Blue Mountain Forests' Monitoring Report - Umatilla NF Monitoring Items

Blue Mountain Forests' Monitoring Report - FY 98

Section U - Umatilla National Forest

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MONITORING ITEMS NOT REPORTED THIS YEAR
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

FOREST PLAN MONITORING ITEMS
Item 2 Soil Productivity
Item 2A Soil Productivity Over Time
Item 3 Water Quantity
Item 4 Water Quality
Item 5 Stream Temperature
Item 6 Water Quality - Stream Sediment
Item 7 Stream Channel Morphological Features
Item 8 Fire Effects on Water and Soil
Item 15 Stand Management - Regeneration
Item 17 Stand Management - Thinning/Improvement
Item 18A Fire Effects - Wildfire
Item 20 Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plants
Item 21 Insects and Disease
Item 22 Anadromous and Resident Fisheries
Item 23 Elk/Deer Habitat and Estimated Populations
Item 25 Dead and/or Defective Tree Habitat
Item 28 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Wildlife and Fish Species
Item 33 Recreation
Item 44 Availability of Firewood
Item 45 Mineral Development, Rehabilitation, and Accessibility
Item 46 Forest Road System
Item 47 Open Road Density
Item 49 Fire - Program Effectiveness
Item 53 NEPA/NFMA Compliance
Special Focus Item -- Coal Mine Hill Road

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
FOREST PLAN AMENDMENTS FOR FY 98

LIST OF TABLES

Table U-1 Tree Survival with and without Subsoiling - Heppner
Table U-2 Tree Survival with and without Fertilizer and Subsoiling - Heppner
Table U-3 Watershed Acres and Acres Harvested
Table U-4 Annual Summer Maximum Water Temperatures
Table U-5 Annual Suspended Unit Loads
Table U-6 Peak Flow Duration, Timing and Percent of Total Sediment
Table U-7 Channel Changes 1996-1998
Table U-8 Changes in Stream Particle Size
Table U-9 Stream Channel Changes - Tower Fire
Table U-10 Changes in Stream Particle Sizes 1996-1998
Table U-11 Large Wood Frequencies by Size Class
Table U-12 Precommercial Thinning Acres 1994-1998
Table U-13 Tower Fire - Forest Stand Changes
Table U-14 Percent Changes in Species Composition
Table U-15 Insects and Disease
Table U-16 Estimated Wild Steelhead Escapement - Tucannon River
Table U-17 Steelhead Spawning Ground Surveys - Redds/Mile
Table U-18 Chinook Counts by Index Reach - Oregon
Table U-19 ODFW Chinook Redd Counts
Table U-20 Chinook Salmon Counts on North Fork Asotin Creek
Table U-21 Chinook Counts by Index Reach - Washington
Table U-22 Bull Trout Redd Counts
Table U-23 Redband Trout Population Estimates
Table U-24 Elk Management Objectives and Population Trends
Table U-25 Mule Deer Management Objectives and Population Trends
Table U-26 Deadwood Densities
Table U-27 Recreation Use
Table U-28 Firewood Program - Permits Issued 1989-1998
Table U-29 Forest Road System
Table U-30 District Road Closure Violations - 1998
Table U-31 Lightning and Human-Caused Fires and Acres Burned 1991-1998
Table U-32 Fire Funds Spent
Table U-33 Forest Accomplishments - FY 1998

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure U-1 Annual Precipitation
Figure U-2 Summer Stream Temperature
Figure U-3 Photos of 5507 Road Crossing
Figure U-4 Oriental Creek #2 Below 5507 Road
Figure U-5 Survival and Stocking Trends

MONITORING ITEMS NOT REPORTED FOR FY 1998

A number of Monitoring Items from the Umatilla Forest's 1994 Monitoring Strategy were not reported in FY 1998. Some items only need to be reported every few years in order to detect trends. Other items were purposely deferred pending updated monitoring protocols or direction, and some were deferred due to lack of funding. Some items not found in this section were reported in Section C, the coordinated monitoring items.

A handful of monitoring items were scheduled for monitoring in FY 98 but were not reported for a variety of reasons, such as personnel turnover or other work priorities.

Monitoring Items that were not reported for any of the above reasons discussed above include the following:

Item 9 Riparian Vegetation
Item 11 Range Condition and Trends
Item 14 Created Openings
Item 16 Ponderosa Pine Regeneration
Item 19 Vegetation Management
Item 24 Old Growth
Item 26 Woodpecker Populations
Item 27 Pine Marten
Item 29 Plant and Animal Diversity
Item 30 Management Area Standards and Guides
Item 31 Primitive/Semi-Primitive Recreation and Roadless Areas
Item 32 Recreation - Off-Highway Vehicle Use
Item 34 Wild and Scenic Rivers
Item 35 Existing Visual Conditions
Item 36 Nonconforming Uses in Wildernesses
Item 37 Limit of Acceptable change and Amount of Primitive Wilderness
Item 41 Lands Suitable for Timber Management
Item 42 Timber Yield Projections
Item 48 Trails
Item 50 Cultural Resources
Item 51 Effects of Management Activities on Special Interest Areas
Item 52 Research Natural Areas
Item 54 Income Levels, Populations and Employment
Item 55 Payments to Counties
Item 57 Forest Contribution to Forest Products Industry
Item 58 Forest Budget
Item 59 Cost/Values of Plan

The Summary Of Recommended Actions shows all Umatilla Monitoring Items and whether they were deferred, consolidated with the other Blue Mountain Forests (Section C of this Monitoring Report), or reported in this Section.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN

The table on the following pages summarizes for the Umatilla Forest the key findings and the recommended actions to be taken as a result of this year's monitoring. A more complete discussion of each monitoring item may be found later in this section or in the Coordinated Monitoring Section (Section C).

It is assumed that monitoring will be continued with all monitoring items in the future, although not all will be reported every year. Categories of recommended actions are identified in the table as follows:

Change Practices (CP) - Indicates that the results of current practices are outside the thresholds of variability and/or are not meeting specific direction set by the Forest Plan. A change in practice or procedure may be needed.

Further Evaluation (FE) - Indicates that results may or may not have exceeded the threshold of variability, but additional information or evaluation is needed to better identify the cause of the concern and/or determine future actions.

Amend Forest Plan (AP) - Indicates that results are inconsistent with the Forest Plan, or the Forest Plan direction was not clear. The Forest Plan may need changing or clarifying through the amendment or revision process

Continue Monitoring (CM) - Indicates we will continue with the current scheme.

Not Evaluated (NE) - Not evaluated in FY 1998

Summary of Recommended Action
¨ 1998 Monitoring Report ¨
Umatilla National Forest

Report Section	MI#	Monitoring Item (MI)	1997 Action	1998 Recommended Action			Remarks
Report Section	MI#	Monitoring Item (MI)	1997 Action	Change Practice	Further Eval.	Amend Forest Plan	Remarks
I. PHYSICAL RESOURCES
COORD	1	Air Quality	CM				All burning was done in compliance with smoke mgt plans. Prescribed burning was restricted in December when the emissions cap was reached for NE Oregon.
UMA	2	Soil Productivity	CM				Soil protection practices are being implemented properly and are meeting standards. Continue to monitor; effectiveness monitoring needed.
UMA	3	Water Quantity	NE	X			1 drainage had earlier snowmelt peaks after harvest.
UMA	4	Water Quality	NE	X			Baseline, fire and timber sale monitoring show some potential problems although analysis is not yet complete.
UMA	5	Stream Temperature	NE	X			Meeting water temperature standards is a problem.
UMA	6	Stream Sedimentation	NE				High annual variability is evident. Peak runoff occurs during spring snowmelt or rain on snow events.
UMA	7	Stream Channel Morphological Features	NE				Channel area change occurred at all sites affected by the severe winter flooding of 1996.
UMA	8	Fire Effects - Wildfire on Water and Soils	CM				Erosion monitoring started on 1996 wildfire areas. 1998 storms caused additional erosion and sediment movement.
II. BIOLOGIC RESOURCES
DEF	9	Riparian Vegetation	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
COORD	10	Level of Utilization	CM FE	X			97% of the monitored pastures met standards. Need to emphasize effectiveness monitoring to validate utilization standards, particularly in riparian areas.
DEF	11	Range Condition and Trend	NE				No integrated range analysis was completed in FY 97 or FY 98 due to inadequate funding.
COORD	12	Noxious Weeds: Invasive Vegetation	CM				Over 4000 acres (gross) were treated, primarily through manual and chemical means. Continuing need to monitor and document treatment results and effectiveness of practices.
COORD	13	Silvicultural Harvest Method	AP			X	Change in harvest method needs to be evaluated and adjusted upon completion of ICBEMP process.
DEF	14	Created Openings	NE				Deferred until FY 99.
UMA & COORD	15	Stand Management - Regeneration	FE		X		First year survival was 94%. Third year survival dropped to below 50%. Continue to review longer term survival.
DEF	16	Stand Management - Ponderosa Pine Regeneration	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
UMA	17	Stand Management - Thinning/Improvement	CM				Funding for thinning is inadequate.
COORD	18	Fire Effects - Prescribed Fire	CM				956 acres of activities fuels were treated.
UMA	18A	Fire Effects - Wildfire	NE				Tower Fire lost additional trees in FY 98 due to scorch and insect attack.
DEF	19	Vegetation Management	CM				Deferred for FY 98.
UMA	20	Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species	CM				Known populations of sensitive plants appear fairly stable. Focus monitoring to mitigated and "at risk" populations.
UMA & COORD	21	Insect and Disease Control	CM				Most key insect populations are low. Continue monitoring tussock moth.
UMA	22	Anadromous and Resident Fisheries	CM	X			Post fire recovery continues for redband trout Bull trout redd counts increased over the previous year. No chinook or their redds have been found in Asotin Creek since 1993.
UMA	23	Elk/Deer Habitat and Estimated Populations	FE		X		Deer populations remain below Management Objectives. Elk populations remain below Management Objectives if all lands are considered.
UMA	24	Old Growth Tree Habitat	NE				Not reported in FY 97 or FY 98.
UMA	25	Dead and/or Defective Tree Habitat	CP FE				Snag levels generally exceeded standards following harvest and prescribed fire activities.
DEF	26	Pileated and Northern Three-Toed Woodpecker Populations	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
DEF	27	Pine Marten	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
UMA	28	Threatened/Endangered/Sensitive Wildlife and Fish Species	CM				The Dry Creek Bald eagle nest appeared to have fledged 2 young, need to continue work on the management plan for the nest site.
DEF	29	Plant and Animal Diversity	CP				Deferred for FY 98.

Report Section	MI#	Monitoring Item (MI)	1997 Action	1998 Recommended Action			Remarks
Report Section	MI#	Monitoring Item (MI)	1997 Action	Change Practice	Further Eval.	Amend Forest Plan	Remarks
III. RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO PEOPLE
DEF	30	A. Forest Plan Implementation Management Areas/Standards and Guidelines	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
DEF	31	B. Recreation Primitive/Semi-Primitive Recreation and Roadless Areas	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
DEF	32	Off-Highway Vehicle Use	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
UMA	33	Developed Sites	NE				Developed recreation use has declined since 1996 while dispersed recreation use has increased.
DEF	34	Wild and Scenic Rivers	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
DEF	35	Existing Visual Condition	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
DEF	36	Nonconforming Uses	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
DEF	37	Limit of Acceptable Change (LAC) and Amount of Primitive Wilderness Resource Spectrum (WRS)	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
COORD	38	Allotment Planning	FE				Four AMPs were completed in FY 98 based on prior NEPA decisions. Changes in program emphasis, including ESA consultation, and reduced funding have reduced the Forest's ability to complete AMPs.
Accomp Report	39	Range Outputs	CM				50,400 AUMs were reported in FY 98. Future Forest Plan Adjustment may affect outputs.
Accomp Report	40	Range Improvement	CM				Reported under Table U-33 (Forest Accomplishments).
DEF	41	Identification of Lands Suitable for Timber Management	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
DEF	42	Timber - Yield Projection	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
COORD	43	Timber Offered for Sale	FE AP		X	X	Timber offered is still well below Forest Plan projections. Need to adjust Plan when ICBEMP process is completed.
UMA	44	Availability of Firewood	CM				Current demands are being met.
UMA	45	Mineral Development and Rehabilitation (MDR) Accessibility	CM				Standards and Guidelines being met. One abandoned mine was reclaimed in FY 98.
UMA	46	Forest Road System	CM				About 65 miles of roads were obliterated. The existing road system appears to be meeting public and resource management needs.
UMA	47	Open Road Density	CM				Physical closures are more effective than signs.
UMA	48	Trails	NE				Not reported for FY 97 or FY 98.
UMA	49	Fire - Program Effectiveness	CM				FY 98 was a mild wildfire season; 226 acres burned from 31 human-caused starts.
DEF	50	Cultural Properties/Sites	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
DEF	51	Effects of Forest Management Activities on SIA's	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
DEF	52	Research Natural Areas (RNAs)	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
UMA	53	National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/National Forest Management Act (NFMA)	CP	X			9 EAs and 44 CEs were prepared. No formal reviews by the Forest ID team in FY 98. Need to evaluate and possibly issue white paper on appropriate NEPA and a standard review process.
IV. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC **
COORD	54	Changes in Income Levels, Populations, and Employment	FE AP				Not reported in FY 98.
COORD	55	Payments to Counties	FE AP				Not reported in FY 98.
COORD	56	Lifestyles, Attitudes, Beliefs, Values, and Social Organizations	FE AP				Not reported in FY 98.
DEF	57	Forest Contributions to the Local Timber Supply	NE				Deferred for FY 97 and FY 98.
COORD	58	Forest Budget	FE AP				Not reported in FY 98.
COORD	59	Costs/Values of Forest Plan	FE AP				Not reported in FY 98.

**A new budget process (FFIS) delayed report generation for many of the budget items.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 2 (top)
Soil Productivity

Questions: Are management practices/projects resulting in conditions that comply with Forest-wide Standards and Guidelines for the management of the soil resource? Do Forest-wide Standards and Guidelines adequately protect long-term site productivity? Is soil productivity maintained or enhanced over time?

Timber harvest activities continued to be the focus of soil monitoring during the year. Little road construction activity took place and grazing effects monitoring is unfunded. Cursory assessment of prescribed burns occurred concurrently with other monitoring. Watershed improvement projects are being evaluated for erosion and sedimentation effects but not as yet for productivity changes, although the intent of these projects is to improve conditions.

As in the recent past, Timber Sale Administrators conducted most of the monitoring of soil resource productivity and erosion for harvest operations by observing/inspecting unit erosion control measures (Best Management Practices or BMPs) and soil rehabilitation work (e.g., subsoiling, cross ditching, waterbarring, and barricading). Specific areas inspected/monitored included temporary roads, tractor skid trails, forwarder routes, skyline/cable corridors, tractor and hand firelines, and log landings. Additional unit areas were monitored by the Forest Soil Scientist on a sample basis.

On Pomeroy Ranger District, three active timber sales operated during 1998. Each was monitored for compliance with Forest-wide Standards and Guidelines for soil disturbing activities during routine sale administration inspections. The three timber sales were School, Tucannon, and Trent. School and Tucannon sales were helicopter sales; Trent was a conventional tractor system sale completed in 1997, with only final erosion control work required in 1998.

School and Tucannon timber sales met standards and guidelines for soil impacts since helicopter yarding exhibited little disturbance or compactive action within the harvest units. The primary impacts of helicopter yarding take place at the landings. All landings and access roads used in the School and Tucannon sales were pre-existing features, used in past sales. The number of landings and roads needed for these sales fell well below the Umatilla National Forest's standard of 5 percent of project area in landings and roads. These landings and roads will likely be used again in the future, so the landing areas were treated for erosion control and revegetation, but without subsoiling.

The Trent Timber Sale was completed in 1997 with only final erosion control measures to be completed in 1998. The sale required designated skidtrails and preapproval of trail locations and landings to meet soil protection guidelines. Operators were required to space skid trail at a width that met standards, and to winch timber to the skid trails. One operator fell timber toward trails and limbed and topped trees, which resulted in a slash mat covering a large percentage of the skid trails. A portion of the sale was also logged during heavy snow conditions. Overall, this sale met standards and guidelines for soil protection. Acceptable erosion control measures were completed in 1998.

Moe Salvage Timber Sale, on the Walla Walla Ranger District, was harvested in 1998 using a cut-to-length/forwarder logging system. Field review by the Sale Administrator and the Forest Service Representative determined the following results:

This sale has eight harvest units that were individually tree marked and it covers 296 acres. Two Valmet 500T processors cut the timber and placed the tops, limbs, slash, etc., in the skid trails, thereby creating a slash mat which reduces or eliminates soil compaction. Equipment is required to stay on designated trails that are not closer than 40 feet and do not exceed 12 feet in width. Most trails are generally farther apart than required because these processors have a usable reach of 28 feet and maximum reach of 32 feet. Following the log processors are two Valmet log forwarders, one 890 and one 860. The forwarders picked up the logs without leaving the designated trails and carried them to predesignated landings. All landings were located in existing openings adjacent to the haul roads and no landing construction was needed. Landings were then seeded with native seed.

The amount of exposed soil was estimated based on an average harvest trail spacing of approximately 45 feet and assuming that the only portion of each trail with exposed mineral soil was the last 50 feet. Calculations indicate that approximately 3 percent of the sale area had exposed mineral soil. Observations by the Forest Soil Scientist generally concur with these estimates.

Results from continued soil monitoring on the Grande Ronde Salvage Sale in 1998 were similar to 1997 findings, with about 8-10 percent of the activity area having detrimental soil impacts.

