Chapter 3 Current Conditions of Major Components and Processes
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Chapter 3 Current Conditions of Major Components and Processes This chapter expands on the descriptions of the watershed history in Chapter 2 by examining the current human, physical, and biological conditions of the watershed. Human components include demographics; land uses, including mining and timber harvest; water use; and fire management. Physical components and processes include geology, hydrology, and climate. Biological components and processes include biological communities, unique biological resources, and game animals. 3.1 Human Components and Processes For the purposes of this assessment, human components and processes are discussed in terms of the physical modifications that humans have made to the natural environment. Modifications to the landscape include construction of the transportation network; residential development, including urban and rural communities; mining; agriculture and ranching; forest management; and water resource management. These land uses shape and are shaped by the natural world in which they occur. Land ownership guided historic land use patterns and continues to guide development today. Resource assessment and land management in the watershed are currently based on several local, state, and federal management plans. As discussed in the Section 2.3, Evolution of Laws and Regulations Affecting the Watershed, resource assessment and planning on federally owned lands in the watershed are a matter of jurisdiction. The STNF LRMP directs land management for USFS land; the BLM Redding Land Management Plan directs land management for BLM land; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Flood Control Manual dictates how the Bureau of Reclamation manages Shasta Dam. California State Park legislation and regulations provide guidance for land management of most state lands in the watershed, and other state land is managed in accordance with CDFG’s Lands Program. County and city general plans direct development and land use on private lands in the watershed. These local plans are prepared in accordance with state regulations. 3.1.1 Human Communities, Demographics, and Transportation Chapter 2 provided the context for the ways land use, topography, and biological resources affected the rise and fall of communities in the watershed. Several of these communities are still thriving and have grown together to form larger communities, particularly around Mount Shasta. In contrast, many of the historic mining communities and settlements in the river canyon have disappeared as changes occurred in land use and transportation networks, leaving behind only remnants of past inhabitance. Pieces of old mining equipment, building foundation remnants, and fruit trees provide visible evidence of past communities in the watershed. Upper Sacramento River Watershed Assessment Page 3-1 Chapter 3. Current Conditions of Major Components and Processes Communities Communities in the watershed tend to be clustered at the base of Mount Shasta and along the major transportation corridors. Communities in the watershed include the City of Mt. Shasta and outlying residential development, the city of Dunsmuir and outlying residential development, Castella, Lakehead, and Lakeshore. In addition to these communities, several privately owned residential parcels are located in isolated parts of the watershed. These residences are typically located in secluded mountain settings and along the Sacramento River. Demographics The population of the watershed has increased over the years, but remains relatively low and sparse compared to populations in the rest of the state. The total population for the watershed is approximately 11,000, with the majority of the people living within a 25-square-mile radius at the base of Mount Shasta (Shasta County 1998, U.S. Census 2000, PMC 2007). Approximately 7,300 people live in the community of Mt. Shasta, 3,621 within the city limit and 3,670 in the adjacent unincorporated area (PMC 2007). The community of Mt. Shasta is perched above the Sacramento River canyon between the base of Mount Shasta and the Eddy Mountains. Dunsmuir, the next largest community in the watershed with approximately 2,000 people, is the northernmost community in the river canyon (U.S. Census 2000). The Shasta-Siskiyou county line is located immediately south of Dunsmuir. The population estimate for the Shasta County portion of the Sacramento River canyon is a little over 1,700 (Shasta County 1998). Castella and Sweetbriar are two small mountain communities 6 and 9 miles south of Dunsmuir and adjacent to Castle Crags State Park. The communities of Lakehead and Lakeshore are located at the north end of the Sacramento River Arm of Shasta Lake, 20 miles south of the other