Aquatic Restoration Plan for National Forest Lands Within the Little Naches River Watershed Photo 1. Little Naches River May 20, 2011 Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Naches Ranger District This Page Intentionally Left Blank Little Naches Aquatic Restoration Plan i Approved By Irene Davidson, June 3, 2011 Irene Davidson Naches District Ranger Contributors Forest Service Gary Torretta Fisheries/Editor William Garrigues Water Quality Jodi Leingang Forest Health Joan StHilaire Wildlife Habitat Reviewed by Alex Conley Director, Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board John Easterbrooks Fisheries Biologist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Scott Nicholai Yakama Nation Fish Habitat Biologist Justin Yeager Fishery Biologist, National Marine Fisheries Service Jeff Krupka Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Candy McKinley Environmental Program Manager, Bureau of Reclamation Little Naches Aquatic Restoration Plan ii This Page Intentionally Left Blank Little Naches Aquatic Restoration Plan iii Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ 1 Aquatic Restoration Plan I. The Regional Watershed Restoration Strategy........................................................................... 3 II. The Little Naches River Watershed At a Glance ....................................................................... 3 III. Past Restoration ............................................................................................................................ 5 IV. Looking Ahead to Future Restoration ....................................................................................... 5 V. Restoration Opportunities Table ................................................................................................ 7 APPENDICES (Supporting Aquatic Restoration Plan Documentation) Appendix A: Water and Soils I. Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Soils .................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Stream Temperature ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 Sedimentation ...................................................................................................................................................................... 13 II. Past Restoration ........................................................................................................................................................................ 19 III. Restoration Needs ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Limiting Factors .................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Active Restoration ............................................................................................................................................................... 22 Passive Restoration ............................................................................................................................................................. 22 Monitoring .......................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Appendix B: Fish Habitat I. Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Fisheries Status ................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Coho Salmon ....................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Chinook Salmon .................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Steelhead Trout ................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Rainbow/Redband Trout ..................................................................................................................................................... 29 Cutthroat/Bull/Brook Trout ................................................................................................................................................. 29 Recreational Fisheries ......................................................................................................................................................... 29 Fish Habitat ......................................................................................................................................................................... 30 II. Past Fish Habitat Restoration ................................................................................................................................................... 37 III. Restoration Needs ..................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Limiting Factors Mainstem Little Naches River ..................................................................................................................................... 37 Monitoring .......................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Appendix C: Wildlife Habitat I. Existing Conditions/Restoration Opportunities ........................................................................................................................ 39 Little Naches Aquatic Restoration Plan iv Appendix D: Forest Health I. Overview .................................................................................................................................................................................. 45 II. Existing Conditions ................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Forest Health Opportunities Table ...................................................................................................................................... 47 Literature Cited .............................................................................................................................................................................. 48 Map Figures Watershed Vicinity Map ........................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Figure 3. Recommended Road Treatments Map .................................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 4. Anadromous Fish Distribution Map ....................................................................................................................................... 26 Figure 5. Resident Fish Distribution Map .............................................................................................................................................. 27 Little Naches Aquatic Restoration Plan v Executive Summary The Little Naches River drainage (hereafter referred to as the watershed in this document) encompasses 95,547 acres. Major tributaries in the watershed include Crow Creek, Quartz Creek, Bear Creek, and the South, Middle, and North Forks of the Little Naches River. The watershed contains approximately 9,480 acres of private land inholdings within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The watershed is located in the central Cascade Mountains of Washington State within the Naches River Subbasin. The Naches River is one of three subbasins within the Yakima River Basin. The watershed contains steelhead and bull trout, both of which are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Other fish species present include spring Chinook salmon, coho salmon, westslope cutthroat trout, redband trout, rainbow trout, and other non-game fishes. The aquatic restoration plan for this watershed analyzes existing aquatic and riparian data and strategically displays an active and passive restoration approach. Factors that limit aquatic productivity and diversity within the watershed are water quality, fish habitat, and forest health. Risk to future productivity includes conversion of private forest lands and floodplains to recreational property uses. Fish habitat and water quality have been degraded by past management activities. Habitat degradation includes reduced channel complexity, river diking, reduced floodplain connectivity, road protection rip-rap, low pool quality and quantity, lack of spawning gravels,