BLM LIBRARY
111
8806751
1
unnea States Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Medford District Office
3040 Biddle Road
Medford, Oregon 97504
May 2003
West Fork Illinois River
Watershed Assessment
HD
243
.07
W478
2003
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
May 2003
Dear Reader:
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis (Iteration 1.0) document was completed in
June 1997 to provide an ecological context for proposed mineral development, including
management recommendations. The focus of iteration 1.0 was the serpentine portion of the
watershed on Forest Service lands. The purpose of the current document and analysis is to
expand on this earlier analysis by adding the lower elevation BLM land areas. It identifies the
various ecosystem components in the lower elevation areas of the West Fork Illinois River fifth
field watershed and their interactions at a landscape scale. The analysis looks at historical
ecological components, current ecological components and trends. It makes recommendations
for future management actions that could be implemented to reach recommended ecological
conditions.
As you read this document, it is important to keep in mind that the watershed analysis process is
an iterative process. As new information becomes available, the watershed analysis will be
updated. It is also important to keep in mind that this analysis document is not a decision
document. Its recommendations are a point of departure for project specific planning and
evaluation work. Some of the recommendations may conflict or contradict other
recommendations. Project planning, which includes the preparation of environmental
assessments and formal decision records as required by the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), will take these conflicts into consideration. Project planning and land management
actions would also be designed to meet the objectives and directives of the Medford District
Resource Management Plan (RMP).
This watershed analysis will thus be used as a tool in land management planning and project
implementation within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed on Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) administered lands. Although ecological information, discussions and recommendations
are presented at the landscape scale largely irrespective of administrative ownership, please
understand that the BLM will only be implementing management actions on the lands it
administers.
Preparation of this watershed analysis follows the format outlined in the draft federal watershed
analysis guidelines in the document Ecosystem Analysis at the Watershed Scale: Federal Guide
for Watershed Analysis ( Version 2.2), 1995.
If you have additional resource or social information that would contribute to our understanding
of the ecological and social processes within the watershed, we would appreciate hearing about
them.
Abbie Jossie
Field Manager
Grants Pass Resource Area
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. CHARACTERIZATION 4
A. PURPOSE 4
B. INTRODUCTION 4
C. CLIMATE 4
D. OWNERSHIP 5
E. REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS 6
F. EROSION PROCESSES 6
G. HYDROLOGY 7
H. WATER QUALITY 7
I. STREAM CHANNEL 8
J. VEGETATION 8
K. SPECIES AND HABITATS 9
1. Terrestrial 9
2. Aquatic 10
3. Fluvial Streams 11
L. FIRE 1 1
M. AIR RESOURCES 12
N. HUMAN USES 13
II. KEY ISSUES 14
A. FIRE 15
B . ULTRAMAFIC/ SERPENTINE SOILS 15
C. WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY 15
D. FISHERIES VALUES 16
E. BOTANICAL VALUES 16
F. SPECIAL AREAS 16
G. LATE-SUCCESSIONAL FOREST CONNECTIVITY 17
H. CULTURAL AND HISTORIC SITES 1 7
III. CURRENT CONDITION 18
A. PURPOSE 18
B. CLIMATE 18
C. SOILS 18
1 . Erosion Processes 18
2. Road Densities 20
D. HYDROLOGY 20
E. WATER QUALITY/QUANTITY 21
1 . Water Temperature 22
2. Water Clarity and Sediment 23
3. Stream Flow 23
4. Domestic Water 25
F. STREAM CHANNELS 25
G. VEGETATION 27
1. Description 27
2. Landscape Patterns 32
H. SPECIES AND HABITATS 33
1. Botanical 33
2. Wildlife 40
3. Aquatic Habitats and Species 58
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Table of Contents
I. FIRE MANAGEMENT 68
1 . Fire Condition Class 70
2. Wildland-Urban Interface 72
3. Fuel Hazard, Wildfire Ignition Risk, Values at Risk 72
J. AIR RESOURCES 75
K. HUMAN USE 78
1. Socioeconomic Overview 78
2. Recreation 79
4. Minerals and Mining 80
5. Cultural Resources 83
6. Lands/Realty 83
7. Illegal Dumping 84
IV. REFERENCE CONDITION 85
A. PURPOSE 85
B. CLIMATE 85
C. EROSION PROCESSES 85
D. HYDROLOGY 86
1. Floods 86
2. Droughts 87
3. Beaver Dams 87
4. Mining Effects 87
E. STREAM CHANNELS 87
F. WATER QUALITY 88
G. VEGETATION 88
1. Forest Stand Types 89
2. Landscape Patterns 90
H. SPECIES AND HABITATS 90
1. Terrestrial 90
2. Aquatic 95
I. FIRE 96
J. AIR RESOURCES 97
K. HUMAN USES 98
1. Prehistory and Ethnography 98
2. Burning by Native Americans 98
3. Native American Management of the Anadromous Fish Resource 100
4. Gold Mining 101
5. Roads 103
6. Recreation 103
V. SYNTHESIS AND INTERPRETATION 104
A. PURPOSE 104
B. EROSION AL PROCESSES 104
C. HYDROLOGY 105
D. WATER QUALITY 106
E. STREAM CHANNELS 106
F. VEGETATION 107
1. Plant Series 107
2. Late-Successional Forest 107
3. Fire Events 108
4. Size Class Distribution 108
5. Port-Orford Cedar / Phytophthora lateralis 108
iii
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Table of Contents
G. SPECIES AND HABITATS 108
1. Terrestrial Species and Habitats 108
2. Aquatic Species and Habitats 1 1 1
H. FIRE MANAGEMENT 115
I. HUMAN USE 116
VI. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 119
A. PURPOSE 1 19
B . RECOMMENDATIONS 119
TECHNICAL REFERENCES CITED 126
TABLES
Table 1-1: Land Ownership in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed 5
Table 1-2: Land Status - Land Allocations on BLM- Administered Lands 5
Table II- 1: Key Issues 14
Table ID-1: Oregon DEQ’s 303(d) Listed Streams 22
Table HI-2: Rosgen Stream Classification 26
Table IE-3: Rosgen Management Interpretations of Various Stream Types 27
Table El-4: Major Plant Series on Lands other than Forest Service Lands 29
Table HI-5: Vegetative Condition Class On Non-Forest Service Lands 30
Table IE-6: Plant Series Acres by Vegetation Condition Class on BLM Lands 31
Table IE-7: Plant species found in West Fork Illinois River Watershed 34
Table E3-8: Survey and Manage Vascular Plants, Lichens, Fungi and Bryophytes Suspected to
Occur in the analysis area 36
Table IE-9: Known or Possible Noxious Weeds or Exotic Plants 37
Table IE-10: West Fork Illinois River Watershed Special Status Species (Vertebrates) 48
Table IE-11: West Fork Illinois River Watershed Special Status Species (Invertebrates) 50
Table IE-12: Survey and Manage Species & Buffer Species 50
Table E3-13: McKelvey Rating Classes 52
Table IE- 14: Potential Neotropical Birds in West Fork Illinois River Watershed 52
Table IE-15: Federal Habitat Trends for Species of Concern 56
Table IE-16: Class I-IV Stream Habitat Conditions 59
Table IE-17: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Benchmarks 59
Table IE-18: Macroinvertebrate Condition on West Fork Illinois River 63
Table IE- 19: Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment Scores (Percent) 63
Table IE-20: Summary of Environmental Factors and Potential Mechanisms of Mortality
Affecting Freshwater Habitat Capacity and Related Density-independent Survival (By
Life Stage) of Coho Salmon 64
Table E3-21: Special Status and Federally-Listed Aquatic Species 64
Table EI-22: Salmonid Distribution Within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed (in miles) 65
Table IE-23: Fire Condition Class 71
Table EI-24: Fire Condition Classes of Southwest Oregon 71
/V
Table of Contents
Wes^oifcHlin^ Tec^nal^si^
Table LQ-25: Hazard Classification 73
Table III-26: Historic Fire Occurrence 1970-1998 74
Table HI-27: Risk Classification 74
Table IH-28: Values at Risk Classification 75
Table HI-29: Areas of High Rating in Hazard, Risk, and Values at Risk Classification 75
Table HI-30: Summary of Road Mileage by Surface Type 80
Table IV- 1: Forest Stand Types 89
Table IV-2: Reference Major Plant Series and Size Class Within the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed (1936) 90
Table VI-1: Recommendations - All Land Allocations 1 19
Table VI-2: Recommendations - Special Areas 122
Table VI-3: Recommendations - Riparian Reserves 123
Table VI-4: Data Gaps 124
Table C-l : Roads Data Report West Fork Illinois River Watershed 154
Table C-2: Supplemental Data Report 155
Table C-3: Transportation Management ObjectivesWest Fork Illinois River Watershed 156
Table D-l: Spotted Owl Sites Located on Forest Service where Provincial Home Ranges include
BLM Lands 157
Table D-2: Special Status Species Habitat Needs 157
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Maps 132
Appendix B: Mining Claim Information 150
Appendix C: Road Information 151
Appendix D: Wildlife Information 157
Appendix E: Fire Management Planning - Hazard, Risk, and Value At Risk Rating
Classification Method and Assumptions 161
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Introduction
INTRODUCTION
Preparation of watershed analyses is a key part of the implementation of the 1994 Northwest
Forest Plan (NFP). It is primarily conducted at a fifth field watershed scale. It is a procedure
with the purpose of developing and documenting a scientifically - based understanding of the
ecological structure and the functions, processes and interactions occurring within a watershed.
It is one of the principal analyses used to meet the ecosystem management objectives of the
NFP's Standards and Guidelines. It is an analytical process, not a decision making process. A
watershed analysis serves as a basis for developing project specific proposals and identifying the
monitoring and restoration needs of a watershed.
Watershed analysis is designed to be a systematic, iterative and dynamic process for
characterizing watershed and ecological processes to meet specific management and social
objectives. It is subject to updates and expansion as needed. The West Fork Illinois River
Watershed Analysis iteration 1.0 document was completed in June 1997 to provide an ecological
context for proposed mineral development, including management recommendations. The focus
of iteration 1.0 was the serpentine portion of the watershed on Forest Service lands.
This current watershed analysis will thus document the past and current conditions of BLM
administered lands in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed, both physically and biologically.
It will interpret the data, identify trends, and make recommendations on managing this watershed
toward the desired future condition.
The first part of this analysis will address the core physical, biological and human factors that
characterize the watershed and their important ecological functions. Regulatory constraints that
influence resource management in the watershed will also be identified. From these, key issues
will be identified that will focus the analysis on the important functions of the ecosystem that are
most relevant to the management questions, human values or resource conditions affecting the
watershed.
Next, current and reference conditions of these important ecosystem functions will be described.
How and why ecological conditions and processes have changed over time will be discussed
during the synthesis portion of the analysis.
The final portion of the analysis identifies some recommendations for the West Fork Illinois
River Watershed taking into account land management objectives and the demand for the
watershed's resources. These recommendations will guide management of the watershed's
resources toward desired future conditions.
l
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Introduction
Two key management documents are frequently referred to throughout this analysis. These are:
1. The Record of Decision for Amendments to U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management Planning Documents Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl and its
Attachment A, entitled the Standards and Guidelines for Management of Habitat for
Late-Successional and Old-Growth Forest Related Species Within the Range of the
Northern Spotted Owl (April 13, 1994) (NFP)
2. The Final E1S and Record of Decision for the Medford District Resource Management
Plan (June 1995) (RMP).
The West Fork Watershed Analysis Iteration 1.0 (June 1997) is also frequently referenced.
2
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Introduction
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Interdisciplinary Team Members
The following resource professionals are members of the watershed analysis team which
prepared the current document:
Frank Betlejewski
—
Vegetation
Matt Craddock
—
Realty / Minerals
Dennis Glover
—
Geographic Information Specialist
Jon Rayboum
—
Aquatic Habitat / Fisheries
Jeanne Klein
—
Recreation / Cultural / Team Lead
Jim Roper
—
Roads / Quarries
Dave Maurer
—
Soil / Water
Linda Mazzu
—
Botanical / Special Status Plants
Brad Washa
—
Fuels and Fire
Leslie Welch
Terrestrial Wildlife and Habitats
3
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
I. Characterization
I. CHARACTERIZATION
A. PURPOSE
The purposes of this section are: to identify the dominant physical, biological and human
processes and factors in the watershed that affect ecosystem function or condition; to relate these
features and processes to those occurring in the Illinois River basin or province; to provide the
context for identifying elements that need to be addressed in the analysis; and to identify, map
and describe the land allocations, the Northwest Forest Plan objectives and the regulatory
constraints that influence resource management in the watershed (. Ecosystem Analysis at the
Watershed Scale: Federal Guide for Watershed Analysis (Version 2.2, RIEC 1995)).
B. INTRODUCTION
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed is located within the Klamath Mountain Physiographic
Province of southwestern Oregon. It is in Josephine County, approximately 25 miles southwest
of the city of Grants Pass (Appendix A, Map 1). This 5th field watershed makes up an upper
portion of the Illinois River Sub-basin (4th field watershed).
Approximately 14 million years ago, tectonic uplift began and was subsequently shaped by water
erosion and deposition into a mountainous terrain with a relatively broad valley floor in the part
downstream from O’Brien. Elevation ranges from 1,280 to approximately 4,800 feet. Stream
surveys have been completed on approximately 112 miles of waterways, including 19 miles of
the West Fork of the Illinois River. Approximately 25% of these waterways provide salmonid
habitat. Soils formed from Klamath Province metasedimentary rocks in the southeast part of the
watershed, ultramafic rocks mainly in the west (56% of the watershed), a small amount of marine
sedimentary rocks between Waldo Hill and Logan Cut, and the broad valley bottom of mixed
alluvial material between O’Brien and Cave Junction. The many different soils support diverse
forested and non-forested vegetative types. Forests supply wood, recreation, and special products
for human purposes while providing habitats for terrestrial and aquatic wildlife and plants.
People have settled and developed the toe slopes of the mountains and the valley floors.
C. CLIMATE
The Mediterranean climate, influenced by marine air, has cool, wet winters and warm, dry
summers. Average annual precipitation ranges from approximately 58 inches in the northeast to
more than 130 inches in the far west (BLM isohyetal map, on file). The Illinois Valley Airport
Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS), three miles south of Cave Junction, indicates that
the lowest average monthly temperature occurs in January (37.8° F) and the highest in August
(91.3° F).
4
I. Characterization
-te^Anaj^sis^
D. OWNERSHIP
This West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis addresses all BLM lands within the 76,932
acre watershed. Table 1-1 notes the general land ownership distribution within the watershed.
Table 1-1: Land Ownership in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed
Land Ownership / Administration
Acres
Percent of Total
BLM
5,644
7%
Forest Service
43,500
57%
State/County and Private
27,788
36%
Watershed Total
76,932
100%
Map 2 (Appendix A) shows the location of BLM-administered land in the watershed.
The NFP and Medford District's RMP made a variety of land use allocations as a framework
within which federal land management objectives vary. Table 1-2 summarizes these allocations
within the watershed. Map 2 (Appendix A) shows the location and distribution of the different
land allocations.
Table 1-2: Land Status - Land Allocations on BLM-Administered Lands
Land Use Allocation
BLM
Acreage
BLM in
Watershed
Comments
Matrix
3,622
64%
55.5% of matrix acres (2,009 acres) are withdrawn
from the timber base
Special Areas (RNA, ACEC)
1,941
34%
Woodcock Bog RNA, Rough and Ready ACEC
and the western portion of French Flat ACEC
Recreation and Public Purposes Lease
81
1%
Illinois River Forks State Park
Riparian Reserves
—
—
777 BLM acres included in other allocations
TOTAL - BLM
5,644
100%
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed is a “non-key watershed.”
There are 5,012 acres in the RMP-designated Illinois Valley Botanical Emphasis Area. These
acres cross all other land use allocations in the watershed (USDI 1995).
Riparian reserves border all the streams on federal land in the watershed. These areas are a
critical part of the NFP's Aquatic Conservation Strategy to restore and maintain the ecological
5
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
I. Characterization
health of watersheds and aquatic ecosystems. The main purposes of the reserves are to protect
the health of aquatic systems and their dependent species as well as provide benefits to upland
species. These reserves help maintain and restore riparian structures and functions, benefit fish
and riparian-dependent non-fish species, enhance habitats for organisms dependent on the
transition zone between upslope and riparian areas, improve travel and dispersal corridors for
terrestrial and aquatic animals and plants, and provide greater connectivity of late-successional
forest habitat (USDA, USDI 1994a).
E. REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS
Important federal laws pertinent to management of BLM lands in the watershed include the
Clean Water Act (CWA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Federal Land Policy and
Management Act (FLPMA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Endangered Species
Act (ESA), and the Oregon and California Lands Act (O&C Act).
F. EROSION PROCESSES
The common erosion processes occurring in this watershed are concentrated flow erosion (sheet /
rill erosion and gully erosion), stream bank erosion, and mass wasting. These erosional
processes are driven by gravity and water (precipitation and runoff) on soil shear strength. Other
factors that have influenced erosional processes are climate, vegetation and fire. Water erosion is
important as it not only detaches soil particles (and sometimes earthen material), but also
transports the material downhill.
Concentrated flow erosion is a concern on hill slopes where most vegetation has been removed
and roads have concentrated runoff in unconsolidated ditches, diverting it to areas where surface
protection is inadequate. Soil erosion occurs when soil particles are detached by raindrop splash
or when overland flow of water moves particles to another location on the landscape. Eroded
soil particles can move from less than an inch to many miles depending on topography and
vegetative cover. This erosion is of concern because it can reduce soil productivity and increase
sediment in local waterways.
Stream bank erosion occurs as large volumes of water and debris rush through waterways,
dislodging soil particles from stream banks and transporting them downstream. This type of
erosion is important as it can widen a stream channel, which may cause the stream to spread and
become shallower. Also, detached soil sediments may deposit in fish spawning gravel or rearing
pools, reducing habitat effectiveness. High road densities may activate this type of erosion
especially during times of increased peak flows (see Road Density section below). Deep, fine-
textured soils that occur at the base of upland areas on fans, foot slopes and terraces are most
susceptible to stream bank erosion.
6
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
I. Characterization
Mass movement processes in the watershed occur in the form of debris flows, block slumps, and
earth flows. These phenomena occur in different areas and under different conditions but most
involve water-saturated soil moving downhill. This type of erosion is important in that many
tons of soil may be lost on the hillside. Furthermore, soil moving downhill eventually reaches a
stream or waterway and can have detrimental effects. Soils that commonly occur in the
watershed are deep on steep slopes.
These erosional processes, combined with the uplifting of the landscape that has been occurring
for the last 14 million years, are primarily responsible for the morphological characteristics of the
watershed. As the landscape uplifted, belts of varying rock types were exposed to weathering.
Uplift occurred faster than erosion, which resulted in deeply incised stream canyons (draws) with
high gradients (Rosgen Aa+) in most of the watershed and in alluviated valley streams with low
to moderate gradients and entrenched channels (Rosgen B and F). Riparian areas along these
streams provide habitats for plants and animals associated with aquatic systems. Many of the
riparian areas have been disturbed as a result of timber harvest, road construction or fire.
Road density is the total road length for a given area, commonly expressed as miles of road per
square mile. Road densities in excess of four miles per square mile are considered high and may
have detrimental cumulative effects on stream water quality and quantity at the small watershed
scale. The West Fork Illinois River Watershed has highly variable road densities. Three areas
with high and very high road densities are Lower West Fork Illinois, Middle West Fork Illinois,
and Elk Creek. Although some road designs are less impacting than others, in general, high road
density and future road development are a concern because roads can intercept surface water and
shallow groundwater, routing it to natural drainage ways, which concentrates and increases
natural runoff and may cause erosion and sedimentation. Furthermore, peak stream flows may
increase compared to stream flows in areas with few or no roads.
G HYDROLOGY
The stream flow in this watershed fluctuates with the seasonal variation in rainfall. Peak flows
occur during high-intensity, long duration storm events, usually in the winter and early spring.
Stream flows in this watershed are heavily affected by storm events and snow melt. Streams
flowing from the west side of the watershed, in serpentine areas, are particularly flashy and
include Rough and Ready Creek, Upper West Fork of the Illinois, and Whiskey Creek. There are
no stream gauges in this watershed.
H. WATER QUALITY
Water quality varies throughout the watershed. The West Fork of the Illinois River, Elk Creek,
and Rough and Ready Creek (except North Fork of Rough and Ready Creek) are identified as
water quality-limited under various criteria. Non-point water pollution has been identified as
moderate to severe in these streams. The types of water quality and pollution are detailed in
Chapter IQ, Current Condition. Observations indicate that other streams in the watershed may
7
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
I. Characterization
warrant examination for water quality limitations, particularly in areas of high summer
temperatures, flow modification, and sedimentation.
Rough and Ready Creek is uncommonly clear. This may be due to the lack of disturbance in the
watershed, or the dominant presence of ultramafic/serpentine soils. Water chemistry that is
attributable to the breakdown of ultramafic/serpentine minerals may cause fine particles to
aggregate and drop out of suspension before traveling down stream.
I. STREAM CHANNEL
The major streams in the watershed can be classified into one of four stream types based on the
Rosgen system of stream classification: A, B, C or F. Type A streams are steep, entrenched,
cascading, step / pool streams with high energy transport associated with depositional soils and
are very stable if bedrock or boulder dominated. Type B streams are moderately entrenched,
have a moderate gradient, riffle-dominated channels and infrequently-spaced pools. They have a
very stable plan and profile with stable banks. Type C streams are moderately meandering with
floodplains on one or both sides of the channel. Type F streams are entrenched, meandering and
have a riffle / pool channel on low gradients with high width to depth ratios.
J. VEGETATION
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed is dominated by mixed conifer and mixed conifer /
hardwood forests. Serpentine soils occur extensively in this watershed, particularly at the
northwest, east, and western borders of BLM administered lands. These soils generally support
the Jeffrey pine plant series but the Douglas-fir, Port-Orford Cedar, and Western White Pine
series also occur (perhaps the only occurrence of the Western White Pine series on the Medford
district). These serpentine communities are habitat for a number of rare plant species and rare
plant communities.
Vegetative conditions across the landscape are highly variable. These conditions developed as a
result of geologic conditions, climatic conditions, periodic disturbance and human influence
(particularly mining). Existing forested areas date back to the cessation of mining,
approximately 1870 - 1880 (Shenon 1933). Fire exclusion has resulted in significant increases in
stand density (more stems per acre); shifts in species composition ( e.g ., increases in fire-
intolerant, shade-tolerant species); and changes in stand structure. These transformations have
increased the forest’s susceptibility to large, severe fires, epidemic attack by insects and disease,
and have affected the quality of the habitat for rare plant species present in the watershed.
Plant communities in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed have been affected by more direct
human influences as well. Mining, logging, agriculture, road building and residential
development have reduced the acres of late-successional forest within the watershed while
increasing the acres in early serai stages.
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed contains at least seven major plant series: Douglas-fir ,
Jeffrey pine, ponderosa pine, Port-Orford cedar, tanoak, white oak and Western White pine.
8
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
I. Characterization
Plant communities (associations) with the same climax dominant(s) are referred to as plant
series. The Jeffrey pine series, for example, consists of associations in which Jeffrey pine is the
climax dominant (Atzet and Wheeler 1984).
K. SPECIES AND HABITATS
1. Terrestrial
a. Special Status Plants
BLM administered lands lie in the lower elevations of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed.
The native plants of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed have been studied by botanists since
the late 1800s. Thomas Jefferson Howell identified many of the rarities of the Illinois Valley
while living in the historic town of Waldo. The Rough and Ready Creek portion of the
watershed was first recognized for its unique botany in the 1930s when the Illinois Valley Garden
Club helped to designate the Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside on state of Oregon owned
land. Since then the area has drawn amateurs and scholars alike to study the rare species that
exist in the watershed. As mentioned in Version 1.0 of the West Fork Illinois Watershed
Analysis, some of these species have the main portion of their known range within the watershed.
Version 1.0 lists the special status (or sensitive) species found on Forest Service lands in the
watershed. On BLM lands, approximately 41% of lands have been formally surveyed for special
status plants as a part of specific project planning work. Many portions of the watershed have,
however, been informally surveyed as individuals report populations to the BLM. Over 200
populations of special status plants have been located on BLM land through project surveys or
individual efforts. This means that there is roughly one rare plant population every 12 acres in
the surveyed areas. Of these populations, twenty three species are represented under varying
levels of protection, including Survey & Manage, federally endangered, state endangered, federal
candidate, Bureau Sensitive, Bureau Assessment, Bureau Tracking and Bureau Watch. These
numbers can only be considered a rough estimate of the actual number of populations and species
in the watershed, because records for these species were not always reported completely under
informal efforts.
Because of the high occurrence of special status species and their habitat available in the
watershed, the possibility for creating special management areas for these species is very high.
The majority of the watershed falls within the Botanical Emphasis Area designated by the RMP
which states that all actions within the emphasis area must consider the habitat needs of the
special status plants. Three special areas are designated under the Medford District RMP as well:
the French Flat Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), portions of which are in the
East Fork watershed; the Rough and Ready ACEC; and the Woodcock Bog Research Natural
Area (RNA). Each represents different habitats in the watershed with high representations of
special status plant species. Two other areas show potential for RNA designation: one in the
Waldo Lookout/Allen Gulch area (this is mostly in the east Fork Illinois watershed), and one
along the West Fork Illinois. Both of these areas offer unique serpentine plant associations that
9
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
I. Characterization
have either not been adequately described or have not been represented in the statewide Research
Natural Areas.
b. Wildlife
The diversity of soil types and vegetative communities in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed
provides potential habitat for a range of sensitive animal species. Relatively few formal wildlife
surveys have been conducted in the watershed. Distribution, abundance and presence of the
majority of the species are unknown.
Within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed, there are over 200 vertebrate and thousands of
invertebrate wildlife species that might occur. This includes potential habitat for 46 vertebrate
special status species (15 mammals, 19 birds, and 12 reptiles and amphibians). In addition, an
array of Survey and Manage invertebrate species may occur in the vicinity (see Chapter HI,
Current Condition for a complete list of sensitive species). Other vertebrates of concern include
cavity nesting species, band-tailed pigeons and neotropical migrant birds.
Of the 46 special status species, most are associated with older forest habitats. However, other
important habitats include riparian, oak stands, meadows, pine savannahs and special habitats
such as caves, cliffs and talus (see Chapter V, Synthesis and Interpretation, for habitat trends).
The NFP has identified additional Survey and Manage wildlife species that probably occur in the
watershed (see Chapter HI, Current Condition).
2. Aquatic
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed comprises 20% of the Illinois River Sub-basin. The
West Fork Illinois River Watershed is less productive for salmonids than the East Fork Illinois
River Watershed. The watershed is dominated (56%) by serpentine conditions, which are
characterized by a lack of many of the attributes of optimal salmonid habitat (USDA, USDI
1997). There are approximately 800 acres of riparian reserves on BLM land within the
watershed. Approximately 80% of this area is comprised of White Oak and Jeffrey Pine plant
series or is non-vegetated. Therefore, 80% of the BLM Riparian Reserve acreage is dominated
by serpentine-influenced vegetation.
Factors such as stream temperature, number and depth of pools, large woody material, riparian
complexity, road / stream crossings and sedimentation are key to the survival of salmonids and to
fish productivity. Of these habitat factors, stream temperature is the factor most affected by past
disturbance to the riparian areas. Rearing salmonids require a water temperature of 58 °F for
optimum survival condition. Stream temperature is primarily dependent upon the exposure of
the water to direct sunlight. The shade component of a riparian area is determined by factors
such as canopy cover, aspect, and channel valley form (V-shaped vs flat). In the riparian reserves
on the National Forest lands in the watershed, over 66% of the largest trees have been removed
compared to the pre-harvest condition (WFTWA 1.0). Although exact numbers are not known,
Riparian Reserves on BLM land may have followed a similar trend. Riparian vegetation on
perennial streams is currently dominated by sapling/pole and small size trees. Due to the
10
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
I. Characterization
exclusion of fire for the past 70 years, serpentine riparian zones have become increasingly
dominated by shrubs, while non-serpentine riparian zones have become overly dense with
encroaching trees.
3. Fluvial Streams
Cutthroat trout, winter steelhead, coho and chinook salmon are found in the West Fork Illinois
River Watershed. Each is a cold water species and requires a complex habitat, especially in its
early life stages. ODFW considers steelhead and coho populations in the watershed as declining
(USD A, USDI 1997). Coho salmon can be considered an indicator species for the health of an
aquatic ecosystem. Cutthroat and steelhead typically have a wider range of distribution and are
found higher in the tributaries than coho and chinook. Factors limiting salmonid production
include: inadequate stream flows in the summer months; high water temperatures; erosion and
sedimentation; lack of large woody material in the stream and riparian area; lack of rearing and
holding pools for juveniles and adults, respectively; channelization of streams in the canyons and
lowlands; and blockages of migration corridors.
Most streams on BLM land in the watershed have not been surveyed for physical habitat.
Several streams which have been surveyed for fish by other federal agencies have some portion
of their length on BLM land (see fish distribution, Chapter 3).
L. FIRE
Fire has been identified as the key natural disturbance factors within the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed. The majority of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed has historically experienced
a low to mixed severity fire regime. Low severity fire regimes are associated with frequent fires
of low intensity. Fire frequency in the watershed would be similar to the nearby Applegate River
Watershed, which is estimated to have been 7-20 years at the elevations below 3,500 feet (USDA
USDI, 1998). In a low severity fire regime most of the dominant trees are adapted to resist low
intensity fire. One such adaptation is the development of thick bark at a young age. This limits
overstory mortality and most of the fire effects occur on small trees in the understory. Fires in a
low severity regime are associated with ecosystem stability, as the system is more stable in the
presence of fire than in its absence (Agee 1990). Frequent, low severity fires keep sites open so
that they are less likely to bum intensely even under severe fire weather conditions.
Fire regime modification in the Pacific Northwest, due to prolonged fire exclusion, has increased
fuel loads and fuel continuity, resulting in more severe fire effects (Agee 1993). Furthermore,
the pattern of frequent, low intensity fire ended. Dead and down fuel and understory vegetation
are no longer periodically removed. This creates a trend of ever increasing amounts of available
fuels. The longer interval between fire occurrences creates higher intensity stand-destroying fires
rather than the historic low intensity stand maintenance fires.
It is important to recognize that each vegetative type is adapted to its particular fire regime (Agee
1981). The significance of this is that the historic vegetative types that existed prior to Euro-
li
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
I. Characterization
American settlement cannot be maintained in the present fire regime that has resulted from fire
exclusion. The serpentine communities are one such area within the watershed that is a fire
dependent community. While much remains unknown about the interaction of fire within areas
of serpentine, the presence of various fire adapted species indicate a strong adaptation to fire.
The Jeffrey pine series has a fire return interval of 20 to 50 years (Atzet and Wheeler 1982).
Jeffrey pine associations are likely to support small, patchy fires and less likely to suffer
catastrophic stand destroying fire due to low fuel loading and widely spaced canopies. Although
most sites are open and quick to dry, little fuel is produced, and fuel continuity is usually lacking,
resulting in low intensity fires that have not, in most cases, significantly altered species
composition. Jimerson (1995) notes variable potential for fire exclusion to cause change in the
successional pathways of the associations in his Jeffrey pine series in northern California.
Jimerson (1995) also describes shrubs invading and usurping space of herbaceous species within
these Jeffrey pine series. Kagan (1989) speculated that Senecio hesperius abundance declined at
Cedar Log Flat RNA in the absence of fire, as evidenced by extremely high cover of native grass.
Borgias and Beigel (1996) observed that the dominant species of serpentine savannas
regenerated readily following wildfire; however the effect of fire on special status plants of
serpentine systems is uncertain (Jimerson 1995, Borgias and Beigel 1996).
Other fire adapted species within the serpentine community include western white pine and
knobcone pine ( Pinus attenuata). Knobcone pine is an obligate fire type with a strict
closed-cone habit. Serotinous cones are one such adaptation towards fire that knobcone pine
exhibit. This adaptation, along with the general absence of animal agents that might open cones,
leaves the species dependent upon stand-destroying crown fire for reproduction. Fire creates
seed bed conditions favorable for germination and seedling recruitment. Most plant species
cannot compete with knobcone pine on such poor sites. The discontinuous nature of serpentine
prevents all the pines in an area from being killed by any one fire (Vogl 1973).
Natural fires are probably less frequent in knobcone pine forests than in other western
closed-cone communities (McCune 1988). The infertile sites where knobcone pine occurs
support little undercover. Litter layers are usually moderate (Horton 1949). Fire is essential for
the completion of knobcone pine's life cycle. Cones of senescent or dead trees must be opened
by fire to perpetuate the groves before trees succumb and add the unopened cones to the
decomposing litter (Vogl 1967).
M. AIR RESOURCES
Factors that affect air quality include meteorology and emission sources. Atmospheric stability is
of primary importance in emission dispersal. The stability of the air determines the amount of
vertical mixing that can occur, which disperses pollutants. Stable air prevents mixing and traps
pollutants at the ground level. Unstable air facilitates mixing and dispersal of pollutants.
Seasonal patterns in weather and pollutant emissions influence air quality. The weather pattern
in late fall and winter is one of periods of stable air occurring between storm events. These
stable periods inhibit dispersion by reducing atmospheric mixing. During the winter, motor
12
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
I. Characterization
vehicles produce more carbon monoxide, and home heating produces fine particulate (PMio and
PM2.5) when wood is used as a fuel. These factors combine to produce a higher pollution level
for these pollutants during winter (ODEQ 1993).
Atmospheric ventilation is usually better during spring and summer. Less carbon monoxide and
particulates are produced during this time. These pollutants are normally not a problem during
these seasons (ODEQ 1993). Summer air quality is impacted during relatively poor ventilation
periods. Ozone concentrations reach peak levels during sunny warm periods of poor ventilation.
Ozone and resulting "smog" are the major concerns in the summer season.
Pollution that impacts the Illinois Valley are classified in two categories: area and mobile sources
(ODEQ 1993). Area sources are relatively small individual sources of pollution, usually spread
over a broad geographic area that collectively contributes emissions. Area sources include wood
stoves, slash and field burning, forest fires, backyard burning, and dust emissions from roads and
agricultural tilling. Mobile sources include motor vehicles, motor boats, off-highway vehicles,
and aircraft. The major impact to air quality in the Illinois Valley is smoke. Pollutants of
concern include fine particulate (PM10 and PM2 5) and carbon monoxide (CO).
N. HUMAN USES
The land ownership pattern of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed was molded in the late
1 800’s and early 1900's. The lands in the watershed in the mid 1800's were public lands owned
by the United States and administered by the General Land Office. The first large-scale transfer
of public lands from federal ownership was to the state of Oregon following statehood in 1859.
In order to further develop the west, Congress passed laws enabling settlers to develop and obtain
ownership of the public lands. These included Donation Land Claim patents, entry under the
Homestead Acts, military patents and mineral patents. In addition to these types of deeds, land
was deeded to the Oregon and California Railroad (O&C), with some of those lands being sold to
private individuals. In reviewing the master title plats for the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed, it is apparent that ownership of several of the low-elevation lands were originally
deeded from the United States to private individuals through the above acts of Congress.
Current human use of the watershed includes dispersed recreation, timber production /
harvesting, mining, light industrial uses, tourism, harvest of forest products and agriculture.
Recreational use of the area is dispersed and includes off-highway vehicle (OETV) use, hunting,
mountain biking and horseback riding. There are currently many non-designated trails and foot
paths in the area. There is also evidence of historical uses of the watershed related mainly to
mining.
13
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
II. Key Issues
II. KEY ISSUES
The purpose of this section is to focus the analysis on the key elements of the ecosystem that are
most relevant to the management questions, human values, or resource conditions within the
watershed (Federal Guide for Watershed Analysis, Version 2.2, 1995).
Key issues are identified in order to focus the analysis on the unique elements of the watershed.
Key issues are addressed throughout the watershed analysis process within the context of the
related core questions. The key issues identified are summarized in Table II- 1. A short narrative
which discusses the relevance of each key issue in the watershed follows this table. The issues
are not presented in any order of relative importance.
Table II-l: Key Issues
Key Issues
Related Core Topic
Fire - The historic fire regime has been altered through fire exclusion and other
management practices, impacting the flora, fauna and fire hazard. The wildland/urban
interface has been identified as a “community at risk” in the National Fire Plan.
Vegetation, Species and
Habitats, Human Uses
Ultramafic / Serpentine Soils - 54% of the watershed consists of
ultramafic/serpentine derived soils. This is very high. It results in extensive unique
serpentine plant communities and fragile soils with unusual restoration and
management challenges.
Erosion Processes, Water
Quality, Vegetation
Water Quality and Quantity - Issues include: high summer water temperatures,
variable water clarity, flow modification, flashy stream flows, and unusual water
chemistry in areas dominated by ultramafic/serpentine mineralogy.
Erosion Processes,
Hydrology, Stream
Channel, Water Quality,
Species and Habitats
(Aquatic)
Fisheries Values - Fisheries values are high. The majority of wild coho in the entire
Rogue River Basin spawn in the Upper Illinois with approximately 10% of these
spawning in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed. Elk and Wood Creeks, primary
coho streams, are high priority for habitat maintenance and restoration
Stream Channel, Species
and Habitats, Water
Quality, Hydrology
Botanical Values - Botanical values are exceptionally high in the watershed due to a
unique assemblage of plant communities, high incidence of rare plants, very high
concentration of endemics, an RMP designated botanical emphasis area, potential
RNA and global botanical significance (World Conservation Union).
Species and Habitat
Special Areas - There are three special areas (2 ACECs and one RNA) designated in
the watershed. These sites have a high density of rare plants and unique assemblage of
plant communities. These sites are also being impacted by incompatible uses such as
OHV use, target shooting and illegal dumping.
Species and Habitat,
Vegetation, Water
Quality, Human Uses,
Erosion Processes
Late-Successional Forest Habitat Connectivity - Late-successional forest patches
are small, reducing connectivity in the watershed and between late-successional
reserves for some species.
Vegetation, Species and
Habitat
Cultural and Historic Sites - Many historical and cultural sites or features represent
some of the best evidence of the region’s past mining activity.
Human Uses, Vegetation,
Stream Channel
14
II. Key Issues
Wes^ForldHinoi^^
A. FIRE
Fire exclusion has created vegetative and fuel conditions with high potential for large and
destructive wildland fires that can be difficult to suppress. The watershed as a whole has a large
area that is at a high risk of wildfire. Such high-severity, stand-destroying wildfire presents a
threat to human life, property, and most resource values within the watershed. Management
activities can reduce the potential for unwanted stand-destroying type fires through hazard
reduction treatments. Public acceptance of these hazard reduction management activities will be
critical for the long-term health and stability of the forest ecosystem within the watershed.
Mixed land ownership, wildland/urban interface area, and recreational use increase the
complexity of fire prevention, protection, fuels management, and hazard reduction programs.
B. ULTRAMAFIC/ SERPENTINE SOILS
Fifty four percent of the total watershed (including USFS) consists of ultramafic/serpentine
derived soils. The usual extent of these types of soils ranges from 20 to 35% within the Illinois
River Sub-basin (except USFS, Middle Illinois, which has 50%). Issues include:
• High extent of unique serpentine plant communities on fragile soils (see below)
• Fragile soils (TPCC) with unusual restoration challenges due to high clay content, very
little surface litter and duff protection of mineral soils.
• Other management problems that include history of instability, low germination rates and
slow growing rates of plants usually used for erosion control.
C. WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY
Several streams are 303(d) listed as water quality limited due to high summer water
temperatures: West Fork Illinois River, Rough and Ready Creek, and Elk Creek. High water
temperatures in the streams in the watershed may be due to agricultural water withdrawals, loss
of riparian vegetation, and naturally occurring low percentage of riparian canopy cover in
serpentine areas.
The West Fork Illinois River is 303(d) listed for flow modification. There is extensive stream
flow modification on the low gradient streams in the watershed. This may result in very low
summer stream flows. There are agricultural withdrawals, and some mining ditches that
intercept runoff and divert stream water causing reduced stream flows.
Highly variable levels of water clarity have been recorded within the stream network which may
correlate with soil mineralogy. Flashy flows are common for streams that generally flow out of
subwatersheds that are dominated by ultramafic/serpentine soils. Unusual water chemistry
(aluminum, chromium, nickel, and magnesium) also typifies watersheds dominated by
ultramafic/serpentine soil (Rough and Ready Creek Watershed).
15
II. Key Issues
Wesl^oil^llinoi!^
D. FISHERIES VALUES
The anadromous fishery of the Illinois River Sub-basin is viewed as a stronghold for wild
anadromous fish repopulation in the Rogue River Basin. The West Fork Illinois River
Watershed produces an estimated 10% of the coho in the Illinois River Sub-basin. Most of these
are produced in Elk Creek. Both Elk and Wood Creeks are of high value for coho production
and have a high priority for maintenance and restoration of habitat. Habitat factors which limit
production on these creeks are associated with water withdrawal and removal of riparian
vegetation. The ownership along Elk Creek and its tributaries is primarily private. Historic
mining ditches may intercept flows and increase the drainage network. In the case of Logan Cut,
the ditch provides additional fish habitat. Rough and Ready Creek subwatershed comprises close
to one-third of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed, yet little is known about the character of
its anadromous fishery and little data is available. There are five diversions for water withdrawal
on Rough and Ready Creek. Two of the diversions may act as migration barriers to juvenile
salmonids.
