HomeMy WebLinkAboutBear Watershed Analysis 1995
Ashland Ranger District
Rogue River National Forest
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III. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, DESIRED FUTURE CONDITIONS
(DFC), & RECOMMENDATIONS
This section summarizes findings. identifies the desired future condition (OFC). and presents the
recommendations for moying toward the desired future conditions identified for the Bear Watershed Analysis
Area. This section is diyided into three main areas: I) Terrestrial Systems. 2) Aquatic Systems. and 3) Socio-
Economic. Recommendations discussed in this section apply only to Forest Seryice lands.
For non-Federal land within the Bear Watershed Analysis Area, opportunities were identified for potential
watershed restoration projects. These opportunity listings, identified as "Opportunities off National
Forest", are not intended to be interpreted as an effort of the Forest Service to manage non-Federal lands.
Rather, these opportunities are identified for non-Federal land owners to apply as they desire.
There are often opportunities for funding available to non-Federal land owners to complete watershed
restoration. Various sources of expertise include Oregon Department ofFish and Wildlife, U. S. Department
of Fish and Wildlife. and Natural Resources Consen'ation Senrice. These agencies may also be sources of
information for funding sources and availability.
1. TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS
Summary of Findings:
Terrestrial VeJletation
With the exclusion of natural wildfire since the early 1900s, high vegetation densities are causing
extreme competition for moisture, nutrients and gro\\'ing space. In the past decade mortality rates
have dramatically increased. Both the large tree component of stands and the conifers growing
near the valley, floor at the lowest forested zone, have experienced severe mortality. Large trees are
an important component of late-successional stand characteristics.
The past nine years of drought has contributed considerably to conifer mortality, particularly in older
stands of ponderosa and sugar pines. Stands stressed by competition and drought are highly susceptible
for attack from insects and diseases. Bark beetles and dwarf mistletoe have been the primary
disturbance agents related to insects and diseases for the Analysis Area. Other insects and diseases
are present and can be attributed for some losses also. As a result of this we are losing both the large
tree and the pine component of stands within the Watershed Analysis Area, reducing biodiversity.
Fire ReJ!ime
Given the natural fire regime for interior southwest Oregon as described in this Watershed Analysis, the
ecosystems we see today are well outside the realms of a .'stable" system. Overstocked, dense, multi-
layered stands combined with high conifer mortality (increasing dead standing and down Coarse
Woody Debris) is a large factor contributing to increased fire hazard and chance for stand
replacing fires. During forest wildfires the greater the amount of dead and down Coarse Woody Debris
(CWD) available during fire passage, the greater the intensity and residence time of fire passage.
The presence of high values associated with the land combined with high occurrence of fire ignition is
the basis of fire risk assessment The encroaching development of residential areas within forested
lands (mostly off of National Forest lands) is contributing to an extreme fire risk within the
urban/wildland interface area due to the high values associated with human life and property.
Increased access brought about by urbanization is increasing the threat of human-caused fires. Where
Late-Successional Reserve and Municipal Watershed values exist on National Forest lands, there is
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a high fire risk. The chance for catastrophic loss of high values associated with the Anal:ysis Area
through stand replacing fire ennts is a serious threat challenging land managers.
Terrestrial Wildlife
The key issue related to terrestrial wildlife is the protection, development, and maintenance of
.late-successional habitat within the Mount Ashland Late-Successional Resene (#RO-248) located
on Federal lands within the Watershed Analysis Area. Late-Successional Reseryes (LSR) are designated
by the Record of Decision for Amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning
Documents Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl (ROD). The Mount Ashland LSR is part of
a larger network of LSRs established to maintain the viability of late-successional and old-grm\th
related species.
An LSR Assessment is in progress and is planned for completion July, 1995. This Assessment will
provide a more detailed analysis on the current conditions of the LSR as related to terrestrial wildlife
species, with a focus on late-successional dependent species. It will also present desired conditions and
recommendations based on meeting the objectives of the ROD for LSRs. The completed LSR
Assessment is subject to Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) review and approval. Recommendations of
the REO may trigger a review and possible update of this Watershed Analysis. Preliminary analysis
conducted with the LSR Assessment, and the fire analysis conducted with this watershed analysis,
show fire to be a major threat for catastrophic losses of late-successional habitat within the LSR.
The value associated with the Late-Successional Reserve is one component factored into the fire risk
assessment for the Watershed Analysis Area.
Currently, the Mount Ashland LSR has some of the best contiguous northern spotted owl habitat
remaining in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon. For habitat remaining \\ithin the
Bear Watershed Analysis Area, this is mainly due to the low levels of management activities as a result
of the protection of Ashland Municipal Watershed. Because of these low levels of management activity.
the Ashland Creek Watershed and surrounding Forest Service lands were chosen by the Oregon
Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit to become part of their southwest Oregon Northern Spotted Owl
Demographic Study. Ten owl pairs and one territorial single are being monitored as part of this study.
Habitat conditions for all owl activity sites is above the minimum thresholds for the. 7 mile and 1.3
miles radius. These owl activity sites and their associated range of habitat are at risk for loss to
stand replacing fires.
Desired Future Conditions and Recommendations: Terrestrial Systems
A. Te"estrial Ve1!etation
DFC and Recommendations:
The Late-Successional Reserve Assessment in progress for the Mt Ashland Late-Successional Reserve #RO-
248. will provide the desired vegetative conditions as related to meeting the objectives identified in the ROD
for Late-Successional Reserves. It will also provide recommendations on how to reach identified DFCs. This
watershed analysis will tier to the Mt Ashland Late-Successional Reserve Assessment, estimated for
completion in July, 1995.
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B. Fire ReJ!ime
DFC:
Important \'alues, such as the protection of life and property, watershed values. Late-Successional Reserve.
and various \\ildlife habitats and species. are those that are intended to be protected from a loss through large
catastrophic wildfire. Within the Bear Watershed Analysis Area it is desired that landscapes are relati\'ely
resistant (,\ithin a natural range of\'ariation) to large-scale stand replacing fires.
Recommendations:
Recommendations for fire management will be discussed under the following sub-headings: 1) Vegetation
Management 2) Presuppression, 3) Snags and Fire Fighter Safety, ~)Suppression, and 5) Fire Prevention.
VeJ!etation ManaJ!ement
I. Take action to protect, restore, or stabilize these landscapes incorporating Late-Successional Reserve and
water quality and production objectives. The following matrix displays the intersect of fire hazard and fire
risk. The highest priority areas for management action are where high and moderate fire hazard intersect
with moderate, high, and extreme fire risk. All vegetation management activities recommended in this
section are dependent on the completion of the LSR Assessment and subsequent review and approval by
tbe REO.
Priority Areas For Action
Fire Hazard
Highl X X X
Modi X X X
Low I 0 0 X
Mod High Ex
Fire Risk
X depicts possible priority areas for action where there is a high likelihood that VALUES will be lost to fire.
(Also refer to Figure 18 for a map displaying the distribution of fire hazard intersected with fire risk).
2. Mimic natural disturbance to meet landscape objectives. Tools to be considered include density
management, prescribed fire, and manual manipulation of live and dead vegetation. Over the long term these
types of management activities will help reduce fire hazard and improve forest health.
3. Integrate the analysis of habitat requirements, site productivity, riparian reserves and other ecological
considerations with site specific fire hazard and fire risk analysis. This integration must take place when
making final decisions considering vegetation management including the amount of Coarse Woody Debris and
standing snags within a planning area.
4. Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) better known from a fire management perspective as "dead and down
material," will be managed where fire hazard reduction is the objective of the management activity. Table 1
provides reasonable amounts (within the range of natural variation) of coarse woody debris while considering
fire protection through hazard reduction. The objective is to meet the intent of the ROD standards and
guidelines wbile achieving fire protection and hazard reduction. The level of hazard reduction on a
landscape basis is driven by the climate, topographic features, and the types of vegetation described previously.
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The following table. using the best existing information. recommends the amount of CWD within vegetation
zones based on aspect as influenced by the pre-fire suppression fire return interval. Note: The amount of
CWD is measured by pieces of wood piece is defined as a piece of'wood \\ith a minimum of 16 inch diameter
b)' 16 foot len~h.
Figure 41: Recommended Amounts of Coarse Woody Debris for the Management of Fire Hazard
Reduction
Vegetation Zones Desired Fire Amount of Woody Debris per Acre(Considering the
(Series) Successional Return Range of Variation Among Vegetation Zones)
Phase Interval
(b)
Interior Valley Zone Seral 8 to 10 o to 3 pieces on south aspects; 2 to 5 pieces on north
(ponderosa and driest years aspects.
Douglas-fir series)
Mixed Conifer Zone Mostly Seral IS to 20 3 to 7 pieces on south aspects; 5 to 10 pieces on north
(Douglas-fir and driest years aspects.
white fir series)
White fir Zone Mostly Climax 25 to 35 7 to 12 pieces south aspects; 10 to 16 pieces north aspects.
years
Shasta fir Zone Mostly Climax 40 years 10 to 20 pieces; Class I or II
Mountain Hemlock Zone Mostly Climax 100 to 10 to 20 pieces Class I or II
115 years
Riparian Wetlands 120 lineal feet (minimum 16 inch diameter by 16 foot
length ).
.. .~.:,
""'c""';~
(a) taken from Jerry F. Franklin and C. T. Dryness. Vegetation Of Oregon & Washin~on. - U.S.DA Forest
Service Research Paper PNW-80. 1969. (b) Fire return intervals are on a landscape basis. Intervals
determined from personal discussion with Tom Atzet, Area Ecologist, 1994, concerning fire return interval
for the forest/urban interface above Ashland, Oregon and the upper Applegate Valley eastern Siskiyous.
5. A risk assessment is being completed with the Bear Late-Successional Reserve Assessment that will
identifY important habitats in need of protection based on meeting the objectives of the ROD for LSRs. These
areas will be a priority for management action.
6. Where low or moderate intensity prescribed fire is to be used over relatively large area's class 2 (within
municipal watershed), class 4, and ephemeral stream riparian zones will need to be evaluated for the
applicability of prescribed fires or other manual methods of vegetation management. The reintroduction of
fire at certain locations into a fire dependent environment requires an understanding of fire effects to fire
intolerant vegetation. The type and amount of riparian vegetation that exists today (much of which is fire
intolerant) are partly a result of fire exclusion due to aggressive fire suppression. The ability to keep
prescribed fire out of all of riparian sites given the numerous complex, highly dissected drainage's of the
Siskiyou Mountains while burning over large areas is near impossible. Through review of past burning
projects, it has been observed that where sprin~ime underburning has taken place, the existing vegetation
within the riparian zones was not significantly altered or modified This is primarily due to spring moisture
conditions of riparian areas.
7. In the area of the 1959 fire, thinjeffrey and ponderosa pine trees as follows: spacing of tress to be left on
site should be 20 feet or greater. This spacing ensures that pine trees remain in an open canopy condition for a
longer period of time. Experience has shown with fuel break construction, when competing vegetation is
eliminated pine trees grow at a phenomenal rate. They soon occupy the site and go into canopy closure. The
spacing of > than 20 ft. considers this fact.
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8. Continue prescribed burning within the AsWand Research Natural Area (RNA) to maintain viability of the
ponderosa pine community.
9. Where management activity is expected to increase the dead and down or standing dead vegetation,
analysis should include the potential for fire risk and fire hazard to increase. Activities within Mixed Conifer
and Interior Valley Vegetation Zones would be of high concern for increasing dead and down or standing
dead material This analysis will take place before the management activity is implemented. Post activity
fuels treatment plans will include detailed discussion of how the work will be completed; when the work will
be completed, and the availability of funding.
Opportunities off National Forest:
I - Hazard reduction efforts on the City owned parcels 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 (located in high and extreme fire
risk areas) is a high priority, especially when considering that the greatest chance of a large fire burning into
the AsWand Creek Watershed, will likely involve fires originating on the west side of AsWand in the
forest/urban interface areas.
2. Where management activity is anticipated to result in an increase in the dead and down or standing dead
vegetation, analysis should take place to consider the potential for fire risk and fire hazard to increase.
Activities within Mixed Conifer and Interior Valley Vegetation Zones would be of high concern for
increasing dead and down or standing dead material. To be the most effective this analysis would need to
take place before the management activity is implemented. Important considerations for post treatment
hazard reduction planning are: how the work would be accomplished, when the work would be accomplished,
and the availability of funding. Considering the values at risk at lower elevation of the analysis area, any
activity that generates an increase in dead material would normally require some form of hazard reduction
treatment with disposal (burning).
PresUDDress;on Facilities
Recommendations:
I. The completion of the shaded fuel break system should take place as soon as possible. With the completion
of the strategically located fuel breaks several tactical advantages will take place. In addition to the benefits
of fuel breaks for safe deployment or evacuation of fire fighters, the penetration of retardants through the
opened forest canopy is enhanced, and the likelihood of crmm fires (fire carried through the tops of the taller,
greater than 6 feet, vegetation) is reduced.
· Coordinate completion of Forest Service shaded fuel breaks with the shaded fuel break system that the
City of AsWand and private land owners are starting and completing.
· For shaded fuel breaks to be the most effective during a wildfire, the forest floor of the fuel break should
not have more than 1.5 tons of dead woody material per acre. Snags should not be within or adjacent to
the fuel breaks. Overstory canopies should not be interlocking (closed). The density of the understory
vegetation should be reduced sufficiently to prevent ground fire from igniting the overstory vegetation.
The width of the fuel breaks must be designed with consideration for the density, height and character of
the vegetation adjacent to the fuel breaks.
· Shaded fuel breaks will be used as control points for prescribed burning over larger areas. The use of the
fuel breaks as control points should lower cost when prescribed burning takes place below fuel breaks.
