What is the Watershed Assessment

Clavey River EXECUTIVE SUMMARY WAT E R S H E D ASSESSMENT MARCH 2008 BECOME INVOLVED! Summer 2008 community participation opportunities include: assisting the Forest Service, CREP, and researchers with pilot watershed restoration projects assisting with public outreach campaigns such as watershed visitor surveys assisting with grant-writing or technical analysis to help move projects forward attending workshops to create the Clavey River Watershed Action Plan providing feedback on draft versions of the Watershed Action Plan For more information: Log onto www.claveyriver.net -orContact the Tuolumne River Trust at staff@tuolumne.org or (209) 588-8636. What is the Watershed Assessment? he Clavey River Watershed Assessment (CRWA) represents years of dedicated work by the Clavey River Ecosystem Project Steering Committee (CREP) and the Tuolumne River Trust. Their efforts were supported by field studies and analyses conducted by the Forest Service and UC Davis. The CREP Science Review Team (agency representatives and experts) provided scientific review of the study components of the planning process. Community outreach and participation has also been an important element of the CREP planning process, ensuring that decision making was informed and supported by the public and reflects local knowledge and desires for the future of the Clavey River Watershed. The CRWA describes the aquatic, terrestrial and socioeconomic existing conditions in the Clavey River Watershed and compares these existing conditions to those that are desired. Based upon this comparison, the CRWA then identifies a series of management opportunities, recommended actions, and projects that will move the watershed towards the desired conditions. Desired conditions were developed in response to the goals that are inherent within the T Watershed Vision. Existing conditions are snapshots in time that reflect the extent of current knowledge and data about the Clavey River Watershed. The Clavey River Watershed is a dynamic ecosystem and it is acknowledged that existing conditions in the Clavey River Watershed may change over time, from a combination of ecosystem management activities, natural ecosystem processes, climate change, changes in levels and types Tina Stott of commodity production, and changes in desires for recreational opportunities. Conflicts were identified and resolved throughout the watershed assessment process. In some instances, the specificity of data or state of current science is not at a scale or standard necessary to adequately identify the conflict or find resolution. Resolution to these conflicts may need to be sought in the future. Yuba Nevada Placer El Dorado NF El Dorado 50 A Brief History of the Clavey River Watershed Alpine 05 99 Toiyabe NF Sacramento Amador Clavey Watershed Calaveras Stanislaus NF Mono Tuolumne San Joaquin 205 T 120 Yosemite NP Inyo NF Mariposa he Clavey River Watershed and surrounding environments have long been used by human inhabitants of the region for production of food and timber. Prior to California’s statehood, the watershed was home to members of Miwok tribes. MeWuk tribal members resided throughout the Central Sierra foothills until the 1850s. With the discovery of gold in California, the Central Sierra foothills and mountains were inundated with miners and the region’s native residents were moved to rancherias in Fresno or elsewhere in the foothill region. Although there are still Miwok tribal members residing in the area, the gold rush era was a time of significant population loss, with post-contact populations estimated at 10% of their precontact figures. During the 1890s, the upper Clavey River Watershed was used for summer grazing by William Clavey. The river was named for a Clavey family member. The river had previously been known as Trout Creek and was not referred to as the Clavey River until the turn of the 20th century. Also at the turn of the century, the West Side Logging Company established logging operations in the Clavey River Watershed. Two hundred fifty miles of track were laid to transport timber to markets in Tuolumne City and beyond. Movement of timber by railway in the Clavey River Watershed continued until 1959, when railway operations ceased and timber movement by truck was introduced. This cessation of activity occurred after numerous land swaps with the federal government, that resulted, in part, in the pattern of landownership seen today. In the early 1970s, an effort was made to run tourist trains on the old railway right-of-way. However, the efforts were short-lived and there is currently no heritage tourism activity related to the rail system. In recent years, the Clavey River Watershed was the subject of a proposal for hydroelectric power generation on the river. However, the proposal was eventually unsuccessful and the Clavey River has remained a location primarily for recreation, limited grazing, and