E. BOTANICAL VALUES
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed is one of the most botanically rich watersheds within the
Medford District. This is due to the juxtaposition of serpentine to forested habitats throughout
the watershed. The majority of the watershed falls in the Resource Management Plan designated
Botanical Emphasis Area. The majority of the special status species found are endemic to the
serpentine soils of the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion. This ecoregion was designated as an area of
global botanic significance by the World Conservation Union (DellaSela et al. 1999). Protection
of the serpentine habitats in this watershed is of high priority because of the rarity of most of the
special status species. Threats include mining, OHV damage and encroachment of serpentine
openings by shrubs due to fire suppression. Other special status plants are found in the forested
habitats of the watershed especially along forest edges and others are found in the remnants of
valley oak savannah found in the watershed.
F. SPECIAL AREAS
There are three designated special areas in the watershed. These sites represent unique plant
communities and have a preponderance of rare plants but are often adversely impacted by
damaging activities such as OHV use, target shooting and illegal dumping. There are 488 acres
of the French Flat ACEC in the watershed. Issues surrounding this area include OHV damage to
the meadows and rare plants. Rough and Ready ACEC is entirely in the watershed. Issues
surrounding this ACEC include mining claims, illegal dumping, and inappropriate OHV use.
Woodcock Bog RNA is in the northern part of the watershed. Issues surrounding this area
include right of way requests and past illegal water diversions.
16
I^Ke^JssueS'
G. LATE-SUCCESSIONAL FOREST CONNECTIVITY
Douglas-fir mature and late-successional habitat connectivity in the watershed is primarily
influenced by the following factors: 1) the extensive serpentine influenced soils and, 2) human
activities such as logging, mining, agriculture and land development.
Approximately 54% of the watershed has serpentine influenced soils. While serpentine sites may
produce late-successional forests, they seldom produce Douglas-fir late-successional forest
habitat. This type of late-successional forest habitat is typically characterized by large diameter
trees (<21"), canopy closure <60%, complex vertical structure and both snags and down wood.
On non-serpentine sites, the quantity and distribution of late-successional forest habitat has been
heavily modified by human activities including a long history of fire suppression and exclusion.
H. CULTURAL AND HISTORIC SITES
There are a number of historical and cultural sites / features in the watershed. The majority of
these sites and features are related to mining. These sites include a portion of the proposed
National Register historic district in section 15 and 22 and 33, Logan Cut mining ditch, the
Waldo Cemetery and the Wimer Road, a stage route to the coast. These sites, especially the
proposed historic district, are some of the best examples of mining history in the region as
discussed in the Draft Management Plan for the Historic Waldo Placer Mining District
(completed in August 2000, and the National Historic Nomination (submitted to the Oregon
State Historic Preservation Office in August 2000).
17
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
III. CURRENT CONDITION
A. PURPOSE
The purpose of this section is to develop detailed information relevant to the key issues and to
document the current range, distribution, and condition of the relevant ecosystem elements.
B. CLIMATE
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed has a marine influenced Mediterranean climate with
cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Most of the precipitation is in the form of rain.
About 20 to 25% of the watershed is above 2,500 feet and in elevation in the transient snow zone
(TSZ). The TSZ is where shallow snow packs accumulate and then melt throughout the winter in
response to alternating cold and warm fronts. Most of the TSZ is in the west portion of the
watershed. Average annual precipitation in this watershed ranges from approximately 58 to 1304-
inches. The least amount of rain falls in the northeast portion of the watershed and the most, in
the far west portion of the watershed at higher elevations.
C. SOILS
1. Erosion Processes
Erosion hazard is an indication of a soil's susceptibility to particle or mass movement from its
original location. Particle erosion hazard for concentrated water flow assumes a bare soil surface
condition. If the soil is protected by vegetation, litter, or duff, such that no mineral soil is
exposed, concentrated flow erosion is not likely to occur. Streambank erosion is a function of
exposed use streambanks to peak stream flows. Mass movement erosion is a function of the
mass strength of the soil mantle and underlying geologic material. Large plant root strength
plays a role in the susceptibility to mass movement. Most soil and highly-weathered rock is
weakest at high moisture levels.
a. Concentrated Flow
The dominant erosion process is concentrated flow erosion. This form of erosion occurs when
water accumulates on the soil surface, predominately where there is little or no protective organic
material. As the water flows down slope it builds energy which allows for detachment of soil
particles that travel as sediment in the flowing water. Sediment is then deposited where flow
rates diminish.
Areas that are particularly susceptible to concentrated flow erosion consist of soils of variable
parent materials on steep slopes. The following general soil groups fall into this category: All
steep (>35% slope) soils or ultramafic, metamorphic, and gabbro diorite parent materials (see
Soil Depth and Parent Material map in USFS West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis). Of
18
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
these, the soils derived from Gabbro and Diorite are most erosive due to low cohesiveness and
minimum levels of organic binders in the upper layer. Also of concern are the soils derived from
ultramafic minerals. These soils have high magnesium content and low calcium. Plant
communities usually contain only a few species that grow slowly and are tolerant of this
condition, arranged in a scattered distribution. This results in thin duff and litter layers. These
soils have surface textures ranging from gravelly sandy loam to cobbly clay loam. These soils
have high erosion hazard due to the severity of the slope. The steep slopes give flowing water
high erosive energy as it increases velocity running down slope.
Conditions that are most conducive to concentrated flow erosion include: road drainage outlets,
unprotected road ditches, areas of bare soil usually created by ground disturbing activities or fire,
wheel ruts on natural-surface roads, and highly-altered ground surface created by OHVs or other
motorized equipment. Areas of high road density, which often have more intense ground
disturbance than would naturally occur, are commonly prone to this type of erosion (see Road
Density discussion below).
b. Streambank Erosion
Another process that commonly occurs in the watershed is streambank erosion. This is the loss
of streambanks through sloughing, block failure or scouring by high stream flows.
In this watershed, streambank erosion occurs as a result of high peak stream flow combined with
exposed deep, fine, and medium-textured soils that make up the streambanks where streams are
Rosgen type A or B (see Stream Channel section below). The watershed experienced a 30 to 40
year storm event in January, 1997. This is an example of an event that would generate high peak
stream flows that may have caused streambank erosion in this watershed at sites where bank
protection and root strength were limited. The following general soil groups are susceptible: All
soils that are greater than 40 inches deep.
c. Mass Movement or Mass Wasting
Forms of mass movement that may occur in the watershed include debris flows, block slumps,
and earthflows. These usually occur rapidly and during periods of deep saturation ( e.g ., the latter
half of winter and early spring). A debris flow is a moving mass of soil, rock, and plant material
that moves relatively linearly downslope. They often remove all vegetation and scour the bottom
to bedrock. This leaves a steep-sided draw with or without intermittent stream flow. Soils most
susceptible to debris flow are those formed in gabbro and diorite parent material. A block slump
is a type of landslide that occurs on the side of a slope where a block or large mass of soil and
weathered parent material moves downslope leaving a slip plane. This results in a bulge or
bench on the slope with an over-steep headwall above it. Parts of the slump may continue to
move in a series of episodes leaving a step appearance and several benches. Soils most
susceptible to block slumps are those that are formed from metamorphosed parent material and
occur on steep slopes. Earthflows are characterized by over-thickened clay-rich soils that, when
saturated, will “ooze” slowly downslope. Soils most susceptible to earthflow are deep, clayey
soils formed in ultramafic and metamorphic parent material.
19
III. Current Condition
Wes^ForkMinoi^iive
There have been no surveys of mass movement features on BLM land. The FS has observed
mass movement features in the Elk Creek subwatershed and historic features in the Rough and
Ready subwatershed (See Physical Settings section of Iteration 1.0 (USDA-USDI 1997)
2. Road Densities
Roads on sloping ground intercept surface water and shallow groundwater. The water is
commonly routed by the road to a draw or other natural drainageway that is part of the natural
stream system. This process causes drainage water to reach streams quicker than would naturally
occur. The more roads that exist in a particular area, the more the increase of peak stream flow.
With an increase of peak stream flow, streambanks are more susceptible to erosion as the stream
channel adjusts to the change in flow pattern. Additional stream sediment caused by this
phenomenon comes predominately from eroded streambanks. Other sources of stream sediment
are the road surface, slough from steep road banks, and eroded channels created by flows at
drainage outlets downslope.
The above gives a general perspective on high road densities. Road design and locations on the
landscape, however, produce varying effects. For example, an outsloped road with waterdips, a
rocked surface and outlet filters would produce fewer effects than a lower slope natural-surfaced
road with ditches. This is because of differences in proximity to the stream system, degree of
concentration / distribution of surface water flow due to road design, and differences in the
amount of protection of the road surface.
When measured at the 6th field sub-watershed level within the West Fork Illinois watershed,
there is a large range of road densities: from low (about 2 miles / square mile) to very high (over
6 miles / square mile). Generally, the higher road density areas are on non-BLM land. The
subwatersheds with high to very high road densities (based on available data) include the Lower
West Fork Illinois, the Middle West Fork Illinois, and Elk Creek.
D. HYDROLOGY
Map 8 includes those streams for which hydrologic data is available. There are approximately 93
miles of order 2 through 6 streams shown on Map 8. There are 19 miles of the West Fork of the
Illinois River in the mapped area.
Stream orders are defined by how many streams come together to create a larger stream. A
stream that is at the headwaters and has no tributaries is a first order stream. When two first
order streams flow together at the point that they join, the stream becomes a second order stream,
and so on.
First and second order streams in the watershed have a major influence on downstream water
quality since they comprise an overwhelming majority of the total stream miles in the planning
area. Beneficial uses by these streams include aquatic species and wildlife. Most first and
second order streams in the watershed are characterized by intermittent and ephemeral stream
20
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
flow. They are generally very narrow and V-shaped with steep gradients. Large woody debris,
which dissipates stream energy and slows channel erosion, is a key component of these
headwater streams. The amount of large woody debris in first and second order streams in the
planning area has been reduced as a result of timber harvest and prescribed burning. This loss of
woody debris contributes to reduced channel stability and increased sediment movement
downstream during storm events (USDI 1994).
Third and fourth order streams comprise roughly 20 to 30% of the stream miles in the watershed.
Many of these streams support fish or directly contribute to the water quality of fish-bearing
streams. Third and fourth order streams are generally perennial, fairly narrow, have stream
gradients of less than 5%, and have U-shaped channels. During winter storms, these streams can
move large amounts of sediment, nutrients, and woody material. Channel condition of these
streams varies and depends upon the inherent channel stability and past management practices.
The amount of large woody debris contributed to these streams has been reduced by past
management practices in the riparian areas (USDI 1994).
Fifth and sixth order streams make up less than 10% of the stream miles in the watershed. These
streams support fish and provide other beneficial uses. Fifth order and larger streams tend to be
wider, have flatter gradients and have a noticeable floodplain. Flood events play a major role in
the channel condition of these larger streams. Actions on adjacent upland areas and on non-
BLM-administered land have adversely affected some of these stream segments (USDI 1994).
Forest stands along all streams on BLM-administered land generally contain trees of sufficient
size to provide a future source of large woody debris. However, past practices such as salvage
logging from stream channels, leaving inadequate numbers of conifers in riparian areas, and
removing debris jams to improve fish passage have reduced the amount of large woody debris in
fifth order and larger streams (USDI 1994).
E. WATER QUALITY/QUANTITY
Water quality varies throughout the West Fork Illinois River Watershed. The Oregon
Department of Water Quality (DEQ) has monitored or collected water quality data from various
sources on the streams and water bodies of the state. This information is captured in DEQ's 1988
Oregon Statewide Assessment of Nonpoint Sources of Water Pollution, and has been periodically
updated and compared to standards. This has led to listing of some streams as "water quality
limited". The most recent stage of this process has been the publication for public review of
Oregon's 1998 Section 303(d) Decision Matrix by the DEQ.
Table HI-1 lists those streams in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed currently listed as water
quality limited. It is based on the DEQ's 1998 303(d) List Decision Matrix.
21
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-l: Oregon DEQ’s 303(d) Listed Streams
Stream & Segment
Parameter /
Criterion
Basis for
Consideration
Supporting
Data or Info
Listing
Status
West Fork of Illinois
River: Mouth to
California Border
Flow Modification
Summer Temperature
(Fish Rearing, 64 °F)
IWR often not met;
Flow Data(USGS)
USFS & Krebs Data
Depressed
populations of Coho
(ODF&W)
Exceeded Std.
1992, 1996
303(d)
303(d)
Elk Creek: Mouth to
Calif. Border
Summer Temperature
(Fish Rearing, 64 °F)
USFS
Exceeded Std.
1993, 1996
303(d)
Rough and Ready Creek:
Mouth of North/South
Confluence
Summer Temperature
(Fish Rearing, 64 °F)
Krebs & Audubon
Society
Exceeded Std.
1992, 1996
303(d)
South Fork Rough and
Ready Creek
Summer Temperature
(Fish Rearing, 64 °F)
Audubon Society
Exceeded Std. 1996
303(d)
Streams that are 303(d) listed are water quality limited. They are required to be managed under
Water Quality Management plans. Because the West Fork Illinois River is the mainstem stream
in this watershed, all streams that feed into the river will be included in the Water Quality
Management Plan. It does not, however, appear that many of the streams in this watershed were
included in the original inventory as there is no data available. This includes Woodcock Creek
and Mendenhall Creek. These streams appear to be possible candidates for testing of
temperature, sedimentation and flow modification. Wood Creek has the status of "Need Data"
(303d category). It is a candidate for water quality limited status (Flow Modification, Habitat
Modification, and Temperature) but, due to insufficient data, a determination was not possible
when the list was made. Future data collection may change this status.
1. Water Temperature
Many factors contribute to elevated stream temperatures in the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed. Low summer stream flows, hot summer air temperatures, low-gradient valley
bottoms, some south aspects, lack of riparian vegetation, and high channel width-to-depth ratios
result in stream temperatures that can stress aquatic life. Natural conditions that can affect
stream temperature are climate (high air temperatures), below-normal precipitation (low flows),
wildfire (loss of riparian vegetation) and floods (loss of riparian vegetation). Human
disturbances affecting stream temperatures include water withdrawals, channel alterations and
removal of riparian vegetation through logging, mining, grazing or residential clearing (USDI
1998a). Logging, mining, and residential clearing are the three forms of human disturbance that
are most evident in this watershed. Some streams in natural (undisturbed) condition may have
temperatures that exceed DEQ standards due to lack of vegetation for shade, particularly in
rocky, serpentine areas, and warm summer temperatures in this watershed.
22
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
The DEQ has established that the seven (7) day moving average of the daily maximum shall not
exceed the following values unless specifically allowed under a Department-approved basin
surface water temperature management plan:
• 64° F
• 55° F during times and in waters that support salmon spawning, egg incubation and fry
emergence from the egg and from the gravels.
2. Water Clarity and Sediment
Rough and Ready Creek is uncommonly clear. The West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
version 1.0 lists NTU readings for various streams (samples taken in January, 1995). Rough and
Ready Creek, by far, had the least turbidity. This difference is attributed to the lack of
disturbance in Rough and Ready Creek subwatershed while other subwatersheds were subject to
varying amounts of disturbance. Soils with high subsurface clay are most likely to create
turbidity (USDA; USDI 1997). Though disturbance levels may be low in the Rough and Ready
Creek subwatershed, the ultramafic/serpentine soils are high in subsurface clay and the surface
mineral soil is commonly exposed in openings, in areas where there is little vegetation.
Another factor causing high clarity may be the unusual water chemistry attributed to weathering
of ultramafic/serpentine minerals. USGS has tested water chemistry at various sites in the Rough
and Ready Creek system. When compared to background levels, test levels of stream water had
high levels of Chromium, Nickel, and Magnesium in a base solution dominated by carbonates
(USGS 1998). In this aqueous environment, these elements can occur as multivalent cations that
attract multiple clay particles. These large clay aggregates drop out of suspension, forming
sediment. There is no known field survey information that corroborates this hypothesis.
For further discussion of sediment in streams and sources of sediment see Forest Service
watershed analysis (version 1.0) for this watershed.
3. Stream Flow
Stream flow in tributary streams fluctuates with the seasonal variation in precipitation.
Generally, tributary streams respond quicker to a storm then the mainstem stream. Streams on
the west side of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed drain predominately
ultramafic/serpentine uplands with clayey soils and where stream flow is particularly flashy.
Logan Cut is an old (roughly 100 years) mining ditch located in T40S, R8W, sections 9, 10, and
15. It takes water out of the East Fork of the Illinois Watershed and shunts it over to the West
Fork of the Illinois. It is acting as a perennial interrupted (pools remain in the dry period) fish
stream. Logan Cut is augmenting flow to West Fork of the Illinois River as it withdraws water
out of the East Fork system. Logan Cut is a deep straight channel located on a gently sloping
terrace and alluvial fan.
23
III. Current Condition
Wes^orl^llinoig^ivei^/atershe
a. Peak Flow
Maximum peak flows generally occur in December, January and February. No flow data specific
to the West Fork Illinois watershed is available. The maximum flow in the last 38 years of flow
gage data on the Illinois River 2.5 miles northwest of Kerby, is 92,200 CFS on December 22,
1964 (USGS 2000).
Upland disturbances can result in increased magnitude and frequency of peak flows which may
result in accelerated streambank erosion, scouring and deposition of stream beds, and increased
sediment transport. The natural disturbance having the greatest potential to increase the size and
frequency of peak flows is a severe, extensive wildfire.
Much of watershed, and particularly the west portion of it, is made up of ultramafic/serpentine
soil (USDA, USDI 1997). A great deal of this area is sparsely vegetated especially where soils
are shallow, less than 20 inches to weathered bedrock. The combination of shallow clayey soils
and lack of vegetative cover is indicative of low overall water retention. During storms much of
the precipitation will run off the surface. Also, 30 to 40% of the same west portion of the
watershed is subject to rain on snow events, that is, it is located in the Transient Snow Zone
(TSZ). Rain on snow events amplify surface runoff especially in open areas with little canopy
cover and therefore amplify peak stream flows.
In this watershed, the primary human disturbances that potentially affect the timing and
magnitude of peak flows include roads, soil compaction (due to logging and agriculture),
vegetation removal (forest product harvest and conversion of sites to agricultural use), and rural
development. Quantification of these effects on stream flow in the watershed is not available.
Roads quickly intercept and route subsurface water and surface water to streams. The road-
altered hydrologic network may increase the magnitude of increased flows and alter the timing of
when runoff enters a stream (causing increased peak flows and reduced low flows). This effect is
more pronounced in areas with high road densities and where roads are in close proximity to
streams (USDI 1998a). Road density is discussed in the soils section of this chapter.
Soil compaction resulting from skid roads, agriculture and grazing also affects the hydrologic
efficiency within a watershed by reducing the infiltration rate and causing more rainfall to
quickly become surface runoff instead of moving slowly through the soil to stream channels
(USDI 1998a). The extent of compaction within this watershed has not been quantified for BLM
and private lands. Overall, however, as there has been little past management on BLM lands
instances of significant soil compaction are unlikely.
Vegetation removal reduces water interception and transpiration and allows more precipitation to
reach the soil surface and drain into streams or become groundwater. Until the crown closures
reach previous levels, a site is considered to be hydrologically unrecovered. Rates of hydrologic
recovery are site-specific and depend on many factors, including the type and extent of
disturbance, soils, climate, and rates of revegetation (USDI 1993). Extensive removal of
vegetation in the transient snow zone is of particular concern due to alterations of the stream flow
regime and resultant increased peak flow magnitudes (USDI 1998a).
24
1/1/esf Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
No hydrologic cumulative effects analysis ( e.g ., extent of equivalent clear cut area, compacted
area, TSZ, and road density by subwatershed) has been performed for the West Fork Illinois
River Watershed.
b. Low Flow
There is no stream flow gage data for the West Fork of the Illinois River or its tributaries. Low
summer flows in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed reflect low summer rainfall and are
exacerbated by periods of below-normal rainfall. The lowest flow recorded since 1962
downstream of the watershed in the Illinois River at a gauge site 2.5 miles northwest of the town
of Kerby was 12 cubic feet per second on August 24, 1992 (USGS 2000).
4. Domestic Water
There is little information available about domestic water use in the watershed. Wells are the
predominant source for drinking water in this rural watershed. There are no groundwater studies
for this area. Water quality and quantity is variable. Quantity varies also due to the nature of the
bedrock and limited fracturing that would allow occurrence of aquifers. Quality is also probably
variable due to the presence of serpentine/ultramafic rock and the related minerals. Water rights
have been issued for some fens in the watershed. However, right of way authorization has not
been acquired from BLM.
F. STREAM CHANNELS
A system of stream classification has been developed by Rosgen that is useful in assessing
various types of streams as to their sensitivity to disturbance and their recovery potential. Table
m-2 provides a description of the classifications for the type of streams common in the
watershed. The classifications are symbolized by a combination of letters and numbers. The
first letter represents the stream type; the number represents the channel material.
25
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-2: Rosgen Stream Classification
Stream
Type
General Description
Landform / Soils / Features
Aa+
Very steep, deeply entrenched, debris transport,
torrent streams.
Very high relief. Erosional, bedrock or depositional
features; debris flow potential. Deeply entrenched
streams. Vertical steps with deep scour pools;
waterfalls.
A
Steep entrenched, cascading, step / pool streams.
High energy / debris transport associated with
depositional soils. Very stable if bedrock or boulder
dominated.
High relief. Erosional or depositional and bedrock
forms. Entrenched and confined streams with cascading
reaches. Frequently spaced, deep pools in associated
step / pool bed morphology.
B
Moderately entrenched, moderate gradient, riffle
dominated channel, with infrequently-spaced pools.
Very stable plan and profile. Stable banks.
Moderate relief, colluvial deposition, or structural.
Moderate entrenchment and width / depth ratio.
Narrow, gently sloping valleys. Rapids predominate
with scour pools.
C
Low-gradient, meandering, point-bar, riffle / pool,
alluvial channels with broad, well defined
floodplains.
Broad valleys with terraces, in association with
floodplains, alluvial soils. Slightly entrenched with
well-defined meandering channels. Riffle / pool bed
morphology.
D
A braided condition with excessive bedloads. There
is a high amount of surface water exposed to solar
radiation. Depth is relatively shallow. Sections of
Type D are not stable, usually due to excessive load
of sediment created from an upstream source during
high flows.
Broad valleys with terraces, in association with
floodplains, alluvial soils. Slightly entrenched with
well-defined meandering channels. Riffle / pool bed
morphology.
1 F
Entrenched meandering riffle / pool channel on low
gradients with high width / depth ratio.
Entrenched in highly-weathered material. Gentle
gradients, with a high width / depth ratio. Meandering,
laterally unstable with high bank erosion rates. Riffle /
pool morphology.
Based on aerial photo interpretation, much of the West Fork of the Illinois River is stream type C
or straightened type which may be a type F. Some segments in the upper part, upstream from
Rough and Ready Creek appear to be stream type B flowing through old stream terraces. Table
m-3 indicates how streams of these types typically behave.
26
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-3: Rosgen Management Interpretations of Various Stream Types
Stream Type
Sensitivity to
Disturbance
Recovery
Potential
Sediment Supply
Streambank
Erosion
Potential
Vegetation
Controlling
Influence
AA+3,4
very low
excellent
low to very low
low
negligible
A2
very low
excellent
very low
very low
negligible
A3
very high
very poor
very high
high
negligible
A4
extreme
very poor
very high
very high
negligible
B4
moderate
excellent
moderate
low
moderate
B5
moderate
excellent
moderate
moderate
moderate
B6
moderate
excellent
moderate
low
moderate
C3
moderate
good
moderate
moderate
very high
C4
very high
good
high
very high
very high
D4
very high
poor
very high
very high
moderate
F5
very high
poor
very high
very high
moderate
Ref.: Rosgen, D. Applied River Morphology
G. VEGETATION
1. Description
listed below were
used here. An area that
than an area that can
'■y
support 100 ft /acre of basal area. Basal area in a plant series considers all species; it is not
limited to the tree species that series is named for. The following discussion indicates the
relative productivity of each of the series in the watershed.
a. Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ((Mirb.) Franco.))
Douglas-fir is the most common tree species in southwestern Oregon. Sites within the Douglas-
fir series average 254 ft2BA / acre (Atzet and Wheeler 1984). Douglas-fir tends to produce
conditions that favor fire wherever it occurs. This species is self-pruning, often sheds its needles
and tends to increase the rate of fuel buildup and fuel drying (Atzet and Wheeler 1982).
Vegetation data on BLM land was compiled in 2000. The plant series
identified and mapped within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed.
Basal area (BA) provides a relative measure of site productivity and is
can support 200 ft2/acre of basal area is, for example, more productive
27
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
b. Jeffrey Pine ( Pinus jeffreyi (Grev. & Balf.))
The Jeffrey pine series is confined to areas of ultramafic (serpentine and serpentine influenced)
soils (Atzet and Wheeler 1982). Serpentine areas dominated by Jeffrey pine may have the lowest
productivity of any conifer series in the Klamath Province with an average basal area of 83
fr/acre (Atzet and Wheeler 1984). While not considered important in terms of timber
production, these sites are floristically diverse supporting many special status plants. They also
have value as unique habitats for a variety of wildlife species.
c. Ponderosa Pine ( Pinus ponderosa (Laws.))
Forests in the ponderosa pine series average approximately 170 frB A/acre. This series is
relatively rare as ponderosa pine does not often play the role of a climax dominant (Atzet and
Wheeler 1984). This series tends to occupy hot, dry aspects that bum frequently. Ponderosa pine
regeneration is restricted by reducing the number of fire events. Due to the success of fire
suppression over the last 70 years, overall cover of ponderosa pine has decreased (Atzet and
Wheeler 1982).
d. Tanoak {Lithocarpus densifloras (Hook. & Arn.) (Rehd.))
In general tanoak sites are considered productive. Average total basal area for this series is 262
ft2/acre (Atzet and Wheeler 1984). The tanoak series occurs where both soil and atmospheric
moisture are plentiful. The series occurs most frequently on cooler aspects with fine textured
soils (Atzet and Wheeler 1984). Fire is the principal inhibitor of dominance of individual tanoak
trees (Tappeiner et al.1990). Due to the success of fire suppression efforts over the last 70 years,
overall presence of this species has increased in the watershed.
e. White Oak {Abies concolor ((Gord. & Glend.)LindI.))
The white oak series occurs at low elevations and is characterized by shallow soils. Average
basal area is 46 ft2/acre. Although Oregon white oak is usually considered a xeric species, it also
commonly occurs in very moist locations such as flood plains, on heavy clay soils, and on river
terraces. On better sites, white oak is out-competed by species that grow faster and taller (Stein
1990). Water deficits significantly limit survival and growth (Atzet and McCrimmon 1990).
White oak has the ability to survive as a climax species as it is able to survive in environments
with low annual or seasonal precipitation, droughty soils, and where fire is a repeated natural
occurrence (Stein 1990). The natural fire regime of this series is one of high frequency and low
intensity. Due to the success of fire suppression efforts over the last 70 years, overall presence of
this species has decreased in the watershed.
While not formally mapped in the watershed, the Port-Orford cedar series is present as inclusions
in larger mapping units. Port-Orford cedar (POC) requires high daytime humidity. Consequently,
POC is associated with stream channels, lower slope positions, or other areas that meet the
humidity criteria. Port-Orford cedar has the ability to tolerate the chemical composition of
ultramafic soils and can compete well there as long as the above mentioned humidity criteria are
28
14/esf Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
met. Productivity on ultramafic soils is lower than that seen on non-ultramafics. Basal area
averages about 166 ft /acre on ultramafic soils compared to 401 ft /acre on non-ultramafic soils
(Atzet and Wheeler 1984). Port-Orford cedar is susceptible to an exotic pathogen, Phytophthora
lateralis (PL), which is present on both Forest Service and BLM lands within the watershed.
Areas with POC downstream from or adjacent to PL infestations are considered to be at risk.
Also present in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed, is what appears to be the first mapped
occurrence of the western white pine series on the Medford District. The series has been located
along the West Fork of the Illinois River. It appears to be a riparian plant community as its
location is closely aligned with the channel of the river. Jimerson (1995) found that stand
replacement fires occurred with regularity within this series in northwestern California between
1820 and 1910. After 1910, fire events were of lower intensities, perhaps the result of fire
suppression. The occurrence of knobcone pine with western white pine in the West Fork Illinois
River Watershed lends support to the conclusion that stand destroying fires took place. Overall,
productivity in this series is low, averaging 122 ft2 BA/acre.
Knobcone pine has serotinous cones which usually require the high temperatures from fire to
open and disperse seed. The presence of knobcone pine indicates high intensity fires have
occurred there in the past. Knobcone pine occurs in one plant association in the western white
pine series and two plant associations in the Jeffrey pine series. In all cases, the overall cover is
low (less than 10%) and the constancy is high, with knobcone pine occurring in at least 67% of
the plots in these 3 associations.
Tables El-4 and IU-5 summarizes the extent of each of these series and vegetation condition class
in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed on other than Forest Service lands. Plant series acres
for the all Forest Service lands and all lands in California are a data gap.
Table III-4: Major Plant Series on Lands other than Forest Service Lands
Plant Series
BLM
Non-Federal
BLM and Non-Federal
Acres
%
Acres
%
Acres
%
Douglas-fir
1,808
32%
6,166
38%
7,975
36%
Jeffrey pine
3,047
53%
2,290
14%
5,337
24%
Non-Vegetated, Non-Forest, or Grass
150
3%
3,557
22%
3,707
17%
Ponderosa pine
63
1%
62
0%
125
1%
Tanoak
479
9%
4,252
26%
4,731
21%
Unknown Series - Riparian Hardwood
32
1%
0
0%
32
0%
White Oak
65
1%
128
1%
193
1%
Totals
5,644
100%
16,455
100
22,100
100%
Data Source = BLM GIS
29
III. Current Condition
Wes^od^lllinoi^Rive^/aters^
Table III-5: Vegetative Condition Class On Non-Forest Service Lands
Vegetative Condition Class
BLM
Non-Federal
BLM and Non-
Federal
Acres
%
Acres
%
Acres
%
Grass or Forb
(Vegetation Class 1)
132
2.3%
36
0.2%
168
0.8%
Shrub (Vegetation Class 2)
1,163
20.6%
965
5.9%
2,128
9.6%
Hardwood dominated
(Vegetation Class 3)
146
2.6%
189
1.1%
335
1.5%
Early (stand age < 10 years)
(Vegetation Class 4)
17
0.3%
21
0.1%
38
0.2%
Seedling/Sapling'(aver. stand DBH < 5")
(Vegetation Class 5)
157
2.8%
158
1.0%
315
1.4%
Poles (average stand DBH 5" to 1 1")
(Vegetation Class 6)
374
6.6%
845
5.1%
1,219
5.5%
Mid (average stand DBH 11" to 21")
(Vegetation Class 7)
2,485
44.0%
9,473
57.6%
11,958
54.1%
Mature (average stand DBH >21")
Vegetation Class 8)
1,020
18.1%
1,247
7.6%
2.267
10.3%
Non-Vegetated - Vegetation Class 9
(never vegetated and never will be)
150
2.7%
247
1.5%
397
1.8%
Developed/Vegetated
(Vegetation Class 10)
0
0.0%
3,274
19.9%
3,274
14.8%
Total
5,644
100%
16,455
100%
22,099
100%
Table IH-6 summarizes plant series data combined with vegetative condition class.
Additional analysis of site specific vegetative conditions will be necessary to prescribe forest
management activities.
30
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-6: Plant Series Acres by Vegetation Condition Class on BLM Lands
Plant Series/Vegetative Condition Class
Matrix
Riparian Reserves
Acres
% by series
Acres
% by series
Douglas-fir - Vegetation Class 4
17
<1%
0
0%
Douglas-fir - Vegetation Class5
131
8%
16
12%
Douglas-fir - Vegetation Class 6
374
23%
0
0%
Douglas-fir - Vegetation Class 7
518
31%
87
64%
Douglas-fir - Vegetation Class 8
613
37%
33
24%
Total Douglas-fir
1,653
100%
136
100%
Jeffrey Pine - Vegetation Class 1
0
0%
3
<1%
Jeffrey Pine - Vegetation Class 2
991
40%
141
32%
Jeffrey Pine - Vegetation Class 7
1,482
60%
300
68%
Total Jeffrey Pine
2,473
100%
444
100%
Non-Vegetated - Vegetation Class 9
(never vegetated and never will be)
29
100%
121
100%
Total Non-Vegetated
29
100%
121
100%
Ponderosa Pine - Vegetation Class 2
30
63%
0
0%
Ponderosa Pine - Vegetation Class 7
17
35%
6
43%
Ponderosa Pine - Vegetation Class 8
1
2%
8
57%
Total Ponderosa Pine
1,653
100%
14
100%
Riparian Hardwood Vegetation Class 3
1
100%
31
100%
Total Riparian Hardwood
1
100%
31
100%
Tanoak - Vegetation Class 3
48
10%
0
0%
Tanoak - Vegetation Class 7
70
15%
5
31%
Tanoak - Vegetation Class 8
344
75%
11
69%
Total Tanoak
462
100%
16
100%
White Oak - Vegetation Class 3
49
100%
16
100%
Total White Oak
49
100%
16
100%
31
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
2. Landscape Patterns
a. Precipitation Gradient
There is a strong precipitation gradient within the watershed. Annual rainfall amounts range
from approximately 130" per year in T41S, R9W, Section 9 to less than 60" annually in T40S,
R8W, Section 33; a distance of less than 10 air miles. To further illustrate this point, T41S,
R9W, Section 9 has a change in rainfall amount from 128" per year at the northeast comer to
100" annually at the east section line; a change of 28" of precipitation in one air mile.
b. Serpentine Soils
There is an extensive acreage of serpentine soils present in this watershed. This type of soil
occurs on approximately 43,000 acres within the watershed or 56% of the acres. These soils
provide habitat for a number of rare plant species. More than half of the BLM lands within the
West Fork Illinois River Watershed are serpentine (54% or 3,047 acres). This compares to about
14% of non-Federal acres (2,290 acres). Distribution of serpentine soils is along both the
western and eastern boundaries of the analysis area.
c. Small Diameter Trees
In terms of acreage, the most common size of trees within the watershed is between 5 and 21"
DBH. Trees in this size class occur on about 60% of the watershed: 13,177 acres. On non-
Federal lands, 10,318 acres (62.7% of all non-Federal acres) and on BLM lands, there are 2,895
acres (50.6 % of BLM acres) in this size class. This size class occurs throughout the watershed
including near the towns of Cave Junction and O’Brien.
d. Early Serai Stage
One of the least common tree sizes within the watershed is less than 5" DBH (353 acres or 1.6%
of the acres analyzed). There are 179 acres (1.1%) of the total non-federal acres in a <5 "DBH
size class. For BLM land, 174 acres are classified in this diameter range (3.1% of all BLM
acres). Most of these units / acres are the result of past timber harvest activities.
e. Plant Series
The three most common plant communities within the watershed are Douglas-fir, Jeffrey pine,
and tanoak. Together they make up 81.6% of the watershed or 18,043 acres. The Douglas-fir
series is most common, occurring on 36.1% of the acres or 7,975 acres. On non-Federal lands,
this series is found on 6,166 acres of 37.5 % of non-Federal lands. On BLM lands, the Douglas-
fir series is found on 32.0% of the acres for a total of 1,808 acres. The second most common
plant series in the watershed occurring on approximately 24.1% of the acres is Jeffrey pine.
Amounts and distribution of this series is listed above under “B. Serpentine Soils”. The third
most common plant series in the watershed is tanoak. This plant series occurs on 4,731 acres
within the watershed or 21.4% of all the acres analyzed (approximately 90% non-federal).
32
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
f. Late-Successional Habitat in Riparian Reserves
Within Riparian Reserves, approximately 76.5% of the acres (595 acres) are not capable of
providing Douglas-fir late-successional forest habitat (multiple canopy layers and canopy
closures over 60%). These acres are in the ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, and white oak series or
are currently non-vegetated in vegetation condition class 9. Out of the 23.5% (183 acres) of the
Riparian Reserves that are capable of supporting Douglas-fir late-successional forest habitat,
5.7% (44 acres) is currently in vegetation class 8.
g. Western White Pine
A small amount of the western white pine series has been located in T.41S, R. 9W, section 9
along the West Fork of the Illinois River. This is the first identified occurrence of this plant
community on the Medford District.
h. Port-Orford Cedar / Phytoplithora lateralis
There is a small amount of POC present in the watershed. Phytoplithora lateralis (PL) is also
present. Only those areas below the confluence of Whiskey Creek and the West Fork of the
Illinois River (T.41S, R.9W, section 9), including the Whiskey Creek fen, and along the West
Fork of the Illinois River have been identified has having the root disease present.
H. SPECIES AND HABITATS
1. Botanical
a. Introduction
The responsibilities of the federal agencies include the active management of special status
species and their habitats. Survey and Manage species and their habitat, special areas and native
plants. The following are special status protection categories used as guidelines for management
of special status species and their habitats.
Listed and proposed listed species are formally listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) as endangered or threatened or officially proposed for listing. The goals are to
enhance or maintain critical habitats, increase populations of threatened and endangered plant
species on federal lands, and to restore species to historic ranges consistent with approved
recovery plans and federal land use plans after consultation with federal and state agencies.
Survey and Manage species were identified by the Northwest Forest Plan (NFP) ROD (Record
of Decision) as needing special management attention (USD A; USDI 1994). An amendment to
the Survey and Manage guidelines was published in 2001. Categories A & C species must be
managed at known sites or high priority sites and are located prior to ground-disturbing activities,
Categories B, D & E do not require pre-disturbance surveys, but do require strategic surveys and
management of known or high priority sites. Category F species only require strategic surveys
33
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
and are without any specific management of known sites. Strategic surveys are region wide
surveys and are not a focus at the project level scale. Their purpose is to collect information to
help in determining the overall or range wide status of these species.
Candidate and Bureau-sensitive species are federal or state candidates and those species that
BLM feels might become federal candidates. The broad goal is to manage habitats to conserve
and maintain populations of candidate and Bureau-sensitive plant species at a level that will
avoid endangering such species that could lead to listing as endangered or threatened by either
state or federal governments.
State-listed species are those plants listed under the Oregon Endangered Species Act.
Conservation will be designed to assist the state in achieving its management objectives.
Bureau Assessment species are those species considered by the BLM to be important species to
monitor and manage, but not to the same extent as candidate or Bureau-sensitive species. The
goal is to manage where possible so as not to elevate their status to any higher level of concern.
BLM Tracking species and BLM watch species are not currently special status species, but
their locations are tracked during surveys to assess future potential needs for protection.
Only about 41% of the watershed (roughly 2,300 acres) has been surveyed for special status and
survey & manage vascular and non-vascular plants. Most of the BLM lands in the watershed
have not been surveyed. Informal inventories by amateur and professional botanists have
resulted in some species populations reports, mostly in special areas where visitors are drawn.
From the BLM surveys and informal inventories, over 200 populations of Special Status or
Survey and Manage vascular and non-vascular populations have been found.
Table III-7 lists the 23 special status species that have been found in the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed. Nine of these species were already listed in West Fork Illinois Watershed Analysis
Version 1.0 (USD A 1997) as species with a large proportion of their range within the watershed.
Two more species have since been added to this category.
Table III-7: Plant species found in West Fork Illinois River Watershed
Vascular Species
Protection Status
Habitat
Considerations
Loniatium cookii
Cook’s desert parsley
Federal Candidate
State Endangered
Valley grassland/oak
savannah
Populations greatly threatened
by OHVs.
Cypripedium fasciculatum
clustered lady slipper
Survey and Manage
Bureau Sensitive
Mixed conifer/tanoak
forests
Species cannot be treated with
fire.
Cypripedium montanum
mountain lady slipper
Survey and Manage
Bureau Tracking
Mixed conifer forests
Very few occurrences in
southern Oregon.
*Erythronium howellii
Howell’s fawn lily
Bureau Sensitive
Forest edges
Narrowly restricted endemic.
*Viola primulifolia ssp. occidentalis
western bog violet
Bureau Sensitive
Pitcher plant fens in
serpentine
Very few known sites.
34
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
*Epilobium oreganum
Oregon willow-herb
Bureau Sensitive
in or adjacent to pitcher
plant fens; wetlands
Very few known sites.
*Gentiana setigera
Waldo gentian
Bureau Sensitive
Pitcher plant fens in
serpentine
Larger range than other fen
species.
*Hastingsia bracteosa
& H. bracteosa var. atropurpurea
large & purple flowered rush lily
Bureau Sensitive
Pitcher plant fens in
serpentine
Narrowly restricted endemic
with very few known sites.
*Calochortus howellii
Howell's mariposa lily
Bureau Sensitive
Dry serpentine grasslands
Most known sites in the
Illinois Valley.
*Senecio hesperius
Siskiyou butterweed
Bureau Sensitive
Dry serpentine grasslands
Numerous populations.
*Microseris howellii
Howell's microseris
Bureau Sensitive
Dry serpentine grasslands
Numerous populations; grows
with above 2 species.
*Streptanthus howellii
Howell's streptanthus
Bureau Sensitive
Dry serpentine
Narrow endemic.
Limnanlhes gracilis var. gracilis
slender meadowfoam
Bureau Sensitive
Wet areas in serpentine
and non-
Range goes north of Grants
Pass.
Fritillaria glauca
Siskiyou fritillaria
Bureau Assessment
Dry serpentine openings
Occurs outside of Illinois
Valley
Monardella purpurea
Siskiyou monardella
Bureau Assessment
Dry serpentine openings
Few known sites in SW
Oregon.
Delphinium nudicaule
red larkspur
Bureau Assessment
Grasslands, openings
Uncommon in SW Oregon.
Salix delnortensis
Del Norte willow
Bureau Assessment
Riparian; creekbeds
Few known sites.
*Carex serpenticola
serpentine sedge
Bureau Tracking
Dry serpentine
Newly recognized species.
Darlingtonia californica
California pitcher plant
Bureau Watch
Wetlands, both serpentine
and non-
Uncommon throughout range.