Positive results were observed with tracked processors and forwarder(s) operating on deep snow on some units within the Rockhard Sale, North Fork John Day Ranger District. Unit 15 provided an example of good harvest operations with acceptable soil productivity results. However, excessive dozer blade use and bermed fireline construction unnecessarily displaced soil in units 8, 10, and 15. Unit 12 appeared to have been logged under wetter conditions; however, rutting and compaction were still limited in extent, with the overall soil condition rated as good and within guidelines. Several areas had high stumps, which may have been from winter logging (snow). Snow conditions and operator care were critical to success in these situations.

Monitoring of salvage operations in the Tower Fire area showed very little soil disturbance from the helicopter operations. Ground-based operations appeared acceptable with some minor rilling on an access road into a landing after a summer thunderstorm.

Monitoring of the subsoiled evaluation plantations on North Fork John Day district (Morsay and Wilkins) showed no erosion and moderate effectiveness of treatment. The planted unit (Wilkins) was holding moisture well when observed early (June 23), with the seedlings vigorous.

In summary, soil monitoring results continue to indicate that various logging systems used on the Forest meet Forest-wide Standards and Guidelines. Mechanized harvest systems (such as cut-to-length systems) are achieving acceptable results. Ground-based systems continue to have a higher risk of detrimentally exceeding the requirements when compared with aerial systems. Tractor fireline construction is still occasionally excessive or unneeded on some units.

Recommended Action:

Continue to monitor. Follow up effectiveness monitoring of erosion control and other measures is still needed.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 2A (top)
Soil Productivity Over Time

Question: Is soil productivity maintained or enhanced over time?

The Davis Unit 31 monitoring/demonstration project begun in 1990 on the Heppner Ranger District was revisited in 1998. The intent of the project was to assess the benefits of site preparation and soil restoration with a self-drafting, winged subsoiler to reduce compaction. The project area had a history of multiple, ground-based harvesting operations that compacted soils to a degree considered beyond the limits of standards and guidelines. Artificial reforestation had commonly been a problem in areas like this, and the compacted conditions were believed linked to reforestation failures and shortfalls.

Plot areas on three sites/soil types within the unit were selected for treatment with the subsoiler or received no treatment. Subsoiling was done in 1991. In 1992, seedlings of 2/0 ponderosa pine were planted using planting hoes, and part of the tree seedlings on one site (the ash soil type) were fertilized. The effectiveness of site preparation was assessed in 1998 (the seventh growing season) by comparing planted tree survival. The data obtained are detailed in the following tables that follow.

The 1998 tree survival for subsoiled versus not-subsoiled plots over the three soil types was essentially unchanged since 1996. Only the subsoiling on ash soil types changed and it decreased by only two percentage points. Survival remained 20-40 percentage points higher with subsoiling (Table U-1). The subsoiled plot on the residual soil type had 10 percentage points higher tree survival than subsoiled plots on the other soil types, and survival was also highest here (11-30 percent) for the not-subsoiled plots.

Table U-1
PLANTED TREE SURVIVAL (%) WITH AND
WITHOUT SUBSOILING TREATMENTS
1998 Results (seventh growing season)
Heppner Ranger District, Umatilla NF

Site/Soil Type	Not Subsoiled (%)	Subsoiled (%)
Transition Soil Type	28	68
Ash Soil Type	47	68
Residual Soil Type	58	78

Starter fertilizer effects tested at the ash soil site also changed little since 1996. Using a starter fertilizer at planting showed a 15 and 21 percentage point suppression effect on tree survival without or with subsoiling, respectively (Table U-2).

Table U-2
PLANTED TREE SURVIVAL (%) WITH AND
WITHOUT FERTILIZER AND SUBSOILING TREATMENTS
1998 Results (seventh growing season)
Heppner Ranger District, Umatilla NF
Ash Soil Type Only

Treatment	Not Subsoiled (%)	Subsoiled (%)
No Fertilizer	47	68
Fertilizer Packet Added	32	47

Over seven growing seasons, a substantially higher tree survival continues to be consistently associated with site preparation using the self-drafting, winged subsoiler. Depending on the initial planting rate, if the survival advantage is sufficient to avoid replanting, the subsoiling practice would be considered cost effective.

Recommended Action:

The project needs to shift focus and review growth differences in addition to tracking tree survival. A formal report will be submitted for publication.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 3 (top)
Water Quantity

Questions: What is the water yield from the Forest and key watersheds? Are management activities significantly affecting the volume of water yields from Forest watersheds? Are management activities significantly affecting the timing of water yield from Forest watersheds? Are management activities significantly affecting the magnitude of summer low flows from Forest watersheds?

Annual precipitation for water year (WY) 98 was generally below average, ranging from 81 to 89 percent of the average, with the exception of Madison Butte which recorded 120 percent of average (Figure U-1). Streamflow gauging is ongoing at eight locations across the Forest: Tucannon River at Panjab; Mill Creek above the intake for the City of Walla Walla; Umatilla River at Corporation; North Fork Umatilla River; South Fork Umatilla River; Desolation Creek above Kelsay Creek; and Skookum Creek and an unnamed tributary.

Figure U-1
ANNUAL PRECIPITATION
Umatilla National Forest (SNOTEL Sites)

snotel.gif (5334 bytes)

In past monitoring reports, the Umatilla National Forest indicated that a final report on the Umatilla Barometer Watershed program "High Ridge Evaluation Area" was in process. The following summarizes long-term monitoring findings from the recent administrative report by J.D. Helvey and W.B. Fowler; the report describes the effects of timber harvest on water yields and other hydrologic values for small, forested watersheds.

The Umatilla Barometer Watershed covers 84,750 acres of the headwaters of the Umatilla River on the Walla Walla Ranger District. Included in the watershed is the High Ridge Evaluation Area which consists of four, first-order watersheds that together drain 550 acres. Streamflow and other measurements were initiated in 1966 and continued until November 1996. After a calibration period, timber was harvested twice, first in 1976 and again in 1984 (see Table U-3). Harvest methods included clearcutting on watershed 1; shelterwood treatment on watershed 2; and patch cut on watershed 4.

Table U-3
WATERSHED ACRES AND ACRES HARVESTED
IN 1976 AND 1984
High Ridge Evaluation Area
Umatilla National Forest

		Acres Logged		% Stand		Removed	Harvest
Watershed	Acres	1976	1984	1976	1984	Total	Method
1	73.1	31	42	43	57	100	Clearcut
2	60.3	60	60	50	50	98*	Shelterwood
3	0	0	0	0	0	0	Control
4	291.7	64	49	22	38	60	Patch-cut

* Approximate value; most of the trees left for seed production were wind thrown and salvaged in 1984.

Streamflow records were analyzed to determine possible changes in annual water yield after each harvest. The analysis of streamflow records showed no significant changes (p=0.05) in annual water yield from treated watersheds after the 1976 harvest or from watersheds 1 and 4 after the 1984 harvest, when individual years were analyzed separately. Yield from watershed 2 was significantly (p=0.05) increased during 2 years (1989 and 1992) after the second cutting.

Average water yield from each watershed during the treatment periods was also compared with yield from the calibration period. Yields from watersheds 1 and 2 after the 1984 harvest significantly exceeded expected values (by 0.4 and 2.3 inches/year, respectively). Differences during the first treatment period (1977-84) were nonsignificant. The smaller than expected response to intensive timber removal may be attributed to one or more of the following factors: (1) relatively large error terms in regressions developed from calibration data; (2) water use by rapidly reestablishing vegetation; (3) below-average precipitation during 7 of the 9 years following the 1984 harvest; (4) increased wind speeds that may have caused snow transport out of the watershed or increased sublimation and evaporation rates; and (5) groundwater-surface water interactions.

Soil moisture records and vegetation surveys in the logged areas provide useful information for interpreting water yield results. Soil moisture was measured between 1984 and 1995 under different cover conditions (clearcut 1976, clearcut 1984, partial cut, and forested-uncut) and at 3- and 4-foot depths. The analysis showed expected seasonal declines at approximately the same rate for all cover types, indicating similar rates of soil moisture depletion regardless of cover. However, fall recharge appeared to be faster in the cutting units, indicating lower water use by plants. Over the measurement period, annual water content was greater in patch cut units compared to an uncut stand until 1988. After 1988, moisture content was similar on harvested and unharvested plots, indicating similar moisture use rates by the old and new stands.

Daily streamflow peaks increased after the 1984 harvest on watersheds 1 and 2 (26 percent on

watershed 2). No changes were detected in the magnitude of annual snowmelt peaks; however, peaks from watershed 4 occurred earlier after the 1984 harvest, indicating earlier snowmelt from that drainage.

Suspended sediment and turbidity sampling began in 1984. A sharp increase in sediment yield and turbidity occurred immediately following the 1984 harvest, then declined. Increases were greatest in watershed 2 and were likely the result of direct disturbance by skidding across the channel upstream from the weir. Most suspended sediment left the watershed during spring snowmelt runoff. Bedload measurements showed low contributions overall, averaging less than one pound per acre per year. Bedload volume remained small even after logging.

Stream channel cross sections were established in 1984 and resurveyed each year through 1995. Changes in channel form are indicative of adjustments to increased discharge, erosion, and/or deposition. Overall, channels were relatively stable, showing minor fluctuations in bed elevations and that timber harvest had no lasting effect. Instream woody material is an important component in maintaining channel stability. It may be that with the future supply of instream wood depleted, channel stability may decrease as instream wood decays.

Recommended Action:

The High Ridge study was closed in the fall of 1996, and emphasis has shifted to maintaining the baseline Umatilla gages at Corporation, North Fork, and South Fork. These sites should be maintained and modernized with new equipment. The Mill Creek gage duplicates efforts by the City of Walla Walla and should be discontinued.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 4 (top)
Water Quality

Questions: Are Forest Management Activities or other factors affecting water quality parameters in Forest streams? Has the Forest met its designated obligations and responsibilities with respect to management of non-point source pollution? Did the Forest comply with the Clean Water Act as outlined in the MOU with the states? What is the long-term trend in water quality.

Questions: Are Best Management Practices (BMPs) and other measures implemented as designed to protect water quality? Are Best Management Practices and other practices effective in meeting water quality goals?

I. Baseline Monitoring

The Forest operated 18 automated pumping samplers on the following streams: Tucannon (two locations); Pataha Creek; Touchet River (three locations); Mill Creek; Umatilla River (three locations); Willow Creek (five locations); Desolation Creek; and Skookum Creek (two locations). Daily (composite) samples were analyzed for suspended sediment (mg/l), turbidity (NTU), total dissolved solids (mg/l), and conductivity (mmhos). These data have not yet been summarized and interpreted.

Grab samples were taken at 14 locations (nine streams and one lake) on the Heppner Ranger District. Samples are collected four times per year and analyzed for dissolved oxygen (mg/l), coliform bacteria (total, fecal, and E. coli), total dissolved solids, conductivity, suspended solids, and pH. On Pomeroy Ranger District, samples for bacteria analysis were collected at three locations on Pataha Creek in September and October 1998. Results from samples collected on the National Forest complied with Washington State water quality standards.

Project monitoring continued through the year on several major Forest activities: trail restoration work in the Wenaha watershed, supported in part by the Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program; the Ski Bluewood area; the Willow Creek road reconstruction (a Federal Highways Administration project); and the Skookum landscape burn.

The Wenaha trail project included: implementation monitoring of trail reconstruction contracts; aquatic habitat surveys; and measurement of stream channel conditions at permanent monitoring stations (reference reaches). Results are not yet reported. Ski Bluewood sediment monitoring was terminated in the fall; data for the years 1995-1998 have not yet been analyzed yet (previous years were reported in the 1994 monitoring report). The Willow Creek road reconstruction and Skookum burn projects are summarized in the Umatilla Special Focus Monitoring Item and in separate reports on file at the Heppner Ranger District office.

II. Tri-Forest Prescribed Fire Monitoring Trips on the Umatilla National Forest

Prescribed fire program project reviews conducted in FY 98 generally show limited or no effects to water quality because of low burn intensity and mitigation (e.g., no ignition within 150 feet of streams). The following projects were reviewed by interdisciplinary teams in July 1998 on the Umatilla NF: Camp Creek Project on Walla Walla Ranger District; Pasture and Abel's Ridge projects on Pomeroy Ranger District; and Oriental Juniper 1 and 2 on North Fork John Day Ranger District (documented in July 15 and October 5 letters to District Rangers, on file).

III. Timber Sale Reviews

Timber sale reviews were conducted on Pomeroy, Walla Walla, and Heppner ranger districts. Field trips to the following project areas were made in September 1998 to monitor implementation of BMPs.

The School Timber Sale project (Pomeroy Ranger District, in the Tucannon watershed) has mostly helicopter units; landings and access roads (system and nonsystem) have the greatest potential for affecting water quality in this area. Compaction at landing sites increases risk of runoff and erosion. Recommended actions included adding structural measures (water bars) and increased cover (seed and straw mulch, or "mulching" with slash). Streamside protection was needed for an active landing in a riparian area (FS Road 4625-015) either through closure and rehabilitation of the site or planting and set-back along the stream. Several temporary roads were visited. Many needed treatment including barriers to prevent access, limited erosion control, or complete obliteration. Work to treat problem areas on temporary roads is planned for implementation in FY 99.

The West Patit project (in the Touchet watershed) was reviewed in 1995. The sale had several areas of concern. Multiple logging roads crossing West Patit Creek (FS Road 4625-015) are active sources of runoff, erosion, and loss of streamside shade. This site was noted as a high priority for treatment in 1995, and has been re-identified for action in FY 99. Although not related to the logging activity but in the same location, unauthorized livestock (about 10 head of cattle) were observed within the sale area during the review.

On the Walla Walla Ranger District, Moe and Umatilla Breaks timber sales were reviewed. Located on the Umatilla and Upper Grande Ronde drainages, both sales were active with logging nearly completed and slash burning partially completed. Seven harvest units, two system roads, and several riparian areas were visited. BMPs were rated using the tri-Forest monitoring form and summarized as follows.

Logging activity, using a cut-to-length "forwarder" system, appeared to have low ground impact (also see Soils, Monitoring Item 2); no evidence of surface erosion was observed since slash left on the ground provided a "cushion" for the soil. Slash burning had been implemented on some units. The review team discussed effectiveness in treating slash on some units, and the need for use of fire on others. On Moe unit 7, a specified tractor line adjoining private land followed an existing skid trail; further equipment work would cause soil disturbance and increase erosion potential. The application of fire to treat logging slash near a water development in this unit was an additional concern.

For the most part, access roads were graveled and well maintained. However, two problem sites were reviewed and discussed. On the Moe Timber Sale, a 24 inch culvert on Road 3719040 at an intermittent/ephemeral stream crossing is partially crushed and has potential to divert water onto the roadway if plugged. On the Umatilla Breaks project, Road 3727011 which accesses part of unit 32 had been waterbarred, but most were ineffective because the road is located in a throughcut.

The final BMP reviewed and discussed was riparian protection. Units were, for the most part, located outside of riparian protection areas. Specified buffers on intermittent streams in the Grande Ronde drainage are 100 feet, and in the Umatilla drainage are 50 feet on either side of streams. Two situations were addressed. A small (<1 acre) wetland area within Moe unit 2 was not identified on the sale area map, but a minor change to the marking of leave trees and skidding prohibition prevented any serious damage to this area. Riparian buffer width adjacent to Umatilla Breaks unit 32 was less than 150 feet on a perennial stream (tributary to North Fork Umatilla River). Road 3727011 is also within the riparian protection area at this same location, increasing the potential for adverse effects. (The sale area map incorrectly located the unit, and a streamcourse was not identified on the map.)

Two sales, Skookum and Hitching Post, were reviewed on the Heppner Ranger District. Several practices were monitored on these projects, with emphasis on erosion control on skid trails, landings, and temporary roads. Waterbarring and ripping on some temporary roads had been implemented, with no evidence of surface erosion. One site (Hitching Post unit 1) had potential for erosion because of improperly installed waterbars and soil berms that will concentrate runoff.

Recommended Actions:

Continue to emphasize data analysis from baseline water quality monitoring, and reporting of project monitoring results as plans are implemented. Overall, develop a strategic water quality monitoring program that leverages ongoing baseline and project-level efforts with the legacy of projects such as the High Ridge evaluation area, using a watershed-scale approach. The program needs to address current issues of 303d water quality status.

Meeting water temperature standards is a problem (see Monitoring Item 5). Impacts to beneficial uses are of greatest concern to the fisheries resource (anadromous spawning, bull trout, and aquatic life). Other beneficial uses are generally supported by existing water quality.

Continued emphasis on BMP monitoring (see discussion) is recommended, with more quantitative sampling, analysis of data, and reporting of findings. Improve the documentation of BMP implementation and analysis of the backlog of water quality data.

Currently, BMP monitoring focuses on projects that were active or had recent activity during the scheduled review period. A relatively small percent of the project areas were visited, and practices reviewed were not necessarily representative of overall BMP implementation and effectiveness in the project area. The Forest should consider selecting projects and practices on a "stratified random" basis to improve reliability of results. Units and roads could be randomly selected from project databases. In addition, a larger percentage of units and roads should be visited (suggest visiting 25 percent of all units and roads).

Unmapped riparian areas are a typical problem encountered during project implementation. Continue to make minor contract and marking adjustments for resource protection in this circumstance.

Post-logging activities should be implemented as soon as possible to minimize resource problems. K-V projects may be implemented while the sale is still active (if projects are identified on the plan and funds are available).

