impacted greatest by a change in hydrology as compared to recreation or human-caused disturbances. The Aufderheide population could be impacted by road maintenance activities like brushing and digging runoff ditches.

The Lesser bladderwort is found in small body of water approximately 15 ft. long, 6 ft. wide and 6 ft. deep. Therefore, it is likely suitable habitat for Utricularia has decreased the greatest of all sensitive plants known to occur in the South Fork watershed.

55

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

The Utricularia population was not located in summer 2010 during a monitoring effort to determine the vigor of Populus tremulodies at Quaking Aspen Swamp. Contrary to the previous watershed analysis, the Utricularia population is not thought to be stable and is possibly lost. Considering there are numerous factors that influence population stability including, changes in hydrology and vegetation encroachment, it is assumed these have had the most impact on the Utricularia population. A subsequent relocation effort is recommended in Quaking Aspen Swamp for U.minor.

It is understood there are other resources and policies to consider when addressing viability of the Lesser bladderwort at Quaking Aspen Swamp, especially wilderness. However, it should be noted without some type of effort to address of the hydrological conditions at Quaking Aspen Swamp, it is most likely the Utricularia population will cease to exist in the South Fork watershed, if it has not all ready.

Monitoring of documented sensitive plant populations should continue to address negative viability trends and other resource management concerns.

Special Habitats A Special Interest Area plan was prepared for Hidden Lake bog in 2008. This area should continue to be monitored for recreational impacts to the delicate bog vegetation and other signs of habitat degradation.

Quaking Aspen Swamp is an area likely created as a result from the last glacial retreat. It accessed by Quaking Aspen trail and has long been identified as an area of interest to the botanical community. Aside from serving as home to a sensitive Utricularia population, sundews and other unique plant species, it supports a small population of Populus tremuloides

(quaking aspen). While common in the eastern Cascades, this fire Figure 10: Boles of the Mature Quaking Aspen Trees dependent tree is rarely seen in the Quaking Aspen Swamp. growing on this side of the range. 56

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

This suggests the Populus was established by inadvertently by early settlers and may have taken advantage of a fire regime, much different from the current. On average, the mature Populus trees on the site average 21 in. DBH and are 74 ft. tall. Monitoring revealed that all eight (8) of the mature Populus found at Quaking Aspen Swamp are in a state of decline. The boles of the mature trees exhibit catfaces and are assumed to have hollow heartwood based on a core sample of the healthiest appearing tree (Figure 10).

It was also observed during monitoring that wildlife herbivory on new sucker shoots is having a significant effect on the Populus population and is most likely contributing to the lack of intermediate tree growth. With the exception on one 25 ft. tall Populus (growing next to a true fir and probably overlooked), all suckers are approximately 6 ft. tall and under. Populus shoots are favored by wildlife as forage. Therefore, the resource value of the Populus at Quaking Aspen Swamp should be considered and management actions to either exclude wildlife or deter them from browsing sucker shoots should be undertaken if this special botanical resource is to exist.

Invasive Plants During the 1980’s, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) released Tyria jacobaea (cinnabar moth) as a biological control for tansy ragwort. This insect has been successful in reducing the tansy ragwort population and it can still be seen lower in the watershed on occasion. Chrysolina quadrigemina (Klamath weed beetle) is another ODA approved bio-control for St. John’s wort that is present in the South Fork watershed and has been somewhat successful, just not to the extent of the cinnabar moth. This could be the result of a number of factors, including different acreages infested by each plant. Larinus obtusus (Blunt knapweed flower weevil) was released in the summer of 1994 and summer of 2008 at knapweed sites along Aufderheide Drive (Road 19). This bio-control has been observed to have marginal success as well. The Larinus weevil is approved for spotted knapweed (C.maculosa) however; it prefers meadow knapweed (Centaurea pratensis) in its native range. In the summers of 2009 and 2010 the L.obtusus weevil was observed swarming and laying eggs in the flowers of a meadow knapweed population approximately 5 miles from where they were released in 2008. This further suggests an affinity for one species of Centaurea over another.

False brome currently poses the greatest risk to water and forest resources in the South Fork watershed. False brome spreads at a rate of 30 meters over a 5 year period based on anecdotal data taken from the False Brome Working Group (www.appliedeco.org/invasive-species-resources- FBWG). It is known from an Upper McKenzie watershed site 3,800 ft. elevation and it is a risk to becoming established in Three Sisters Wilderness.