Cypripedium californicum
California lady slipper
Bureau Watch
Wetlands, riparian,
streambanks
Uncommon in SW Oregon.
Non-Vascular Species
Protection Status
Habitat
Considerations
*Pseudoleskeela serpentinense
Bureau Sensitive
serpentine rock outcrops
Limited to serpentine
Dendriscocaulon intricatulum
Survey & Manage
(D)
oaks beneath conifer
canopy
Most populations found here
and north to Grants Pass only
Bryoria tortuosa
S&M (D)
serpentine shrubs
Numerous populations in IV
and outside of IV
* denotes species with a large portion of their range in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed
Besides the 23 species noted above, many other Bureau Watch species also occur in the West
Fork Illinois River Watershed. An entire list of known or possible BLM and Forest Service
sensitive, tracking and watch species can be found in the East Fork Illinois Watershed Analysis.
Table D3-8 lists all Survey and Manage species that could occur in this watershed based on
habitat potential. Although two of the vascular plants are repeated from the above table, more
habitat information specific to the BLM lands in the watershed is given.
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-8: Survey and Manage Vascular Plants, Lichens, Fungi and Bryophytes
Suspected to Occur in the analysis area
Species and Status
Habitat
Vascular Plants
Wayside aster
Eucephalus vialis
Coniferous forest at elevations from 500 to 3,150’. Occurs on dry upland sites
dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii , in canopy gaps and forest edges. East Fork
Illinois WS
Clustered lady's slipper
Cypripedium fasciculatum
Old-growth forest; dry or damp, rocky to loamy sites; 60-100% shade. Elevation 1,300
to 7,300 feet. Blue Creek, Waldo area.
Mountain lady's slipper
Cypripedium monlanum
Old-growth forest; found on moist sites but may occur on dry sites in other parts of its
range. Elevation 650 to 7,000 feet. Waldo area/Waldo Hill.
Howell’s lousewort
Pedicularis howellii
Dry ridges, open-red fir forests, at elevations ranging from 4,500 to 6,500 feet.
Unknown.
Bryophytes
Green bug moss
Buxbaumia viridis
Protection Buffer
Occurs on rotten wood and on mineral or organic soil, in cool, shaded locations.
Floodplains and stream terraces. Elevation 3,500 to 5,000 feet.
Liverwort
Kurzia makinoana
Survey and Manage
Especially moist low elevation stream terraces. In our forest 60 miles inland. Elevation
300 to 1,200 feet.
Pacific fuzzwort
Ptilidium californicum
Survey and Manage
Grows on conifer bark and logs, requiring cool, moist conditions. Has been found on
Brewer spruce and Chinquapin in our forest at elevations ranging from 3,000 to 6,000’.
Moss
Rhizomnium nudum Protection Buffer
On moist but not wet organic soils, sometimes among rocks or rotten logs, sometimes
along streams, mostly in middle to high elevation forests.
Moss
Tetraphis geniculata
Protection Buffer
Occurs on rotten wood, prefers the cut end of old-growth logs, in cool, humid, shaded
locations at low to middle elevations. A closed canopy provides the best micro climate.
Fungi
Aleuria rhenana
Protection Buffer
Accumulated duff and humus in low to mid elevation mixed conifer or conifer-
hardwood forests.
Noble polypore
Bridgeoporus nobilissimus
S&M and ext. survey
Pacific silver fir zone including Abies amabilis, A. procera, and possible Pseudotsuga
menziesii.
Bondarzewia montana
Survey and Manage
Late-successional conifer forests, often associated with stumps or snags.
Otidea leporina
Protection Buffer
Conifer duff
Otidea onotica
Protection Buffer
Conifer duff. Occurring in Josephine county.
Otidea smithii
Protection Buffer
Conifer duff.
Sarcosoma mexicana
Protection Buffer
Dead conifer litter.
36
III. Current Condition
Wes^orlUllinoi^ive^^aterehe^nal^sis^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
b. Noxious Weeds and Exotic Plants
Complete field surveys have not been conducted in the watershed but past surveys in the district
have shown several species of noxious weeds and common exotics present (see Table HI-9).
Table III-9: Known or Possible Noxious Weeds or Exotic Plants
Species
Habitat
Bromus tectorum Cheat grass
Disturbed areas.
Centaurea sp. Knapweed
Disturbed areas, meadows, roadsides.
Ceniaurea solstitialis yellow star-thistle
Disturbed areas, alongside roads, river corridor.
Circium vulgare bull thistle
Every road, landing seems to have at least one plant.
Cystisus scoparious Scotch broom
Old homesteads, mining areas, along roadsides, some campgrounds.
Elytrigia intermedia intermediate
wheat grass
Introduced grass for re vegetation purposes.
Holcus lanatum velvet grass
Introduced grass for feed and revegetation purposes.
Laihyrus latifolius everlasting peavine
Has invaded seeps, springs, meadows, and streams around culverts.
Hypericum perforatumKlamalh weed
Along roads, landings, meadows, skid trails and plantations.
Rubus discolor Himalayan blackberry
Patches along roadsides, disturbed areas, homesteads, seeds carried by birds.
Taraxacum officinale dandelion
Meadows, a few scattered plants.
Trifolium repens white clover
Introduced wildlife species to improve habitat.
Verbascum thapsus mullein
Introduced with cattle feed, spread to plantations. Has become an important
wildlife food source.
c. Habitats
The following habitats harbor many special status plants on BLM lands. Although habitats have
been identified, inventory work to determine the quality of these habitats is lacking.
1) Serpentine Habitats
The watershed has both wet and dry serpentine habitats suitable for several special status species
that may or may not be species endemic to this watershed. The species inhabit these ultramafic
soils sites because of soil mineral imbalances that prevent dense, more common vegetation from
growing. The plants can be found in forest openings, rock outcrops, grasslands or barrens.
The key indicator species for dry serpentine sites on BLM West Fork watershed lands are:
Siskiyou fritillary, Howell’s fawn-lily, Howell’s microseris, Howell’s streptanthus, Siskiyou
butterweed, Siskiyou monardella and Howell’s mariposa lily.
Key indicators for serpentine wetlands are: Oregon willow herb, Waldo gentian, California
pitcher plant, Del Norte willow, large-flowered rush lily, serpentine sedge and western bog
violet. Ephemerally wet serpentine soils may also harbor such species as slender meadow foam.
37
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Both wet and dry serpentine areas are sometimes incidentally disturbed or destroyed by road
building, skid trails, mining, OHVs or other related activities. Some of the low elevation
serpentine barrens were intensively disturbed by hydraulic mining in the 1930s. These areas,
especially in areas with mine tailings, have yet to recover naturally.
2) Riparian Habitats
Riparian habitats throughout the watershed may be suitable habitat for California pitcher plant,
California lady’s slipper, large flowered rush lily, Del Norte willow, Oregon willow-herb, slender
meadow-foam, Cook’s desert parsley and western bog violet. Perennial riparian habitat is in the
form of riverine forests, streambanks, spring-fed seeps, pitcher plant fens and meadows.
Riparian habitats have been disturbed through agricultural developments, housing developments,
mining, skid trails and OHV use.
3) Forested Habitats
Forested habitats are scattered throughout the watershed on BLM lands. Forests can be
dominated by Douglas-fir or tanoak. Many have edges adjacent to serpentine openings; therefore
serpentine-influenced soils can exist. These forested habitats carry the legacy of effects from
timber harvesting, mining, wildfire and fire suppression. Other impacts are related to recreation
and road building. Howell’s fawn lily, clustered lady’s slipper and mountain lady’s slipper prefer
forested habitat.
4) Valley Bottom Grassland / Savannah Habitats
As with the East Fork Illinois BLM lands, nearly pristine valley grasslands still occur under BLM
jurisdiction in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed. The best occurrence of this habitat is in
the French Flat ACEC where the ponderosa pine-white oak-wedgeleaf savannah still exists. This
type of savannah is considered critically imperiled globally. The bunch grass understory
supported by this habitat also harbors Cook’s desert parsley which is proposed for federal listing.
The tufted hairgrass-oatgrass wet meadow community also occurs in the low elevation lands of
the BLM. Both of these habitats are highly threatened by development and OHV impacts.
d. Special Areas
The 10,613 acre Illinois Valley Botanical Emphasis Area covers a large portion of BLM lands in
the watershed. This management area was designated through the Medford District Resource
Management Planning process because of the prevalence of sensitive plants. The RMP states
that actions including timber harvest will be allowed if they do not conflict with the habitat needs
of these species. As stated above, the habitat quality of many sensitive species in the watershed
is unknown. Although the Botanical Emphasis Area, which encompasses most of the watershed
at lower elevations (below 1,500'), allows for the consideration of all special status species when
projects are planned, no specific management or protection are required by this designation.
Besides this designation, however, three special areas have been designated which allow for
more specific management and protection actions to take place.
38
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
The Rough and Ready ACEC covers 1,164 acres of alluvial serpentine terrace along Rough and
Ready Creek. This area was built upon the original Rough and Ready Wayside managed by the
State of Oregon to further protect the numerous rare wildflowers that had become a focal point
for visitors. A management plan for the ACEC was completed in 1998. It calls for closing of
roads to protect the area from dumping and OHV use. The plan also lays out a prescribed fire
program to help maintain serpentine savannahs that have been encroached upon by shrubs or
trees due to past fire suppression. This will help promote high quality habitat for numerous
special status plants.
The 656 acre French Flat Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is located on BLM
lands as well. The area encompasses the best remaining examples of the full array of valley
bottom plant communities. These communities include tufted hairgrass-Califomia oatgrass wet
meadow, ponderosa pine-white oak/wedgeleaf savanna, ponderosa pine-black oak-madrone
woodland, Jeffrey pine-manzanita-bunch grass savanna and low elevation mixed conifer forest.
The site supports one federally proposed species, Cook's desert parsley, and several Bureau
sensitive species including Howell's microseris, Howell's mariposa lily, Siskiyou butterweed,
slender meadowfoam, Howell's fawn lily, and opposite leaved lewisia. The main issue facing
French Flat ACEC is recreational vehicle / OHV impacts. The BLM officially closed the road
into French Flat through the Federal Register in 1992. Gating and fencing has since been
installed, yet trespass vehicle entry continues, leaving portions of the ACEC heavily damaged.
The 264 acre Woodcock Bog RNA also occurs in this watershed. The Woodcock Bog is one of
the largest fens on BLM land and harbors all five Bureau Sensitive fen species ( Viola
primulifolia ssp. occidentalis, Epilobium oreganum, Gentiana setigera, Hastingsia bracteosa,
and H. bracteosa var. atropurpurea). These species are included in a Conservation Agreement
(in preparation) between the BLM, the US Forest Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service
which states that the agencies agree to protect these species and their habitats from activities that
could lead to their listing. A Conservation Strategy is also being developed that will lay out a
strategy of protection, management and long-term monitoring with the Woodcock Bog as one of
the critical habitat areas. The RNA does not have public access except by permission of the
adjacent landowners. It is still threatened by water diversions and right-of-way requests for
logging operations.
A 400 acre potential Research Natural Area has been identified on BLM lands. This area is
primarily in the East Fork Illinois watershed in the vicinity of Allen Gulch and extends west
towards the Waldo Hill lookout and into the West Fork. This RNA encompasses both unique
forested and serpentine habitats. The forested portion consists primarily of the late-successional
tanoak-Douglas-fir-canyon live oak-poison oak plant community. It is characterized by large
diameter tanoak, although other forms of tanoak are present. Sensitive species such as clustered
lady's slipper, mountain lady's slipper, and Howell's fawn lily occur in forested portions. The
serpentine portion of this site combines wet and dry serpentine habitats. The wet serpentine area
has not yet been described to plant association level. It encompasses a unique combination of
shrub and herbaceous species not found in other portions of the watershed. Current issues in this
area include mining and potential thinning activities.
39
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
A second potential RNA along the West Fork Illinois south of O’Brien has been identified. This
area consists of an entire section of serpentine which includes western white pine plant
associations. The western white pine plant associations have not been adequately represented in
the statewide array of RNAs. The area also harbors several pitcher plant fens with many Bureau
Sensitive species and a high diversity of dry serpentine savannah species.
2. Wildlife
a. Special Status Species and Habitats
1) Habitats
Wildlife habitats of southwest Oregon are extremely complex. Terrain, climatic factors and
vegetation combine to create the diversity of habitats found from the valley floor to the peaks of
the Siskiyou Mountains.
Habitats found throughout the West Fork Illinois River Watershed include meadows, riparian
areas, oak stands, Jeffrey pine savannah, serpentine communities (i.e., serpentine barrens) and a
variety of other unique areas. The West Fork Illinois River Watershed is characterized by
coniferous forest and serpentine associated communities.
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed does not include any designated spotted owl Critical
Habitat Units. Designated Late-Successional Reserve does occur in the watershed but is located
entirely on Forest Service lands.
Approximately 54% of the watershed has ultramafic soils. These serpentine / peridotite areas are
characterized by edaphic endemic plants, complex vegetative patterns, shrub dominated
communities and Jeffrey pine forests. The vegetation series occurring on these sites do not have
the potential for attaining old growth forest conditions.
Outside of the serpentine influenced sites, there are coniferous forests ranging in age and
structure. The forests in the watershed have a significant component of hardwood trees,
particularly tanoak, that contribute to structural and vegetative diversity.
The plant communities and habitats occurring in the watershed support an array of native
wildlife. During their lifetime, animals require food, water, shelter and space to breed and raise
young. Some species have adapted to a particular habitat (specialists) while others utilize many
different plant communities to fulfill their needs (generalists). Because habitat requirements vary
greatly, a single dominant vegetative structure will not meet the needs of all species.
Habitats that are of concern in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed include late-successional
forest, meadows, pine stands, oak woodlands, serpentine sites, and riparian habitat. All of these
habitats have been impacted by both natural processes and human activity in the watershed.
40
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
a) Valley Habitats
The watershed is characterized by numerous drainages flowing toward the mainstem of the West
Fork Illinois River. These drainages are typified by a limited area of valley habitat and steep
forested hillsides. Development and agricultural use is limited in the watershed. Where flat
terrain does exist, it has, for the most part, has been developed. Undisturbed native valley
habitats are scarce and occur primarily on federally-managed land.
Fire exclusion may adversely affect the remaining undisturbed valley habitats. Because non-
stand replacing fires are important to the maintenance of many plant communities, its exclusion
has contributed to a reduction in the quantity and quality of habitats including oak woodlands,
meadows, conifer forests and chaparral. These habitats have been identified as three of the five
critical habitats by the Oregon/Washington neotropical bird working group. It is assumed that
further losses of these habitats would have a negative impact on neotropical migrant birds.
In southwestern Oregon, native valley habitats have shown some of the greatest declines of any
plant communities. Due to the changing nature of private land management, the remaining tracts
of public land are critical for insuring that this habitat and the biodiversity it supports continues
to be represented in the valley. These stands provide primary nesting habitat for acorn
woodpeckers (Melanerpes fomiicivorous) and western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) as well as
winter range for blacktail deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Smaller mammals using this habitat
include raccoon (Procyon lotor) and grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus).
b) Upland Habitats
Most of the federally administered lands in the watershed are found above the valley floor. Here,
forests dominate the landscape, with numerous species of conifers, hardwoods, shrubs, and
herbaceous plants. Many of the hardwoods are berry and mast producers that offer a rich food
source for wildlife. Mast crop producers include California black oak (Quercus kelloggii),
Oregon white oak ( Quercus garryana), tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus), and California hazel
(Corylus comuta). Berry producing plants such as Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) and
manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) are also important crop producers for wildlife.
Habitats within the uplands include late-successional forests, meadows, riparian areas, Jeffrey
pine savannahs, and oak woodlands that all add diversity to the landscape. Natural disturbances
such as fire, wind damage, insects and disease are needed to generate and maintain a number of
plant communities and habitats.
Currently, many private lands and county lands are in early serai stage to pole stage, with little
mature forest. The condition of federal land ranges from early to late serai. Many of these stands
are the result of past timber harvest and are different structurally in comparison to natural stands.
The shift from older forests to younger forests has benefited generalists and early serai species,
but has not been advantageous to species that depend on late-successional forest habitat. Also,
past forest management practices and private land ownership patterns have created heavily
fragmented late-successional stands which may not provide interior forest conditions.
41
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
To facilitate mining activities and timber extraction, numerous roads were constructed
throughout the uplands. For species such as black bear, any remaining areas with low road
densities offer important refugia from human disturbance.
Areas with high road densities contribute to disturbance and fragmentation of late-successional
forest patches. Roads decrease the effectiveness of a number of habitats. Roads also lead to
increases in vehicular/human disturbance and provide access for poaching.
c) Aquatic Habitats
Riparian areas are one of the most heavily used habitats found in the watershed, both by humans
and by wildlife. Many life cycle requirements of animals are met in these areas. Aquatic and
amphibious species are intrinsically tied to these habitats, as are all the species that feed on these
animals.
Riparian habitats have been heavily impacted by mining, road building and logging. The riparian
zone on private lands varies from mature stands of conifers to bare streambanks. Most of the
private riparian is dominated by hardwoods and young conifers. Riparian areas on federal lands
are generally in better condition than private, but still have been affected by past practices such as
mining and timber harvest.
On National Forest lands in the watershed, Riparian Reserves with perennial streams are
dominated by sapling/pole (43%) and small (23%) size trees. The Riparian Reserves of these
streams on BLM lands appear similar based on GIS images generated by the Forest Service
(USDA; USDI 1997), but BLM data indicate that perennial stream Riparian Reserves on BLM
lands are dominated by small trees (51%) and shrubs (18%), and have almost no sapling/pole
acreage (2%).
The amount of water allowed to flow from the source to the West Fork Illinois River strongly
influences the usefulness of streams to aquatic species. During low flow periods, water
withdrawals can determine the absence/presence of many aquatic species.
d) Specialized/Sensitive Habitats
Special and unique habitats include the following: 1) naturally scarce habitats (caves, springs,
mineral licks, etc.) 2) rare habitats resulting from human influence on the environment (low
elevation old-growth, oak/grasslands, etc.) 3) rare habitats due to the influence of natural cycles
(snags, meadow production, bogs, etc.). Often, these habitats receive a greater level of use by
wildlife than surrounding habitats, or are essential for certain aspects of a particular animal's life
history ( e.g ., hibernation).
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed contains a number of unique habitats. The continued
maintenance of these habitats will determine the presence of many sensitive species. Relevant
sensitive habitats are discussed below.
42
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Late successional forests and habitat are characterized by different stand conditions. For
example, late successional forests include all forest stands greater than 80 years old. Vegetation
class descriptions relate simply to average tree diameter. They do not take into consideration
many of the attributes that typify late succession habitats such as downed material, snags and
understory structure which are not always present in 80+ year stands.
According to the vegetation condition class summary for the watershed, mature forests comprise
approximately 1,020 acres of BLM lands. This represents approximately 1% of the 76,932 acre
watershed and 18% of the BLM lands in the watershed. On non-federal lands, mature forests
comprise approximately 1,247 acres and represent approximately 2% of the 76,932 acre
watershed and 8% of total non-federal lands in the watershed.
In comparison, late-successional habitat is characterized by a multi-storied canopy, high canopy
closure (>60%), large trees, snags and large down logs. For the purposes of this analysis, late-
successional habitat will be considered to include those areas that have been rated as McKelvey
#1 spotted owl habitat. Based on this, there are only 69 acres of BLM and private lands
considered late-successional habitat in the watershed.
Over time, mature (>80 years) forested habitats acquire additional characteristics which lead to
more complex and older forests. Unique forest attributes may be found at different ages,
indicating it may be valuable to identify age classes within the watershed at additional scales,
including 80-150 years, 150-200 years, and greater than 200 years.
For example, at 80 years, a forest will not have the complexity or diversity characteristics of an
older forest. At approximately 150 years, forests enter a transition stage which more closely
typifies an old growth condition, with canopy gaps developing as a result of the death of some
large trees, understory trees forming multiple canopy layers, and subsequent accumulation of
large woody material (FEMAT 1993). Disturbances such as insects, disease, wind, and fire also
contribute to patchy openings.
Due to the wide variety of niches, mature and old growth forests have a greater diversity of
wildlife species than do younger forested stands. The size of these forest patches and their
connectivity largely determine their suitability for many wildlife species such as the American
marten ( Martes americana ) and northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis).
Small, fragmented stands may offer refugia for species with limited home ranges, but do not
provide optimal habitat for species with larger home ranges. Large stands (>80 acres) are very
important contributors to maintaining the biodiversity of the watershed. Isolated patches of old-
growth habitat may also be too small to support the maximum diversity of species. In heavily
fragmented environments, larger predators that naturally occur at low densities are lost first
(Harris and Gallagher 1989).
On BLM lands in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed, late-successional habitat/old growth
forest patches occur infrequently and their distribution is fragmented. Past management
activities such as timber harvesting, mining, agriculture and home developments have reduced
43
III. Current Condition
WesCFori^llinote
the current quantity and distribution of late-successional habitat. Additionally, serpentine
derived soils occurring throughout the watershed are not capable of producing late-successional
habitat suitable for species such as the spotted owl.
Poor distribution reduces the value of forest patches for species associated with late
succession/old growth interior forest habitat. This is particularly true for species with low
dispersal capabilities such as the red tree vole and the Del Norte salamander.
Irregular shapes and small size patches increase the amount of edge associated habitat within a
stand. This has created unsuitable habitat conditions for many late-successional forest-dependent
species. Stands with a great deal of edge no longer function as interior forest and do not provide
suitable habitat for species sensitive to edge effects. The micro-climatic changes of the "edge
effect" can be measured up to three tree lengths in the interior of the stand (Chen 1991).
Compared to species associated with early successional stages, species that depend on late-
successional forests are often poor dispersers and are more vulnerable to extinction in fragmented
landscapes (Noss 1992). This is particularly true for flightless species such as the fisher ( Martes
pennanti). Fishers are reluctant to travel through areas lacking overhead cover (Maser et al.
1981) and are at risk for genetic isolation. Species that are more mobile, such as the spotted owl,
may be capable of dispersing into isolated patches of habitat, but run a high risk of predation
when crossing areas of unsuitable habitat.
Among the explanations for these declines is the belief that an area effect occurs, in which
certain interior dwelling bird species fail to breed because the available breeding habitat is too
small. Larger habitat blocks therefore may provide an important habitat function in serving as a
“source” for breeding birds, when there is enough suitable habitat to recruit new individuals into
the populations faster than individuals are lost.
Meadows within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed are typically associated with the valley
floor and serpentine influenced soils. Earlier in the century, many natural meadows were
converted to agricultural land by homesteaders. Due to the disruption of the natural fire cycle,
the current most significant threat to this habitat is tree encroachment. Meadows are the primary
habitat for a number of species such as California vole ( Microtus califomicus ) and the western
pocket gopher ( Thomomys mazama) and are the primary feeding location for species such as the
great grey owl (Strix nebulosa ) and the American black bear ( Ursus americanus).
Big game winter range in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed is in poor condition due to
fire exclusion. As plants become older, they lose their nutritional value, become woody and less
palatable, and often form dense impenetrable stands which impede the ability of animals to
browse. This is particularly true of buckbrush ( Ceanothus cuneatus ), an important forage plant.
Winter range is defined as land found below 2,000 feet in elevation, but may extend higher in
elevation on southern exposed slopes. Ideally, these areas offer a mixture of thermal cover,
hiding cover and forage. Historically, the valley floor and adjacent slopes served as winter range
for deer and elk. Much of the winter range has had an absence of fire for more than 50 years.
44
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Dispersal corridors aid in gene pool flow, natural reintroduction and successful pioneering of
species into previously unoccupied habitat. Animals disperse across the landscape for a number
of reasons including food, cover, mates, refuge, and to locate unoccupied territories. The vast
majority of animals must move during some stage of their life cycle (Harris and Gallagher 1989).
Dispersal corridors provide hiding and resting cover. Dispersal and migration are key processes
for wildlife within and through the watershed. This process is highly dependent on quality,
quantity and spatial distribution of appropriate habitat through time. Species habitat
requirements vary greatly and a single dominant vegetative structure will not meet the needs of
all species.
Migration can occur at a localized level or at a regional level. Species migrating through the
watershed on a regional level include animals as diverse as insects, bats and birds. Localized
migration allows for species to take advantage of foraging opportunities and cover during
inclement conditions. Localized dispersal of species is critical for ensuring gene flow and
repopulation of uncolonized habitat.
Generally, dispersal corridors are located in saddles, low divides, ridges, and along Riparian
Reserves. Without such corridors, many isolated wildlife habitats would be too small to support
the maximum diversity of species. Numerous ridgelines within the watershed allow for localized
dispersal as well as regional dispersal. Dispersal between drainages is also accomplished
through low divides.
Because they often provide late-successional habitat, Riparian Reserves serve as important
dispersal corridors across the landscape. However, on BLM lands in the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed, riparian reserves are characterized by conditions not capable of providing late-
successional habitat. On BLM lands, only 183 acres of Riparian Reserve are considered capable
of supporting late-successional habitat and of this only 44 acres are currently represented by
stands with an average diameter >21".
At a landscape level, the watershed provides important connectivity between Late-Successional
Reserves. The connection from the Cascades to the Coast Range along the Siskiyou crest was
assumed to connect to the southern Siskiyou National Forest. This area of the Siskiyou National
Forest is largely serpentine soil which is ineffective at producing dense conifer stands or
characteristic spotted owl dispersal habitat of 1 1" average trees and a 40% canopy closure.
A spotted owl meta-population is more likely to persist if genetic interchange occurs between
spotted owls within reserved areas and between ecological provinces (Thomas et al. 1990).
Spotted owls are known to disperse through a wide variety of forest types, although their success
can vary greatly depending on the condition of the forest. The more closely their dispersal route
vegetation resembles suitable habitat the more likely spotted owls will successfully complete the
journey (Thomas et al. 1990).
45
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Some examples of areas that provide dispersal habitat include the following:
T40S-R8W-Section 9 - This section provides riparian habitat connected to the Illinois River and
extending to the northeast.
T41S-R9W-Section 12 and T41S-R9W-Section 13 - These two 40 acres sites include mature
forest habitat located on ridges adjacent to Forest Service lands and allow for dispersal to riparian
habitat on private lands.
T40S-R8W-Section 21 - The upper 40 acres (01-001) provides ridge top habitat connected to
Logan Cut and BLM lands to the north.
T40S-R8W-Section 20 - The lower 40 acres is (01-001) part of a more extensive ridge system
that provides dispersal opportunities to the north. Although small, the upper 40 acres is
connected to riparian habitat associated with the Illinois River.
T41S-R9W-Section 15 - The northwest comer of this section (01-001 and 01-003) provides
riparian habitat associated with Blue Creek.
T41S-R8W-Section 10 - The southeast comer of this section (01-003) provides riparian habitat
associated with Blue Creek.
Within the watershed, many of the key "flow" locations have the potential to support older forest,
but currently do not due to past management activities and other disturbance. Other remaining
blocks of older forest that contiguously run from the valley floor to the higher mountain ridges
allow for "the elevator effect" which permits for seasonal dispersal for late-successional species.
Dispersal and migration can occur at a localized level or at a regional level. On a regional level,
species migrating through the watershed include organisms as diverse as insects, bats and birds.
Localized migration allows for species to take advantage of foraging opportunities and cover
during inclement conditions. Localized dispersal of species is critical for insuring gene flow and
repopulation of uncolonized habitat.
Oak woodlands/savannahs are a rich resource providing nesting habitat, mast crop production,
big game wintering range and sheltered fawning areas. Due to the exclusion of fire, many of
these areas have been encroached by conifers. Federally administered stands of oak/grasslands
are scattered throughout the watershed.
Mine adits play a critical role in the life history of many animals, providing shelter from
environmental extremes, seclusion and darkness. Mines are the primary habitat for species such
as the Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii), a ROD buffer species and Bureau-
Sensitive species. Other species such as the bushy-tailed woodrat (Neotoma cinerea) and the
cave cricket (Ceuthophilus spp.) use caves as their primary residence. These sites are also used
seasonally for a number of species such as ringtails, roost sites for bats and den sites for
porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). A number of mine adits are located on BLM lands within the
46
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
watershed. Recreational use of mines limits their value for wildlife and displaces easily
disturbed species.
Deer fawning areas are critical for successful maintenance of deer populations. Key components
include quality forage, water, cover, and gentle warm slopes. These areas should be free from
human disturbance. Fawning areas on federally-administered lands are found in many small
meadows scattered throughout the watershed, and in areas with southern exposures. On private
lands throughout the watershed, fawning areas can be found. However, disturbance and
development have influenced the quality of these sites.
2) Wildlife Species
The high diversity of soil types and consequent vegetative communities and habitats in the West
Fork Illinois River Watershed potentially provides for a wide variety of animal species.
Relatively few formal surveys for wildlife have actually been conducted in the watershed.
Distribution, abundance, and presence for the majority of species are unknown.
As many as 1 1 species of bats, 12 species of amphibians, 18 species of reptiles, hundreds of
species of birds, and many thousands of species of insects may occur here. Some species of
concern potentially occurring within the watershed include cavity nesters, band-tailed pigeons,
and neotropical migrant birds. All but three indigenous mammals (grizzly bear, wolf and
wolverine) are thought to have the potential to occur in the watershed.
Of the 46 special status species potentially occurring in the watershed, most are associated with
older forest habitats. However, other important habitats include riparian, oak stands, meadows,
pine savannahs and special habitats such as caves, cliffs and talus (see Chapter V, Synthesis and
Interpretation, for habitat trends).
The NFP has identified additional "Survey and Manage" wildlife species that may occur in the
watershed. Federal agencies are responsible for the active management of special status species
and their habitats and Survey and Manage species and their habitat. The following special status
protection categories serve as guidelines for special status species management and their habitats.
Listed and proposed listed species are those species that have been formally listed under the
Endangered Species Act by the USFWS as endangered or threatened or officially proposed for
listing. The goal is to enhance or maintain critical habitats and increase populations of
threatened and endangered species on federal lands. This goal also includes restoration of
species to historic ranges consistent with approved recovery plans and federal land use plans after
consultation with federal and state agencies.
Survey and Manage species were identified as needing special management attention by the
Northwest Forest Plan in Table C-3 (USDA, USDI 1994c; SEIS 2001). (Note: updates to this list
have occurred since this time.) These species must be managed at known sites and located prior
to disturbing activities (Survey Strategy 1 & 2). Some species listed in the NFP need to be
inventoried extensively, and, if identified, some of these sites need to be managed (Survey
47
III. Current Condition
^ tte/sbecMna/^/s
Strategy 3). A regional survey would be conducted on Survey Strategy 4 species.
Candidate and Bureau-Sensitive species are federal or state candidates and those species
considered by the BLM to be of concern in becoming federal candidates. The goal is to manage
their habitat to conserve and maintain populations of candidate and Bureau-sensitive species at a
level that will avoid endangering species and the need to list any species by either state or federal
government as threatened or endangered or threatened.
State listed species and their habitats are listed under the Oregon Endangered Species Act.
Conservation will be designed to assist the state in achieving their management objectives.
Bureau-Assessment species are those species considered by the state BLM office as important
species to monitor and manage, but not on as crucial a level as candidate or Bureau-sensitive
species. The goal is to manage where possible so as not to elevate their status to any higher level
of concern.
BLM tracking species are not currently special status species, but their locations are tracked
during surveys to assess future potential needs for protection.
a) Special Status Species
In this watershed, the northern spotted owl is the only species listed under the Endangered
Species Act known to reproduce in the area. There are also Bureau-Sensitive species, ROD
buffer species, as well as Survey and Manage species that occur in the watershed. (NFP, C-49).
Tables HI-10 and D3-11 list known and potential special status species found in the watershed,
along with status and level of survey as of May 1999. This list includes species listed under the
ESA, proposed for listing, and candidate species being reviewed by the USFWS. State listed
species as well as Bureau assessment species and species listed in the ROD as "Buffer" species
are also listed. (For more information on this list and habitat needs see appendix section.)
Table III-10: West Fork Illinois River Watershed Special Status Species (Vertebrates)
Common Name
Scientific Name
Presence
Status
Survey Level (5/99)
Gray wolf
Canis lupus
absent
FE.SE
none to date
White-footed vole
Aborimus albipes
unknown
BT.SU
none to date
Red tree vole
Aborimus longicaudus
present
BS
limited surveys
California red tree vole
Aborimus porno
unknown
BS
none to date
Fisher
Martes pennanti
suspected
BS.SC
none to date
California wolverine
Gulo gulo luteus
unknown
BS.ST
none to date
American marten
Martes americana
unknown
BT.SV
none to date
Ringtail
Bassacriscus aslutus
present
BT.SU
none to date
Peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
suspected
BS.SE
none to date
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
seasonally
FT.ST
none to date
48
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-10: West Fork Illinois River Watershed Special Status Species (Vertebrates)
Common Name
Scientific Name
Presence
Status
Survey Level (5/99)
Northern spotted owl
Strix occidentlis
present
FT,ST
limited surveys
Northern goshawk
Accipiter gentilis
suspected
BS,SC
limited surveys
Mountain quail
Oreortyx pictus
present
BT,SU
none to date
Pileated woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
present
BT,SV
none to date
Lewis’ woodpecker
Melanerpes lewis
unknown
BS,SC
none to date
White-headed woodpecker
Picoides albolarvatus
unknown
BS.SC
none to date
Flammulated owl
Otus flammeolus
unknown
BS,SC
limited surveys
Purple martin
Progne subis
unknown
BS.SC
none to date
Great gray owl
Strix nebulosa
unknown
BT.SV
limited surveys
Western bluebird
Sialia mexicana
present
BT.SV
none to date
Acorn woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
suspected
BT
none to date
Tricolored blackbird
Agelaius tricolor
unknown
BA.SP
none to date
Black-backed woodpecker
Picoides arcticus
unknown
BS.SC,
none to date
Northern pygmy owl
Glaucidium gnoma
present
BS.SC
limited surveys
Grasshopper sparrow
Ammodramus savannarum
unknown
BT.SP
none to date
Bank swallow
Riparia riparia
migratory
BT.SU
none to date
Townsend's big-eared bat
Corynorhinus townsendii
present
BS.SC
none to date
Fringed myotis
Myotis thysanodes
suspected
BT.SV
none to date
Yuma myotis
Myotis yumanensis
suspected
BT
none to date
Long-eared myotis
Myotis evotis
suspected
BT.SU
none to date
Long-winged myotis
Myotis volans
suspected
BT.SU
none to date
Silver-haired bat
Lasionycterus noctivagans
suspected
BT.SU
none to date
Pacific pallid bat
Antrozous pallidus
unknown
BT.SV
none to date
Western pond turtle
Clemmys marmorata
present
BS.SC
incidental sightings
Foothills yellow-legged frog
Rana boylii
suspected
BT.SV
none to date
Red-legged frog
Rana aurora
unknown
BT.SV
none to date
Clouded salamander
Aneides ferreus
present
BT.SU
limited surveys
Southern torrent salamander
Rhyacotriton variegatus
unknown
BT.SV
limited surveys
Black salamander
Aneides flavipunctatus
suspected
BA.SP
limited surveys
Sharptail snake
Contia tenuis
suspected
BT.SV
none to date
California mountain kingsnake
Lampropeltis zonata
present
BT.SV
incidental sightings
Common kingsnake
Lampropeltis getulus
present
BT.SV
incidental sightings
Northern sagebrush lizard
Sceloporus graciosus
unknown
BT
none to date
Tailed frog
Ascaphus truei
suspected
BT.SV
none to date
STATUS ABBREVIATIONS: FE-Federal Endangered SC-ODFW Critical SM-Survey and Manage
FT-Federal Threatened SV-ODFW Vulnerable BT-Bureau Tracking FP-Federal Proposed
SP--ODFW Peripheral or Naturally Rare BS--Bureau Sensitive FC--Federal Candidate
SU— ODFW Undetermined SE-State Endangered ST— State Threatened
49
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-ll: West Fork Illinois River Watershed Special Status Species (Invertebrates)
Common Name
Presence
Status
Survey Level (as of 5/97)
Burnells' false water penny beetle
unknown
BT
none to date
Denning's agapetus caddisfly
unknown
BT
none to date
Green Springs Mtn. farulan caddisfly
unknown
BT
none to date
Schuh's homoplectran caddisfly
unknown
BT
none to date
Obrien rhyacophilan caddisfly
unknown
BS
none to date
Siskiyou caddisfly
unknown
BT
none to date
Alsea ochrotichian micro caddisfly
unknown
BT
none to date
Franklin's bumblebee
unknown
BS
none to date
Oregon pearly mussel
unknown
BS
none to date
BS = Bureau Sensitive BT=Bureau Tracking
b) Survey and Manage Species
Tables HI- 12 presents the species that are to be protected through Survey and Manage guidelines
as outlined in the NFP. This table also describes the level of protection and the amount of
surveys conducted to date. It is suspected that the current late-successional reserve network will
not meet the needs of these species, such that further restrictions within matrix lands are
necessary to ensure long-term viability of their populations. All known sites will receive some
level of immediate protection.
Table III-12: Survey and Manage Species & Buffer Species
Species
Presence
Protection Level
White-headed woodpecker*
(Pico ides albolarvatus)
unknown
On matrix land no cutting snags 20" DBH or over. Maintain green
trees to provide for 100% population potential.
Black-backed woodpecker*
(Picoides pubescens)
unknown
On matrix land no cutting snags 20" DBH or over. Maintain green
trees to provide for 100% population potential.
Flammulated owl*
(Otus flammeolus)
unknown
On matrix land no cutting snags 20" DBH or over. Maintain green
trees to provide for 100% population potential.
Great gray owl @
(Strix nebulosa)
unknown
1/4 mile protection zone around nest sites, survey prior to activities,
300-foot buffers of meadow and natural openings.
Red tree vole®
(Aborimus porno)
present
Survey prior to activities and manage known sites with 10 acre buffer.
* = Buffer species; @ = Survey and Manage species
c) Threatened or Endangered Species
Northern Spotted Owl (Threatened) - On BLM lands within this watershed, there are no
spotted owl cores and no documented spotted owl nests. It is likely that BLM lands within the
watershed are used for foraging and dispersal. None of the BLM lands within this watershed
have been allocated as Critical Habitat for the northern spotted owl or as Late-successional
Reserve by the U.S. Fish and Wild Service (USFWS). Within the watershed, surveys for
50
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
northern spotted owls have been conducted since the mid-1970s. However, many of these early
surveys were opportunistic. After 1985, surveys were required prior to proposed management
activities and the level of surveys became more consistent.
The USFWS uses thresholds for suitable habitat around spotted owl sites as ah indication of a
site's viability and productivity. Thresholds have been defined as 50% of the area within 0.7 mile
of the center of activity (approximately 500 acres) and 40% of the area within 1.3 miles
(approximately 1,388 acres).
An effort was made by the BLM to classify the forest type using the McKelvey model. This
information was largely gathered through photo interpretation, ground truthing and roadside
reconnaissance. This endeavor provides a fairly accurate depiction of the status of BLM lands.
The McKelvey Rating System is based on a model that predicts spotted owl population based on
habitat availability. Stands were examined for criteria such as canopy layering, canopy closure,
snags, woody material and other features. Biological potential of a stand to acquire desired
conditions is also taken in consideration. The McKelvey Rating System is as follows:
Class 1- Spotted owl nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat
2- Spotted owl roosting and foraging
3- Currently does not meet 1 or 2 criteria
4- Will never meet 1 or 2 criteria
5- Currently does not meet 1 or 2, but meets dispersal
6- Will never meet 1 or 2 but meets dispersal
The BLM portion of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed has 5,644 acres (7% of the
watershed). There are 751acres of BLM land classified as suitable spotted owl roosting and
foraging habitat (McKelvey rating #1 and #2). The largest patches are found in the following
locations: R8W,T40S, Section 5, R8W,T40S, Section 9, R9W,T41S, Sections 10 and 15. On
private land within the watershed, there are no acres meeting the criteria for a McKelvey 1 rating.
There are 810 acres on private land meeting the criteria for a McKelvey 2 rating.
Dispersal habitat for spotted owls is defined as stands that have a canopy closure of 40% or
greater, and are open enough for flight and predator avoidances. In the watershed, there are
currently 758 acres of BLM land and 4,298 acres of private land functioning as dispersal habitat
for the northern spotted owl (McKelvey #5 and #6). Except where sites are heavily influenced by
serpentine, this habitat is scattered throughout the watershed.
51
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-13: McKelvey Rating Classes for the West Fork Illinois River Watershed
McKelvey
Class
BLM Lands
Non-federal Lands
BLM + Non-federal Lands
Acres
Percent in
watershed
Acres
Percent in
watershed
Acres
Percent in
watershed
1
69
0.1%
0
0
69
0.1%
2
682
1%
810
1%
1492
2%
3
765
1%
4882
6%
5647
7%
4
3369
4%
6465
8%
9834
13%
5
758
1%
4298
6%
5056
7%
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
*This information was collected during the summer of 1997, and may not reflect current condition. Federal acres managed by the Forest Service
are not included in this table.
Marbled murrelet (threatened) critical habitat was designated by the USFWS in May 1996.
Although no land within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed was identified as critical habitat,
federal agencies are still responsible for determining absence/presence in suitable habitat within
50 miles of the coast. There are no known nest locations within the watershed.
Nesting habitat for the marbled murrelet consists of older forested stands with trees that have
large moss-covered limbs and high (70+%) canopy closure. This habitat is further defined by its
distance from the coast. Based on BLM inventory data information and field verification of
McKelvey rating, approximately 69 acres of suitable marbled murrelet habitat are found on lands
managed by the BLM in the watershed. This land, for the most part, corresponds with spotted
owl suitable/optimal habitat (McKelvey #1).
It is unknown if the stands within the watershed that contain components for marbled murrelet
would be used by them. These sites are generally warmer and drier then those lands located
closer to the coast that are occupied by nesting murrelets. The BLM has conducted some surveys
in proposed project areas and have not detected these birds.
