2008 Bolam TSI and Fuelbreak Construction Project Hydrology Report 1. Introduction Report Summary This report outlines the applicable direction under state and federal authority for the 2008 Bolam/Deer Creek TSI & Fuelbreak Construction Project areas. This report evaluates the effects of proposed activities on water quality, aquatic and riparian environments within the Project area. The proposed action will integrate pre-commercial thinning and pruning treatment over a five to eight year period; fuelbreaks will be constructed to reduce the risk of wildfire spread. No riparian areas will be treated in the Bolam TSI. Riparian areas will be treated in the Deer Creek TSI with no ground-disturbing activities, on 0 to 20 percent slopes, during periods of no flow in the channel. Any channel crossings will be designated by a soil scientist or hydrologist; therefore these activities are neutral in attaining the Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives as outlined in the Northwest Forest Plan.1 Significant wet areas exist within and adjacent to plantations in the Deer Creek TSI and Fuelbreak Construction Project area. Darlingtonia bogs, seeps that cause bank failure onto roads and seeps that cross roads at Port-Orford-cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) locations occur. One site of Port-Orford-cedar root disease, (Phytohphthora lateralis) was identified in the Scott Creek drainage and treated, this site lies within ½ mile of a plantation. Because there will be no ground disturbing activity; soil concerns are limited to turning of equipment and are addressed under Best Management Practices (BMPs). Best Management Practices are identified for project activities. If BMPs are implemented effectively, then no direct, indirect, or cumulative watershed effects or measurable impacts to water quantity or quality should occur. Site visits will occur before and during project implementation to verify the location of streams and to ground verify slope considerations within some of the units. 1a. State and Federal Direction Management direction comes from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LMP) as well as State of California Water Quality Control Board, both of which have best management practices to guide implementation of activities to be 2,3 in compliance with the Clean Water Act. The State of California has agreements with 1 USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, 1994. Record of Decision for Amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl, including Standards and Guidelines for Management of Habitat for Late- Successional and Old-Growth Related Species. 2 USDA Forest Service, Land and Resource Management Plan (Shasta-Trinity National Forests, 1995). Hydrology Report; Deer Creek – Bolam TSI & Fuelbreak Project 2 of 16 2008 Bolam TSI and Fuelbreak Construction Project Hydrology Report the U.S. Forest Service to control non-point source discharges by implementing control actions certified by the state Water Board as best management practices (BMPs). The Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5) is the designated Water Quality Management Agency for National Forest System lands in California (WQMA). The agency has developed and is implementing its Water Quality Management Plan, entitled Water Quality Management for National Forest System Lands in California.4 This plan, which is part of the State of California's Non-point Source Management Plan, outlines Forest Service Best Management Practices (BMPs) that have been certified by the State Water Quality Control Board and approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It is through the proper application, monitoring, and revision of these BMPs that the agency meets requirements of various provisions of the Clean Water Act and Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and fulfills its obligations as a WQMA. Best Management Practices are designed to protect the beneficial uses of water in the drainage, and will be implemented for each management practice. Because of these measures, no irreversible or irretrievable impacts to water quality are expected to occur, thus meeting Clean Water Act requirements. The Regional Water Board enforces compliance with BMP implementation and may impose control actions above and beyond what is specified in the agreements if the practices are not applied correctly or do not protect water quality.5 1b. Forest Direction The Shasta-Trinity National Forest LMP guides management of water resources on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.6 Direction for water resources is provided in the context of Forest Goals, Standards and Guidelines, and more specific Management Area direction. Additional Guidelines for Water Resource Management are described in Chapter 4 – Management Prescriptions under Riparian Reserves and Key Watersheds. All of the guidelines in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest LMP are based on the Standards and Guidelines from the Record of Decision (ROD) for Amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents within the Range of the Northern 7 Spotted Owl (ROD, 1994). Riparian Reserves are areas as defined by the 1994 ROD. 3 California Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Valley Region, The Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Valley Region Fourth Edition, the Sacramento River Basin and the San Joaquin river Basin, 2004. Ch. IV-3.00. 