Road management concerns encountered during the reviews included future maintenance problems at road-stream crossings and post-logging erosion control. Drivable dips on roads are one alternative to metal pipes at intermittent stream crossings. Erosion control needs on some closed roads may exceed the standard, required waterbar work identified in the contract. In these cases, work with contractors to complete additional erosion control as needed, or adjust plans to reflect additional needs. Recommended practices on roads and skid trails where waterbars may be ineffective include drifting in sidecast rootwads, and lopping and scattering slash and debris.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 5 (top)
Stream Temperature

Questions: Is project implementation in riparian areas resulting in attainment of objectives (desired conditions) for stream surface shading and/or in-stream water temperatures? Are Forest Plan standards being met? What are the long-term changes and trends in stream temperatures? Are the long-term changes meeting Forest Plan objectives? What are the cumulative effects of Forest management activities on stream temperatures?

Water temperatures were measured at 110 locations across the Forest. Summer temperatures reached maximum in late July (Figure U-2).

Figure U-2
SUMMER STREAM TEMPERATURE
Umatilla National Forest

temp.gif (8259 bytes)

A summary of the maximum 7-day average of the daily maximum temperatures for selected streams across the Forest for the past 5 years shows variability caused by seasonal differences in temperatures, water supplies, and watershed conditions. Shifts in annual maximum water temperatures resulting from changes in watershed conditions are most evident in the case of wildfire, where large areas are affected (Table U-4).

Five or more years of data are available for many stations across the Forest, showing year-to-year variability and providing some initial evidence of trends such as wildfire effects. For example, the annual 7-day average of the daily maximum temperature was higher on Oriental Creek in the 2 years following the 1996 Tower Fire, in part because of reduced stream canopy cover. Overall, most streams are not meeting State water temperature standards. Achieving target temperature standards may not be possible in some watersheds and in some situations, such as after extensive wildfire. The Wenaha River in the Wenaha-Tucannon wilderness, which supports bull trout, has a 50 degree Fahrenheit standard. As seen in Table U-4, the standard was exceeded during the summer period.

Table U-4
ANNUAL SUMMER MAXIMUM WATER TEMPERATURES
SELECTED STATIONS, 1994-1998.
(7-Day moving average of the daily maximum, degrees Fahrenheit)

Stream Name	Basin	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	Temp Standard	# Days in '98 above Standard
Henry Cr @FB	John Day	72	72	71	71	75	64	90
Herren Cr	Willow	63	58	61	62	64	64	11
Wall Cr @FB	NF John Day	80	77	68	68	77	64	69
Hidaway Cr¹		ND	78	75	77	78	64	87
Oriental Cr¹		ND	58	61	65	75	64	70
White Creek Cr²		ND	59	63	62	63	64	4
SF Desolation³		68	59	62	62	62	50	80
NFJD @Camas		ND	72	76	ND	76	64	90
NF Meacham Creek	Umatilla	72	68	67	67	70	50	103
SF Umatilla		70	66	67	ND	69	50	45
NF Walla Walla	Walla Walla	ND	64	63	64	66	50	69
SF Walla Walla		ND	54	54	53	55	50	85
Lookingglass@FB	Grande Ronde	56	56	56	54	55	50	70
Wenaha@ Wilderness Bdy		ND	ND	66	66	70	50	150
NF Asotin @FB	Snake R (WA)	66	62	66	63	68	61	84
SF Asotin @FB		63	57	56	ND	60	61	1
Panjab Cr		63	59	57	58	60	61	11

^{FB=Forest Boundary}
ND=No Data
^{1 Streams in 1996 Tower fire area}
^{2 Stream in 1994 Boundary fire area}
^{3 Stream in 1996 Summit fire area}

Recommended Actions:

Temperature monitoring has expanded over the past 5 years with the advent of low-cost data recorders, resulting in an increased number of sites being monitored. The need to maintain quality control over data collection and management is an ongoing issue. Overall, operating fewer, permanently-established sites for the long term is preferred for better quality control, more efficient data management, and comparability from year to year (trend analysis).

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 6 (top)
Water Quality - Stream Sediment

Questions: Are Forest streams meeting state water quality standards for sediment? How are

Forest management activities and/or natural events affecting the rate of stream sedimentation or potentially impacting beneficial uses? Is stream sedimentation impacting critical components of stream fish habitat? What is the cumulative impact of changes in stream sedimentation on water quality and fish habitat?

The Umatilla National Forest maintains gauging stations at three sites on the upper Umatilla River watershed: the North Fork, the South Fork, and Umatilla River at Corporation. Streamflow records are available for 1965 to present, and suspended sediment data are available for 1987 to present. Streamflow and sediment data were analyzed, with emphasis placed on: identifying tributary flow and sediment contributions; determining annual and seasonal suspended sediment loads; and identifying relationships between suspended sediment and discharge, and between suspended sediment and turbidity. Contributions of individual peak flow events were also investigated. The findings were reported in Upper Umatilla River Sediment Analysis (Harris and Clifton, November 13, 1998, on file at the Umatilla National Forest headquarters).

Highlights of a few major findings from the assessment include the following.

· High annual variability is evident in suspended sediment loads. As seen in Table U-5, annual unit suspended sediment loads for the Umatilla River at Corporation ranged from 14 tons/mi²/yr in WY 97 to 197 tons/mi²/yr in WY 93, an order of magnitude difference in annual load. In general, year-to- year variability in suspended sediment loads is the result of variability in weather conditions, storm events, sediment sources, and storage on hillslopes, floodplains, and channels.

Table U-5
ANNUAL SUSPENDED UNIT LOADS (TONS/MI²)
Umatilla Barometer Watershed
Umatilla National Forest

WY 88

WY 89

WY 90

WY 91

WY 92

WY 93

WY 94

WY 95

WY 96

WY 97

Umatilla @ Corp
N/A

N/A

60

93

24

197

33

143

45

14*

North Fk. Umatilla
109

354

71

40

42

251

52

149

21

42*

South Fk. Umatilla
2.4

4.1

36

70

18

39

13

28

37*

12*

N/A Not applicable, measurements not representative of entire year
* Limited data available

· In 8 of 10 years, the North Fork Umatilla River produced more suspended load per square mile and in total than the South Fork, even though the South Fork is a larger watershed and has higher peak flows. Watershed characteristics contribute to the differences, including higher precipitation, deeper soils, and higher sustained stream velocities in the North Fork drainage. The North Fork is largely managed in wilderness status with low levels of land use impacts. Midslopes and valley bottoms are intact; land use is confined to upper ridgetops.

· The highest peak runoff events occur during spring snowmelt (March-May) and during winter rain-on-snow events (December-February). Overall, on an annual basis, spring snowmelt appears to be the dominant sediment transport process; for most years, at all stations, the highest loads occur during the beginning of spring snowmelt.

Table U-6
PEAK FLOW DURATION, TIMING, AND PERCENT
OF TOTAL ANNUAL SUSPENDED LOAD
Umatilla National Forest

Umatilla @ Corp

North Fork Umatilla

South Fork Umatilla

Water Year

#
days

%
load

Start Date

#
days

%
load

Start Date

#
days

%
load

Start Date

WY 88

6

28

3/27

5

14

4/21

9

21

4/12

WY 89

no

data for

peaks

9

26

4/19

11

21

4/13

WY 90

5

9

4/26

9

12

5/2

11

13

4/28

WY 91

8

41

5/17

10

4

5/17

11

55

5/17

WY 92

4

5

12/6

8

5

12/6

8

4

12/6

WY 93

11

20

5/3

11

46

4/29

11

10

4/29

WY 94

9

40

3/1

6

7

3/1

9

14

3/1

WY 95

13

27

1/31

10

50

5/11

9

28

1/31

WY 96

7

44

2/7

6

7

2/7

no

data for

peaks

· Rating equations linking total suspended sediment to discharge were not developed due to the high variability.

Recommended Action:

Continue monitoring with emphasis on refining technical sampling methodology and minimizing operational problems.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 7 (top)
Stream Channel Morphological Features

Questions: What are the stream channel processes, responses, and recovery resulting from the 1996-1997 floods?

Twenty-nine stream channel monitoring sites were established in the summer of 1996, after severe winter flooding, for the purpose of evaluating stream channel response and recovery. Of these, 16 were resurveyed in 1997 and/or 1998. Two or three years of post-flood monitoring data are available for sites in the Umatilla (six), Walla Walla (two), Mill Creek (two ), Touchet (two), Tucannon (three), and Wenaha (one) watersheds. At each site, measurements were taken of channel cross sections, longitudinal profiles, and channel sediments. Stream channel response and recovery were evaluated by comparing post-flood years to the initial baseline year (1996).

Changes in cross-section area and sediment size were evident 2 years after the floods. Change in cross- section area (A) was determined from the difference between first year (1996) cross-section area and the following year, expressed as a percent (Table U-7). Channel area change occurred at all sites, with some showing relatively minor change (<5 percent) and others showing greater change, for example at the SFUMA3 site. Areas increased at some sites and decreased at others, indicating changes in sediment storage at a site. The volume of material gained or lost was estimated by averaging the individual transects across the site and calculating a volume per 100 feet of stream length.

Table U-7
CHANNEL CHANGES 1996-1998: CHANGE IN CROSS-SECTION AREA AND
ESTIMATE OF SEDIMENT GAINED OR LOST
Umatilla National Forest

Stream/
Site Name

Survey Years

WS
Area (mi²)

Rosgen
Stream
Class

Change in
Volume
(yd^3/100 ft)

Change Area %

Gain or Loss

Umatilla
UMA1
SFUMA3
SFUMA4
SFUMA6
NFUMA1
NFUMA2

96,97
96-98
96,97
96,98
96,98
96-98

91
46
44
24
31
30

F4
B4
B3^*
B4
B3c
F4

+80
-243
+15
+10
+14
-20

4
7
4
2
5
2

gain
loss
gain
gain
gain
loss

Walla Walla
SFWW3
SFWW4

96,97
96,97

49
41

B4c
C3

+24
-44

2
2

gain
loss

Mill
MILL1
MILL2

96,98
96,98

33
25

B3
B3

+33
+1

1
4

gain
gain

Touchet
NFTCH1
NFTCH3

96-98
96,98

17
9

B4
^B3*

-82
-6

6
2

loss
loss

Tucannon
TCNN1
TCNN3
TCNN4

96,97
96,98
96-98

93
79
66

B3c
^B3c*
^B4

+113
-75
-147

5
5
3

gain
loss
loss

Wenaha
WNH2

96,97

190

B3

-37

3

loss

* Current Rosgen Stream Class

At three sites, the median particle size, or d50, shifted from gravel to cobble, or cobble to gravel, which changed the stream type (Rosgen, 1996). Two sites shifted from gravel to cobble dominated (SFUMA4 and TCCN3) and one site changed from cobble to gravel dominated (NFTCH3). Four sites have 3 years of data that show a first-year increase in fines of less than 2 and 6 mm, followed by "flushing" and a shift to coarser substrate. This may represent the initial release of finer sediment from upslope and floodplain erosion (Table U-8).

Table U-8
CHANGES IN STREAM PARTICLE SIZES 1996-1998.
(d16, d50, and d84 represent percentiles)
Umatilla National Forest

Stream/
Site Name

d16

d50

d84

% finer
2 mm

% finer
6 mm

UMA1 1996
1997

6
2

38
32

106
88

5
17

17
22

SFUMA3 1996
1997
1998

16
8
8

43
39
44

94
126
117

5
12
11

10
15
13

SFUMA4 1996
1997

18
18

41
80*

75
223

2
9

5
12

SFUMA6 1996
1998

28
20

89
60

225
220

0
1

1
3

NFUMA1 1996
1998

6
3

39
50

87
119

13
15

15
17

NFUMA2 1996
1997
1998

11
0.1
17

54
27
47

165
86
169

9
30
6

10
30
9

SFWW3 1996
1997

1
3

44
51

120
149

18
15

20
19

SFWW4 1996
1997

18
2

61
51

200
130

7
16

9
16

MILL1 1996
1998

22
25

65
88

163
256

2
2

2
3

MILL2 1996
1998

27
16

79
72

203
224

1
7

2
9

NFTCH1 1996
1997
1998

10
2
8

38
28
38

99
92
95

5
16
5

8
23
7

NFTCH3 1996
1998

18
10

66
51*

143
110

4
6

6
11

TCNN1 1996
1997

21
12

49
40

104
95

1
12

2
13

TCNN3 1996
1998

1
27

25
70*

70
125

18
3

25
3

TCNN4 1996
1997
1998

31
0.1
45

85
32
93

176
92
186

4
39
0

4
40
0

BOLD = Sites with 3 years of data
* = Changed Rosgen Stream Class

Half of the sites showed a net loss, or channel enlargement, and half showed a net gain, or channel narrowing (deposition) in 2 years. Overall, measurable changes have been observed in channel cross- section area and in the sediment substrate. Sediment mobilized during flooding from hillslope failures, sheet erosion, and channel and floodplain erosion is now migrating downstream through the channel network. Development of mid-channel bars can be seen in some reaches. Such "slugs" of sediment illustrate the episodic nature of sediment transport through the channel system.

Some of the controls on reach deposition and erosion have been identified. These include sediment source, valley width, and large wood jams. For example, sediment gains at SFUMA6 were directly associated with a small landslide upstream; SFUMA4 is downstream from a tributary junction (Thomas Creek) where several landslides occurred; and NFUMA1 and UMA1 are downstream from identified source areas (hillslope or channel). Sediment losses appear to be associated with lateral migration of the dominant channel (SFUMA3, NFUMA1) or log jam release (NFTCH1).

Overall, large, rare flood events are important in influencing channel morphology and aquatic habitat; during flood events channels widen, fine sediment is flushed downstream, and streamside vegetation is destroyed. Smaller flood events in subsequent years further redistribute sediment and debris, and channels gradually "recover."

Recommended Actions:

Baseline monitoring provides an opportunity to measure channel recovery processes, and identify the magnitude and direction of change. Maintain channel reference reaches and resurvey selected sites in 1999, and at 5-year intervals thereafter.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 8 (top)
Fire Effects on Water and Soil

Questions: How many acres (percentage) of each subwatershed have sustained high intensity burns per 3-year period? Is visible accelerated erosion occurring within a subwatershed due to past burns and/or fire management actions?

Several high intensity spring and summer thunderstorms occurred over recently burned areas of the Forest, affecting the North Fork and Middle Fork of the John Day River. Episodes of upland and channel erosion and damage were initiated, resulting in extensive areas of hillslope gullying, channel scour, road impacts, and sediment deposition. Watersheds that were impacted include Oriental Creek, South Fork Desolation Creek, and upper Big Creek. Storms occurred on May 8 over the 1996 Tower Fire area, impacting Oriental Creek and surrounding south-facing slopes. On July 30, storms developed over the Summit Fire area, in the vicinity of Indian Rock between Badger Creek (Malheur) and South Fork Desolation Creek. A third storm was reported on September 8 within the headwaters of Big Creek within the Boundary Fire area, which burned in 1994. The Indian Rock lookout reported 0.5 inch of rain the morning of July 30, and the Tower Mountain lookout reported 0.88 inch of rain on September 8. The 24-hour/100-year precipitation predicted in the NOAA atlas is 0.46 inch, which indicates that these were unusual rainfall intensities.

Spring and summer storms, produced by convective air masses (topographic lifting), tend to be more localized and often have higher precipitation intensities than winter frontal weather systems, which are generally more widespread and have lower precipitation intensities. The burned areas are particularly vulnerable to thunderstorms because of reduced protective groundcover. Evidence of accelerated surface erosion (rilling and gullying), channel erosion (scour), and mass wasting processes (debris flows and torrents) were noted in Oriental Creek, South Fork Desolation Creek, and Big Creek.

Stream channel reference reaches installed in 1996 on Texas Bar and Oriental Creek, within and downstream of the Tower Fire area, were resurveyed in 1998. The May 8 storm, centered over Oriental Creek, resulted in upland gullying and severe channel erosion on approximately 3 miles of Oriental Creek. Sediment and debris were transported downstream, plugging culverts on the main midslope road (5507) and North Fork John Day river road (5506). At the 5507 road stream crossing, sediment and debris were deposited behind the plugged culvert; the 30-foot high roadfill functioned briefly as a dam until the fill was overtopped and breached. A rapid "dam-burst" flood swept downstream, scouring the main channel for about 1/4 mile, and depositing sediment at the mouth and into the North Fork John Day River. After the flood event, the 5507 road fill was recontoured to stabilize the fill and reduce sediment delivery into the stream (Figure D). The channel will continue to adjust vertically to reach equilibrium by downcutting and depositing sediment.

Figure U-3
PHOTOS OF 5507 ROAD CROSSING

Before

After

Surveys of the Oriental sites, located near the mouth (Oriental 1) and below the 5507 road crossing (Oriental 2), showed major changes in channel cross-section area (Table 7). Net change is calculated as the difference between the 1996 and 1998 cross-section areas, where positive values indicate a reduction (channel aggradation) in area and negative value in increase (incision) in area. Absolute change is the total (gains and losses) change in area. All monitoring stations show strong evidence of post-fire channel change. The effects of the May 1998 storm and flood event are particularly evident in the Oriental 2 site; the 40 percent increase in cross-section area is a direct effect of the May 8 storm event (see Figure U-D). Overall, the two upper monitoring sites (Oriental 2 and Texas Bar 2) showed loss of material while the two lower sites gained material.