Bald Eagle (Threatened) - At this time, there are no known nest sites documented within the
watershed. Bald eagles are likely present in the watershed at least seasonally. The area along the
river represents potentially suitable winter habitat. Nesting habitat may occur on mature forests
within sight of the river. Preferred nesting habitat consists of older forests, generally near water,
with minimal human disturbance.
52
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
d) Other Species of Concern
Peregrine falcons nest on ledges located on cliff faces. There are no known historic or current
peregrine falcon nests within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed.
Neotropical migratory birds are known to inhabit the West Fork Illinois River Watershed.
Neotropical migrants are species of birds that winter south of the Tropic of Cancer and breed in
North America.
More then twenty years of Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS), Breeding Bird Census (BBC), Winter
Bird Population Study, and Christmas Bird Counts indicate that many species of birds are
declining precipitously. This is particularly true for birds that use mature and old-growth forest
either in the tropics, in North America or both (DeSante & Burton 1994). Rates of decline are
well documented for birds on the east coast of North America, and less so on the west coast.
In 1992 the BLM signed a multi-agency agreement called "Partners in Flight." The purpose of
this program is to establish a long-term monitoring effort to gather demographic information.
This monitoring will establish the extent that deforestation and forest fragmentation have on
temperate breeding bird populations.
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed contains a number of neotropical migrants that utilize
various habitats. Studies conducted on the Medford District have found that they comprise
between 42% and 47% of the breeding species occurring in lower elevation forests dominated by
Douglas-fir (Janes 1993). In higher elevation forests dominated by white fir, neotropical
migrants are less abundant contributing to a smaller portion of the bird species present.
For neoptropical migrants, habitats of particular concern include valley brush fields, old-growth,
riparian, and oak woodland communities. As a management consideration, it is important to
remember that, depending on the season, neotropicals often use more than one habitat type.
Overall, 46% of neotropical migrants are habitat generalists using four or more habitat types,
while 34% are habitat specialists utilizing only one or two habitats.
53
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-14: Potential Neotropical Birds in West Fork Illinois River Watershed
COMMON NAME
PRESENCE
TREND*
Green-winged teal
present
insufficient data
Sora
present
insufficient data
Turkey vulture
present
decline
Osprey
present
stable or increasing
Flammulated owl
unknown
insufficient data
Common nighthawk
present
insufficient data
Rufous hummingbird
present
decline
Calliope hummingbird
unknown
insufficient data
Western kingbird
present
insufficient data
Ash-throated flycatcher
present
insufficient data
Western wood-pewee
present
decline
Olive-sided flycatcher
present
decline
Hammond's flycatcher
present
insufficient data
Dusky flycatcher
present
insufficient data
Pacific-slope flycatcher
present
insufficient data
Vaux's swift
present
decline
Tree swallow
present
insufficient data
Northern rough-winged swallow
present
insufficient data
Violet-green swallow
present
decline
Cliff swallow
present
insufficient data
Bam swallow
present
decline
House wren
present
insufficient data
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
present
insufficient data
Swainson's thrush
present
decline
Solitary vireo
present
insufficient data
Warbling vireo
present
insufficient data
Townsend’s warbler
present
insufficient data
Hermit warbler
present
insufficient data
Black-throated gray warbler
present
insufficient data
Nashville warbler
present
insufficient data
Macgillivray’s warbler
present
insufficient data
Yellow warbler
present
insufficient data
Orange-crowned warbler
present
decline
Common yellowthroat
present
stable/increase
Yellow-breasted chat
present
insufficient data
Wilson's warbler
present
decline
54
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-14: Potential Neotropical Birds in West Fork Illinois River Watershed
COMMON NAME
PRESENCE
TREND*
Brownheaded cowbird
present
stable/increase
Northern oriole
present
decline
Western tanager
present
decline
Chipping sparrow
suspected
decline
Green-tailed towhee
present
stable/increase
Black-headed grosbeak
present
stable/increase
Lazuli bunting
present
insufficient data
* Based on information from Partners in Flight in Oregon and might not necessarily represent nationwide Figures.
Unusual sightings - The rocky terrain and mine shafts found within the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed provide suitable habitat for ringtails. These nocturnal animals are frequently seen
along river corridors, though there are no confirmed sightings in this watershed.
Game species within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed include: blacktailed deer, black
bear, mountain lion, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, grey squirrels, mountain and valley
quail. The watershed is located in the Chetco Game Management Unit. Management of game
species are the responsibility of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The entire
watershed is open to hunting during the appropriate season for game species. Information from
the ODFW indicates that blacktailed deer populations are stable overall and meeting department
goals. Elk are not known to occur in the watershed.
Black bear populations are extremely hard to monitor due to their secretive nature. The
population in the watershed appears to be stable. Corresponding with an overall increase in their
population, cougar sightings in the watershed have increased
Grouse and quail populations are cyclic and largely influenced by weather. Long-term trends
appear to be stable. Wild turkeys have been introduced and populations appear to be expanding.
In general, game species are generalists that benefit from edge habitats. Past land management
practices both on private and federal lands have increased the overall amount of forest edge
within the watershed. At the same time, road density has also increased. Roads affect the
suitability of all habitat types. Studies have shown that high road densities have negative affects
on deer and elk populations, and lead to increased poaching opportunities. Unroaded areas offer
key refugia for deer and other game species.
Band-tail pigeons ( Columba fasciata) are known to occur in the watershed. Throughout their
range, they have shown a precipitous decline in population since monitoring began in the 1950's
(Jarvis et al. 1993). These birds are highly prized as a game species and restrictive hunting
regulations have not led to an increase in bird populations. Habitat alteration due to intense
forestry practices may partially explain their decrease in population (Jarvis et al. 1993).
55
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Band-tail pigeons are highly mobile and utilize many forest habitat types. Preferred habitat
consists of large conifers and deciduous trees interspersed with berry and mast producing trees
and shrubs. In the spring and fall, large flocks migrate through the watershed. The birds use
higher elevation habitats to feed on blue elderberries, manzanita berries, and Pacific madrone
berries. Fire exclusion has adversely impacted these food sources.
Cavity dependent species such as western bluebirds and northern pygmy owls (Glaucidium
gnoma) are of special concern. Past silviculture has degraded habitat for these species which use
snags and downed logs. In areas previously harvested, silviculture focused on even-aged stands
which are typically deficit in snags and down logs. Fire suppression also reduced the amount of
snags in the watershed. Fires, insects and other disturbance are important generators of snags.
Species associated with habitat generated from disturbance events have also declined.
Exotic species have become established in the watershed and compete with native species for
food, water, shelter and space. Bullfrogs ( Rana catesbeiana ) compete with native frogs and
consume young western pond turtles ( Clemmys mannorata). Opossums ( Dedelphis virginiana )
occupy a similar niche with native stripped skunks {Mephitis mephitis ) and raccoons ( Procoyon
lotor). They also consume young birds, amphibians and reptiles. Other introduced species
include European starlings ( Stumus vulgaris ), ring-necked pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus ) and
turkeys {Meleagris gallopavo). These species can negatively impact native flora and fauna.
Table 111*15: Federal Habitat Trends for Species of Concern
Common Name
Habitat
Habitat Trends expected
within the Watershed
Grey wolf
Generalist, prefers remote areas
Decrease in the watershed
White-footed vole
Riparian alder/small streams
Increase as riparian areas recover from past disturbance
Red tree vole
Mature conifer forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
California red tree vole
Mature conifer forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Fisher
Mature conifer forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
California wolverine
Remote/high elevation forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
American marten
Mature conifer forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Ringtail
Rocky bluffs, caves and mines
Possible decrease as hard rock mines/quarries collapse or
reopen
Peregrine falcon
Remote rock bluffs
Stable
Bald eagle
Riparian/mature conifer forest
Possible increase as riparian areas recover from past
disturbance, decrease on matrix lands
Northern spotted owl
Mature conifer forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Marbled murrelet
Mature conifer forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Northern goshawk
Mature conifer forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Mountain quail
Generalist
Stable
Pileated woodpecker
Mature conifer forest/snags
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Lewis' woodpecker
Oak woodlands
Decrease until management strategy for oak woodlands
is implemented
56
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-15: Federal Habitat Trends for Species of Concern
Common Name
Habitat
Habitat Trends expected
within the Watershed
White-headed woodpecker
High elevation mature conifer forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Flammulated owl
Mature ponderosa pine/mature
Douglas-fir forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Purple martin
Forage in open areas near
water/cavity nesters
Increase as riparian areas recover and forests mature in
the LSR. Possible decrease in matrix.
Great grey owl
Mature forest for nesting / meadows
& open ground for foraging
In matrix, increase in foraging habitat and decrease in
nesting habitat. In LSR, decrease in foraging habitat and
increase in nesting habitat.
Western bluebird
Meadows/open areas
In LSR, decrease as clearcuts recover and meadows
become encroached with trees. In matrix, decrease until
management strategy for oak woodlands is implemented.
Acom woodpecker
Oak woodlands
Decrease until management strategy for oak woodlands is
implemented.
Tricolored blackbird
Riparian habitat/cattails
Stable/increase as riparian habitat recovers
Black-backed woodpecker
High elevation mature conifer forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Northern pygmy owl
Conifer forest/snags
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Grasshopper sparrow
Open savannah
Decrease until management strategy for savannah habitat
is implemented.
Bank swallow
Riparian
Increase as riparian habitat recovers
Townsend's big-eared bat
Mine adit/caves
Decrease as mines/quarries collapse or reopen and
human disturbance increases
Fringed myotis
Rock crevices/snags
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Silver-haired bat
Conifer forest
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Yuma myotis
Large trees/snags
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Long-eared myotis
Large trees/snags
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Long-legged myotis
Large trees/snags
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Pacific pallid bat
Large trees/snags/rock crevices
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Western pond turtle
Riparian/uplands
Increase as riparian habitat recovers
Foothills yellow-leg frog
Riparian/permanent flowing streams
Increase as riparian habitat recovers
Red-legged frog
Riparian/slow backwaters
Increase as riparian habitat recovers
Clouded salamander
Mature forest/snags/down logs
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Southern torrent
salamander (Variegated
salamander)
Riparian/cold permanent
seeps/streams
ncrease as riparian habitat recovers
Black salamander
Talus/down logs
Decrease in matrix, increase in LSR
Sharptail snake
Valley bottom
Stable
Calif. Mt. Kingsnake
Generalist
Stable
Common kingsnake
Generalist
Stable
Northern sagebrush lizard
Open brush stands
Decrease as meadows are encroached upon and increased
shrub canopy closure
Tailed frog
Riparian/mature forest
ncrease as riparian habitat recovers
57
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
3. Aquatic Habitats and Species
a. General
Within the Rogue River Basin, the Illinois River and its tributaries are important spawning and
rearing habitats for both anadromous and resident salmonids. The Illinois River constitutes a
significant portion of the remnant native wild fish population/habitat within the Rogue River
Basin. Thus, the Illinois River Watershed is believed to be the stronghold for wild anadromous
fish populations in the Rogue Basin.
The West Fork Illinois River Watershed comprises 20% of the Illinois River Sub-basin. There
are approximately 64 miles of perennial streams in the watershed (3rd order and larger). There is
an estimated 100 miles of intermittent streams (48 miles of 2nd order plus an unknown number of
1st order streams). Relative to salmonid production, the West Fork Illinois River Watershed is
less productive than the East Fork Illinois watershed. The watershed is dominated (54%) by
serpentine conditions, which are characterized by a lack of many of the attributes of optimal
salmonid habitat (USDA; USDI 1997). There are approximately 800 Riparian Reserve acres on
BLM land within the watershed. Approximately 80% of this area is comprised of white oak and
Jeffrey pine (serpentine influenced) plant series or unvegetated.
Large woody material contributes to riparian and stream habitat by providing shade and retention
of detritus for terrestrial and aquatic insects. Large woody material is important for creating the
habitat complexity needed to rear juvenile anadromous fish and to provide cover for adults
during migration. Stream meander is important for dissipating stream velocity and increasing
winter refuge habitat for juvenile fish, especially for coho salmon. Pool habitat is of particular
significance to juvenile salmon during all life stages of their life cycle. Adult and juvenile fish
production can also be limited by migration barriers such as road culverts. Yearling juvenile fish
can move miles within one watershed, especially during summer months when they seek cool
waters. Excessive sedimentation, especially if delivered at the wrong time intervals, can delay
adult migration and spawning and suffocate eggs in redds. Suspended sediment can cause gill
damage and secondary infections on overwintering juvenile fish which have been stressed from
the lack of sufficient overwinter habitat to allow escape from high water velocities.
Roads located next to streams can disconnect streams from the floodplain, impede stream
meander and act as heat sinks. Timber harvesting and the presence of roads accelerate surface
water runoff and erosion of sediment into the streams, resulting in decreased macroinvertebrate
and fish production. Logging roads produce the most sediment generated among forest
management practices. The density and length of logging road distribution can be major factors
in determining the level of sediment production.
Off-channel habitat areas in unconfined and lower gradient streams provide refuge areas for coho
salmon when they typically migrate downstream during the fall and winter when the habitat is
available. Juveniles will then leave winter habitat and migrate to sea at the end of their first year.
Properly functioning off-channel habitat areas have frequent active side-channels related to large
wood and geomorphology.
58
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
When under stress from water temperatures exceeding 70°F, salmonid fish populations may have
reduced fitness, greater susceptibility to disease, decreases growth and changes in time of
migration or reproduction.
The cumulative effects of management activities have been a substantial alteration of the timing
and quantity of erosion and changes in stream channels, both of which have affected fish
production. Streams and riparian areas on federal lands are in better condition than streams on
non-federal lands. ODFW attributes salmonid population declines within the West Fork Illinois
River Watershed to elevated water temperatures, increased sedimentation, water withdrawals,
natural lack of flow, passage obstructions, and loss of stream complexity and juvenile rearing
areas (USDA, USDI 1997). Public lands in the watershed play an important role in the survival
of salmonids as they provide cool water and large woody material to fish habitat lower in the
system, and provide refugia during summer months when water temperatures are lethal in the
valley segments.
b. Stream Habitat Conditions
Table HI- 16 summarizes stream habitat conditions for those Class I-IV streams where ODFW
protocol physical habitat surveys have been completed. The conditions are summarized based on
the ODFW habitat benchmark standards (Table HI- 17).
Table III-16: Class I-IV Stream Habitat Conditions
Stream
Fish
Bearing
(Y/N)
LWD
levels
Sediment levels
within spawning
gravels
Canopy
Closure
Pool
Freq.
Residual
Pool
Depth
Avg.
Gradient
(%)
Blue Creek
Y
U
A
D
U
U
7-11
Rough and Ready
Y
U
D
U
u
D
1
Elk Creek
Y
u
U
U
D
U
<3
Logan Cut
Y
u
U
D
U
u
7
Fry Gulch
Y
u
u
U
U
u
2
Whiskey Creek
Y
u
D
u
D
A
5
West Fork Illinois River
Y
u
U
u
D
A
0.5
U = Undesirable, A = Adequate, D = Desirable
Table III-17: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Benchmarks
Habitat Type
Undesirable (U)
Adequate (A)
Desirable (D)
LWD pieces / 100 m stream length
< 10
X
>20
Sediment Levels (% fines in spawning gravels)
>20
X
< 10
Canopy Closure (%)
<70
X
>75
Pool Frequency (Channel Widths Between Pools)
>20
X
5-8
Residual Pool Depth (m)
<0.5
X
> 1.0
59
III. Current Condition
Wes^Fori^llmoi^l^
Rough and Ready Creek is a fish-bearing tributary to West Fork Illinois River. Resident trout,
winter steelhead, coho and Chinook salmon are present 6.0 miles upstream of the confluence with
West Fork. The lower mile of the creek has a wide floodplain where the channel is highly
braided and flows are often subsurface. Boulders form pools and pocket water in the channel,
and instream woody material is almost completely absent in the lowest reach. Canopy closure
downstream of the north and south forks is very low, perhaps naturally, at less than 40%. Pool
frequency is undesirable in the lower reaches, although where present, residual pool depth is
frequently one meter or more. The description above applies to the mainstem of Rough and
Ready Creek which flows through BLM land only in the lower reach. A complete stream survey
and summary is presented in Version 1.0 of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis.
Whiskey Creek is a fish-bearing tributary to West Fork Illinois River. Resident trout are present
2.3 miles upstream of the confluence with West Fork. Winter steelhead are present one mile
upstream of the confluence. Boulders form pools and pocket water in the channel, and instream
woody material is almost completely absent in the lowest reach. Substantial scouring occurs
frequently, and sediment levels in the spawning gravels are adequate. Canopy closure is low,
perhaps naturally, at less than 40%. Pool frequency is desirable in the lower reaches, where the
creek is similar to West Fork at its confluence with Whiskey Creek. Average residual pool depth
in the lower reaches is adequate (<1.0 meter).
Elk Creek is a fish-bearing stream which is a tributary to West Fork Illinois River. Winter
steelhead, resident trout, and coho and Chinook salmon are found in the first 3.5 miles upstream
of the mouth. Elk Creek produces most of the coho spawned in the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed, which in turn accounts for an estimated 10% of the total coho production of the
Illinois River Sub-basin (USDA, USDI 1997). The average gradient of Elk Creek is < 3% in the
lower reaches and 11% in the upper reach, which lies in California. Within Oregon, Elk Creek
flows almost entirely through private land. A small section at the confluence with West Fork
Illinois is on BLM land. Instream wood is below benchmark standards. Sediment within the
spawning gravels is at undesirable levels, based on turbidity measured at 71 NTU (USDA, USDI
1997) and see Water Quality, Chapter 3 in this analysis). Canopy closure is below benchmark
standards. Pool frequency is at ODFW benchmark levels (62%), but average residual depth is
most likely below the benchmarks due to lack of instream woody material.
Blue Creek is a fish-bearing stream which flows into Elk Creek, a West Fork Illinois River
tributary. Winter steelhead and cutthroat trout are found in the first two miles upstream of the
mouth. The tailed frog, a vulnerable species, is present at least in the upper reaches of the creek.
The average gradient is 7% in the lower reaches and 1 1% in the upper reaches. Instream wood is
at an undesirably low level based on benchmark standards. Spawning gravel sediment is
adequate. Canopy closure is at desirable levels (>75%). Pool frequency and average residual
depth are most likely at undesirable levels due to scouring to bedrock and the lack of instream
woody material. Ten percent of the streambanks in Blue Creek are actively eroding.
Logan Cut Creek is a fish-bearing tributary to West Fork Illinois River. Logan Cut is an
historic mining diversion ditch that was constructed to convey water from the East Fork Illinois
60
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
River Watershed to the West Fork watershed. Coho are present approximately one mile
upstream from the connection to the West Fork, but use by other species is unrecorded. The
average stream gradient is 7 %. Instream wood levels are below desirable levels. There is a high
amount of sediment present throughout the stream, and 50% of the streambanks are actively
eroding. Canopy closure is at desirable levels (75%). Pool frequency is likely to be low and
average residual pool depth shallow as a result of the scarcity of instream wood large enough to
contribute to pool formation in the remnant trapezoidal channel.
Fry Gulch Creek is a fish-bearing tributary to West Fork Illinois River. Fry Gulch is an historic
mining area where a network of diversion ditches and ponds resulting from hydraulic mining are
present today. The perennial lower reach is on private land, and the seasonally flowing upper
section is on BLM land. Winter steelhead and Chinook salmon are present approximately 0.8
miles upstream from the connection to the West Fork, but use by other salmonid species is
unrecorded. In the portion of the creek on BLM land, warm water species such as green sunfish
(Lepomis cyanellus ) and smallmouth bass {Micropterus dolomieui ) are present. The average
stream gradient on the fish-bearing section is 2%, but upper sections are as steep as 10%.
Instream wood is almost absent at one piece per 100 meters. There is a high amount of sediment
(40%) present in the stream, though substrates are not embedded. Only 10 to 20% of the
streambanks are actively eroding. Canopy closure is at undesirable levels (<60%). Pool
frequency is low and average residual pool depth shallow as a result of the absence of instream
elements (woody material, boulders) large enough to contribute to pool formation.
West Fork Illinois River is an important fish-bearing tributary to the Illinois River (see Table
m-23 for fish distribution). However, the West Fork has been substantially altered through
excessive water withdrawal, channelization, overgrazing, loss of riparian vegetation, gravel
removal and mining operations. Six water diversions were found on the mainstem in a stream
survey completed by ODFW in 1994.
The average stream gradient of the lower reaches of West Fork Illinois is 0.5%. In the upper
reaches which are located on BLM land in Section 9, a gradient of 6% is more typical. There are
very low amounts of instream wood, with almost no key pieces. Sedimentation is at undesirable
levels with 29% of the riffle substrate composed of fine sediments. The proportion of actively
eroding banks is high, ranging from 20 to 55%. Riparian canopy closure is poor, ranging from
16 to 50%. The West Fork is 303(d) listed for summer temperatures, as the seven-day average
maximum stream temperature has exceeded the DEQ standard of 64 °F. (See Water
Quality/Temperature, Chapter 3). Pool frequency is at desired levels, ranging from 3.2 to 6.1
channel widths per pool. Average pool depth is adequate, approximately one meter.
c. Large Woody Material
Streams in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed typically have the same primary factors
limiting salmonid production: instream habitat complexity is lacking in large woody material key
pieces (greater than or equal to 24 inches in diameter with a length which is equal to or greater
than the bankfull width); stream shade less than 60%; and lack of mature trees, especially
conifers, >32 inches in diameter within 100 feet of the stream.
61
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Large wood is an important component of stream habitat. It plays a critical part in determining
the productivity of the stream. It is an important determinate of stream hydraulics, microsite
habitat conditions, feeding substrate, and pool and drop creation. The Southwest Oregon Late-
Successional Reserve Assessment (USDA-USDI 1995) has listed desirable minimum levels for
coarse woody material (outside of the stream channel) after stand-replacement (fire with timber
salvage) and non-stand replacement (commercial thinning) events. There is no LSR in the BLM
administered portion of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed. The reference above is cited
because the LSR standards, along with the ODFW benchmarks for instream conditions, may be
applied to Riparian Reserves.
Version 1.0 of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis (Results Summary) compares the
ability of serpentine and non-serpentine areas to provide the riparian and stream attributes listed
above. Streams in serpentine areas are naturally lacking many of the attributes characteristic of
salmonid habitat. Many of the streams on BLM land in this analysis are in serpentine areas.
They currently have inadequate levels of instream large woody material. However, the natural
levels of wood in these systems may be below ODFW standards. The ODFW benchmarks and
standards of other agencies as they apply to serpentine areas are currently under review.
d. Macroinvertebrates
Macroinvertebrate surveys were conducted on the West Fork of the Illinois River for BLM in
1998 by Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc. Macroinvertebrate health within the surveyed reaches
of the West Fork Illinois River is very low. The upstream survey site was immediately
downstream of the confluence with Whiskey Creek. At this site, the macroinvertebrate species
present indicate that the habitat and biotic integrity of the reach is low. The absence of long-
lived species shows that disturbance to substrate is high and that habitat complexity and
mechanisms for the retention of debris are lacking. The habitat is limiting for macroinvertebrate
production due to warm summer water temperatures, flashy flows and increased scour, high sun
exposure, and very low recruitment of deciduous detritus. The absence of cold water
macroinvertebrates indicates that the summer water temperatures are lethal to these invertebrate
species and non-supportive for salmonids.
The macroinvertebrate community present at the downstream site (Mendenhall Creek
confluence) is similar to the upstream site. The absence of long-lived and cold water species
indicates that summer water temperatures are non-supportive for salmonids. The abundance of
negative indicator species, those tolerant of degraded conditions, points to the same factors which
make the upstream site limiting for the production of macroinvertebrates. The downstream site
had moderate embeddedness of substrates and moderate presence of silt. This site is downstream
of both Wood and Elk Creeks, which are major sources of sediment to the West Fork. In
contrast, the upstream sampling reach is relatively free of silt and substrate embeddedness and
has less turbid flows.
There are many factors which have contributed to the low macroinvertebrate condition in these
62
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
reaches. The lack of large, instream wood decreases the ability of the stream to retain detritus
and nutrients upon which the macroinvertebrates are dependent. Additionally, without large
wood to dissipate energy from high peak flows, macroinvertebrate populations are vulnerable to
winter scour. Naturally flashy hydrology in serpentine areas probably has been magnified by the
impacts of historic mining, riparian alteration, and flooding on the West Fork.
Table III-18: Macroinvertel
Stream
)rate Condition on
Erosional Habitat
West Fork Illinois
Margin Habitat
River
Detritus Habitat
West Fork at Whiskey Creek
Very Low (37.1%)
Very Low (33.7%)
Very Low (32.3%)
West Fork at Mendenhall Creek
Very Low (29.8%)
Very Low (36.7%)
Very Low (29.2%)
Source: BLM surveys; 1998. For meaning of bioassessment scores see Table 111-19.
Table III-19: Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment Scores (Percent)
Bioassessment Score
Erosional Habitat
Margin Habitat
Detritus Habitat
Very High
90-100
90-100
90-100
High
80-89
80-89
80-89
Moderate
60-79
70-79
70-79
Low
40-59
50-69
50-69
Very Low
<40
<50
<50
Source: Aquatic Biology Associates 1998
e. Special Status Species
The coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) is the only federally listed (threatened) fish within the
West Fork Illinois River Watershed. There are several other special status species present within
the watershed whose habitat requirements are the same as those of coho salmon.
63
III. Current Condition
W/es^o^///no/^ le^Anal^si^
Table III-20: Summary of Environmental Factors and Potential Mechanisms of Mortality Affecting
Freshwater Habitat Capacity and Related Density-independent Survival (By Life Stage) of Coho Salmon
Life Stage
Factors affecting
population productivity
Potential mechanisms affecting survival
Egg to emergent fry
Substrate stability, amount of
fine sediment in spawning
gravels, spawning gravel
permeability, water
temperature, peak flows
High flow events cause loss of eggs due to streambed scour and
shifting; reduced flow and DO levels to eggs due to high
sedimentation cause increased mortality; high fine sediment levels
cause entombment of fry; increased temperatures advance
emergence timing, thereby affecting survival in next life stage;
anchor ice reduces water exchange in redd causing low DO levels
and/or eggs to freeze.
Emergent fry to
September parr
Flow dynamics during
emergence period, stream
gradient, number of sites
suitable for fry colonization,
predators, temperature1,
nutrient loading1
Loss of emergent fry occurs due to being displaced downstream by
high flows; advanced emergence timing causes fry to encounter
higher flows; high gradient and lack of suitable colonization sites
for emergent fry cause fry to move downstream increasing risk of
predation; stranding and excessive temperature promote disease and
cause mortality; temperature and nutrient changes affect growth
thereby affecting other causes of density-independent loss.
September parr to
smolt
Fall and winter flows, number
of accessible winter refuge
sites, temperature, predators
Displacement during high flows; stranding and death due to
dewatering; loss of predators; loss due to poor health associated
with winter conditions 1
1 Effects likely have both density-independent and dependent components. (adapted from NMFS 1997)
Table HI-21 lists special status and federally-threatened aquatic species in the West Fork Illinois
River Watershed.
Table 111*21: Special Status and Federally-Listed Aquatic Species
Species
Status
Steelhead
• Ruled not warranted for federal listing (4/01)
• Oregon Natural Heritage Program* (ONHP) Status List 1
• State of Oregon "vulnerable"
Chinook salmon
• Ruled not warranted for federal listing (9/99)
• Oregon Natural Heritage Program (ONHP) Status List 3
• State of Oregon “critical”
Cutthroat Trout
• Ruled not warranted for federal listing (4/99)
• Oregon Natural Heritage Program (ONHP) Status List 3
• State of Oregon “vulnerable"
Reticulate Sculpin
• Bureau Tracking in Washington
Coho salmon
• Federally Threatened All Stocks South of Cape Blanco
• Critical Habitat Designated
• Oregon Natural Heritage Program (ONHP) Status List 1
• State of Oregon "critical”
Pacific lamprey
• Federal category 2
* Oregon Natural Heritage Program (ONHP) Status:
List 1 : Taxa that are threatened with extinction or presumed to be extinct throughout their entire range
List 2: Taxa that are threatened with extirpation or presumed to be extirpated from the state of Oregon.
List 3: Species for which more information is needed before status can be determined, but which may be threatened
or endangered in Oregon or throughout their range.
List 4: Taxa which are of concern, but are not currently threatened or endangered^
64
III. Current Condition
Wes^orkJllinoi^Rive^^atershe^Anal^si^^^^^^^^^^^^^
f. Salmonid Distribution
Stream surveys have been conducted by ODFW and the USFS on many streams in the watershed
(USDA, USDI 1997). These surveys verify salmonid distribution. The results are presented in
Table EH-22.
Table III-22: Salmonid Distribution Within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed
(in miles)
Stream Name
Resident Trout
Steelhead
Coho Salmon
Chinook Salmon
Rough and Ready Creek
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
West Fork Illinois River
17.0
17.0
17.0
14.3
Broken Kettle Creek
ND
0.0
1.5
0.0
Dwight Creek
1.0
0.5
0.0
0.5
Blue Creek
2.0
2.0
ND
ND
Wood Creek
4.0
3.8
2.3
2.3
Parker Creek
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.5
Mendenhall Creek
0.0
1.3
1.3
1.3
Woodcock Creek
2.3
0.5
0.0
0.0
Whiskey Creek
2.3
1.0
0.0
0.0
Elk Creek
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.5
Fry Gulch
ND
0.8
ND
0.8
Logan Cut
ND
0.0
1.0
0.0
Trapper Gulch
2.4
2.4
0.3
0.0
Source: ODFW Fish Distribution Database
Anadromous salmonids present within the watershed are: fall Chinook ( Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha), coho salmon (O. kisutch ), and winter steelhead ( O . my kiss). These anadromous
species represent important fish populations within the ESUs (Evolutionarily Significant Unit) of
the province.
Resident salmonids within the watershed include rainbow trout ( O . mykiss) and cutthroat trout
(O. clarki). Other native fish species present within the watershed include Pacific lamprey
(Lampetra tridentata), Klamath smallscale sucker ( Catostomus rimiculus), and sculpin ( Cottidae
sp.). Non-native fish species found within the watershed include the redside shiner
(. Richardsonius balteatus), green sunfish, and smallmouth bass.
Both resident and anadromous salmonid population trends have been in decline for decades and
are considered to be at depressed population levels throughout the Illinois River basin (USDA;
USDI 1997). Historically, ODFW harvest data was the only measure of anadromous fish
population levels within the Illinois River basin. As a result of declining population levels,
ODFW presently prohibits trout fishing within the entire Illinois River basin.
Coho salmon within West Fork Illinois River Watershed are part of the Southern Oregon /
65
III. Current Condition
Wes^orl^llinoi^ive^N<^
Northern California Coho ESU, which was federally listed as threatened on May 6, 1997 (Fed.
Reg./Vol. 62, No. 87). The ESU includes all naturally spawned populations of coho salmon in
coastal streams between Cape Blanco, Oregon, and Punta Gorda, California. Most of the coho in
this ESU are in the Rogue River, with the largest remaining population in the Illinois River
(Stouder et al. 1997). Current summer water temperatures in the valley limit coho production
from reaching historical levels (USDA, USDI 1997). An estimated 10% of the coho in the
Illinois River Sub-basin are produced in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed. Elk Creek
produces most of these coho.
Habitat designated by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as critical to the recovery
of Southern Oregon/Northem California coho encompasses accessible reaches of all rivers
(including estuarine areas and tributaries) between the Mattole River in California and Elk River
in Oregon, inclusive. Critical habitat includes all waterways, substrate, and adjacent riparian
zones below long standing, naturally impassible barriers ( e.g ., natural waterfalls in existence for
at least several hundred years). Adjacent riparian zones have been redefined by NMFS as part of
critical habitat designation and are now based on a functional (rather than quantitative)
description. Based on NMFS criteria, critical habitat includes riparian areas that provide: shade;
sediment, nutrient or chemical regulations; stream bank stability; and large wood or organic
matter. It is important to note that habitat quality is intrinsically related to the quality of riparian
and upland areas and of inaccessible headwater or intermittent streams that provide key habitat
elements crucial for coho in downstream reaches. More detailed critical habitat information
(e.g., specific watersheds, migration barriers, habitat features, and special management
considerations) for this ESU can be found in the May 5, 1999 Federal Register notice.
Chinook salmon within the West Fork Illinois River are fall-run and belong to the Southern
Oregon and Northern California coastal chinook ESU, which was proposed for listing on March
9, 1998. In September 1999, NMFS identified this ESU as not warranted for listing under the
Endangered Species Act. USFS Regional Forester Robert Williams, however, designated
chinook salmon and other salmonids within the Pacific Northwest Region as sensitive for Forest
Service management purposes (FC 2670-1920; August 20, 1997).
Steelhead trout within the East Fork Illinois River belong to the Klamath Mountains Province
ESU, which was ruled not warranted for listing in April, 2001. Activities such as logging and
road building have impacted critical steelhead habitat along the southern Oregon coast where
watersheds are particularly unstable. The winter steelhead population in Illinois River has
declined based on catch records. Sports harvest declined from 2,500 fish in the 1970s to less
than 200 fish in 1992. Irrigation withdrawals have been a major impact to steelhead production
in the Illinois River basin. This was particularly severe during the recent drought.
Resident cutthroat and rainbow trout are distributed throughout many of the reaches of all
tributaries above and below anadromous fish barriers. The Southern Oregon / California Coasts
ESU of cutthroat trout was ruled not warranted for listing in April, 1999. The resident rainbow
population within Illinois River is sympatric with winter steelhead. The Illinois River trout
population appears to be much smaller than that observed in the 1950s.
66
III. Current Condition
Wes^od^Hinoi^liveiJ^aterst^
Pacific lamprey ( Lampetra tridentatus ) are anadromous and use West Fork Illinois River
tributaries for spawning. The juveniles rear in the tributaries until they are ready to migrate to
the ocean. Little is known about lampreys in the Rogue basin, although it is assumed their
distribution overlaps that of steelhead.
Reticulate sculpin ( Cottus perplexus) are found throughout the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed. Their range overlaps that of resident trout.
1
The speckled dace ( Rhinichthys osculus ) is a native fish found within the West Fork Illinois
River Watershed. Its range overlaps that of resident trout.
The Klamath small-scale sucker ( Catostomus rimiculus ) is the only species of sucker found
within the Rogue basin. They inhabit the Illinois River and spawn in tributaries in the spring.
Little is known about their distribution within the watershed.
Non-native fish - The redside shiner ( Richardsonius balteatus ) is an exotic species that
flourishes in the mainstem West Fork Illinois and in tributaries and irrigation ditches with
characteristically higher temperatures and lower flows than the upstream reaches. Redside
shiners were first identified in the lower Illinois River at the base of Illinois River falls in May
1960. These fish compete directly with juvenile salmonids and are able to reduce trout
production up to 54% in warm water (66.2° to 71.6°F) (Reeves 1987).
Non-native species such as sunfish and bass are found throughout the watershed in the mainstem
of West Fork Illinois and in lakes and ponds which provide relatively warm and slow-moving
water. The presence of these species in the watershed has been recorded by ODFW, and their
distribution throughout the watershed provides opportunities for recreational fishing.
g. Fish Passage Barriers
Fish barriers can be defined as any physical/chemical/biological factor that prohibits upstream or
downstream migration of juvenile or adult fish. Examples are dams, culverts, low water flow,
temperature, waterfalls, and predation.
On Rough and Ready Creek, five diversions are known, but only two of them currently act as a
barrier to fish passage. The two barriers, Seats Dam and Wing-Ferren Ditch, are described in the
first iteration of this watershed analysis (USDA; USDI 1997).
On Logan Cut, a culvert under BLM road #40-8-4(B) may be a partial barrier to anadromous fish.
No other passage barriers are known. However, a thorough blockage inventory has not been
conducted on BLM land in the watershed since the 1980s.
67
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
I. FIRE MANAGEMENT
Ecosystems are dynamic entities whose basic patterns and processes are shaped and sustained on
the landscape not only by natural successional processes, but also by abiotic disturbance such as
fire, drought, and wind. Such forces are often unpredictable temporally and spatially,
maintaining a mosaic of successional stages over natural communities, thus influencing the range
of natural variability of ecosystem structure, composition, and function (Kaufmann et al. 1994).
Fire as one of these forces is complex: the results are often not repeatable, and the conclusions
are often contradictory (Pyne 1996).
Fire has always played an integral part in the creation of the forest environment in the Pacific
Northwest (Agee 1981) as well as a significant and important part of shaping plant communities
in southwestern Oregon (Atzet and Wheeler 1982). Overall, the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed can be considered a fire-dependent ecosystem with numerous fire-adapted species of
plants and animals noted. Fires and ecosystems have interacted throughout time and as described
by Mutch (1994) fires provide:
• nutrient cycling
• plant succession and wildlife habitat regulation
• biological diversity
• reduced biomass
• insect and disease population control
When looking at the historic landscape, human development, and values placed on the landscape,
several elements of wildland fire should be considered. These elements include historic fire
regime, condition class, fire hazard, fire risk, and values at risk. All of these elements can play a
significant role in determining management direction for a given area.
Fire regimes are the manifestation of the biological, physical, climatic and anthropogenic
components of an ecosystem as reflected in the fire frequency (how often a fire occurs), fire
intensity (rate of energy released), fire size, seasonality (season of occurrence), and severity (type
of fire - e.g., crown, surface, ground). This is a relationship that perpetuates itself in a circular
and stable pattern. The biotic components are an expression of the fire regime which, in turn,
maintains the pattern and occurrence of fire. However, when any components of the ecosystem
are modified, the fire regime is prone to change.
Several classification and descriptions of fire regimes occur on a national and regional scale
(Heinselman 1981; Davis and Mutch 1994; Agee 1981). For the purposes of this document,
classifications and descriptions based upon the above and developed by the Oregon BLM State
Office and the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service will be utilized. One cautionary
note is the realization that simplification emerges from categorization, that exceptions abound,
and that combinations of fire regimes are likely to apply to single ecosystems. The following
seven fire regime categories have been developed for Oregon and Washington:
68
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
I 0-35 years, low severity.
II 0-35 years, stand-replacing, non-forest
HI 35-100+ years, mixed severity
IV 35-100+ years, stand-replacing
V >200 years, stand-replacing
VI No fire
VII Non-forest
Natural areas within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed fit into three of these classes and one
sub-classification. Identification of the fire regime along with a general discussion on plant
community, fire type, and fire severity follows:
I 0-35 years, low severity.
Typical climax plant communities include ponderosa pine, eastside/dry Douglas-
fir, pine-oak woodlands, Jeffery pine on serpentine soils, oak woodlands, and very
dry white fir. Large stand-destroying fires can occur under certain weather
conditions, but are rare events ( i.e ., every 200+ years).
n. 0-35 years, stand-replacing, non-forest
Includes true grasslands (Columbia basin, Palouse, etc.) and savannahs with
typical return intervals of less than 10 years and mountain shrub communities
(bitterbrush, snowberry, ninebark, ceanothus, Oregon chaparral, etc.) with typical
return intervals of 10-25 years. Fire severity is generally high to moderate.
Grasslands and mountain shrub communities are not completely killed, but
usually only top-killed and resprout.
El. 35-100+ years, mixed severity
This regime usually results in heterogeneous landscapes. Large, stand-destroying
fires may occur but are usually rare events. Such stand-destroying fires may
“reset” large areas (10,000-100,000 acres) but subsequent mixed intensity fires are
important for creating the landscape heterogeneity. Within these landscapes, a
mix of stand ages and size classes are important characteristics; generally the
landscape is not dominated by one or two age classes.
IV. <50 years, mixed severity
Potential plant communities include mixed conifer, very dry westside Douglas-fir,
and dry grand fir. Lower severity fire tends to predominate in many events.
The persistence of certain species in southwestern Oregon through the millennia can be attributed
to their adaptations to fire (Kauffman 1990). Adaptations for fire survival are adaptations to a
particular ecosystem and its specific fire regime. If the regime is altered, the capacity for that
species to survive in the environment may be greatly changed. Hence, if an area has a fire regime
that experienced frequent fire, and through suppression that regime has been altered, the hazard
of catastrophic fire has been increased, posing a greater risk to adjacent land and land values.
69
III. Current Condition
Wes^od^llinoi^Rive^Watersh^
Ecosystems have been dramatically changed due to fire exclusion and other human activities
such as grazing and timber harvest (Kaufmann et al. 1994). The extent and impact of this change
due to fire exclusion can many times be correlated to the fire regime itself. Thus, a fire regime
characterized by long return interval crown fires and severe surface fires would be impacted less
by fire exclusion then a regime of frequent, light surface fires with a one to 25 year return
interval. This is due to fire visiting the frequent, low intensity regime on more of a regular basis
versus that of the long interval regime. With an aggressive program of fire suppression occurring
for approximately 100 years, a regime that would be visited by fire every 100 to 300 years may
not be impacted by fire and its effect to the degree of the short interval regime. Detrimental
effects in the longer return-interval fire regimes will take longer to appear. Old, dense stands,
covering a large portion of the landscape, can dramatically increase the size and severity of
wildfires (Barrett et al. 1991) and insect epidemics (Mutch 1994).
Historically, wildland fire swept frequently across most of the Illinois Valley landscape. In recent
decades, however, the nature of fire on these lands has changed. The unintended consequence of
this continued fuel accumulation is significant changes in land condition as well as wildland fire
behavior. Effects of fire exclusion have created vegetation and fuel conditions that can produce
wildfires with a higher potential to be of a large and catastrophic nature and a greater level of
difficulty in suppressing. Increases in both the vertical (ladder fuels) and horizontal continuity
(dead and down material) can be noted throughout the watershed. Greater levels of dead and
down material increase the fire intensity, and with ladder fuels present, provide great opportunity
for fire starts to reach the forest canopy resulting in stand-killing crown fires. Such can further
impact how prescribed fire is applied to the landscape.
