United States Department of Western Sound Agriculture Forest Service Landscape Assessment November 2005 Glacier Ranger District, Chugach National Forest USDA Forest Service, Region 10, Alaska Interdisciplinary Team Members Betty Charnon – Vegetation and Team Leader Chandra Heaton – Special Uses, Recreation, GIS, and Writer/Editor Aaron Poe – Wildlife Biologist Sean Stash – Fish Biologist Bill MacFarlane – Hydrologist Ricardo Velarde – Soil Scientist Heather Hall – Archaeologist Dave Sanders – Recreation Adam McClory – Recreation Carol Huber – Minerals Carl Madson – GIS The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Western Sound Landscape Assessment (WSLA) is an ecosystem analysis at the landscape scale; it is both an analysis and an information gathering process. The purpose is to develop a geographically explicit understanding of the important resources, processes, patterns and interactions occurring on the assessment area. The assessment focuses on the issues and key questions identified for this area. The area is described in terms of its physical, biological and social features. This report is not a decision document; rather it is intended to serve as a mid-level document between the 2002 Chugach National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and the implementation of projects and management decisions. The Landscape Assessment is provided as a tool to managers, resource specialists and interested publics, to aid in the synthesis of available information and identification of topics of interest or concern. The WSLA area encompasses 2,492,507 acres. A team of resource specialists from the Glacier Ranger District and Chugach National Forest Supervisor’s Office prepared this assessment. Following are the general stages used to conduct the analysis and corresponding chapters in this report Step 1 – Introduction (Chapter 1) Step 2 – Characterization of the Study Area (Chapter 2) Step 3 – Issues and Key Questions (Chapter 3) Step 4 – Issue Analysis (Chapter 4) Step 5 – Recommendations (Chapter 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 – Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1-1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 1-1 The Assessment Area ......................................................................................................... 1-1 Relationship to the Forest Plan .......................................................................................... 1-4 Chapter 2: Analysis Area Characterization............................................................................ 2-1 Physical Characteristics ..................................................................................................... 2-1 Climate ........................................................................................................................... 2-1 Watershed Morphometry ............................................................................................... 2-2 Ecological Classification ............................................................................................... 2-3 Geology .......................................................................................................................... 2-4 Glaciers .......................................................................................................................... 2-4 Soils................................................................................................................................ 2-5 Erosion Processes........................................................................................................... 2-7 Streams ........................................................................................................................... 2-7 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................ 2-9 Water Quality ................................................................................................................. 2-9 Biological Characteristics ................................................................................................ 2-10 Fish ............................................................................................................................... 2-10 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................ 2-12 Vegetation .................................................................................................................... 2-23 Social Characteristics ....................................................................................................... 2-28 Recreation .................................................................................................................... 2-29 Special Uses/Lands ...................................................................................................... 2-33 Heritage ........................................................................................................................ 2-40 Chapter 3 – Issues And Key Questions.................................................................................. 3-1 Issue 1: ............................................................................................................................... 3-1 Issue 2: ............................................................................................................................... 3-1 Issue 3: ............................................................................................................................... 3-1 Issue 4: ............................................................................................................................... 3-2 Issue 5: ............................................................................................................................... 3-2 Issue 6: ............................................................................................................................... 3-2 Chapter 4 - Issue Analysis ..................................................................................................... 4-1 Issue 1: ............................................................................................................................... 4-1 Existing Levels of Recreation and Permitted Activities ................................................ 4-1 Impacts to Recreation Experience ................................................................................. 4-9 Information Needed ..................................................................................................... 4-13 Options to Reduce Impacts to Recreation .................................................................... 4-14 Safety Concerns ........................................................................................................... 4-14 Issue 2: ............................................................................................................................. 4-14 Impacts to Water and Soil Resources .......................................................................... 4-15 Impacts to Fish ............................................................................................................. 4-16 Impacts to Wildlife ...................................................................................................... 4-17 Impacts to Vegetation .................................................................................................. 4-22 Impacts to Heritage Resources..................................................................................... 4-22 Issue 3: ............................................................................................................................. 4-24 Areas Sensitive to Increased Use ................................................................................. 4-24 Areas to Close or Restrict Use ..................................................................................... 4-26 Areas to Harden Campsites or Build Cabins or Trails ................................................. 4-26 Partnerships or Agreements ......................................................................................... 4-28 Educational and Interpretive Materials ........................................................................ 4-29 Permit Holders, Independent Recreation Users, and Adjacent Landowners ............... 4-29 Issue 4: ............................................................................................................................