DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT Burnt River Subbasin Plan May 28, 2004 Prepared for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council Lead Writer M. Cathy Nowak, Cat Tracks Wildlife Consulting Subbasin Team Leader Doni Clair, Baker County Association of Conservation Districts DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT Burnt River Subbasin Plan Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary................................................................................................................. 8 2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 11 2.1 Description of Planning Entity ...................................................................................... 11 2.2. List of Participants......................................................................................................... 11 2.3. Stakeholder Involvement Process.................................................................................. 13 2.4. Overall Approach to the Planning Activity ................................................................... 13 2.5. Process and Schedule for Revising/Updating the Plan.................................................. 14 3. Subbasin Assessment ............................................................................................................ 14 3.1. Subbasin Overview........................................................................................................ 15 3.1.1. General Description............................................................................................... 15 3.1.2. Subbasin Existing Water Resources...................................................................... 20 3.1.3. Hydrologic and Ecologic Trends in the Subbasin ................................................. 26 3.1.4. Regional Context................................................................................................... 28 3.2. Focal Species Characterization and Status .................................................................... 30 3.2.1 Native/non-native Wildlife, Plant and Resident/anadromous Fish of Ecological Importance............................................................................................................................. 30 3.2.2 Focal Species Selection ......................................................................................... 39 3.2.3. Aquatic Focal Species Population Delineation and Characterization ................... 40 3.2.4 Terrestrial Focal Species Population Delineation and Characterization ............... 52 3.2.5 Plant Focal Species.......................................................................................................74 3.3. Out-of-Subbasin Effects ................................................................................................ 76 3.3.1 Aquatic .................................................................................................................. 76 3.3.2. Terrestrial .............................................................................................................. 77 3.4 Environment/Population Relationships ......................................................................... 78 3.4.1 Aquatic .................................................................................................................. 78 3.4.2 Terrestrial .............................................................................................................. 78 3.4.3 Interspecies Relationships ................................................................................... 106 3.5. Identification and Analysis of Limiting Factors/Conditions ....................................... 107 3.5.1. Description of Historic Factors Leading to Decline of Focal Species/Ecological Function-Process – Aquatic................................................................................................. 107 3.5.2. Description of Historic Factors Leading to Decline of Focal Species/Ecological Function-Process – Terrestrial............................................................................................. 108 3.6. Synthesis/Interpretation............................................................................................... 109 3.6.1. Subbasin-wide Working Hypothesis – Aquatic................................................... 109 3.6.2. Terrestrial Assessment Synthesis ........................................................................ 110 3.6.3. Desired Future Conditions – Aquatic .................................................................. 122 3.6.4. Desired Future Conditions – Terrestrial .............................................................. 122 3.6.5. Opportunities ....................................................................................................... 123 4. Inventory of Existing Activities (Private, Local, State, Federal) ........................................ 124 4.1. Existing Legal Protection ............................................................................................ 124 4.2. Existing Plans .............................................................................................................. 125 4.3. Existing Management Programs.................................................................................. 127 4.4. Existing Restoration and Conservation Projects ......................................................... 128 5/25/04 4:23 PM 2 DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT 4.5. Gap Assessment of Existing Protections, Plans, Programs and Projects..................... 128 5. Management Plan ................................................................................................................ 129 5.1. Vision for the Subbasin ............................................................................................... 129 5.2 Biological Objectives .................................................................................................. 129 5.3. Prioritized Strategies ................................................................................................... 130 5.3.1. Aquatic Species ................................................................................................... 130 5.3.2. Terrestrial Species ............................................................................................... 131 5.4 Consistency with ESA/CWA Requirements ............................................................... 131 5.5 Research, Monitoring and Evaluation ......................................................................... 131 6. Appendices .......................................................................................................................... 139 6.1 Appendix 1: References .............................................................................................. 139 6.2 Appendix 2: Species Tables ........................................................................................ 149 6.3 Appendix 3: Comprehensive Species Accounts.......................................................... 165 6.3.1 Ruffed Grouse ..................................................................................................... 165 6.3.2 Blue Grouse......................................................................................................... 169 6.3.3 White-headed Woodpecker ................................................................................. 174 6.3.4 Sage Grouse......................................................................................................... 180 6.3.5 American Marten................................................................................................. 190 6.3.6 Olive-sided Flycatcher......................................................................................... 193 6.3.7 Yellow Warbler ................................................................................................... 198 6.3.8 American Beaver................................................................................................. 203 6.3.9 Bald Eagle ........................................................................................................... 205 6.3.10 Columbia Spotted Frog........................................................................................ 215 6.3.11 Great Blue Heron................................................................................................. 231 6.4 Appendix 4 - QHA Output Tables............................................................................... 242 5/25/04 4:23 PM 3 DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT List of Tables Table 1. Burnt River Subbasin Planning Team ........................................................................... 12 Table 2. Notable streams in the Burnt River Subbasin and their points of confluence (RM) with the Burnt River or its tributaries............................................................................................ 20 Table 3. Water year (April 1 - Sept. 30) 1998 discharge of selected Burnt River tributaries. ...... 23 Table 4. Principal aquifers in the Burnt River subbasin, Oregon.................................................. 23 Table 5. Burnt River subbasin 303(d) listed stream segments and parameters of concern (ODEQ 2003)...................................................................................................................................... 24 Table 6. Modes of thermally induced cold-water fish