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Salmon Anchor Habitat and State Forests

Salmon Anchor Habitat and State Forests. Presented by Bob Van Dyk and Tom Miewald to the Oregon Board of Forestry September 3, 2008. Overview and Presentation Context. Wild Salmon Center mission and the North Coast Watersheds State Forests and Salmon Data Analysis of Watershed Conditions.

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Salmon Anchor Habitat and State Forests

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  1. Salmon Anchor Habitat and State Forests Presented by Bob Van Dyk and Tom Miewald to the Oregon Board of Forestry September 3, 2008

  2. Overview and Presentation Context • Wild Salmon Center mission and the North Coast Watersheds • State Forests and Salmon • Data Analysis of Watershed Conditions

  3. Key Findings and Recommendations • Findings • North Coast of regional importance for wild salmon • State Land is the largest landowner on the North Coast and provides vital wild salmon habitat • Few of the North Coast watersheds score high for watershed condition for salmon; state lands are better condition than private lands • Few areas in the North Coast are managed with a high conservation emphasis; Salmon Anchor Habitat expiring in 2011-1013 • Recommendations • Extend and Enhance Current Salmon Anchor Habitat Strategy

  4. Globally Significant Salmon Rivers Wild Salmon Center is an international science-based organization whose mission is to identify, understand and protect the best wild salmon ecosystems of the North Pacific.

  5. North American Context Multi-Species Salmon Population Ratings • Many salmon runs extinct or depressed in Pacific Northwest. • The Wild Salmon Center regional assessment identified salmon strongholds with high abundance and high life –history diversity. • Tillamook and Nehalem Basins scored among the highest in the Lower 48 contiguous states.

  6. Key Salmon of the North Coast North Coast Area Draft 08.13.08 • Chinook • Coho • Chum • Steelhead • Sea-run Cutthroat

  7. Coho • 3-6% of historical levels • Require summer and winter shelter habitat • Summer shelter habitat are principally in forested streams

  8. Fall Chinook • Largest run north of Rogue, appx. 20% of historic levels • Since 1990 Tillamook Basin among top 3 Fall Chinook runs north of Rogue. • 2008 Forecast: Largest run north of Rogue. • World-class recreational fishery. • Juveniles spend less than one year in river/estuary.

  9. Chum • Southernmost significant run in United States • Small fraction of historic abundance • Miami and Kilchis support the largest runs in Oregon • Spawn low in basin • 2 weeks – 1 month in river

  10. Steelhead • Salmonberry River is internationally famous for wild steelhead. • High gradient reaches of State Forest land are key steelhead production areas. • Juveniles over winter 2-3 years. • Substantial but not quantified wild runs throughout North Coast.

  11. Salmon and Greatest Permanent Value • Protecting salmon habitat also provides… • Healthy riparian areas for many aquatic and terrestrial species • Recreation • Water Quality • Commercial Fishing • Long-term, sustainable economic engine • Protecting salmon is compatible with sustainable timber harvests

  12. Current Oregon North Coast Forest Conservation Emphasis Oregon North Coast Ownership & Location Draft 08.29.08 Draft 08.08.08 North Coast Context:Planning for Salmon • Oregon Dept. of Forestry is a key owner on North Coast of key fish habitat • Little federal land north of the Nestucca River • Little land in High Conservation Emphasis

  13. Conservation Emphasis and Forest Management Oregon North Coast Timber Harvest1972 - 2007 • Private forests: more clearcutting • State lands:more thinning • Federal: less management • Key concerns • Shortage of large wood for proper aquatic function • Extensive road networks, including legacy roads, contribute sediment • Temperature 1984 1995 2004 2007 with thinning 1972 2007

  14. North Coast Context:Current Protection for Salmon Oregon North Coast Salmon Anchor Habitats Draft 08.13.08 • Salmon Anchor Habitats • Reduce risk that management activities pose to salmon • Still allow up to 25% of some watersheds to be clearcut in 10 years of the plan • Expire 2011-2013 • Subject to revision in current consideration of changes to forest plan

  15. Assessment of Watershed Condition and Fish Distribution • Objective of Analysis Provide insight into the following questions: • Where are key areas for salmon based on latest data and science? • What is the current condition of watershed processes across ownerships? • How to create a conservation plan across the North Coast? • Better understand implications of changes to Salmon Anchor Habitat strategy.

  16. Collaborative Decision Support Model • The analysis was conducted with the expertise and input of: • Oregon Dept. of Forestry • OR Dept. Of Fish and Wildlife • U.S. Forest Service • Ecotrust • The Nature Conservancy • Local Fish Biologists • The collaboration developed a model to understand regional watershed and fish condition. • Model is at the landscape scale.