4 USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Sept. 2000. Water Quality Management for Forest System Lands in California Best Management Practices. 5 CRWQ Control Board Central Valley Region, Basin Plan, 2004. Ch. IV-3.00. 6 USDA Forest Service, LMP Shasta-Trinity NF, 1995, Ch. 4. 7 USDA-FS; USDI-BLM, ROD 1994. Hydrology Report; Deer Creek – Bolam TSI & Fuelbreak Project 3 of 16 2008 Bolam TSI and Fuelbreak Construction Project Hydrology Report The 1994 ROD was recently amended in order to clarify provisions related to the Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS, ROD, 2004).8 The 2004 Record of Decision regarding provisions for the Aquatic Conservation Strategy amending the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan clarifies that “...no project-level finding of consistency with the ACS objectives is required.”9 This direction has returned to finding project-level consistency with the ACS objectives.10 The 2004-ROD automatically amends the Shasta-Trinity Land and Resource Management Plan. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest LMP provides direction using the following: 1. Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives (LMP 4-53); 2. Watershed Analysis (LMP 4-53); 3. Riparian Reserves (LMP 4-53); 4. Standards and Guidelines for Resource Activities (LMP 4-55): There are no key watersheds on the Shasta-McCloud Management Unit identified within the LMP for this area. Forest Goals Water • Maintain or improve water quality and quantity to meet fish habitat requirements and domestic use needs (LMP 4-6). • Maintain water quality to meet or exceed applicable standards and regulations (LMP 4-6). Riparian Areas • Maintain or improve riparian habitat (LMP 4-5). Forest Standards and Guidelines Water • Implement Best Management Practices for protection or improvement of water quality, as described in “Water Quality Management for National Forest System Lands in California,” for applicable management activities. Determine specific practices or techniques during project level planning using information 8 USDA-FS; USDI-BLM, Record of Decision Amending Resource Management Plans for Seven Bureau of Land Management Districts and Land and Resource Management Plans for Nineteen National Forests Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl (USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management, March 2004). 9 USDA-FS; USDI-BLM, ROD, March 2004, p. 1. 10 AQS, 2007 letter. Hydrology Report; Deer Creek – Bolam TSI & Fuelbreak Project 4 of 16 2008 Bolam TSI and Fuelbreak Construction Project Hydrology Report obtained from on-site soil, water, and geology investigations (LMP 4-25). 11 • Identify and treat areas with a degraded watershed condition in a cost-effective manner and according to beneficial use priorities. High priority items include domestic use, anadromous fish habitat, and sensitive species habitat. Improvement activities will be designed to meet Management Area objectives (LMP 4-25). Riparian Reserves Two categories out of the five Riparian Reserve categories are known to occur within the Deer Creek TSI project area: 1. Fish-Bearing Stream (LMP 4-53, Category 1). Riparian Reserves in this category extend to the top of the inner gorge, or to the outer edges of the 100-year flood plain, or to the outer edges of riparian vegetation, or to the height of two site- potential trees, or 300 feet slope distance, whichever is greatest. 5. Seasonally Flowing or Intermittent Streams, Wetlands Less than 1 Acre, and Unstable and Potentially Unstable Areas (LMP 4-54, Category 4). This category applies to features with high variability in size and site-specific characteristics. At a minimum, the Riparian Reserves must include: The extent of unstable and potentially unstable areas (including earth flows), the stream channel and extend to the top of the inner gorge, The stream channel or wetland and the area from the edges of the stream channel or wetland to the outer edges of the riparian vegetation, and Extension from the edges of the steam channel to a distance equal to the height of one site-potential tree, or 100 feet slope distance, whichever is greatest. 1c Water Quality Considerations Beneficial Uses and Water Quality Objectives: The designated beneficial uses for streams within and downstream of the project area are established in the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Valley Region and are listed in Appendix A.12 The basin plan states “The beneficial uses of any specifically identified waterbody generally apply to its tributary streams…”13 These parameters must be maintained within acceptable ranges as specified in the basin plan. 14 As a Water Quality Management 11 CRWQ Control Board Central Valley Region, Basin Plan, 2004. Ch. IV-3.00. 12 CRWQ Control Board Central Valley Region, Basin Plan, 2004. Ch. II-1.00.