Applegate-Star/Boaz Watershed Analysis Version 1.3 Bureau of Land Management, Medford District Ashland Resource Area September 1998 Applegate-Star/Boaz Watershed Analysis - Version 1.3 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ......................................................... vii Introduction ............................................................... 1 Issues and Key Questions .................................................... 4 Watershed Characterization .................................................. 15 Human Uses ........................................................ 15 Roads ............................................................ 17 Climate ........................................................... 17 Erosion Processes ................................................... 19 Soil Productivity .................................................... 20 Vegetation Density and Vigor .......................................... 21 Plant Species and Habitats ............................................. 24 Fire .............................................................. 28 Terrestrial Wildlife Species and Habitats .................................. 28 Hydrology ......................................................... 29 Stream Channel ..................................................... 32 Water Quality ...................................................... 33 Riparian Areas ...................................................... 33 Aquatic Wildlife Species and Habitats .................................... 34 Current Conditions ........................................................ 37 Human Uses ........................................................ 37 Roads ............................................................. 41 Erosion Processes .................................................... 42 Soil Productivity .................................................... 43 Vegetation Density and Vigor ........................................... 44 Plant Species and Habitats ............................................. 48 Fire .............................................................. 49 Terrestrial Wildlife Species and Habitats .................................. 51 Hydrology ......................................................... 56 Stream Channel ..................................................... 59 Water Quality ...................................................... 60 Riparian Areas ...................................................... 66 Aquatic Wildlife Species and Habitats .................................... 68 Reference Conditions ....................................................... 87 Human Uses ........................................................ 87 Roads ............................................................ 92 Erosion Processes ................................................... 92 ii Applegate-Star/Boaz Watershed Analysis - Version 1.3 Table of Contents Soil Productivity .................................................... 93 Vegetation Density and Vigor .......................................... 93 Plant Species and Habitats ............................................. 95 Fire .............................................................. 96 Terrestrial Wildlife Species and Habitats .................................. 97 Hydrology ......................................................... 99 Stream Channel ..................................................... 99 Water Quality ..................................................... 100 Riparian Areas ..................................................... 101 Aquatic Wildlife Species and Habitats ................................... 102 Synthesis and Interpretation ................................................. 104 Human Uses ....................................................... 104 Roads ........................................................... 107 Erosion Processes .................................................. 108 Soil Productivity ................................................... 109 Vegetation Density and Vigor ......................................... 110 Plant Species and Habitats ............................................ 111 Fire ............................................................. 113 Terrestrial Wildlife Species and Habitats ................................. 114 Hydrology ........................................................ 118 Stream Channel .................................................... 118 Water Quality ..................................................... 119 Riparian Areas ..................................................... 120 Aquatic Wildlife Species and Habitats ................................... 122 Management Objectives and Recommendations for Federal Lands .................... 125 Landscape Planning Objectives and Recommendations for Federal Lands ............... 144 Data Gaps .............................................................. 148 Monitoring ............................................................. 151 Research ............................................................... 153 Maps ................................................................... 155 List of Preparers .......................................................... 180 References ............................................................... 181 Appendices .............................................................. 189 iii Applegate-Star/Boaz Watershed Analysis - Version 1.3 Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Federal Land Use Allocations ........................................ 15 Table 2. Land Ownership .................................................. 16 Table 3. Vegetation Condition Classes ....................................... 23 Table 4. Tree Series/Plant Associations ...................................... 23 Table 5. Special Status Vascular Plants ....................................... 24 Table 6. Survey and Manage Plant Species .................................... 26 Table 7. Stream Miles by Stream Order ....................................... 30 Table 8. BLM-Administered Allotments ...................................... 39 Table 9. Fire Hazard Ratings ............................................... 50 Table 10. Vegetation Condition Classes and Representative Wildlife Species ........... 51 Table 11. Suitable Habitat Within the Median Home Range ......................... 53 Table 12. Special Status Wildlife Species ....................................... 55 Table 13. Water Rights .................................................... 58 Table 14. Minimum Perennial Streamflows ..................................... 59 Table 15. Average and Maximum Grab Sample Turbidities for Star Gulch and Tributaries ...................................................... 65 Table 16. Variables Describing Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Populations and Habitat in Star Gulch and its Tributaries ........................................ 84 Table 17. Acres Harvested on BLM-Administered Lands ........................... 92 Table 18. Reference Condition Habitat Acres .......................................... 97 Table 19. Human Components of the Ecosystem ................................ 104 Table 20. Special Status Plant Species and Their Habitats ......................... 112 Table 21. Comparison of Reference and Current Condition Habitat Acres .............. 114 iv Applegate-Star/Boaz Watershed Analysis - Version 1.3 Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Precipitation at Buncom ............................................ 18 Figure 2. Air Temperatures at Ruch .......................................... 19 Figure 3. Streamflows for Star Gulch and Mean Monthly Percentage of Annual Water Yield ......................................................... 31 Figure 4. Streamflows for Applegate River near Copper below Applegate Dam ........ 32 Figure 5. Maximum Daily Stream Temperatures in 1994 for the Applegate River above Little Applegate River and below the Applegate Dam .......................... 62 Figure 6. Maximum Daily Stream Temperatures in 1995 for Star Gulch at the Gaging Station and Above Deadman Gulch ......................................... 63 Figure 7. Average Monthly Turbidity for Star Gulch .............................. 66 Figure 8. Percent Area of Fast/Slow Water Habitats by Reach ...................... 70 Figure 9. Total Area of Fast/Slow Water Habitats by Reach ........................ 71 Figure 10. Average Depth of Pools and Glides by Reach ............................ 72 Figure 11. Total Area of Pools and Glides by Reach ............................... 73 Figure 12. Winter Habitat: Amount and Quality by Reach .......................... 73 Figure 13. Spawning Gravel Estimates: Amount and Quality by Reach ................ 75 Figure 14. Pieces of Large Woody Debris Per Mile by Reach ........................ 77 Figure 15. Total Wood Volume by Reach ....................................... 78 Figure 16. Average Volume/Piece of Large Woody Debris by Reach ................. 78 Figure 17. Number of Woody Pieces in Each Diameter Class by Reach ................. 79 Figure 18. Woody Debris: Natural vs. Cut-end by Reach ........................... 79 Figure 19. Number of Woody Pieces in Each Diameter Class, Cut vs. Natural by Reach ... 80 Figure 20. Large Woody Debris Configurations .................................. 81 v Applegate-Star/Boaz Watershed Analysis - Version 1.3 Table of Contents LIST OF MAPS Map 1. Applegate River Subbasin ........................................