Figure U-4
ORIENTAL CREEK #2 BELOW 5507 ROAD

Table U-9
STREAM CHANNEL CHANGES - TOWER FIRE, 1996-1998

Station

Net Change
Cross Section Area
1996-1998 (%)

Absolute Change
Cross Section Area 1996-1998 (%)

Oriental 1 (lower)

2.1

12.6

Oriental 2(upper)

-40.1

40.2

Texas Bar 1 (lower)

7.1

24.8

Texas Bar 2 (upper)

-8.4

17.4

Repeat measurements of stream particles between 1996 and 1998 also show strong evidence of channel changes; at both Oriental monitoring sites, the median particle size (d50) increased from very fine gravel to coarse gravel. A similar increase occurred on Texas Bar 2, from coarse sand to very fine gravel. However, on Texas Bar 1 the median particle size decreased from coarse gravel to fine gravel (Table U-10). The percent of fines in the channel, one direct measure of aquatic habitat quality, shows strong shifts at all sites. For example, at the lower Texas Bar site, the channel is filling with sand, and channel bars are developing. On the upper Oriental site, the decrease in channel fines is largely the result of recent scouring by high flows.

Table U-10
CHANGES IN STREAM PARTICLE SIZES - TOWER FIRE, 1996-1998
Umatilla National Forest

Station

d16
mm

d50
mm

d84
mm

% finer
2 mm

% finer
6 mm

Oriental 1
low intensity
1996
1997
1998

1.18
0.08
0.33

3.3
2.4
17.8

8
67
99

24
50
27

83
55
35

Oriental 2
high intensity
1996
1997
1998

0.72
0.06
0.30

1.9
0.4
32.0

6
158
98

51
66
30

83
70
37

Texas Bar 1
low intensity
1996
1997
1998

16.80
0.35
0.20

26.9
17.3
5.2

58
45

28

5

26

44

9

34

51

Texas Bar 2
high intensity
1996
1997
1998

0.34

0.11

0.21

1.5

2.6

7.2

31

24

58

52

48

38

58

58

48

Tallies of large wood present in the channel were also made in each of 3 years (Table U-11). Storm effects are again evident by the almost complete loss of large wood in Oriental Creek. Large wood in the Texas Bar monitoring sites remained the same or increased slightly.

Table U-11
LARGE WOOD FREQUENCIES BY SIZE CLASS - TOWER FIRE, 1996-1998
Umatilla National Forest

Station

Number of
Logs < 10'

Number of
Logs 10-20'

Number of Logs >20'

Oriental 1
low intensity
1996
1997
1998

26
21
0

21
17
0

12
9
0

Oriental 2
high intensity
1996
1997
1998

30
21
2

15
12
3

13
16
2

Texas Bar 1
low intensity
1996
1997
1998

16
22
14

10
10
11

8
8
12

Texas Bar 2
high intensity
1996
1997
1998

38
31
25

18
18
16

12
12
12

In general, streams in the Tower Fire area are showing adjustment to increases in sediment loads and high flows after the 1996 fire and 1998 storms. Fires initially altered the vegetation cover which then results in a "flush" of fine sediment entering the stream system, usually within the first year after the fire. Storms over recently burned areas cause additional erosion and sediment movement through the channel network.

Riparian vegetation conditions were initially surveyed along staked channel transects in 1997. Post-fire, pre-flood vegetation characteristics were as follows. Oriental 1 (natural regeneration) had high plant species diversity, low non-native species, and riparian obligate species present. Oriental 2 (aerially seeded) had a large proportion of introduced species, no noxious weeds, and low presence of riparian obligate species. Texas Bar 1 (natural regeneration) had high species diversity, riparian obligate species, and some introduced species indicative of livestock disturbance. Texas Bar 2 (aerially seeded) was variable with some species diversity, presence of introduced species, and evidence of livestock disturbance. The riparian areas need to be resurveyed to check on changes resulting from the storm events.

Recommended Actions:

Post-fire disturbance monitoring provides an important gage of watershed and stream channel change. Continue annual surveys as channels recover. Include resurvey of riparian vegetation in FY 99.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 15 (top)
Stand Management - Regeneration

Questions: How many acres were reforested this fiscal year using natural and artificial regeneration practices? Are acres being satisfactorily restocked within 5 years of final harvest per NFMA?

The Combined portion of this report (Section C) addresses the questions and allows for direct comparisons with the other Blue Mountain Forests. However, the Umatilla NF is also tracking additional information and details, which are reported here.

Currently, the Forest performs regeneration examinations after the first and third growing season following regeneration. The staked row method continues to be used to determine survival and growth of each seedling and overall area success.

The following chartdisplays the historical survival trends (first and third year) and satisfactorily stocked acre percentages for the Umatilla NF since 1980.In general, first-year survival has been consistently averaging approximately 87 percent. Third-year survival has been averaging 73 percent. However, for 1998, third-year survival dropped to less than 50 percent, the lowest rate on record since 1980; in addition, with some exceptions, the general trend for the 90's has been down. Several factors, such as weather, site conditions, vegetative competition, and damage from animals, are contributing to low third-year survival rates. The Forest has applied various mitigation measures to increase survival, including improved seedling handling, planting practices, site preparation, animal damage control, and contract administration.

Figure U-5
SURVIVAL & STOCKING TRENDS

Certification of regeneration is based on a site-specific determination; units must meet minimum stocking guidelines prior to certification. In 1998, the Forest certified a total of 5,111 acres (planted and natural regeneration) as meeting or exceeding minimum stocking standards after 3 years. Certification represents acres which were reforested in 1995 and before.

The 1998 Heppner Ranger District annual survey for survival and growth shows that overall results were influenced by heavy grass competition late in the growing season, compounded by drought stress on seedling establishment. About 15 percent of the planting sites showed signs of soil compaction which tends to reduce reforestation success. The condition of seedlings at the time of planting may also have played a role, particularly in the case of western larch. The quality of larch seedlings was low; approximately 10 to 20 percent of the larch were found to be dead planting time and most of these seedlings were discarded. The poor condition of the larch contributed to its low survival rate of 30 percent.

The North Fork John Day Ranger District established monitoring plots throughout the district within 22 harvest units to measure gopher activity, which is then compared to the unit stocking levels. The comparisons are used to determine if further treatments are needed; i.e., to control the gopher population or to replant the unit(s). Results from 1998 surveys indicate that mortality rates range from 0 to 12 percent, with 0 to 1,500 mounds per acre. Preliminary indications thus far show low gopher damage overall compared to higher mortality rates resulting from drought, frost, and trampling by domestic livestock and big game. In the future, the district expects to develop a predictive model for site condition, stocking level, and mounds per acre where it can be used to improve resource decisions. In addition, the district has installed 25 transects and plans to install more in the future to monitor porcupine damage. The goal is to determine when damage begins to occur and what tree size is most affected.

In 1995, the Washington Office of the USDA Forest Service conducted a national review of the reforestation program which the Umatilla NF participated in. In 1998, the Pacific Northwest Regional Office conducted a follow up review to address some of the original findings from the national review. The objectives of the review were to assess management direction, control of activities, accountability, and cost effectiveness in the reforestation program area. The items reviewed included silvicultural prescriptions for reforestation, costs, animal damage issues, stock questions, surplus of seedlings, and program direction. Preliminary results indicate that the Forest is following procedure and has corrected many of the discrepancies found in the original review.

Recommended Action:

The Forest should complete a review of the survival data and investigate alternatives to increase third-year survival success.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 17 (top)
Stand Management - Thinning/Improvement

Question: How many acres were treated with stocking level control? How many acres needing stocking level control were treated?

The total amount of pre-commercial thinning accomplished on the Forest in 1998 was 4,841 acres. The planned output is 2,900 acres (Forest Plan, Table 4-1), which is approximately 67 percent above the planned level. The following table shows the actual accomplishment from 1994 to 1998 and the percentage of the actual measured against planned output.

Table U-12
PRECOMMERCIAL THINNING ACRES - FY 94-98
Umatilla National Forest

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

5 Year
Average

Percentage of Forest Plan
(Actual/Planned) 5-Year Average

2,301

3,132

4,127

2,769

4,841

3,434

+18%

All acres needing stocking level control, as reported in the Out-year Projection report (a reporting system which identifies projects in need of management action), were not treated in FY 98.

In 1998, the Heppner Ranger District treated approximately 85 acres with a winged subsoiler to reduce soil compaction. The units treated were dense stands of 6- to 8-year-old lodgepole. Although this type of activity helps in reducing stocking levels, it was not used as a pre-commercial thinning target since additional treatments were needed to reduce stocking levels to desired levels.

Recommended Action:

Although the Forest exceeded plan projections based upon the 5-year average, but is within Forest Plan thresholds, a change is needed. Funding for stocking level control has been lacking for several years. The Forest currently has a backlog of acres to treat. Unless a shift in funding and priorities from reforestation to stocking control occurs, the amount of acres needing thinning will continue to increase. And it is unlikely the Forest will be able to accomplish all of the acres needing treatment and meet long-term desired future conditions, sustainability and improved forest health. The Region is currently looking at this issue to try to come up with possible solutions and alleviate some of the survival data relating to funding.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 18A (top)
Fire Effects - Wildfire

Question: What are the stand structure (overstory and understory) and species responses in the Forest's larger wildfire burned areas?

During 1996, the Forest experienced four major wildfires: Bull, Summit, Tower, and Wheeler. Follow up monitoring of forest vegetation was done on all of the fire areas. Data were collected from permanent Current Vegetation Survey (CVS) plots that were measured prior to the fires and then post-fire in 1998. In addition, other plots were established during 1997 in the Tower Fire area to address vegetation and insect responses (mortality) following the fire event. The mortality plot sampling system was similar to the CVS plots but used a variable rather than fixed plots.

For this monitoring report, only the Tower Fire results are discussed since this fire had by far the most CVS sample points and other sampling activity. The 50,800-acre Tower Fire area is quite variable, ranging in elevation from 3,400 to 5,700 feet and with slopes from 2 to 86 percent, averaging about 30 percent. According to the Tower Fire Ecosystem Analysis, primary ecological settings were warm dry sites but ranged from hot dry to cool moist to cold moist conditions. Moderate to high burn intensities (as rated by soil conditions) covered about 42 percent of the area. Initial estimates indicated that complete to near-complete vegetation mortality occurred on about 45 percent of the fire and partial mortality on the remaining 55 percent.

Changes in forest stand conditions as a result of the fire can be seen in Table U-13. Initial results tend to show the obvious: hot fires kill trees (particularly small ones), as total tree stocking was reduced by about 82 percent and average stand diameter increased; large trees were reduced by about half from five to less than three trees/acre; and snag numbers increased substantially. The CVS remeasurements also indicate that initial Ecosystem Analysis estimates were generally "in the ballpark."

Table U-13
TOWER FIRE - FOREST STAND CHANGES
Umatilla National Forest

LIVE TREES/ACRE

Pre Fire

Post Fire

% Change

1" + DBH

361.5

63.6

-82

10-20" DBH

26.1

14.3

-44

21+" DBH

5.0

2.7

-46

AVE. DBH

All Trees (quad. mean)

6.3

9.6

+52

DEAD TREES/ACRE

Pre Fire

Post Fire

% Change

10-20" DBH

13.6

20.9

+54

21"+ DBH

3.2

4.3

+34

Not only did trees of all species decline in absolute numbers, but as might be expected, changes in stand composition percentages also occurred with the larger fire. More fire-tolerant species, often of larger size, survived the fire; ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir increased as a percentage of total forest composition, as shown in Table U-14. On the other hand, the percentage of western larch increased although the stand composition of larger trees declined. One surprise is that the percentage of grand fir (all trees) in the stand composition actually increased although large trees (and total basal area) declined. Lodgepole pine percentage was substantially reduced.

Table U-14
Tower Fire -- PERCENT CHANGE IN SPECIES COMPOSITION
Umatilla National Forest

^{ALL
TREES 1"+ DBH 1}

Pre Fire

Post Fire

Actual % Change

Ponderosa pine

8

26

+213

Douglas-fir

7

13

+81

Grand fir

41

45

+12

Lodgepole pine

31

10

-67

Engelmann Spruce

6

+0

-91

Subalpine fir

5

1

-68

Western larch

2

3

+29

ALL TREES 21"+ DBH 1

Pre Fire

Post Fire

Actual % Change

Ponderous pine

44

57

+30

Douglas-fir

19

20

+3

Grand fir

19

14

-25

Engelmann Spruce

2

0

-100

Western larch

16

9

-41

1. Actual percent change varies due to rounding of pre/post fire percentage.

Post-fire plots were established in the Tower Fire area in 1997 and revisited in 1998 to monitor vegetative and insect responses. Additional tree mortality was to be tracked. Several initial observations were made from the plot installation phase of the monitoring.

· For the live trees sampled, fire damage ranged from severe (42 percent) to moderate (11 percent) to none (29 percent). Initial estimates of the dead trees were that most (93 percent) were killed by the fire and the remainder died from other causes. Pre-fire insect mortality from the spruce budworm outbreak was evident.

· Bark beetle activity was evident 1 year following the fire, with most activity on pine species and Douglas-fir. Older, larger ponderosa pine had a high incidence of turpentine beetle even though they had light fire damage.

· A variety of other vegetation was invading at "relatively light" levels. Species included fireweed, elk sedge, pinegrass, strawberry, thistles, ceanothus, bromes, rose, willow, manzanita, lupines, western meadowrue, hawkweeds, ryegrass, miner's lettuce, and a host of lichens and mosses.

Follow up measurement on these plots in 1998 showed a number of changes. Highlights include the following.

· Additional trees have died, mostly lodgepole and grand fir in the smaller to mid diameter classes (3-21 inches dbh). Most mortality appears to be a direct result of the fires (high percentage of crown and bole scorch) and probably accelerated by successful beetle attacks.

· Total tree seeding numbers per acre have increased by about 37 percent. Lodgepole pine accounts for the increase and now amounts to about 90 percent of the seedlings. All other species of seedlings declined in numbers from initial measurements. Other plant responses were dramatic with grass species, primarily pinegrass, increases being prevalent.

Recommended Action:

Continue to remeasure the plots at periodic intervals to note the changes. Of particular monitoring interest is the change in dead trees (snags) by species through time to help refine snag retention models.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 20 (top)
Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plants

Question: Is adequate protection afforded the documented sensitive plant species of the Forest?

During FY 98, botanical surveys were mostly concentrated in the remaining unsurveyed blocks on the Walla Walla Ranger District (22,100 acres) in the Mill Creek watershed, and in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness on the Pomeroy Ranger District. Sensitive plant surveys were completed on 61,717 acres bringing the cumulative Forest total acres for sensitive plant surveys (from 1988-1998) to almost 1.2 million acres. During the year, 9,807 acres were surveyed on the Pomeroy Ranger District, 47,139 acres on the Walla Walla Ranger District, and 4,770 acres on the North Fork John Day Ranger District. No portions of the Heppner Ranger District received botanical surveys this year.

The Forest currently has 34 listed sensitive plant species including a significant find in 1998 of Botrychium fenestratum, which is a new species in publication and is new to the Forest. Sixty-four new sensitive plant populations were found this year, raising the Forest total to 839 currently listed sensitive plant populations. Another significant find was one more population of Botrychium paradoxum on the Walla Walla Ranger District, which raises the Forest total to two populations. Allium dictuon had a previously known worldwide distribution of 16 populations near Weller Butte in Washington. However, the discovery of 34 new populations this year has substantially expanded the known distribution, including 17 populations in Oregon, which adds a new sensitive species to the state list. Totals for species and populations can be expected to be adjusted as the Regional Forester's Sensitive Species list is revised and updated.

A total of 63 Biological Evaluations for plant species listed as "sensitive" on the Regional List were issued for the ranger districts' projects: 10 for Walla Walla, 22 for North Fork John Day, 16 for Heppner, and 15 for Pomeroy.

Monitoring activities for sensitive plant populations consisted almost entirely of informal presence/absence spot checks on known populations including: Trifolium douglasii, Calochortus longebarbatus var. longebarbatus, Botrychium paradoxum, B. pinnatum, and B. lanceolatum on the North Fork John Day Ranger District; and Botrychium pinnatum and B. lanceolatum on the Walla Walla Ranger District. All were noted as present except Botrychium paradoxum. This plant species has been absent for several years but is known to flower infrequently and will continue to be tracked. The Trifolium douglasii population on the Pomeroy Ranger District was also monitored. Changes in parking and trailhead facilities have reduced potential impacts to this population. Current status of plants monitored in FY 98 suggests that sensitive plants are adequately protected. Monitoring plots established in 1997 were read in 1998 for the response of Silene spaldingii, Calochartus macrocarpus v. maculosus and Ribes oxyacarthoides ssp. cognathum to prescribed fire and the potential spread of noxious weeds. Preliminary observations indicate stable populations in response to prescribed fire for all three species.

Recommended Actions:

Continue monitoring, with priority given to "at risk" populations or if populations are subjects of mitigation measures written into biological evaluations. Other populations should be monitored as time and budget allow.

Focus monitoring efforts on species that are least likely to be dropped from the Regional Forester's Sensitive Plant Species List.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 21 (top)
Insects and Disease

Questions: What re the current level and trends of the tussock moth on the Umatilla NF?

Tussock moth sampling continued on the Forest as part of the Region's early warning system of possible outbreaks. The Forest currently conducts low-level population monitoring through a system of 22 plots with five traps per plot. Three plots were lost on the North Fork John Day District due to fires and other factors; these plots are being replaced.

Results from the 1998 sampling are shown in the following table.

