Conasauga and Wildcat Creeks Ecosystem Assessment Tellico & Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger Districts Cherokee National Forest Table of Contents INTRODUCTION…………..…………………………………....... 1 Description of Watersheds..……………………………………... 1 PHYSICAL ELEMENTS…………………………………………. 3 Soils/Watershed/Riparian, Wetlands & Floodplains...................... 3 Air………………………………………………………............... 7 Minerals……………………………………………….…………. 11 BIOLOGICAL ELEMENTS…………………………………….... 12 Major Forest Communities………………………………………. 14 Rare Communities……………………………………………….. 21 Successional Habitats……………………………………………. 22 Terrestrial Habitat Attributes…………………………………….. 28 Aquatic Habitats…………………………………...…………...... 31 Demand Species…………………………………………………. 32 Non-Native Invasive Plants and Animals.……………………….. 33 Species Viability.……………………………..……….…………. 35 Forest Health …………………………..……………................... 39 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS…...……………… 43 Recreation Related Programs…...……………………………….. 43 Heritage Resources………………………………………………. 48 Forest Products……………………………………....................... 49 Special Uses/Lands………………………………………………. 50 Prescribed and Wildland Fires…………………………................ 52 Roads and Access………………………………………………... 54 APPENDIX A - Goals and Objectives……………………………. 56 APPENDIX B – Travel Analysis Process Report………………… 78 Introduction Description of Assessment Area The Conasauga and Wildcat Creeks Assessment Area is located about seven miles west of Tellico Plains, Tennessee in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area is located in the Southern Metasedimentary Mountain Eco-region. The two watersheds total approximately 122 square miles (78,135 acres) in size. Elevation in the area ranges from about 682 feet at the confluence of Conasauga Creek and the Hiwassee River to 3,681 feet at the top of Waucheesi Mountain. Land ownership within the assessment area is approximately 26 % in National Forest System lands (NFS) and 74 % in private ownership. The assessment area has an average annual temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. January is usually the coldest month with an average temperature of 35 degrees Fahrenheit, while July is usually the hottest month with an average temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The area averages about 55 inches of precipitation annually, which is distributed somewhat evenly throughout the year. March is usually the wettest month with an average of 5.9 inches of precipitation, while October is usually the driest with an average of 3.0 inches of precipitation. The length of the growing season is approximately 180 days per year. Prevailing winds in eastern Tennessee are predominantly from the southwest. The landform of the area is characterized by steep, dissected mountains and narrow V-shaped valleys. The physical character of the assessment area is greatly influenced by the geology associated with the Blue Ridge Physiographic province. The majority of the assessment area is in Management Prescription (MP) 8.B of the Cherokee National Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (RLRMP) (USDA 2004). Table 1 displays the approximate land acreages by Management Prescription. Figure 1 displays the location of the assessment area within the Tellico Ranger District of the Cherokee National Forest (CNF) and the Management Prescriptions. Table 1. Management Prescription acreages in Conasauga/Wildcat Management NFS Prescription Acreage 1.B 30 12.B 605 5.B .4 7.A 51 7.B 2,555 8.B 10,677 9.H 2,624 11 3,854 Total Acres 20,396 Figure 1. Vicinity Map 2 Physical Elements Soils/Watershed/Riparian, Wetlands and Floodplains Existing Condition The Conasauga and Wildcat Creeks Assessment Area is located about seven miles West of Tellico Plains, Tennessee in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area is located in the Southern Metasedimentary Mountain Eco-region. The two watersheds total approximately 122 square miles (78,135 acres) in size. Elevation in the area ranges from about 682 feet at the confluence of Conasauga Creek and the Hiwassee River to 3681 feet at the top of Waucheesi Mountain. Land ownership within the assessment area is approximately 26 % in NFS lands and 74 % in private ownership. The assessment area has an average annual temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. January is usually the coldest month with an average temperature of 35 degrees Fahrenheit, while July is usually the hottest month with an average temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The area averages about 55 inches of precipitation annually, which is distributed somewhat evenly throughout the year. March is usually the wettest month with an average of 5.9 inches of precipitation, while October is usually the driest with an average of 3.0 inches of precipitation. The length of the growing season is