Mature plants can live as long as 20 years and it has been observed under mature, forested canopies (Roy, personal comm. 2009). When competition is removed, false brome increases in size; and it spreads out to fill available space. Even established at low densities it grows to fill space and sets more seed as a consequence (Holmes, et al. 2008); thus accelerating the invasion. 57

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

In the South Fork watershed, false brome is mainly confined to roadsides and other travel corridors. It is important that road maintenance and timber harvest activities consider the potential for false brome to spread into pristine areas, and thus take steps to reduce the risk of further invasion.

REFERENCES

Dorris, M. 1994. Mosses, Lichens, and Liverworts. Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon.

Franklin, J.F., and C.T. Dyrness. 1984. Natural Vegetation of Oregon and Washington. Corvallis, Oregon State University. 111-113 pp. and 126-129 pp.

Spies, T.A., and J.F. Franklin. 1988. Old Growth and Forest Dynamics in the Douglas-fir Region of Western Oregon and Washington. Natural Areas Journal Vol. 8 (3).

Blakeley-Smith, Matt and Thomas N. Kaye. 2008. Mowing, Mulching, and Seeding to Control False brome on the Eugene District, BLM, Oregon. pg 18.

Lippert, Jennifer, Cindy McCain, and Alice Smith. 2010. Willamette National Forest Special Habitat Management Guide. Pacific Northwest Region.

Holmes, Susan E., Bitty A. Roy, Jim P. Reed, and Bart R. Johnson. 2008. Context-Dependent Pattern and Process: The Distribution and Competitive Dynamics of and Invasive Grass, Brachypodium sylvaticum Biological Invasions. Master’s Thesis, University of Oregon, Eugene.

Institute for Applied Ecology-False Brome Working Group, Oregon, USA. http:// www.appliedeco.org/invasive-species-resources-FBWG

58

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

TRANSPORTATION SYTEM

FINDINGS & MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE

This section presents information concerning current road conditions in the watershed. The information is summarized in two tables, the first (Table 9) of which presents roads that have chronic maintenance issues that are noted in the WA, how the issue was addressed, and recommended future management action(s). Table 10 lists roads that are recommended for storm proofing or decommissioning.

Table 9. Roads in the South Fork McKenzie Watershed with Chronic Maintenance Issues Identified in the WA. Road Issue in WA Current Status Recommended Action Number Road 1994 will be assessed by CMLG Road has been bermed and waterbarred, Road runs survey FY 2010. Recommend adding 1994000 Operational maintenance level 1 at MP mud in winter 1994541 to survey list due to existing 2.5 10' culvert located at MP 0.20

It is assumed that the WA was addressing the Boone Creek Slump Located at MP 50.8. See recommendation by Pete Bolander dated 2/10/2004. Site was repaved in 1997, but continued to drop. Maintain road segment with an 1900 Slump Area In 2005 site was reconstructed, aggregate surface, shape and compact incorporating portions of both phase 1 surface as needed. and phase 2 from Bolanders recommendation. Site continued to drop, in 2009 asphalt was converted back to an aggregate surface.

Road 1980204, current operational maintenance is level 2. Road 1980204 was last reconstructed (2.17 miles) under Road 1980204 will be assessed by Star/Twinkle T.S. in 1997. Work CMLG survey FY 2010. Based on Heavy ditch included repairing bridge deck and assessment cross drainage may need slough, cribbing, slide removal at multiple sites, to be installed by hand labor. 1980204 chronic ditch drainage reconstruction and culvert Recommend removal of existing shoulder replacement. Since then, the bridge has bridge, install FS owned temporary washout deteriorated to an unsafe impassible bridge when needed for future timber structure. There is approximately seven sale activity. Store system prior to miles of road on the south side of the bridge removal. bridge that is inaccessible to vehicle traffic.

59

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 9. Roads in the South Fork McKenzie Watershed with Chronic Maintenance Issues Identified in the WA. Road Issue in WA Current Status Recommended Action Number Road 1900431, current operational Heavy ditch maintenance is level 2. Road 1900431 Road 1900431 will be assessed by slough, was last reconstructed (2.50 miles) under CMLG survey FY 2010. Continue 1900431 chronic Augusta T.S. in 1997. Only minor work maintenance activities on scheduled shoulder was needed. Drainage maintenance is rotation. washout currently conducted on a three year interval.

Road 1985, current operational maintenance is level 2. Road 1985 was Heavy ditch last reconstructed (6.51 miles) under slough, Hartz T.S. in 2007 . Work included ditch Continue maintenance activities on 1985 chronic drainage reconstruction, culvert scheduled rotation. shoulder replacement and surface rock washout replacement (Segment II). Drainage maintenance is currently conducted on a four year interval.

