Lower Sycan Watershed Analysis Fremont-Winema National Forest 2005 Lower Sycan River T33S,R12E,S23 Lower Sycan Watershed Analysis Table of Contents INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................... 1 General Watershed Area.....................................................................................................................................2 Geology and Soils.................................................................................................................................................5 Climate..................................................................................................................................................................6 STEP 1. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE WATERSHED ................................................................... 7 I. Watershed and Aquatics.................................................................................................................................7 Soils And Geomorphology...............................................................................................................................................10 Aquatic Habitat ................................................................................................................................................................10 II. Vegetation.....................................................................................................................................................12 Forested Uplands..............................................................................................................................................................13 Non-Forested Uplands......................................................................................................................................................14 Riparian Vegetation..........................................................................................................................................................17 Invasive Plant Species......................................................................................................................................................18 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plant Species .....................................................................................................18 III. Terrestrial Species and Habitats................................................................................................................18 IV. Human Uses..................................................................................................................................................19 STEP 2. IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES AND KEY QUESTIONS .................................................. 21 I. Watershed and Aquatics...............................................................................................................................21 II. Vegetation.....................................................................................................................................................21 III. Terrestrial Species and Habitats...............................................................................................................22 IV. Human Uses.................................................................................................................................................22 Step 3. DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT CONDITIONS ....................................................................... 24 I. Watershed and Aquatics...............................................................................................................................24 Uplands ............................................................................................................................................................................24 Summery of Current Conditions ......................................................................................................................................27 Road Density, Location, and Drainage Network..............................................................................................................31 Stream Flow .....................................................................................................................................................................36 Drainage Characteristic....................................................................................................................................................37 Riparian Vegetation and Associated Bank Stability.........................................................................................................39 Rosgen Stream Types.......................................................................................................................................................40 Habitat for Aquatic Species..............................................................................................................................................43 Water Quality...................................................................................................................................................................44 Fish Populations and Distribution ....................................................................................................................................45 Fish Passage – Culverts....................................................................................................................................................46 Fine Sediment...................................................................................................................................................................46 II. Vegetation.....................................................................................................................................................46 Forested Uplands..............................................................................................................................................................47 Invasive Species...............................................................................................................................................................55 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plants.................................................................................................................56 Terrestrial Species and Habitat.........................................................................................................................................57 Human Uses .....................................................................................................................................................................59 Table of Contents i STEP 4. REFERENCE CONDITIONS................................................................................................. 62 I. Watershed and Aquatics...............................................................................................................................62 Uplands ...............................................................................................................................................................63 Roads and there Effect on Amount of Sediment and Water Reaching Riparian Areas..............................65 Riparian Vegetation and Stream Channels.....................................................................................................66 1. Riparian Vegetation and Associated Bank Stability....................................................................................................66 2. Rosgen Stream Types..................................................................................................................................................66 Habitat for Aquatic Species...............................................................................................................................68 1. Large Woody Debris (LWD) and its Contribution to Fish Habitat.............................................................................68 2. Desired Pool Numbers .................................................................................................................................................69 3. Spawning Gravel Fines and their Influence on Fish Habitat and Reproductive Success............................................70 4. Stream Temperature and its Influence on Fish Habitat ...............................................................................................70 5. Desired Fish Passage:...................................................................................................................................................71 Soils......................................................................................................................................................................73 II. Vegetation .....................................................................................................................................................74 Forested Uplands..............................................................................................................................................................75 Non-Forested Uplands......................................................................................................................................................78 Invasive Species ..................................................................................................................................................80