Trail Creek watershed analysis

320 Pages·1999·30.9 MB·English

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Bureau of Land Management
Medford District, Oregon
June 1999
Prepared by:
TECH NOLOGIES INC®
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As the Nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and
natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the
environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation.
The Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interest of all our people.
The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in Island Territories under
U.S. administration.
BLM/OR/WA/PT-99/032+1792
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TRAIL CREEK WATERSHED ANALYSIS
SLM Library
Prepared for
Denver, CO 80225
Medford District
Bureau of Land Management
3040 Biddle Road
Medford, Oregon 97504
Prepared by.
Western Watershed Analysts
313 D Street, Suite 203
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
Maxim Technologies, Inc.
P.O. Box 4699
303 Irene Street
Helena, Montana 59604
June 1999
I
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1.0 WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION. 1-1
1.1 Regional Setting. 1-1
1.2 Human Use Characteristics. 1-1
1.3 Physical Characteristics. 1-4
1.4 Biological Characteristics. 1-6
2.0 ISSUES AND KEY QUESTIONS . 2-1
2.1 Scoping Process . 2-1
2.2 Scoping Results. 2-1
3.0 CURRENT AND REFERENCE CONDITIONS . 3-1
3.1 Human Use . 3-1
3.2 Erosion Processes. 3-8
3.3 Hydrologic Change . 3-19
3.4 Stream Channels. 3-24
3.5 Terrestrial Resources . 3-28
3.6 Riparian Resources. 3-42
3.7 Aquatic Resources. 3-49
4.0 SYNTHESIS, INTERPRETATION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 4-1
4.1 Human Use . 4-1
4.2 Vegetation. 4-2
4.3 Hydrologic Change . 4-7
4.4 Erosion Processes. 4-9
4.5 Riparian and Stream Processes. 4-14
4.6 Terrestrial Habitat. 4-17
4.7 Aquatic Habitat. 4-22
REFERENCES
FIGURES
FIGURE 1-1 Upper Rogue River Sub-Basin
FIGURE 1-2 Trail Creek Watershed Analysis Unit
FIGURE 1-3 Current Ownership and Land Use Allocations
FIGURE 1-4 Geology Map Units
FIGURE 1-5 Hydrologic Features
FIGURE 1-6 Current Vegetation Serai Stages
FIGURE 1-7 Special Habitat Features
FIGURE 3-1 Riparian Reserves
FIGURE 3-2 Landslide Inventory
FIGURE 3-3 Mass Wasting Mangement Units
FIGURE 3-4 Soil K Factors
FIGURE 3-5 Soil Erosion Potential
FIGURE 3-6 Slope Classes
FIGURE 3-7 Road Types
FIGURE 3-8 Road Hazards
FIGURE 3-9 Soil Productivity
FIGURE 3-10 ROS Potential Zones
FIGURE 3-11 Rosgen Classifications
FIGURE 3-12 Stream Temperatures
FIGURE 3-13 Historic Vegetation - circa 1900
FIGURE 3-14 Historic Vegetation - circa 1936
FIGURE 3-15 BLM Stand Structure
FIGURE 3-16 Timber Productivity Capability
FIGURE 3-17 Recent Fire History
FIGURE 3-18 Fuel Models
FIGURE 3-19 Current Fire Hazard
FIGURE 3-20 Noxious Weed Locations
FIGURE 3-21 Unmapped Late Successional Reserves
FIGURE 3-22 Wildlife Habitat Classifications
FIGURE 3-23 Critical Habitat Units
FIGURE 3-24 Deer Winter Range
FIGURE 3-25 Large Woody Debris Recruitment Potential
FIGURE 3-26 Stream Shading Classes
FIGURE 3-27 Historical Salmonid Numbers
FIGURE 3-28 Salmonid Species Distribution
APPENDICES
Appendix A Mass Wasting
Appendix B Roads
Appendix C Hydrology
Appendix D Channels
Appendix E Potential Sensitive Plant Species
Appendix F Special Status Wildlife Species
Appendix G
Northern Spotted Owl Sites and Critical Habitat Designations
Appendix H Stream Temperature Matrix
Appendix I BLM Wildlife Report
LIST OF TABLES
Page
TABLE 2-1 Issues and Key Questions Identified by the BLM
2-2
.
TABLE 2-2
Key Questions Identified During the Outreach and Education Project
, 2-7
TABLE 2-3
Key Questions Identified During Watershed Analysis.
. 2-8
TABLE 3-1 Acreages of BLM Land Use Allocations .^.
3-4
TABLE 3-2 Mass Sediment and Delivery.