1. Fire Condition Class
A series of Fire Condition Classes have been developed to describe how far from normal the
historic fire regime currently is considering key ecosystem components (Hardy et al. 2000). This
coarse scale assessment quantifies land condition, the result of fire exclusion and other influences
(timber harvesting, grazing, insects and disease, and the introduction and establishment of non-
native plant species). Changes to key ecosystem components have been identified such as
species composition, structural stage, tree or shrub stand age, and canopy closure. This analysis
attempts to quantify the extent of the fire management problem and the degree of required
restoration and maintenance treatments. Table HI-23 summarizes the three fire condition classes,
attributes of each class, and general management options.
70
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
Table III-23: Fire Condition Class
Fire Condition
Class
Attributes
Example of Management
Options
Condition Class 1
- Fire regimes are within or near an historical range.
- The risk of losing key ecosystem components is low.
- Fire frequencies have departed from historical frequencies (either
increased or decreased) by no more than one return interval.
- Vegetation attributes (species composition and structure) are intact and
functioning within an historical range.
Where appropriate, these areas
can be maintained within the
historical fire regime by
treatments such as fire use.
Condition Class 2
- Fire regimes have been moderately altered from their historical range.
- The risk of losing key ecosystem components has increased to moderate.
- Fire frequencies have departed (either increased or decreased) from
historical frequencies by more than one return interval. This change results
in moderate changes to one or more of the following: fire size, frequency,
intensity, severity, or landscape patterns.
- Vegetation attributes have been moderately altered from historic ranges.
Where appropriate, these areas
may need moderate levels of
restoration treatments, such as
fire, manual or mechanical
treatments, to be restored to
the historical fire regime.
Condition Class 3
- Fire regimes have been significantly altered from their historical range.
- The risk of losing key ecosystem components is high.
- Fire frequencies have departed (either increased or decreased) by multiple
return intervals. This change results in dramatic changes to one or more of
the following: fire size, frequency, intensity, severity, or landscape
patterns.
- Vegetation attributes have been significantly altered from historic ranges.
Where appropriate, these areas
need high levels of restoration
treatments, such as hand or
mechanical treatments. These
treatments may be necessary
before fire is used to restore
the historical fire regime.
The majority of the Illinois Valley can be classified as Fire Condition Class 2 with approximately
one quarter of the area approaching a Fire Condition Class of 3. Within southwestern Oregon, a
broad scale breakdown of fire condition classes by acres and percent of total acres follows.
Table III-24: Fire Condition Classes of Southwest Oregon
Class
Acres
Percent
1
13,000
4.4
2
25,000
8.5
3
255,000
87.0
Total
293,000
100.0
Where prescribed fire has been used as a management tool in the past within this watershed, it
has been done primarily to achieve stand-by-stand management objectives. This fragmentation
approach has not counteracted the ten decades of fire exclusion (Mutch 1994) and has not
allowed fire to interact on a landscape scale level. Economically, small unit level prescribed fires
have a much greater planning and implementation cost versus those done on a larger scale.
A further cause of this unit level burning is due to land ownership and the relatively small size of
BLM land holdings compiled in a non-contiguous pattern. With some effort, fire on a landscape
level can be mimicked within this area. In other cases due to the fire condition class, small size
71
III. Current Condition
WestTori<Jllinois£^
of BLM land holdings, wildland/urban interface concerns, and access issues, various mechanical
treatments can be utilized to mimic fire or at least bring the fire regime closer to its natural state.
These mechanical treatments include slashing through the use of chain saws, slashbuster work,
and hand piles followed with burning.
2. Wildland-Urban Interface
The wildland-urban interface exists where people and their developments meet or intermix with
wildland fuels. Illinois Valley and a majority of the West Fork Illinois River Watershed are
within the wildland/urban interface. Furthermore, the Illinois Valley has been identified as a
Community at Risk under the National Fire Plan (Federal Register 2001). As such, special
attention is placed at a regional and national level to all wildland/urban interface communities
within the vicinity of Federal lands that are at high risk from wildfire. A community is a defined
area where residents live and are provided services such as fire protection, water, law
enforcement, etc. The vicinity of federal lands is defined as within the range in which fires can
travel. High-risk exists where there is land condition that is characterized by high-risk fire
regimes. For example Fire Condition Classes 2 and 3 are considered high-risk fire regimes.
Concern exists for ignitions starting on BLM lands and going onto private lands along with
ignitions starting on private lands and going onto BLM lands. Such risk of ignitions will be
discussed in greater detail later. Steps need to be considered that ensure appropriate defensible
space is provided in these areas of wildland/urban interface. In general, the areas of interface are
at elevations below most BLM lands and in areas of transition from forested to shrub ecosystems.
3. Fuel Hazard, Wildfire Ignition Risk, Values at Risk
Fuel Hazard, Wildfire Ignition Risk, and Values at Risk are conditions that are used to better
understand and plan for potential fire management problems and to identify opportunities to
manage the watershed to meet goals, objectives and desired future conditions. Wildfire
occurrence can often prevent the successful achievement of short-term and mid-term land
management goals and objectives. Stand-destroying wildfire can prevent the development of
mature and late-successional forest conditions as well as convert existing mature forests to early
serai forests.
The data collected for the West Fork Illinois River Watershed for hazard, ignition risk, and values
at risk for loss from wildfire are summarized in Tables H3-25 through HI-29. Ratings are
displayed on Maps 12-16. Rating classification criteria are summarized in Appendix E.
a. Fire Hazard
Effects of fire exclusion have created vegetation and fuel conditions that can produce wildland
fires with a higher potential to be of a large and catastrophic nature and a greater level of
difficulty in suppressing. Increases in both the vertical (ladder fuels) and horizontal continuity
(dead and down material) can be noted throughout the watershed. Greater levels of dead and
down material increase the fire intensity, and with ladder fuels present, provide great opportunity
72
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
for fire starts to reach the forest canopy resulting in stand-killing crown fires. Such can further
impact the means in which prescribed fire is applied to the landscape.
Hazard is based on the fire’s ability spread and ease of suppression once a wildland fire has
ignited. The actual hazard rating used in this analysis is based on weighted values of five
elements. These elements include in weighted order, ladder fuel presence, fuel model, slope,
position on slope, and aspect.
Ladder fuel presence determines the ability of a fire to go from a surface fire into the crown
canopy, thus impacting the ability to easily suppress a fire. Fuel model is based on the 13 fuel
models in the Fire Behavior Prediction System as developed by the U.S. Forest Service’s Fire
Science Laboratory. The fuel models can predict the rate of spread, flame length, fireside
intensity, heat per unit area, and other elements of concern in the suppression of wildland fire.
Slope impacts the rate of spread as fire travels faster up steeper slopes then it does on flat terrain.
Location of a fire start on the slope impacts the ability of a fire to spread. Fire spread is mainly
up slope to the ridge and back down the opposite side, with slower backing down slope spread.
Aspect impacts fire spread; southern aspects are drier and promote more active fire behavior
whereas northern aspects are typically moister with lower levels of fire behavior. Table IH-25
summarizes the acres in each hazard class.
Table III-25: Hazard Classification
Ownership
Acres
High Hazard
Moderate Hazard
Low Hazard
Acres
%of
Ownership
Acres
% of
Ownership
Acres
%of
Ownership
BLM
5,644
2,135
38%
2,972
53%
536
9%
Non-BLM
16,455
10,127
62%
5,048
31%
1,279
8%
All ownerships
22,099
12,262
55%
8,020
36%
1,815
8%
Based upon the previous mentioned criteria, only 8% of the watershed is at a low hazard
condition with over half being in a high hazard condition. The primary factor is exclusion of the
natural fire process. Forest management practices that did not treat activity fuels or created
younger stands have also contributed to the current condition. Currently, 64% of the watershed is
in mid-seral to mature vegetative conditions.
Based upon the elements of fire hazard, the potential for a large fire to occur is high to extremely
high for this watershed. This is due to the buildup of fuels, both live and dead, overstocking of
conifers and hardwoods, and the presence of less fire resistant species. This invasion of less fire
resistant species has resulted from reduced fire frequency. The increase in higher fire hazard is
also due in part to past management practices that created, but did not treat, slash.
b. Fire Risk
Fire risk is defined as the source of ignition. Human actions greatly influence the pattern of fire
occurrence and the number of fires in the watershed. The watershed as a whole has a high risk of
73
III. Current Condition
Wes^orkJWnoi^Rivei^Watershe
human-caused ignition. Human uses which create ignition risk include residential, industrial
(light manufacturing, timber harvest, mining/quarry operations), recreational, tourist, and travel
activities. Human use within the watershed is high. The human-caused fire occurrence pattern
for the watershed would generally be a fire starting at low elevations or along roads and burning
up to the uppermost ridgetops.
Lightning occurrence in the watershed has been moderate to high. The watershed typically
experiences at least one lightning storm event every two to three summers. Multiple fire starts
often result from these storms.
Historical fire occurrence on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, and private lands within the watershed
was reviewed based on available data of fires where management action was taken and a fire
report was completed between 1970 and 1998. While data is available prior to 1970, it is
incomplete for analysis purposes. During the 28 year time period, 324 fires occurred within the
identified lands within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed with an average of 11.6 fires per
year, 763 total acres burned, and an average of 27.3 acres burned per year as highlighted in Table
D3-26. The largest lightning caused fire, Mendenhall Creek Fire, covered 120 acres in 1994 with
the largest human caused fire, Rough Read Fire, at 290 acres in 1986 within the watershed.
Table III-26: Historic Fire Occurrence 1970-1998
Cause
Total Number of
Fires
Yearly Average
Number of Fires
Total Acres
Average Fire Size
(acres)
Yearly Average
Fire Size (acres)
Human
270
9.6
501.4
1.9
17.9
Lightning
54
1.9
261.6
4.8
9.3
Total
324
11.6
763
2.4
27.3
Fifty-three percent of the watershed is a high risk category with only 11% in a low risk category.
Human presence and use within the watershed produces high risk for wildfire occurrence. Table
m-27 summarizes the acres in each risk class.
Table III-27: Risk Classification
Ownership
Acres
High Risk
Moderate Risk
Low Risk
Acres
Ownership
Total
Acres
Ownership
Total
Acres
Ownership
Total
BLM
5,644
1,302
23%
3,473
62%
868
15%
Non-BLM
16,455
10,419
63%
4,490
27%
1,545
9%
All Ownerships
22,099
11,721
53%
7,963
36%
2,413
11%
c. Values at Risk
Values at risk are the resource and human values for components of the watershed. Property and
resources that could be negatively impacted by fire are the basis for value. Known special status
74
1/Vesf Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
III. Current Condition
plant and animal sites are included. The watershed has one-third of its area in the high category
for values. This is due largely to the amount of private land, especially residential areas, and the
high wildlife, recreational, ACEC, potential RNA designation, and other forest resource values
within the watershed. Table 1H-28 summarizes the values at risk classification in the watershed.
Table III-28: Values at Risk Classification
Ownership
Total
Acres
High Values at Risk
Moderate Values at Risk
Low Va
ues at Risk
Acres
Ownership
Acres
Ownership
Acres
Ownership
BLM
5.644
1,422
25%
2,855
51%
1,367
24%
Non-BLM
16.455
5,618
34%
9,589
58%
1,247
8%
All Ownerships
22,099
7,040
32%
12,444
56%
2,614
12%
d. Areas of High Hazard, Risk and Value at Risk
When high hazard, risk and values at risk converge on the same piece of land, there is reason for
particular management concern. The West Fork Illinois River Watershed has 13% of the area
with a rating of high for all three factors. These are areas that have a priority for management
review and action to reduce the hazard and consider actions to be taken to reduce the risk. The
large amount of land with high values at risk and the high level of risk of wildfire occurrence
demonstrated the urgent need for management actions and activities that will decrease the
potential for large stand-destroying wildland fire and loss of important features in the watershed.
Table El-29 summarizes the land base where high hazard, risk, and values converge.
Table III-29: Areas of High Rating in Hazard, Risk, and Values at Risk
Classification
Ownership
Acres
High Ratings in All Three Categories
Hazard, Risk, Values at Risk
Acres
Ownership
BLM
5,644
173
3%
Non-BLM
16,455
2,630
16%
All Ownerships
22,099
2,803
13%
J. AIR RESOURCES
Air quality in the Illinois Valley is good with limited local emission sources and generally good
wind dispersion. Existing sources of emissions include occasional construction and logging
equipment, light industry, vehicles, road dust, residential wood burning, campfires, and
prescribed fire. Emissions are limited with greatest impacts occurring during times of heavy
wildfire activity within the region, usually in late summer. For example, during the 1987 Silver
Fire, over a 57 day period, over 53 million pounds of respirable particulate matter may have been
produced (Hardy 1992). Winter and occasionally late summer temperature inversions commonly
75
III. Current Condition
Wes^orl^llinoi^Rivei^Vatershe
develop in the Upper Illinois Valley and have the potential to trap smoke, reducing its dispersal.
Grants Pass and Medford are the closest designated areas (non-attainment) to the West Fork
Illinois where air quality standards are typically not met. Other population centers around the
Upper Illinois valley of interest in minimizing smoke impacts include Cave Junction, Takilma,
Kirby, and Selma. Class I areas within the region include the Kalmiopsis Wilderness on the
Siskiyou National Forest, Mountain Lakes Wilderness, on the Rogue National Forest, and Crater
Lake National Park.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service) has
one nephelometer in the Illinois Valley near Cave Junction at the Illinois Valley Airport. A
nephelometer is an optical instrument that measures visibility and scattering coefficient (bscat) of
ambient air by directly measuring the light scattering due to particles and atmospheric gases.
This nephelometer operates year round and was installed in 1999 with a primary purpose to
monitor any impacts from area prescribed bums. Nephelometer data for this site is used for
comparison purposes and not to determine compliance with the NAAQS. Limited light scatter
(bscat) date analyzed from January 2000 to September 2001 show the highest levels occurring
primarily in November with high levels from late October into early February. Small spikes were
noted for one prescribed bum that occurred within the area at the end of March 2000, where
smoke was documented heading towards the Cave Junction area.
Visibility is monitored in federal Class I areas during the summer season. Wildland fires
occurring in the summer have the greatest impact to visibility within the Illinois Valley. Shifts in
past prescribed burning practices from summer and early fall have improved visibility
impairment over the 1982-84 baseline levels. Currently, prescribed bum activity in this area
occurs during the months of March through May and October into December.
Light scattering has been measured in Grants Pass since 1991. Measurements through 1993
show peak 1-hour and 24-hour averages occur in December and January. This impact is
primarily the result of wood burning stoves and atmospheric stability that occurs during this time
of the year.
The principal impact to air quality in the Illinois Valley and surrounding area is expected to be
the temporary visibility impairment caused by smoke from wildland and prescribed fires.
Potential short duration (single day to several weeks), high level PM10 and PM2.5 emissions
would be expected from major wildfire events within the local area or region. Prescribed
burning PM10 emissions would not be expected to exceed PM10 standards. If this did occur, it
most likely would be highly localized and no more than a single day in duration.
Nearby, Grants Pass continues to be classified as a non-attainment area for fine particulate
(PM10). Grants Pass last exceeded the PM10 24-hour average standard in 1987. Difficulty in
meeting the PM 10 standard was due primarily to effects from residential wood heating.
Maximum levels recorded between 1987 and 1993 occurred in December and January, with the
exception of 1987 when September had the maximum level due to widespread large fires burning
at the time. Maximum levels have never been reached in the spring and summer months.
76
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
Grants Pass continues to be classified as a non-attainment area for carbon monoxide 1-hour
average and 8-hour average standards. Grants Pass last exceeded the 1-hour standard in 1990
and the 8-hour standard in 1991. Maximum averages all occurred from December through
February. Maximum levels have never been reached during the spring and summer months. A
request for re-designation as an attainment area for CO is planned.
Wildfires have the potential to emit large quantities of smoke over long periods of time and at
uncontrollable times. Whereas, prescribed fire will produce smoke, through appropriate smoke
management measures, the quantities, duration, and timing of the bum can be adjusted to manage
such production.
Prescribed burning is constrained July 4 through Labor Day by the Oregon Visibility Protection
Plan. The Medford District has traditionally completed prescribed burning operations by the
middle of May, and does not resume burning until October. Potential impacts from prescribed
burning smoke could occur from other federal and private burning west of the coastal crest and
north of the Medford District, where conditions allow an extended bum season in the spring and
earlier resumption in the fall. However, almost no prescribed burning is conducted in July and
August in the vicinity of the Illinois Valley. The largest potential impact to air quality during this
period is from residual smoke resulting from wildland fire in the region or in the immediate
vicinity. Historic occurrence of long lasting, large wildland fires that produce larger volumes of
smoke during the months of August and September have been common within this region.
The Clean Air Act, as amended, directs the State of Oregon to meet or exceed national ambient
air quality standards by 1994. The Oregon Smoke Management Program (OSMP), a part of the
required State Implementation Plan (SIP), identifies strategies for minimizing the impacts of
smoke from prescribed burning on the densely-populated, designated, non-attainment, and smoke
sensitive areas within western Oregon. Particulate matter with a size of 10 microns or less
(PM10) is the specific pollutant addressed in the SIP. Particular matter at the 2.5 micron level
and less is scheduled to be the new criteria pollutant once the Environmental Protection Agency
has established its rules and regulations. For comparison of particulate matter size, a human hair
is about 70 micrometers in diameter (EPA 1998).
Burning wildland vegetation causes emissions of many different chemical compounds such as
small particles, NOx, CO and organic compounds. The components and quantity of emissions
depend in part on the types of fuel burned, their moisture content, and the temperature of
combustion. Complex organic materials may be absorbed into or onto condensed smoke
particles. Tests indicate that, on average, 90% of smoke particles from wildland and prescribed
fires are PM 10, and 70% are PM25 (EPA 1998).
Historically, EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate mater (PM)
tended to focus emission control efforts on "coarse” particles (those larger than PM25). Before
1987, EPA's PM standards focused on “Total Suspended Particles,” including particles as large as
100 micrometers in diameter. The EPA revised the standards in 1987 to focus control on PM10
in response to new science showing that it was the smaller particles capable of penetrating deeply
77
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
into the lungs that were associated with the most adverse health effects.
Visibility conditions are affected by scattering and absorption of light by particles and gases. The
fine particles most responsible for visibility impairment are sulfates, nitrates, organic
compounds, soot and soil dust. Fine particles are more efficient per unit mass than coarse
particles at scattering light. Light scattering efficiencies also go up as humidity rises, due to
water adsorption on fine particles, which allow the particles to grow to sizes comparable to the
wavelength of light. Naturally occurring visual range in the West is between 120 to 170 miles.
Visibility is an important public welfare consideration because of its significance to enjoyment of
daily activities in all parts of the country. Protection of visibility as a public welfare
consideration is addressed nationally through the secondary PM NAAQS which are equivalent to
the primary PM NAAQS. Visibility protection is particularly important in the 156 mandatory
Class I Federal areas.
K. HUMAN USE
1. Socioeconomic Overview
The Illinois Valley is located in the southern portion of Josephine County, which has a population
of 65,500. The following data is taken from Reid (1996) and represents federal and state data
taken between 1987 and 1995. For Josephine County, the percent of the population age 65 and
older is 20%, exceeding the state average of 13.7%, and transfer payments are among the highest
in the state. The unemployment rate has been considerably higher than the state average and
wages have been among the lowest in the state. Josephine County ranks among the highest for
poverty, particularly for children (27.5% of the population). College educated individuals
comprise 12% of the population, compared to 20% for the state. The high school dropout rate is
among the highest for the state (Reid 1989; USDI 1998).
Cave Junction is the largest town in the watershed, with a population of 1,256. A considerable
population also lives outside of the city limits on rural residential lands. The county ranks highly
for owner occupied housing units. Josephine County has the smallest percentage of the land base
in farms and only 24% of the land in the county is in private ownership. The county timber
harvest fell by 67% between 1988 and 1994 (Reid 1996). Employment is primarily in
manufacturing, followed by the combination of health, education, and public administration, and
then by retail and wholesale trade (Illinois Valley Community Response Team, no date). The
historical dependence of resource extraction economy including logging and mining is apparent.
Eco-tourism and new industrial centers have been targeted as primary goals in recent regional
strategic plans for community development (Illinois Valley CRT 1995; USDI 1998b.) The
Illinois Valley has been designated an Enterprise Community due to high unemployment, poverty
and economic dependence on timber products. This has led to an infusion of federal and state
grants for infrastructure and other aspects of economic development. Much of the economic
development has taken the form of tourism, especially eco-tourism in the development of
outdoor recreation opportunities.
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
Highway 199 is the primary transportation route through the watershed, running north to south.
Scattered residences and small businesses (Cave Junction) are located in the northern tip of the
watershed. The town of O’Brien is located in the watershed, south of Cave Junction along
highway 199, and includes a store, realty office, post office, restaurant and scattered residences.
Rough and Ready Lumber mill is south of Cave Junction along highway 199. The West Fork of
the Illinois River runs generally southwest to northeast within the watershed.
2. Recreation
a. Dispersed Recreation
Dispersed recreation includes off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, hunting, mountain biking, hiking,
horseback riding and driving for pleasure. OHV use is popular on many BLM lands. Areas that
are frequently used by OHVs include French Flat ACEC, Rough and Ready ACEC, and Logan
Cut. There are also non-designated horse/hiking/mountain biking trails in the watershed,
especially in the Logan Cut area and in the French Flat and Rough and Ready ACECs.
b. Developed Recreation
The Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside is located along highway 199 in the Rough and Ready
ACEC. The wayside is on land that was patented to the State of Oregon through the Recreation
and Public Purposes Act (R&PP). This land is set aside for recreation and must be managed for
recreation for the state to retain their patent. There is a parking area, gated road and a proposed
trail along the existing road heading west into the ACEC. The trail will be accessible to all non-
motorized uses and travels approximately 0.5 miles to an overlook along Rough and Ready
Creek. There is a kiosk and interpretive panel at the trail head and another interpretive panel will
be placed at the overlook.
There is an R&PP Lease on BLM land in the northwestern part of the watershed. Illinois River
Forks State Park is an 80 acre parcel leased by Oregon State Parks. This area is currently being
used for picnicking; however, the state has proposed an undeveloped area as a campground.
3. Roads
Most roads in this watershed have been constructed as a result of the public's need for access.
Many of these roads are on private lands, are natural surfaced and lack appropriate drainage
structures. The mid-slope and low-elevation natural surface roads are a source of erosion and
sedimentation of streams.
Road construction and improvement across BLM lands stemmed primarily from timber
management objectives and mandates. Many natural-surfaced roads remained open for
administrative access after timber sales were completed. These roads are known to be a source
of sediment erosion into streams. BLM roads are managed and inventoried for potential
79
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
decommissioning or improvements to help reduce sedimentation of neighboring streams.
Prior to 1992, road drainage culverts on BLM land in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed
were designed for a 25 to 50 year flood event or were sized based on channel width and stream
flow. Culvert designs did not consider native and anadromous fish passage. Concentrated water
flow through many of these structures was too great to allow fish movement upstream. Scour at
the exit of these structures created pools and, over time, drops developed which restricted all
movement of fish beyond these points and greatly reduced spawning habitat. Today’s culverts are
designed to accommodate bed load and debris transport for a 100-year flood event and to assure
passage of native and anadromous fish. During road inventories, existing culverts are evaluated
for future replacement to meet the 100-year flood event.
Road density and type vary in the watershed. Table HI-30 summarizes road mileage based on
different surface types. According to current BLM GIS data, the average road density for the
West Fork Illinois River Watershed is 2.6 mi./mile2. For non-BLM land in the watershed, the
density is 2.7 mi./mile2. The average road density on BLM land is 1.16 mi./mile2. The BLM
continues to analyze and inventory BLM-controlled roads in an attempt to improve the roads and
reduce road density to a level appropriate for land management and the environment.
There are a total of 10.94 miles of BLM roads in the watershed.
Table III-30: Summary of Road Mileage by Surface Type
Road Ownership
Surface Type
Miles
Total
BLM
Natural (NAT)
7.46
2%
BLM
Pit Run Rock (PRR)
0.14
0%
BLM
Grid Rolled Rock (GRR)
1.23
0%
BLM
Aggregate Base Coarse (ABC)
0
0%
BLM
Aggregate Surface Coarse (ASC)
2.11
1%
BLM
Bituminous Surface Treatment (BST)
0
0%
Private & Other Agencies
Unknown / Various Types (UNK)
306.50
97%
Total Road Miles
317.44
4. Minerals and Mining
a. Minerals
An inventory utilizing the mining claim information found in BLM records known as LR 2000
(computerized lands and minerals data base) revealed that there are approximately sixty current
mining claims in the watershed with a fairly even mix of lode claims and placer claims. The
rights of mining claimants for activities on unpatented claims are outlined in Appendix B.
On lands administered by the BLM, there are three levels of mining operations that may occur.
The lowest impact level of operations is considered casual use. Casual use operations include
80
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
those operations that usually result in only negligible surface disturbance. These types of
operations usually involve no mechanized earthmoving equipment or explosives, and do not
include residential occupancy. No administrative review of these types of operations is required.
The number of casual users is not known.
Mining activity above casual use but primarily exploratory in nature requires the filing of a
mining notice pursuant to the BLM Surface Management Regulations (43 CFR 3809). The
mining notice informs the BLM of the level of operations that will occur, the type of existing
disturbance at the location of the operations, the type of equipment to be used in the mining
operations, and the reclamation plans following the completion of the mining activities. A
reclamation bond is required before mining may commence as outlined in the mining notice.
There have been no mining notices submitted for operations proposed to occur on the BLM-
administered lands within the watershed.
A plan of operations is generally required for mining operations above casual use, for activities
above the exploratory level (bulk sampling of greater than 1000 tons of ore), and in areas
described as follows:
1 In areas where activities above casual use in specially designated areas such as areas of
critical environmental concern (ACEC), lands within an area designated as a Wild or
Scenic River, and areas closed to off-highway-vehicle use
2 Any lands or waters known to contain federally proposed or listed threatened or
endangered species or their proposed or designated critical habitat, unless BLM allows
for other action under a formal land-use plan and/or threatened or endangered species
recovery plan
3 National Monuments and National Conservation Areas administered by BLM.
The review of plans of operations involves a NEPA environmental review. A reclamation bond
is required to be submitted before approval of a plan of operations. One plan of operations has
been submitted for proposed activities within the watershed. This plan of operations was
submitted by Walter Freeman representing Nicore Mining.
In addition to federal laws, mining claimants must comply with state laws where applicable:
1 The State Department of Environmental Quality monitors and permits dredging activities
and activities where settling ponds are used.
2 The Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) permits all activities over
one acre in size and ensures reclamation is completed in a timely manner. DOGAMI
requires reclamation bonds where applicable.
3 The Division of State Lands permits instream activities where the removal or
displacement of material is anticipated and where the movement of a stream channel is
81
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
planned. DSL also permits dredging within anadromous fish bearing streams.
4 The Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) monitors turbid discharges from mined
sites. ODFW also recommends preferred dredging periods for operations within
anadromous fish bearing streams. ODFW also approves variances for operations outside
the preferred work periods where applicable. Dredging within the Illinois River and
tributaries is allowed between June 15 and September 15 annually.
If mining claim occupancy is proposed by the operator/claimant, the use is reviewed by the
BLM’s Authorized Officer. The occupancy must be determined to be reasonably incident to
mining and reviewed in a manner similar to a plan of operations. No occupancy may occur until
the proposed occupancy is reviewed and written permission is issued by the authorized officer
pursuant to the BLM Mining Claim Use and Occupancy Regulations (43 CFR 3715).
b. Surface Uses of a Mining Claim
In some instances the surface of the mining claim is managed by the claimant. These are usually
claims that were filed before August 1955 and determined valid at that time. The claimants in
these cases have the same rights as outlined above. However, they have the right to eliminate
public access across that area where they have surface rights. There are no instances within the
watershed where the claimants have surface rights. These rights are outlined in Appendix B.
c. Mineral Potential
Lode: The mineral potential for nickel and chromite is moderate southeast of O’Brien. A
moderate potential for copper and cobalt exists in the vicinity of Waldo Hill and trends north-
northeast along the ridge system towards French Flat.
Placer: High bench gravels surrounding the old town site of Waldo were mined near the turn of
the century and revealed variable concentrations of gold and platinum. The potential for placer
deposits within the present day West Fork Illinois River and it’s tributaries also exists where
older deposits have been incised and redistributed.
d. Physical Condition Resulting from Past Mining Activities
The existing physical conditions of areas that have been mined are variable. Those areas mined
along the West Fork of the Illinois River appear to be in satisfactory condition; however, short-
term visual impacts may occur where dredging undermines the shoreline. Evidence of past
mining activities can be found throughout the watershed. There are several abandoned mining
ditches and rock piles that have become overgrown with forest.
e. Mineral Patent Application
A mineral patent application was submitted to the BLM by Walter Freeman in 1992. The patent
was submitted after a moratorium was initiated by Congress freezing the processing of mineral
82
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
patents received prior to the date of the moratorium. The moratorium is still in effect.
5. Cultural Resources
Approximately 3,700 acres were surveyed for cultural resources in the 2000 Esterly Cultural
Survey. This survey included lands in the East and West fork Illinois River Watersheds. Twenty
eight sites were recorded in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed. Twenty-three of those sites
are historic and five sites are prehistoric. Historic sites represent a full range of local mining
history. The mining site chronology extends from the discovery of gold in Sailor's Gulch in the
early 1850s to more recent prospecting in the 1930s and 1940s and includes sites representing all
the important technological developments associated with hydraulic mining. Of the 23 historic
sites, seven are recommended as eligible for National Register status (Budy 1999).
The Waldo Mushroom Camp has historically been used by commercial mushroom pickers
periodically over the last 10 years. It is located at the old Waldo town site and near the Waldo
cemetery. Several historic sites were identified in the cultural survey adjacent to the mushroom
camp. Dumping and discharging of firearms have been a problem in the area.
Early routes between Crescent City and southern Oregon traversed the West Fork watershed from
Oregon Mountain via the McGrew Trail, built in 1858, to Waldo and on to the Applegate Valley.
(USFS, 1997)
The Wimer Road was constructed in 1882 by P.T. Wimer, an enterprising postmaster from
Waldo, as a shorter, less difficult route than the McGrew Trail. This route became the primary
route until the construction of Highway 199. The Wimer Road crosses a comer of BLM land in
section 3 and traverses the west half of section 9 (T41S, R9W) (Historical Survey of Early Roads
and Trails in Southwestern Oregon. Siskiyou National Forest, 1972).
6. Lands/Realty
The land pattern of BLM ownership within the watershed is mostly a scattered mosaic. The
primary BLM ownership in the watershed consists of public domain lands that have never left the
ownership of the United States. The remainder of BLM lands within the watershed have the
status of Oregon and California Revested Railroad lands (O&C lands). The lands owned by the
United States and administered by the BLM are somewhat scattered and sometimes inaccessible.
The private land ownership was molded by the transfer of public lands from the United States to
private individuals through several different land disposal authorities including homesteading,
mineral patents, donation land claims, etc. This sometimes leaves the private landowners with
access problems and needs that entail rights-of-way across BLM-administered lands.
BLM rights-of-way issued to private landowners include roads, water systems, power lines,
phone lines, and communication sites. The actual locations of these rights-of-way can be found
in Master Title Plats kept updated at the Medford District BLM Office.
83
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
A major right of way corridor exists adjacent to Highway 199. Power transmission and
telephone facilities are located within the corridor.
Josephine County has applied to the Federal Aviation Administration for patent (title) to BLM
lands immediately west of the existing Illinois Valley Airport for airport expansion. BLM has
asked FAA to table their request to BLM for the consideration of the patent application pending
the eventual review of a mineral patent application submitted by mining claimant Walt Freeman
prior to the FAA patent application.
A Recreation and Public Purposes Act (R&PP) lease has been issued to the State of Oregon for
the Illinois Valley Forks State Park. The lease currently allows the state to operate and manage
the park for day use purposes. The lease expires in 2007 and allows for renewal of the lease.
Currently, the state is considering amending the lease to allow future development with overnight
facilities.
There are several land withdrawals within the watershed. The majority are for water power site
withdrawals and classifications. The Medford District RMP lists those withdrawals.
7. Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping occurs throughout the watershed. High impact dumping areas are at the Rough
and Ready and French Flat ACECs, the Waldo Cemetery area, and near Logan Cut. Several
dump contracts have been awarded to clean up these areas over the past several years. In
addition, the BLM and interested neighbors have joined together to perform cleanup activities in
the watershed annually around Earth Day.
84
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
IV. REFERENCE CONDITION
A. PURPOSE
The purposes of this section are to assess how ecological conditions have changed over time as
the result of human influence and natural disturbance, and to develop a reference for comparison
with current conditions and with key management plan objectives (Federal Guide for Watershed
Analysis, version 2.2, 1995).
B. CLIMATE
The climate of southwestern Oregon has not been static. During the Holocene (the past 10,000
years), shifts in temperature and precipitation have affected the type and extent of vegetation, the
viability of stream and river flows, fish and animal populations, and human access to higher
elevations. At the beginning of the Holocene, temperatures were rising and the climate was
warmer and drier than today. This trend continued until sometime after 6,000 years ago when
wetter and cooler conditions began to prevail. During the past few thousand years, modem
climate and vegetative patterns have prevailed. However, during this latter period the
environmental forces have not been constant. Fluctuating cycles of drier and wetter conditions,
varying in duration, characterize the modem climatic pattern (Atwood and Grey 1996).
This long period of drier and warmer conditions in southwestern Oregon began to change at
some point in the mid Holocene. The onset of wetter, cooler conditions gradually changed
vegetation patterns, as well as the quantity and distribution of game animals and migrating fish
(Atwood and Grey 1996).
C. EROSION PROCESSES
Prior to Euro-American settlement there were more mature forests with openings caused by
Native American burning practices and natural lightning events. Vegetation, coarse woody
material, and organic matter on the forest floor protected the soil from erosion.
The historic erosion processes were generally the same as those described under the Current
Conditions section. Native people probably did not accelerate the rate of erosion by their burning
practices because burning was frequent enough to limit accumulation of fuels and therefore fires
were probably more like mosaic broadcast bums. Native burning practices generally involved
burning nearly level to gently sloping areas in valley bottoms, foot slopes, steeper mid-slopes,
and some upland meadows. Their fires were spotty and designed to enhance habitats and thus
increase numbers of desirable plant and animal species (USDI 1997). The referenced document
refers to conditions in southwestern Oregon with specific application to the Grave Creek
Watershed. Frequent burning by the native people created park-like forests of scattered trees
unlike the dense forests we see today (Pullen 1996). The practice of fire suppression began in
1903 (McKinley and Frank 1996).
85
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Concentrated flow (gully and rill) erosion occurred mainly in draws where channels were created.
The density of these channels varied with climatic cycles. During wet cycles, intermittent stream
channels were more common. During dry cycles, cobbles, gravel, and plant debris accumulated
in the draws, burying the channel (USDI, 1998a). According to Pullen (1996), the Native
Americans recognized the value of riparian areas for humans and animals and therefore did not
bum within them. Furthermore, the riparian areas of Class I, II, IH and sometimes IV streams are
very moist due to the stream influence and do not bum as easily as the uplands.
Mass movement or slides may have occurred in ultramafic areas with greater than 40 inch deep,
extremely stony fine-textured soils and slopes greater than 20%. Accelerated mass movement
can be caused by a reduction of root strength or an increase in moisture content, a result of
decreased transpiration. It is doubtful native people's land management practices affected the
rates of mass movement. The native people's burning practices had their greatest effects on
shallow-rooted plants that rapidly regenerated. Plants with the greatest root strength at depth
were negligibly affected by burning.
Native people created foot trails instead of roads. These narrow foot trails had very little effect
on erosion, water quality or water quantity. In the 1850s, with the settlement of the area for
mining and later farming, trails and wagon roads began to be constructed. With increased roads
came increased erosion from ditch line erosion and cutbank and fill failures. In the early 1900s a
seventeen ton machine known as “The Beast” was used in Josephine County to haul lumber over
roads; it damaged bridges and culverts (Booth 1984) and compacted soils considerably.
D. HYDROLOGY
1. Floods
Periodic flooding within the Rogue River Basin has had devastating consequences for the
cultural environment. River flows were high enough during major flood years to destroy bridges,
roads, buildings, and mining structures, and to inundate agricultural lands and stream courses.
The December 1861 flood destroyed improvements and crops along the Applegate River
(Atwood and Grey 1996). The flood of 1890 wiped out almost all of the bams and houses along
the Rogue River including the Applegate River (Atwood and Grey 1996). Similar events most
likely occurred in the upper Illinois. No written record exists of flood impact on human
improvements, soil vegetation, or aquatic life before Euro-American settlement and
development, although certainly catastrophic one-hundred year floods occurred then, as in the
recent past (Atwood and Grey 1996).
Warm rain on snow events have occurred throughout the Euro-American history of the Rogue
River and its tributaries. These events have resulted in increased flooding (Hill 1976). An article
in the Rogue River Courier, dated January 29, 1903, stated that since Euro-American settlement
in this area in the 1850s, there had been floods in 1853, 1861, 1862, 1866, 1881 and 1890. All of
these, except for the flood of 1890 which was a rain event, were caused by rain on snow events.
Warm rain on snow events have historically been a large factor in flooding in the West Fork
Illinois River Watershed.
86
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
Major floods of record in the 1900s occurred in 1927, 1955, 1964, and 1974 (Atwood and Grey
1996). Another major flood occurred in 1997, during which the Rogue River was swept clear of
every bridge between Grants Pass and the Pacific Ocean (Rogue River Courier, March 4, 1927).
2. Droughts
Drought conditions were noted in 1841, 1864, 1869-74, 1882-85, 1889, 1892, 1902, 1905, 1910,
1914-17, 1928-35, 1946-47, 1949, 1959, 1967-68, 1985-88, 1990-92, and 1994 (LaLande 1995).
During the drought years, many of the smaller streams in the area went dry and the larger
streams had low flow. The effect of droughts was intensified by high water usage for agriculture
and mining. The controversy over who should have primary access to the limited water supply
(farmers or miners) was described in an 1861 editorial (McKinley and Frank 1996).
3. Beaver Dams
Beaver dams were prevalent on the Illinois River system before Euro-American influence.
Beaver dams added woody material to streams, trapped and stored fine sediments, and reduced
water velocities. As a result, riparian zones were wider than they are today. Between 1827 and
1850, fur traders removed most beaver from the region. Consequently, the dams were no longer
maintained and were destroyed over time. The loss of beaver dams likely resulted in scouring of
channel beds and banks, increased width / depth ratios, narrower riparian zones and fine
sediment deposition in pools.
4. Mining Effects
Within the East Fork Illinois River Watershed, placer mining for gold was initiated in Sailor,
Allen, and Scotch Gulches. At about the same time, Fry Gulch, in the West Fork was also placer
mined. These areas were intensively mined and lasted only a few years (Ramp and Peterson
1979:30). Placer mine tailings were usually dumped in piles in the flood plain. Given the time
frame in which placer mining occurred, natural restoration of stream and flood plain has probably
occurred to some degree.
Beginning around 1860, a system of ditches was developed for mines in the East Fork Illinois
River system to bring water to the hydraulic mine operations. Logan Cut is a ditch that was later
developed as an outlet from one of the Esterly Lakes that was used for holding used hydraulic
mining water. Logan Cut starts in the East Fork Illinois River Watershed and runs over the
boundary to flow into the West Fork Illinois River.
E. STREAM CHANNELS
Prior to Euro- American settlement, the steeper, headwater streams in the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed had varying amounts of large woody material (LWM). Generally, the forested, non-
serpentine streams had sufficient amounts to create pools and meanders. Forests, in these areas,
along the streams provided shade and an abundant source of LWM resulting from tree mortality.
87
Wes^orkJIjinoi^Rive^^ate^
The coarse wood provided both structure and nutrients for the stream. Areas that were strongly
influenced by ultramafic/serpentine, such as Rough and Ready Creek sub-watershed, had very
few trees and, therefore, very little instream LWD, much like today. The streams were longer,
more complex and provided more aquatic habitat. Beaver eradication, mining, and agricultural
development all resulted in straighter stream channels and decreased sinuosity. When clearing
for pastures and fields, numerous sloughs, bayous, overflows, and springs in the watershed were
channelized to increase the size of fields and pastures (McKinley and Frank 1996). This is likely
true for the West Illinois River Watershed. Marsh communities were so effectively altered that
now their locations are unidentifiable (McKinley and Frank 1996). Decreased sinuosity from
mining and agriculture has resulted in decreased surface area of the streams and decreased
groundwater recharge.
F. WATER QUALITY
Overall, prior to Euro-American settlement, historical summer water temperatures were likely
lower than today due to lower width-depth ratios and more riparian vegetation. Given the fire
occurrence prior to 1920, some stream reaches could have been sparsely vegetated for periods of
time, resulting in higher water temperatures during that time (USDI 1998a).
Agriculture and mining in the late 1800s and early 1900s resulted in a reduced riparian
vegetation which allowed more solar radiation to reach streams. Increased water temperatures
resulted from this activity. Irrigation withdrawals lowered stream flows and increased the
surface area of the water receiving solar radiation. This also increased stream temperatures.
Sediment loads and turbidity were historically lower due to fewer sediment sources prior to Euro-
American influences. Sedimentation and turbidity rose dramatically with hydraulic mining, land
clearing, road building, and settlement along the Illinois River and its tributaries.
