REDWOOD CREEK WATERSHED ANALYSIS March, 1997 Di\.ision of Resource Management and Science Rcd~ooodNariorrtrl u~itlS~atc Parks Arcah. C'ali fomia prepared by: Dave Anderson, Fisheries Biologist Leone1 Arguello, Botanist Dave Best, GIs Coordinator Greg Bundros, Geologist Crisley Handly, Programs Clerk Barry Hili, Supervisory Geologist Terry Hofstra, Chief of Resource Management and Science Randy Klein, Hydrologist Jason Lowe, Fish and Wildwe Biologist (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Mary Ann Madej, Research Geologist (U. S. Geological Service) Vicki Ozaki, Geologist Jim Popenoe, Soils Scientist Howard Sakai, Supervisory Ecologist Darci Short, Geologist Ann King Smith, Archaeologist Becca Smith, Geologist Terry Spreiter, Supervisory Geologist Sabra Steinberg, Wildlife Biologist Rick Wallen, Fish and Wildlife Biologist Judy Wartella, GIs Specialist 4- Redwood Creek 1/97 Watershed Analysis 1 Table of Contents Addendum ................................................................v ExecutiveSummary .........................................................1 btmduction ...............................................................3 Watershed ................................................................ 4 Location and Physiography .............................................. 4 Climate and Hydrology .................................................4 -10 gy .............................................................. 5 FloraandFauna ....................................................... 5 CulturalHistory ....................................................... 7 Floods, Sediment, and Land Use .............................................. 9 RecentLargeFloods ................................................... 9 Erosion and Sediment Yield ............................................. 10 Erosional Processes ............................................. 10 Landslides ............................................... 10 Fluvial Hillslope Erosion .................................... 11 Channel Storage .......................................... 12 Sediment Budget ..........................................12 Recent Trends in Sediment Loads ........................................ 14 Suspended Sediment ................................................ IS Bedload .......................................................16 Landuse ............................................................ 17 Timber Harvest ..............................., .................. 17 Roads ........................................................ 19 Mining .......................................................20 Livestock Grazing ............................................. -21 Watershed Restoration ............................................22 NaturalResourceIssues .................................................... 24 Issue 1: Resmabion of Streamride Redwoods .................................24 KeyQuestions: ........................................................ 25 1 . How many streamside redwoods died during and after recentfloods7 .................................................. 25 2 . Why did these redwoods die? ......................................... 25 3 . How was the damage to redwood groves related to flooding ahd sediment in Redwood Creek? ...........................-26 4 . How are floods and sediment related to upstream land use? ................... 27 Redwood Creek 1/97 Watershed Analysis 5 . What is the potential for hture damage to streamside redwoods? ....................29 a . Is the channel recovering fiom aggradation during theflwdsof1964. 19757 ................................... 29 b . Are streamflow and sediment loads changing? .......................29 c . What effects have changes in land use had on stream flow and sediment loads? ........................................... 29 d . How can hture resource damage be reduced effectively? ............... 31 Issue 2: Protection curd Restoration of Aquatic Habitai .......................... 32 Key Questions: ........................................................ 32 I . What conditions limit fish distriiution and populations? .......................32 2. How are these conditions related to land use? .............................36 3. How have these conditions changed in recent years? ........................ 36 Issue 3: hiection of Threatened and Endangered Wddlife ...................... 40 Key Questions: ........................................................ 40 1. What habitat characteristics are needed to maintain species of special concern and other important wildlife species? .......................... 40 Bald Eagle ............................................... 