Table U-15
TUSSOCK MOTH TRAPPING RESULTS -- 1998
Umatilla National Forest

1998 Results

1997 Results

Total Traps

Total Moths Captured

Average Moths/Trap

Total Moths Captured

Average Moths/Trap

110

1,417

12.9

112

0.9

Tussock moth populations have been increasing on the Forest since 1994 and increased substantially in 1998. Population levels are still below the Regional epidemic threshold level of 40 moths/ trap. None of the plots reached this threshold level in 1998; however, three of the four districts have at least one plot with an average of 25 or more trapped moths/plot. Based on the life history and experience with tussock moth in the Blue Mountains, the current level (25 moths/trap) strongly indicates that a rapid expansion of the population and epidemic level will occur. Along with the rapid population increase, extensive forest defoliation and damage in the fir types is anticipated, probably in the year 2000.

Recommended Action:

Two primary actions are recommended for 1999 including:

Continue monitoring using Regional tussock moth monitoring protocol. Sampling will shift to larval and cocoon surveys to estimate populations. Although the North Fork John Day Ranger District showed a minor increase in population (from remaining plots), the district will be included in the sampling protocol since adjacent districts to the south on the Malheur NF also show expanding tussock moth populations.

The three Blue Mountain National Forests need to develop a joint strategy and action plan to deal with the impending outbreak. This should involve other Federal and state agencies, private landowners, and other cooperators in this Blue Mountain area.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 22 (top)
Anadromous and Resident Fisheries

Questions: Are the population trends for anadromous and resident Management Indicator

Species stable to improving? Are Forest Plan goals, objectives, and desired conditions for anadromous fish being achieved? Is fish habitat capability improving as projected in the Forest Plan?

Steelhead and resident rainbow trout were recognized as management indicator species for streams and riparian habitats in the Forest Plan. Habitat requirements of the selected species were presumed to represent those of a larger group of species. Steelhead and rainbow are among the most well distributed fish species on the Forest. While they don't require the coldest water of species on the Forest, they do require good water quality.

Steelhead was selected in 1990 to represent anadromous fish and rainbow trout was selected to represent resident fish. Resident rainbow, commonly referred to as redband trout east of the Cascade Mountains, may share a common gene pool with anadromous steelhead trout in the same geographic area over evolutionary time periods. Resident fish are generally considered part of the steelhead Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU) but may not be included when an anadromous life form is listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Steelhead

Steelhead trout in the Snake River ESU were listed as a threatened species in August 1997 by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Endangered Species Act. Ongoing and proposed activities were initially screened by the Level 1 Consultation Team in October 1997, with Final screening documentation submitted to NMFS in August 1998. The status of Snake River steelhead on the Umatilla National Forest was reviewed as part of the project screening activity. The following is a summary of that review.

Prior to 1970, annual returns of native steelhead to the Tucannon River were estimated by the Washington Department of Fisheries (WDF et al., 1990) to average 3,400 fish or 3 percent of the total Snake River return. The sport fishery allowing the harvest of wild fish was closed in 1974. The in-river sport catch ranged from a high of 689 in 1957 to a low of 24 fish in 1973. The estimated number of returning wild fish has steadily declined since 1988 (Table U-16).

Table U-16
ESTIMATED WILD STEELHEAD ESCAPEMENT -- TUCANNON RIVER
Marengo Bridge to Sheep Creek (Schuck 1997)
Umatilla National Forest

Year

# Wild Steelhead

Year

# Wild Steelhead

1987

376

1992

133

1988

418

1993

69

1989

255

1994

103

1990

333

1995

116

1991

168

1996

63

Redd surveys are not a good indicator of wild steelhead production in the Tucannon River because both wild and hatchery steelhead spawn together, and the operation of the weir/trap at the Tucannon River hatchery may have effected upstream migration of adult steelhead in past years.

Asotin Creek supported a run of over 1,000 steelhead from 1954 to 1961 (Schuck, personal communication). The present annual return is between 120 and 170 adults with a Washington State escapement goal of 225 spawning steelhead. Spawning habitat on the Forest is restricted to the approximately 10 miles of the North Fork of Asotin Creek. Other steelhead tributaries with headwaters on the Forest are Charlie Creek, George Creek, and South Fork Asotin Creek. The following table is a summary of steelhead spawning surveys by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife since 1986 (Schuck, Viola, and Keller, 1997).

Table U-17
STEELHEAD SPAWNING GROUND SURVEYS -- REDDS PER MILE
Asotin Creek Watershed
Umatilla National Forest

Year

North Fork Asotin Creek

South Fork Asotin Creek

1986

37.2

21.9

1987

25.6

10.3

1988

15.0

11.5

1989

5.2

3.2

1990

3.5

2.6

1991

5.4

0

1992

4.5

3.3

1993

5.4

7.1

1994

5.5

2.4

1995

11.0

4.5

1996

8.9

9.3

1997

no data

no data

Mid-Columbia steelhead ESU was added to the Regional Forester's Sensitive Species List in August 1997. Steelhead in the Mid-Columbia ESU are proposed for listing by NMFS under the Endangered Species Act with a listing decision anticipated in the spring of 1999. The Forest Service sensitive species policy requires that species, populations, or ESUs with viability concerns or trending toward Federal listing be given management emphasis to ensure their continued existence. Steelhead in the mid-Columbia are clearly trending toward Federal listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Chinook Salmon

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has established spring chinook spawning distribution and abundance index reaches on Clear Creek, Granite Creek, North Fork John Day River, and Wenaha River. Additional spring chinook spawning surveys were conducted by North Fork John Day Ranger District employees from 1992 through 1996. No additional surveys were conducted by the District in 1997 or 1998. Camas Creek, Hidaway Creek, and North Fork John Day River were surveyed for chinook redds, carcasses, and number of live fish. Survey results are displayed in TablesU-18 and U-19.

Table U-18
CHINOOK COUNTS BY INDEX REACH -- OREGON
Umatilla National Forest

Year

No. of Redds

No. of Carcasses

No. of Live Fish

ODFW MEASUREMENTS

S. Fork Wenaha River (above Milk Cr. to Forks)
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998

12
2
28
35
24

0
0
3
9
11

2
1
16
11
13

Wenaha River (Forks to Crooked Creek)
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998

30
18
69
33
38

5
3
11
27
12

18
10
54
18
31

Milk Creek (tributary of Wenaha River
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0

Butte Creek (tributary to Wenaha River)
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998

0
1
5
4
3

0
0
1
1
0

0
0
3
0
0

USFS MEASUREMENTS (North Fork John Day Ranger District)

Camas Creek
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998

0
2
5
0
0
-
-

0
1
1
0
0
-
-

0
0
3
0
0
-
-

Hidaway Creek
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998

0
0
0
0
0
-
-

0
0
0
0
0
-
-

0
0
0
0
0
-
-

N. Fork John Day River
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998

5
21
2
1
5
-
-

4
4
9
0
7
-
-

0
5
0
10
0
-
-

Table U-19
ODFW CHINOOK REDD COUNTS - REDDS/MILE
North Fork John Day River Drainage
Umatilla National Forest

Index Reach

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Clear Creek

11.7

25.6

4.0

2.8

9.5

7.3

2.8

Granite Creek

16.5

19.8

14.5

2.2

14.7

10.0

8.4

N.Fork John Day (wilderness)

28.1

27.3

15.6

2.5

20.6

18.1

9.3

N.Fork John Day (lower)

11.4

16.1

7.6

0.7

12.6

5.2

3.5

The NMFS listed the Snake River spring chinook salmon and Snake River fall chinook salmon as threatened species in May 1992. Critical habitat was designated for both species in December 1993. Fall chinook and their critical habitat are not found on the Umatilla NF but are downstream from several of the Forest's Snake River tributaries. Snake River spring chinook are found in the Tucannon watershed and Grande Ronde tributaries on the Forest.

Chinook salmon spawning escapement potential prior to mainstem Columbia River and Snake River dam construction was estimated at 20,000 fish (Van Cleave and Ting, Oregon Fish Commission, unpublished report). Actual escapement in 1957 was estimated at 12,200 spring chinook (ODFW, 1990). An estimated 8,400 spring chinook returned to the Grande Ronde subbasin in the early 1970s (Smith, 1975). Since 1975, Grande Ronde spring chinook must pass a total of four mainstem Columbia River dams and four mainstem Snake River dams. Annual escapement estimates by ODFW for 1977 through 1987 range from 324 to 1,715. Chinook counts by index reach within the Wenaha Wilderness are displayed in Table U-18. Chinook numbers have declined within the wilderness at approximately the same rate as other, more developed subwatersheds in the Grande Ronde subbasin (ODFW, 1990).

Lookingglass Creek is a tributary of the Grande Ronde River and was considered one of the major spring chinook producers in the subbasin. The wild spring chinook of Lookingglass Creek were incorporated in the Lookingglass Creek hatchery stock developed after completion of the hatchery in 1982. Although some returning adults are able to pass over the hatchery weir each year and spawn naturally, it is currently believed that these fish are of hatchery origin. The wild spring chinook population of Lookingglass Creek is extirpated.

Asotin Creek chinook spawning ground surveys conducted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) were reported in the 1997 Annual Report for the Tucannon River Spring Chinook Hatchery Evaluation, September 1998. Spawning ground surveys have been conducted by WDFW since 1984. The results of these surveys are included in Table U-20. The WDFW concludes that the survey results indicate spring chinook salmon in Asotin Creek have been extirpated. Any adult salmon that return in future years will likely be strays from other basins.

Table U-20
CHINOOK SALMON COUNTS ON NORTH FORK ASOTIN CREEK - 1984-1987
Umatilla National Forest

Year

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

Redds 21 8 1 3 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0

Live Fish 12 7 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Carcasses 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Historic Tucannon River runs of spring chinook salmon averaged approximately 2,400 adults annually (WDFW, 1992). The status of the Tucannon River spring chinook salmon was evaluated by NMFS in the Tucannon River Subbasin Biological Opinion dated July 1993. NMFS reported estimated adult returns based on redd counts and counts at the Tucannon Fish Hatchery Rack as follows:

Year

89

90

91

92

Adults

178

420

161

353

WDFW has conducted a spring chinook index area spawning ground survey since 1954. The survey area is from Cow Camp Bridge to Camp Wooten Bridge, approximately 2.4 miles. The data are collected on one day of spawning ground survey between August 26 and September 28. The results of the survey are shown in Table U-21.

Table U-21
CHINOOK COUNTS BY INDEX REACH - WASHINGTON
Umatilla National Forest

Year
54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

Redds
33

0

-

168

54

27

42

102

52

21

61

Live Fish
52

80

-

232

89

56

69

63

47

25

55

Carcasses
3

0

-

51

7

1

13

23

24

11

24

Year
65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

Redds
24

65

40

18

61

62

6

23

24

18

37

Live Fish
20

56

41

20

55

68

11

3

18

12

28

Carcasses
4

10

8

4

28

6

1

0

3

5

8

Year
76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

Redds
13

19

-

-

38

67

27

40

31

50

20

Live Fish
0

3

-

-

47

55

5

25

26

37

31

Carcasses
11

4

-

-

3

3

11

8

15

13

2

Year
87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

Redds
32

7

16

13

4

27

20

1

0

0

3

Live Fish
57

16

21

24

12

37

28

1

0

1

5

Carcasses
5

6

5

7

0

2

1

0

0

0

0

Bull Trout

Columbia River bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) were listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in June 1998. Bull trout are present on the Umatilla NF in the Umatilla, Walla Walla, Tucannon, Asotin, Wenaha, Lookingglass, and North Fork John Day drainages. The Forest, in cooperation with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, have been conducting bull trout spawning surveys within the Umatilla, Walla Walla, Tucannon, and Wenaha Rivers, and Lookingglass Creek drainage. Results are displayed in the following table.

Table U-22
BULL TROUT REDD COUNTS
Umatilla National Forest

Total Bull Trout Redd Count

Subwatersheds
Miles Surveyed
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Tucannon
8.5

131

114

184

78

108

Lookingglass Creek
12.3

15

16

29

39

62

Touchet
8.2

86

27*

64

41*

95

Mill Creek
15.7

191

165

134

118

137

S.F. Walla Walla
21.5

143

114

177

180

276

Umatilla
18.7

39

22

37

32

84

TOTAL
84.9

605

458

625

488

762

*Counts may be low due to late season monitoring (Wolf Fork).

Fire Recovery

The North Fork John Day Ranger District has been monitoring recovery of fish populations in streams which experienced fish kills caused by the 1996 Tower Fire. This was the third year of population monitoring in affected and control reaches. Population estimates are for resident redband trout within 100-meter sample areas, except where noted. The Tower Fire effects monitoring study of fish populations will continue for at least two more years. Preliminary results are displayed in Table U-23.

Table U-23
REDBAND TROUT POPULATION ESTIMATES
for the surveyed reach (standard error in parentheses)
Umatilla National Forest

Stream

Reach

1996

1997

1998

Texas Bar Treatment #1
Treatment #2 No Fish
No Fish 3 (0)
2 (0) 20.5 (2.2
36 (1.4)

South Fork Cable Treatment #1
Treatment #2 31.7 (2)
No Fish 96.4 (4.1)
96.9 (4.1)
59.5 (7.0)*
103.2 (3.7)

Oriental Treatment #2 No Fish 5.3 (1.0) --

Texas Bar Control #1
Control #2 76.5 (4.2)
128.2 (9.7) 136.9 (5.3)
150.2 (6.5) 112.5 (3.3)
170.7 (6.1)

Hidaway Control #2 (50m) 84.3 (6.6) 47.6 (1.0) 107.4 (5.5)

Oriental Control #1
Control #2 77.8 (7.9)
94.3 (6.3) 67.8 (3.7)
50.7 (2.7) 2 (0)**
1 (0)**

Frazier Control -- -- 55.7 (1.2)

Battle Control -- -- 63.0 (5.6)

Sponge Control -- -- 28.8 (1.3)

* Treatment #1 in South Fork Cable was moved during 1998; the new reach partially overlaps the old reach.
** Oriental Creek experienced a debris torrent in spring of 1998, altering habitat and likely pushing all fish out of the stream.

Within the last few years, chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and bull trout have been listed as threatened species in ESUs that include habitat on the Umatilla NF. Almost all subwatersheds on the National Forest contain habitat for at least one listed aquatic species. The Forest will work closely with the Regulatory Agencies toward recovery of the listed species.

Recommended Action:

Changed practices will be implemented through Endangered Species Act consultation.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 23 (top)
Elk/Deer Habitat and Estimated Populations

Questions: Are the populations being maintained as predicted in the Plan? Are the standards and guidelines being followed as required to meet habitat effectiveness index levels established for the subwatershed and (aggregated to the) management area? Are the assumptions pertaining to the prediction of cover resulting from harvest and silvicultural activity valid? Are the assumed interrelationships between cover spacing, cover quality, and open roads valid? Are the assumptions relating elk habitat effectiveness to elk populations valid?

Elk and deer population estimates were derived from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reports for 1998. Tables U-24 and U-25 contain elk and deer management objectives, population estimates, and herd composition for each State Management Unit (SMU) occurring on the Forest. Management units are aggregated into various groups for evaluation.

The estimated elk population and distribution in Table U-24 closely reflect the elk populations on the Forest because the bulk of suitable elk habitat within SMUs occurs on National Forest lands. In 1998, the total number of elk on the Forest was estimated at 24,400 animals. Over the last 3 years, the elk population on the Forest has increased slightly and remains above the Forest Management Objective of 21,200 animals (for the first decade). The 1998 estimate is about 3 percent above the previous year's estimate and approximately 4 percent above 1996 estimates. Overall, the 1998 estimated Forest-wide elk population (total) is 16 percent above the Forest Management Objective and within the 20 percent threshold of variability identified in the Forest Plan. On the other hand, when all lands are considered, the 1998 estimate is 10 percent below State Management Objectives (SMO) for combined State Management Units.

Estimated elk populations continue to vary by general area on the Forest. The elk population in Washington and northern Oregon units continues to fall below the management objectives for State Management Units; the area is consistently below the 20 percent threshold of variability. Many of these units have been declining since the mid-1980's. Speculation about low elk populations in Washington and northern Oregon areas centers around low calf survival, changes in habitat suitability leading to a seasonal shift in the herd followed by an increase in vulnerability, and/or the efficient harvest of cow elk in antlerless hunts in Washington and Oregon.

In general, the bull/cow ratio for the Forest has been above or near the SMO during the last 3 years. SMUs consistently below SMOs for the last 3 years include the Tucannon, Lick Creek, Mt. Emily, and Heppner units. In 1998, the average bull/cow ratio Forest-wide was estimated at 13 bulls/100 cows. This estimate is within the Forest Plan 20 percent threshold of variability.

In 1998, calf/cow ratios were below 40 calves/100 cows for all SMUs on the Forest. Only three management units (Desolation, Heppner, and Fossil), all on the south end of the Forest, had calf/cow ratios >30 calves/100 cows. The average calf/cow ratio for SMUs in Washington was 18 calves/100 cows. Over the last 3 years calf/cow ratios have averaged less than 24 calves/100 cows for SMUs in Washington and less than 35 calves/100 cows for SMUs in Oregon.

Table U-24
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK
Management Objectives, Composition, and
End-of-Winter Population Trends for 1996-1998
Umatilla National Forest

Management Units

Population Tends

Bulls Per 100 Cows

Calves Per 100 Cows

Washington*

Mgmt.
Object.

1998

1997

1996

Mgmt.
Object.

1998

1997

1996

1998

1997

1996

"North" Umatilla NF
Mill Creek
Dayton
Tucannon
Wenaha
Lick Cr.
Mt. View

400
800
1,200
1,200
1,000
1,100

738
908
448
600
684
478

375
719
376
600
600
475

375
725
410
700
650
520

15
15
15
15
15
15

22
15
8
33
6
12

26
9
13
19
5
14

19
13
12
27
6
25

21
19
26
11
18
27

24
25
23
13
23
27

13
18
18
6
14
21

Subtotal
5,700

3,856

3,145

3,380

@15

@17

@14

@17

@18

@23

@15

Oregon**

Mgmt.
Object.