3-11
TABLE 3-3 Mass Wasting Management Unit Hazard Ratings
3-11
TABLE 3-4 Erodibility Ratings Based on K Factor and Slope.
3-14
TABLE 3-5 Sediment Budget.
3-18
TABLE 3-6 Soil Timber Productivity.
3-19
TABLE 3-7
Hydrologic Condition Classes and Forest Canopy Densities Assigned
for Each Mapped Vegetation Cover Type.
3-22
TABLE 3-8
Predicted Increase in Peak Flows Under Current Vegetative Cover Conditions
3-24
TABLE 3-9 Stream Mileage by Rosgen Classificaiton.
3-27
TABLE 3-10 Stream Length by Mass Wastiing Management Unit.
3-26
TABLE 3-11
Acreages of Current Vegetation Serai Stage by Ownership Category
3-30
TABLE 3-12 Acreages of BLM Stand Size Classes by BLM Land Use Allocation.’.
3-31
TABLE 3-13 Sensitive Species Identified in the Watershed
3-33
Page
TABLE 3-14 Comparison of Nesting, Roosting, and Foraging Habitat. 3-38
TABLE 3-15 Stream Miles of Current Vegetation Serai Stage by Ownership Category . 3-43
TABLE 3-16 Coding System or Large Woody Debris . 3.44
TABLE 3-17 Near Term LWD Recruitment Potential - Federal Lands. 3-46
TABLE 3-18 Near Term LWD Recruitment Potential - Private Lands . 3-47
TABLE 3-19 Stream Shading - Federal Lands . 3_48
TABLE 3-20 Stream Shading - Private Lands. 3-48
TABLE 3-21 Number of Migrant Juvenile Salmonids Caught in Weir Traps iin 1995 . 3-52
TABLE 3-22 Salmonid Species Occurrence . 3.53
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Watershed Characterization
1.0 WATERSHED CHARACTERIZATION
This section provides a regional setting for the Trail restricted to the valley bottoms and include fruit and
Creek watershed and describes dominant human, livestock production. Other significant products of
physical, and biological features and functions that the region include medical services, manufacturing,
characterize it. This discussion provides a basis for and tourism, which to some extent uses the
the watershed analysis, providing a context for recreational opportunities on public land and water.
addressing ecosystem condition and function in the
watershed. Physiography. Climate, and Drainage
The Trail Creek watershed lies predominantly
1.1 Regional Setting
within the Western Cascade physiographic
province as described by . the Standards and
Geographic Location and Population
Guidelines and Franklin and Dyrness (1973),
though some of the lands in the southern portion of
The Trail Creek fifth-field watershed is located in
the watershed contain landscapes representative of
southwestern Oregon between Medford and Crater
the Klamath Mountains province. Southwestern
Lake National Park along the Rogue River within
Oregon has a Mediterranean climate characterized
the Upper Rogue River Sub-basin (Figure 1-1). The
by wet, mild winters, hot, dry summers and a long
watershed covers approximately 55 square miles
frost-free period. Annual precipitation fluctuates
within the sub-basin which covers about 1,618
widely averaging approximately 20” with average
square miles. The Trail Creek watershed is
January temperatures about 38° and July
accessed by State Highway 227 from the
temperatures averaging around 73°. This climate
Canyonville 1-5 interchange to the northwest, by
represents some of the hottest and driest
State Highway 62 from Medford to the southwest,
conditions in the region. Lightning storms are
or by the same route from Crater Lake to the
common and contribute to extreme fire dangers
northeast. The towns of Trail and Shady Cove
throughout southwest Oregon. Drainages in these
(population approximately 2,379) are within or
provinces flow to the Rogue River which in turn
adjacent to the watershed. Most of the watershed
empties into the Pacific Ocean at Gold Beach.
is within Jackson County (population approximately
146,389), though the northern portion lies within
Vegetation and Habitat
Douglas County (population 94,649). The Trail
Creek itself is situated north and west of the Rogue
Major vegetational areas of the region include the
River and extends upslope to the divide with the
Mixed Conifer and Rogue Valley Zones described
South Umpqua River to the north (see Figure 1-2).
by Franklin and Dyrness (1973). Douglas-fir,
ponderosa pine, incense cedar, and white fir occur
Ownership and Land Use
in the Mixed Conifer Zone. Grasslands, Oregon
white oak woodlands, and coniferous stands of
Forest and agricultural production represent the
Douglas-fir represent the successional pattern in
predominant land uses in the region. The Bureau
the Rogue Valley Zone though much of this zone is
of Land Management and Forest Service are the
in agricultural production. These vegetational
major federal land administrators in the region.
areas are entirely within the range of the northern
Crater Lake National Park, administered by the
spotted owl. Big game including Roosevelt elk and
National Park Service, is also within the region.
blacktail deer are also found throughout the region.