Road 1986, current operational maintenance is level 2. Road 1986, a reconstruction contract (3.5 miles) is Heavy ditch currently being prepared , with a slough, proposed work period of spring / early Continue maintenance activities on 1986 chronic summer 2011. Work will include ditch scheduled rotation. shoulder drainage reconstruction, culvert washout replacement and surface rock replacement. Drainage maintenance is currently conducted on a four year interval.

Road 1927100, current operational maintenance is level 2, the road is currently blocked at approximately mp 3 by a very large boulder. Road 1927100 Heavy ditch was last reconstructed (4.30 miles) under Road 1927100 will be assessed by slough, Star/ Twinkle T.S. in 1997. Work CMLG survey FY 2010. Continue 1927100 chronic included ditch drainage reconstruction, maintenance activities on scheduled shoulder culvert replacement and bridge approach rotation. washout paving. In 1999 the road obtained flood damage at mp 3.32 and was repaired under the ERFO program in 2002. Drainage maintenance is currently conducted on a four year interval.

60

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 9. Roads in the South Fork McKenzie Watershed with Chronic Maintenance Issues Identified in the WA. Road Issue in WA Current Status Recommended Action Number Road 1927202, current operational Heavy ditch maintenance is level 2. Road 1927202, slough, has had no activities since the Watershed Continue maintenance activities on 1927202 chronic Analysis was published in 1994. scheduled rotation. shoulder Drainage maintenance is currently washout conducted on a five year interval.

Road 1927, current operational maintenance is level 2. Road 1927 was last reconstructed (4.30 miles total) under Augusta and Star/Twinkle T.S. in 1997. Plugged Work included ditch drainage Road 1927 will be assessed by CMLG culvert inlets, reconstruction, culvert replacement, wall survey FY 2010. Continue 1927 needs construction and bridge approach paving maintenance activities on scheduled monitoring . In 1996, 1997 and 1999 the road rotation. and cleaning obtained flood damage at various locations and were repaired under the ERFO program. Drainage maintenance is currently conducted on a three year interval.

Road 1927100, current operational maintenance is level 2, the road is currently blocked at approximately mp 3 by a very large boulder. Road 1927100 Plugged was last reconstructed (4.30 miles) under Road 1927100 will be assessed by culvert inlets, Star/ Twinkle T.S. in 1997. Work CMLG survey FY 2010. Continue 1927100 needs included ditch drainage reconstruction, maintenance activities on scheduled monitoring culvert replacement and bridge approach rotation. and cleaning paving. In 1999 the road obtained flood damage at mp 3.32 and was repaired under the ERFO program in 2002. Drainage maintenance is currently conducted on a four year interval.

61

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 9. Roads in the South Fork McKenzie Watershed with Chronic Maintenance Issues Identified in the WA. Road Issue in WA Current Status Recommended Action Number Road 1927200, current operational maintenance is level 2 to mp 2.85, and maintenance level 1 for the remainder of the road. Road 1927200 was last reconstructed (1.12 miles) under Star/ Plugged Twinkle T.S. in 1997. Work included Road 1927200 will be assessed by culvert inlets, ditch drainage reconstruction, culvert CMLG survey FY 2010. Continue 1927200 needs replacement. In 1999 the road obtained maintenance activities on scheduled monitoring flood damage at mp 2.95. The Blue River rotation. and cleaning Ranger District made the decision to store the road at mp 2.85 to the end. The storage was completed under the ERFO program in 2001. Drainage maintenance is currently conducted on a four year interval.

Road 1900415, current operational maintenance is level 2. Road 1900415 Plugged was last reconstructed (3.23 miles) culvert inlets, Cascade Cat T.S. in 2001. Work Continue maintenance activities on 1900415 needs included ditch drainage reconstruction, scheduled rotation. monitoring culvert replacement. Drainage and cleaning maintenance is currently conducted on a four year interval.