timber production operations. Note: Chapter 6 of the CWRA at www.claveyriver.org is a more detailed and extensive history of human activity in the Clavey River Watershed. How is the Clavey River Watershed managed? The Clavey River Watershed is located entirely within the boundaries of the Stanislaus National Forest. Approximately 8% of the land in the watershed is privately owned and is governed by land management policies contained in the Tuolumne County General Plan. The publiclyowned land is managed by the Forest Service in accordance with the Stanislaus National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan as amended and presented in the July 2005 Stanislaus National Forest Plan Direction. The July 2005 Forest Plan Direction includes Management Direction, a hierarchy of Forest Goals, Management Goals and Strategies, Forest Objectives, Management Practices, Forestwide Standards and Guidelines, and specific Management Area and Land Allocation direction. In recent years, Management Goals and Strategies have focused specifically on the following five problem areas: 1) old forest ecosystems and associated species, 2) aquatic, riparian, and meadow ecosystems and associated species, 3) fire and fuels management, 4) noxious weeds, and 5) lower westside hardwood ecosystems. 2 C L AV E Y R I V E R WAT E R S H E D A S S E S S M E N T produced by ® Charles Little A Clavey River meadow in summer bloom Spotlight on existing conditions in the Clavey River Watershed he CRWA provided a venue for investigating broad assumptions about the health of the Clavey River Watershed. The CRWA now contains the most current information on aquatic, terrestrial, and socioeconomic existing conditions in the watershed - overall and within specific sub-watersheds. Key patterns in existing conditions include: Departure from historic fire regimes. Due to fire suppression activities, almost all forested portions of the Clavey River Watershed were found to have not experienced the historicallyoccurring and necessary forest fires to clear out brushy undergrowth, create species diversity, and reduce competition for water and nutrients. Additionally, as fuel T loads have accumulated, risks of insect infestations and catastrophic stand-replacing fire were found to have increased. Provision of important habitat for sensitive species. The Clavey River Watershed provides a repository of important habitat for sensitive species. While in danger from forest fire and encroachment by visitors, it was found that some of this habitat remains intact relative to other portions of the Sierra Nevada. Presence of healthy streams and sensitive aquatic features. Surveyed streams and sensitive aquatic features were found in overall good condition, but some degradation was found and is of concern. Increased and diversified recreational activities. While the number of visitors to the Clavey River Watershed has appeared to increase, the number of safety and ecosystem health violations associated with recreational activities has not. Projected continued increases in recreational activity could cause visitor conflicts and degrade areas of concentrated use. Active Forest Service management. Funding and man-power shortages limit the Forest Service’s ability to plan and undertake some crucial watershed management projects, but the Forest Service is considered an active partner and deserves commendation for its remarkable resourcefulness regarding the protection of watershed health. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | MARCH 2008 3 Why is the Clavey River y Watershed special? T The Clavey Riv r watershed orig nates with Lily Creek Clav y iver atersh d rigi a v s i Cree e a and Bell C eek (headwaters of the Cl y River) in the e Cre k (headw ead s the Clavey n he Emig n Emigrant ldernes with n he Emigrant Wilderness within the Stanislaus National Forest. igra dern s thin orest r s A pro i atel 100,37 acre o an drain into a e River Approximately 100,370 acres of land drain in Clavey Rive oxim tely ox l 370 cres 7 Rive before it flows into the Tuolumne River. One of the jewels of ows t Tuol mne er ne o er. h e es the waters ters rshed is the Clavey River it . At forty seven miles he l ve Rive itself. ver e fort eve mile rty les in length, the Clavey River is one of th few remaining freen h, h, th Rive River the f emainin free n e fl flowing streams in th Sierra Neva a, running from 9,200 g the Sier a Nev r evad un i g rom 9,20 unni 0 feet fee to 1,200 feet in elevation. Due to its high biological t e on Du ts ig biological igh ogical g value, va e, the Clavey River is protected as a Wild Trout Stream v R r tecte as Wild Tro ected rea and is recommended for Wild and Scenic River designation. d c e an S e ive iv sign tion nati na n The land surrounding the Clavey River is as unique h u n g he a e Rive is ver u ue e a he i r s l as the river itself. In addition to supporting thousands of d o ting usand f nds acres