The Army Corps of Engineers operates Lost Creek
Finally, extensive riparian areas and potential
Reservoir east of Trail Creek watershed. The Trail
aquatic habitat conditions support anadromous and
Creek watershed is within the Butte Falls Resource
resident fisheries.
Area of BLM’s Medford District and within the Tiller
District of the Umpqua National Forest.
1.2 Human Use
The Rogue River National Forest is located east of
the watershed. Several large private industrial Ownership
forest land owners are also represented in the
region. Agriculture operations are primarily Major owners of land in the watershed include the
Trail Creek Watershed Analysis 1-1
Watershed Characterization
federal government, corporations, and private
wildlife habitat, watershed and aquifer
individuals (shown on Figure 1-3). Federal land
recharge areas, recreational opportunities,
includes public lands managed by the Bureau of
scenic attributes, ranching and grazing, and
Land Management Medford District, and the
other natural resources. Within the watershed,
Umpqua National Forest, managed by the Tiller
FR lands are public lands managed by the
Ranger District of U.S. Forest Service. Isolated
BLM or Forest Service and Boise Cascade.
parcels of land historically managed by the
The smaller, privately-owned woodland tracts
Prospect Ranger District of the Rogue River
also serve as a buffer between commercial
National Forest have recently been transferred to
forest lands and adjacent areas committed to
BLM administration. Land managed by the BLM in
higher density development.
the watershed comprise approximately 14,640
acres within the watershed, representing the single
Woodland Resource (WR): WR designated
largest ownership category. These parcels are not
land is similar to FR-designated small tract
contiguous but instead are interspersed among
woodlands described above. WR land
privately held property in a semi-checkerboard
includes smaller, privately held tracts where
pattern. Roughly 4,360 acres of the Umpqua
the production of timber and/or wood fiber may
National Forest is in a contiguous block in the
be a primary use. These lands typically serve
northwestern part of the watershed.
as buffers between FR lands and residential or
commercial developments. Lands in this
Private industrial landowners include Boise
category are recognized for the ecological and
Cascade Corporation and several smaller
other natural resource characteristics.
corporations. Boise Cascade property comprises
Properties within the WR zones are at least 20
the largest portion of the corporate holdings
acres or larger due to a county zoning
located in large blocks on the west half of the
restriction that existed prior to 1993. In 1993,
watershed. Other corporate lands are generally
the minimum parcel size in areas zoned WR
smaller, discontinuous parcels interspersed
was increased from 20 acres to 80 acres.
throughout the watershed. Collectively, this
category occupies about 9,867 acres in the
Open Space Reserve (OSR): Lands designated
watershed.
OSR are generally not suitable for
development due to a broad range of factors
According to Jackson County tax assessor records
such as high seasonal wildfire hazard, shallow
for 1997, there are approximately 250 non¬
and fragile soil, access limitations, etc. These
corporate, private landowners in the Trail Creek
lands may, however, be important in terms of
watershed. Most of the residential development is
their potential as aquifer recharge zones, fish
within the small community of Trail, which is
and wildlife habitat, or perhaps scenic or
located at the southern boundary of the watershed recreational aspects.
at the confluence of Traii Creek and the Rogue
River and along a corridor in the valley bottoms up
Exclusive Farm Use (EFU): The EFU lands are
the main stem and the west fork of Trail Creek.
areas where farm production exists or where
the land is suitable for grazing, cultivation, or
There are seven primary county zoning
other farming activities. Properties within the
designations within the Trail Creek watershed.
EFU zones are at least 20 acres or larger due
Each of these designations are presented below
to a county zoning restriction that existed prior
with a brief description of the planning goals and to 1993.
land uses associated with them (Jackson County,
1996):
Farm Residential (F): These lands generally
include small “hobby” farms of 3 to 10 acres
Forest Resource (FR): This zoning district applies and are committed to rural homesite
to both commercial forest land and woodland development.
areas in private, small tract (20 to 40 acres)
ownership. The primary use of these lands is Rural Residential (RR): Generally located on
or can be the production of forest products; lowland foothills, valley terrace, and valley floor
however, they are also intended to protect and areas, lands zoned RR are small tracts of 3 to
provide for compatible forest uses, fish and 10 acres that are not used as hobby farms.
Trail Creek Watershed Analysis
1-2