G. VEGETATION
Historical vegetation patterns or reference condition alludes to the forests or vegetation that
existed on a site prior to significant Euro- American modification. Examples of significant Euro-
American modification include clearing for settlement and agriculture, human development
(homes, buildings, roads, etc.), timber harvesting, mining, grazing, and fire exclusion.
The information presented here was gathered from a 1936 Forest Type Map for the southwest
quarter of the state of Oregon (Andrews 1936).
Enough information is present in the 1936 type map to develop approximate major plant senes
and serai stage maps and also to estimate the extent of fire occurrence. The information in the
survey notes described non-forest land types, noncommercial forest types, and timberland types.
The 1936 type map information for the all Forest Service lands and all lands in California are
data gaps.
88
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
1. Forest Stand Types
The information below covers BLM lands and non-federal lands within the West Fork Illinois
River Watershed outside of California. The definitions are as follows:
Table IV-1: Forest Stand Types
Forest Stand Type
Definitions
Douglas-fir - Small Second Growth
Young forests containing over 60% Douglas-fir, in which most of the volume is in
trees 6 to 20 inches in diameter.
Douglas-fir - Old Growth
Forest containing over 60% old growth Douglas-fir, regardless of size.
Non-Forest Land -
Includes barrens, cities, natural grass areas, brush, desert, sand dunes, tidal flats, and
agricultural areas with less than 10% of the area in woods.
Ponderosa Pine - Seedling and
Sapling
Forests or old bums or heavily cut land where the majority of the trees under 12
inches in diameter are ponderosa and the stand of large ponderosa pine, if any,
amounts to less than 1 ,000 board feet of saw timber per acre.
Ponderosa Pine - Small
Forest containing at least 50% by volume of either ponderosa pine, sugar pine, or
Jeffrey pine, or all of them in combination, where the majority of the volume is
immature trees ordinarily between 12 and 22 inches in diameter and amounts to more
than 1,000 board feet per acre; such stands may consist either of (a)selectively cut
stands of any age, or (b) uncut immature stands (so called “bull pine” stands under
150 or 200 years old).
Ponderosa Pine - Large
Forests containing at least 50% by volume of ponderosa pine, sugar pine, or Jeffrey
pine, or all of them in combination, where the predomination trees are over about 22
inches in diameter (over about 150 to 200 years old), and where no material amount
of the stand has ever been cut.
Sub-alpine and Certain Non-
Commercial Forests -
Includes areas at the upper limits of tree growth, usually unmerchantable because of
poor form and small size, and areas within the range of commercial timber types and
below the limits of sub-alpine types, which are too rocky, steep, sterile, or swampy to
produce a stand of commercial size density, or quality.
89
^^S^nthesi^incn^
W/tes^ortjcW/no^^n^^^te^TecMna/^^
Table IV-2 summarizes the extent of each of the vegetation types in the watershed.
Table IV-2: Reference Major Plant Series and Size Class Within the West
Fork Illinois River Watershed (1936)
Major Plant Series
Acres
Watershed
Douglas-fir Small Second Growth
4,569
20.1%
Douglas-fir Old Growth
9,130
40.2%
Non-Forest
882
3.9%
Ponderosa Pine Seedling and Sapling
25
0.1%
Ponderosa Pine Small
2,416
10.6%
Ponderosa Pine Large
3,618
15.9%
Subalpine and Certain Non-Commercial Forests
2,075
9.1%
Total
22,715
100%
2. Landscape Patterns
Douglas-fir Old Growth - Over 9,000 acres was Douglas-fir old growth in 1936. Most of the
old growth was found in T40S, R8W, sections 29, 30, 31, 32, and in T41S, R9W, sections
1,2,11-14.
Non-Commercial Forest Lands - Over 2,000 acres of non-commercial forest lands were
identified in 1936. These areas were along the eastern boundary of the watershed, west of the
Waldo Lookout road and in the vicinity of the current Rough and Ready Area of Critical
Environmental Concern.
Pine species (Jeffrey, ponderosa, and sugar) were the most common species or species group on
an additional 6,059 acres or 26.6% of the watershed.
Wildfires - There is no mention of any burned areas on the 1936 map.
Tanoak Series - There is no mention of the tanoak series in 1936.
H. SPECIES AND HABITATS
1. Terrestrial
a. Special Status Plants
Hickman (1997) used soils maps, geomorphic features and the 1855 cadastral survey to create a
map of potential climax vegetation for the Illinois Valley. He stated that non-serpentine terraces
near or on the valley floor could have been Douglas-fir with sugar pine as the potential climax
vegetation. He stated that Douglas-fir with a mixed hardwood component would dominate most
90
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
\^5^nthesi^<^
of the uplands with little tanoak influence on northerly aspects. It can be postulated from
Hickman’s work, that the habitat for late-successional Survey and Manage plant species
( Cypripedium spp.) in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed could have been more extensive,
at least on north-facing slopes based on past disturbance. The south-facing aspects in the
watershed were probably always limited in the extent of moister, late-successional habitat.
Frequent, low-intensity fires helped to maintain a competitive edge for these species in the
herbaceous layer. Due to the complex life history of these plants, they were probably never a
dominant species in the herbaceous layer, but they could have occurred more frequently in the
watershed and with higher numbers of plants per population area if moister, shaded microsite
conditions occurred more frequently. The microhabitat required was most likely more abundant
and contiguous before mining activities and their associated timber harvest became common
practice since major clearance of timber over stories occurred.
Since serpentine habitats occur because of unusual soils, their area was probably similar to and
contained the same type of plants as today but at higher levels of diversity and extent of
population size. Primarily, the intensity of mining affected much of the serpentine. Most areas
were flushed of their top soil. Some areas were subject to coverage by tailings or obliterated for
tailings ponds. Forests were completely cut away in some areas. Also, the low-intensity, more
frequent fires of the past probably helped to promote this higher species diversity. These areas
were probably more extensive in size because the fires prevented encroachment of trees and
shrubs. This would also be true for the serpentine wetlands in the area.
Oak woodlands and grasslands above the valley floor may also have been healthier due to
frequent, low intensity fires. Therefore, better habitat may have been available for the native
grasses and lichens that have been found.
Prior to the combustion engine, the main mode of travel was by foot, horse and wagon. These
less impacting modes of transportation would have meant less impact to the native habitats,
especially grasslands. Wet meadow habitats could have been more extensive which, in turn,
means that the proposed endangered plant, Lomatium cookii could have been more prevalent.
Noxious weeds were nonexistent before the advent of European settlers. Native vegetation and
habitats would have been more intact in the Illinois Valley as a whole.
b. Wildlife
Prior to European settlement, Native Americans managed the landscape using fire to bum off
undesirable vegetation and to promote growth of desired products. Wildlife was extensively
used by these people to meet their everyday needs. Human use of these wildlife resources
occurred at a sustainable level.
Many habitat types were created and maintained by disturbance events, specifically fire.
Consequently, fire suppression has changed vegetation patterns and historic habitat distribution.
Fire adapted habitats and associated wildlife species have been adversely affected by fire
suppression. This is particularly true for meadows, oak/savannahs and pine stands.
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West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
White oak stands provide nesting habitat for various species, acorn crops for wildlife forage, and
big game winter range. The open condition and the grass understory are highly beneficial to a
number of game animals and ground nesting birds. A variety of bird species such as the acorn
woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus), western blue bird (Sialia mexicana ) and Lewis'
woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis ) are intricately tied to the riparian areas within these stands.
Species such as the sharptailed snake (Contia tenuis), common kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus),
and mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) use the grassland-riparian interface area as their
primary habitat.
Historically, the amount and distribution of old-growth forest in the watershed was in a state of
constant fluctuation. Early serai stands were created by disturbances such as wind throw, fire,
disease and human activity such as commercial timber harvest, agriculture, and mining.
According to 1936 records, approximately 40% of the watershed contained old growth Douglas-
fir. This wide distribution of old growth forest allowed for connectivity and dispersal of species
associated with this habitat.
Ripple (1994) estimated that 89% of the forest in the large tree size class was in one large patch
that extended throughout most of western Oregon. Landscape patterns within the watershed
suggest that a similar distribution of Douglas-fir old growth occurred historically. Due to the
connectivity of the older forests, animal dispersal, recolonization of former habitats, and
pioneering into unoccupied territories was accomplished more effectively than it is today.
However, not all mature/old growth forests occurred in contiguous patches. Throughout the
watershed, large areas of serpentine influenced soils were characterized by vegetation not capable
of attaining old growth characteristics. Meadows were interspersed throughout the landscape
and created habitat for early successional and edge associated species. Serpentine areas and
meadows created natural barriers to dispersal for some species associated with old growth
forests.
Old growth/mature forest associated species such as the northern spotted owl (Strix occidental is),
pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) and
red tree vole (Phenacomys longicaudus) were found in greater numbers than they are now. Due
to the historic connectivity of mature habitat, species that benefited from edge environments, like
striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), may have been less common than they are today.
Riparian corridors provide habitat for a myriad of wildlife species. Beavers (Castor canadensis)
acted as a keystone species (species whose impact on the habitat is greater than their numbers
would normally indicate and which provide critical habitat support), creating backwater sloughs
behind their dams, and adding fine woody material to the stream which served as fish cover.
Waterfowl such as ducks and geese also benefited from the nesting habitat created as a result of
beaver ponds.
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West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
Within a riparian area, the diversity of wildlife species is not restricted to the water surface. A
profusion of aquatic insects supported an assortment of vertebrate species including anadromous
fish. As the adult fish returned to their native streams, spawned and died, their carcasses
produced a rich source of food that supported minks (Mustela vision), American black bears
( Ursus americanus), grizzly bears, bald eagles ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and a number of other
scavenger species.
Human activities have impacted water quality and the overall condition of riparian areas. Timber
harvest and road building have led to increased sedimentation, increased stream temperatures,
and decreased stream stability and structural diversity, all of which negatively affect aquatic and
semi-aquatic wildlife.
More than any other human activity, mining has altered many aquatic systems in the watershed.
Mining diverted water flows, altered stream channels and resulted in timber harvesting, road
building and the movement of large quantities of soil and rock. Although widespread mining is
no longer practiced in the watershed and water quality has improved, its historical impacts
persist.
It is likely that many native aquatic and amphibious species are less prevalent now than they were
during pre-settlement time. In general, the riparian habitat in the watershed has been degraded
from historic conditions and supports lower levels of species diversity than in the past.
Mortality associated with natural attrition and pulse events such as fire, windthrow and insect
infestations created snags that provided habitat for a wide range of species. Historically, snag
and coarse wood development were more likely to occur in pulses than they do today. These
pulse events strongly influenced the spatial and temporal recruitment of snags and coarse wood.
Timber harvest and fire exclusion have reduced the influence of pulse events on the recruitment
and availability of snags and down wood.
Large predator species such as grizzly bears and wolves (Canis lupus ) were present in the
watershed (Bailey 1936) and, along with cougar (Felis concolor) and black bear (Ursus
americanus), maintained the balance between species such as Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus)
and blacktailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus) with the available forage.
Wolverines (Gulo gulo luteus) remained at high elevations throughout the year. This species is
an opportunistic predator, feeding on animals such as porcupines (Erithizon dorsatum) and
occasional winter kills. Grey foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) used the valley and nearby
brushy slopes as their primary habitat.
Predators benefited many other species by preying on small mammals such as raccoons ( Procyon
lotor ) that fed on the young birds in ground nests. Predators also made carcasses available in the
winter that benefited species as diverse as the striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ) and the black-
capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus).
93
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
Historically, the landscape was open and animal movement was largely unrestricted. Many
animals would seasonally migrate to take advantage of food, shelter and water. For example,
deer and elk primarily wintered in the oak/savannahs, and spent warmer seasons in the uplands.
In the early spring, black bears sought green grass to activate their digestive system. Winter kills
that remained were utilized by the bears at this time. During early summer, California ground-
cone (Boschniakia spp.) became an important part of their diet, until berries were available. As
fall approached, the salmon returned to the river, spawned and died. This abundant food source
was available to a host of consumers and scavengers.
Historically, exotic species such as bullfrogs, starlings, house sparrows, opossum and largemouth
bass were not found within the watershed. Their current presence, the result of both intentional
and accidental introductions, has impacted native populations through displacement,
competition, predation and disease.
c. Riparian
Over time, water quality has varied greatly. Prior to the introduction of widespread mining
activities, water quality was high. Seeps, springs, snow and riparian vegetation all contributed to
keeping the water cool. During the winter and spring, occasional floods would flush the system
clear of sediment deposited from natural slides and erosion.
Stream courses with higher gradients were primarily lined by conifers with a narrow band of
deciduous trees and were well defined by entrenched channels. On BLM lands, most streams
were characterized by plant series such as Ponderosa pine and Jeffrey pine which were not
capable of providing Douglas-fir late-successional forest habitat.
As the streams dropped to the valley floor, wide floodplains were developed and the streams
began to meander, taking on a variety of courses from year to year. These highly sinuous stream
systems consisted of undercut banks, oxbows, and woody material that created a diverse aquatic
system and associated habitats. Here, the riparian zone would have widened, with deciduous
trees playing a more important role than they did in the uplands. Because conifers near the
streams had a longer fire return interval, they were more likely to progress to mature stand
conditions. This provided a source of large wood in the streams.
Many wildlife species contributed to riparian corridor diversity. Beavers ( Castor canadensis), as
a keystone species, created backwater sloughs behind their dams and added fine woody material
to the stream, providing fish cover as well as nesting habitat for species such as ducks and geese.
The diversity of wildlife species was not restricted to the surface, as a profusion of aquatic
insects took advantage of the variety of available niches. These insects in turn supported an
assortment of vertebrate species including anadromous fish. As the adult fish returned to their
native streams, their carcasses produced a rich source of food that, in turn, supported minks
(Mustela vision), American black bears (Ursus americanus), grizzly bears (Ursus horribilis),
bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and a number of other scavenger species.
94
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
^^nthesi^n^nte^
2. Aquatic
a. Fisheries
Pre-Euro-American Settlement: A pre-Euro-American view of the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed would have included sustained populations of beaver and salmon, particularly in the
lower gradient reaches of Elk Creek and West Fork Illinois. In addition, there would have been a
mixture of mature conifers and hardwoods and riparian zones would have had dense canopies,
most notably on the valley bottoms where alluvium is derived from ultramafics but serpentine
conditions do not dominate. Summer water temperatures in these valley bottom reaches were
probably cool and not a limiting factor in salmonid production. In the upper reaches of the West
Fork, stream temperatures may have been cooler than today due to narrower channels and more
shade, but the understory of some streams was probably less brushy than it is now. In the Jeffrey
Pine plant series, the pine understory was sparse due to frequent fire and probably consisted of a
grass layer. Stream temperatures in these areas may have been higher than current water quality
standards (see Water Quality/Temperature, Chapter 3). In the valley bottoms and less so in the
serpentine areas, there would have been large woody material dispersed throughout the streams
providing complex habitats for resident trout, juvenile steelhead and salmon, as supported by the
1936 type map. There probably would have been an abundance of fish in many valley bottom
reaches of most streams. Native Americans relied heavily on salmon, steelhead, lamprey and
suckers for subsistence and ceremonial purposes.
Prior to Euro-American settlement, streams in the valley alluvium meandered with unconstrained
channels. Multiple stream channels dissipated flows and created fish habitat. Riparian
vegetation and adequate connections to the floodplain limited the effects of annual peak flows.
Winter scour had less impact on macroinvertebrate and fish populations, especially in low
gradient reaches. In addition, large riparian down wood held back spawning gravels during high
flow events in some of the watershed’s steeper gradient streams. Sediment in the spawning
gravels was not limiting to fish or macroinvertebrate populations. Occasionally, landslides
delivered sediment to streams. However, large wood almost always accompanied the sediment
delivery. The wood controlled sediment movement throughout the system and the sediment did
not embed itself into the spawning gravel. Erosion and sedimentation were in balance with
stream transport capacity resulting in pools with good depth and cover.
Post-Euro-American Settlement: Euro-Americans trapped beaver extensively and as a result,
complex, deep pools started disappearing throughout the watershed. Coho salmon populations
began declining, although production of coho in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed was
historically moderate compared to East Fork Illinois. In addition, mining roads and other travel
ways began to be more numerous. This led to an increase in peak winter flows, especially when
roads were located near streams, as was the stage road connection to California along upper West
Fork and Whiskey Creek. Sedimentation of streams increased as well. Placer mining caused
extensive erosion of the streambanks, notably in Fry Gulch, Elk Creek, and West Fork mainstem.
Mining occurred throughout the Rogue basin. Extensive mining in the early 1900s caused the
Rogue River to run brick red with silt (ODFW 1994). Stream sedimentation contributed to a
decline in salmonid populations throughout the watershed, and water temperatures increased as
95
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
Wes^ortjllinoi^
riparian vegetation was removed. The 1964 flood eroded banks and widened channels that had
begun to recover following the impact of mining.
There was extensive agricultural activity within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed. Fields
were plowed right up to the streambanks. Trees and other riparian vegetation were removed,
thereby reducing stream shade. In addition, agricultural runoff added excess sediment to streams
and increased stream temperatures. Irrigation diversions limited salmonid survival wherever they
occurred. Water rights allowed complete diversion of stream flows for irrigation. Fish screens
on irrigation diversions were a relatively new phenomenon and consequently, large numbers of
salmon and trout ended up in farmer’s fields.
Timber harvest had one of the biggest impacts on juvenile coho salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat
trout habitat, especially in non-serpentine areas. Streamside trees were harvested due to their size
and value. When the majority of the large wood was removed, there was little available for
recruitment for fish habitat. Habitat complexity rapidly declined, as did the coho salmon,
steelhead, and cutthroat trout populations which were dependent upon the large wood. Coho
salmon were most affected by the loss of large wood, since juvenile coho require complex pools
for rearing habitat. In addition, coho are found in lower gradient stream reaches than resident
trout and steelhead, and are not distributed as far upstream. As a result, when the lowland habitat
was altered, there were limited refugia for the coho salmon.
Road construction increased with timber harvest, compounding the problem of limited juvenile
habitat. Sedimentation increased and limited salmonid production. Peak winter flows increased
as a result of increased road density. High winter scour limited macroinvertebrate populations
and transported wood away from streams. Fish habitat declined. In addition, stream-side roads
limited stream meander and the development of multiple channels. Peak flows did further
damage, as the streams could not naturally diffuse the high energy from flood events.
Insufficient restrictions on commercial salmon harvest and a rapid decrease in freshwater habitat
led to rapid decline in the coho populations.
I. FIRE
The majority of lands within the West Fork Illinois River Watershed have a historical fire regime
of low severity. The low severity fire regime is characterized by frequent (0-35 year) fires of low
intensity (Agee 1990). The remaining brushfields and open areas of grass are considered a stand-
replacing, non-forest fire regime, again with a fire frequency of 0-35 years. Some limited areas
are mixed severity fire regimes with fire frequencies of 35-100 years.
Fires in these regimes are associated with ecosystem stability, as the system is more stable in the
presence of fire than in its absence (Agee 1990). Frequent, low severity fires maintain fuels so
they are less likely to bum intensely, even when there is severe fire weather. Under the identified
natural fire regimes, limited overstory mortality occurs. The majority of the dominant overstory
trees are adapted to resist low intensity fires because thick bark developed at an early age.
Structural effects of these fires are on the smaller understory trees and shrubs which, along with
96
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
down woody fuels, are periodically removed or thinned by low intensity fires. The resulting
understory is low, open, and park-like in appearance over a vast majority of the landscape.
With the advent of fire exclusion, the pattern of frequent, low intensity fire ended. Dead and
down fuel and understory vegetation are no longer periodically removed. Species composition
changes and thinner barked, less fire-resistant species increase in number and percentage of site
occupancy. This creates a trend of ever increasing buildup in the amount of live and dead fuel.
The understory becomes dense and choked with conifer and hardwood reproduction. The longer
interval between fire occurrences allows both live and dead fuel to build up. This creates higher
intensity, stand-destroying replacement fires rather than the historical low intensity ground fires
that maintained park-like stands.
The reference condition for fuel conditions in the pre -European settlement period would have
been one of low build-up over the majority of areas. Lack of fire suppression and Native
American use of fire maintained a comparatively open forest understory with little fuel
accumulation or understory vegetative growth. This would have occurred across the watershed
with only isolated areas of dense undergrowth and fuel accumulation. These areas would have
changed over time. Location would have largely been dependent on the lightning occurrence
pattern, with the exception of areas used by Native Americas. The build up of fuel and
vegetation that has resulted from modem human settlement and subsequent fire exclusion has
created a hazardous situation that is outside the reference condition and natural range of
variability.
J. AIR RESOURCES
Lower air quality due to natural and human ignition sources has historically occurred in the
spring, summer, and fall in southern Oregon. Numerous references are made by early Euro-
American explorers and settlers of Native American burning and wildfire occurrence in southern
Oregon. Smoke-filled skies and valleys were once typical during the warm seasons. Air quality
impacts from natural and prescribed fires declined with active fire suppression and a reduction in
burning associated with settlement and mining. Factors influencing air quality shifted away from
wildfire and human burning to fossil fuel combustion as population and industry grew. This
created a shift in the season of air quality concern to the winter months when stable air and poor
ventilation occur. By the 1970s, fossil fuel emissions became a major factor along with wood
stove and backyard burning. Prescribed burning related to the forest industry increased
throughout this period and was an additional factor, particularly in the fall. Regulation of
prescribed burning smoke emissions and environmental regulation of fossil fuel combustion
sources has lead to a steady improvement in air quality since the 1970s.
The historical fire regime created a pine-dominated forest characterized by little dead and down
ground fuels and few standing snags (USD A, USDI 1994a). Upland vegetation had a
considerably less dense understory. Coarse down woody accumulations were relatively light
because frequent low intensity fires consumed the majority of the down wood. Less smoke and
particulates were produced in the past, as there was less material to bum.
97
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V^S^nthesi^n^nte^
Air quality as a reference condition is determined by legal statute (the Clean Air Act and the
Oregon State Air Quality Implementation Plan). Management actions must conform such that
efforts are made to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards, prevent significant
deterioration, and meet the Oregon visibility protection plan and smoke management plan goals.
K. HUMAN USES
1. Prehistory and Ethnography
Broadly speaking, the native people of the region were hunter-gatherer-fishers who made their
living from a wide variety of natural resources found in the narrow canyons and small interior
valleys they occupied. People wintered in semi-permanent villages located along major rivers
and dispersed during the spring-summer-fall season to exploit upland resources. The
archaeological record reflects this subsistence-settlement system.
Ethnographically, Penutian and Athapaskan speakers occupied the region. Tribes included the
lowland Takelma of the upper Illinois River; Athapaskans occupied the Applegate Valley
(Kendall 1990). Gray (1987) however, concludes that the whole Illinois River drainage was
Athapaskan. At the time of Euro- American contact, native cultures could be characterized as
simple, stratified, village-based societies, with ceremonial systems much like those found among
the Hupa, Karuk, and Wiyot of northwestern California (Aikens 1993; Kendal 1990). Gray
(1987) provides an excellent synthesis of the Takelma and their Athapaskan neighbors.
Aikens (1993) recently summarized the prehistory of southwest Oregon. The oldest recorded site
in our immediate area is located at Marial on the Rogue River. This site has been dated to
around 8,000 years before present (Schriendorfer 1985). However, little is known of the
archaeology of the upper Illinois River Watershed, especially in this watershed. Recorded
archaeological sites downstream of the watershed include the McCaleb's Ranch site (35J032)
possibly correlated with the ethnographic site "Talsalsan", and the Gallaher site (35J028), a late
Archaic site that was possibly occupied to the mid- 1800s. In addition, pit house village sites
have been recorded on the wild section of the Illinois River (Steep 1994). Four prehistoric sites
are recorded for the watershed (three USFS and one BLM).
Traditional Native American cultures were effectively destroyed in the Illinois Valley area by the
intrusion of miners in the early 1850s and the subsequent Rogue Indian Wars. After the 1853
treaty, most of the Takelma were on the Table Rock Reservation. In 1856, after the cessation of
hostilities, they were moved to the Grand Ronde and Siletz Reservations.
2. Burning by Native Americans
Fire is an important aspect of ecosystem function in southwest Oregon. Major plant communities
are dependent on fire and other types of disturbance to successfully maintain ecosystem health
(Atzet and Martin 1991). In this respect, Native Americans played an active role in maintaining
fire dependent communities over time, and in establishing themselves as the dominant “edge
dependent species” (Bean and Lawton 1993; Lewis 1989, 1993).
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West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V^S^nthesi^ndJn^
There are numerous parallels between modem vegetation management and Indian burning. Each
seeks to maintain an array of early to mid-seral plant communities across the landscape.
Communities provided small and big game habitat, natural fuel breaks, and for native
populations, various edible plant foods, materials for basketry, and other technological uses.
Other uses for fire included hunting, crop management, insect collection, pest management,
warfare, food preparation, and clearing areas for travel (Williams 1993). Fire also recycles
nutrients, provides vistas, and often destroys forest pathogens. See Williams (1993) for a recent
bibliography of the use of fire by Native Americans.
Until recently, specific ethnographic information for the use of fire in southwest Oregon was
limited (Lewis 1989). However, research specific to the Applegate and Illinois Valleys has been
published (McKinley and Frank 1995; Pullen 1995). In addition, detailed information is
available for the Willamette Valley (Boyd 1986), and it is possible to extrapolate techniques to
native populations in this watershed based on similarities of plant communities. Similar plant
communities also occur in northern California, such as chaparral, and ethnographic data is
available for burning by those tribes. Native people’s burning practices in southwest Oregon
must have functioned similarly to those described for such tribes as the Miwok, Hupa, Tolowa,
and Wintun in California (Lewis 1989, 1993). Also see Blackburn and Anderson (1993).
The following review is based on Lewis (1989) and Pullen (1995). In addition, Pullen (1995)
provides an extensive review of historical journals and other writings illustrating Applegate and
Illinois Valley plant communities at the time of historic contact.
Riparian Zones - Conifers were an important part of riparian zones along the Illinois River and
their tributaries: ponderosa pine along the upper Illinois River (Illinois Valley) and Douglas-fir
on its lower reaches.
Valley Floor-Oak-Grasslands - These plant communities were burned beginning as early as late
July and continuing through September. Burning often occurred after spring rains. Burning
initiated early grass growth and provided habitat for game. It also controlled acorn-destroying
insects (McCarthy 1993). Native American seasonal habitation sites are usually found along the
boundaries of this zone. Recent research indicates that more oak-pine habitat existed in the past
and that these communities were specifically maintained by native burning (Pullen 1995). Open
ponderosa pine stands was maintained, interspersed with open groves of Oregon white oak.
Valley Slopes - North facing slopes in the Illinois Valley were covered with open stands of
ponderosa and sugar pine and occasionally Douglas-fir. South facing slopes were covered with
grass, except along ravines where oaks, chaparral, and scattered ponderosa pine occurred.
Chaparral - Fires were usually initiated in the fall. The primary goal was to maintain a mosaic
of early to mid-seral plant communities that functioned as small and big game habitat. Edible
plant species were also produced. This mosaic created natural fuel breaks. Spring burning helped
to maintain more permanent openings.
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West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
Mid-Elevation Forests - Fire was possibly used to maintain open understories in stands
dominated by Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine. Fires eliminated the build up of ladder fuels that
could contribute to stand replacement fires. Meadows were maintained but overall native use of
fire in this zone was limited.
Upper Elevation Forests - Upper elevation forests in the Illinois River drainage were composed
of mature fir, pine and cedar. Meadows were likely maintained by native burning but overall use
of anthropogenic fire in this zone was limited.
One of the management objectives of native burning was the maintenance of wildlife habitat;
therefore a brief discussion of wildlife populations at the time of contact is in order. Based on a
review of historic sources, Pullen (1995) provides the following general observations:
Deer, elk, bear and wolf - Deer, elk, bear and wolf populations were much higher before or
during Euro-American contact. This can be attributed to the positive effects of native burning.
Beaver - Large numbers of beaver existed along the Applegate River and there may have been
large populations in the Illinois River drainage as well.
Rabbits and squirrels - Rabbits and squirrel populations may have been considerable in the
Illinois Valley. Jack rabbit populations may have been high due to the maintenance of quality
habitat in the valley. Silver gray squirrel populations would have benefited from fire maintained
oak-pine woodland habitats.
3. Native American Management of the Anadromous Fish Resource
The importance of anadromous fish resources to aboriginal societies is well documented in the
ethnographic literature for northwestern California and southwestern Oregon (Hewes 1942, 1947;
Kroeber 1925; Kroeber and Barrett 1960; Suttles 1990). Estimated total yearly consumption of
salmon in native California, which includes northwestern California watersheds, is estimated at
over 15 million pounds (Hewes 1947). Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tschawytscha ) and silver
or coho salmon ( O . kisutch) dominated aboriginal fish harvest. The abundant seasonal runs and
ease of procurement of anadromous fish strongly influenced the distribution of aboriginal
settlements and the spiritual life of native peoples.
Harvesting and storage of anadromous fish in the Pacific Northwest has been part of a yearly
subsistence routine dating back to prehistoric times (Aikens 1993). Charred salmon bone was
recovered at the Marial site located on the Rogue River. This site dates back to at least 8000
before present (Schreindorfer 1985). Exploitation of river resources occurred at the Umpqua-
Eden site located on the Umpqua River estuary. Artifacts associated with fish procurement and
salmon-coho bones were recovered; this site dates to 1010 BC (Ross 1990). The excavation of
the Gallaher site on the lower Illinois River yielded artifacts associated with fishing technology.
Fishing techniques used throughout the region include hook-line, netting from canoes, dip nets
from falls, harpoons, night fishing with torches, clubs, salmon fences (weirs), and basketry traps
wo
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
(Gray 1986; Kroeber 1925). Salmon was cooked and then pulverized for storage for winter use.
Fish drying was a common method of preservation and extremely important as a winter food
source. Salmon eggs were smoked. In hard times towards the beginning of spring, the tails and
heads of salmon might be eaten with some acorn mush. Spring runs of salmon were especially
important at a time when stored winter reserves were dwindling or exhausted.
The distribution of villages and camps along the Rogue and Illinois Rivers and their tributaries
attest to the importance of obtaining and processing fish. Major villages were often located near
falls or rapids to facilitate harvesting. Examples are the village sites at Gold Hill and Marial on
the Rogue River, the village site of Tlegetlinten located at the confluence of the Rogue and
Illinois Rivers, and McCalebs Ranch located within walking distance falls on the Illinois River.
Native peoples were familiar with all major fish species: trout, salmon trout, steelhead,
silverside, and Chinook (Gray 1987). In addition, fresh water fish, mussels, and crawfish were
taken. Riparian products include willows and other wetlands materials used in basketry.
Harvesting of anadromous fish was incorporated in a larger web of ceremonial interactions.
Ritual procedures were used to organize harvest of a variety of food resources and to insure a
sustainable resource. Part of the yearly ritual cycle was devoted to salmon (Sewezy and Heizer
1977). Tribes in northwest California and southwest Oregon had "first salmon" rites which were
often held with the onset of the spring king salmon run, a fish migration of major importance.
These rites were used to recount orally the myth of the origins and travels of the first Salmon,
who became a culture-hero and was invited to ascend the rivers and streams again. Priests or
formulists controlled the timing of rituals in northwestern California (Kroeber 1925). Tribal
members were strictly forbidden to eat salmon until rituals were completed, and often up to ten
days afterwards. These restrictions had the ecological effect of avoiding premature harvest of
salmon and also insured that a portion of the run could travel upriver. Inter-tribal conflicts
concerning downstream over-harvest were thus avoided. A first salmon ceremony was
performed at Ti'lo-mi-kh falls in Takelma territory. This was a central place that drew people
from the entire watershed (Gray 1987). The first five or ten chinook salmon, among
Athapaskans, was eaten ritually by the entire group (Miller and Seaburg 1990). Failure to
incorporate salmon into the ritual cycle was believed to result in poor fish runs or failures of
entire watersheds to produce fish.
Ritual specialists also organized the building of fish dams and weirs at critical locations. Weirs
were left open at night both to ensure that facilities weren't damaged as well as to allow the
continued passage of fish upriver. Dams were removed after a set fishing period (Waterman and
Kroeber 1938).
4. Gold Mining
The discovery of gold at the mouth of Josephine Creek in the summer of 1850 brought about
tremendous change in the Illinois Valley. The first known trails into the Illinois Valley from the
west were opened in early 1851, bringing people from Trinidad, California, and over the
Siskiyous from above present day Happy Camp. Mining activities at first centered on Josephine
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West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V^Synthesisar^
and Canyon Creeks, but after 1852, exploration for gold revealed extensive deposits on the
alluvial flats of the upper Illinois River and along the streams and gulches that feed the East Fork
of the Illinois River. Reviews of regional environmental and mining history are found in
McKinley and Frank (1996), Ramp and Peterson (1979), and Francis (1988).
Althouse Creek, just east of the West Fork Illinois Watershed, saw a tremendous amount of gold
mining activity, supporting over a thousand miners along ten miles of its length for perhaps ten
years (McKinley and Frank 1996). By 1853, Browntown was a thriving mining center on
Althouse Creek, serving miners in the area. In 1852 a trail was opened up from Crescent City,
California, which led to an increase in miners coming into the valley.
Within both East and West Fork Illinois River Watersheds, placer gold was first discovered in
Sailor, Allen, Fry and Scotch Gulches. These areas were intensively mined and lasted only a few
years (Ramp and Peterson 1979). Beginning around 1860, a system of ditches was developed to
bring water to the hydraulic mine operations developing in the area; the Osgood Ditch, located
above the East Fork of the Illinois River, dates from this era. It is estimated that thirty miles of
ditches and flumes at four levels were constructed (McKinley and Frank 1996). Active mines
included the High Gravel No. 416, the Deep Gravel No. 393 and Esterly mines (Llano de Oro),
No. 396. These areas contained several thousand acres of gold and platinum gravels and were
hydraulically mined from about 1870 to 1940. Their combined estimated production was about
55,000 oz. (Ramp and Peterson 1979). Bedrock at the Deep Gravel and Esterly Mine was well
below the elevation of the Illinois River and huge hydraulic elevators were used to hoist the
gravel to the sluices. The Esterly Mine closed in 1942. The Esterly Lakes are a remnant of those
early hydraulic mine operations.
As miners came into the area whole towns sprang up over night. Towns appeared in Allen Gulch
and at Waldo. By 1856, 500 people were living in Waldo and by 1858, the town had four hotels
(one for Chinese only), a stable, blacksmith shops, saloons, and a bowling alley. Francis (1988)
estimates that over 3,000 people used the services and materials the town had to offer. When
Josephine County was formed on January 22, 1856, Waldo, the largest town in the area, was
chosen as its territorial seat. Waldo declined in population until the late 1920s. In the mid-
1930s, the hydraulic giants of the Esterly Mine mined what was left of Waldo. Between 1852
and 1979 Josephine County produced 567,989 oz. of gold valued at $12,797,434 (Ramp and
Peterson 1979). For a detailed discussion of individual mines, see the Oregon Metal Mines
Handbook (1942).
In addition to gold, copper was produced primarily before 1920 from the Queen of Bronze Mine
No. 421 and the Cowboy Mine No. 446, both in the Waldo-Takilma area. Ore was processed at
a local smelter but some ore was shipped by horse drawn freight wagons to the railroad terminal
at Waters Creek. Over 25,000 tons of ore were produced (Ramp and Peterson 1979). Copper
has been the second most important metal in terms of production in Josephine County.
Mines and later copper processing facilities produced a demand for forest products, and almost
certainly impacted forests heavily at the local level. Flumes, chutes and towns needed building
materials. Two whipsaws in the Waldo area in the 1850s were producing up to 20,000 board feet
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West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
per week for mining operations, and Chinese miners ran a mill for the Sailor Diggings. Large
pines were the preferred species. By 1886, J.W. Bennet opened a water run lumber mill in
Butcher Gulch near Waldo. Other mills opened in the 1890s but lumbering really didn't take off
in the region until the 1950s (McKinley and Frank 1995).
5. Roads
Before European settlement of the west, ground disturbances were caused by animals, native
people and natural events. As the west developed, animal trails and foot paths became narrow
roads used to transport people and supplies mainly along streams, ridges and through saddles.
These roads were generally naturally surfaced; the amount of associated sediment flow depended
upon use, location, weather conditions, and soil type. As the use of these roads increased over
the years, the roads themselves changed in design. Many of today’s highways began as trails and
are now widened, realigned, and surfaced to meet the increase and change in vehicle traffic.
Even with the increase in traffic flow, crushed rock surfacing, asphalt, modem techniques in road
stabilization, and improved road drainage have actually decreased sedimentation and erosion
along the original natural-surfaced roads.
6. Recreation
During the earliest years of the twentieth century, recreational activity was intertwined with work
and food acquisition (Atwood and Grey 1996). The 1930s brought about the Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) which, among other duties, was responsible for building roads.
These new roads provided recreational opportunities that were not previously available to many
people. People began using roads to access sites for hiking, camping and driving for pleasure.
Other recreational activities included hunting and horseback riding.
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West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
^Synthesi^im
V. SYNTHESIS AND INTERPRETATION
A. PURPOSE
The purposes of the synthesis and interpretation section of the watershed analysis are to compare
existing and reference conditions of specific ecosystem elements, to explain significant
differences, similarities or trends and their causes, and to assess the capability of the system to
meet key management plan objectives.
B. EROSIONAL PROCESSES
The major changes between historic reference conditions and current conditions are due to
increases in the intensity and the types of human interaction with the environment. Native
people's burning practices were limited to valley bottoms, gently sloping foot slopes, mid-slopes,
and isolated upland meadows. The fires were spotty. This contrasts strongly with the use of fire
to clear the land for mining, agriculture and forest management that has occurred since the end of
the nineteenth century.
Forest management on both private and public land has included fire suppression, road
construction, and logging with yarders on steep slopes and tractors on gentle to moderate slopes.
Fire suppression has resulted in accumulation of fuels. When these bum in a wildfire situation,
they can bum extensively and with high intensity. A high-intensity fire consumes the duff, litter
and most of the coarse woody material. The top layer of mineral soil impacted by a high-
intensity fire commonly shows color changes due to consumption of organic matter and the
effects of heat on the mineral components. This leaves bare soil conditions that are highly
susceptible to erosion.
A review of the fire hazard (Map 12) and high priority hazard treatment (Map 16) as compared to
soil depth and parent material (USDA, USDI 1997) shows a correlation between non-ultramafic
parent materials and high fire hazard. This is likely due to vegetation patterns under fire
suppression that typically become dense and overstocked in most soils in this area of high
precipitation except in areas of ultramafic derived soils that produced scattered vegetation due to
soil chemistry that limits plant species and rate of growth. Areas of high fire hazard are of
concern, if left untreated, because of the potential for extensive erosion after catastrophic fire.
Any surface disturbing (including burning) treatment on slopes of ultramafic soil is of concern
because of the tendency to erode. Plant communities usually contain only a few species tolerant
of the unusual soil chemistry that grow slowly and are arranged in a scattered distribution. This
results in thin duff and litter layers. These soils have high erosion hazard due to the severity of
the slope. The steep slopes give flowing water high erosive energy as it increases velocity
running down slope. Reestablishing vegetative cover may be difficult.
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V. Synthesis and Interpretation
C. HYDROLOGY
The stream flow regime in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed reflects human influences that
have occurred since European settlers arrived. Changes in the stream flow regime due to human
disturbance have not been quantified. Changes may include channel widening, bank erosion,
channel scouring and increased sediment loads. Stream surveys of Class 3 and 4 streams need to
be completed.
Road construction, timber harvest, water withdrawals and fire suppression are the major factors
having the potential to adversely affect the timing and magnitude of stream flows in portions of
this watershed. Extensive road building and timber harvest have raised the potential for
increasing the magnitude and frequency of peak flows in many tributaries. As the vegetation in
harvested areas recovers, the magnitude and frequency of peak flows diminish. Permanent road
systems will prevent stream flows from returning to pre-disturbance levels (USDI 1998a).
However, road construction and reconstruction techniques can minimize the long-term effects by
spreading runoff so that most is subject to soil infiltration.
Effects of roads vary with road location on the landscape. Roads, particularly those adjacent to
streams, have a direct effect on stream flow patterns and water quality. Roads were historically
built where the natural gradients made road location and construction easiest, generally in
bottoms where stream were located. Added investments for improvements and tributary roads
over time would make many these roads nearly permanent in spite of their poor location from a
hydrologic and erosion perspective.
Logan Cut is an old mining ditch located in sections 9, 10, and 15. It takes water out of the East
Fork of the Illinois Watershed and shunts it to the West Fork. It is acting as a perennial
interrupted (pools remain in the dry period) fish stream. Logan Cut augments flow to West Fork
of the Illinois River.
Hydrologic cumulative effects analyses have not been completed for subwatersheds within the
watershed. However, estimates based on GIS mapping indicate that generally the higher road
density areas are on non-BLM land. The areas with high to very high road densities, where data
is available, include West Fork Illinois, Lower; West Fork Illinois, Middle; and Elk Creek. Road
density is considered to be high when it is greater than four miles of road per square mile.
High road densities combined with patch clearcuts result in substantial increases in mid-range
peak flows in small streams (Jones 1996). Other effects that may be attributable to high road
densities combined with clearcuts are destabilization of stream channels and a reduction in
intermediate and low flows.
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V. Synthesis and Interpretation
D. WATER QUALITY
Changes in water quality, including temperature, from reference levels to current conditions, that
can stress aquatic life, are predominantly caused by riparian vegetation removal, water
withdrawals, and roads. Water quality elements known to be affected the most by human
disturbances are temperature, sediment and turbidity.
The recovery of riparian vegetation will provide shade and should bring about the reduction of
stream temperatures except where soils are derived from serpentine/ultramafic material. Road
maintenance (i.e., drainage improvements including surface regrading to outslope wherever
possible) and decommissioning would decrease sedimentation in the analysis area (USDI 1998a).