Table 10. Roads for Storm Proofing or Decommissioning Road Current Operational Closure Type Comments Number Maintenance Level Road 1900 1 - Basic Custodial Care Road closed by berm on 1900471, 1900375 ___ (Closed) closed in 2009 CMLG survey is planned for FY 10, 1900429 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ Cascade Creek Planning Area 1900431 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 CMLG survey is planned for FY 10, 1900455 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ Cascade Creek Planning Area CMLG survey is planned for FY 10, 1900459 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ Cascade Creek Planning Area 1900489 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___

62

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 10. Roads for Storm Proofing or Decommissioning Road Current Operational Closure Type Comments Number Maintenance Level

1900492 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ Berm and water bars being breached 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1900570 Berm by OHV traffic. CMLG survey is (Closed) planned for FY 10 1900570 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___

1900745 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___

1900766 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___

1900774 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10, 1900902 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ Cascade Creek Planning Area CMLG survey is planned for FY 10, 1900903 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ Cascade Creek Planning Area Road 1927 1927112 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1927114 Vegetation CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) Miss numbered, Road number in WA 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1927117 ___ 1927110, CMLG survey is planned (Closed) for FY 10 Miss numbered, Road number in WA 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1927118 ___ 1927113, CMLG survey is planned (Closed) for FY 10

1927155 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1927157 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1 - Basic Custodial Care 1927260 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1927287 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___

1927288 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1927299 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 Road 1958 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958342 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed)

63

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 10. Roads for Storm Proofing or Decommissioning Road Current Operational Closure Type Comments Number Maintenance Level 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958344 Vegetation (Closed) Drivable water bars constructed, 1958346 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ Roaring T.S. 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958347 ___ (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958351 ___ (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958357 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958359 ___ (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958360 ___ (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958366 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958375 ___ Decommissioned (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958376 ___ Decommissioned (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958382 ___ Decommissioned (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958383 ___ Decommissioned (Closed) 1958475 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1958478 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) Road 1980 1980202 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___

1980204 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980214 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed)

1980225 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980232 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed)

64

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 10. Roads for Storm Proofing or Decommissioning Road Current Operational Closure Type Comments Number Maintenance Level

1980236 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980239 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980255 ___ (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980260 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980265 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980266 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980310 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980330 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980331 ___ (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980332 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980340 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed)

1980423 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1980447 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1980448 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980456 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980457 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980477 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed)

1980480 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___

1 - Basic Custodial Care 1980484 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed)

65

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 10. Roads for Storm Proofing or Decommissioning Road Current Operational Closure Type Comments Number Maintenance Level

1980492 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

Road 1985 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1985113 Berm CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1985116 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1985186 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1985187 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1985191 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1985260 Vegetation CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed)

1985263 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ Dispersed camp site

1 - Basic Custodial Care 1985268 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1985274 Vegetation CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) Road 1986 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1986103 Vegetation CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1986114 Vegetation CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1986118 Vegetation CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1986119 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1986120 Vegetation CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed)

1986121 2 - High Clearance Vehicles Vegetation CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1 - Basic Custodial Care 1986124 Berm CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed)

1986126 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

66

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

Table 10. Roads for Storm Proofing or Decommissioning Road Current Operational Closure Type Comments Number Maintenance Level 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1986127 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1986136 ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1986138 Vegetation CMLG survey is planned for FY 10 (Closed) 1 - Basic Custodial Care 1986142 ___ (Closed) Road 1993

1993566 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1993572 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1993575 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1993576 2 - High Clearance Vehicles ___ CMLG survey is planned for FY 10

1) Road closure devise may close multiple roads, example berm on Road 1985113 also closes Notes : Road's 1985116, 191 and 187.

2) CMLG SURVEY - Data from CMLG surveys will be one of the tools used in an interdisciplinary process to determine prescriptive actions for each road segment, such as continued road maintenance, storage, decommissioning , etc. Approximately 160 miles of road surveys are planned for FY2010, 120 miles are planned for FY 2011.

3) The following roads do not currently exist on the corporate transportation layer, and may or may not exist in INFRA. 1900139, 748,

1980254,272,274,275,277,279,287,293,308,320,338,339,341,342,443,445,1985180,181,192,278.

67

South Fork McKenzie River WA Update

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS

The principal contributors to the 2010 South Fork McKenzie River Watershed Analysis Update are listed below.

Ray Rivera Team Leader & Fisheries

Kevin Bruce Document Layout/Editor

Jennifer MacDonald Recreation

Dave Bickford Fisheries

Bonny Hammons Hydrology

Dave Kretzing Climate and Geology

Doug Shank Climate and Geology

Shane Kamrath Wildlife

Penny Harris Wildlife

Kurt Steele Vegetation

Burt Thomas Botanical Resources & Special Habitats

Kenny Gabriel Transportation System

Mei Lin Lantz Fire and Fuels Management

68