of mature forest that are home to spotted owls and cres t r f rest h e o t d d othe pe ies, h other species, the Clavey River watershed contains four avey o tain ou ns our of the five western Sierra Nevada life zones (sub-alpine, the five s n e a s (sub a p ne u uppe m t upp r montane, lower mon n , and foothill), and the p w ontane an foo hill), nd the nd foot he largest stand of quaking aspen in southern Sierra (125 acres argest and f uaking spen s uthern er (125 cr h at Bell Meadow). e d w). Together, the Clavey River and its watershed offer ogether th Clav y River nd eh av v water hed ffer at extraordinary recreational opportunities, from relative a dinar re at onal p o tunit es f o nar rec n e tv remo n s nd ol t d o ct h k g fishing w mming, re rem teness and solitude to active hiking, fishing, swimming, olit in tra r trail riding, and other activities. g an the activ tie ct es 4 C L AV E Y R I V E R WAT E R S H E D A S S E S S M E N T Achieving the Clavey River Watershed Vision From top: Resource specialists and volunteers in action along a creek; Fall aspens dazzle us all; The Clavey River Canyon Charles Little Charles Little Paul Menard T he CRWA contains over 100 recommended actions to achieve the Clavey River Watershed Vision! Many recommended actions are currently being addressed by the Forest Service via their Ranger District work plans; CREP has included these recommended actions to demonstrate support. Recommended actions are those specific ecosystem management activities that would result in: Moving existing conditions towards desired conditions in specific locations and in the Clavey River Watershed overall, Collecting the information necessary to document and monitor overall changes in existing conditions, evaluate the effectiveness of project implementation, and understand emerging threats to desired conditions, and Maintaining desired conditions when they are either currently existing or are to be achieved in the future. As examples, recommended actions could include: The undertaking of specific data collection efforts in order to understand existing conditions and develop a management plan for a watershed resource (e.g., collecting data on the condition of roads and trails in the Clavey River Watershed), The development of an ongoing monitoring protocol to provide the data needed to support adaptive management decisions (e.g., the monitoring of the locations and population age classes of native amphibians, the monitoring of aspen health), The implementation of specific projects that immediately address an ecosystem impact (e.g., the removal of a patch of invasive plant species), The implementation of specific projects that would result in the generation of less ecosystem impacts in the future (e.g., the development of a visitor brochure that emphasizes leaveno-trace recreation activities), The pursuit of specific strategies to address an ecosystem impact (e.g., the issuance of citations for riding OHVs off of permissible roads and trails, the installation of signage that specifies where camping is not permissible), and The pursuit of specific partnership and collaborative activities that provide additional manpower and funding needed to do ecosystem management activities (e.g., pursuit of volunteer partnerships). Please refer to the CRWA at www.claveyriver.net for more details on recommended actions. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | MARCH 2008 5 Example Recommended Actions Establish the Clavey River Watershed as a separate statistical unit for Forest Service activities and advocate that the Forest Service collect, maintain, and summarize Clavey River Watershed statistics in a single location that is accessible to the public. Evaluate USFS staffing levels on the Clavey River Watershed to ensure that staffing is adequate to meet resource, interpretive, and enforcement needs. Encourage natural resource research in the Clavey River Watershed to strengthen use of the Clavey as a reference watershed and natural laboratory Remove conifers in aspen stands where conifer encroachment is presenting risks to the stands. Charles Little Manage forest stands to increase large tree presence and decrease white fir abundance in Jeffrey pine, ponderosa pine, and Sierran mixed conifer forest types where forested vegetation has moved away from historic conditions. Reduce fire hazards throughout the watershed by reducing fuel loadings while protecting existing and potential habitat. Work collaboratively with Native American community and the Forest Service to develop a Traditionally-Used Plant Population Management Plan that outlines the management of plant populations according to traditional methods, including selective harvest and prescribed fire. Undertake projects to control noxious weeds and undesirable invasive plants. Stabilize and restore streams that have unstable banks and/ or altered channel forms. Research interactions between road and trail