Hydrology and Aquatic United States Species Report and Department of Biological Evaluation Agriculture Forest Bear Creek Cluster Service Allotment Management Plans Environmental Impact Statement June 2019 Ochoco National Forest Lookout Mountain and Paulina Ranger Districts Prepared by: Jennifer Mickelson, Fisheries Biologist Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Pertinent Rules and Regulations ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Water Quality .......................................................................................................................... 6 Management Area Prescriptions - Riparian ............................................................................ 7 Forest-Wide Standards and Guidelines – Water .................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Management Area Standards and Guidelines, Resource – Water ....... Error! Bookmark not defined. Project Activities – Standard and Guideline .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Watershed Condition Framework (WCF) ............................................................................. 12 The Clean Water Act (CWA 1972) ...................................................................................... 13 Executive Orders ................................................................................................................... 14 PACFISH/ INFISH ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Aquatic Species ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Analysis Design .............................................................................................................................. 6 Potential Issues Acknowledged but not Analyzed .................................................................... 14 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 14 Stream Data ............................................................................................................................... 15 Analysis Measures .................................................................................................................... 16 Sensitive Species Habitat/Channel Morphology .................................................................. 17 Stream Temperature .............................................................................................................. 21 Sediment/Turbidity ............................................................................................................... 23 Riparian Hardwood Vegetation ............................................................................................ 25 End of Season Monitoring .................................................................................................... 26 2 Affected Environment ................................................................................................................... 26 Watersheds ................................................................................................................................ 26 Streams ...................................................................................................................................... 27 Aquatic Species ......................................................................................................................... 28 Mid-Columbia River Steelhead ............................................................................................ 28 Redband trout ........................................................................................................................ 29 Columbia Spotted Frog ......................................................................................................... 30 Existing Condition – Aquatic Habitat ........................................................................................... 31 Allotment and Pasture Descriptions.......................................................................................... 31 Bear Creek Allotment ........................................................................................................... 31 Elkhorn Allotment ................................................................................................................ 42 Snowshoe Allotment ............................................................................................................. 54 Trout Creek Allotment .......................................................................................................... 60 Direct and Indirect Effects ............................................................................................................ 74 Alternative 1 - No Action ......................................................................................................... 74 Effects Common to All Allotments ...................................................................................... 74 Determination for Aquatic Species ..................................................................................... 116 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action ............................................................................................... 80 Bear Creek Allotment ........................................................................................................... 81 Elkhorn Allotment ................................................................................................................ 91 Snowshoe Allotment ............................................................................................................. 97 Trout Creek Allotment ........................................................................................................ 102 Alternative 3 – Current Management ..................................................................................... 105 Effects Common to All Allotments .................................................................................... 106 3 Cumulative Effects...................................................................................................................... 107 Activities Contributing to Cumulative Effects in the Bear AMP Project Area ...................... 108 Bridge Creek Wildfire (2008) ............................................................................................. 108 Bridge Creek Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (2008/2009) .................................. 108 Bailey Butte Wildfire (2014) .............................................................................................. 108 Bailey Butte Fire Project (2015) ......................................................................................... 110 Bailey Butte Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (2014/2015) ................................... 110 Bailey Butte Post Fire Restoration (future) ........................................................................ 110 Travel Management Rule (2011) ........................................................................................ 111 Road Closures, Decommissioning and Storage .................................................................. 111 Fish Passage Improvements (Culvert Removals and Replacements) ................................. 112 Stream and Riparian Restoration ........................................................................................ 113 Invasive Plant Treatment FEIS (ROD, 2012) ..................................................................... 114 Ongoing Recreation ............................................................................................................ 114 Alternative 1 Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................ 115 Alternative 2 Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................ 117 Sensitive Species Habitat/Channel Morphology ................................................................ 117 Stream Temperature ............................................................................................................ 118 Sediment/Turbidity ............................................................................................................. 119 Riparian Hardwood Vegetation .......................................................................................... 121 Determination for Aquatic Species ..................................................................................... 122 Alternative 3 Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................ 123 Sensitive Species Habitat/Channel Morphology ................................................................ 123 Stream Temperature ............................................................................................................ 123 4 Sediment/Turbidity ............................................................................................................. 124 Riparian Hardwood Vegetation .......................................................................................... 124 Determination for Aquatic Species ..................................................................................... 124 Aquatic Management Indicator Species (MIS)