· Maintain fuel breaks and density of flank areas with the use of manual hand maintenance, prescribed
underburning, administrative timber sales, or combination.
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· The density and type of dead and down vegetation or live vegetation adjacent to the flanks of the fuel
breaks needs to be modified or reduced This may entail a "staged" sequence of density management,
prescribed underburning, manual cutting and piling and pile burning or combination at anyone selected
site. The ratio of dead to live vegetation must be considered. Within this concept the age or viability of
the vegetation often times determine its flammability. For example young shrubs are less flammable than
mature shrubs which have a higher ratio of dead to live branches in their crowns.
Figure 41: Illustration of a Landscape Approach to Hazard Reduction
ROGUE RIVER
VAUEY
ILLUSTRATION of LANDSCAPE APPROACH
to HAZARD REDUCTION
rFuel Brk location
HAZARD REUCTION
<-FOREST URBAN INTERFACE ZONE-}
!National Forest)
-Upper 1/3 01 slope adjacent to Shaded fuel Breaks reduce basal
area to: 100 basal area immediately adjacent to SFB, felltllered
to about 120 basal. continuing feathering u061140 basal area is
acllieved near the bottom of lIIe upper 113 of tile slope.
2 _ Analyze and provide for adequate presuppression and preattack facilities such as helispots, access and
safety zones. Maintain initial attack helispots. Pre-determine tractor fireline locations in the event of a large
wildfire that are acceptable considering hydrologic and soils conditions and identify on pre-attack maps
(using criteria established under Riparian Reserve management recommendations).
3. When completing access and travel management planning, analyze for adequate suppression access
response.
Sna2s and fire fi2hter safetv
Fire fighter safety while suppressing wildfires is of utmost importance. One of the greatest threats to fire
fighter safety is working around burning snags, burned snags or fire weakened trees. Also the greater the
number of snags burning in a wildfire, the more difficult fire control. Snags thwart and frustrate aggressive
fire suppression due to extreme risk to fire fighters and the amount of firebrands produced by snags. These
firebrands produced high in the tree canopies are lofted in convection columns and produce downwind spot
fires when they land in flammable vegetation many feet or miles from the originating fire.
Recommendations:
1. Where snags are to be maintained or created to meet other resource objectives, analysis needs to be
completed with fire fighter safety in mind.
2. The number of snags retained per acre must be orchestrated with hazard reduction and wildlife needs in
mind~ For example those areas where hazard and risk reduction are a primary management action and
objective, snag numbers and their location will have to be considered_ For the Bear Watershed Analysis Area,
snags within or adjacent to shaded fuel breaks or adjacent to private residential property should be reduced or
eliminated (depending on other resource objectives) since these are areas where fire fighters will likely be
used in suppression of wildfires.
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Fire Prevention Prof!ram
Wildland fire prevention is the informing, educating, and regulating, of human behavior or activities that
influence the various types of potential ignition sources within flammable vegetation. As agency downsizing
continues the need to maintain a proactive fire prevention program ,vill become a challenge, particularly with
the increasing human activity in the Ashland Watershed and forest/urban interface.
Recommendations:
I Cooperative fire prevention with the City of Ashland, Oregon Department of Forestry and Jackson County
fire agencies can help partially maintain a proactive effort in preventing human-caused fires. Such
cooperative fire prevention efforts as the volunteer mobile fire prevention patrol, the volunteer mountain bike
patrol and forest service patrol must continue and be coordinated. Public use access restrictions must
continue to be an option during certain fire danger criteria. Continuation of public neighborhood fire
prevention meetings discussing defensible space, fire apparatus access, home construction materials
(flammability) design, etc., should take place periodically.
2. To successfully protect the Ashland Watershed and other drainage's of the Bear Analysis area from
catastrophic wildfire will require a coordinated effort by the Forest Service, private and City land owners.
· The Forest Service should consider taking the lead in organizing Coordinated Resource Management
Plans (CRMPs) for sub-basins of the WAA critical to protecting resources from wildfire.
· Continue to provide technical advice in urban/wildland fire planning to local land use planning
agencies.
· There is an additional need to continue efforts to standardize fire prevention regulations such as
campfire closures across jurisdictions to better inform the public and maximize consistent aggressive fire
prevention.
3. Before recreation opportunities are implemented, evaluation needs to be completed of the potential for the
recreational endeavor increasing fire risk and agencies ability to mitigate increased access..
· Funding of a fire prevention organization capable of patrolling, proper signing and enforcing fire
prevention regulations and laws concerning the wildland environment should be established.
· Accountability by both the Forest Senice and City of Ashland management concerning fire prevention
and human activity within the forest/urban interface should be established and maintained.
Suppression
Aggressive fire protection shall be the norm. Much of the Bear Watershed analysis area is protected by multi-
agency mutual aid initial attack agreements.
Recommendations:
1. These mutual aid agreements should be reviewed and updated periodically by the various cooperative
agencies. Updates and review would entail looking at the most efficient manner to help prevent or reduce
destruction of life and property, municipal watershed values, and LSR (and other wildlife habitats) due to
wildfire.
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Opportunities off Forest Sen-ice:
1. Given the increased fire risk on City lands due to an increase in access, recreation, and housing
deyelopment, it is expected that there will be more human-caused fires in the future within the foresUurban
interface. A City hired and trained wildland fire fighter organization would increase the abilities for quick
initial attack response. Failure to reinforce initial or extended attack oftentimes determines how successful
fire suppression is. The use of volunteers would not be appropriate since timely response, physical abilities
and detailed training is a major requirement for safe fire suppression.
C T e"estrial Wildlife
DFC and Recommendations:
The Late-Successional Reserve Assessment in progress for the Mt. Ashland Late-Successional Reserve
#R0-248 will provide detailed analysis on desired future conditions as related to meeting the objectives
identified in the ROD for Late-Successional Reserves. It will also provide recommendations on how to
reach identified DFCs. The LSR Assessment is using the Wildlife Habitat Relationships (WHR) model
for the Analysis of habitat within the LSR. This will provide important information on how the LSR is
currently functioning in relation to meeting the objectives of the ROD. This Watershed Analysis will
tier to the Mt. Ashland Late-Successional Reserve Assessment, estimated for completion July, 1995.
2. AQUA TIC SYSTEMS
Summary of Findings
HillsloDe Processes and Flow Relrime
The geology and climatic patterns within the watershed analysis area play key roles in determining the
character, timing and distribution of flow within the watersheds. If there is a consistent phrase that can be
applied to the area's annual precipitation, it is that it is highly variable. Peak flow events are frequently
generated in late winter during" rain-on-snow" events (located within the transient snow zone), in
which intense rainfall rapidly melts accumulated snowpacks. Approximately 38% of the watershed
analysis area is located within the transient snow zone. Historic floods such as those in 1964 and 1974
illustrate the damaging effects of these types of events.
Land-use changes in the form of urbanization, channel modifications, water withdrawals, water
impoundments and roads have and will continue to clumge the hydrologic regime. Roads are the major
human impact on the forest environment within the watershed analysis area. Specific parts of road
networks contribute disproportionately to the effects of roads on peak flow increases (Wemple, 1994). These
road segments are those draining directly 1) to streams and 2) to culverts leading to streams.
Impacts from roads fall into three areas: introduced sediment into streams; snowmelt redirection and
concentration; and surface flow production. A large majority of the watershed is composed of granitic rock
types subject to debris flow landslides and surface erosion. Surface erosion from roads is the most significant
source of fine sediment delivered to streams while most coarse sediment is transported to streams and Reeder
Reservoir via landslides and erosion. The volume of runoff from roads and its speed of delivery to the base
of a watershed varies according to road design, road hills lope position, road age, and seasonal soil saturation
(Wemple, 1994). Over 65% of roads within the watershed analysis area are located midslope, where
potential is greatest for intercepting subsurface flow and routing to ditches or channels. These midslope
areas also contain the most unstable terrain within the watershed analysis area (for more information
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on unstable terrain see "HiIlslope Processes"). Roadside ditches and gullies function as effective surface
flowpaths which increase drainage density during storm events.
Without effective road drainage improvements. maintenance and/or closure, roads contributing to the stream
network will continue to increase peak flows and the frequency of flood events.
Cumulative Watershed Effects: Those subbasins located primarily on National Forest lands, East and
We~1 Forks of Ashland Creek and Horn Gulch, have a LOW watershed risk rating based on percent
vegetation less than 30 years old and road density.
In those subbasins where 50 percent or more of the total road miles exist on National Forest lands:
Clayton Creek is rated as having a HIGH watershed risk. Without factoring in Forest Senice
system Roads, the watershed risk rating would be reduced to MODERATE;
Neil Creek is rated as having a MODERATE watershed risk. Without factoring in Forest Senrice
system roads, the watershed risk rating would be reduced to LOW;
Tolman Creek is rated as having a HIGH watershed risk. Without factoring in Forest Senice
system roads, the risk would be reduced to LOW.
The remaining subbasins in the Bear W AA, Ashland, Hamilton, and Wright's, have less than 26% of the
total road miles on National Forest lands. Therefore, the Forest Senice road mile contribution does not
contribute significantly to the high road density within these three subbasins. This means that if all
roads located on National Forest lands were not factored in, the watershed risk rating would remain HIGH.
While this risk rating is based solely on road densities (including vegetation less than 30 years old for the
East and West Forks of Ashland Creek and Horn Gulch), it indicates that Forest Senice System roads in
the Clayton, Neil, and Tolman Creek subbasins have the potential to produce high sediment loads.
Aquatic & RiDarian SDecies and Habitat
The Bear Creek Watershed Analysis Area (Bear Creek W AA) contains a typical sequence of Siskiyou
Mountain valley and canyon types as shown in Exhibit A. The lower Greater Bear Creek Watershed is an
alluvial valley (Medford/Central Point/Phoenixffalent) once containing abundant side channels and wetlands
providing excellent riparian and aquatic habitat for diverse fauna, e.g., coho salmon, furbearers, and
waterfowL This is evidenced by remnant side channel features and anecdotal accounts. Historically, most
lower valley stream segments contained a combination of side channels, complex pools, large wood, mature
mixed riparian forest and diverse aquatic life. In this complex habitat, coho salmon, chinook salmon,
rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and summer steelhead and \\lnter steelhead flourished as evidenced by
anecdotal accounts of large fish runs.
Currently, in lower valley and mid-valley streams, summer stream temperatures have increased while
habitat complexity has decreased. Water withdrawals, the reduction of side channels, less pools and large
wood material accommodates urban and agricultural uses. The upper canyon streams of the Bear Creek
WAA, primarily Forest Senice lands, contribute cool water to the Greater Bear Creek Watershed.
Salmonids have specialized requirements including high quality cool water and complex aquatic habitat.
The analysis area has the majority of steel head trout ,iable summer rearing habitat in Bear Creek.
The area also contributes sediment from highly erodible decomposed granitic soils which can limit
aquatic production by filling gravel and cobble intersllaces. Simplification of aquatic habitat and warmer
summer water temperatures now disfavor salmonids except in the upper stream segments of the Bear Creek
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W AA Nonnative species, e. g., black crappie and red-sided shiners outcompete salmonids during the dry
summer months in the Greater Bear Creek Watershed below Wagner Creek (Dambacher, et ai, 1992).
The quality fish habitat remaining in the Greater Bear Creek watershed is predominately on federal
lands or immediately downstream where cool summer water temperatures persist. Most of these lands
are inaccessible to anadromous salmonids; however. robust populations of resident rainbow and cutthroat
trout are often present. Anadromous fish migrating upstream from the ocean are blocked or delayed
from reaching preferable habitat by numerous diversion dams in the mainstream Bear Creek and large
tributaries, e.g., Neil, Wagner and Ashland Creeks.
The combined effects of riparian and aquatic habitat degradation, poor water quality, loss of
streamJfloodplain function and disruption of fish migration upstream and downstream have severely
reduced the production of anadromous fish in Bear Creek. Most of mainstream Bear Creek serves as a
conduit for anadromous and resident salmonids to seek spa\\'ning and rearing habitat in tributary streams.
Coho salmon, once a keystone species in many interior valleys of the upper Rogue River, now are a depressed
population and practically non-existent in Bear Creek. Large resident trout once associated with wood
complexes and mature riparian areas in the mainstem are limited to smaller tributary streams with
smaller pools. Low numbers of summer steelhead, winter steelhead and fall chinook salmon are present.
Desired Future Conditions and Recommendations: Aquatic Systems
A, Hil/sloDe Processes
DFC:
. The sediment regime is more consistent with the historic range of variability.
. Road prisms, landing, human-caused slides and other sources are no longer sources of erosion. Priority
areas are riparian zones of steep tributaries and sensitive (granitic) uplands, and unstable slopes.
. Soils exist in a noncompacted condition.
. Active landslides and severely eroded areas which provide sediments to streams are restored.
. Streambanks are stable and contribute to a high quality habitat for anadromous and/or resident fisheries.
. Landscapes (vegetation) are in a stable condition for maintaining slope and soil stability.
Recommendations:
I. Because of sedimentation and flow regime effects associated with road building, the building of new roads
in a burned landscape should be avoided in sensitive areas including riparian areas.
. Outside of riparian areas, avoid road building except where new road construction may be
necessary to complete a larger program of partial or complete road obliteration.
2. Restore roads by providing surfacing, adequate drainage, and proper energy dissipation. Forest roads
2080 and 2060 are a high priority for restoration and stabilization. It is recommended that FS Road 2060
remained closed year round to motorized vehicle traffic except for authorized administrative traffic.
3. Install culverts which will pass 100 year flood events and allow passage offish.
.. Reduce road density in the following sub-basins: Cla)'10n, Tolman, Neil.
5. Inventory all nonsystem roads and evaluate need for restoration. This involves areas that have been
historically tractor logged.