  17. Model Tests for support of the proposition that the watershed is in good condition

  18. Watershed Condition Riparian Deciduous Condition Greater than 14’ DBH Watershed Condition Scores: Dark Green: High Scores Dark Red: Low Scores Draft 08.13.08 Riparian condition Deciduous component: Measures % of riparian zones with deciduous (hardwood) cover with trees> 14” diameter at breast height Riparian zones for providing shade and nutrients.

  19. Watershed Condition Riparian Conifer Condition Greater than 20’ DBH Watershed Condition Scores: Dark Green: High Scores Dark Red: Low Scores Draft 08.13.08 Riparian condition Conifer component: measures % of conifer cover with trees> 20” diameter at breast height Riparian zones as a source for large woody debris and shade.

  20. Watershed Condition Flood Plain/Road Condition Road density in low gradient stream Watershed Condition Scores: Dark Green: High Scores Dark Red: Low Scores Draft 08.13.08 Floodplain Road Density Measures miles of road per sq. mile Roads alter the hydrology of low gradient streams, source of sediment.

  21. Watershed Condition Excess Fine Sediments Watershed Condition Scores: Dark Green: High Scores Dark Red: Low Scores Draft 08.13.08 Fine Sediment Shows areas with fine sediment that are problematic.

  22. Watershed Condition Oregon North Coast Watershed Condition for Salmon This map shows the aggregation of key ecological attributes: Darkest Green: Data shows high support, watershed is in good condition Darkest Red: Data shows low support, indicating that watershed is not in good condition Areas with low scores: • Tillamook lowlands • Upper Nehalem Areas with high scores: • Kilchis, Salmonberry, Little North Fork Wilson, Nestucca

  23. Watershed Condition by Ownership Average watershed condition scores by ownership High Scores OR Dept. of Forestry Salmon Anchor Habitat Lands Lands Lands Low Scores

  24. Fish population data • Data were gathered using the following sources: • Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Spawning and Juvenile surveys from 1998- 2007 • Tillamook whole watershed surveys, 2005-2007 • Intrinsic Potential • Expert Opinion • Data is incomplete across the whole region. • Intrinsic Potential

  25. Multiple Species Multispecies Abundance, Density, Diversity from Multiple Surveys Draft 08.13.08 • Watersheds draining directly into Tillamook Bay have high diversity and abundances. • Chum • Coho • Steelhead • Chinook • Miami, Kilchis • Little North Fork of the Wilson. • Current Salmon Anchor Habitat status protects these areas, except the Upper North Fork Kilchis and Lower Kilchis.

  26. Synthesis & Conclusions Oregon North Coast Timber Harvest1968 - 2008 Draft 08.13.08 • Few watersheds scored high for overall condition. • State Forests have: • Better watershed condition • High fish abundance and diversity • High Intrinsic Potential areas for multiple species. • Salmon Anchor Habitats: • Protect areas that are in better condition currently. • Protect multiple species across the landscape. • Provide the potential for a healthy distribution of good watershed condition across the landscape. • There are additions to Salmon Anchor Habitats that would enhance protection.

  27. Synthesis & Conclusions Oregon North Coast Watershed Condition for Salmon • Few watersheds scored high for overall condition. • State Forests have: • Better watershed condition • High fish abundance and diversity • High Intrinsic Potential areas for multiple species. • Salmon Anchor Habitats: • Protect areas that are in better condition currently. • Protect multiple species across the landscape. • Provide the potential for a healthy distribution of good watershed condition across the landscape. • There are additions to Salmon Anchor Habitats that would enhance protection.

  28. Policy Recommendations • Extend and Enhance Current Salmon Anchor Habitat Strategy • Adopt for 20-year planning horizon • Add specific key watersheds • Revisit riparian strategies and clearcut caps to ensure protection of salmon habitat while allowing multiple uses • Aggressively reduce harms from known problems, e.g. road improvements and/or removal • Identify and protect micro-anchors (reach-scale) across the landscape • Make salmon protection the highest priority in a subset of anchor habitats at the watershed level • Miami, Kilchis, Little North Fork Wilson, Salmonberry

  29. Potential Oregon North Forest Conservation Emphasis Draft 09.02.08 Current versus Enhanced Conservation Strategy for Salmon on State Land Current Oregon North Forest Conservation Emphasis Draft 08.29.08

  30. Comments and Questions

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