1998

1997

1996

Mgmt.
Object.

1998

1997

1996

1998

1997

1996

"North" Umatilla NF
Wenaha
Walla Walla
Mt. Emily

4,250
1,800
5,700

1,300
1,600
6,000

1,500

1,600

6,300

1,700

1,900

6,000

10

10

10

16

17

5

12

11

6

14

14

6

16

22

27

14

20

27

14

21

17

Subtotal
11,750

8,900

9,400

9,600

@10

@13

@10

@11

@22

@20

@17

"South" Umatilla NF
Ukiah
Desolation
Heppner
Fossil

5,000
1,300
2,800
700

6,000
1,500
3,100
1,100

5,500
1,600
3,300
900

5,500
1,400
2,900
800

10
10
10
10

10
12
7
9

6
10
5
4

8
10
6
12

27
31
37
39

36
52
43
52

25
27
43
53

Subtotal
9,800

11,700

11,300

10,600

@10

@10

@6

@9

@34

@46

@37

Forest Total
27,250

24,456

23,845

23,580

@12

@13

@11

@11

@25

@29

@22

* Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1998 Game Status and Trend Report
** Source: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Big Game Statistics 1998
@ Average for the area described

Unlike elk, deer are distributed widely across SMUs, occurring on Forest lands as well as State and private lands. The deer estimates for the Forest would, therefore, be less than the estimate for the entire SMU. Population densities and management objectives identified on Table U-25 are estimates for National Forest lands (i.e., a portion of the estimate for the management unit). The estimates for herd composition on National Forest land should mimic trends on SMUs.

In 1998, the total number of deer associated with the Forest was about 10,200 animals. Over the last 3 years, deer populations on the Forest have been below Forest Management Objectives (18,300 animals) and below SMOs (16,800 animals). The 1998 deer estimate is about 28 percent below the 1997 and 1996 estimate for deer. In Washington, the population has declined over the last 3 years and is currently 60 percent below the SMO. The Oregon population remains stable but slightly below the SMO for the area. Overall, the Forest-wide deer population (total) is outside the 20 percent threshold of variability identified in the Forest Plan. Speculation about the low deer numbers revolves around the same factors that may be influencing the elk population levels.

The bucks per does ratios have been variable across all management units for the last 3 years. In 1998, the majority of units were below MO for bucks/100 does. However, buck/doe ratios were slightly below MO on the "north" end of the Forest and slightly above MO on the "south" end. The 1998 Forest-wide ratio is 14 bucks/100 does. This is slightly below the MO of 15 bucks/100 does, but within the Forest Plan threshold of variability. The fawn/doe ratios for the "north" and "south" ends of the Forest are below the 1997 estimates but are generally greater than 35 fawns/100 does.

Table U-25
MULE DEER
Management Objectives, Composition, and End-of-Winter Population Trends For 1998-1996
Umatilla National Forest

Management Units

Population Tends

Bucks Per 100 Does

Fawns Per 100 Does

Washington *

Mgmt.
Object.

1998

1997

1996

Mgmt.
Object.

1998

1997

1996

1998

1997

1996

"North" Umatilla NF
Mill Creek
Dayton
Tucannon
Wenaha
Lick Cr.
Mt. View

-
-
-
-
-
-

50
475
125
60
50
65

65
945
250
190
95
125

95
755
250
220
95
190

16
16
16
16
16
16

-
-
-
-
-
-

20
15
10
10
20
10

-
16
10
7
16
14

-
-
-
-
-
-

40
70
70
39
66
65

-
38
50
65
30
27

Subtotal
2,100

825

1,670

1,605

16

-

@14

@13

-

@58

@42

Oregon**

Mgmt.
Object.

1998

1997

1996

Mgmt.
Object.

1998

1997

1996

1998

1997

1996

"North" Umatilla NF
Wenaha
Walla Walla
Mt. Emily
1,100

650

1,950

770

390

1,560

715

420

1,560

715

420

1,560

12

15

15

9

10

19

10

6

14

11

11

17

48

51

47

64

52

66

39

72

63

Subtotal
3,700

2,720

2,695

2,695

@14

@13

@10

@13

@49

@61

@58

"South" Umatilla NF
Ukiah
Desolation
Heppner
Fossil

2,450
2,200
4,350
2,000

2,330
1,650
4,785
1,900

2,330
1,500
5,090
1,860

2,205
1,320
4,350
1,800

15
15
12
12

18
11
14
12

22
21
13
13

24
32
12
11

38
33
58
50

49
73
65
79

52
37
49
44

Subtotal
11,000

6,665

9,860

9,675

@14

@13

@17

@20

@45

@67

@46

Forest Total
16,800

10,210

14,225

13,975

@15

@13

@14

@15

@46

@61

@47

* Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1998 Game Status and Trend Report
** Source: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Big Game Statistics 1998
@ Average for the area described

The elk Habitat Effectiveness Index continues to be determined for activities that could affect forage and cover values. However, as mentioned in previous monitoring reports, the HEI model has problems and is no longer considered a useful tool to evaluate elk habitat. Key elk habitat components, such as forage, suitable cover, marginal cover, road density, and their interrelationships will continue to be evaluated at the project level. A continuing need is to conduct follow up monitoring of changes in elk (and deer) habitat resulting from activities and other disturbance events across the Forest. The relationship between habitat quality on the Forest and elk populations needs to be explored.

Meeting cover objectives can be problematic when the project encompasses areas of high mortality from past insect and disease infestations. However, this is usually compensated by a reduction in the road density through implementation of the Access and Travel Management Plans. Thinning is expected to increase across the Forest to reduce stand densities and allow for more tree-sustainable forest condition. As a result of the anticipated action, a change in cover quality will occur when areas of suitable cover are moved to marginal cover. Elk needs for cover is still a point of debate. Recent literature (Cook, et. al., 1998) indicates that thermal cover may not be as important as earlier studies show.

Recommended Action:

Monitoring and evaluation of habitats for elk and deer on the Forest are needed, particularly where large- scale insect infestations and fires have occurred and have likely affected overall habitat quality.

Continue reviewing the utility of HEI and change Forest Plans as needed during the Forest Plan adjustment process (upon completion of ICBEMP).

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 25 (top)
Dead and/or Defective Tree Habitat

Questions: Are dead and defective trees being left in appropriate numbers and sizes with proper distribution following timber sales, firewood cutting activities, post-sale treatments, and other management activities as outlined in the standards and guidelines? Are sufficient numbers, size classes, and distribution of green replacement trees and down logs being left following all management activities?

Dead standing tree and down wood inventories are conducted at the project level on all the Ranger Districts on the Forest. Inventories conducted in 1998 show that snag standards and guides from the "Eastside Screens" (Regional Forester's Forest Plan Amendment #2, June 1995) and Interim Snag Guidance for Salvage Operation (Umatilla NF, April 14, 1993) were addressed. Table U-26 displays activities that have had pre-treatment and post-treatment dead wood inventories.

Table U-26
DEAD WOOD DENSITIES (no./ac.)
For Various Management Activities
Umatilla National Forest

DEAD STANDING TREE INVENTORY

Management Activity

Guidelines*

Pre-Treatment

Post-Treatment

Down Wood Inventory**

Total

>20" DBH

Total

>20" DBH

Total

>20" DBH

Pre-Treatment

Post-Treatment

Timber Harvest ***

Swampy Salvage 03
1.8

.14

8.3

1.7

17.6

3.7

N/D

11.4

Swampy Salvage 04
1.8

.14

7.4

0.9

13.0

1.0

N/D

20.6

Swampy Salvage 05
1.8

.14

4.4

0.6

20.9

4.5

N/D

18.4

Swampy Salvage 06
1.8

.14

25.3

0.9

49.5

0.0

N/D

32.5

Summer Home Salvage
1.8

.14

4.8

1.8

5.1

1.8

N/D

18.0

Prescribed Burn

West Patit 01
1.8

.14

18

N/D

13

N/D

38

25

West Patit 04
1.8

.14

16

N/D

9

N/D

30

17

West Patit 10
1.8

.14

10

N/D

7

N/D

29

16

West Patit 17
1.8

.14

9

N/D

3

N/D

20

7

West Patit 18
1.8

.14

5

N/D

1

N/D

11

13

Fuelwood Harvest (1yr)

Jarboe/Walla Walla #3
1.8

.14

39.8

19.0

32.2

5.6

85

84

* - Guidelines identified as a result of the "Eastside Screens." ** - No. Pieces > 10" diameter at the small end and >10' in length.
*** - Dead standing trees marked for retention. N/D - No Data were collect.

Dead wood inventories were conducted on the Swampy Salvage Sale and Summer Home Salvage Sale (Walla Walla Ranger District) before the units were marked or after the units were marked (pre-treatment), and after the units were harvested (post-treatment). A select number of sites were surveyed with transects repeated at the same location to collect pre- and post-treatment data. The intent of the survey was to determine the effectiveness of marking guidelines and the effects of harvest operations on dead wood retention. In all cases, all size classes were retained and more snags were designated to be left than required by the "Eastside screens." Snags marked for retention were relatively proportional to the size (diameter) and height of snags in the stand prior to marking. Snag densities actually increased in some units when comparing pre- and post-treatment densities because mortality continued to occur in the stand. While the required down wood densities were met, the predominate decay class of down wood was "soft," with very few down logs remaining in the "hard" decay class.

On the Pomeroy Ranger District, five units of the West Patit Timber Sale were monitored for dead wood. The units had post-harvest data available and prescribed burning planned. The intent of the survey was to determine the effects of prescribed burning on dead wood retention. A select number of sites were surveyed with transects repeated at the same location to collect pre- and post-treatment data. Most of the West Patit units retained dead wood densities above the prescribed level after conducting the prescribed burn. However, snag densities were slightly below minimum levels along the transect in Unit 18. The greatest percent reduction (65 percent) in down wood densities occurred in Unit 17 but remained above prescribed levels. As anticipated, the smaller diameter dead wood and dead wood with advanced decay were largely consumed by the fire.

Monitoring of firewood cutting was conducted at six locations in the Sinks Woodcutting area of the Walla Walla Ranger District. The area was monitored to determine the effects of fuelwood harvesting on the snag and down wood components along a road corridor. Table U-27 displays the results of one site (Jarboe/Walla Walla #3), because the remaining sites showed little or no visible sign of fuelwood harvest after 1 year of use. After harvest, dead wood densities were far above the prescribed level. While the area met current guidelines, overall the site contained locations that were far below current guidelines. Dead standing trees greater than 20 inches seemed to be the preferred tree for cutting. It was even noted that standing 20-inch trees were selected over down logs of the same size, near the harvested tree. Overall, Ranger Districts are still concerned about maintaining sufficient densities and size classes of dead standing and down wood in fuelwood harvest units over an extended period of time.

Recent past and current harvest activities have focused on stands with a high density of dead or dying trees and low to no existent density of green trees. The retention level for green replacement trees is met when sufficient numbers and size classes are available for retention. When a sufficient number or size is not available, the next lowest quantity and/or size is retained.

Recommended Actions:

Continue monitoring with emphasis on review of post-harvest dead wood densities, including trees greater than 20 inches, down logs, and green tree retention. Habitat use monitoring is an ongoing need. Tentative results suggest that additional work is needed throughout the operations process, to improve snag selection and placement in harvest units in order to minimize the loss of snags. In addition, snag densities after marking should exceed minimum levels in order to offset anticipated losses from follow up activities.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 28 (top)
Threatened/Endangered/Sensitive Wildlife and Fish Species

Questions: Bald Eagles: Are potential habitats, including nest sites, communal roosts, and associated foraging habitats, being identified and planned to assure species recovery as specified in the Recovery Plans and in the Forest Plan? Are wintering populations stable or increasing?

Peregrine Falcons: Are nesting and associated foraging habitats being identified? Are potential nest habitats identified and being managed to maintain suitability?

Chinook Salmon: Are terms and conditions as identified by NFMS being followed?

Sensitive Species: Are potential habitats being identified and protected to maintain identified species and to ensure management standards are being met?

Bald Eagles

The Dry Creek (Rail Canyon) bald eagle nest was monitored in 1998. During several visits between March and July, adults were observed on and around the nest. At the latter part of the breeding season, two fledged young eagles were observed in the drainage. Since 1994, this nest site has fledged eight eaglets, an average of 1.6 eaglets fledged per year. A draft site-specific management plan was initiated in 1998 for the Dry Creek Bald Eagle nest. The plan is expected to be finalized in 1999.

Two winter bald eagle survey routes were run on the North Fork John Day Ranger District in 1997-1998, which followed the same routes used in the original study by Frank Issacs (1991-1992). Overall, the number of wintering bald eagles was lower than previous years; however, not alarmingly low considering the abnormal winter weather (warm and wet) that occurred that year. With the lower than normal snow depth, the eagles could have been well dispersed and foraging over a larger area. No evidence of new night roosts was found on the Forest.

No bald eagles were detected after the end of March. No evidence of nesting or attempted nesting eagles was observed on the Forest in 1998.

Peregrine Falcon

Aerial surveys for peregrine falcons were not conducted on the Forest in 1998. Ground surveys were conducted at suspected nesting sites on the Pomeroy, Walla Walla, and North Fork John Day ranger districts. No peregrines or nesting sites were observed; however, incidental falcon sightings continue to occur in July and August on the Pomeroy and North Fork ranger districts. These late season observations could be dispersing juveniles or individuals migrating through the area.

Sensitive Species

During 1998, no report was submitted specific to the Forests's sensitive species.

Other Threatened and Endangered (T/E) species populations and their habitat were not compromised as a result of management activities on the Forest in 1998. Effects on T/E species and their habitat continues to be documented in the project Biological Evaluation and/or "Specialist Reports." T/E species and their habitats will continue to be analyzed on the Forest through the project evaluation process.

Recommended Actions:

Continue to monitor. Follow up monitoring and documentation are needed for the Forest's sensitive species.

Continue development of a site management plan for the Dry Creek (Rail Canyon) bald eagle nest site. A final plan is anticipated by fall 1999.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 33 (top)
Recreation

Question: How much recreation is occurring on the Forest and in which categories? How much use and what occupancy rate is occurring at each recreation site? Are recreation sites adequate to meet demand and to provide user satisfaction?

Total recreation use on the Forest in FY 98 has increased by about 14 percent from the last reported year (FY 96). Recreation use amounted to an estimated 1,043,657 Recreation Visitor Days (RVDs). Dispersed recreation activity (86 percent of the total) still provides the major share of use on the Forest; developed recreation has declined somewhat from reported use in FY 96.

Table U-27
RECREATION USE -- FY 98 (RVDs)
Umatilla National Forest

Site or Area

Heppner

North Fork John Day

Pomeroy

Walla Walla

Forest Total

General Forest
134,820

231,236

281,345

99,327

746,628

Wilderness
18,644

10,546

3,567

32,757

W&S River S.A.
36,971

15,870

8,889

61,730

Trailhead
1,760

15,250

35,301

2,908

55,219

Subtotal Undeveloped
136,580

302,101

342,962

114,691

896,334

Campgrounds
12,195

29,211

27,755

26,360

95,521

Rec. Residences
2,862

15,651

2,128

20,641

Ski Areas
28,286

28,286

Cabin Rental
172

1,196

122

1,490

Interpretive Site
300

500

255

330

1,385

Subtotal Developed Sites
12,667

32,573

44,857

57,226

147,323

Total RVD
149,247

334,674

387,819

171,917

1,043,657

Based on limited ranger district reports on developed recreation use, sites that have been identified as having heavy use in the past continue to experience occupancy rates at or above levels strongly suggesting expansion or improvement. A number of maintenance or improvement needs continue to be identified for developed sites. Facilities to meet accessibility standards still need to be added at a number of identified locations; however, limited recreation budgets have constrained the Forest's ability to make appropriate improvements.

Recommended Actions:

The Forest should conduct a systematic user satisfaction survey at key developed sites, particularly at identified high use areas.

Continue systematic "measurement" of recreation use Forest-wide.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 44 (top)
Availability of Firewood

Questions: How much firewood is being provided? Is sufficient fuelwood being offered to the interested public?

In 1998, the Forest's firewood output was 4.0 million board feet (mmbf), nearly 27 percent of Forest Plan projected output of 15 mmbf. Trends since the late 1980s show a slowly declining "demand" for firewood, with strong year-to-year variation. The general trend continued in 1998 for firewood output and total permits, although total permits increased from 1996. Table U-28 shows the firewood program trends from 1989 to 1998.

Table U-28
FIREWOOD PROGRAM - CHARGE PERMITS ISSUED 1989-98
Umatilla National Forest

Year

Number

MMBF

1989

4,794

12.4

1990

3,871

8.0

1991

3,792

8.7

1992

2,838

6.8

1993

3,786

9.5

1994

2,373

5.5

1995

3,214

9.2

1996

2,115

5.9

1997

2,724

5.2

1998

2,308

4.0

Current "demand" for firewood continues to be met from the Forest. Firewood "demand" is expected to continue at relatively low levels for the next few years, particularly as other sources of energy remain plentiful and at low cost. The Forest continues to anticipate a surplus of firewood for the next several years due to the high level of insect- and fire-killed timber, particularly on the south-end districts. However, the quality and quantity of trees for firewood have been declining as the dead material deteriorates and some is removed in salvage sales. In addition, some popular areas such as Tollgate, that are closer to population centers, are nearly depleted of available dead/down material. Ranger district restrictions and closures of these areas to firewood gathering has required the public to travel farther to areas with adequate supplies.

