Watershed Analysis Hyampom Watershed Shasta-Trinity National Forest South Fork Management Unit April 2011 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 The Purpose of Watershed Analysis ........................................................................................................... 1 Focus of this Watershed Analysis ................................................................................................................ 1 Format of the Document .............................................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER 1 - WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS ............................................ 3 Physical Setting ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Location ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Climate ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Terrestrial................................................................................................................................................... 5 Soils ..........................................................................................................................................................23 Geology ....................................................................................................................................................26 Aquatic Systems .......................................................................................................................................30 Management Direction and Land Allocations ..........................................................................................36 Human Uses ..............................................................................................................................................40 Heritage ....................................................................................................................................................49 CHAPTER 2 - ISSUES AND KEY QUESTIONS ................................................ 52 Issue #1: Forest Health ................................................................................................................................52 Issue #2: Aquatic Systems ...........................................................................................................................52 Issue #3: Erosional Processes ......................................................................................................................53 Issue #4: Fire and Fuels ..............................................................................................................................54 Issue #5: Human Uses and Values ..............................................................................................................54 Issue #6: Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat and Species ...................................................................................54 CHAPTER 3 - CURRENT CONDITIONS ........................................................... 56 Issue #1: Forest Health ................................................................................................................................56 i Issue #2: Aquatic Systems ...........................................................................................................................60 Issue #3: Erosional Processes ......................................................................................................................80 Issue #4: Fire and Fuels ..............................................................................................................................90 Issue #5: Human Uses and Values ..............................................................................................................99 Issue #6: Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat and Species .................................................................................101 CHAPTER 4 - DESIRED CONDITIONS ........................................................... 107 Issue #1: Forest Health ..............................................................................................................................107 Issue #2: Aquatic Systems .........................................................................................................................108 Fisheries ..................................................................................................................................................108 Hydrology ...............................................................................................................................................109 Issue #3: Erosional Processes ....................................................................................................................110 Issue #4: Fire and Fuels ............................................................................................................................110 Issue #5: Human Uses and Values ............................................................................................................111 Issue #6: Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat and Species .................................................................................112 CHAPTER 5 - MANAGEMENT OPTIONS TO MEET DESIRED CONDITIONS .......................................................................................................................... 113 Issue #1: Forest Health ..............................................................................................................................113 Issue #2: Aquatic Systems .........................................................................................................................115 Fisheries ..................................................................................................................................................115 Hydrology ...............................................................................................................................................116 Issue #3: Erosional Processes ....................................................................................................................117 Issue #4: Fire and Fuels ............................................................................................................................117 Issue #5: Human Uses and Values ............................................................................................................118 Issue #6: Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat and Species .................................................................................119 REFERENCES ................................................................................................. 120 ii South Fork Management Unit, Shasta-Trinity National Forest Watershed Analysis Hyampom Watershed – April 2011 Introduction The Purpose of Watershed Analysis Watershed analysis (WA) provides a systematic way to organize and understand ecosystem information by characterizing the human, aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial features, conditions, processes, and interactions (collectively referred to as “ecosystem elements”) within a watershed. As a result, the WA improves our ability to estimate the direct, indirect and cumulative effects our management actions may have on ecosystem elements, as well as guide the general type, location and sequence of appropriate management activities within the watershed. Watershed analysis is required in Key Watersheds, for roadless areas in non-Key Watersheds and Riparian Reserves prior to determining how proposed land management activities meet Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives (Shasta-Trinity Land Resource Management Plan [Forest Plan] pg 4- 53). This landscape analysis is not a decision document; its purpose is to provide guidance and recommendations for land management. This analysis will focus on collecting and compiling information within the watershed that is essential for making sound management decisions. The landscape analysis provides existing condition information to enable identification and prioritization of appropriate project opportunities that would enhance, maintain, or improve the landscape conditions in order to achieve or move toward the desired conditions of the land allocations described in the Forest Plan. Focus of this Watershed Analysis The focus of the Hyampom WA is watershed function and vegetative condition as they relate to water quality and fisheries; wildlife habitat; forest health, fuel continuity, fuel loading and the potential for extreme fire behavior. The WA will illustrate the current conditions as well as the desired conditions described in the Forest Plan for the Shasta- Trinity National Forest (the Forest). This analysis will focus on lands within the Hyampom watershed that are administered by the Forest. Format of the Document This document is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 Watershed Characterization The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the physical setting within the watershed, and to identify, map and describe the most important land allocations and plan objectives that influence management within the watershed. 1 - South Fork Management