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6. Restore unstable lands especially in or near riparian zones. stabilize eroding streambanks.
7. Vegetation management activities prescribed to meet fire hazard reduction or Late-Successional Reserve
objectives should strive to meet desired condition for restoring sediment regime to historic range of
variability. At the project level planning phase. past management activities need to be assessed for site
specific impacts to soil productivity prior to the implementation of new activities.
· For prescribed burning aspect, slope steepness, soil depth. and duff and litter cover "ill be taken
into consideration. Generally prescribed burns must be cool enough to maintain 50 percent duff and
litter layers.
· For timber yarding, consider the following recommendations along with site specific information
during project level planning to avoid damaging soils (other mitigation measures may be designed
at the project level to meet the objective of soil protection):
· partial suspension on all north slopes greater than 65 percent;
· full suspension on south slopes greater than 65 percent;
· partial suspension on north slopes ranging 35 percent to 65 percent
· partial suspension on south facing concave slopes with deep soils, slopes ranging from 35
percent to 65 percent;
· full suspension on south facing convex slopes 35 to 65 percent;
· and partial suspension on south facing concave slopes with deep soils less than 65 percent.
8. Complete slope stability mapping and updates to Soil Resource Inventory during project level planning
prior to an ground disturbing activities.
9. Refine estimates of the amount of course sediment which has been delivered to the Alluvial Zone from the
reservoir walls and the road around the perimeter (USDA, 1987).
10. In partnership with local community groups and the City of Ashland, continue to inventory potential
watershed restoration projects using the Forest Service Watershed Improvement Needs (WIN) inventory form
and database.
11. Reinstate the monitoring of sediment catchment devices below Mount Ashland. There is an opportunity
to work with interested volunteers to accomplish this work
Opportunities off Forest Senice:
I. The opportunity exists to reduce direct sediment input to Reeder Reservoir and to Ashland Creek, below
the dam, by improving road drainage through increasing the number ofwaterbars, draindips and culverts.
Surfacing the access road and stabilizing the cutbanks with either a retaining wall or rock riprap would also
greatly reduce coarse sediment input to the stream and reservoir.
B. Stream Flow Renme
DFC:
Channel maintenance flows provide for orderly conveyance or uninterrupted transport of water and sediment
produced from the watershed through the stream channel network such that overtime, channel dimensions
and patterns are self-maintained.
All channels within the Bear watershed analysis area on Forest Service property are restored or maintained as
A-type or AA-type (if gradient greater than 10%) channels as defined by the Rosgen Stream Classification
Systerif
81
Recommendations:
I. Restore degraded G-type channels to A-type or AA-t}pe (if gradient greater than 10%).
2 _ Reduce peak flo\vs and increased frequency of storm flows by decreasing the current length of roads,
ditches and gullies contributing to the stream network Restoration techniques to disperse water to subsurface
path\vays include: increasing culvert density, outsloping road surfaces. or removing impervious road-bed
material and restoring vegetation on hillslopes.
3. Highest priority for road drainage improvements, maintenance, andlor closure are those road segments
located in the midslope regions of sub-basins within the transient snow zone (such as the 2060 road), which
cross live creeks, or are actively contributing sediment
C Aquatic SDecies & Distribution
DFC:
· Viable populations of individuals of all life stages throughout the watershed for all anadromous and resident
fish are maintained. Aquatic habitat is restored and protected for all anadromous and resident fish. Spatial
and temporal connectivity is restored and protected within and between watersheds.
· 80 pools per mile in canyon segment (>4% slope) and 50 pools per mile in slope-bound valley (2 to 4% slope),
or as detennined by channel morphology.
· Riparian zones are in proper functioning ecological condition (discussed in more detail under Riparian Zones.
DFC).
· Lower stream temperatures. In short-term, attain summer seven day average of the maximum daily stream
temperatures less than 68 degrees F throughout the basin. In long-term, maximum daily temperatures are
reduced to approximately historic levels, 56 to 62 degrees F.
· Average between 40 to 250 pieces per mile of large and small wood material in the stream channel. This "vill
vary by channel morphology and will not be achieved for I 00 years unless wood structures are placed. These
wood structures may not be appropriate until the sediment regime has been corrected in the upland portion of
the watersheds.
· Channels with gradients ofless than 2 percent will have less than 35 percent embeddedness.
· Culverts are replaced and maintained to allow for 100-year events and facilitate fish passage.
Recommendations:
I. To reduce embeddedness and to recreate pool habitat, see recommendations for Hillslope Processes.
2. Replace culverts identified as not designed to carry IOO-year flood events.
3. Recreate and maintain side channel habitat adjacent to low gradient main stem channels.
Opportunities off Forest Service:
I. There is an opportunity to restore or enhance fish habitat by increasing the amount of side channels and
size of floodplains, and by increasing the short-term supply of large wood material by strategically placing
large wood throughout the slopebound valleys.
2. There is an opportunity to prevent fish movement through canals by working with irrigation users to
install fish screens.
3. There is an opportunity to reduce or minimize fish barriers or obstacles created by irrigation diversions.
82
.._._..".._-~-_.~
D. Aquatic and Rioarian Habitats
This section is outlined under the sub-headings of water quality and Riparian Reserves
Water Oualitv
DFC:
Water quality is restored and/or maintained to protect beneficial uses and support healthy riparian, aquatic.
and wetland ecosystems. Lower stream temperatures (see viability offish and aquatic insect population also)
Recommendation:
1. Reduce washload and suspended sediments by stabilizing eroding streambanks and reducing road-related
sediment input (see recommendations for Hillslope Processes)
2. Increase pool quality (primarily depth) and other elements of channel morphology such as narrowing and
deepening of channel. This would contribute to the desired trend of reducing summer stream temperatures.
Rioarian Reserves (National Forest lands); RiDarian Zones off of National Forest
"Riparian Reserves are delineated during the implementation of site-specific projects based on analysis of the
critical hillslope, riparian, and channel processes and features"(ROD).
DFC:
· The Riparian Reserve (riparian zone off of National Forest) is in proper functioning ecological condition.
It supports a diversity of native plants, supports bank stability, provides shade ( canopy closure) to maintain
water temperature adequate for aquatic species, provides connecting habitat, and supports a healthy
population of native and desired non-native birds, animals and plant species.
· Mature age classes are maintained within the riparian zone. Microclimate and ecological conditions
found in unmanaged systems are maintained. Desired conditions will require between 50 to 150 years to
attain.
· A diversity of vegetation age classes are well distributed and maintained within the watersheds,
ultimately allowing no more than 25 percent of the basin in age classes less than 30 years of age.
· Streambanks are stabilized to a condition contributing to a high quality habitat for anadromous and/or
resident fish.
Recommendations:
L Do not alter Riparian Reserve "idths as identified in the ROD. Within the Riparian Reserve the following
activities have been determined, through this analysis, to be not only acceptable, but necessary to meet the
long-term goals of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy:
· Prescribed burning and manual manipulation of live and dead vegetation within Class 4 drainages (Class
2 in the municipal watershed). Generally burns must be cool enough to maintain 50 percent of duff and
litter layers.
· Riparian silviculture where there is a deficit of conifers for long-term CWD recruitment This includes
removing deciduous trees and planting conifers. No ground-based equipment should be allowed in this
process. Vegetation is not to be removed from unstable or potentially unstable streambanks.
· Accelerate the establishment of large conifers and late-successional stages within riparian zones.
· Streambank stabilization and instream channel improvements. No ground-based equipment should be
allowed in this process unless accessible from existing roads.
83
'filii- ""-~-""-"'-'"'''''''''- "-'_' ,'0_."""",,,
· Implementation of the Mt. AsWand EIS for ski area e:'\"pansion will not retard or prevent the attainment
the Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives. See Chapter II under Hillslope Processes and Flmv
Regime for findings on the effects of ski area expansion.
2. In the event of a \vildfire v.ithin the watershed analysis area, salvage logging by any method within
Riparian Reserves should be strongly discouraged in sensitive areas (USDA, 1995). Incorporate Late-
Successional Reserve objectives and the long-term maintenance of water quality and quantity. These
sensitive areas include:
· in severely burned areas (areas with litter destruction).
· on erosive or unstable sites (hazard zone 1, see geology)
. on slopes greater than 60 percent,
· or any site where accelerated erosion is possible. These sites represent "potentially unstable" ground.
3. On portions ofthe post-fire landscape (within Riparian Reserves) determined to be suitable for salvage
logging, limitations aimed at maintaining species and natural recovery processes should apply (USDA, 1995).
These limitations are:
· leave at least 50% of standing dead trees in each diameter class,
· leave all trees greater than 20 inches dbh or older than 150 years,
. generally, leave all live trees,
· because of soil compaction and erosion concerns, conventional types of ground-based yarding systems
(tractors and skidders) should be prohibited,
· helicopter logging, cable systems, and use of existing roads and landings, as well as horse logging may
be appropriate, but should be actively monitored and avoided where sedimentation is already a problem
for aquatic species.
4. During fire suppression activities pumping from small streams should be minimized, as this increases the
risks to aquatic ecosystems from post-fire events (USDA, 1995). When pumping is utilized, it should be
conducted from sufficiently large streams and lakes so that the effects on aquatic biota are negligible.
5. Non-perimeter and post fire suppression activities should avoid bulldozing stream channel, riparian areas,
wetlands, or sensitive soils on steep slopes, and should avoid using such areas as access routes for vehicles
and other ground-based equipment.
6 Firelines created by mechanical equipment should not be placed in riparian areas or sensitive soils on
steep slopes greater than 60 percent, unless firefighter safety or resource values are at high risk.
Opportunities off National Forest:
1 _ Improve the riparian condition by planting hardwoods and conifers. Allowing riparian forests to reach
mature condition will improve stream stability and shade to streams.
2. Allow streams to meander in unconfined areas by fencing livestock away from streambanks and floodplain
vegetation, and by limiting new development along riparian zones.
84
'.......-"~--,.~'_._.,
3. SOCIAL & ECONOMIC
Summary of Findings:
The forested lands of the Bear Watershed Analysis Area provide a scenic backdrop for the City of Ashland.
The area is referred to as "The Forest at Ashland's Doorstep" in a study of Visitation to the AsWand Creek
Watershed, Jurgen A Hess. April, 1986_ This contributes to the unique Ashland setting admired by those
who live here and by the thousands who visit our area each year.
AsWand is the home of the Oregon Shakespearean Festival and Southern Oregon State College. Ashland
surrounded by forests. mountains, and lakes provides a spectacular setting for outdoor sports, recreation.
ecological studies, and environmental education. Opportunities provided within the Analysis Area include
Mount Ashland Ski Area (and associated ski host program), cross country skiing, mountain biking,
hiking, jogging and scenic driving, and natural resource education. The unique setting of Ashland
combined with a diversity of opportunities draws thousands of visitors to the area each year. The tourist
industry in Ashland provides a large boost for the local economy. One sector of small businesses
supported by the abundance of recreational opportunities. many occurring within the Watershed Analysis
Area. are outdoor recreation and bicycle shops. There are at least 4 supported in Ashland alone, with even
more spread throughout the Rogue Valley.
With increased development in the urban/wildland interface and emphasis by the community for recreational
use, Access and Travel Management becomes an important issue for this area. Issues surrounding Access
and Travel Management have surfaced for the Analysis Area, they include:
· Increased Access to the area can be associated with increased fire risk as well as nuisance
activities which also leads to increased fire risk and increased erosion;
. Public Safety;
· Providing managed recreation trails in a manner that will be compatible with managing the fire
risk and ",ith meeting Late-Successional Resene objectives as identified in the ROD.
Community Coordination efforts such as Hamilton Creek Coordinated Resource Management Plan
(CRMP), City of Ashland Forest Plan, Ashland Interface Integrated Resource Analysis (IRA), Tolman
Creek Watershed neighborhood meetings, and the Sluicing Committee are instrumental in increasing
public awareness and education of resource issues associated with the Analysis Area and, in many
instances, resolving resource issues through the implementation of coordinated projects.
Reeder Reservoir, located within the Ashland Creek Watershed, impounds tbe waters of Asbland
Creek, providing the domestic water supply of the City of Ashland. The major disturbance mechanisms
of concern to water quality and quantity are flood and wildfire. It is estimated that 130,000 cubic yards of
sediment was delivered to the reservoir as a result of the 1974 flood. City cleanout information indicates that
198,000 cubic yards of sediment were removed from the Reservoir during 1974 through 1976. The costs
associated with the 1976 cleanout was about $5.50 per cubic yard for hauling (does not include disposal) and
$040 per cubic yard for sluicing. H a large wildfire occurred in the Ashland Creek Watershed, the
result would be accelerated sediment production to Reeder Reservoir increasing the amount of sediment
to be removed and the intenaJs at which reservoir c1eanout is needed. Considering typical winter and
spring weather conditions, a high intensity, stand replacing fire would result in soil damage, erosion, and
mass wasting. Accelerated sediment production would continue for the first two years following the event.
and would gradually decrease as the fire site revegetated and stabilized. H these two disturbance factors
were combined within the same timeframe, the resulting sediment delivery and cost associated with
reservoir c1eanout would likely be increased.
85
~"'.'~""--
Within the urban/wildland interface are clusters of homes; in many areas ranging from $200,000 to $~OO.OOO
and higher in price. H a large wildfire were to occur in these areas of homes, there would be large losses
in property associated with fire. This would have the greatest potential for loss of human life due to the
density of housing and the rate at which fire could potentially spread through the area.
Floods in the area are a threat to homes in low lying areas and along creeks, bridges, roads, and
culverts. The threat of flooding varies dependent on the size of the flood event.
Landslides potentially triggered from fire and flood events could threaten roads, bridges, and houses.
With any natural disaster events there is always a higher potential of threat for loss of human life.
