Chapter 3 Affected Environment Conde Shell temperatures cool by shading the stream from solar radiation. These trees and shrubs also contribute nutrients to the system as coarse organic material that is crucial to the macroinvertebrate communities that support fish and other aquatic organisms.

Large wood has been identified as a limiting factor in Dead Indian and Conde Creek systems.5 The effects of large wood on stream form and function are positive, creating pools, trapping sediment, providing cover for fish and other aquatic species, and stabilizing banks during high flow events. Beaver have historically contributed wood in the form of beaver dams, to these systems. Beaver dams are present in the upper section of Dead Indian but absent in Conde Creek. Two dams were observed on Dead Indian Creek, below the confluence with Conde Creek.6

South Fork of Little Butte Creek and tributaries have been identified by Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) (1994) as water quality limited under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. From the mouth to Beaver Dam Creek, South Fork of Little Butte Creek is water quality limited due to flow modification, habitat modification, sediment, and summer temperature. Dead Indian and Conde Creeks are limited by summer high temperatures, exceeding the maximum 7-day average for temperature (>64 F). Temperature monitors placed throughout Conde Creek and upper Dead Indian Creek during the summer of 1998 found water temperatures ranging from 65 - 77 F in late July. 7

The geology of an area plays an important role in describing fish habitat through the physical processes driving a system. South Fork of Little Butte Creek and the Dead Indian and Conde Creek drainages are part of the West Cascades Subprovince. The lower portion of the Dead Indian Creek is deeply dissected with steep side slopes and has a well-developed dendritic drainage patterns in response to landsliding and surface erosion.8 Geology of the area suggests moderate to high erosion potential and is subject to landslides triggered by storm events and management activities that have compromised the integrity of these side slopes. Effects of the 1997 flood are evident throughout this drainage with remnant landslides, slumps, and scour visible in many fingers of the drainage.

Both upper Dead Indian and Conde Creeks are located on the Dead Indian plateau, a lava plateau terrain formed by geologically recent volcanic eruptions. It is characterized by gentle landforms and smooth topography. Rock outcrops are common in the lava plateau terrain, especially along ridges.9 The upper sections of Conde and Dead Indian Creeks are comprised of small meandering streams reflecting the flatter headwater topography and wider floodplains.

5 U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 1998. Riparian Surveys: Dead Indian Creek Watershed.

6 Ibid #3.

7 U.S.D.I. B ureau of Land Management. 1998. T emperature monitoring study: South Fork Little B utte Creek watershed.

8 Ibid #2.

9 Ibid #2.

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