Recommended Action:

Continue to monitor.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 45 (top)
Mineral Development, Rehabilitation, and Accessibility

Questions: Are the standards and guidelines being implemented correctly? Are the standards and guidelines for mineral operations "reasonable" and effective in meeting Forest Plan goals? Is vehicle (potential) access to mineral (mining claims) or energy (gas and oil) lease sites being restricted?

The Forest's mineral activities occur almost entirely on the North Fork John Day Ranger District. In 1998, the North Fork John Day Ranger District had 81 claims under Plans of Operation or Notices of Intent. Twenty-three claimants filed or phoned Notices that they intended to operate during the 1998 season. A total of 32 claims were worked during the season. All claims worked had ongoing reclamation work done during the mining operation.

The 32 active claims were monitored for compliance at least once during the year. Reclamation monitoring was done on all work of the 23 claimants that operated during the season. Findings include:

Average disturbance was approximately .05 acre for 32 working claims or a total of 1.6 acres.

All 1.6 acres were reclaimed and all reclaimed areas met objectives for reclamation.

The ranger district received five new Plans of Operation during the 1998 field season. Most Plans of Operation will be processed during FY 99, depending on endangered species consultation timelines. None of the ranger districts reported any active sites requiring access during FY 98.

Mineral inspections and reclamation reviews indicate that standards and guidelines are being met. One abandoned claim was reclaimed in FY 98.

Recommended Action:

Continue monitoring active claims and permits. The North Fork John Day Ranger District has proposed four sites for reclamation projects. Monitoring will be needed when these ongoing projects have been funded and accomplished.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 46 (top)
Forest Road System

Questions: Are the total miles and those usable by passenger cars and high clearance vehicles within Forest Plan projections? Is the Forest providing and managing the Forest road system to accomplish land and resource management objectives as outlined in the Forest Plan?

For the Umatilla National Forest, the current transportation information and road use status are shown in Table U-30 below:

Table U-29
FOREST ROAD SYSTEM
Umatilla National Forest

Road System

Maintenance Level

1996 Miles

1997 Miles

1998 Miles

Closed Road
1

2,643

2,364

2,299

High Clearance
2

1,733

1,960

1,960

Passenger Car
3

491

498

498

Passenger Car
4

177

177

177

Passenger Car
5

147

78

78

Total Open
2,479

2,713

2,713

Total Road
5,122

5,120

5,012

Some change in road totals occurred from last year's report, due to road obliteration. Currently, the total passenger car mileage amounts to 753 miles or about 84 percent of the Forest Plan projection (900 miles); high clearance miles total 1,960 miles or about 77 percent of the Forest Plan estimate (2,530 mile). The Forest has reduced total open miles and increased closures by about 30 percent (compared with Forest Plan expectations), primarily due to a relatively assertive road closure program, and in part to more accurate information about the road system. The Forest Plan projection of an increase in newly constructed mileage (mostly local roads) to meet planned resource objectives has never materialized.

Ranger District Motorized Access and Travel Management Plans have been implemented on the Forest, although minor adjustments will continue to be made. During 1998, about 65 miles were reported as obliterated and no additional roads were reported as closed.

Total miles, specific road use types, and road construction levels are less than Forest Plan projections. However, the current road system appears to be meeting public and resource management needs. The levels of resource management, project activities, and public use appear to be occurring satisfactorily within the Forest's road management framework.

Recommended Action:

Continue monitoring of the Forest road system. Future monitoring should focus more on addressing all the resource objectives, with emphasis on water and aquatic resources.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 47 (top)
Open Road Density

Questions: Are road closures effective at eliminating vehicle traffic? If a closure is breached, does the road still meet management objectives? (New Coordinated Questions)

Heppner Ranger District has been installing various types of road closures for the last several years, to meet the intent of their Access and Travel Management (ATM) Plan. During 1998, the Ranger District monitored the effectiveness of the closures and was able to respond to the new questions about road closures developed for the Blue Mountains Forests.

Table U-30
DISTRICT ROAD CLOSURE VIOLATIONS -- 1998
Heppner Ranger District
Umatilla National Forest

Closure Type

No. of Violations

Miles of Road Violated

Percent of Violations

Earth Barricades
12

10

29

Gates
1

5

2

Guardrails
2

10

5

Signs
26

12

63

The data show, and Ranger District experience indicates, that the "hard closures" (earth barricades, gates, and guardrails) are more effective than the "soft closures" (signs). Currently the District has about 450 miles of closed road. An estimated 8 percent of the closed system miles was used, with most (about 78 percent) of the violations occurring during big-game hunting season.

As part of the Heppner Ranger District ATM program, permitted use on closed roads across the District has been monitored through a permit system. The permits allow administrative use, commercial activities, and access for special use permittees. In FY 98, a total of 67 closed roads or about 80 miles (219 trips) received traffic as a result of the permits issued. Given the amount and timing of violations and permitted use, the Ranger District generally believes that management objectives are being met. The District intends to continue installing "hard closures" on problem roads, given adequate funding.

Recommended Action:

Continue monitoring.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 49 (top)
Fire Program Effectiveness

Question: Are fire programs (i.e., prevention, detection, suppression) meeting the standards as required by the National Forest Management Act? Are these programs effective? What is the number of fires, by cause and acres burned, plus the actual expenditure of EFFS dollars?

The calendar year 1998 fire season was actually below average in number of wildfires and acres burned. Acres burned associated with human-start situations were slightly higher than lightning-caused fires. Table U-31 shows the total number of human- and lightning-caused fires and acres burned.

Table U-31
LIGHTNING- AND HUMAN-CAUSED FIRES AND ACRES BURNED 1991-1998
Umatilla National Forest

Fire Cause

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Human Caused:
Total Number of Fires
Total Acres Burned
52
29
53
156
71
635
45
153

16
7

32
8,289

45
3,281

31
226

Lightning-Caused
Total Number of Fires
Total Acres Burned
93
49
37
278
20
3
201
5,637

82
131

97
64,228

70
37

87
195

Forest Totals:
Number of Fires
Acres Burned
145
78
190
435
91
638
246
5,793

98
138

129
72,517

115
3,318

118
421

The total number of fires in 1998 represents 78 percent of the 10-year (1988-97) average of 151. When comparing the total number of lightning fires in 1998 to the 10-year lightning average (same period), the 1998 level was 86 percent of the average. Human-caused fires were 62 percent of the human-caused average.

The total acres burned in 1998 represents 30 percent of the base period average (1991-1995) of 1,416 acres. Acres burned associated with human start situations were slightly higher than lightning-caused fires. The total represents a strong suppression effort combined with a fire season when adverse fire weather situations were not occurring with fire ignitions.

The most intense fires of the 1998 season generally appeared to occur in lower elevation sites where the Forest provided assistance to the Pendleton Unit of Oregon Department of Forestry. During the August fire that burned into and around the City of Pendleton, the Forest offered assistance; however, the State Fire Marshall and local fire departments did not request any assistance.

Table U-32 shows estimated expenditures of Wildfire Suppression and Rehabilitation Funds (WFSU) in FY 98, with final payments still being resolved in some contested situations.

Table U-32
ACTUAL EXPENDITURES OF WFSU - CY 1991 to 1998 ($98)
Umatilla National Forest

Year

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Total Expenditure $625,527 $1,662,787 $1,179,212 $4,131,005 $1,682,486 $29,877,095 $2,205,646 $227,305

Recommended Action:

Continue to monitor.

UMATILLA MONITORING ITEM 53 (top)
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
National Forest Management Act (NFMA)

Questions: Are project-level decisions made using appropriate NEPA/NFMA procedures including analysis of cumulative effects? Are project-level decisions tiered to, and in accord with, the Forest Plan?

The number of environmental documents prepared in fiscal year FY 98 was similar to the number prepared in FY 97. In FY 98, nine environmental assessments (EAs) and 44 categorical exclusions (CEs) were prepared on the Umatilla National Forest. Three of the EAs and 11 of the CEs were for salvage timber sales. The non-timber EAs and CEs covered a wide range of activities.

No formal NEPA/NFMA compliance reviews were completed by the Forest Interdisciplinary (ID) team this fiscal year. Several less formal reviews by ranger district NEPA coordinators and district management teams as well as Supervisor's Office staff were conducted. Generally, it was found that all NEPA requirements were being met.

Two Forest CEs were reviewed as part of the coordinated tri-Forest field monitoring effort. These CEs documented prescribed fire activities on the North Fork John Day Ranger District. Some concerns regarding the NEPA documentation for these projects were noted; however, the two projects reviewed appeared to meet all objectives.

Recommended Action:

Evaluate the need to issue a new Forest White Paper to re-initiate standard NEPA review and other procedures.

The Forest NEPA coordinator will develop guidance to determine if it is appropriate to document prescribed fire projects with a categorical exclusion. Guidelines for documenting multi-year projects will also be developed.

SPECIAL FOCUS ITEM (top)
Interagency Critique of the Design and Construction Process for the
Coalmine Hill Road Reconstruction Project

Background

During 1998, an interagency review was conducted of the Coalmine Hill road reconstruction project, on the Heppner Ranger District. The project was to reconstruct 2.92 miles of road from milepost 2.37 to 5.29 on County Road 603. Primary activities included widening the road and reducing the sharp curves on the relatively steep, northfacing grade. The project was initiated in 1988, with planning since 1993 and construction implementation in May 1998.

The project was a joint effort of the Federal Highways Administration (FHA) and Forest Service, Umatilla NF. The FHA wrote the NEPA documents, designed the road, and contracted for the construction work and the Forest provided specialist input to the project about objectives and resource concerns. Since the road parallels Willow Creek, major concerns were expressed about maintaining water quality (sedimentation and water temperature) and stream channel characteristics.

Monitoring Process

The critique was precipitated by the Heppner Ranger District employees who were concerned that project resource objectives were not being met. A joint agency review was planned with an intention of learning from the experience and implementing safeguards to ensure similar problems do not happen on future projects. During June 1998, Forest and FHA personnel reviewed the project on the ground several times. They tried to reconstruct past events that led to this current point and discussed possible mitigation ideas.

The review was to address several perceived problems and questions. Ranger District employees were concerned about results of the construction, as evidenced by fill placement, shifting the road location toward the creek in four places. Of particular concern were two sites which constrained the channel and floodplain and therefore affected the creek's sinuosity and velocity. Removing the timber along the creek, whether dead or live, affected shading and possibly water temperature of the creek. In addition, the risk of sediment input to the stream may have increased.

A second resource concern involved the placement of fill near the start of the project area, which covered about 1,000 feet of trail. The impact to the trail was greater than anticipated. The trail will need to be relocated/reconstructed.

The shift of the centerline and widening of curves toward the creek had other unanticipated outcomes. The District twice offered for sale the timber within initial clearing limits and hazard trees, however there were no bidders. Most of the timber was then transferred to FHA. When the design apparently changed toward the creek, a different set of timber was now within the clearing limits, thereby possibly changing timber volume and value. A key question to be addressed is "Was the timber accounted for properly?"

Both agencies had concerns about personnel turnover during the life of the project. The FHA had several environmental and design engineers on the project in addition to a contracted design consultant. For the Forest Service, the responsibility for reviewing plans or making agreements and negotiations with FHA was never clearly assigned (after a key employee retired). The fundamental question to be answered is, "Where did communications break down between the two agencies such that the Forest was 'surprised' to see the construction work being implemented as it was?"

Summary of Findings

Movement of the Road and Fill Placement toward the Creek:

The contractor is building the road exactly as it's presently drawn in the contract package. The final designs show the road being moved toward the creek and filling in the riparian area in spots. The National Forest fishery specialist report in 1994 shows a 50-foot buffer to be maintained on the creek, considered necessary by the Forest to be in compliance with the Umatilla Forest Plan. The buffer was captured in the design specifications.

The underlying finding was that the two agencies had a different "sensitivity" to the importance of the

50-foot buffer. The Forest Service viewed it as a requirement in order to remain in compliance with the Forest Plan and to be able to do a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). If it had been known earlier that this design criteria could not be met, the environmental analysis process (NEPA) may have been approached differently, or the costs of the project may have been sharply increased. FHA viewed this as a design objective, but did not recognize it as a serious "red flag."

The initial "plan-in-hand" project field review indicated that most of the attention was on discussing the cut slopes, not the fill slopes toward the creek. Cross sections were not closely examined. Lengthy discussions occurred about what to do with the large amount of waste material; a plan was devised to put a small amount of it on the 5350 road. However, the discussion never fully resolved the location of excess material and the FHA assumed at least some of it would be "redesigned" into the fill.

Loss of Shade and Effects to Water Quality:

Some shade was lost, which may affect water quality and stream temperature. This was not fully anticipated but became apparent when construction began. If the design and buffer differences had been fully understood, the nature of the project may have been changed from the beginning or a different disclosure of effects (NEPA) would have been done.

Trail Relocation/Reconstruction:

Although more of the trail was affected than originally anticipated, trail impacts are the most easily mitigated concern. A reimbursable agreement is being crafted to relocate the trail, with the Forest Service to perform the work.

Timber Accountability:

Scale tickets from truck loads of timber removed from the clearing limits indicate that the amount is an increase of approximately one-third over the estimated volume transferred to FHA. It is not possible at this point to determine whether the difference is due to the changed location, the difference in scaled volume versus cruised volume of standing timber, or simply due to sampling error. Although one might argue that the volumes from the two locations do not appear to be wildly dissimilar, estimating volumes for one set of trees and actually removing a different set of trees cannot be considered proper accountability.

Personnel Turnover/Communications:

Even with the number of design engineers used in the project, the objective of maintaining a stream buffer of 50 feet was captured throughout the process. The problem was not in the information being passed along, but in having a common understanding of the importance and sensitivity of the information.

An important finding for this concern area is that Forest Service responsibilities to check the plans and drawings were not well assigned and understood. If plans and drawings had been checked at the plan-in-hand review (or earlier), the problem may have been discovered sooner and action taken to adjust the road.

A major concern was centered on the breakdown in communications such that "surprises" happened and expectations were not met. Such a breakdown has potentially serious consequences for the agencies' credibility with each other and with our publics. The most revealing and significant lesson learned was that the two agencies have very different views of the NEPA process and requirements.

Recommended Actions:

Only a few "physical" actions need to be done at this point:

· Water quality monitoring being done on the site will eventually yield good information on sedimentation and temperature from a project of this scale.

· The field review led to several desirable mitigations to improve the situation by steepening the slopes at key locations and pulling the road away from the stream, allowing the floodplain to function more appropriately.

· As noted, a reimbursable agreement for the trail relocation is being prepared.

More time should be spent in educating each agency about Forest Plan "requirements" as compared to "objectives," and identifying design elements that would be "red flags" (i.e., those elements for which nonachievement changes the project scope, context, or intensity). The level of NEPA clearance, whether CE, EA, or EIS, is viewed very differently by the two agencies and should be closely examined on each project.

Continue monitoring projects of this type by personnel from the two agencies and continue to focus critique on lessons learned from the experience.

The following table provides a summary of selected Forest accomplishments and resource outputs for FY 98. Where possible, these are compared to Forest Plan estimates, but in many cases the unit of measure has changed since the Forest Plan was completed and direct comparison is no longer possible.

Table U-33
FOREST ACCOMPLISHMENTS - FY 98
Umatilla National Forest

Resource
Activity/Output
Unit Of
Measure

Forest Plan
Projection
(Avg/Year)

Actual FY 98
Forest
Output

% Actual To
Forest Plan

FIRE
Natural Fuel Treatment
Activity Fuel Treatment

Acres
Acres

3,400
5,800

17,500
1,000
1.9

514
17

FISH
Anadromous Stream Restored/Enhanced
Inland Stream Restored/Enhanced

Miles
Miles

Not Specified
Not Specified

41
8

NA
NA

RANGE
Permitted Grazing - Sheep & Goats
- Cattle & Horses
Non-structural Improvements
Structural Improvements
Noxious Weed Treatment
AUM

58,000
Not specified
Not specified
Not specified

50,400
2,325
44
1,020

87
NA
NA
NA

RECREATION
Trail Construction/Reconstruction
Developed Recreation Capacity

Miles
PAOTs

30
255,000

1
667,000

3
261

ROADS
Construction
Reconstruction
Obliteration

Miles
Miles
Miles

92
94
Not Specified

0
30.5
65

0
32
NA

THREATENED, ENDANGERED,
and SENSITIVE SPECIES
Aquatic Habitat Restored/Enhanced
Terrestrial Habitat Restored/Enhanced

Miles
Acres

Not Specified
Not Specified

1
30

NA
NA

TIMBER
Total Program Sale Quantity
Reforestation
Timber Stand Improvement

MMBF
Acres
Acres

159
7,500
2,900

62
5,767
4,865

39
77
168

WILDLIFE
Habitat Restored/Enhanced
Habitat Structures

Acres
Structures

10,000
75

3,332
195

33
260

WATER
Watershed Improvements
Acres

454

254

56

* Unit of measure changed between FY 90 Forest Plan and FY 98 Accomplishment Report.

FOREST PLAN AMENDMENTS

Only one nonsignificant Forest Plan Amendment was prepared on the Umatilla National Forest in FY 98.

Amendment Number Date Summary and Comments

21
6/1/98 Makes minor adjustments in management area designations within the Cliffhanger project area.