Desired Future Conditions and Recommendations: Socio-Economic
This section is outlined under the subheadings of Mount Ashland Ski Area, Access and Travel Management,
Values at Risk, and Community.
A. Mount Ashland Ski Area
DFC & Recommendation:
The RRNF LRMP, ROD, and FEIS for the Mount Ashland Ski Area provide desired conditions and management
direction for the continued operation and expansion of the Mount Ashland Ski Area
B. Access and Travel Management
DFC:
Forest Access and Travel Management (A&TM) plan amends the LRMP based and long term transportation
needs.
Recommendations:
I _ Utilize the Rogue River National Forest Access and Travel Management Process Guide to facilitate both
interim and long-term transportation planning. In planning long-term transportation needs the following is
considered:
· Road densities are reduced in areas where road densities are high especially in riparian areas, and
sensitive granitic and unstable soils;
· Adequate tire suppression response times are maintained;
· Interim steps are taken on a watershed basis to facilitate the closure and restoration of roads not currently
being used until long-term forest wide plans are completed and implemented;
· It is recommended that the 2060 road gate from the Morton street access is positioned to preclude
unauthorized motorized vehicles;
· Provide recreation access and travel in a manner that can be managed to protect resources and is
compatible with fire management objectives.
86
" ."'~-........
C Values at Risk
DFC & Recommendations:
The risk of catastrophic losses of important values associated with human life and property, municipal
watershed infrastructures, recreation, Late-Successional Reserve. and other important fisheries and wildlife
habitats are managed to acceptable level through recommendations made under Terrestrial and Aquatic
Systems.
D. Community
DFC & Recommendations:
Continue efforts that involve the community in identifying and resolving both social and resource
management issues and strive to manage ecosystems across ownership boundaries. Continue to strengthen
and build natural resource education programs.
87
MONITORING
1. The condition of the transportation system (i.e.. pre-existing roads and landings) should be reassessed after a
wildfire. By increasing run-off, erosion. and sedimentation, fires may increase the risks posed by existing roads_
Determining the need for undertaking road maintenance, improvement, or obliteration in a timely manner will be
crucial in order to avoid further effects from potential storms.
2. Because of the unique reservoir-catchment system and urbanization along Ashland Creek it is difficult to
predict do",nstream channel adjustments. Increasing our understanding of the biological, chemical and physical
nature of Ashland Creek ",ill assist in future analysis and solution of problems arising from land-use changes
(impervious coverage), channelization and sluicing. Monitoring schemes should include a comprehensive,
coordinated study of:
. Energy sources (e.g. organic matter from outside the stream versus primary production within the stream);
. Water quality (including water volume and flow patterns, temperature, dissolved oxygen, soluble organics and
inorganics, heavy metals and toxic compounds); and
. Habitat structure (e.g. substrate type, distribution of water velocity, diversity of small-scale habitats,
availability of spawning, nursery and hiding places).
. Stream-type classification (e.g. width/depth ratios, gradient, entrenchment, etc...).
3. Within Reeder Reservoir: continue photographic monitoring established by the Forest by reoccupying photo
points during each drawdown (USDA, 1987).
4. Estimate, through field monitoring, the degree to which road segments function as new channel segments
integrated with the natural stream network (see Wemple, 1994, for sampling design).
5. Develop sampling strategy for determining trends in soil productivity by measuring depth of duff and litter.
6. Conduct monitoring on fish distribution and age class in all mainstems of the Watershed Analysis Area.
7. Collect baseline data on macroinvertebrate populations to determine the biotic integrity of stream habitats.
8. Conduct a physicaI/biological stream inventory as well as temperature monitoring in Neil Creek.
88
III. SUI\1l\f.-\RY OF FINDINGS, DESIRED FUTURE CONDITIONS
(DFC), & RECO~DIENDA TIONS
This section summmzcs fin-iings. identifies the desired future condition (DFC). and presents the
recommendations for mo\ing toward the desired future conditions identified for the Be:lr Watershed An:!ly~.5
Area, This section is dhi.i-d into three main are.1s: I) Terrestrial Systems. 2) Aquatic Systems, and 3) S~i.:'-
Economic. ReconunendJti-:r.s discussed in this section apply only to Forest Seryice lands,
For non-Federal land \\ithin the Bear Watershed Analysis Area. opportunities were identified for potentiJl
watershed restoration proje-.:-.s. These opportunity listings. identified as "Opportunities off National
Forest", are not intended 10 t>e interpreted as an effort of the Forest Ser..ice to manage non-Federal lanes.
Rather, these opporrunities ue identified for non-Federal land owners to apply as they desire.
There are often opportUnities for funding ayailable to non-Federal land owners to complete watershed
restoration. Various souru.'S of expertise include Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U. S. Departmc:1t
of Fish and Wildlife. and :-::iiural Resources Conseryation Service. These agencies may also be sources of
information for funding so~s and ayailability.
1. TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS
Summary of Findings:
Terrestrial Veeetation
With the exclusion of n.3tural \\ildfire since the early 1900s, high ycgctation densities are causing
e:\treme competition for moisture. nutrients and gro\\ing space. In the past decade mortality rates
hne dramaticaJl~' increa..~d. Botb tbe large tr~ component of stands and the conifers growin!!
Dear the \'alley, noor ;It the lowest forested lone, bne experienced scwre mor1alit~'. Large tr':-':S Jr.:
an important C't'mponc:1t of late-successional stand characteristics.
The past nine ye.Jrs ,'f .:rought has contnbuted considerably to conifer mort.:llity. particularly in ol.:kr
stands of pondcro5.3 :!nd sugar pines. Stands stressed by competition and drought arc highly suscq'l1rl.:
for 3ttack from in5C>..'U; ;L.,d diseases. Bark beetles and dwarf mistletoe havc been the primary
disturbance ag,cnts rcl;ited to in~ts and diseases for the Anal~'sis Area. Other insC\:ts and di5c.l5'S
are present :l11d (:J.n ~ .mnbuted for some losses also. As 3 result of this we arc losing both the 1Jr;.:c
Ir~ and tbe pine component of stands within the \\'Jtershed Anal~sis Area, reducing biodi\cr.-i1Y
Fire ReJ[ime
I
i
.
Ginn the J13lUI31 fire regime for interior soutJ1\\est Oregon as descnbcd in this Watershed .-\nJlys;~. :11.:
ecosystems \\e S<-~ l~Y 3re \\ell outside the re31ms of;} "stable" system. OH1rstod:cd, dcn~. multi-
la~'ered stands coml1incd with high conifer mortality (increasing dead standing and down C(1Jr~l'
Woody Debris) is a IJr;e factor contributing to increased fire hazard and chance for stand
replacing fires. Dunr;g forest wildfires the grc3ter the amount of de.:Jd and down Coarse W()0u~' [\.'l'[IS
(C\\:D) 3\2113ble d~;.g fire p3ss3ge. the greater the intensity :md residence time of fire passage.
I
I
.
The presence of high \ :lIues :ls5oci:lIed \\ith the l:lnd combined ,,'ith high occurrence of fire igni\!o:l IS
the basis of fire risk .1sscssmenL The encroaching de\Clopment of residential areas within forc~ll'd
lands (mostly off of \Jtional rarest lands) is contributing 10 an extreme fire risk within the
urbanJ\\ildland inlerfJCC ;lrea due to the high \:llues 3ssoci:ltcd \\ith hum3n life and pro~lty
IncrC3scd 3eccss brC'l!~hl 300ut by urb:Jni/2tion is incre:Jsing the thrc:ll of hU!l1:Jn..oused fires. \\hl'fC
Late-Successional Rl'~f\e and :'>funicipJI \\'alcrshed values exist on :"(ational rorest lands. then: is
I
~
71
a high fire rhk The chance for catastrophic loss of high \'alues associated with the An;!l~sis Arc.!
through stand rcpl;!ciog fire e\'Cnts is a serious threat challenging land managers.
Terrestrial Wildlife
The key issue related to terrestrial wildlife is the protection, de\'Clopment, and maintenance of
late-su~cessioDaI habitat within the Mount Ashland late-Successional Resen'e (#RO-2~8) locatN
on Federal lands "ithin the Watershed Analysis Area. Late-Successional Reserves (LSR) are design3t('d
by the Record of Ikcisi0n for Amendments to Forest Seryice and Bureau of Land Management Planning
Documents Within the lUnge of the Northern Sported Owl (ROD). The Mount Ashland LSR is part d
a larger network of lSRs est:lblished to maintain the Yiability of late-successional and 0ld-grow1h
related species.
An LSR Assessmeot is in progress and is planned for completion July, 1995. This Assessment "ill
pro,ide a more dCt:l.lIN :uulysis on the current conditions of the LSR as related to terrestrial wildlife
species. "ith a f"us cn IJtc-ruccessional dependent species, It ,,;11 also present desired conditions anJ
recommendations N-"'..j on meeting the objecti\'es of the ROD for LSRs. The completed LSR
Assessment is rubje-:ltO Regional Ecosystem Office (REO) re\iew and approval. Recommendations (If
the REO may uigger a n.,iew and possible u{Xiate of this Watershed Analysis. Preliminal"). anal~'sis
'0. conducted with tbe LSR Assessment, and the fire anal)'sjs conducted with this watershed anal~'sis.
show fire to ~ a major threat for catastrophic losses of late-successional habitat within tbe LSR.
The \'aJue associ:nN \\ith the Late-Successional ReSelye is one component factored into the fire risk
assessment for the \\";l1ei>hcd Analysis Area.
Current!\'. tbe ~10uot ..uhland LSR has SOlDe of tbe best contiguous northern spotted owl habitat
remaini~g in Donh,,~1ern California and southwestern Oregon. For habi12t remaining within th~
Bear Watershed .-\n31y~is .-\rea. this is mainly due 10 the low lc\'els of management acti\'ities as a result
of the prote..:tion of Ashl:lnd \ 1unicipal Watershed. Because of these low le,'els of management aCU\l:Y.
the Ashland Cre-ck \\"Jtcrshed and surrounding Forest Sen'ice lands were chosen by the Oregon
Cooperau\c \\'JldJifc Rcs.:!Jch Unit to become part of their southwest Oregon Nonhem Spolled 0\ I
Demographic Srudy. Tel ('\\1 pairs and one territorial single are being monitored as part of this stu0
Habitat cODditions f(lr;jjl owl acthity sites is abo\e the minimum thresholds for the ,7 mile and t.J
miles radiu~ Tbe~ 0" I Jcti\ity sites and their associated range of habitat are at risk for loss It)
stand replacing. firc~
Desired Future Conditions :.wd Recommendations: Terrestrial Systems
]
A. Terrestrial Ve!?etarion
]
Dfe and RlXommendation~:
J
The L3te-Successjon31 Resl\C .-\sscssment in progress for the M1. Ashland Late-Successional Rese"c =:~(\-
2~8. ,,'ill pro,ide the dc~ird \cge13u\e conditions 3S related to meeting the objecti\es identified in the Re'D
for Late-Succes~lon::1 Resl\CS It \\111 also pro\ide recommenootions on how 10 reach identified DFC~ Thl~
watershed analysis \\lllticr \0 lhe \11. Ashland Late-Successional Resen'c ..\ssessment. estimated for
completion in July. 19-)5
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72
1
<4
.,....
B. Fire Repime
OFe:
lmportant \'alues. such:iS the Frotection of life :Jnd property. watershed \"alues, Late-Successional Resen'c.
and yarious \\ildlife h3bit:ltS JIld species. are those that are intended to be protected from a loss through IJr~c
c:ltastrophic \\ildfirc. Within the Be:lr \V:ltershed An:llysis Area it is desired that landscapes are rclatiwly
resistant (\\ithin a nJtur.1l r.mge of Y:lri3tion) to large-scale stand replacing fires,
Recommendations:
Recommendations for fire mJIlJgement \\ill be discussed under the foIlo\\ing sub-headings: }) Vegetation
Man:lgement, 2) Presuppression. 3) Snags and Fire Fighter Safety, ~)Suppression, and 5) Fire Preyention.
Vef!etarion JfanaJ!ement
}, Take action to prote.:'t, reStore. or stabilize these Jandsc:lpcs incorporating Late-Successional Resen'e :mj
water quality and production OOjectiyes. The following matrix displays the intersect of fire hazard and fire
risk. The highest priority JIeJ.S for management action are whe~e high and moderate fire hazard interSC\7t
"ith moderate. high. Jl1d e:\ll'eme fire risk. All yegctation management acthities recommended in this
section are dependent on the completion of the LSR Assessment and subsequent re\iew and approyal b)'
the REO.
Prioril). Areas For Action
Fire Hazard
Highl X X X
:>'fodj X X X
Low I 0 0 X
~1od High Ex
Fi re Risk
X depicts poSSIble pri('ri~' .1re:lS for Jction where there is J high likelihood Ihat VALVES \\ill be lost to tire
(.-\1so refer to Figure 1 S fN J m3p displa~i ng the distnbution of fire h3L1rd intersected \\ilh fire risk)
]
2. \limic n3tur:ll dismfNn,c \0 meet 13ndsc:lpc objectiyes. Tools to be considered include density
Jnan3gemenl. prcs.crlix'd fire. 3nd m3nu31 In:lnipulation of ]jyC 3nd de:ld \eget.1lion. o.'er the long term lh,~,
t~pes of m3n3gemenl 3,U\lues mil help reduce fire h3L1rd 3nd impro\e forest he:llth.
,
J
3. Tnlegr:Jte the :1IUlysis "i hJbL:Jt requirements. site producti\ity. riparian resen'es 3nd other ecologic!!
comiderJtions with site sr'-'\:,lic fire h32.3rd and lire risk analysis. This inlegr3tion must L1ke p13ce \\ hen
making finJl de>:isi0ns C0nslJ.:ring \eget3tion m3nagement including the amount of Coarse Woody IXt-n~ .Jnl!
standing snags \\ilhin 3 pbr'Jllng :lreJ.
