Scientific Justification for the Proposed Columbia Mountains National Monument Page 1 Credits This report was produced by Pacific Biodiversity Institute at the request of American Lands and Kettle Range Conservation Group and submitted October 19, 2000. Authors Pacific Biodiversity Institute: Jason Karl, Peter Morrison, Lindsey Swope Ben Sabold, and Teresa Allen Kettle Range Conservation Group: George Wooten, Tim Coleman, Marlene Renwyck Photo Credits Photographs for this report were taken by Tim Coleman. On the Cover Autumn fades into winter on Sherman Peak in the proposed Columbia Mountains National Monument Pacific Biodiversity Institute P.O. Box 298 Winthrop, WA 98862 (509)-996-2490 (509)-996-3778 Fax [email protected] http://www.pacificbio.org Page 2 Table of Contents Credits................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 Significance of the Columbia Mountains....................................................................................................... 4 Proposed Area ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Ownership and Management .......................................................................................................................... 5 Geology and Geomorphology......................................................................................................................... 7 Hydrology........................................................................................................................................................... 8 Paleoecology....................................................................................................................................................... 9 Vegetation and Land Cover........................................................................................................................... 10 Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................................. 14 Fish.................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Wildlife.............................................................................................................................................................. 18 Historic and Cultural Attributes.................................................................................................................... 19 Current Threats ............................................................................................................................................... 19 Conclusions...................................................................................................................................................... 21 References ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 Appendix A. Objects of Scientific and Historic Interest ......................................................................... 44 Page 3 Introduction The Columbia Mountains contain the largest area of pristine montane forests in northeastern Washington and some of the best remaining virgin forests in the United States. Extensive stands of late-successional and old-growth forests are found throughout the area and represent some of the best remaining examples of this imperiled ecosystem. This wild, mountainous landscape provides critical refugia for many species of conservation concern in the Pacific Northwest. The proposed Columbia Mountain Bald Peak in the Columbia Mountains is important habitat National Monument would fill a large for lynx. gap in the network of protected areas in the United States. The proposed Columbia Mountains National Monument consists of over 420,000 acres in the Kettle Mountain Range of northeastern Washington (Figure 1). The area is dominated by the Kettle Range, a ridge of gently rolling mountains rising from the arid lowlands of the Columbia River Basin and extending north into the Monashee Range of Canada. The Columbia Mountains merge with the Okanogan Highlands to the west, and are separated from the Selkirk Mountain Range to the east by the Kettle and Columbia River systems. Today, virgin late-successional and old-growth forests blanket much of the landscape. Their grandeur bespeaks the ecological integrity and importance of this area. They are one of most important features of the proposed Columbia Mountains National Monument, providing refuge to a diverse flora and fauna. However, the rich biological heritage of this area receives little protection. As a result, continued logging, road building, and motorized recreation threaten the integrity of the Columbia Mountains ecosystem. Significance of the Columbia Mountains This report demonstrates the significance of the Columbia Mountains area and provides justification for its designation as a national monument under the Antiquities Act of 1906. It’s warranting features are: 1. Extensive old-growth forests, listed as an endangered ecosystem by Noss et al. (1995). 2. Presence of extensive old-growth ponderosa pine forests – the most endangered old-growth forest type in the Pacific Northwest. Page 4 3. Occurrence of many old-growth-dependent plant and wildlife species such as several species of Botrychium (moonworts and grapeferns), fisher (Martes pennati), marten (Martes americana), several species of bats, and northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus). 4. The endemic Okanogan fameflower (Talinum sediforme). 5. Occurrence of large-ranging threatened and endangered species such as gray wolf (Canis lupus), grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx canadensis), and wolverine (Gulo gulo). 6. Occurrence of many other species of conservation concern. 7. Function as a reserve of biological diversity in Washington state that if protected would fill a large gap in the conservation network of North America. 8. Refuge for high elevation and forest species in an area of the Columbia Plateau dominated by low and middle elevation habitats. 9. Diverse and unique geology, a product of plate tectonics, volcanism and glaciation at the southern margin of continental glaciation. 10. Vulnerability to continued logging of old-growth forests, road building, and development. Designation of the Columbia Mountains area as a national monument will preserve the essential character of this imperiled landscape. This report details the unique geology, landscape ecology, biology, archaeology, culture and history of the Columbia Mountains Proposed Area The proposed Columbia Mountains National Monument is located in the western portion of the Colville National Forest and contains portions of the Republic and Kettle Falls Ranger Districts (Figure 2). The proposed monument follows the administrative boundary of the Colville National Forest within Ferry County, Washington. The northern border of the monument is the international boundary between the United States and Canada. Its eastern border follows the Colville National Forest Administrative Boundary west of the Kettle River and south along the Columbia River to the Colville Indian Reservation. The southern border of the proposed monument is the Colville Indian Reservation. The western border of the proposed monument follows the administrative boundary, lying just east of the Sanpoil River. Ownership and Management The proposed Columbia Mountains National Monument is almost entirely Colville National Forest land (Table 1, Figure 2). There are small percentages of Bureau of Land Management ownership and private inholdings. Table 1. Land Ownership for the area of the proposed Columbia Mountains National Monument. Ownership Area in acres Per cent of Total USFS Colville National Forest 411,985 ac 97.2% Bureau of Land Management 2,666 ac 0.6% Private 9,264 ac 2.2% The area within the proposed national monument and the surrounding landscape is essentially unprotected from logging and road building (Table 2, Figure 3). The Columbia Mountains portion of the Colville National Forest was withdrawn from the north half of the Colville Indian Reservation in 1892, then opened for homesteading in 1890. In 1907, the remaining unsettled lands were set up as the Colville National Forest, which began management of range, merchantable timber, big game, Page 5 and recreation facilities (Kettle Falls Ranger District 1996). Approximately 337,000 acres (89.5% of total area) of the Columbia Mountains area is currently designated for logging and road building under management designations 3A, 3B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 (Table 2). In addition, almost all of northeastern Washington has little protection for the conservation of pristine ecosystems (Cassidy et al. 1997). The Colville National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1988c) recognized the need for protecting sensitive portions of the Columbia Mountains landscape by proposing the Fire Mountain, O’Brien Creek, and Thirteenmile ponds areas as Research