40 Marbled Murrelet .........................................41 Northern Spotted Owl .......................................41 American Peregrine Falcon .................................. 42 Amphibians .............................................-42 Humboldt Marten & Pacific Fisher ............................ 43 California Brown Pelican ....................................-44 Western Snowy Plover .................................... -44 Large Carnivores ......................................... 45 Survey and Managed Species ................................ 45 Rare Plants ............................................ ;. 46 Unique Hab'itats-The Bald Hills ...............................46 2 . What management activities affect those habitat characteristics? ...............47 hue4: Timber Production .................................................48 .Issues: Tohm.......................................................... 50 Conclusion ...............................................................52 References ........................................... Appendix A Wildlife Species in the vicinity of Redwood Creek Watershed ................... 61 Appendix B State and Federally listed threatened, endangered and sensitive fish and wildlife specie. in the vicinity of Redwood Creek Watershed ........69 Appendix C Sediment budga for the Redwood Creek Watershed, 1954-1980 ................. 71 .... .... Redwood Creek 1/97 Watershed Analysis List of Figures After hix Location map of Redwood Creek watershed ................................ .4 Graph A-Annual rain at Prairie Creek State Park (PCSP) Graph B-Mean monthly at PCSP .................................... 5 Graph showing longitudinal profile of Redwood Creek ......................... 12 Graphs show selected channel cross-section surveys, Redwood Creek ...........:. 12 Graph shows cumulative change in streambed elevation along Redwood Creek 1973-1988 .................................................... 12 Graph A - Suspended-sediment residuals for Redwood Creek at Orick, 1974- 1992 Graph B - Suspended-sediment residuals for Redwood Creek at O'Kane, 1974-1992 ................................. ;.................. 15 Graph A-Bedload residuals for Redwood Creek at Orick, 1974-1992 Gnph B-Bedload residuals for Redwood Creek at OXane, 1974- 1992 .......... 17 Map of existing roads in the Redwood Creek watershed, 1992 ................... 19 Map of roads in the Redwood Creek watershed upstream of Redwood National and Statepar...................................................... 19 Graph showing ratio of streamflow per unit area on Redwood Creek to streamflow per unit area on Little Lost Man Creek, 1975-1988 ........................ .29 Graph showing ratio of total sediment yield at Chick to total sediment yield at OXane. ..................................................... .29 Map of bamm to.fish passage, Redwood Creek and tributaries .................. 33 Graph showing water temperatures in relation to salmonid habitat. .... :.. ..........33 .. Graph A-Frequency of pools and rifnes, Redwood Creek, 1977,1983,1986. Graph B-Average pool depth, Redwood Creek, 1977,1983,1986 ................ 36 Graph showing annual timber production in Humboldt County, 1947-1992, ........ .49 List of Tables Sediment budget, Redwood Creek watershed, 1954-1980 ...................... 13 Table A-Annual streamflow, suspended-sediment loads, and bedloads at daily sediment stations, 1971-1 992, Orick. Table B-Annual streamflow, suspended-sediment loads, and bedloads at daily sediment stations, 1971-1992, O'Kane ............................... 16 Roads utilized for timber harvest in the Redwood Creek watershed, 1978-1992 ...... 21 Streams and stream crossings within timber harvest boundaries in the Redwood Creek watershed, 1978-1992 ..............................22 Average annual acres of timber harvest in the Redwood Creek watershed 1971-1978and1979-1992 ........................................30 Table A-Annual growth and cut of redwood and Douglas-fir, California, 1952 and 1976. Table B-Annual growth and cut of redwood and Douglas-fir, California, 1952and1976 ................................................... .-$ Redwood Creek 1/97 ' Watershed Analysis iv ADDENDUM NEW YEAR'S STORM DECEMBER 1996 - JANUARY 1997 A major storm struck Northwestern California in late December, 1996 and early January, 1997. Extensive flooding occurred along most major rivers in the region. Rainfall totals for the month of December, 1996, at Orick and at the Minor Creek earthflow were about 27 inches. Peak streamflow on Redwood Creek was about 6,400 cubic feet per second at the OKane station and about 43,000 cubic feet per second at Orick. Based on existing flood frequency relations, the peak flow at Orick had a recurrence interval between 15 and 20 years. Damage assessments are underway at this time (January, 1997). Many road