1
J
~. CO:lISe Woody Debris lC\\ D) 1x11er known from J fire I1lJn3gement iXrsiXcti\e:ls "de:ld and dO\\TI
l1lateri31." mll ~ lTIan3gcd \I here fire h:V.3rd reduction is lhe objecti\e oflhe management acti\ity. T3bk 1
pIo\ides re~son3bk Jll10unlS (within the r:lnge of natur3] \'3ri31ion) of coarse woody debris while conside[1n~
fire protection through h3L1rj reduction. The objecti\e is to meet the intent of the RO 0 standards and
guidelines \\hire :lchie\ing fire protection and hazard reduction. The JcYCl of haz.1rd reduction on 3
bndsc3jX basis is drj\cn by the clil113te. lopograph.ic fe3turcs. :lI1d the types of\egel31ion descnlxd prcYil'\Isly
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73
]
]
The following uble. l:Sir.g ~ ~st exjsting infonnation. recommends the amount of CWD within yeget:lU0:\
zones based on a..~i ;;s ir.rlu<:nced by the pre-fire suppression fire return inter...al. Note: The amount of
C\VD is measured by pi~.xs 0fwoOO. piece is defined as a piece of wood \\ith a minimum of 16 inch diam_tl:'r
by 16 foot length.
]
]
Figure" I: Recommend~ Amounts of Coarse Woody Debris for the Management of Fire Hazard
Reduction
]
Vegetation ZoDes Dc1ired Fire Amount of Woody Debris per Acre{Considering Ibe
(Series) Successional Return Range of Variation Among Vegetation Zones)
Phase loten'al
(b)
Interior Valley lone I~ 8 to 10 o to 3 pieces on south aspects; 2 to 5 pieces on nOM
(ponderosa and driest years aspects.
Douglas-lir series)
. Mixed Conifer lone I ~k>tly Seral 15 to 20 3 to 7 pieces on south aspects; 5 to 10 pieces on noM
(Douglas-fIT and driest ~ 'ears aspects.
:\, nite fIT series)
-~'W1Ute fIT lone ~k>tly Climax 25 to 35 7 to 12 pieces south aspects; 10 to 16 pieces noM a.~'S.
.~ years
Shasta fIr lone I ~kstly Climax 40 years 10 10 20 pieces; Class I or IT
Mountain Hemlock lone I ~~,,>tly Climax 100 to 10 to 20 pieces Class I or II
II 5 \'c~ars
Riparian W.:tlands I 120 lineal feet (minimwn 16 inch diameter bv 16 foot
km:th ). -
]
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(a) taken from Jerry F. fr,.,rJJin and C. T. Dr:l1ess. VegeL1tion Of Oregon & Washing1on. - U.SD.-\. f0r':$t
Senice Research Paper F~ IV-SO. 1969. (b) fire return inten'als are on a Jandsc.>pe basis. Inten'als
determined from pe~rul .:i~ussion \\ith Tom Auel. Area Ecologist. 199~. concerning fire return inte!,:!l
for the forest.!urb.m inter1a.--e aN\e Ashland Oregon and the upper Applegate Valley eastern Siskiyous
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5. A risk assessment is ~!r:g completed with the Bear Late-Successional Resen'e Assessment that \\ill
identify imporunt 113bit.3lS In need of protection based on meeting the objcctiyes of the ROD for LSRs. Tl1':$C
areas \\ill be a priority fN ;:W1Jgement action.
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6. \Vhere low or rnc-def3te U1tensiry prescri1:>:d fire is to 1:>: used o\'er relatiyely large area's class 2 (mtbn
-municipal watershed). .:bss ~. and ephemeral stream riparian zones \\ill need to be eyalU3ted for the
applicabIlity of prescnl-.;.-J ires or other manual methods of \egetation management. The reintroduction ,'I
fire at ceruin locations In[0 J fue dependent cD\ironment requires an understanding of fire efftXts to iir.:
intolerant \egelation. ~ r:~ and amount of riparian \egetation t112t exists today (much of which is iir.:
intolerant) are partly J re"JJt of fire exclusion due to aggrcssi\c fire suppression. The abllit). to keep
prescribed fire out of:111 ,'i riparian sites gl\en the nwnerous complex. highly dis~ed drainage.s of the
Siskiyou ~fountains \\ lull.' t-illning OYer large :ueas is near impossible. Through rC'\ie\\' of past burning
projects, it has lx.>en C\.~[\ cd wt where springtime underburni ng has taken place. the exjsting \egeL3tJ011
within the riparian zoncS \\:l.$ not significantly altered or modified. This is primarily due to spring rn01~\\lrC
conditions of riparian :He:lS.
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7. In the are.) of the 1959 fire. Ihinjeffrey and ponderosa pine trees as follows: spacing of tress to be left I.'n
sile shouJd be 20 feet or ~re.Jlcr. This spacing ensures that pine trees remain in an open canopy condili0D IN J
longer peri0d of lime. E:q:'<Crience has shown \11th fuel break conslmction. when competing \egetation is
eJiminated pine Irees gr0\\ ~[ a phenomenal r3tc. They soon occupy the site and go into canopy closure Thc
spacing of > than 20 ft. cor,sidcrs this f3ct.
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8. Continue pre!-Cnlx".i t-c.r.Ling wilhin the Ashl3nd Resc:lrch Natural Area {RNA) to maintain yiabili~ ,'I ::,':
ponderosa pine comrncrJry.
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9. Where managem~nt J,:~i,i~. is expected to incr~se the d~d and down or standing d~d \'egeL1tion.
an31YSis should incJu.:k the polenli31 for fire risk 3nd fire h3Z3rd to increase, Activities within Mixed (":llfa
and Interior Valley \'e-~~...1tion Zones would be of high concern for increasing d~d and down or st3ndir.~
d~d nl31erial. This :uul~~is "ill take place before the management 3ctiyity is implemented. Post acti\i~'
fuels treatment pbns '\\111 include detajled discussion of how the work will be completed: when the work mIl
be compleled. 3nd the J\-:ul:lbility of funding.
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Opportunities off :'\ atioo:u forest:
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l. Hazard reduction effons on the Cit)' owned parcels 3. .... 5. 6. 8 and 9 (located in high and e:\1reme fire
risk areas) is a high priori.y. especially when considering that the greatest chance of a large fire burning into
the Ash13nd Cr~k W:ilershed.. \\ill likely im'oh'e fires originating on the west side of Ashland in the
forestlurb:m interface .lre:'.S.
2. Where m3nagement Jo..-ti\i~. is anticipated to result in an increase in the dead and down or SL1nding .x.:J.i
\'ege13tion, 3l1alysis should uke place 10 consider the potenti31 for fire risk and fire h3Z3rd to increase.
AClhities "ithin Mixed (onifer and Interior Valley Vegelalio!l Zones would be of high concern for
increasing dead 3l1d OO\\TI or st:mding d~d material. To be tne most effective this analysis would need tv
take place before the 1TU!lJgemenl 3cti\it)' is implemented. Important considerations for p:lst treatment
hazard reduction plmrjng ::.Ie: how the work would be 3ccomplished. when the work would be acromplishc.i.
and the ayail:Jbility of fun..iing. Considering the values 3t risk at lower elevation of the analYSis are:3. an\'
aCll\'ity that gener~tcs :Ul in,re:lSe in dead nuterial would normally require some form of h~rd reducti~n
treatment "ith disp"~ \~ng).
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Presuppression Facilities
Recommendations:
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L The completion (lfthe ~h:l..xd fuel break systcm should take pl3ce as soon as possible. With the compktl<'n
of the str3tegic311y IC\:';JIN fuel brcls sc\'er3It.1ctic3l .1d'\3nl.1ges \\ill take p13ce. In 3ddition to the !xn.:t':IS
of fuel brds fN cle J.:rk'~mcnt or e\'3cuation of lire fighters, the p;netr3tion of reL1roonts through th,
opened forest canopy is mh:!n.:-cd. 3nd the ltkc!Jhood of crown fires (fire C3rried through the tops of the 1.iIkr.
gre31er th:m 6 feet. \ ('f<'wl;<'n) is reduced.
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. Coordin31c .:-ompku0n 0f Forest Senice sh3ded fuel breaks \\ith the sh.1ded fuel break system th3tlh,
City of Ash13nd 3.nd p-:Y:lIC land O\\llcrs :lrc starting .:md completing.
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For shaded fuel bre.:.ks lOt:>e the most dr~ti'\c during:1 \\ildlirc. the forest floor of the fuel break Slh,.J!J
not h3'\e more lh1J1 I ~ !0ns of dC:Jd \\o:.dy m:Jlcri:J1 JXr :Jere. Sn3gs should not re \\ilhin or Jdj3CCr.l1,1
the fuel bre.1ks. o..eTs:,'''!' c3nopies should nOI be interlocking (closed). The density of the undcrs10~
\egcL1tion should be rl\-~ced sufficiently to prc'\cnt ground fire from igniting the o\'crstory \'egcl.'Jlh':1
The \\'idth of the fuel brc".l.1.;.s must oc designed with consider:ltion for the dcnsi~'. height and ch3r3.:!.:r <'f
the \'CgeL11ion 3dj3,-,:nt :0 the fuel breaks.
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. Sh3ced fuel breaks \llIJ X used 3S control points for prescnocd burning o\'er brger areas. The use ,'f Ihe
fuel breaks 3S c(lnlr01l-'-,ints should lowcr cost \I hen prescnocd burning takes place !x]ow fuel brcJ.ks
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. \1aintJin fuel brcls 3nJ density of (bnk Jre3S \lith the use of m3nu31 hand mJintenance. prescn!xJ
undcrbuming. 3dJ1lini~lrJti\c timber sales. or combin:llion.
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. The density .:md ~r.:f -x.;j Jnd down vegetation or live vegetation adjacent to the flanks of the Cud
breaks needs to be m~;:j or reduced. This may entail a "staged" sequence of density managemenL
prescribed undcrbumir:g. 1:1:l11ual cutting and piling and pile burning or combination at anyone sek.:t,...j
site. The ratio of ~d tv live vegetation must be considered. Within this concept the age or viability-:-f
the vegetation often tim~ determine its flammability. For example young shrubs are less flammable U1:l11
mature shrubs which rove J higher ratio of dead to Jiye branches in their crowns.
Figure ~1: D1ustration of a Landscape Approach to Hazard Reduction
ILLUSTRATlON 01 lANDSCAPE APPROACH
10 HAZARD REDUCTION
rFucl Brk lo~lion
ROGUE AA'ER
villEY
HAZARD REUCTION
<-fOREST URBAN INTERFACI>ZONE-)
(N~tionol Forest)
_ Upper 1{3 01 slope edjecrntlo Sh~ded Fuel Sreeks reduce bes~1
"re~ \0: 1 00 b~sel erce immedietcly edjeccnllo SFB. fcethered
10 ebou1120 b~s~1. continuiflg re~thcrin9 until 1 ~O bos~1 ~ree is
echleved neel the bonom 01 the upper 1/3 01 the slope,
2. Analyze and pro\ide fer ;:;jequate presuppression and pre.:JttJck facilities such as hc1ispots, access and
safety zones. MaintJin initi:lI 3rt.1ck helispots. Pre-detemune tractor fireline IOCJtions in the event of J br~C
\\iJdfire that Jre acccpwt-le .:-"nsidering hydrologic and soils conditions and identify on pre-anack maps
(using criteria establi~hN t:r:.:<r Riparian RcseJ'\ e m:m:Jgement recommencbtions).
3. When completing :hX"S~ J:1d tra\e1 man:Jgement p!:Jnning. :m.:Jl~'Ze for :Jdequ:Jte suppression :Jccess
response.
Sna!!s and (ire (i!!hter safetv
Fire fighter safety \\hlle sur;,~essing mldfires is of utmost import.:mce. One of the greatest thre::ts to fir.:
fighter safety is \\orkin;: J,,':.:n<.1 buming snags. burned ~n;H!.S or fire we:lkened trees. Also the 2re:lter ,~~.:
number ofsn:::ES bumin-l=:::1 J \\lJdfire, the mere difficult fir~ control. Snags lh\\art and frustra~e ;Jggr':""l\':
fire suppres~io~ due 10 e~'-,re;";:e risk to fire fighters :lnd the :lmount of firebrands produced by sn3gs. Th'~~
firebrands pfCIduced high In ;he !fee c3l1opies 3re lofted in cOl1rectiol1 columns ~nd produce dO\\n\\ir.J ~F"t
fires when they bnd in !1::r:::;d::,Je ycget3tion m:my feet or miles [romlhe originJting fire.
Recommendations:
1. Where ~n3gs :He to [.c :112li1tJincd or cre.1ted to meet other resource objecliyes. analysis needs to be
completed \\1th fire figh;cr s::fety in mind_
2. The numo.:r of sn:Jg~ ret:lined per :JCfe must be orchestr:J1ed with hazard reduction :Jnd \\ild1ife neecs in
mind~ For c\:J.mple those JrCJS \\ here h3.Z:Jrd and risk reduction :Jre 3 prim3!) l113n3gement Jction :ll:d
objectiye. snag numDos Jnd ,heir locHion \\111 11:1\C to be considered. For the Be:lf Water~hed ,-\n:lly~is :\re:1.
sn3gs within or 2dj.JCent to s;1::!dcd ruel brc.1ks or ::!dj:Jcent to pri\';i!c rcsidenti:l] property ~hou]d be redlllcd or
elimin:Jted (depending on 0,]iCr resource objecti\es) since these ;lre :1re:Js \\ here lire fighters will llkely 1...:-
used ill ~uppression of 1\ JlJf:.cs
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Fire Prel'enrion ProJ!ram
Wildland lire preyenticn is the informing. educating. and regulating. of human behayior or actiyities thJt
influence Ihe \'arious ~1X"S of potential ignition sources within flammable \'cgctation. As agency dO\\TI5i.:ing
continues the need to mJ.inuin :1 proactiye fire preyention program will become a challenge, particularly with
the increasing hum:ln J.7'J\iry in the Ashland Wat~rshed and forest/urban interface.