Water withdrawals are active during the irrigation season on private land. Increased irrigation
efficiency would leave more cool water in the stream system and decrease the amount of warm
water that gets back into the system. This is an issue on private land.
E. STREAM CHANNELS
Channel conditions and sediment transport processes in the West Fork Illinois River Watershed
have changed since Euro-American settlers arrived in the 1830s. This was primarily a result of
mining, road building, and agricultural development. Hydraulic mining resulted in entrenched
channels with greater width-depth ratios. Increased instream gradients and sediment transport
are consequences of the larger width-depth ratios (USDI 1998a)
Sediment is mainly transported from road surfaces, fill slopes, streambanks and ditch lines.
Increases in sediment loads due to roads are generally highest during the five-year period after
construction. However, roads continue to supply sediment to streams as long as the roads exist.
Road maintenance, renovation and decommissioning may, in some instances, reduce the amount
of sediment moving from the roads to the streams. Roads constructed adjacent to stream
channels tend to confine the stream and restrict the natural tendency of stream channels to move
laterally. This can lead to downcutting of the stream bed and bank erosion. In such cases,
obliteration of streamside roads would improve the situation (USDI 1998a).
Removal of riparian vegetation and large wood from streams has had a major detrimental effect
on the presence of large wood in the stream channels. There is a minimal amount of large wood
in the analysis area with many areas lacking the potential for short-term recruitment. Large wood
can perform an important function of reducing stream velocities during peak flows and trapping
and slowing the movement of sediment and organic matter through the stream system. It also
helps diversify aquatic habitat. Riparian reserves along intermittent, perennial nonfish-bearing,
and fish-bearing streams will provide a long-term source of large woody material recruitment for
streams on federal land once the vegetation has been restored (USDI 1998a). Stream surveys are
needed for the Class 3 and 4 streams to quantify where large wood is needed.
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V. Synthesis and Interpretation
F. VEGETATION
The vegetative and structural conditions of the forests in the watershed have seldom been
constant and have changed frequently with historical disturbance patterns. Disturbance has
played a vital role in providing for a diversity of plant series, serai stages, and distribution of
series and stages, both spatially and temporally. The presence of fire, insects, disease, periods of
drought, and the resultant tree mortality have always been part of the ecosystem processes.
The increase in fire exclusion in relatively recent times has driven forest structure towards a
higher level of complexity in the current forest stands. This has occurred on the full range of
sites including sites where it is not sustainable, such as those areas that historically supported
pine species. Due to both timber harvesting and fire exclusion, there has been a substantial
reduction in the presence of pine species over the past 50-75 years.
Consideration of the watershed’s vegetation, reference and current condition and successional
patterns indicates four distinct areas for consideration.
1. Plant Series
The Douglas-fir series was the dominant plant community in the watershed and remains so today.
In 1936, 60% of the acres inventoried were in the Douglas-fir series. Today, the Douglas-fir
series has been inventoried on 36% of the acres, a drop of approximately 24%. In 1936, there
was no mention of the tanoak series in the watershed. Today, that plant community covers 21%
of the watershed acres inventoried.
It is difficult to assess the changes in the Jeffrey pine series as the 1936 type maps combined
areas with all pine species. However, if the areas deemed non-commercial in 1936 are lumped
with all pine areas, the total is 36%. Today, the ponderosa and Jeffrey pine series account for
25% of the acres inventoried. This is a decrease of about 11%. Ponderosa pine itself has
declined from 1 1% of the acres inventoried in 1936 to 0.6% of the acres inventoried today.
Last, there has been an increase in the non-forested areas from 4% in 1936 to 17% in 2000, a
12% increase. This may reflect the rural development in the watershed.
This change in series composition shows a trend. Species that are more shade tolerant and fire
intolerant are increasing. For example, tanoak is moving into what would have been Douglas-fir
sites, if fire disturbance had been allowed to occur. Pine series are being encroached by Douglas-
fir. These correlations are rough but demonstrate changes in plant communities over time.
2. Late-Successional Forest
In 1936, 40% of the inventoried acres were classified as Douglas-fir old growth. Today, about
10% of the land has trees with an average diameter greater than 21” or is considered late-
successional forest. Most of the reference condition old growth was present on what is now
private land. Mining, logging, and development have removed most of the late-successional
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West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
forest from this watershed. The remaining late-successional forest is split between the BLM and
non-Federal lands.
3. Fire Events
There is no mention of deforested bum areas in the 1936 inventory. Since that time, there have
been several fires in the watershed. The Longwood fire burned about 2,300 acres in 1987 and the
Mendenhall fire burned 450 acres in 1994. Five other wildfires have been recorded in the
watershed between 1944 and 1960 (USDA, USDI 1997). A rough estimate is that less than 4,600
acres (6%) in the watershed have burned since 1936. This means that fuels have been
accumulating on 94% of the watershed for 65 years without a fire event occurring.
4. Size Class Distribution
A high percentage of the watershed (60%) exists in the 5-21" DBH range. Fire exclusion this
century has permitted dense pole stands to develop throughout the watershed, crowding out
important mid-seral species less tolerant of shade such as Ponderosa pine, Pacific madrone,
California black oak and Oregon white oak. When forests remain at unsustainable densities for
too long, a number of trends begin to occur that effect stand health. Species composition,
relative density, percent live crown ratio, and radial growth are all indicators of how forests can
be expected to respond to environmental stresses. Potential for a stand destroying fire in these
dense stands, particularly in the rural interface, is high.
5. Port-Orford Cedar / Phytophthora lateralis
The fatal root disease caused by Phytophthora lateralis threatens the development of large
(greater than 21"DBH) Port-Orford cedar in the watershed. Infestations of the root disease are
found in Whiskey Creek and in the West Fork Illinois River, downstream from the confluence of
Whiskey Creek and West Fork Illinois River.
G. SPECIES AND HABITATS
1. Terrestrial Species and Habitats
a. Special Status and Survey and Manage Plants
In the West Fork Illinois River Watershed, habitat for special status and Survey and Manage
plants differs between current and reference conditions. Changes have occurred primarily from
fragmentation of habitat due to agricultural use, rural residential development, mining, and
timber harvest. There have also been changes in species composition due to fire suppression.
Changes in habitat are especially evident where intensive mining took place. Without detailed
information of population size or the extent of individual species pre-mining era, it is difficult to
determine at what natural levels these species may have existed. Some areas appear be
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West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
recovering over time, but other areas where extensive mine tailings were left above any topsoil
may not recover without extensive restoration efforts.
The reduction of late-successional habitat for Survey and Manage plant species lends uncertainty
to the long-term health of these species. If this habitat continues to shrink, those populations in
existence will become more isolated with little chance of expansion. This will also make them
more susceptible to extirpation by chance events (such as a hot-burning wildfire, especially on
the south facing aspects of the watershed) that could cause major perturbations in numbers of
individuals per population and numbers of populations in the region ( i.e ., southwestern Oregon).
If the numbers of populations or individuals per population decrease, the chance of extirpation
of this species from this region could increase.
The reason these species were originally determined to be Survey and Manage was because their
future viability was uncertain due to their dependence on late-successional habitat. Late-
successional reserves designated by the Northwest Forest Plan do not provide refuge for the
majority of populations of these species in this region of Oregon. The majority exist on the lower
elevation Matrix lands. The Management Recommendations prepared as part of the NFP not
only discuss the need to protect known sites of these species, but also recommend retaining
canopy closures of 60% or greater and protecting mychorrhizal associations by limiting
disturbance to the duff layer. This could also improve the chances for protection of rare
nonvascular plant species which also require late-successional, structurally-di verse habitat. An
ecosystem management approach could ensure that a natural range of ecosystem variability is
retained which would include crucial habitat for a variety of species.
Besides reduced late-successional forest habitat, the biggest impact affecting species diversity is
the reduction in number and size of natural openings as well as edge habitat between the forest
and openings. These openings are filling in with shrubs and trees due to lack of fire. This
reduces the likelihood of survival of healthy populations of such species as Erythronium howellii.
Managing these habitats is as important as managing for late-successional habitats.
Similarly, managing for serpentine habitat is important as it harbors the highest concentrations of
special status plants in southwestern Oregon. Both dry serpentine and serpentine fens require
habitat restoration activities such as prescribed fire to improve habitat for special status plants.
Improved habitat will consist of reduced thatch and reduction in shrub encroachment. For
serpentine fens in particular, this is important since four of the rarest special status species (plus
one species variety) occur only in these fens.
While maintaining such habitats, nonvascular Survey and Manage species should be protected
from treatments that could decrease population viability. This is especially true in oak
woodlands where Dendriscocaulon intricatulum and Bryoria tortuosa have been found.
The Medford District Resource Management Plan (RMP) includes the objective of "studying,
maintaining or restoring community structure, species composition and ecological processes of
special status plants." The RMP includes management actions and directions that require the
maintenance or enhancement of habitats such as these.
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West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
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have been replaced by more shade tolerant species such as tanoak and Douglas-fir.
Fire exclusion has resulted in encroachment of meadows by species such as incense cedar and
Douglas-fir. Additionally, fire exclusion has contributed to decadent brush fields and the loss of
forbs and grasses typically associated with lower brush canopy closure.
In general, management of habitat for target species such as the spotted owl or red tree vole will
depend upon the ability to maintain existing late-successional forests while at the same time
managing young stands so they will achieve desired stand conditions as quickly as possible.
Continued losses of late-successional forest would further reduce dispersal opportunities and
viability of species associated with this habitat.
Utilizing fire in meadows is essential to restore these sites. Otherwise it is likely that increased
brush canopy closure and encroachment by fire intolerant species will result in smaller and less
productive meadows. Species that utilize meadows for foraging and nesting will lose additional
habitat if current trends continue.
2. Aquatic Species and Habitats
a. Stream and Riparian Trends
The degradation of aquatic habitat on federal and non-federal land in the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed from the reference to the current condition has resulted from changes in these major
watershed attributes: (1) successional stage of vegetation in riparian zones; (2) the amount of
stream flow between early summer and fall, and (3) the rate and magnitude of sediment delivery.
On both federal and non-federal lands, the changes in watershed processes have been brought
about through mining, logging, associated road network development, wildfire exclusion, and
water withdrawal. In addition, on non-federal lands, agriculture and development in the
floodplain have been major factors in changing aquatic habitat in the watershed.
b. Riparian Reserves and Large Woody Material
The majority (57%) of the Riparian Reserves on BLM lands are serpentine areas with a Jeffrey
pine plant series. These pine stands have changed from mature trees with a grass understory to
being dominated by mid-seral trees with a shrub understory (see Current Condition, Wildlife,
Riparian). Wildfire exclusion has allowed the encroachment of shrubs into Jeffrey pine stands,
excluding new pine seedlings. The change in serai stage, coupled with fire exclusion, has
resulted in changes to the character of coarse wood on the ground in the Riparian Reserves. All
decay classes of woody material are more likely to be found because the material is not being
consumed by frequent fires. The mature size class probably has become less available with time,
however, as recruitment is increasingly from the mid-seral stage.
Within the BLM Riparian Reserves, only 17% of the land is described as the Douglas-fir plant
series. These are the only lands plus a small amount of tanoak series (2%) within the Riparian
Reserves capable of producing late-successional habitat. The change from reference condition
has been toward a mid-seral stage, with less structural and species diversity, less shade, and
in
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
fewer mature trees as a source of future coarse wood. Logging in these stands has reduced the
amount of coarse wood available to riparian-dependent species, both through removing mature
trees and by post-harvest burning. Approximately 15% of the BLM Riparian Reserve acreage is
non-vegetated and has never been capable of producing late-successional habitat.
The trend on National Forest and private lands has been similar to that on BLM. Riparian
vegetation has changed from forest stands dominated by mature trees to stands of poles and small
trees. On private land, hardwoods and young conifers have become the dominant vegetation due
to logging and fire exclusion. National Forest lands are predominately serpentine areas such as
Rough and Ready Creek, and are mostly incapable of producing late-successional habitat. On
private land, logging and the development of valley bottoms have degraded riparian habitats
which were capable of having late-successional habitat. Wildfire exclusion in particular has
favored tanoak, resulting in degraded riparian habitat due to decreased species and structural
diversity, and lowered recruitment of high quality conifer down wood.
c. Instream Large Woody Material
The difference between the reference and current conditions regarding instream large woody
material is a drastic degradation in quantity, quality, and function across the watershed. Logging,
mining, and clearing of riparian vegetation for agriculture and residential development have
reduced the amount of large wood in streams by removing the source from the adjacent slopes.
In addition, large wood has been cleared out of stream channels when it appeared to pose a risk
to structures or a blockage to fish passage.
The quality of instream large wood has been reduced as mature trees have been removed and
streamside forests become dominated by smaller trees. Smaller material decays sooner and gets
flushed out of the stream system easier. Where conifers have been removed and hardwoods have
become more prevalent, large wood quality also has been degraded because hardwoods decay
rapidly instream. For example, tanoak produces lower quality large woody material in areas
where it now dominates such as Blue Creek, Elk Creek, and the middle section of West Fork.
The function of large woody material in the watershed has been degraded as the amount and
quantity of instream wood have decreased. Streams have become ecologically simplified and
less effective in dissipating stream flow energy, scouring pools, providing complex habitat for
fish, amphibians and invertebrates, and providing organic detritus. Deforested slopes may fail as
a result of road failure or natural causes, but in either case, the debris flow no longer carries large
wood to the stream along with the sediment load. This represents a break in an important
watershed mechanism for supplying the system with large wood. Channelized river sections
which have been straightened and disconnected from the floodplain cannot hold large wood in
place as well as natural channels so it leaves the system sooner. When the wood cannot function
to shape the channel, fewer meanders and side channels develop to provide needed rearing
habitat. The effect of the degradation of this channel process is evident on the West Fork from
the confluence of Whiskey Creek to the confluence with the East Fork Illinois River.
Another significant change from the reference condition is the presence of Port-Orford cedar root
112
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
Wes^Fot^llinoi^Rivei^aters^
disease. An infestation has been identified adjacent to the Whiskey Creek confluence at West
Fork Illinois. The reach of West Fork upstream of the Whiskey Creek confluence in Section 9
has a functioning logjam composed of whole trees with root wads. This jam resulted from a
landslide on an adjacent slope or the undercutting of a forested streambank slope. The jam
caused a bench of spawning gravel to form and forced the flow laterally into a meander. The log
jam demonstrates the function of woody material in the West Fork system and the importance of
a source of mature trees. The loss of Port-Orford cedar from the riparian corridor will remove a
significant source of large wood from the West Fork Illinois system.
d. Sedimentation
Stream sedimentation is a critical issue in Elk Creek, Logan Cut, Fry Gulch, and the lower
reaches of the West Fork Illinois River. Elk Creek drains land that is primarily in private
ownership and has erosive non-serpentine soils. Logan Cut and Fry Gulch have both had
increased flows and scour associated with their use as hydraulic mining outwash drainages.
Logan Cut continues to have over 50% of its banks erode due to the steepness of the slopes. The
West Fork mainstem has undesirable sedimentation levels downstream of its confluences with
Elk and Wood Creeks. Both of these creeks are major sources of sediment to the West Fork.
Wood Creek, like Elk Creek, drains lands that are almost entirely in private ownership and have
erosive non-serpentine soils. Past mining and logging practices account for the changes in the
sedimentation of the watershed from the reference condition to the current condition. Increases
in peak flows, coupled with the removal of riparian vegetation and instream wood, led to
increased scour, increased bank erosion, and increased sediment delivery to aquatic systems.
Stream sedimentation is expected to decrease on federal lands with the continued implementation
of the ACS. This assumes that new activities will not contribute to existing sedimentation
problems. However, there may not be an appreciable decrease in the overall amount of sediment
deposited in streams if road construction standards and logging practices do not substantially
improve on non-federal lands. Many roads and tractor skid roads on private lands do not receive
regular maintenance, nor were most of them designed with adequate drainage or erosion control
features. Sediment from these areas could create adverse cumulative effects downstream.
e. Stream Flow
The decrease in the amount of water available to fish during low- flow periods is due to irrigation
withdrawal, increased width-depth ratio, and decreased riparian canopy cover. Changes in these
stream attributes from reference conditions are a result of agriculture and development, road
density, mining and logging. Irrigation withdrawals exacerbate the adverse effects of poor land
management and continue to cause declines in native fish populations. Past land use practices
which increased peak flows and incised channels have had the effect of destabilizing banks and
widening channels. These changes in the channels in turn have resulted in decreased low flows.
113
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
^Synthesi^ndlnter^re^
Summer stream flows on federal lands are expected to increase in the future, as a result of the
Northwest Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines. Intensity and frequency of peak flows will
diminish as vegetation regrows in previously harvested areas. Potential indirect adverse effects
of altered peak flows on salmonid production and survival should diminish. In the lower reaches
of the watershed, low flows are expected to continue to be a limiting factor for salmonid survival
due to the effect on rearing habitat. Projected growth and development on the valley floor will
continue to put a demand on water allocation and result in higher road densities.
f. Stream Temperature
Stream temperatures have increased from reference conditions due to loss of riparian canopy
cover and decreased summer flows. Natural causes of riparian canopy loss in the watershed
include floods and wildfires, although the effect of fire has been decreased due to wildfire
exclusion over most of the analysis area. Logging, mining, and residential clearing are the three
forms of human disturbance that are most evident in this watershed. Some streams in natural
(undisturbed) condition may have temperatures that exceed DEQ standards due to lack of
vegetation for shade, particularly in rocky, serpentine areas, and warm summer temperatures in
this watershed (see Current Condition, Stream Temperature). Until adequate canopy closure is
attained within the Riparian Reserves, summer temperatures will continue to exceed DEQ
standards within the tributaries and the mainstem West Fork Illinois River. Some stream
temperatures in serpentine areas may continue to exceed current standards even when they return
to a natural range of variation. Summer stream temperatures in areas with predominately federal
land holdings should decrease with continued implementation of the ACS. Within the low-
gradient reaches of the valley floor where private land ownership dominates, summer stream
temperatures are not likely to improve as riparian vegetation is removed during logging and
conversion to residential development and the demand on water allocation increases.
g. Aquatic Species
Factors outside the West Fork Illinois River Watershed which have already resulted in a change
from the reference condition will continue to influence anadromous fish returns to the watershed.
These include ocean productivity, recreational and commercial fish harvest, predation in the
Illinois and Rogue Rivers, and migration and rearing conditions in the Rogue and Illinois Rivers.
Coho salmon are federally listed as threatened, which provides protection from over-harvest and
slows the rate of habitat loss in the watershed. Implementation of the Aquatic Conservation
Strategy on federal land will improve watershed health. The likelihood of recovery of
anadromous fish habitat is moderately low, however, because the majority of the watershed is
privately owned. Changes in summer temperatures and the loss of stream complexity in the
lower West Fork have severely affected coho and steelhead freshwater rearing habitat. The lower
reaches have been affected most by the development of private land. As a result, the potential is
great for private land owners to affect stream health downstream of federal ownership. In the
coho and steelhead recovery effort, refugia on federal land will be extremely important. The
prioritization of restoration in Key Watersheds will allow remnant stocks of coho to survive
while drainages that have been disturbed by past practices recover.
114
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
West^o^Hmoi^^ive^Wate^he^Anal^si^
More sediment and temperature intolerant aquatic insect taxa will be present in the Illinois River
tributaries as watershed conditions improve. Collector-dominated communities in these small
streams would gradually shift to scrapers and shredders as canopy closure and the conifer
component increases, especially in non-serpentine areas. In the West Fork mainstem, increased
woody material will retain detritus and encourage communities of macro invertebrates intolerant
of scouring and degraded conditions.
Current resource management practices and water diversions on private lands, which are beyond
the scope of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy, will continue to limit potential for recovery of
salmon and steelhead habitat and populations. The philosophy of the Aquatic Conservation
Strategy must be applied equally across all ownerships to achieve the potential for recovery of at-
risk fish stocks. The removal of fish passage barriers and the improvement of water withdrawal
methods ( e.g ., gravel push-up dam removal) can be accomplished on private land by spending
federal funds through the Wyden Amendment. Joint projects by the BLM and the Illinois Valley
Soil and Water District on private land have been effective and provide a watershed model for
irrigation and fish passage improvement.
Private forest lands will no doubt continue to be managed intensively for wood production. The
cumulative effects of management activities have substantially altered the timing and quantity of
erosion and have changed stream channels, both of which have affected fish production. Streams
and riparian areas with federal ownership are in better condition than streams on private lands.
The trend will likely continue.
H. FIRE MANAGEMENT
There is a high risk for a large scale, high severity wildfire within the watershed. Mixed land
ownership, wildland/urban interface area, and heavy recreational use increase the complexity of
fire prevention, protection, fuels management, and hazard reduction programs.
Fire exclusion has created vegetative and fuel conditions with high potential for large,
destructive, and difficult-to-suppress wildfire occurrence. The watershed has a large number of
sites which are at a high risk of loss from wildland fire. High severity, stand replacement
wildfire presents a threat to human life, property, and nearly all resource values within the
watershed. Management activities can reduce the potential for stand destroying fires through
hazard reduction treatments. Public acceptance of hazard reduction management activities will
be critical for the long-term health and stability of the forest ecosystem within the watershed.
A major difference between the existing and the reference condition is the change in the fire
regime. This has been highlighted with the discussion of fire condition class and the extent of
the watershed that is considered in fire condition class II and DJ. The watershed has gone from a
low severity to a high severity fire regime. Previously, fire occurred frequently and burned with
low intensity, and functioned largely in maintaining the existing vegetation. Currently, fire is
infrequent, high intensity, causes high degrees of mortality, and replaces vegetation rather then
maintains it. This has resulted from nearly a century of fire suppression and exclusion. The
115
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
change in vegetative conditions, fuel profile, and amount of fuel present is now such that a large
wildfire will have severe effects on vegetation, erosion, habitat, and water quality. Stand
replacement as a result of wildfire was a low percentage in the reference condition. Existing
conditions would produce 50% to 75% stand destruction type fire. The current trend is for
increasing fuel hazard buildup and increasing risk for fire ignition due to population growth and
human use within the watershed and adjacent region.
The change is great in magnitude and is widespread throughout the watershed. Only eight
percent of the watershed is currently in a low hazard condition. High hazard conditions occur
throughout the watershed, covering 55% of its area. Vegetation in the watershed is at a high
degree of risk for mortality and stand replacement from wildfire. The existing and future trend in
fuel and vegetative conditions is a dominant factor that will define and limit the ability to achieve
most management objectives for the watershed. The capability of achieving and meeting
management objectives in the watershed is low in the long term (20 years or more).
Risk of ignition has increased within the watershed. This is a result of the higher population
residing within and adjacent to the watershed. Development has been substantial in the past
decade and it appears that it will continue at the same rate.
I. HUMAN USE
Significant changes that have occurred in the watershed include timber harvesting, road building
and development. Cave Junction and the surrounding areas are increasing in population due to
the influx of out-of-state individuals purchasing property. With this increase in population and
access has come an increased use of public lands. The type of recreational use is also changing
from non-motorized to motorized (before roads, there were mainly trails which accessed the
area). In the past 10 years, there has been less federal timber cutting and more private timber
cutting. Due to the increase in population and access, as well as an increase in landfill fees, there
has been an increase in the illegal use of the watershed such as refuse dumping, living on BLM
land and firewood cutting and collection.
Settlement patterns in the watershed have shifted from the town site of Waldo in the eastern part
of the watershed (over 100 years ago) to the west. Settlement is centered along highway 199,
especially in Cave Junction and O’Brien. The area is slowly growing, with economic
development centered on tourism, due to the fact that highway 199, a major route to the coast
from southern Oregon, bisects the watershed. Cave Junction is the second largest community in
Josephine County. As of 1997, approximately 15,000 people lived in the Illinois Valley,
scattered in the backwoods and small hamlets such as Takilma, Selma, O’Brien, and Holland
(Cosby 1997).
Human use has led to increased overall erosion. Erosion and sedimentation is due to additions of
increased runoff from roads, parking lots, roofs and other surfaces where there is no or little
infiltration. Agricultural and forest management practices have also caused erosion and
sedimentation. Stream channelization has created destabilized stream channels with increased
bank erosion and, therefore, added sediments to streams. Clearing of riparian vegetation in
116
V. Synthesis and Interpretation
Wes^ForitJHnois^iw^
developed areas has created increased water surface exposure to sunlight which results in
increased summer stream temperatures.
The anticipated result of these social or demographic changes/trends that could have ecosystem
management implications include an increase in population which increases the demand for use
(or abuse) of public lands, a continuation of the illegal use of the watershed due to lack of law
enforcement patrol, and landfill fee increases.
As previously noted, a major change regarding fire in the landscape has been occurring since the
interruption of Native American periodic burning of specific plant communities, especially those
communities found at the interface of oak-pine valley woodlands and forested slopes. An
informal fire study done in mixed conifer stands, somewhat adjacent to the valley floor, noted
that the last time fire had moved through the area was in the 1860s (Dick Boothe, personal
communication). This would roughly correspond to the period of time after the Rogue Indian
Wars and the removal of Native Americans.
Miners, by contrast, tended to bum indiscriminately to improve access to mining areas. Burning
by miners and other Euro-Americans amounted to an "ecological transition" which changed the
distribution of habitats and serai communities across the landscape which may have contrasted
sharply with communities that resulted from Indian burning. The legacy of mining and the
subsequent mix of plant communities across the landscape may bias our vision of what we
consider to be pre-settlement conditions.
Fire suppression policy also influenced the composition and structure of plant communities.
Following WWn, new techniques such as smoke jumping and easy access to previously
unroaded areas allowed for more efficient fire suppression. In addition, large fires primarily
caused by lightning, such as the Longwood Fire of 1987, still periodically dominate the
landscape.
Burning by miners, fire suppression, and the natural fire frequency of the area can lead to
questioning the degree and intensity of Native American burning to manage habitats. Is it
possible to separate out the effects of Native American habitat management from naturally
occurring fire? If we allow for a long time frame in which native people used fire, possibly
thousands of years in specific habitats, we can posit that a number of plant communities ( e.g .,
pine-oak savannahs and meadows) were primarily anthropogenic in nature and owed their
continued existence to the periodic and systematic use of fire by Native Americans. In this
context, prescribed fire will play a critical role in maintaining the vitality of the watershed over
time and restoring specific pre-settlement plant communities where that is a goal.
Early placer and hydraulic mining profoundly altered riparian and other habitats that are still in
various degrees of recovery. Sediment loads from large scale hydraulic mining operations in the
watershed had an impact on anadromous fish and water withdrawal, specifically from the East
Fork Illinois River, may have had an impact on water temperature which in turn affected
fisheries. Areas within the reaches of the upper East Fork Illinois River were heavily impacted
by mining activities. In some areas, the streambeds were virtually turned upon themselves
Wes^offt/W/no/^/ve^^ters/TeaMna/^/s^^
(McKinley and Frank, 1995). The French Flat area just north of Waldo was heavily modified by
early day mining activities.
The timing of the mining season played a major role in terms of severity. LaLande (1995) has
pointed out the seasonal effect of severity: the effect upon anadromous species was more
pronounced in the fall, when lower water levels and stream turbidity created an environment
detrimental to the fall runs of Chinook and coho salmon. Winter resident species were also
impacted. The effect from stream channelization extended beyond seasonal impact. As streams
were channelized their ability to hold water was decreased, with an overall loss of moisture in
riparian and marsh communities and a resultant loss of moisture dependent plant species.
118
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Technical References Cited
VI. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
A. PURPOSE
The purpose of this section is to bring the results of the previous steps to conclusion by focusing
on recommendations that are responsive to watershed processes identified in the analysis.
Recommendations also document logic flow through the analysis, linking issues and key
questions from step 2 with the step 5 interpretation of ecosystem understandings.
Recommendations also identify monitoring and research activities that are responsive to the
issues and key questions and identify data gaps and limitations of the analysis ( Federal Guide for
Watershed Analysis, Version 2.2, 1995.)
B. RECOMMENDATIONS
Tables VI- 1 through VI-5 list recommended management actions for the West Fork Illinois River
Watershed within each of the land allocations. Actions that are required by the RMP, NFP, or
other decisional document may not be included in these recommendations tables.
It is important to keep in mind that these recommendations are not management decisions. The
recommendations may conflict or contradict one another. They are intended as a point of
departure for project specific planning and evaluation work. Project planning then includes the
preparation of environmental assessments and formal decision records as required by the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It is within this planning context that resource
conflicts would be addressed and resolved and the broad recommendations evaluated at the site
specific or project planning level. Project planning and land management actions would also be
designed to meet the objectives and directives of our Medford District Resource Management
Plan (RMP).
Table VI-1: Recommendations - All Land Allocations
Land
Allocation
Issue /
Concern
Related Core
Topic
Location
Recommendation
All
Ponds
Human Uses
(Fire), Species
and Habitat
(Wildlife)
Watershed
Wide
Where possible, maintain and improve ponds to enhance their
value to wildlife and for fire suppression.
All
Deer Winter
Range
Species and
Habitat
(Wildlife)
Below
2,000 Feet
Seasonally close roads in important deer winter range areas.
Minimize permanent road construction and restrict management
activities between November 15 and April 1.
All
Mines
Species and
Habitat
(Wildlife)
Watershed
wide
Prevent or minimize disturbance to mines through the use of
closures, buffers and seasonal restrictions.
Work with land owners through watershed councils, partnerships,
119
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Technical References Cited
Table VI-1: Recommendations - All Land Allocations
Land
Allocation
Issue /
Concern
Related Core
Topic
Location
Recommendation
All
Watershed
with Mixed
Ownership
All
Non-BLM
lands
etc. on projects, planning, and activities to promote a watershed
wide perspective and consideration. Projects could include
working with Special Status / Survey and Manage plants and their
habitats, restoring riparian and fish habitat, modifying irrigation
diversions and fish barriers that jeopardize juvenile fish passage,
roads, wildlife, fire, recreation projects and vegetation treatments.
All
Meadows,
Oregon White
Oak,
Ponderosa
Pine Sites
Species and
Habitat (Botany,
Wildlife),
Vegetation
Watershed
Wide
Restore meadow, Ponderosa pine and Oregon white oak plant
communities. Appropriate methods may include thinning,
brushing and burning. Efforts will be made to utilize native plant
materials.
All
Noxious
Weeds
Species and
Habitat
(Botany),
Vegetation
Watershed
Wide
Develop an active noxious weed control program in the watershed.
All
Road
Closures
Fire, Vegetation
(Port-Orford
cedar)
Watershed
Wide
Collaborate with State Forestry for gate closures and signing
during periods of very high to extreme fire danger.
All
Road
Closures
Vegetation (Port
Orford cedar)
Watershed
Wide
Reduce vehicle access to uninfected Port-Orford cedar locations.
All
High Intensity
Fire
Occurrence
Fire, Erosion
Processes,
Species and
Habitat
(Fisheries,
Wildlife)
Watershed
Wide
Prioritize and implement fuel hazard reduction treatments at
strategic locations throughout the watershed. These sites would
be located on ridgetops or other natural or human made features
which can function as barrier to wildland fire spread: along
property boundaries, within or around areas of high values at risk
of loss from wildfire. They would create opportunities to
compartmentalize wildland fires into small drainages and prevent
large-scale wildfire occurrence. Additionally, they reduce the risk
of a high intensity fire occurrence and return to a condition that
would exhibit a low intensity fire regime
All
Helispots/
Pump
Chances
Fire
Watershed
Wide
Maintain existing helispots and pump chances.
All
Fire Hazard
Fire, Human
Uses
Watershed
Wide
Pursue both mechanical and prescribed fire treatments on BLM
ands to reduce fire hazard. Focus on high priority and
wildland/urban interface areas. Encourage a coordinated approach
with all landowners and ODF.
All
Dispersed
Recreation
Human Uses
Watershed
wide
Encourage cooperative agreements and MOUs between BLM,
other government agencies and private land owners to promote
recreation opportunities.
All
Illegal
Dumping,
firewood
cutting
Human Uses
Watershed
wide
Work to minimize illegal dumping in the Waldo area. Rough and
Ready ACEC, Logan Cut and firewood cutting by enforcing rules
and regulations, limiting access, increasing visible presence in the
area and educational efforts about protection of resources.
Publish Federal Register notice for closures in Rough and Ready
ACEC, implementing Management Plan.
All
Management
of Waldo
Cemetery
Human Uses,
Species and
Habitat
Waldo
Cemetery
Work with private landowner to limit motorized access into
Waldo Cemetery by installing a gate to deter vandalism. Consider
decommissioning road and developing interpretive trail to site.
120
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Technical References Cited
Table VI-1: Recommendations - All Land Allocations
Land
Allocation
Issue /
Concern
Related Core
Topic
Location
Recommendation
All
OHV
designations
Human Uses,
Species and
Habitat,
Vegetation
Watershed
Wide,
Section 9
(T41S,
R9W)
Review the existing OHV allocations as designated in the 1995
RMP ROD for consistency with management objectives for area.
Obtain map of wetland locations in watershed to better delineate
OHV- limited areas. Consider plan amendment to close section 9
to OHVs, due to Phytophthora and rare plants. Do not allow
OHV use in areas with healthy Port-Orford cedar.
All
National
Register
Nomination/
Cultural
Resource
Mgmt. Plan
Human Uses,
Species and
Habitat
Waldo,
French
Flat area
Finalize specific management objectives for identified cultural
sites. Nomination and management plan have been completed.
All
Botanical
restoration
Species and
Habitat (Botany)
Watershec
Wide
Maintain / improve habitats using such techniques as prescribed
fire while balancing the risks to other Survey and Manage or
special status species. Prescribed bums in the vicinity of special
status plants would use experimental methodologies to study the
effects of burning on these species or the bums will avoid
populations known to be intolerant to burning.
All
Plant species
composition
Vegetation,
Species and
Habitat
(Wildlife,
Botany)
Watershed
Wide
Conduct density management (thinning) in both natural and
planted stands. Objectives should include reduction of stem
numbers, species selection to provide a species mix that more
closely resembles that thought to occur prior to fire exclusion and
logging. Utilize prescribed fire to reduce the activity fuels (slash)
created by density management. Conduct forest management
activities in a manner that mimics natural disturbance, maintains
special status species and structural diversity.
All
Special Status
species
habitat
Species and
Habitat (Botany)
Watershed
Wide
Develop a Conservation Strategy tiered to a Conservation
Agreement with the USFWS for four special status serpentine fen
species.
All
Port-Orford
cedar
Vegetation,
Water Quality,
Species and
Habitat
(Aquatic)
Watershed
Wide
Prevent export of POC root disease to uninfested sites. On
infested sites, implement management objectives consistent with
management of other resources.
All
Watershed
Restoration
Water Quality,
Vegetation
Watershed
wide
Maintain partnerships consistent with Governor’s Restoration Plan
through watershed councils and other agencies.
All
Species
composition
Vegetation,
Fuels, Botany,
Fisheries,
Wildlife,
Hydrology
Watershed
wide
Tanoak - Reduce the amount of tanoak and other encroaching
vegetation that has developed in the absence of fire disturbance.
All
Transient
Snow Zone
(TSZ) / Peak
Stream Flows
Erosion
Processes,
Water Quality,
Vegetation
Transient
Snow
Zone
Work with others to implement measures that would minimize
rapid runoff from rain on snow events. This condition exists on
approximately 1% of the BLM lands in the watershed. TSZ is
also located on non-BLM lands.
All
Access
7ire, Vegetation,
Species and
Habitat
(Fisheries)
Section 10
and 15,
T41S,
R9W
Acquire access in section 16 (possible improvement, replacement
of existing flat car bridge) for management in sections 10 and 15.
121
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Technical References Cited
Table VI-1: Recommendations - All Land Allocations
Land
Allocation
Issue /
Concern
Related Core
Topic
Location
Recommendation
All
Extensive
Serpentine
Areas/Erosion
Erosion
Processes,
Water Quality,
Vegetation
Watershed
Wide
- In serpentine areas, treatment prescriptions and actions will be
series-based and will include considerations of conservation of
duff and litter.
- Restore Jeffrey pine sites. Institute low intensity prescribed fire
to reduce herbaceous layer accumulation and shrub / tree
encroachment. Minimize ground disturbance activities such as
OHV use.
All
Mature
Stands /
Connectivity
Vegetation /
Species and
Habitat
(Wildlife,
Botany)
Watershed
Wide
Design vegetation management treatments for continued and
potential development of connectivity corridors. Where feasible,
prioritize these corridors in and adjacent to the Riparian Reserves.
While these areas may not be sustainable over time due to the
high risk of fire, these stands should be maintained or preserved as
long as they provide effective connectivity.
All
Botanical
Emphasis
Area
Vegetation,
Fuels, Botany,
Fisheries
Botanical
Emphasis
Area
Develop site specific management strategies for all special status
and Survey and Manage plant species in the botanical emphasis
area.
All
Deer Habitat
Species and
Habitat
Watershed
Wide
Enhance deer foraging habitat by creating small openings,
conducting prescribed bums and seeding closed roads with native
grasses when available.
All
Western
White Pine
Series -
Vegetation
Watershed
Wide
Map the western white pine series on BLM lands.
All
Species
Composition
Vegetation,
Botany
Watershed
Wide
Fire tolerant species - increase the amount of and percent cover of
fire tolerant, shade intolerant tree form hardwood species and
pine, particularly on non-serpentine soils.
Table VI-2: Recommendations - Special Areas
Land
Allocation
Issue /
Concern
Related Core
Topic
Location
Recommendation
Special
Areas
High
Ecological
Value
Fire
Woodcock Bog,
French Flat,
Section 9 (T41S,
R9W), Rough and
Ready
Reduce fuel hazard within or adjacent to high ecological
values. Objective would be to protect these areas from
catastrophic wildland fire and allow fire to play a more natural
role. Develop fire management plan for special areas.
Special
Areas
Manage-
ment plans
Human Uses,
Species and
Habitat
French Flat
ACEC, Woodcock
Bog RNA
Prepare management plans for French Flat ACEC and
Woodcock Bog RNA.
Special
areas
OHV use
Human Uses,
Species and
Habitat
French Flat,
Rough and Ready
ACEC
Permanently close non-OHV areas through gates, barricades,
signs; publish closed areas in Federal Register. Monitor and
enforce closures. Establish additional law enforcement for
Illinois Valley. Develop “leave no trace” education programs.
Special
Areas
Unique
habitat
Vegetation,
Species and
Habitat
(Plants)
T41S.R9W, Sec 9;
T39S-8W,Sec
33/34
Nominate Section 9 and the Waldo Hill-Alien Gulch area for
Research Natural Area status, due to the preponderance of rare
plants and habitats.
122
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Technical References Cited
Table VI-3: Recommendations - Riparian Reserves
Land
Allocation
Issue /
Concern
Related Core
Topic
Location
Recommendation
Riparian
Reserves
Riparian
Reserve
Mgmt.,
Reserve widths
Species and
Habitat
Watershed
Wide
Retain interim Riparian Reserve widths outlined in the
NFP and RMP. Based on site conditions and analysis,
manage vegetation and conditions inside Riparian
Reserves to promote or accelerate ACS attainment,
especially long term. Use thinnings, prescribed fire or
mechanical treatments to reduce fuels.
Riparian
Reserves
Late-
successional
forest (non-
serpentine) is
below
Reference
conditions
Species and
habitats
Blue Creek,
Elk Creek,
Logan Cut,
West Fork
Illinois River
Use existing natural late-successional forest habitat as
a template of desired conditions. Priority stands for
treatment are those on the perimeter of quality late-
successional forest habitat that currently do not
provide this habitat. Treat natural stands and
plantations. Stands that have the potential to provide
late-successional habitat should be treated.
Riparian
Reserve/
Matrix
Mushroom
camp
Human Uses,
Species and
Habitat
Waldo
Mushroom
camp
Close and rehabilitate mushroom camp on BLM lands
to reduce impacts to riparian and upland habitats and
on cultural features.
Riparian
Reserves
Large Woody
Material
(instream and
riparian)
Species and
Habitat
(Aquatic),
Erosion
Processes,
Water Quality,
Water Quantity
West Fork
Illinois River,
Elk Creek,
Logan Cut
Where appropriate based on local site conditions of the
riparian plant community, improve mstream
complexity by adding key pieces of wood.
Riparian
Reserves
Fish passage /
Culverts /
Barriers
Species and
Habitat
(Aquatic),
Human Uses
Watershed
wide
Update inventory of culverts/barriers on fish bearing
streams. Improve or replace culverts and remove
barriers at stream crossings that impede juvenile and
adult fish passage. Stream crossings should be built
with natural streambed. (15 identified sites on private
lands. Rogue Basin Fish Advisory Team, 2000).
Riparian
Reserves
Water Temps
Water Quality,
Species and
Habitat
(Aquatic)
All series
(except pine
and white oak)
watershed
wide
Wherever early to mid serai stages occur along creeks,
treat vegetation to expedite larger tree growth to
improve stream shading conditions and stream
temperature for summer rearing for fish and other
aquatic organisms. This may be incorporated in a
Water Quality Management Plan .
Riparian
Reserves
Sediment
management /
roads
Human Uses,
Erosion
Processes,
Water Quality
Watershed
wide
Conduct sediment evaluations. Corrective measures
may include road surface design and reduction of
drainage ditch flow into natural tributaries.
Riparian
Reserves
Sedimen-tation
Aquatic
Species and
Habitat,
Erosion
Processes,
Water Quality
Blue Creek,
Fry Creek,
Logan Cut,
West Fork
Illinois River,
Elk Creek
Strive towards restoring spawning or riffle substrate
embeddedness to 30% or less and sand content to 20%
or less by reduction of fine sediment load and addition
of structure.
Riparian
Reserves
Instream
flows
Species and
Habitats
Watershed
Wide
Work with watershed council, agencies and private
landowners to improve water utilization, maintain
instream flows and minimize aquatic resource impacts.
