Tucannon Ecosystem Analysis TUCANNON ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS Umatilla National Forest Pomeroy Ranger District AUGUST 2002 List of Preparers Jill Bassett Craig Busskohl Caty Clifton Vicky Erickson Charles Gobar Don Justice Dave Powell Scott Riley John Sanchez Chuck Vickery Contributors Staff at Pomeroy Ranger District Alan Ager Linda Dillavou Tucannon Ecosystem Analysis TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1 Document Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 1 Document Organization ............................................................................................................... 1 Summary of Findings................................................................................................................... 1 KEY QUESTIONS AND ISSUES .................................................................................................. 5 Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................... 5 Aquatics........................................................................................................................................ 6 Upland Forest Vegetation............................................................................................................. 6 Wildfire Risk................................................................................................................................ 7 Botanical Resources ..................................................................................................................... 7 Noxious weeds ............................................................................................................................. 8 Vertebrates ................................................................................................................................... 8 SITE CHARACTERIZATION........................................................................................................ 9 Location and Physiographic Setting............................................................................................. 9 Settlement History...................................................................................................................... 10 Land Use .................................................................................................................................... 10 Recreation............................................................................................................................... 10 Grazing ................................................................................................................................... 10 Forest Service Land Management .......................................................................................... 10 Terrestrial Wildlife..................................................................................................................... 11 CURRENT & REFERENCE CONDITIONS FOR SOILS & GEOLOGY................................... 12 Geology ...................................................................................................................................... 12 Land-Type Associations............................................................................................................. 12 Soils............................................................................................................................................ 14 Erosion Processes....................................................................................................................... 16 Management Activity................................................................................................................. 16 CURRENT AND REFERENCE CONDITIONS FOR HYDROLOGY ....................................... 19 Hydrologic Mapping .................................................................................................................. 19 Annual Streamflows................................................................................................................... 19 Stream Channels and Riparian Areas......................................................................................... 19 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................. 20 Effect of Management................................................................................................................ 22 Roads and Timber Harvest ..................................................................................................... 22 Effects of Livestock Grazing .................................................................................................. 25 Effects of Recreational Uses................................................................................................... 25 Water Quality Monitoring.......................................................................................................... 25 Water Temperature ................................................................................................................. 25 Bacteria................................................................................................................................... 27 Sediment Data Analysis..........................................................................................................27 BMP Monitoring..................................................................................................................... 29 Watershed Condition.................................................................................................................. 29 Streams and Riparian Ecosystems .......................................................................................... 29 Hydrologic Disturbances Processes........................................................................................ 29 Mass Wasting.......................................................................................................................... 29 Changes in Channel Morphology after 1996-1997 Floods..................................................... 31 Drought................................................................................................................................... 32 Watershed Condition Ratings................................................................................................. 33 Reference Conditions ................................................................................................................. 33 Tucannon Ecosystem Analysis CURRENT AND REFERENCE CONDITIONS FOR AQUATICS ............................................ 38 Current Fish Habitat Conditions.................................................................................................38 Stream Geomorphology ............................................................................................................. 39 Changes in Fish Habitat and Impacts to Fish ............................................................................. 41 Instream Fish Habitat ................................................................................................................. 45 Stream Survey Data on the National Forest ............................................................................... 46 Riparian/Floodplain.................................................................................................................... 46 Spring Chinook....................................................................................................................... 47 Fall Chinook ........................................................................................................................... 50 Coho Salmon .......................................................................................................................... 51 Pink Salmon............................................................................................................................ 51 Steelhead/Rainbow trout.........................................................................................................52 Lamprey.................................................................................................................................. 53 Bull trout................................................................................................................................. 53 Mountain whitefish................................................................................................................. 54 Non-native Species ................................................................................................................. 55 Dace........................................................................................................................................ 55 Sculpin.................................................................................................................................... 55 Artificial Production................................................................................................................... 56 Chinook Salmon ....................................................................................................................