approximately 180 days per year. Prevailing winds in eastern Tennessee are predominantly from the southwest. The landform of the area is characterized by steep, dissected mountains and narrow V-shaped valleys. The physical character of the assessment area is greatly influenced by the geology associated with the Blue Ridge Physiographic province. Geology is a mixture of Precambrian- age metamorphic and sedimentary materials such as bouldery colluvium; Precambrian sandstone, siltstone, shale, quartzite, greywacke, arkose, phyllite, slate and schist and Quaternary sandy shaly colluvium; Cambrium shale, sandstone, siltstone, quartzite and conglomerate. The diverse parent material along with other factors such as aspect, topography, and climate has resulted in soil types with different characteristics. Common soil series found within the assessment area includes Citico Channery, Ranger, Sylco Channery, and Wallen. Citico Channery soils are located on 20 to 40 percents and are found in mountain coves. The parent material is colluvium materials derived from metasedimentary rock. These soils are well drained, and the available water to a depth of 60 inches is low. Organic matter content in the surface horizon is 2 percent. In this assessment area the Ranger soils series is found on 12 to 60 percent. They are found on mountain hill slopes and have residuum parent material that developed from weathered metasedimentary. These soils are well drained and the available water to a depth of 60 inches is very low. Organic matter in the surface horizon is 2 percent. Sylco Channery soils in this area are found on slopes ranging from 25 to 65 percent. They are found on mountain hill slopes. These soils are well drained and the available water to a depth of 60 inches is low. The organic matter content in the surface horizon is about 4 percent. 3 The Wallen soil series is this area is found on slopes ranging from 20 to 60 percent. These soils are found on mountain hill slopes. The parent material consists of cobbly residuum and/or deep creep deposits derived from interbedded sedimentary rock. The drainage class for these soils is excessively drained. Available water to a depth of 60 inches is very low. Organic matter content in the surface horizon is about 2 percent. The primary source of erosion on NFS lands is from the existing road and trail system. There is some evidence of mass wasting processes that tend to be associated with roads. Localized erosion and sediment can be associated with roads and trails on NFS lands. There are approximately 42 stream crossings on NFS land. Within this assessment area, National Forest System Roads (NFSR) 341J, 11011, 2002, and 2017are most significant in terms of their length (over .25 miles), proximity to stream, and potential influence on surface and subsurface hydrology. NFSR 341J is located adjacent to Hopper Branch for .31 miles. NFSR 2017 is located adjacent to a small tributary stream .27 miles. Other roads that are significant in terms proximity to streams, is county roads 652 and 665, and state roads 315 and 39-1. Many of the NFSRs in the assessment area are gated and normally closed to all but administrative traffic. The roads are aggregate (gravel) surfaced with drainage control structures in place. Drainage control is by means of ditches, cross drain culverts, broad based dips, turnouts or a combination of these. Most cut and fill slopes have been revegetated by natural or induced means (most often by a combination). A lack of or minimum maintenance of some of these roads, has resulted in deteriorated road conditions. Some roads have lost their cushioning material (gravel) and large rock and bedrock is exposed. Surface water drainage on some road segments could be improved to reduce ditch and road bed erosion and off-site soil movement. The water quality of streams originating on NFS lands within the assessment area can generally be characterized as low in conductivity, low in alkalinity, slightly acidic, low in nutrients, and generally free of excessive sediment. Based on empirical evidence, however, localized sediment input and deposition into Conasauga Creek from private lands is a water quality concern. Most of the private land ownership is concentrated in the Conasauga Creek watershed. The streams in the Wildcat watershed are in better condition than those in the Conasauga watershed due to the fact that there is more NFS land in the Wildcat Creek watershed. Streams and drainages within the two watersheds include Conasauga Creek, Wildcat Creek, Lyons Creek, Dry Creek, and Hatter Brach to name a few along with several tributary streams. Conasauga Creek is listed on the State of Tennessee impaired waters 303(d) list. Approximately 34 miles is considered to be impaired due to a loss of biological integrity because of siltation. This is a result of MS4 area and pasture grazing