use and sensitive ecological resources. Undertake projects to minimize road erosion and ensure all roads and trails are in good condition. Improve the condition and/or relocate developed campsites as appropriate, including the Hull Creek Campground. In collaboration with the Forest Service, develop a Volunteer Strategy for the Clavey River Watershed. Increase educational opportunities for visitors. Identify and evaluate opportunities for the collection and sale of traditional and nontraditional forest products (including biomass and small wood harvest) in order to increase revenue from forest products and provide resource benefits. Cyclists at Gianelli Cabin Trailhead Restore several meadows which are in fair to poor condition. Manage portions of the watershed to increase populations of threatened, endangered and sensitive species. Increase snag densities to meet wildlife needs where appropriate. 6 C L AV E Y R I V E R WAT E R S H E D A S S E S S M E N T W What’s next? Summer 2008 This summer, volunteers with the Tuolumne River Trust, a CREP-partner, will spearhead early implementation of a few watershed restoration projects— the rehabilitation of a ¼ mile of a trail in Bell Meadows, erosion and soil loss prevention in Bell Creek, and the creation of interpretative signs at Bell Meadow trailhead and Bourland Trestle. Summer 2008 Also this summer, at a community meeting, CREP and the wider community will develop an action plan for the ith the stage set by the Clavey River Watershed Assessment (CRWA), it is time for exciting on-the-ground work! The recent award of a two-year CALFED BayDelta grant means the Clavey River Ecosystem Project will move into its next phase. Spring 2008 When the snow melts, CREP and its partners will continue ongoing noxious weed removal, trail repair, stream-bank stabilization, conifer removal from aspen stands, fish surveys, and resource monitoring. Clavey River Watershed. With over 100 recommended actions contained within the CRWA, the action plan will provide the framework for expediting the highest priority watershed projects by refining funding estimates, undertaking project feasibility and design studies, identifying permitting requirements, creating funding opportunities, and implementation partners. Community participation opportunities will also be a central component of the action plan. Clavey River Ecosystem Project: What is CREP? The Clavey River Ecosystem Project (CREP) is a culmination of many years of public interest in and some disagreement over the management, use, and protection of the resources of the Clavey River and its watershed. Turlock Irrigation District’s (TID) early-1990s application for a dam and water development also focused attention on the Clavey River. At around the same time, the Stanislaus National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan of 1991 found the Clavey River to have enough unique values to make it eligible, but unsuitable for Wild and Scenic designation. After TID withdrew its dam application, the USDA Forest Service found the Clavey suitable for Wild and Scenic designation and recommended that Congress designate the river in 1996. The initial group of volunteers who later formed CREP began meeting in 1999. In 2000, CREP was chosen as a pilot project to receive technical assistance under a post-Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project Technical Assistance Project of the California State Resources Agency. In 2005, the Tuolumne River Trust, on behalf of CREP, received a grant from the CALFED Bay-Delta Program to produce a Clavey River Watershed Assessment based on the guidance contained in the Forest Service document Sustaining Ecosystems: A Conceptual Approach. The CREP Steering Committee involves a diverse array of individual stakeholders in the Clavey River Watershed. Participants include members of the Tuolumne River Trust, the Clavey River Preservation Coalition, a representative of Turlock Irrigation District, Sierra Forest Legacy, the Blue Ribbon Coalition (representing off-highway vehicle users), and other entities. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | MARCH 2008 7 Charles Little What is a watershed? A watershed is the entire upland geographic area from which surface and groundwater drains into a common location, such as a stream. The Clavey River Watershed has nested within it many smaller subwatersheds like Trout Creek and Bourland Creek. The Clavey River watershed is then a part of the larger Tuolumne River Watershed, which in turn is part of the larger San Francisco Bay-Delta Watershed. 2005 - 2007 2007 2008 2008 - 2009 Where are we now? Where do we want to go? How do we get there? Hooray! THE CLAVEY RIVER ECOSYSTEM PROJECT Watershed Assessment & Planning Process ASSESS EXISTING CONDITIONS IDENTIFY DESIRED CONDITIONS & COMPLETE CRWA We a er re h e! ADOPT FINAL PLAN and BEGIN ONTHE-GROUND PROJECTS! DEVELOP ACTION PLAN PO BOX 933 SONORA CA 95370