(top)

	WY 88	WY 89	WY 90	WY 91	WY 92	WY 93	WY 94	WY 95	WY 96	WY 97
Umatilla @ Corp	N/A	N/A	60	93	24	197	33	143	45	14*
North Fk. Umatilla	109	354	71	40	42	251	52	149	21	42*
South Fk. Umatilla	2.4	4.1	36	70	18	39	13	28	37*	12*

	Umatilla @ Corp			North Fork Umatilla			South Fork Umatilla
Water Year	# days	% load	Start Date	# days	% load	Start Date	# days	% load	Start Date
WY 88	6	28	3/27	5	14	4/21	9	21	4/12
WY 89	no	data for	peaks	9	26	4/19	11	21	4/13
WY 90	5	9	4/26	9	12	5/2	11	13	4/28
WY 91	8	41	5/17	10	4	5/17	11	55	5/17
WY 92	4	5	12/6	8	5	12/6	8	4	12/6
WY 93	11	20	5/3	11	46	4/29	11	10	4/29
WY 94	9	40	3/1	6	7	3/1	9	14	3/1
WY 95	13	27	1/31	10	50	5/11	9	28	1/31
WY 96	7	44	2/7	6	7	2/7	no	data for	peaks

Stream/ Site Name	Survey Years	WS Area (mi²)	Rosgen Stream Class	Change in Volume (yd^3/100 ft)	Change Area %	Gain or Loss
Umatilla UMA1 SFUMA3 SFUMA4 SFUMA6 NFUMA1 NFUMA2	96,97 96-98 96,97 96,98 96,98 96-98	91 46 44 24 31 30	F4 B4 B3^* B4 B3c F4	+80 -243 +15 +10 +14 -20	4 7 4 2 5 2	gain loss gain gain gain loss
Walla Walla SFWW3 SFWW4	96,97 96,97	49 41	B4c C3	+24 -44	2 2	gain loss
Mill MILL1 MILL2	96,98 96,98	33 25	B3 B3	+33 +1	1 4	gain gain
Touchet NFTCH1 NFTCH3	96-98 96,98	17 9	B4 ^B3*	-82 -6	6 2	loss loss
Tucannon TCNN1 TCNN3 TCNN4	96,97 96,98 96-98	93 79 66	B3c ^B3c* ^B4	+113 -75 -147	5 5 3	gain loss loss
Wenaha WNH2	96,97	190	B3	-37	3	loss

Stream/ Site Name	d16	d50	d84	% finer 2 mm	% finer 6 mm
UMA1 1996 1997	6 2	38 32	106 88	5 17	17 22
SFUMA3 1996 1997 1998	16 8 8	43 39 44	94 126 117	5 12 11	10 15 13
SFUMA4 1996 1997	18 18	41 80*	75 223	2 9	5 12
SFUMA6 1996 1998	28 20	89 60	225 220	0 1	1 3
NFUMA1 1996 1998	6 3	39 50	87 119	13 15	15 17
NFUMA2 1996 1997 1998	11 0.1 17	54 27 47	165 86 169	9 30 6	10 30 9
SFWW3 1996 1997	1 3	44 51	120 149	18 15	20 19
SFWW4 1996 1997	18 2	61 51	200 130	7 16	9 16
MILL1 1996 1998	22 25	65 88	163 256	2 2	2 3
MILL2 1996 1998	27 16	79 72	203 224	1 7	2 9
NFTCH1 1996 1997 1998	10 2 8	38 28 38	99 92 95	5 16 5	8 23 7
NFTCH3 1996 1998	18 10	66 51*	143 110	4 6	6 11
TCNN1 1996 1997	21 12	49 40	104 95	1 12	2 13
TCNN3 1996 1998	1 27	25 70*	70 125	18 3	25 3
TCNN4 1996 1997 1998	31 0.1 45	85 32 93	176 92 186	4 39 0	4 40 0

Station	Net Change Cross Section Area 1996-1998 (%)	Absolute Change Cross Section Area 1996-1998 (%)
Oriental 1 (lower)	2.1	12.6
Oriental 2(upper)	-40.1	40.2
Texas Bar 1 (lower)	7.1	24.8
Texas Bar 2 (upper)	-8.4	17.4

Station	d16 mm	d50 mm	d84 mm	% finer 2 mm	% finer 6 mm
Oriental 1 low intensity 1996 1997 1998	1.18 0.08 0.33	3.3 2.4 17.8	8 67 99	24 50 27	83 55 35
Oriental 2 high intensity 1996 1997 1998	0.72 0.06 0.30	1.9 0.4 32.0	6 158 98	51 66 30	83 70 37
Texas Bar 1 low intensity 1996 1997 1998	16.80 0.35 0.20	26.9 17.3 5.2	58 45 28	5 26 44	9 34 51
Texas Bar 2 high intensity 1996 1997 1998	0.34 0.11 0.21	1.5 2.6 7.2	31 24 58	52 48 38	58 58 48

Station	Number of Logs < 10'	Number of Logs 10-20'	Number of Logs >20'
Oriental 1 low intensity 1996 1997 1998	26 21 0	21 17 0	12 9 0
Oriental 2 high intensity 1996 1997 1998	30 21 2	15 12 3	13 16 2
Texas Bar 1 low intensity 1996 1997 1998	16 22 14	10 10 11	8 8 12
Texas Bar 2 high intensity 1996 1997 1998	38 31 25	18 18 16	12 12 12

1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	5 Year Average	Percentage of Forest Plan (Actual/Planned) 5-Year Average
2,301	3,132	4,127	2,769	4,841	3,434	+18%

	LIVE TREES/ACRE
	Pre Fire	Post Fire	% Change
1" + DBH	361.5	63.6	-82
10-20" DBH	26.1	14.3	-44
21+" DBH	5.0	2.7	-46
AVE. DBH
All Trees (quad. mean)	6.3	9.6	+52

	DEAD TREES/ACRE
	Pre Fire	Post Fire	% Change
10-20" DBH	13.6	20.9	+54
21"+ DBH	3.2	4.3	+34

	^{ALL TREES 1"+ DBH 1}
	Pre Fire	Post Fire	Actual % Change
Ponderosa pine	8	26	+213
Douglas-fir	7	13	+81
Grand fir	41	45	+12
Lodgepole pine	31	10	-67
Engelmann Spruce	6	+0	-91
Subalpine fir	5	1	-68
Western larch	2	3	+29

	ALL TREES 21"+ DBH 1
	Pre Fire	Post Fire	Actual % Change
Ponderous pine	44	57	+30
Douglas-fir	19	20	+3
Grand fir	19	14	-25
Engelmann Spruce	2	0	-100
Western larch	16	9	-41

	1998 Results		1997 Results
Total Traps	Total Moths Captured	Average Moths/Trap	Total Moths Captured	Average Moths/Trap
110	1,417	12.9	112	0.9

Year	# Wild Steelhead	Year	# Wild Steelhead
1987	376	1992	133
1988	418	1993	69
1989	255	1994	103
1990	333	1995	116
1991	168	1996	63

Year	North Fork Asotin Creek	South Fork Asotin Creek
1986	37.2	21.9
1987	25.6	10.3
1988	15.0	11.5
1989	5.2	3.2
1990	3.5	2.6
1991	5.4	0
1992	4.5	3.3
1993	5.4	7.1
1994	5.5	2.4
1995	11.0	4.5
1996	8.9	9.3
1997	no data	no data

	Year	No. of Redds	No. of Carcasses	No. of Live Fish
ODFW MEASUREMENTS
S. Fork Wenaha River (above Milk Cr. to Forks)	1994 1995 1996 1997 1998	12 2 28 35 24	0 0 3 9 11	2 1 16 11 13
Wenaha River (Forks to Crooked Creek)	1994 1995 1996 1997 1998	30 18 69 33 38	5 3 11 27 12	18 10 54 18 31
Milk Creek (tributary of Wenaha River	1994 1995 1996 1997 1998	0 0 0 0 0	0 0 0 0 0	0 0 0 0 0
Butte Creek (tributary to Wenaha River)	1994 1995 1996 1997 1998	0 1 5 4 3	0 0 1 1 0	0 0 3 0 0
USFS MEASUREMENTS (North Fork John Day Ranger District)
Camas Creek	1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998	0 2 5 0 0 - -	0 1 1 0 0 - -	0 0 3 0 0 - -
Hidaway Creek	1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998	0 0 0 0 0 - -	0 0 0 0 0 - -	0 0 0 0 0 - -
N. Fork John Day River	1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998	5 21 2 1 5 - -	4 4 9 0 7 - -	0 5 0 10 0 - -

Index Reach	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Clear Creek	11.7	25.6	4.0	2.8	9.5	7.3	2.8
Granite Creek	16.5	19.8	14.5	2.2	14.7	10.0	8.4
N.Fork John Day (wilderness)	28.1	27.3	15.6	2.5	20.6	18.1	9.3
N.Fork John Day (lower)	11.4	16.1	7.6	0.7	12.6	5.2	3.5

Year	84	85	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96	97
Redds	21	8	1	3	1	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Live Fish	12	7	3	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Carcasses	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0

		Total Bull Trout Redd Count
Subwatersheds	Miles Surveyed	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Tucannon	8.5	131	114	184	78	108
Lookingglass Creek	12.3	15	16	29	39	62
Touchet	8.2	86	27*	64	41*	95
Mill Creek	15.7	191	165	134	118	137

S.F. Walla Walla	21.5	143	114	177	180	276
Umatilla	18.7	39	22	37	32	84
TOTAL	84.9	605	458	625	488	762

Stream	Reach	1996	1997	1998
Texas Bar	Treatment #1 Treatment #2	No Fish No Fish	3 (0) 2 (0)	20.5 (2.2 36 (1.4)
South Fork Cable	Treatment #1 Treatment #2	31.7 (2) No Fish	96.4 (4.1) 96.9 (4.1)	59.5 (7.0)* 103.2 (3.7)
Oriental	Treatment #2	No Fish	5.3 (1.0)	--
Texas Bar	Control #1 Control #2	76.5 (4.2) 128.2 (9.7)	136.9 (5.3) 150.2 (6.5)	112.5 (3.3) 170.7 (6.1)
Hidaway	Control #2 (50m)	84.3 (6.6)	47.6 (1.0)	107.4 (5.5)
Oriental	Control #1 Control #2	77.8 (7.9) 94.3 (6.3)	67.8 (3.7) 50.7 (2.7)	2 (0) 1 (0)
Frazier	Control	--	--	55.7 (1.2)
Battle	Control	--	--	63.0 (5.6)
Sponge	Control	--	--	28.8 (1.3)

Management Units	Population Tends				Bulls Per 100 Cows				Calves Per 100 Cows
Washington*	Mgmt. Object.	1998	1997	1996	Mgmt. Object.	1998	1997	1996	1998	1997	1996
"North" Umatilla NF Mill Creek Dayton Tucannon Wenaha Lick Cr. Mt. View	400 800 1,200 1,200 1,000 1,100	738 908 448 600 684 478	375 719 376 600 600 475	375 725 410 700 650 520	15 15 15 15 15 15	22 15 8 33 6 12	26 9 13 19 5 14	19 13 12 27 6 25	21 19 26 11 18 27	24 25 23 13 23 27	13 18 18 6 14 21
Subtotal	5,700	3,856	3,145	3,380	@15	@17	@14	@17	@18	@23	@15

Oregon**	Mgmt. Object.	1998	1997	1996	Mgmt. Object.	1998	1997	1996	1998	1997	1996
"North" Umatilla NF Wenaha Walla Walla Mt. Emily	4,250 1,800 5,700	1,300 1,600 6,000	1,500 1,600 6,300	1,700 1,900 6,000	10 10 10	16 17 5	12 11 6	14 14 6	16 22 27	14 20 27	14 21 17
Subtotal	11,750	8,900	9,400	9,600	@10	@13	@10	@11	@22	@20	@17
"South" Umatilla NF Ukiah Desolation Heppner Fossil	5,000 1,300 2,800 700	6,000 1,500 3,100 1,100	5,500 1,600 3,300 900	5,500 1,400 2,900 800	10 10 10 10	10 12 7 9	6 10 5 4	8 10 6 12	27 31 37 39	36 52 43 52	25 27 43 53
*Subtotal*	9,800	11,700	11,300	10,600	@10	@10	@6	@9	@34	@46	@37
*Forest Total*	*27,250*	*24,456*	*23,845*	*23,580*	*@12*	*@13*	*@11*	*@11*	*@25*	*@29*	*@22*

Management Units	Population Tends				Bucks Per 100 Does				Fawns Per 100 Does
Washington *	Mgmt. Object.	1998	1997	1996	Mgmt. Object.	1998	1997	1996	1998	1997	1996
"North" Umatilla NF Mill Creek Dayton Tucannon Wenaha Lick Cr. Mt. View	- - - - - -	50 475 125 60 50 65	65 945 250 190 95 125	95 755 250 220 95 190	16 16 16 16 16 16	- - - - - -	20 15 10 10 20 10	- 16 10 7 16 14	- - - - - -	40 70 70 39 66 65	- 38 50 65 30 27
*Subtotal*	2,100	825	1,670	1,605	16	-	@14	@13	-	@58	@42
Oregon**	Mgmt. Object.	1998	1997	1996	Mgmt. Object.	1998	1997	1996	1998	1997	1996
"North" Umatilla NF Wenaha Walla Walla Mt. Emily	1,100 650 1,950	770 390 1,560	715 420 1,560	715 420 1,560	12 15 15	9 10 19	10 6 14	11 11 17	48 51 47	64 52 66	39 72 63
Subtotal	3,700	2,720	2,695	2,695	@14	@13	@10	@13	@49	@61	@58
"South" Umatilla NF Ukiah Desolation Heppner Fossil	2,450 2,200 4,350 2,000	2,330 1,650 4,785 1,900	2,330 1,500 5,090 1,860	2,205 1,320 4,350 1,800	15 15 12 12	18 11 14 12	22 21 13 13	24 32 12 11	38 33 58 50	49 73 65 79	52 37 49 44
Subtotal	11,000	6,665	9,860	9,675	@14	@13	@17	@20	@45	@67	@46
*Forest Total*	*16,800*	*10,210*	*14,225*	*13,975*	*@15*	*@13*	*@14*	*@15*	*@46*	*@61*	*@47*

DEAD STANDING TREE INVENTORY
Management Activity	Guidelines*		Pre-Treatment		Post-Treatment		Down Wood Inventory**
Management Activity	Total	>20" DBH	Total	>20" DBH	Total	>20" DBH	Pre-Treatment	Post-Treatment
Timber Harvest ***
Swampy Salvage 03	1.8	.14	8.3	1.7	17.6	3.7	N/D	11.4
Swampy Salvage 04	1.8	.14	7.4	0.9	13.0	1.0	N/D	20.6
Swampy Salvage 05	1.8	.14	4.4	0.6	20.9	4.5	N/D	18.4
Swampy Salvage 06	1.8	.14	25.3	0.9	49.5	0.0	N/D	32.5
Summer Home Salvage	1.8	.14	4.8	1.8	5.1	1.8	N/D	18.0
Prescribed Burn
West Patit 01	1.8	.14	18	N/D	13	N/D	38	25
West Patit 04	1.8	.14	16	N/D	9	N/D	30	17
West Patit 10	1.8	.14	10	N/D	7	N/D	29	16
West Patit 17	1.8	.14	9	N/D	3	N/D	20	7
West Patit 18	1.8	.14	5	N/D	1	N/D	11	13
Fuelwood Harvest (1yr)
Jarboe/Walla Walla #3	1.8	.14	39.8	19.0	32.2	5.6	85	84

Site or Area	Heppner	North Fork John Day	Pomeroy	Walla Walla	Forest Total
General Forest	134,820	231,236	281,345	99,327	746,628
Wilderness		18,644	10,546	3,567	32,757
W&S River S.A.		36,971	15,870	8,889	61,730
Trailhead	1,760	15,250	35,301	2,908	55,219
Subtotal Undeveloped	136,580	302,101	342,962	114,691	896,334
Campgrounds	12,195	29,211	27,755	26,360	95,521
Rec. Residences		2,862	15,651	2,128	20,641
Ski Areas				28,286	28,286
Cabin Rental	172		1,196	122	1,490
Interpretive Site	300	500	255	330	1,385
Subtotal Developed Sites	12,667	32,573	44,857	57,226	147,323
Total RVD	149,247	334,674	387,819	171,917	1,043,657

Year	Number	MMBF
1989	4,794	12.4
1990	3,871	8.0
1991	3,792	8.7
1992	2,838	6.8
1993	3,786	9.5
1994	2,373	5.5
1995	3,214	9.2
1996	2,115	5.9
1997	2,724	5.2
1998	2,308	4.0

Road System	Maintenance Level	1996 Miles	1997 Miles	1998 Miles
Closed Road	1	2,643	2,364	2,299
High Clearance	2	1,733	1,960	1,960
Passenger Car	3	491	498	498
Passenger Car	4	177	177	177
Passenger Car	5	147	78	78
Total Open		2,479	2,713	2,713
Total Road		5,122	5,120	5,012

Closure Type	No. of Violations	Miles of Road Violated	Percent of Violations
Earth Barricades	12	10	29
Gates	1	5	2
Guardrails	2	10	5
Signs	26	12	63

Fire Cause	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Human Caused: Total Number of Fires Total Acres Burned	52 29	53 156	71 635	45 153	16 7	32 8,289	45 3,281	31 226
Lightning-Caused Total Number of Fires Total Acres Burned	93 49	37 278	20 3	201 5,637	82 131	97 64,228	70 37	87 195
Forest Totals: Number of Fires Acres Burned	145 78	190 435	91 638	246 5,793	98 138	129 72,517	115 3,318	118 421