river canyon communities. The population of these neighboring reservoir communities is approximately 550 (U.S. Census 2000). Populations fluctuate seasonally in all of these communities. This is evidenced by the number of second homes and the amount of outdoor recreational use in the watershed, including hiking, boating, fishing, and skiing. Land Use Land ownership has guided historic and current land use patterns in the watershed. A large portion of land in the watershed is federally owned forest land managed by the STNF (Figure 3.1-1). The STNF manages land for multiple uses, including timber harvest, recreation, and wildlife values. Five broad categories of land use apply to the STNF lands in the watershed: Congressionally Reserved Areas, Late Successional Reserves (LSR), Administratively Withdrawn Areas, Riparian Reserves, and Matrix (Figure 3.1-2) (U.S. Forest Service 1995). Standards and guidelines are imposed for each of these land uses. Lands designated as Riparian Reserve, for example, have specific management standards and guidelines for air quality, biological diversity, fire and fuels, etc. Page 3-2 Upper Sacramento River Watershed Assessment Chapter 3. Current Conditions of Major Components and Processes Insert 11`x17 Figure Figure 3.1-1. Land Ownership Upper Sacramento River Watershed Assessment Page 3-3 Chapter 3. Current Conditions of Major Components and Processes Insert 11x17 Figure Figure 3.1-2. Land Use Planning Jurisdictions Page 3-4 Upper Sacramento River Watershed Assessment Chapter 3. Current Conditions of Major Components and Processes Table 3.1-1 describes each STNF land use in the watershed. Most of these lands (approximately 225,500 acres) are designated as Matrix. These lands are managed primarily for timber harvest, wildlife, and recreation values. Portions of STNF managed as Wilderness and National Recreation Area include the Castle Crags Wilderness (approximately 14,700 acres) and the Whiskeytown- Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area (NRA) (approximately 32,300 acres). Specific planning guidance for the NRA is provided in the Shasta and Trinity Units, Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area Management Guide. Table 3.1-1. STNF Land Use Designations in the Watershed LAND USE DESIGNATION DESCRIPTION OF LAND USE National Forest Lands Matrix Mixed use. Most timber harvest would occur on these lands. Standards and guidelines are in place to ensure appropriate conservation of ecosystems as well as provide habitat for rare and lesser-known species. Late-Successional Reserves Established to protect and enhance conditions of late-successional and old-growth forest ecosystems and to ensure the support of related species, including the northern spotted owl. Administratively Withdrawn Areas Recreation and visual areas, backcountry, and other areas where management emphasis precludes scheduled timber harvesting. Riparian Reserves Provide an area along streams, wetlands, ponds, lakes, and unstable and potentially unstable areas where riparian-dependent resources receive primary emphasis. Congressionally Withdrawn Wilderness areas where management emphasis is on enhancing the natural conditions for wildlife habitat and non-motorized recreation. Timber harvest is precluded. Bureau of Land Management Lands Interlakes Special Recreation Multiple land uses permitted that are compatible with motorized and non- Management Area motorized outdoor recreation. Private Lands in Siskiyou County and Shasta County Residential Low-density to high-density residential areas generally encompass lands with access to community water, sewer, and utility services. Rural Residential areas encompass lands that receive minimal community services, and are usually within or near a rural community center. Agricultural Land identified as suitable for cropland and ranchland. Commercial Land identified for development with commercial business operations. Resource Land identified as containing valuable natural resources, including timber, minerals, and conservation values (e.g., wildlife habitat, water resources, or scenic value). Upper Sacramento River Watershed Assessment Page 3-5 Chapter 3. Current Conditions of Major Components and Processes Table 3.1-1. STNF Land Use Designations in the Watershed LAND USE DESIGNATION DESCRIPTION OF LAND USE Public Facilities Land publicly owned by county or city, including parks, nature preserves, community centers, educational facilities, and infrastructure maintenance facilities. Industrial Land identified for light to heavy industrial uses, such as manufacturing operations. BLM manages a small portion of the watershed near Shasta Lake west of Backbone Ridge. These lands consist of several sections (i.e., 620-acre tracts) located in a patchwork of private, STNF, and BLM ownership. This area is managed in accordance with the