Site Management Plan Oxbow Property, Umatilla River Hermiston, OR U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Pacific Northwest Region Lower Columbia Area Office November 2007 Site Management Plan, Oxbow Property, Umatilla River, Hermiston, Oregon November 2007 MISSION STATEMENTS The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to our Nation '8 natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and our commitments to island commWlities. The mission of the BUrE:au of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and rdated resources in an envirorunenta11y and economically SOlllld llaJUler in the interest of the American public. Bureau of Reclamation 2 Site Management Plan, Oxbow Property, Umatilla River, Hermiston, Oregon November 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.1 BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................... 6 2.1 RESOURCE OVERVIEW .......................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 Climate.................................................................................................................. 8 2.1.2 Topography and Geology ..................................................................................... 8 2.1.3 Soils....................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.4 Water Resources ................................................................................................. 10 2.1.4.1 Hydrology and Water Resources ................................................................. 10 2.1.4.2 The Hyporheic Zone and Cold Water Resources ........................................ 12 2.1.4.2 Water Quality/Contaminants ....................................................................... 13 Temperature.......................................................................................................... 14 Sediment................................................................................................................ 15 TMDLs and the Water Quality Management Plan Recommendations................. 15 2.1.5 Vegetation........................................................................................................... 17 2.1.5.1 Riparian and Wetland Habitat Along the Umatilla River............................ 17 2.1.5.2 Pastureland................................................................................................... 17 2.1.5.3 Russian Olive............................................................................................... 19 2.1.5.4 Wetlands ...................................................................................................... 19 2.1.5.5 Basin-wide Condition and Importance of Riparian Vegetation................... 19 2.1.5.6 Exotic Species.............................................................................................. 21 2.1.6 Anadromous Fish................................................................................................ 21 2.1.6.1 Key Anadromous Fish Habitats Present on the Oxbow Property................ 21 Spawning Habitat.................................................................................................. 21 Rearing Habitat .................................................................................................... 23 Adult migratory habitat and holding cover. ......................................................... 23 Priority Habitat for Protection and Restoration. ................................................. 24 2.1.7 Wildlife ............................................................................................................... 27 2.1.8 Cultural and Historic Resources .......................................................................... 30 2.1.8.1. Ethnographic Information and Historic Overview ..................................... 30 3.1 HABITAT FRAGMENTATION AND RECREATIONAL IMPACTS................... 33 3.1.1 Habitat Fragmentation ........................................................................................ 33 3.1.1.1 Habitat Management Tools.......................................................................... 34 Shape of Reserve................................................................................................... 34 Maximize Area and Amount of Interior. ............................................................... 34 Maximize vertical density ..................................................................................... 35 3.1.1.2 Management Implications for the Oxbow Property..................................... 35 3.1.2 Recreational Impacts to Wildlife Communities.................................................. 35 3.1.2.1 Management Tools....................................................................................... 38 3.1.1.2 Management Implications for the Oxbow Property..................................... 38 3.1.3 Recreation Impacts on Historic Properties ......................................................... 39 4.1 CURRENT MANAGEMENT................................................................................... 39 4.1.1 Habitat Protection ............................................................................................... 40 4.1.2 Instream Flow and Cold Water Resource Enhancement .................................... 40 4.1.3 Livestock Grazing............................................................................................... 41 4.1.4 Weed Control...................................................................................................... 41 Bureau of Reclamation 3 Site Management Plan, Oxbow Property, Umatilla River, Hermiston, Oregon November 2007 4.1.5 Vector Control .................................................................................................... 41 Larvacides............................................................................................................. 42 Adulticides............................................................................................................. 42 Site Visits............................................................................................................... 43 4.1.6 Shooting Control................................................................................................. 43 4.1.7 Evaluation of Geomorphology of Property......................................................... 43 4.1.8 Regulation of Recreational and Educational Use ............................................... 43 4.1.9 Law Enforcement................................................................................................ 44 4.1.10 Cultural Resources............................................................................................. 44 4.2.0 Facilitate Cooperative Efforts............................................................................. 44 5.1 SUMMARY OF ISSUES .......................................................................................... 44 5.1.1 Water Rights ....................................................................................................... 45 5.1.2 Requested Uses ................................................................................................... 45 5.1.3 Local Resident Concerns .................................................................................... 45 5.2 Related Planning Actions that Affect Management of the Oxbow Property............. 46 5.3 Public Comment on the Draft Oxbow Propert Site Management Plan….. ............... 46 6.1 SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN.................................................................................. 47 6.1.1 Goal 1.................................................................................................................. 48 6.1.2 Goal 2.................................................................................................................. 48 6.1.3 Goal 3.................................................................................................................. 48 6.1.4 Goal 4.................................................................................................................. 49 6.1.5 Goal 5.................................................................................................................. 50 6.1.6 Goal 6.................................................................................................................. 51 6.1.7 Goal 7.................................................................................................................. 51 6.1.8 Goal 8.................................................................................................................. 51 6.1.9 Goal 9.................................................................................................................. 52 6.1.10 Goal 10.............................................................................................................. 52 6.1.11 Goal 11.............................................................................................................. 53 7.1 IMPLEMENTATION................................................................................................ 55 7.1.1 Funding ............................................................................................................... 55 7.1.2. Development of a Proactive Implementation Process ....................................... 56 7.1.3 Special