United States Salmon Creek Landscape Department of Agriculture Assessment Forest Service Kenai Peninsula Zone, September 2011 Chugach National Forest Salmon Creek Landscape Assessment SALMON CREEK LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT 2011 Prepared by: Team Leader Mary Ann Benoit Recreation Pat O’Leary Geology and Minerals Steve Hohensee Heritage Sherry Nelson Hydrology Bill MacFarlane Soils Jacqueline Foss Fire and Fuels Todd Camm Fisheries Mark Chilcote Ruth D’Amico Wildlife Mary Ann Benoit Botany/Weeds Betty Charnon Vegetation/Ecology Amanda Mico GIS Linda Kelly Lands Heather Gott Writer/Editor Mary Ann Benoit Approved by: _____________________________ _______________ Travis Moseley, Date Seward District Ranger i Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 6 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 The Analysis Area .................................................................................................................................... 7 Analysis Area Characterization ............................................................................................................... 11 Lands ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 Geology Minerals and Soil ..................................................................................................................... 15 Vegetation and Ecology .......................................................................................................................... 36 Botany and Weeds .................................................................................................................................. 37 Fire and Fuels ......................................................................................................................................... 38 Aquatic Species and Habitats ................................................................................................................. 38 Terrestrial Species and Habitats ............................................................................................................. 39 Heritage Resources ................................................................................................................................. 40 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................... 42 Key Issues and Questions ......................................................................................................................... 43 Lands ...................................................................................................................................................... 43 Geology, Minerals and Soils .................................................................................................................. 44 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................................... 44 Vegetation and Ecology .......................................................................................................................... 45 Botany and Weeds .................................................................................................................................. 46 Fire and Fuels ......................................................................................................................................... 46 Aquatic Species and Habitats ................................................................................................................. 46 Terrestrial Species and Habitats ............................................................................................................. 48 Heritage Resources ................................................................................................................................. 49 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................... 49 Current Conditions ................................................................................................................................... 50 Lands ...................................................................................................................................................... 50 Geology and Minerals ............................................................................................................................ 50 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................................... 52 Vegetation and Ecology .......................................................................................................................... 59 Botany and Weeds .................................................................................................................................. 60 Fire and Fuels ......................................................................................................................................... 64 Aquatic Species and Habitats ................................................................................................................. 65 Terrestrial Species and Habitats ............................................................................................................. 67 Heritage Resources ................................................................................................................................. 82 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................... 83 Reference Conditions ................................................................................................................................ 88 Lands ...................................................................................................................................................... 88 Geology Minerals and Soil ..................................................................................................................... 88 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................................... 89 Vegetation and Ecology .......................................................................................................................... 90 Fire and Fuels ......................................................................................................................................... 90 Aquatic Species and Habitats ................................................................................................................. 91 Terrestrial Species and Habitats ............................................................................................................. 92 Heritage Resources ................................................................................................................................. 94 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................... 94 Lands ...................................................................................................................................................... 95 ii Salmon Creek Landscape Assessment Synthesis and Interpretation ....................................................................................................................95 Lands .......................................................................................................................................................95 Geology Minerals and Soil......................................................................................................................96 Hydrology ...............................................................................................................................................96 Vegetation and Ecology ..........................................................................................................................97 Fire and Fuels ..........................................................................................................................................99 Aquatic Species and Habitats ................................................................................................................100 Terrestrial Species and Habitats ............................................................................................................102 Heritage Resources ...............................................................................................................................111 Recreation .............................................................................................................................................112 Desired Condition, Opportunities, Management Strategies, Data Gaps, Monitoring and Research Needs .........................................................................................................................................................113 Recommendations ...................................................................................................................................123