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Recommendations:
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I. Cooperatiye lire preyention with the City of Ashland. Oregon Department of Forestr)' and Jackson C~nty
fire agencies can help partiJlly maintain a proactiye effort in preyenting human-caused fires, Such
cooperath'e fire pre..-ention efforts as the yoluntcer mobile fire preyention patrol, the yoluntcer mountain bke
patrol and forest scnice p3trol must continue and be coordinated. Public use access restrictions must
continue to be an option during certain fire danger criteria. ContinU2tion of public neighborhood fire
preyention meetings discussing defensible space. fire apparatus access, home construction materials
(flammability) design. elc. should take place periodically.
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2. To successfully prot~""t the Ashland Watershed and other drainage's oCthe Bear Analysis area from
catastrophic \\ildfire \\ill require a coordinated effort by the Forest Senice, pri\'ate and City land ownen;.
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. The Forest Scnice should consider taking the lead in organizing Coordinated Resource Management
Plans tCR.\D's) for ~~sins of the WA.A critical to protecting rcsourccs from wildfire.
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. Continue to pro\-i.k llX'hnicJI Jdyice in urban/wildland fire planning to local land use planning
agencies.
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. There is In JdJitionJI n~d 10 continue efforts to standardize firc prc\'cntion regulations such JS
campfire closures J.:r('ss jurisdictions to beller inform the public and maximize consistent aggressi' e lire
prcyention.
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:I. Before recre~tion C'rp:'nunities are implemented. c\JluJtion needs to be completed of the potential (N lhe
recrc.:l\ionaI cndC3'or In.:rc..JSlng fire risk and Jgencies ability to mitigate incrC3sed Jccess.
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. Funding of J fire prc' ention organiz..1tion cJpJble of palrolli ng. proper signing and enforcing lire
prcYCnlion regubti0r.S and la" s conccrning the" lIdl:lDd emironmcnt should be established.
. .~ccount.Jblli~' by C\.'th the Forest Sen'ice and City of .-\shland management concerning lire prc\tr:::<'n
and human 3Cli"Jty \\lthin the forest/urban IJlIerface should be eS13blishcd and l11ainlJined.
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Suppression
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Aggressi\e fire prollX'tjen shJlI be the norm. !\1uch of the Bc:JC Watershed analysis Jre3 is protected by 111ll111-
agency l11utll.11 aid inili:l! :laxk JgrcemcnlS.
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Recommendations:
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]. These mulll.11 aid 3grcements should be re\icwcd and upd:lted pcriodic:JlIy by the yarious coopcr:Jli\C
:Jgencies. L'pi'3les and re,icw would cn13il looking at the most efficicnt m:mner to help prcyent or rccu,.:
destruction of life and pr0p:I1~-. municip.11 ":Jlcrshed 'alues. :Jnd LSR (:Jnd olher wlldJife habilJts) due 1<)
" i1dfire.
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Opportunities off Fore~t Sel"li.:t':
I. Gi\'en the increJsed lir~ r.sk on City bnds due to an increase in access, recreation. and housing
de\'elopment, it is e\1X'\.'1N Li:llthere will be more hUlnan-caused fires in the future within the forestlurb:m
interface. A City hired anJ trJined wildland fire tighter organization would increase the abilities for quick
initial attack response. FJllUI~ to reinforce initial or e\1ended attack oftentimes determines how successful
fire suppression is. The u.~ (lfyolunteers would not be appropriate since timely response. physical abilities
and detailed training is:l l.'laj,:lr requirement for safe fire suppression.
C Terrestrial Wildlife
DFC and RecommeDdation~:
The L:lte-Successional Reserye Assessment in progress for the Mt. Ashland ute-Successional Rese['\'~
#Ro-2~8 "ill pro\ide ckuiled analysis on desired future conditions as related to meeting the objectin:'s
identified in the ROD for ute-Successional Reseryes. It will also pro\'ide recommendations on how to
reach identified Of(s. The LSR Assessment is using the Wildlife Habitat Relationships (\VHR) mcJd
for the Ana!\'sis of hai'iut "ithin the LSR. This will pro\'ide important information on how the LSR is
currently fu~ctioning in relation to meeting the objectiyes of the ROD. This Watershed Analysis mil
tier to the Ml. AshbnJ ute-Successional Reserye Asscssn'l<:nt, estimated for completion July, 1995.
2. AQUATIC SYSTEMS
Summary of Findings
Hillslooe Processes and Flow Reeime
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The geology and climatic pJlt~rns within the ":Jtershed :Jn3lysis :ne3 play key roles in determining the
character. timing and 6sml"Jti0n of flow within the \\ 3tersheds. If there is a consistent phrase th3t c:Jn ~
3pplicd to the :lfeJ.S :JnnuJI pl\7ipiL1tion. it is lh:Jt it is highly yariable. Peak now nents are frequently
generated in fate "inler during~ rain~n-~now" eHnts (located within the transient snow lone). in
which inten!'C rainfall r:Jpidly melts accumulated snowpacks. Appro:\imatel~. 38% of the watershed
analysis area is located I\ilhin the transient snoW zone, Historic floods such as those in 196~ and 1''-.J
ii-lust rate the damaging cffC'Cts of these t~pes of cyent~.
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L:md-usc ch:Jnges in Ihe fc'r:a d urb:miL3tion. ch3nnd modifiC:Jtions. \\ 3ter \\ithdr:Jwals. water
irnpoundmenLS :lnd [036 hJ\c :lnd \\111 continue to ch3nge the hydrologic regime. Roads are the maj0r
human impact on the fornt cn,-ironment \\ ithin the watershed analysis area. Specific parts of r03d
networks contribute di5F;l'r:'r1ion3lcly to the clTccts of r03ds on ~k flow increJscs (Wemple. 199~) Tl1,~e
r03d segmenLS :lre thc~e Jr31:l1ng directly I) 10 mC3111S 3nd 2) \0 cuhcrts ICJding \0 streams.
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rmpacts from roads fall into three areas: introduced sediment into streams; snowmelt redirN:tion aIlll
concentration; and ~urface now production .-\ lJrge mJjority of the watershed is composed of granillc' hxk
types SUbjlXt to debris 11(\1 1.1ndslides ::md SUrf3CC erosion. Surface erosion from rO:lds is the most sigmCl,.ll1t
source of tine sediment deli\ e;cd to slre:Jms \I hJ!e 1110st C03rSe sediment is trJnsported to streams Jnd Re,d,r
Resel\oir li:J 13ndslidcs :1f1J clC'si0n. The \ olwne 0f fUnOO' from rO:lds and its speed of dclinry to the r-15e
of 3 \\3tcrshcd nrics 3CC(rCJng to r03d design. r03d hillslope position. r03d 3ge. 311d sC;1sol131 soli S3tUr.lllL'1l
(Wemple, 199.f). O,er 65% of roads within the watershed analysis area arc located midslope, when:
potential is greatest for inrercep(in~ subsurface now and routing to ditches or channels. These miJ~!t)pe
areas also contain the mo~t unstable terrain within the watershed analysis area (for more information
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on unstable tcrrain ~ -Hilblopc Proccsscs"). Roadside dilches and gullies funclion as ctTcctiye surf;!;.:
flowpaths which incre.J..~ .ir:linage dcnsity during storm c\'cnts.
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Wilhout cffcctiye roaJ Jr.;.JiUf,C impro\'cments. maintenance and/or closure, roads conlributing 10 the 5lT':-,::n
network \\ill conlinue to ia.:re3SC peak flows and the frequency of flood eycnts.
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Cumulath'e Watenhe-d Effects: Those subbasins located primaril)' on National Forest lands, East :mJ
We~1 Forks of A~hlwd Creek and Horn Gulch, hne a LOW watershed risk rating bascd on percent
\'eget.1lion less than ~O ye.1~ old and road density.
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In those subbasins where 50 p:rcent or more of the lotal road miles exisl on National Foresl lands:
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Oa)100 Creek is r.lled as ha\ing a HIGH watershed risk. Without factoring in Forest Senice
s~'stem Roads, tbe l'-litershed risk rating would be reduced to MODERATE;
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Neil Creek is rated 3S h:l\ing a MODER\. TE watershcd risk. Without factoring in Forest Serdc~
s~'stem roads, tbe "litershed risk rating would be reduced to LOW;
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Tolman Creek is raIN as haying a HIGH watcrshed risk. Without factoring in Forest Senice
s~stem roads, tbe ri~k would be reduced to LOW.
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The remaining subbJSins in thc Be:lr \VAA, Ashland, Hamilton, and Wright's, hayc less than 26% oflh~
totaJ road miles on ~:lrion:J Forest hmds. Therefore, the Forest Senice road mile contribution d(l('~ nl1t
contribute signific3lltl~.to tbe high road density within these three subbasins, This me:lns that ifall
roads located on ~ationJl FNe5t bnds were not factored in, the watershed risk fating would remain HIGH
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\\'hile this risk rJting is ro.<.;.-d ~Jely on road densities (including \'cgc12lion less than 30 Ye.Jrs old for Ih.:
East and West Forks of .~hl:ind Creek and Horn Gulch). il indicates that Fore~1 Senice S~'~1em roads in
thc Cla~1on, ~eil, wd Torman CrC'Ck subbasins ha\'c the potential to produce high sediment load!'..
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Aquatic & Rioarian Soecit-S and Habitat
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The Be.Jr Cre-ek WJlcr~hcd :~naJysis Are:! (B~r Cre-ek \VA.A) contains a typical ~equence of Si~kiyou
~fount:Jin \'alley .1nJ ,'.1n\(';] ;:-p:s as sho\\TI in ExhIbit A. The Jo\\er Greater BCJr Creek \Vater~hc.d is Jrt
alJu\ial \'alley (\fcdNd .C.:-ntral Point/PhocnivTJlent) once cont:Jining abundant side channels and \\Cll.ll1.:s
pro\iding e\~eJ]enl npm.1n Jnd Jqu:llic hJbit:Jt for diycrse fauna. c g. coho salmon. furbc.3rcrs. and
l\JlerfowL This is C\l.:k;h'1.-J by remnant side chJnnc1 fe31ures 3nd anecdot:J1 Jccounts. Hi~torically. m,'~l
lo\\cr \Jllcy slI~m S<?fmcnLS ,'ont:Jincd a combination of side ch:Jnnels. complex pools. large \\ood. 11131::1':-
mixed ripJrian for.:~ anJ bcr~e Jquatic I1fe. In this complex habitat. coho salmon. chinook salmon.
rainbow trout. cutthroat U,',,!. :l11d summer ~tce]hcad and "inter stcclhead flouri~hcd as e\'idenccd by
anccdo131 accounts of I3rge i:sh runs.
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Currently. in lower \';L]lcy lI1d mid-\'alley ~treams, ~ummer stream temperatures ha\'e increased" hill'
habitat compluit). has dt'Crt'ased. Water \\ithdrawals. the reduction of~ide channels. less pools Jnd 1.1f~"
wood material acC'C'mmcd3lcs urb:Jn and agricultural uses. The upper canyon streams of the Bear Cnyk
\VAA. primarily Forc~'1 5enice rands. contrihute cool \Yater to the Greater Bear Creek WatenhcJ
Salmonids h:1\c '!X'::laJul-J rcquirements including high quality cool water and complex 3qUJlic h3bitJl
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The analysis area has the majority of steelhead trout \'iabre summer rearing habitat in Bear Creek
The area also contributes ~diment from highly erodihle dccomposed granitic soils which can limit
aquatie produclion by filling granl Jnd cohblc interspaces. Simplification OfJqualic h:lbit2[ :Jnd \\;1I111(:f
sumll1er \\Jlcr temp:'r3turcs no\\ dj~f3\'or s3]monids c.'\ccpt in the upper strCJll1 segments orthe BC.:Jr Cr,'(:k
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W AA. NOnnJli\-e ~lX",i~. e ~ . blJck crJppic Jnd red-~ided shiners outcompcle sJlmonids during Ihe c.r:,
summer monlhs in the Gr<,.:;:a Be':lT Creek W:lIershed below Wagner Creek (Dambacher. et JI, 1992).
The quality fish habil3l rern:.lining in the Greater Bear Creek watershed is predominatel)' on feder;.ll
lands or immediatel~' do~ nstream where cool summer water temperatures persist. MOlit of these lands
are inaccessible to anadrornous salmonids; howc\'er. robust populations of resident rainbow and cunhrwl
[rout are often present. AO:ldromous fish migrating upstream from the ocean are blocked or dela)'cd
from reaching prefer..bre habitat b). numerous diyersion dams in the mainlitream Bear Creek and r;.l~.:.e
tributaries, e.g" ~eil, Wagner and Alihland Creeks.
Tbe combined effects of riparian and aquatic habitat degradation, poor water quality, loss of
s1reamlfloodplain function;UJd disruption of fish migration upstream and downstream ha\.e se\'Crel~'
reduced the production ohnadromous fish in Bear Creek. Most of mainstream Bear Creek seryes as J
conduit for anadromous 3Jld resident salmonids 10 seck spa\ming and rearing habitat in tributa~. streams.
Coho salmon, once a k~'Stone SJX'Cies in many interior \'alleys of the upper Rogue Ri\'er, now a;e a depres~-J
pOpulation and practic:1lly IK'n-<:xislent in Bear Creek. Large resident trout once associated with wood
complexes and matlJre riparian areas in the mainstem are limited to smaller tributary streams with
smaller pools. Low numlxrs of summer steelhead, "inter steelhcad and fall chinook salmon are presenl.