123
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Technical References Cited
m
Table VI-3: Recommendations - Riparian Reserves
Land
Allocation
Issue /
Concern
Related Core
Topic
Location
Recommendation
Riparian
Reserves
ACS / Cultural
resources
Species and
Habitat, Water
Quality,
Human uses
Logan Cut
Evaluate the watershed to facilitate managing cultural
resources and minimizing impacts to aquatic resources.
Improve critical coho habitat in Logan Cut.
Table VI-4: Data Gaps
Core Topic
Data Gaps
Soils
- Soil erosion sources have not been mapped or specified for location or mechanism. There is no information
specific to this watershed regarding soil dependent biological communities.
- Field surveys for mass movement features in areas mapped with high susceptibility have not been completed.
Also field survey for areas with streambank erosion features. Inventory and monitor for compaction and
disturbance features, check for indicators of changes in productivity.
-The extent of compaction within this watershed is not quantified for BLM and private lands.
Vegetation
- Plant series data needs to be combined with vegetative condition class to determine management
opportunities. For example, information on the amount of acres in the Douglas-fir series is available as is
information on the amount of pole stands, but not Douglas-fir pole stands. A second example could be acres of
Ponderosa pine and white oak being encroached upon by Douglas-fir that require restoration treatments.
- Current plant series acres for the all Forest Service lands and all lands in California are a data gap.
- The 1936 type map information covers 84% of the watershed. The data gaps are the western most portion of
Forest Service lands and all lands in California.
Fire
- A list of smoke-sensitive area residents (for prescribed burning) does not exist for use in bum notification.
- A full understanding of fire effects in serpentine ecosystems is not complete.
Botany
- A comprehensive watershed wide survey of special status and Survey and Manage plants (both vascular and
nonvascular) has not been completed.
- Vascular and non-vascular plants: Only approximately 41% of the watershed has been surveyed, need to
survey the remainder.
- Noxious weeds'. Few surveys have been conducted
- There is a lack of survey information available on the potential RNA along the West Fork Illinois. Due to
funding constraints only 25 acres of the entire section (which is all BLM) has been surveyed. Also, noxious
weed locations have not been adequately mapped within the watershed.
- Need to complete comprehensive plant species surveys to identify those that inhabit the Riparian Reserves.
Fisheries
- Comprehensive stream and riparian surveys have not been completed (see hydrologic / riparian data gap).
Physical habitat surveys have not been completed in most streams. Comprehensive surveys to monitor relative
abundance, and distribution of fish species, classify all streams, conduct benthic macroinvertebrate surveys
would fill many data gaps. Repeating such surveys at 5-10 year intervals would provide better baseline
information and trend identification.
Hydrologic
/ Riparian /
Stream
inventory
- Stream surveys and inventory of various hydrologic parameters have not been completed on all BLM lands.
( e.g ., proper functioning condition, coarse wood, stream class, riparian vegetation, reaches subject to
instability). This is baseline information useful in making management recommendations to enhance and
improve stream and bank stability. Inventory and classification of Class 3 and 4 streams would be highest
priority. Local site-specific, vegetation type specific standards for down wood densities do not exist.
- Comprehensive information regarding headwater conditions for streams relative to sediment production, water
contribution and riparian potential does not exist.
- There is no known quantitative information about stream flows for the West Fork of the Illinois River or its
tributaries within its watershed
- No hydrologic cumulative effects analysis (extent of equivalent clear cut area, compacted area, TSZ, and road
density by subwatershed) has been performed for the West Fork Illinois River
- Most streams on BLM land in the watershed have not been surveyed for physical habitat.
- Rough and Ready Creek Subwatershed comprises close to one-third of the West Fork Illinois River
124
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Technical References Cited
I
Table VI-4: Data Gaps
Core Topic
Data Gaps
Watershed, yet little is known about the character of its anadromous fishery and few data are available.
- Anadromous fish passage inventory has not been conducted on BLM land in the watershed since the 1980s.
- It appears that many of the streams in this watershed were not included in the original 303d inventory.
Specifically, Wood Creek has been recognized as a degraded stream system and probably deserves 303d listing,
but no data have been collected.
- No known research has been conducted to determine cause of unusual clarity of streams associated with
serpentine watersheds.
- No hydrologic cumulative effects analysis (extent of equivalent clear cut area, compacted area, TSZ, and road
density by subwatershed) has been performed for the West Fork Illinois River Watershed.
Wildlife
-Relatively few formal wildlife surveys have been conducted in the watershed. Distribution, abundance and
presence of the majority of the species are unknown. Presence / absence information for most of the special
status species is unknown. There exists little information on special status species habitats and condition of
these habitats in the watershed. Location of unique habitats such as wallows, mineral licks, and migration
corridors are for the most part unknown.
— The location of all mining shafts / adits is needed to assess the extent and value of them as habitat.
- Comprehensive animal species surveys to identify those that inhabit the Riparian Reserves have not been
completed.
Human Use
- Roads: BLM noncapitalized roads and skid trails have not been inventoried.
- Recreation: There has been no comprehensive inventory of the amount or type of recreational use of the area.
There also has been no Recreation Opportunity Spectrum inventory of the existing opportunities that are
available in the watershed. This information is important in managing for recreational values. Not all
dispersed recreation trails and mining ditches have been inventoried and mapped.
- Mining: A comprehensive inventory of mining shafts / adits has not been done to determine access and safety
issues.
125
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Technical References Cited
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131
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Appendix A: Maps
Appendix A: Maps
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
Map
1: Ownership and Roads on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
2: Land Use Allocations on BLM Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
3: Dominant Vegetation on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
4: Serai Stages on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
5: Plant Series on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
6: Dominant Vegetation on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
7: McKelvey Ratings (Spotted Owl Habitat) on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West
Illinois Watershed
8: Stream Orders (>2) on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
9: Distribution of Coho and Chinook on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois
Watershed
10: Distribution of Steelhead and Cutthroat on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West
Illinois Watershed
11: Mineral Potential on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
12: Fire Hazard Rating on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
13: Fire Risk Rating on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
14: Fire Fuel Models on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
15: Fire Value Rating on BLM and Non-USFS Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
16: Potential High Priority Hazard Reduction Treatment Areas on BLM and Non-USFS
Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
17: Sensitive Plant (TEP) Locations on BLM Lands in the West Illinois Watershed
132
R9W
R8W
LEGEND
T39S
T40S
T41S
SCALE 1:100000
MAP 1: OWNERSHIP & ROADS ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
[~ i BLM LAND
I I STATE LAND
Him CO LAND
L . 1 USFS LAND
— BLM & SIGNIFICANT ROADS
— = NON INVENTORIED ROADS
TRAILS
STREAMS
— WATERSHED BOUNDARY
03/28/00
Dennis Glover
133
— , r * w o llui ol y , "el 130 11 l'
or completeness of these data for individual use
or aggregate use with other data.
R9W
R8W
SCALE 1:100000
MATRIX
ACEC
RNA
PARK LEASES
BLM LAND
USES LAND
WATERSHED BOUNDARY
03/30/00
Dennis Clover
MAP 2: LAND USE ALLOCATIONS ON
MEDFORD DISTRICT BLM LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
134
N9t.e NO warranty is made by the Bureau
of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability
or completeness of these data for individual use
or aggregate use with other data.
03/22/00
Dennis Clover
R9W
SCALE 1:100000
MAP 3: DOMINANT VEGETATION ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
135
T41S
NONVEGETATED
DEVELOPED/NONVEGETATEI
GRASS
SHRUB
HARDWOOD
HARDWOOD/CONIFER
JEFFREY PINE/QRASS
JEFFREY PINE/SHRUB
DOUGLAS-FIR/PINE
DOUQLAS-FIR
BLM LAND
USFS LAND
WATERSHED BOUNDARY
Note; No warranty Is made Dy tne Bureau
of Land Management as to the accuracy reliabi
or completeness of these data for individual l
or aggregate use with other data.
R8W
R9W
R8W
SCALE 1:100000
^■i OLD GROWTH
.1 MATURE
1 I MID
!_— J EARLY
H NOT APPLICABLE
c
2Z2 BLM LAND
—3 USES LAND
” — ■ WATERSHED BOUNDARY
LEGEKD
MAP 4: SERAL STAGES ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
03/27/00
Dennis Glover
136
Note. No warranty is made by the Bureau
of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability
or completeness of these data for individual use '
or aggregate use with other data.
R9W
R8W
T40S
T41S
LEGEND
T39S
SCALE 1:100000
MAP 5: PLANT SERIES ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
LZm NON-VEG.
L .. , I NON-FOREST
. RIPARIAN HARDWOOD
- TANOAK
" ! TANOAK/D.FIR
W.OAK
P.PINE
J.PINE
CIZ D.riR/PINE
BBB D.FIR
L/ A BLM LAND
1\ , I U8F9 LAND
===== WATERSHED BOUNDARY
03/27/00
Dennis Glover
137
«?t?=„y°^warranty.ls made by the Bureau
of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliabilit
So SSnSlet?ness of these data for individual use
or aggregate use with other data.
R9W
R8W
T41S
T395
T40S
LEGEND
SCALE 1:100000
MAP 6: DOMINANT VEGETATION ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
□ NONVEQETATED
i DEVELOPED/NONVEGETATE
□ GRASS
SHRUB
I I HARDWOOD
lUBig HARDWOOD/CONIFER
I ] JEFFREY PINE/ GRASS
JEFFREY PINE/SHRUB
BEfrHH DOUGLAS -FIR/ PINE
wam DOUGLAS-FIR
LZ.A BLM LAND
m _I] USF8 LAND
===== WATERSHED BOUNDARY
03/22/00
npnni« r i lovor
138
Hoi »i. No w.irranly 1 1 modo by the Bottom
or I .iri'l Mnn.rjr merit ,y$ to the uccwr.jcv. r»» | l .»l> i I 1 1 y
or comp lotonur. of tfwao data for indiviOu.il u'jr
nr .vmrnn.il n mum with nl hi>r r1nt.i
LEGEND
SCALE 1:100000
03/27/00
Dennis Glover
MAP 7: McKELVEY RATINGS ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
139
— (II OPTIMAL
(2) MEETS Foraging .Diaparaal, Roosting
I 1 (3) MEETS NO REQUIREMENTS
has potential to become 1 or 2
I : I 141 MKTS NO REQUIREMENTS
not likely to become 1 or 2
■■1 (5) DISPERSAL ONLY
has potential to become 1 or 2
! I (6) DISPERSAL ONLY
not likely to become 1 or 2
1/ /I BLM LAND
k \ 1 USFS LAND
===== WATERSHED BOUNDARY
Note. No warranty is made by the Bureau
of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability
or completeness of these data for individual use
or aggregate use with other data.
R9W R8W
mmmmm Order 4
• • • • • Order 5 & 6
SCALE 1:100000 WATERSHED BOUNDARY
MAP 8: STREAM ORDERS ( > 2 ) ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
03/29/00
Dennis Glover
Note. No warranty is made by the Bureau
of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability
or completeness of these data for individual use
or aggregate use with other data.
COHO
SCALE 1:200000
03/28/00
Dennis Clover
MAP 9: DISTRIBUTION OF COHO & CHINOOK ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
141
LECEND
Streams (ordar> 1)
Distribution of fish
° — ®— USFS Boundary
BLM Boundary
Note; No warranty is made by the Bureau
of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability
or completeness of these data for individual use
or aggregate use with other data.
SCALE 1:200000
LECEMD
MAP 10: DISTRIBUTION OF STEELHEAD & CUTTHROAT
ON BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
Stream* {ordar> 1)
mm Distribution of fl*h
USFS Boundary
BLM Boundary
03/28/00
Dennis Clover
Note. No warranty is made Dy the Bureau
of Land Management as to the accuracy. reliaOil
or completeness of these data for individual us>
or aggregate use with other data.
-J
I
-J
STEELHEAD
CUTTHROAT
R9W
R8W
MAP 1 1 : MINERAL POTENTIAL ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
03/29/00
Dennis Glover
143
Note No warranty is made by the Bureau
of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability
or completeness of these data for individual use
or aggregate use with other data.
R9W
R8W
LEGEND
NX
•
\ N \ \
\ X \ \
6
•
7
X \ \ \ 1
8
xx
It
T39S
T40S
T41S
SCALE 1:100000
I HIGH HAZARD
MODERATE HAZARD
LOW HAZARD
ZD BLM LAND
ZD USFS LAND
— WATERSHED BOUNDARY
MAP 12: FIRE HAZARD RATINGS ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
03/27/00
Dennis Glover
144
wu uie outuraiy, renaoiIU
or completeness of tnese data for individual use
or aggregate use witn other data.
R9W
R8W
LEGEND
\ \ V \ \
7
\ \ \
■
\X\\-
4
N \\x
W\
. \ \ \ \
7
\\\\>
\\\\x
•
V V \ \
\ * w
m
% V.
m.
\X\ V
<3 17
VV
1
14
/
SCALE 1:100000
Z.
mt HIGH RI6K
: MODERATE RISK
HB LOW RISK
3D BLM LAND
3D USFS LAND
— WATERSHED BOUNDARY
MAP 13: FIRE RISK RATINGS ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
03/27/00
Dennis Glover
145
or completeness of these data for individual
or aggregate use with other data.
R8W
T39S
T40S
Note: No warranty is maoe By the Bureau
of Land Management as to the accuracy, reliability
or completeness of these data for individual use
or aggregate use with other data. use
I
▼
03/27/00
Dennis Glover
I- 1 GRASS AND GRASS DOMINATED
— CHAPARRAL AND SHRUB FIELDS
L- , TIMBER LITTER
■■1 SLASH
1., . I FUEL MODELING NOT APPLICABLE
CZIZ1 BLM LAND
I, \ 1 USFS LAND
" WATERSHED BOUNDARY
MAP 14: FIRE FUEL MODELS ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
146
R9W
SCALE 1:100000
\ \
FUEL MODEL NUMBERS
1 Short Graaa
(1 foot)
2 Timber
(graaa & underetory)
3 Tall Graaa
(2.6 feet)
4 Chaparral
(6 feet)
5 Bruah
(2 feet)
6 Dormant Bruah/
Hardwood Slaah
7 Southern Rough
S Cloeed Timber
Litter
9 Hardwood Litter
10 Timber
(litter & understory)
11 Light Legging Sleah
12 Medium Logging Sleah
13 Heavy Logging Slaah
T41S
R9W
R8W
LEGEND
I///
H[
V
/
| IS
v
z
aNav
•
\\ V. \
\XvV
’
\
8
\W\
18
17
A
\ \ \
SCALE 1:100000
■M HIGH VALUE
I MODERATE VALUE
■■■ LOW VALUE
^ / I BLM LAND
l~ ■ \ I U8FS LAND
— - WATERSHED BOUNDARY
T39S
T40S
T41S
MAP 15: FIRE VALUE RATINGS ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
03/27/00
Dennis Glover
147
, 1 1 ,-,,c oLLui oiy, renacnu
or completeness of these data for individual use
or aggregate use with other data.
R9W
R8W
LEGEND
A\\
V\
X\
*
72J
2
1
\\\\\
7
\\\XN
•
W\\
|||
7
11
7 —
z
A
/iq/
12
v\ \ \
x \ ^ \ N
1«
7^
A
/
/
.
*
z
13
„ LZ y\ BLM LAND
I. \ N USFS LAND
—— — WATERSHED BOUNDARY
SCALE 1:100000
MAP 16:
POTENTIAL HIGH PRIORITY HAZARD
REDUCTION TREATMENT AREAS ON
BLM & NON-USFS LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
03/27/00
Dennis Glover
148
or completeness of these data for individual
or aggregate use with other data.
SCALE 1:100000
☆ SURVEY & MANAGE
* BUREAU SENSITIVE
* FED CANIDATE-ST ENDAN.
* BUREAU ASSESSMENT
•k BUREAU TRACK & WATCH
f / /I BLM LAND
K \ I USFS LAND
WATERSHED BOUNDARY
04/04/00
Dennis Glover
MAP 17: TEP LOCATIONS ON
MEDFORD DISTRICT BLM LANDS IN THE
THE WEST ILLINOIS WATERSHED
Note. No warranty is made Dy the Bureau
of Lana Management as to the accuracy, reliability
or completeness of these data for individual use
or aggregate use with other data.
R9W
R8W
AppendixB^h nin^Clajrr^nfo^^
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Appendix B: Mining Claim Information
A mining claimant or operator has the right to prospect and develop the mining claim as
authorized by the General Mining Laws and amendments. Acceptable activities that normally
occur on mining claims include the development of the mineral resources by extracting the gold-
bearing gravels, or ore, from the claim, manufacturing of the mineral materials utilizing a
trommel and sluice box system, or a mill site of some sort. After the gold is extracted the tailings
(waste material) are stockpiled to either be utilized in the reclamation of the site or removed to an
appropriate location. Timber on site may be used in some situations if outlined in a mining
notice or plan of operations.
The operator or claimant will be allowed to build structures and occupy the site where such uses
are incidental to mining and approved in writing by the appropriate BLM Authorized Officer.
The use and occupancy of a mining claim will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine
if such uses are incidental. A letter of concurrence will be issued only where the operator shows
that the use or occupancy is incidental to mining and that substantially regular mining activity is
occurring. Issuance will be subject to the operator complying with all state, federal, and local
governmental codes and regulations. This means that in addition to meeting the requirements to
mine on a regular basis the claimant will need to meet the standards of the Oregon Uniform
Building Codes and all state sanitation requirements.
The filing of mining claims gives the claimant the rights and ownership of the minerals beneath
the surface of the lands encumbered by the mining claims. In most cases, management of the
surface of the claims rests with the appropriate federal agency having jurisdiction.
The claimant or operator has the right to use that portion of the surface necessary to the
development of the claim. In cases where the surface of the claims are administered by the BLM
or Forest Service, the claimant or operator may, for safety or security reasons, limit the public
access at the location of operations. Where there are no safety or security concerns, the surface
of the mining claims is open to the public.
In some instances the surface of the mining claim is managed by the claimant. These are usually
claims that were filed before August, 1955 and determined valid at that time. The claimants in
these cases have the same rights as outlined above. However, they have the right to eliminate
public access across that area where they have surface rights.
150
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Appendix C: Road Information
Appendix C: Road Information
1. Definitions
BLM Capitalized Roads'. The BLM analyzes Bureau-controlled roads to determine capitalized or noncapitalized
classification. During this analysis, the BLM considers many elements including the present and future access needs,
type of road, total investment, and the road location. Each capitalized road is identified with a BLM road number
and a capitalized value. BLM capitalized roads are managed and controlled by the BLM.
BLM Noncapitalized Roads and Skid Trails: BLM noncapitalized roads and skid trails are not assigned a capitalized
value. Noncapitalized roads are generally jeep roads and spur roads that exist due to intermittent public and
administrative use. Skid trails are ground disturbances, created under a timber sale, that have not been restored to
their natural condition.
Non-BLM Roads and Skid Trails: Non-BLM roads and skid trails are administered by private land owners or other
governmental agencies. The BLM has no control over these roads.
Quarries: Quarries are areas of land suitable for use as a rock source to develop aggregate material for the surfacing
of roads, rip rap for slope protection, rock for stream enhancement projects, and for other miscellaneous uses.
Examples of data elements for quarries: active quarry, depleted quarry.
Road Data Elements: Information on data elements is available through the Medford District road record files,
right-of-way (R/W) agreement files, easement files, computer road inventory program, GIS maps, transportation
maps, aerial photos, and employee knowledge of existing road systems. When data gaps are determined to exist,
field data will be gathered to eliminate the gaps and at the same time existing data element information will be
verified. Some information on private roads does exist, but the majority will need to be researched by the BLM
through privately-authorized field investigations and answers to BLM's request for information from private land
owners. Examples of data elements for roads: road density, road surface, surface depth, road use, road drainage,
road condition, road grade, gates, R/W agreements, easements, maintenance levels, and barricades.
Transportation Management Objectives (TMOs): The TMO recommends one or several management actions for
each Bureau controlled road within an analysis area as determined by present and future road management needs.
TMOs support the attainment of many of the Standards and Guidelines of the Northwest Forest Plan as well as the
Management Action/Direction of the Districts’ ROD/RMPs (Western Oregon Transportation Management Plan, June
1996). TMO acronyms used in the tables in this section are as follows:
NULL No recommendation - the TMO has not been completed or no decision has been made yet.
UCG No change of existing road status.
IMP Road to be improved or reconstructed.
OMLU Road to remain open and there will be an upward change in the maintenance level.
OMLD Road to remain open and there will be an downward change in the maintenance level.
OR2T Road to be converted to a trail and left open.
CSC Road to be closed on a seasonal basis.
CST Road to be closed temporarily (from one to five years).
CDR Road to be closed long term (for more than five years).
CFD Road to be closed permanently and fully decommissioned.
COB Road to be closed permanently and completely obliterated.
RFI Road to be removed from inventory. (Decommissioned, not built, no access, etc.)
151
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Agjeendi^
2. Definition of Columns in Watershed Road Information Tables
T = Township, R = Range, Sec = Section, Seg = Road Segment
These columns describe the road number, location of the beginning point of the road, and the road segment.
Example of a road number: 35-7-24 A.
Name = Name of the road.
Total Miles = Total length of the road in miles.
TMO Recommended:
Improve: may include installing culverts, drainage dips or water bars for erosion control,
out sloping the road prism, and aggregate surfacing or re-surfacing.
Decommission road: includes installing a berm/log barricade and allowing the road
surface to naturally revegetate.
= Road surface type.
NAT = Natural, PRR = Pit Run, GRR = Grid Rolled, ABC = Aggregate Base Course,
ASC = Aggregate Surface Course, BST = Bituminous Surface Treatment
= Subgrade width of the road in feet.
= Road surfacing depth in inches.
= Who controls the road.
BLM = Bureau of Land Management, PVT = Private, OTA = Other agency.
= Who has access rights on the road.
BA = BLM administrative use only, BP = BLM and public use, PVT = Private but access
allowed to BLM, NKN = Unknown
Surface Type
Road Width
Surface Depth
Who Controls
Access Rights
BLM Maintenance Levels (Under Column for Cus. Mtn. and Opr. Mtn):
Level 1: This level is the minimal custodial care as required to protect the road investment, adjacent lands,
and resource values. Normally, these roads are blocked and not open for traffic or are open only to
restricted traffic. Traffic would be limited to use to high-clearance vehicles. Passenger car traffic is not a
consideration. Culverts, waterbars / dips and other drainage facilities are to be inspected on a three-year
cycle and maintained as needed. Grading, brushing, or slide removal is not performed unless they affect
roadbed drainage. Closure and traffic restrictive devices are maintained.
Level 2: This level is used on roads where management requires the road to be opened seasonally or for
limited passage of traffic. Traffic is generally administrative with some moderate seasonal use. Typically
these roads are passable by high-clearance vehicles. Passenger cars are not recommended (user comfort
and convenience and are not considered priorities). Culverts, waterbars / dips and other drainage facilities
are to be inspected annually and maintained as needed. Grading is conducted as necessary only to correct
drainage problems. Brushing is conducted as needed (generally on a three-year cycle) only to facilitate
passage of maintenance equipment. Slides may be left in place provided that they do not affect drainage
and there is at least 10 feet of usable roadway.
Level 3: This level is used on intermediate or constant service roads where traffic volume is significantly
heavier approaching a daily average of 15 vehicles. Typically, these roads are native or aggregate surfaced,
but may include low use bituminous surfaced road. This level would be the typical level for log hauling.
Passenger cars are capable of using most of these roads by traveling slow and avoiding obstacles that have
fallen within the travelway. Culverts, waterbars / dips and other drainage facilities are to be inspected
annually and maintained as needed. Grading is conducted annually to provide a reasonable level of riding
comfort. Brushing is conducted annually or as needed to provide concern for driver safety. Slides affecting
drainage would receive high priority for removal, otherwise they would be removed on a scheduled basis.
Level 4: This level is used on roads where management requires the road to be opened all year and has a
moderate concern for driver safety and convenience. Traffic volume is approximately a daily average of 15
vehicles and will accommodate passenger vehicles at moderate travel speeds. Typically, these roads are
152
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Appendix C: Road Information
single lane and bituminous surfaced, but may also include heavily-used aggregate surfaced roads as well.
The entire roadway is maintained on an annual basis, although a preventative maintenance program may be
established. Problems are repaired as soon as discovered.
Level 5: This level is used on roads where management requires the road to be opened all year and has a
high concern for driver safety and convenience. Traffic volume exceeds a daily average of 15. Typically,
these roads are double or single lane bituminous, but may also include heavily used aggregate surfaced
roads as well. The entire roadway is maintained on an annual basis and a preventative maintenance
program is also established. Brushing may be conducted twice a year as necessary. Problems are repaired
as soon as discovered.
Road Closure information:
Closure status:
OP - Open
SC - Seasonal closure - Temporary
ST - Short term closure - Temporary (1-5 yrs)
DR - Decommission of road - Long term (more than 5 yrs)
FD - Full decommission of road - Permanent
OB - Obliteration of road - Permanent
Closure reason:
WLD - Wildlife / big game hunting concerns
OWL - Northern Spotted Owl
FSH - Fisheries
REC - Recreation
MNT - Maintenance problem
OTE - Other threatened & endangered species
ADM - Administrative reasons
POC - Port Orford Cedar protection
NOX - Noxious weed control
OTH- Other
Closure device:
BLD- Boulders
CBL - Cable
EBM - Earth berm
GT - Gate (location if other than this road)
INA - Inaccessible (vegetation or other blockage)
LOG - Log barricade
GR - Guard rail
JW - Concrete (jersey wall)
FNC - Fence
SGN - Sign
OTH- Other
153
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis Appendix C: Road Information
Road
Class
LOC
LOC
LOC
U
3
LOC
LOC
CJ
3
LOC
LOC
LOC
U
3
LOC
U
3
U
3
u
3
LOC
LOC
LOC
u
3
U
3
Who
Maintains
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
z
BLM
NKN
BLM
NKN
BLM
BLM
NKN
_!
m
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
NKN
Maint.
Level
CM
CM
-
CM
-
CM
CM
CM
CM
cn
CM
cn
CM
-
CM
CM
CM
CM
-
cn
Access
Rights
BP
BP
BP
BP
BP
BP
PVT
BA
PVT
BA
BP
BP
BP
BP
BP
BP
BP
BP
BP
NKN
1
Who
Controls
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
£
_)
ffi
PVT
BLM
PVT
BLM
BLM
.
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
BLM
OTA
Vatershet
Surface
Depth
CM
Tj-
O
OO
is River V
Road
Width
rf
Tf
in
Cn
rf
io
CM
Tt
CM
O
irk IUinoi
Surface
Type
NAT
NAT
NAT
NAT
NAT
NAT
ASC
ASC
NAT
NAT
PRR
GRR
NAT
NAT
NAT
NAT
NAT
NAT
NAT
ASC
t West Fc
ay 2001 •
Total
Miles
1.49
0.13
0.14
0.46
0.24
900
049
0.45
040
1.26
0.29
cn
CM
1.18
0.30
0.44
0.24
1.04
0.45
600
0.28
la Reporl
-M
Other
Miles
0.21
000
000
000
000
000
0.49
000
0.36
0.25
000
oo
©
©
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
loads Dai
PD
Miles
000
8
©
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
000
1.04
0.45
000
0.28
leC-1: F
o&c
Miles
1.28
0.13
0.14
0.46
0 24
900
000
0.45
0.04
©
0.29
115
811
0.30
0.44
0.24
000
000
600
000
Tab
TMO
OIMP
UCG
CDR
OIMP
CDR
UCG
UCG
UCG
UCG
UCG
UCG
OIMP
UCG
RFI
OIMP
UCG
OIMP
CL
o
UCG
OIMP
Road Name
COMBO MAINLINE
COMBO A SP
COMBO B SP
COMBO CSP
COMBO D SP
COMBO FSP
WESTSIDE SP
WESTSIDE SP
WESTSIDE SP
SOUTHLINE
LOGAN SPUR 2
LOGAN CUT ML
LOGAN CUT ML
LOGAN CUT SP
LOGAN SP
WALDO SELECT SP
WALDO SELECT
WALDO SP
WALDO FLAT
WIMER
Road Number
39 S 08 W 29.00
39 S 08 W 29.01
|| 39 S 08 W 29.02
39 S 08 W 29.03
39 S 08 W 29.04
39 S 08 W 29.05
39 S 08 W 31.00A
| 39 S 08 W 31.00B
| 39 S 08 W 3 1 00C
39 S 08 W 33.00
8
cn
©
£
00
©
cn
©
<
©
£
OO
©
cn
©
40 S 08 W 04.00B
40 S 08 W 09.00
©
8
£
oo
©
cn
©
40 S 08 W 21.00
40 S 08 W 28.00
40 S 08 W 28.01
40 S 08 W 28.03
40 S 09 W 27.00B
OC=Local
Wes, Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis AppendixC: Road Information
Table C-3: Transportation Management Objectives
West Fork Illinois River Watershed
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Appendix D: Wildlife Information
Table D-l: Spotted Owl Sites Located on Forest Service where
Provincial Home Ranges include BLM Lands.
Site Name
Level of Protection
Trapper’s Gulch
Activity Center
North Trapper’s Gulch
Activity Center
Special Status Species
Special status species are animals that are recognized by the federal or state government as
needing particular consideration in the planning process, due to low populations (natural and
human caused), restricted range, threats to habitat and for a variety of other reasons. This list
includes species officially listed, proposed for listing. State Listed Species are those species
identified as threatened, endangered, or pursuant to ORS 496.004, ORS 498.026, or ORS
546.040. Also included are Bureau Assessment Species which are plant and animal species that
are found on List 2 of the Oregon Natural Heritage Data Base and those species on the Oregon
List of Sensitive Wildlife Species (ORS 635-100-040) and are identified in BLM Instruction
Memo No. OR-91-57. Bureau Sensitive species are those species eligible for federal listed, state
listed, or on List 1 in the Oregon Natural Heritage Data Base, or approved by the BLM state
director.
Table D-2: Special Status Species Habitat Needs
SPECIES
(COMMON NAME)
HABITAT
ASSOCIATION
SPECIAL HABITAT
FEATURE
CONCERN
Grey wolf
Generalists
Large blocks of unroaded habitat
Extirpated
White-footed vole
Riparian
Alder/mature riparian
Naturally rare, modification/loss of habitat from
development
Red tree vole
Mature/old growth
conifer
Mature douglas-fir trees
Declining habitat quality/quantity from logging
California red tree vole
Mature/old growth
conifer
Mature douglas-fir trees
Declining habitat quality/quantity from logging
Fisher
Mature/old growth
riparian
Down wood/snags
Declining habitat quality/quantity & fragmentation from
logging
California wolverine
Generalists
Large blocks of unroaded habitat
Declining habitat quality/quantity & fragmentation from
logging and road building, human disturbance
American martin
Mature/old growth
Down wood, living ground cover
Declining habitat quality/quantity & fragmentation
Ringtail
Generalists
Rocky terrain, caves, mine adits
Northern limit of range
Townsend's big-eared
bat
Generalists
Mine adits, caves
Disturbance to nurseries, hibemacula & roosts, closing
mine adits
Fringed myotis
Generalists
Rock crevices & snags
Disturbance to roosts and colonies
Yuma myotis
Generalists
Large live trees with crevices in
the bark &
Limited mature tree recruitment
Long-eared myotis
Generalists
Large live trees with crevices in
the bark
Limited mature tree recruitment
Long-legged myotis
Generalists
Large live trees with crevices in
Limited mature tree recruitment
157
Appendix D: Wildlife Information
Wes^ori<Jllinoi^Jliv^
the bark
Pacific pallid bat
Generalists
Snags, rock crevices
General rarity/disturbance/snag loss
Peregrine falcon
Generalists
Cliff faces
Low numbers, prey species contaminated with pesticides
Bald eagle
Lacustrine/rivers
Large mature trees with large
limbs near water
Populations increasing
Northern spotted owl
Mature/old growth
Late-successional mature forest
with structure
Declining habitat quality/quantity & fragmentation
Marbled murrelet
Mature/old growth
Large limbed trees, high canopy
closure
Declining habitat quality/quantity
Northern goshawk
Mature/old growth
High canopy closure forest for
nest sites
Declining habitat quality/quantity & fragmentation,
human disturbance
Mountain quail
Generalists
No concern in the watershed
Pileated woodpecker
Large trees
Large diameter snags
Snag and down log removal from logging, salvage & site
prep
Lewis' woodpecker
Pine/oak woodlands
Large oaks, pines & cottonwoods
adjacent to openings
Declining habitat quality/quantity fire suppression, rural
& agriculture development, riparian modification
White-headed
woodpecker
Pine/fir mountain
forests
Large pines living and dead
Limited natural populations, logging of large pines and
snags
Flammulated owl
Pine/oak woodlands
Pine stands & snags
Conversion of mixed-aged forest to even-aged forests
Purple martin
Generalists
Snags in bums with excavated
cavities
Salvage logging after fire and fire suppression
Great grey owl
Pine/oak / true fir/
Mixed
Conifer
Mature forest with adjoining
meadows
Declining quality/quantity of nesting and roosting habitat
Western bluebird
Meadows/ open areas
Snags in open areas
Snag loss/fire suppression competition with starlings for
nest sites
Acom woodpecker
Oak woodlands
Large oaks
Declining habitat quality/quantity
Tricolored blackbird
Riparian
Wetlands, cattail marshes
Limited & dispersed populations, habitat loss from
development
Pygmy nuthatch
Pine forests
Large dead & decaying pine
Timber harvest of mature trees, salvage logging
Black-backed
woodpecker
Pine
Snags and pine
Removal of mature insect infested trees
Williamsons sapsucker
Montane conifer forest
Trees with advanced wood decay
Removal of heart rot trees, snag removal, conversion to
managed stands
Northern pygmy owl
Mixed conifer
Snags
Snag removal, depend on woodpecker species to
excavate nest cavities
Grasshopper sparrow
Open savannah
Grasslands with limited shrubs
Limited habitat, fire suppression, conversion to
agriculture
Bank swallow
Riparian
Sand banks near open ground or
water
General rarity, declining habitat quality
Western pond turtle
Riparian/uplands
Marshes, sloughs ponds
Alteration of aquatic and terrestrial nesting habitat,
exotic species introduction
Del Norte salamander
Mature/old growth
Talus
Declining habitat quality/quantity & fragmentation
Siskiyou mm.
Salamander
Closed canopy forest
Talus
Declining habitat quality/quantity & fragmentation
Foothills yellow-legged
frog
Riparian
Permanent streams with gravel
bottoms
Water diversions, impoundments, general declines in
genus numbers
Red-legged frog
Riparian
Marshes, ponds & streams with
limited flow
Exotic species introduction loss of habitat from
development
Tailed frog
Riparian
Cold fast flowing streams in
wooded area
Sedimentation and removal of riparian vegetation due to
logging, grazing & road building
Clouded salamander
Mature
Snags & down logs
Loss of large decaying wood due to timber harvest and
158
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Appendix D: Wildlife Information
habitat fragmentation
Variegated salamander
Riparian
Cold, clear seeps & springs
Water diversions & sedimentation from roads & logging
Black salamander
Generalists
Down logs, talus
Limited range, lack of data
Sharptail snake
Valley bottoms low
elevation
Moist rotting logs
Low elevation agricultural and development projects that
remove/limit down wood
California mountain
kingsnake
Habitat generalists
Habitat generalists
Edge of range, general rarity, collectors
Common kingsnake
Habitat generalists
Habitat generalists
Edge of range, general rarity, collectors
Northern sagebrush
lizard
Open brush stands
Open forests or brush with open
understory
Edge of range, fire suppression
Other Species and Habitats
In the watershed, species dependent upon snags and down wood are of special concern.
Historically, snags were produced by various processes including drought, windthrow, fires, and
insects. In response to these events, the amount of snags fluctuated through time. This natural
process has largely been interrupted by fire suppression and demands for timber harvest. The
potential recovery of snag dependent sensitive species such as the pileated woodpecker will
depend on the ability of the federal agencies to manage this resource.
Silvicultural practices have historically focused on even-aged stands and have resulted in deficits
of snags and down logs in harvested areas. Other activities that have depleted snags and down
logs are site preparation for tree planting (particularly broadcast burning), fuel wood cutting, post
fire salvage, and previous entries for mortality salvage. Managed stands that currently contain
10-12 (5 MBF) overstory trees per acres or less are also of concern from a wildlife tree/down log
perspective. Stands with remaining overstory trees have the potential to provide for current and
future snag/down log requirements throughout the next rotation if existing trees are removed.
Snags and down logs provide essential nesting/denning, roosting, foraging, and hiding cover for
at least 100 species of wildlife in western Oregon (Brown et al. 1985). For some species, the
presence or absence of suitable snags will determine the existence or localized extinction of that
species. In forested stands, cavity nesting birds may account for 30%-40% of the total bird
population (Raphael and White 1984). The absence of suitable snags (snag decay stage, number
and distribution) can be a major limiting factor for these snag dependent species.
The hardness (decay stage) of a snag is an important factor in determining its foraging, roosting
and nesting use by individual species. Woodpeckers, like the pileated woodpecker ( Dryocous
pileatus ) often choose hard snags (stage 1) for nesting where as wrens and chickadees use the
softer stage 2 and 3 snags. The use of snags as a foraging substrate also changes with time and
the decay stage of the snag. As a snag decomposes the insect communities found within it
changes. Evans and Conner (1979) identified three foraging substrates provided by snags: the
external surface of the bark, the cambium layer and the heartwood of the tree.
Snags are also used as food storage sites and as roosting/resting sites for many species. A variety
of mammals, birds and some owls use snags to cache prey and other food items. Vacated nesting
cavities are often used by wildlife for protection from inclement weather or on hot summer days.
159
Appendix D: Wildlife Information
Wes^odcJIhnoi^Rive^^ tershe^naj^
The marten ( Martes americano ) often uses snags as resting and hunting sites and a pileated
woodpecker may use up to 40 different snags for roosting.
Snags continue their function as a key element of wildlife habitat when they fall to the ground.
Once again, the use of down logs by individual species is dependent on the decay stage of the
log. A log with greater diameter and longer length is more functional for wildlife. Depending
upon the decay stage of the log, it will be used for lookout and feeding sites, nesting and thermal
cover, for food storage or for foraging. For example, species like the clouded salamander
(. Aneides ferreus ) require the micro-habitat provided by bark sloughing of the log where as small
mammals such as red-backed voles ( Clethrionomys occidentalis) burrow inside the softer logs.
As outlined in the RMP, the target is to maintain primary cavity nesting species at a minimum of
40% of their naturally occurring population levels (biological potential). Maintaining biological
potential at 40% is considered to be the minimal viable population level for any given species.
By managing for primary cavity nesters at 40% of the naturally occurring population level, it is
may also be possible to manage for many other snag dependent species, such as flying squirrels
{Glaucomys sabrinus), mountain bluebirds ( Sialia currucoides) and Vaux's swift ( Chaetura
vauxi) at an unknown level.
160
Agpendix^^ir^lana^
Wes^oriUllinoi^ivei^ater^
Appendix E: Fire Management Planning - Hazard, Risk, and Value At
Risk Rating Classification Method and Assumptions
A. HAZARD
Hazard rating is based on the summation of points assigned using the six elements as follows:
1) Slope: Percent Points
0-19 5
20-44 10
45+ 25
2) Aspect (In Degrees): Points
316-360,0-67 5
68-134,294-315 10
135-293 15
3) Position On Slope: Points
Upper 1/3 5
Midslope 10
Lower 1/3 25
4) Fuel Model: Model Points
Grass 1, 2, 3 5
Timber 8 5
Shrub 5 10
Timber 9 15
Shrub 6 20
Timber 10 20
Slash 11 25
Shrub 4 30
Slash 12, 13 30
5) Ladder Fuel Presence:
(Use when forest vegetation has DBH of 5" or greater (vegetation condition class 6).
Exceptions are possible based on stand conditions.)
Ladder fuel absent.
Present on less than one-third of area; vertical continuity > or < 50%.
Present on one-third to two-thirds of area; vertical continuity is <50%.
Present on one-third to two-thirds of area; vertical continuity is > 50%.
Present on greater than two-thirds of area; vertical continuity is <50%.
Present on greater than two-thirds of area; vertical continuity is > 50%.
6) Summary Rating:
POINTS
0-45
50-70
75-135
HAZARD RATING
LOW
MODERATE
HIGH
Points
0
5
15
25
30
40
161
West Fork Illinois River Watershed Analysis
Appendix E: Fire Management
B. RISK
Assigned based on human presence and use, and on lightning occurrence.
High rating when human population areas are present on or within 1/4 mile of the area; area has good
access with many roads; relatively higher incidence of lightning occurrence; area has high level of human
use.
Moderate rating when area has human access and experiences informal use; area is used during summer
and fall seasons as main travel route or for infrequent recreational activities. Lightning occurrence is
typical for the area and not notably higher.
Low rating when area has limited human access and infrequent use. Baseline as standard risk, mainly
from lightning occurrence with only rare risk of human caused fire.
C. VALUE AT RISK
Best assigned through interdisciplinary process. Based on human and resource values within planning
areas. Can be based on land allocations, special use areas, human improvements/monetary investment,
residential areas, agricultural use, structures present, soils, vegetative conditions, and habitat.
Examples:
High rating - ACEC, RNA, LSR, Special Status species present, critical habitats, recreation area,
residential areas, farming, vegetation condition and McKelvey ratings of 81, 82, 71, 72; vegetation
condition of 4 and 5. Caves, cultural, or monetary investment present. Riparian areas.
Moderate rating - Granitic soils, informal recreation areas and trails. Vegetation and McKelvey rating of
85, 75, 65.
Low rating - Vegetation condition class 1, 2, 3; and vegetation 5, 6, 7 with McKelvey rating 4.
162
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