Stehekin Wild & Scenic River Eligibility Report FINAL DRAFT May 2002 Acknowledgments . The National Park Service gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance of the U.S. Forest Service Wenatchee and Okanogan National Forests – their assistance was critical in this report’s development. Special thanks also to the staff at the North Cascades National Park for helping to make the field work a very pleasant and informative experience. Executive Summary This study report evaluates the eligibility and classification of the Stehekin River watershed, located in the North Cascades Mountains of Washington State, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (National System). This evaluation is done partially in settlement of a cause of action brought by the North Cascades Conservation Council1, but primarily as a Department of the Interior requirement for normal management planning processes. The Stehekin River and its tributaries constitute a comparatively small watershed. Most of the natural and cultural resources found in the watershed are dependent not just on the main stem of the Stehekin River, but also on its tributaries. There is also no clear demarcation between most resources throughout the watershed. For these reasons, it is appropriate to consider the entire Stehekin River system as a single unit for the purposes of this evaluation, with the exception of classifying segments of the river as described later. Under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Act), the river must meet physical requirements (eligibility). These physical requirements are: 1) the river must be free-flowing; and 2) the river must have at least one resource important or unique to the region or nation. If a river is eligible for the National System, the Act provides for three possible classifications of one or more segments of the river – “wild,” “scenic,” or “recreational.” These classifications are based on the degree of human modification of the river and adjacent shorelands. Because levels of human activity and development are not uniform throughout the Stehekin River watershed, it was appropriate to divide the river into smaller units in order to consider appropriate classifications for each segment as allowed under the Act. Segment 1 extends from the river’s mouth at Lake Chelan and ends at High Bridge, approximately 11 miles. Segment 2 is from High Bridge to Cottonwood Campground, roughly 12 miles. Segment 3, from Cottonwood Campground to the river’s headwaters, is approximately 6 miles in length. All the tributaries were also evaluated. To thoroughly evaluate the entire watershed, the first one-quarter mile of each tributary from Lake Chelan to High Bridge was studied separately from the rest of its length – this allowed separate classifications due to higher levels of human use and development in these lower areas. There two exceptions to this: 1) The first one-half mile of Company Creek was considered separately due to a hydroelectric project; and 2) one- half mile of Bridge Creek where it passes under the North Cascades Highway (one-quarter mile on each side of the highway) was considered separately. Above High Bridge, tributaries were considered in their entirety. All segments of the river were found to be eligible for designation based on their free-flowing conditions and their outstanding resource values. Segment 1, from the Lake Chelan to High 1 The North Cascades Conservation C ouncil sued the National Park Service over riprapping along roads in the North Cascades National Park Complex. As part of the settlem ent, the National Park Service agreed to assess the eligibility of the Stehekin River as a wild and scenic river. i Bridge, is “recreational” due to the increased level of human activity/development in the river corridor and the accessibility to the river from adjacent roads and bridge crossings. Segment 2, from High Bridge to Cottonwood Campground, was determined to be “scenic” due to its more limited accessibility by roads and the lack of evidence of substantial human activity. Segment 3, extending from Cottonwood Campground to the river’s headwaters, is undeveloped and has very limited access by trail, and therefore merits classification as “wild.” In addition, the first quarter mile of each tributary, beginning with Lake Chelan through High Bridge, from its confluence with the Stehekin River would be classified as “recreational,” due to bridges, trails, and residential development. The rest of these tributaries’ lengths would be classified as “wild,” as would all tributaries above High Bridge. Company Creek, with its hydroelectric project located approximately one-half mile away from the river, would be recreational for the first one-half mile, then wild for the rest of its length. Bridge Creek, which has been modified by construction of the North Cascades Scenic Highway on its upper reaches, would be “recreational” for its first one-quarter mile and for one-quarter mile on each side of the highway; the rest of the river would be “wild.” ii iii Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ...............................................................1 Purpose ..................................................................1 Wild & Scenic Rivers Act – Criteria and Process ...............................1 Study Area/Segments – Stehekin River Watershed ............................2 Existing Federal Management ..............................................3 Stephen Mather Wilderness and Glacier Peak Wilderness .................3 Wenatchee National Forest and Okanogan National Forest ...............4 North Cascades National Park Complex ................................4 North Cascades National Park ..................................4 Lake Chelan National Recreational Area .........................5 EVALUATION OF ELIGIBILITY ..................................................6 Free-Flowing Condition ....................................................6 Segment 1 – Lake Chelan to High Bridge ...............................6 Segment 2 – High Bridge to Cottonwood Campground ...................6 Segment 3 – Cottonwood Campground to the Headwaters ...............6 Tributaries .........................................................7 Conclusion .........................................................7 Outstandingly Remarkable Values ..........................................7 Wildlife ............................................................8 Birds ........................................................8 Mammals ...................................................10 Herptiles ....................................................11 Conclusion ..................................................11 Fish ..............................................................11 Conclusion ..................................................14 Prehistoric Resources ...............................................14 Conclusion ..................................................16 Historic Resources .................................................16 Conclusion ..................................................19 Geology ...........................................................19 Conclusion ..................................................21 Scenic Resources ...................................................21 Conclusion ..................................................23 Recreation .........................................................23 Whitewater Rafting ...........................................24 Other Recreational Boating ....................................24 Fishing .....................................................25 Hunting ....................................................25 Hiking ......................................................25 Camping ....................................................25 Conclusion ..................................................26 iv Other Exceptional Values ...........................................26 Vegetation/Botany ...........................................26 Conclusion ..................................................28 Conclusion ........................................................28 CLASSIFICATION .............................................................30 Elements of Classification and the Stehekin River .............................30 Water Resource Developments .......................................31 Shoreline Development .............................................32 Accessibility .......................................................32 Water Quality .....................................................32 Stehekin River Classification ...............................................33 Segment 1 – Lake Chelan to High Bridge ..............................33 Segment 2 – High Bridge to Cottonwood Campground ..................33 Segment 3 – Cottonwood Campground to the Headwaters ..............33 Tributaries ........................................................34 Conclusions .......................................................34 CONCLUSIONS ...............................................................36 Appendix A – Acronyms and Abbreviations .......................................38 Appendix B – Bibliography ......................................................39 Appendix C – Report Preparers & Reviewers ......................................41 v INTRODUCTION Purpose The purpose of this study is two-fold. Its first objective is to determine if the Stehekin River and its tributaries meet the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the National System.2 The second objective