Desired Future Conditions and Recommendations: Aquatic Systems
A. Hills/ooe Processes
Drc:
· The sediment regime i~ m0re consistent ,,'ith the hisloric range of \'ariabiJity.
· Road prisms. landing. humJn<aused slides and olher sources are no longer sources of erosion. Prion~
are.:lS are rip.1ri:m zones 0f Sleep tnbutaries and sensili\e (granilic) uplands, and unsl:3ble sJop;?s.
· Soils cxist in :I nOnC'0m;:-':KtN condilion.
· ACli\e landslides Jnd ~\ erdy eroded areas 1\ hich pro\ide sedimenlS 10 ~lrC3ms are reslored.
· SlrC3mb:mks are ~t.:ibk .1;1d ,ontnbule to :I high quality hJbil.1t for anadromous and/or rcsidcnllishcn,~
· Landscap::s (\e;;e13ti0n) .:;re in a ~l.1bre condition for mJinl.1ining slo~ and soil slability.
Recommendations:
I. Because of 5edimen13ti0n 2:1d 110\\ regime CffC'ClS associJted I\ith road building. the building of ne" h'2":"
in:l burned Iandsca~ 5h0U}J x J\oidcd in 5ensiu\ c arc.:lS incluiling riparian Jrc.1S.
· Outside of rip.1nJ:l 3:C.35. J\oid rOJd budding e\cept "here new road construction may ~
ncccsSJry 10 compIele J 12I;;er program of PJl1i:lI or complete r03d obliler3tion.
2. Restore roads by pro\lcing ,urf:Jcing. 3dequ:He dr3in3ge. :Jnd proper energy dissipation. Forest rOJds
2080 and 2060 :lre:J high pn0f1ty for restorJlion .::nd s13bili/_:Jlion. ft is recommended lll:Jt FS ROJd 206d
rcmained closed yea round 1..' 171otorizcd \chiclc lr.::ffic c:\ccpt for 3uthorized adminislrati\e Iraffic.
-, Jnstall cuhcl1s \\hich \\111 pJss 100 ~C3r nood c\cnls 3nd 3110\\' p3ssage offish.
-t. Reduce road density In the !01!o\\ing 5ub-b3sins CI3~ Ion. Tolmail. Neil.
)- [mentory Jll non~~leT11 roads 3nd c\3Iu3te need for rC~lor3Ijon. This imoh-cs 3rC3S Ih31 ha\e occn
hisloric31/y lrJctor Jog!;cd.
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6. Reslore unswble I:ln.:s ~ialIy in or nC.1[ riparian lones, stabilize eroding slreambanks.
7. VegelJtion IIUn.:lgemt'nt acti,ities prescribed 10 meet fire 113Zard reduction or Late-Successional ReX'" e
objcclh'es should M\'C 10 meet desired condition for restoring sediment regime 10 historic r.lnge of
,'ariabilitY. At !be proje-.."t kwl planning phase, past management acti,ities need to be assessed for site
specific i~pactS to soil prNucthity prior 10 the implementation of new acti\"ities,
· For prescrire:l Nrning aspect, slope steepness, soil depth, and duff and Iitler cover will bet.1ken
into comickr.nion. GeneralIy prescribed burns must be cool enough 10 maintain SO percent durl' JIld
litler layers"
· For timber yarding. consider the fOllo\\ing recommendations along "ith site specific infoml:ltil'n
during project level planning to a'"oid damaging soils (other mitigation measures may be desig.ned
at !be projC\."t 1C\"ej 10 meet the objecti\"e of soil protection):
· partial S1L~nsion on all nonh slopes greater than 65 percent;
· full S1L~nsjon on south slopes greater than 65 percent;
· partial S1L~nsion on nonh slopes ranging 35 percent to 65 percent
· partial S1L~nsion on south facing concave slopes with deep soils, slopes ranging from 35
percenllO 65 percent;
· full S1L~nsion on south facing convex slopes 35 to 65 percent;
· and partial S1L~nsion on south facing conca\"e:slopes \\ith deep soils less than 65 percent.
8. Complete slope ~biliry mapping and updales to Soil Resource 1m'entory during project le....e1 planning
prior to an ground diSTUrbing acti,ities.
9. Refine estilD2tes of the Jmount of course sediment which ms been delh'ered to the AJlu,ial ~ne [r(lm the
resen.oir walls and !be road 3Iound the perimeter (USDA 1987).
10. In partnership \\ith Jc\."'3J community groups and the City of Ashland. continue to in,'entol)" p.:>lentiaJ
watershed restoT3tioc proje-..l.S using the Forest Senice Watershed Impro,'ement Needs (\\111\') im"entcry I~'rm
and database"
11. Rein..<1.1le the m(lnilNing of sediment catchment deYices below !\fount Ashland. There is an ortX'mH:J(~'
to work \lith inleres1ed \ "lun(C'ers 10 accomplish this work.
OPPOrtunities off Forest Senice:
I. The opportunity e\J,qs 10 rNuce direct sediment input 10 Reeder Resen'oir and 10 Ashland Creek. r....k'"
the dam. by impro\ing r('.ad dr3inage through increasing the number ofwatcrbars. draindips 3nd n:hl'r.s
Swfacing (he access rood :md rubllizing Ihe embanks with either a retaining wall or rock riprap \\ (l~d .lis,",
grcarJy reduce coarse s-.'.ilmcnl input to the stream and rcsen'oir.
B. Stream F{(111.' Refimt?
DFC:
Channel mainremoce 110\\ ~ prO\ide for orderly conYeyance or uru"nrerrupled [ransport of water and ~edJ!l1l'lH
produced from [he \\3rt?r>h;:-j through (he stream channel network such that oycrtime. chalU1c1 dimensl,'r.s
Jnd jXlllems are self-ffi.']inL1ined.
All channels \\ilrun the Bl'.3r wJtershed 3n31ysis 3rea on Forest SerYice property are restored or maintJ1DeJ .IS
A-type or A.A.-t:>pe (ifgrailien[ greater than 10%) channels as defined by (he Rosgen Stream ClassincJIll'll
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Recommendalion~:
I. Restore degrJded G-.:~ ..:hJnncls to A-type or AA-t)pe (if grJdient greater th:m 10%).
2. Reduce peak flows :!i1J increJsed frequency of storm flows by decreJsing the current length of rOJds.
ditches and gullies ronU1Nung to the streJm network. Restoration techniques to disperse water to SUN:urfJ.:e
pathwJYs include: incr~ing culyert density. outsloping road surfaces, or remoying imperyious rOJd-l"cl
material Jnd restoring \t'gt'1.3tion on hillslopes.
3. Highest priority for roJJ drJinJge improyements. maintenance, and/or closure are those road segmentS
located in the midslope rt'90ns of sub-basins within the transient snow zone (such as the 2060 rOJd), "hi,h
cross liye creeks, or Jre 3.:U,'e1y contributing sediment.
C Aquatic Soecies & Distribution
DFe:
. Viable populations of indnidu.Jls of all life st.1ges throughout the watershed for all anadromous and residt:nt
fish are mainL:lined. Aqu3uC hJbitat is restored and protected for all anadromous and resident fish. Sp:lliJl
and temporal connecu,ilY is restored and protected within and between watersheds.
· 80 pools per mile in c.lI1yon $egment (>~% slope) and 50 pools per mile in slope-bound Ya]Jey (2 to .t% s"'~),
or as determined by chJnnd morphology.
· Riparian zones Jre in pr0rr functioning ecological condition (discussed in more detail under Riparian Z,'nes.
DFC).
· Lower streJm tempcrJtUICS. In short-term. Jttain summer seyen day ayerage of the maximum daily streJn\
temperatures less than 6S .:kfr~s F Ihroughoutlhe bJsin. In long-term. maximum daily temperatures Jre
reduced 10 JpproximJtely hiS1C'ric lc"els. 56 to 62 degrees F.
· :helJge between.tO 10 1~O Fi.xcs per mile oflJrge Jnd smJll "ood materiJl in the stream channel. This \\111
yary by chJnneI morphC'IC'.0- Jnd will not be 3chicycd for 100 YeJrs unless wood structures are placed. T111.'sc
wood structures mJ)' nC'! ~ JITropria(e untd the sediment regime has been corrected in the uplJnd poniC'n .'f
the wJtershe.ds.
· ChJnnels \\ilh grJdiCnlS C'f kss IhJn 2 percent \\ Iii h3"e less than 35 percent embcddedness.
· Culyens :lre replaced Jnd mJlntJined to :1110w for IUO-ye3r c,ents 3nd facllitate 1i~h pJssage.
Rc<:ommcnd:ltions:
L To reduce embeddt.-.J;1cs~ Jnd 10 rCCrcJle {X'01 hJbit3t. ~('C recommendations for Hillslope Processes
1 Repl:Jce cuhel1s Idcnuli.:-J 3S not designed to c:my IOO-yc3r flood c'ents.
3_ Rccre~te and mainl3Jn 'J-X channel habit:J1 adjJcenl to low grJdicnt main stem ch3nncls.
Opporrunilics off forest Senice:
I. There is In C'pponunllY ~0 rc~l0re or enh3nce fish h3bil3t by increasing the Jmount of side ch3nnels 3nJ
~ize of 000dpl3ins. Jnd t:. lr'crc3sing the shan-term supply of I3rge \Iood 013teri31 by slrategic311y pl:Jcin:;
I:nge \100d lhroughcutlhc slC'~bound '311cyS.
2. There is 3n C'pponunit\!0 pe\Cnl fish 1110\ementlhrough c311:Jls by \'orking \Iith irrig3tion users to
inSlJI! fish screens.
:l. There is 3n opponunity 10 T('CUCC or minimizc fish b3rrieTs or obst3c1cs crc3ted by irrig3lion dj\(~r~ions
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D. Aquatic and RiTJantl!1 Htlbitats
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This section is outlined lli1.:er the sub-headings of \vater quality and Riparian Reserves
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Water Qualitv
DFC:
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Water quality is r~NN :m.i'or maintained to protect beneficial uses and support healthy riparian. aqu:lli..
and wetland ecosySlerr.s. Lcwer strC3m temperatures (see \iability offish and aquatic insect population :l1~)
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Recommendation:
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sediment input (see re."'Cmmend:Jlions for Hillslope Processes)
2. Increase pool qu:lJiry (pnr.lJrily depth) and other elements of channel morphology such as naITo\\ing 3nd
deepening of channel. This would contribute to the desired tre~d of reducing summer stream temperatur.s.
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Riparian Resen'cs (Sadonal Forest lands); Riparian Zones off of National Forest
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"Riparian Reseryes are deJinc.Jted Juring the implementation of site-specific projects based on analysis of the
critical hillslope, riparian. 3nd .:-ronnel processes and features.'tROD).
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. The Riparian Rese!'e (np:;rian zone off of ?'Jalional Forest) is in proper functioning ecological con.iJlI~'n
It supports a diyersity (If n:lli'e pJ:JnIS. supports bank stability. pro\'ides shade (canopy closure) 10 maintal:l
water lemperature 3dequ:lte fN :lquatic species. pro\ides connecting habitat. and supports a healthy
popui:Jtion of nati'e .Jnj J..'~ireJ non-nati\'e birds. animals and plant species.
. Mature age c1~5-eS .:ue ;:13lnl3incd within the riparian zone. I\1icroclimate and ecological conditi(lr.~
found in unrn;nage-d S:-!1cn:s :lre maintained. Desired conditions \\111 require between 50 to 150 years to
3tLJin.
. A diyersilY of\('~(l3tl.:':1 J~e classes are \\('JI dislnbuted and maintained within the watersheds.
ultim3tely allo~\ing n~ m,'r~ !hJn 25 percent of!he basin in age classes less than 30 y~rs ofage.
. StreambanJ.:s 3re 51.Jb!l::N to a condition contnbuling 10 3 high q~]jty habit:ll for anadromous and ,'r
resident fish
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Recommendations:
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I. Do not alter Rip::n:1n Rcstr\c \\ldths as identified in the ROD. Within the Riparian Reserye the r(1I1~'\I 111g.
acti\'jties h:1\e ~n ,}ctcf11:l;;ccL through Ihis analysis. to ~ not only acceptable. but necessary to l11eetlh,'
long-term goals of the ..\quJllC Conseryation Strategy:
. PresCfJ~d burrur.g :JnJ ::13:1U3] manipulation of I in:: :lI1d dead ycgetation wilhin Class -l drainages \Cl.l~S
2 in the rnunicip:;J \I::1e:5hed) Generally burns l11ust Ix cool enough to maintain 50 percent of dull" .lIlJ
liller 13yers.
Rip:lIi3n 5lhicul1ufe \\ her(' lhere is a deficit of conIfers for long-term C\VD recruitment. This incluJ,'s
rernoying deciduous Ifces Jnd pl:ll1ting conifers. ~'o ground-b:lsed equipment should ~ allo\\cd in \hlS
process. \"cget3lion is net to Ix rCll1o\Cd from unsl;lblc or !Xllcnli31ly unstable stre3mbanJ.:s.
. /l.cccleT3!c the cSl:Jbli5hment of l:1TgC comfers 3nd !:ltc-successional stages within riparian lanes.
Slrcamb3nJ.: st3biliz:Jlle;1 Jnd I Ilst rC:l III ch:1nncl imprO\Clllcl1tS. :--.10 ground-based cquipment should l~
3IJo\\ed in Ihls pro...','ss unless ;:cccsslblc from c.\isling rO;ld,_
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. rll1prement:ltj(l;'10f:.~~ '.11 Ashl:Jnd EIS for ski area expansion \\'ill not rctard or pre\'ent the attainlil'::1t
the Aquatic (0._<..:"-;;:10n StrJtegy Objecti\'es. See Chapter II under Hillslope Processes and Flow
Regime for fin.:i~fs 0:1 the cffccts of ski area cxpansion.
2. In the e\'ent of a l\11.::1~~ \\;thin the watershed analysis area, sah'age logging by any method within
Riparian Rcsenes sh~j t>e strongly discouraged in sensiti\'e areas (USDA, 1995). Incorporate Late-
Successional Resene C\.~'~-.i\'Cs and the long-term maintenance of water quality and quantity. These
sensiti\'e areas include:
. in se\'erely burned;lI~ (JIeas \\ith lit1er destruction),
. on erosi\'e or un.<tJt>k sites (hazard zone 1, see geology)
. on slopes gre.ater th:io1 60 percent,
. or any site where a-:,.:-::kr3ted erosion is possible. These sites represent "potentially unstable" grounJ.
,3, On ponions of the p.:'~-;1re landscape (within Riparian Resen'es) determined to be suil:Jble for !'3h:Jf~
,logging, limitations :ilm;:-J::t mainl:Jining species and natural reco\'ery processes should apply (USDA 1-;'1:').
These limitations are:
. lea\'e at least 50% C'f ~..;nding dead trees in each diameter:elass,
. lea\'e alllIees gre:ner l1'un 20 inches dbh or older than 150 years.
· generally, le.a\e alliin: trees.
. because of soil Cl:'mf-'\3;u0n 3nd erosion concerns. conwntional types of ground-based yarding systems
(tractors and skidJe~) sh0uJd be prohibited.
. helicopter Jogging. .:;;t-k systcms. and use of existing roads and landings, as well as horse logging nl:iY
be appropriate. l:vJt Sh0:l!J be acti\'c1y monitored and J\'oidcd where sedimentation is Jlready a prot-kli1
for aquatic sp:xics.
~. During lire mpprCHl0;'1 J.:ti\;tics pumping from small streams should be minimized. as this increa5Cs Ih.:
risks to aqWltic .x(l~SlCmS :T0m post-tire e\'ents (USDA. 1995). When pumping is utilized. it should t-.:
conducted from sU11kicnl:~ large streams and lakes so that the eff~ts on aquatic biota are negligible.
5. !\'on-pcrimclcr anJ p.:'~ ::rc ~upprcssion acti\;ties should J\oid bulldozing stream channel. riparian 3r,.iS.
wetlands. or semJtne S('I!~ ,;'1 ~l.xp slopes. and should a\oid using such ar~s JS Jccess routes for \chl,ks
and other ground-...'-..:L"('J c"~~;:,mcnl.
6. Firclines created ~- I71s::::m,al cquipment should not ~ placed in ripariJn Jreas or semiti\e soIls 0:1
steep slopes gre.:Jlcr L1JD co,) ;xr,cnl. unless firefighter safcty or resource \alues arc at high risk.
Opportunities off :'\ationaJ fL'n.~I:
I. rmpro\e the rip3n3:1 .:,'~~1l0n by planting hard\\oods and conifers. AJJo\\ing riparian forests to r'::;.h'~\
l14l1ure condition wLlI imi='~c\ C S1rC3m st:lbllit)' 3nd shJdc 10 StrCJms.
2. AJJo\\' strC3m5 10 me":;:-:0.:~ In unconfined 3rC3S by fencing li\estock ;:1\\ay from streambanks and Jlc-..--.Jr1.1111
\'eget:ltion. and by Ii mill;,'; ;",1\ Lk\clopment along riparian zones.
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3. SOCL\L & ECONOMIC
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Summary of Findings:
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The foresled lands of the Bar Watershed Analysis Are:! pro\ide a scenic backdrop for the Citv of Ashl:mJ.
The are:! is referrea to:iS -Tbe Forest at Ashland's Doorstep.' in a study of Visitation 10 the Ashland Cr..'I.:'k
Walershed. Jurgen A Hess:, April. 1986, This contributes to the unique Ashland setting admired b~' thll~
who live here and b)" tbe tbousands who \isit our area each 3"ear.
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Ashland is the home oflhe Oregon Shakespearean Festival and Southern Oregon Stale College. Ashland
surrounded by forests, m(.\unuins. and lakes pro\ides a speclacular setting for outdoor sports. recreation.
ecological studies. and en\ironmenlal education. Opportunities prO\ided within the Anal~'sis Area include
Mount Ashland Ski Are2 (llld associated ski host program), cross countT)' skiing, mountain biking,
hiking, jogging aDd 5CeDic dri,ing, and natural resource education. The unique setting of Ashland
combined \\ith a diYe~iiY cf opportunities draws thousands of\'isitors 10 the area each year. The tourist
industlJ' in Ashland pro\;de-s a large boost for the local economy. One sector of small businesses
supported by the :lbundJ.n~ C>f recreational opportunities, many occurring \\ithin the Watershed Analysis
Are:!, are outdoor recre.1tion 3nd bicycle shops, There are at least ~ supported in Ashland alone, \\ith eYen
more spread throughout the Rogue V::llley.
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With increased dewlopment in the urb3n1\\ild1and interface and emphasis b)' the community for reneati0n:J1
use. Access and Tran'l ~flln;lgement becomes an important issue for this are:!. Issues surrounding ACC.S5
::md Tra\'el }'fanagement h:m: surfaced for the Analysis Area. they include:
. rncrea.~d .~cce~s tJ the :lre:! C:ln be aSSOCi:lled \\ith increased fire risk as well as nuisance
acti,ities II hich 3]s:J lC3ds 10 incre:!sed fire risk and increased erosion:
· Public S:lfcry:
. Pro\iding managcd recreation trails in a manner th:lt \Iill be compatible with managing the (in:
risK and \\lth mC'Cting Late-Successional Res.cne object ins as identified in the ROD.
Communit). Coordination rff(l!1S such as Hamilton CrCt'k Coordinated Re~urce ~fanagement Plan
(CR.\IP), City of AshLlnd F(lrt's1 Plan, A~hrand Interface Integrated Resource Anal)'sis (IR..\), TolmJn
Creek Watershed neight-orbood meetings, and the Sluicing Committee are ins1rumental in incre:Hin~
public awareness and cdulJ[il1n of re~urce issues as~iated with the Analysis Area and, in many
ins.-tances, rcsohing rt'soun:e issues through the implementation of coordinated projects.
Reeder Re~noir, lootcd "ithin the Ashland Creek Watenhed. impounds the waters of Ashland
Creek, pro\iding the domn,ic water supply of the City of Ashland. The major disturbance me(hani,l1l~
of concern to water qu;t]it)- .!lld quantity arc nood and wildfire. It is estimated that J 30.000 cubic YJr..:.< .'1
sedjmcm '''as delhered 10 th: resef\oir 3S a result of the 1974 flood. (it). cleanout information indic3tes 1:1.1(
198.000 cubic y;:rds C'f s.:-dir.:C:l1 \Icrc renJOYed from the Resef\oir during 19N through 1976. The CO~lS
associ,lled with the 1976 ck.:;,.C'ut \\3S 3bout S5.:,1l JXf cubic y:nd for hauling (docs not include dispo5-Jll ,l;:J
SO..+o p;r cubic ~'ard fN slui':::1g. If a large wildfire occurred in the Ashland Creek Watershed, the
result ,,'ould be accrlcrJlcd ~diment production to Reeder Resen'oir increasing the amount of scdinll'lIt
10 be remond and the intcn;L]s at which resen-oir cleanout is needed. Considering typic::!1 winter 3n.)
spring lIe..3ther conditi0os. J ::igh intensity. sl:Jnd repl.3cing fire lIould result in sod d.11ll.3ge. erosion. an.)
n1.3SS wasting_ ..\ccelerJlcd sediment production \\Quld continue for the first [\\0 years following the e\Cnt.
and liQuId gr::du31ly d0:rC~lSe .15 the fire site re\cgcl3lcd :lnd sl:lbililcd. [f these t\\O disturbance factors
were combined within the S:il11e timrfr;lme, the resulting sediment deli\-el)' and cost associ;ltcd \lilh
resenoir clcanout lIould likely be incre;lsed.
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Within the urban'\\1I..iJ...;~j :~terfaC'e are clusters of homes: in many areas ranging from $200.000 to S~l\\_\'\)
and higher in price. If;l (:t~e wildfire were to occur in these areas of homes, there would be large Il'~~'S
in property as~iate<l ~ith fire. This would have the greatest potentiaJ for loss of human life due to the
densitJ of bousing;and the rate at whicb fire could potentiaJl). spread through tbe area.
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Floods in the area are ~ threat to homes in low I)'ing areas and along creeks, bridges, roads, and
cuh'erts. Tbe tbreat of flooding varies dependent on the size of the flood nent.
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Landslides potentiall)- triggered from fire and flood events could threaten roads, bridges, and bou~~
With an)' natural disaster C:Yents there is aJwa)'s a higher potential of threat for loss of human life.
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Desired Future Conditions and Recommendations: Socio-Economic
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This section is outlined under the subheadings of Mount Ashland Ski Area. Access and Travel Management.
Values at Risk, and Comrnuni~-.
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A. Afollnt Ash/and Sh Area
DFe & Rct:ommendation:
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The RRNF L1UI1P. ROD. and FIlS for the Mount Ashland Ski Area provide desired conditions and management
direction for the continueJ C'lXr.luC'n Jnd e:-,:pansion of the ~1ount Ashland Ski Area
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B. Access alld Traw/.\fO//::f:t'mmt
DFC:
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Forest Access Jnd TrJ\c1 ~blJgement (A&nf) plan amends the LRMP based and long term transport.1l1,';)
needs.
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Recommendations:
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interim and long,term tr3;'.~r1Jtion planning. In planning long-term tramport.1tion needs the follo\\1:1'; ;~
considered:
R03d densities 2re r~u:,-J in 3re3S \\ here r03d densities 3re high especi31ly in rip3ri3n 3re.1S. 2nd
5cnsithe grJ1lJ!Jc 3n.:1 :.::-.5ublc SOl Is:
. Adequate tire SUFFTCSS1C:1 response times :ne maintained:
. Interim steps are cl'::1:;1 J \\3tershed basis to f3cdit3te the closure 3nd restoration ofr03ds net cun.:n:!'
being used until J(lng-l<r.:1 ferest \\ide plans 3re complet<;d and implemented:
· ft is recommended th~t l~e ~060 r03d g:lle from the :--10110n street 3ccess is positioned to preclude
un3uthorizcd motorizcd 'c hicles:
· Pro\ide rCGeJtion 3CCCSS ~:-,d lra,'c! in 3 rn3nner that can be 1113naged to protect resources and is
comp311ble \\11h fire Ii1.L1J:;cmcnt objecti\es.
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C. Values at Risk
DFC & RecommeDdatioD~:
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The risk of cau..qrophi,: lesses of important \"alues associated \\ith human life and property, municip:il
watershed. infra..qru~ recre;Jtion. Late-Successiona) Reserye. and other important fisheries and \\1klife
habitats are mal1Jged t~ a-xcptable le\"elthrough recommendations made under Terrestrial and AqUJti.:
Systems,
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D. Community
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DFC & Recommendation~:
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Continue efforts that inn'lye the communit)' in identi1)ing and resolying both social and resowce
management issues and strlye 10 manage ecosystems across o\\nership boundaries. Continue to strengthen
and build natural resour..-e education programs.
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MONITORING
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1. The condition of the tr.1fs-;x'n31ion system (Le.. pre-existing roads and landings) should be reassessed aft.r J
\\ildfire. By increasing run,,;f. erosion. and sedimentation, fires may increase lhe risks posed by existing r~.:!s.
Detennining the need for unJeruking road maintenance. improvement, or obliteration in a timely manner \\lll ~
crucial in order to avoid funher effects from potential stonns.
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2. Because of the unique r~,Yoir,atchment system and urb:miz4ltion along Ashland Creek it is difficult 10
predict dO\\nstream channel 3d.justments. Increasing our understanding of the biological. chemical and ph~~'31
nature of Ashland Creek mll3Ssist in future analysis and solution of problems arising from land-use changes
(impenious coverage), c!unndiZ3tion and sluicing. Monitoring schemes shouJd include a comprehensive.
coordinated study of:
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. Energy sources (e.g. org:mic matter from outside the stream ,'ersus primary production "ithin the straml:
. Water quality (including "'3ter volume and flow patterns, temperature, dissolved o;.:ygen, soluble organi..-s :md
in organics, hea,:-' meuls 3.l1d toxic compounds): and
. Habitat structure (eg. ~bm3te type. distribution of\\ater velocity, di,'ersity of small-scale habitats.
availability of sp3\ming. nursery and hiding places). .
. Stream-type classification (e.g. \\idth/depth ratios. gradient. entrenchment. etc...).
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3. Within Reeder ReserY('ir: ",nlinue photographic monitoring established by the Forest by reoccu~ing ph.'IIl
p:>ints during each dta\\do\\n tl"SDA. 1987).
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~. Estimate. through field m(lnitoring. the degree to "hich road segments function as new channel segmentS
integrated "ith the n3tUT31 ~am nel\\ork (see Wemple. 199~. for sampling design).
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5. Develop sampling str3te:;:.' f0r determining trends in SOli producti,'ity by measuring depth of duff and lin.:r
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6. Conduct monitoring (In lish distnbution 3nd 3ge c13ss in 311 m3instems of the \V3tershed Analysis .-\1e.3
7. Collect b3seline dau en n13,rein\'cncbr31e popu13tions lO determine lhe biotic inlegrity of Slre3lTI h3bil3:S
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8. Conduct a physical "biel\.'fh.;:j stream jn\'enlo~' 3S \\,ell 3S lemperalure moniloring in Neil Creek.
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