Desolation Creek Forest Management Plan FSC Update.pdf

Desolation Creek

Land Management Plan

June 2015 (Updated July 2020)

Ownership Summary Information

Date: June 2015

Legal Description: Sections 7,8, 15-18, 20-23, 25-28, 33-36 Township 7 South, Range

32 East, Sections 1-4, 10-12 Township 8 South, Range 32 East, Section 6 Township 8 South, Range 33 East.

Grant County, Oregon

Total Acreage: 13,440 acres

Fire Protection Entity: Oregon Department of Forestry- Central Oregon

District MA-1

Topography/Elevation: Mostly gradually sloping with steep terrain along parts of

Desolation Creek, elevation range from 3,050 to 5,100 feet

Geology & Soils: Landslide and debris flow deposits from volcanics. Soils dominated by ashy & silty loams and gravel/cobble clay loams underlain by basalt and andesite.

Water Resources: Desolation Creek, Kelsay, Moonshine, Park, Spring, Starveout

Creeks, and numerous seasonal and spring-fed perennial creeks.

ODF stream classes include one large (Desolation Creek), one medium (Kelsay Creek) and 39 small creeks, totaling 51 miles.

Numerous springs (19 mapped) and wet meadows (174 acres of

& 91 polygons per National Wetland Inventory).

Vegetation Types: - Ponderosa Pine Savanna & Woodland (2,280 acres)

- Ponderosa Pine & Douglas-fir Woodland (2,632 acres)

- Ponderosa Pine & Mixed Conifer Woodland (2,746 acre

- Mixed Conifer Forest (4,726 acres)

- Meadows/Grasslands (545 acres)

- Riparian (conifer, hardwood, and open) (499 acres)

Range: -Three grazing allotments

HCVF/RSA: High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) along Desolation and fish bearing tributaries. Aspen groves and wet meadows are

Representative Sample Areas (RSA)

Known Rare Plants: None, at least 10 potentially occurring

At-Risk Fish & Wildlife 15 bird, 14 mammal, 2

Species: amphibian, and 4 fish species

Road System: 98 miles of mapped road, additional unmapped spurs and skid trails. Mainline roads in good condition.

Recreation: Dispersed camping, hunting, fishing.

Management Challenges: Forest: Overstocked stands (55% of forest not in desired trajectory condition due to high densities mostly of lodgepole pine). Crown fire and high severity effects are likely over large areas of ownership with wildfire.

Management Challenges: Range: Overuse of wet meadows, underutilization of upland

(Cont.) range. Need for cross fencing.

Noxious Weeds: Eight state weed list species present.

Houndstongue is main current threat.

Riparian: Degraded riparian conditions (simplified channel structure, lack of desired vegetation) on Desolation Creek and tributaries. Lack of desired vegetation and impacts to water quality at springs due to overuse by livestock.

Wildlife: Current habitats degraded and unsuitable for most at-risk species. Strong potential for increased use with restoration.

Roads & Recreation: Unregulated use has impacted some roads

(causing rutting, widening, and erosion) and riparian areas, and presents increased fire hazard. ATV use has had significant impact on the property more generally, particularly impacting wetter and more fragile sites.

Management Strategies: Forest: Active restoration approach required including high priority treatments of 5,479 acres of mechanized thinning, and mastication or hand thinning and pile burning on 1,402 acres of shaded fuel break. Treatments are designed to modify stands toward DVC (large tree structure, early seral dominance, high quality dead wood) with reduced high severity fire, insect and disease potential.

Range: Develop and implement holistic grazing system to improve rangeland productivity, reduce noxious weeds, and improve grazing potential for livestock and wildlife.

Noxious Weeds: Prevent further spread of noxious and targeted invasive weeds (including houndstongue) by restricting practices that facilitate propagation throughout the property.

Riparian: Assess, develop, and implement plan to restore structure and function of Desolation Creek and key tributaries.

Enhance other stream and wet meadows by developing alternative livestock water sources and fencing sensitive areas including remnant aspen groves.

Roads & Recreation: Reduce visitor use impacts and enhance visitor experience by closing non-essential roads, reducing campsites, and enforcing fire season regulations, while improving some campsites and establishing walking and biking trails. Replace/install sediment delivery culverts as needed to improve fish passage and reduce to creeks.

Prepared By:

Darin Stringer

Pacific Stewardship LLC.

2207 NW Panama Street

Bend, Oregon 97701

Phone: (541) 517-3875 www.pacificstewardship.com darin@pacificstewardship.com

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE AND NEED

PLAN STRUCTURE

LOCATION, LANDSCAPE, AND ACCESS

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

OWNERSHIP HISTORY AND USE

CLIMATE

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

DESIRED VEGETATION CONDITIONS

RESOURCE ASSESSMENT

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Topography and Soils

WATER RESOURCES

VEGETATION

Major Vegetation Types

Management Induced Vegetation Change

Consistency with Desired Vegetation & Trajectory Conditions

Dead Wood

Disturbance Regimes

Rare and Listed Plants

Noxious and Invasive Weeds

FISH AND WILDLIFE

Classified and Oregon Conservation Strategy Fish and Wildlife Species

DEVELOPMENT

Roads, Trails, Fences, Campgrounds

Water Sources for Fire Control

Structures and Utilities

Range

Cultural Resources

Recreation

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND IMPLEMENTATION

STRATEGIES

Range Resource Improvement (Goal 1,4,7,8,9)

Riparian Resource Improvement (Goal 1,5 & 8,9)

Forest Resource Improvement (Goal 1,6,9)

Road Improvement (Goal 10)

Recreation (Goal 11)

Fire Risk Reduction (Goal 6,11)

IMPLEMENTATION

MONITORING

APPENDICES

A- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

B- LITERATURE CITED

C- FOREST STRUCTURAL STAGE TYPES

D- RARE PLANTS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY OCCUR ON THE OWNERSHIP (TABLE 14)

E- HIGH PRIORITY SILVICULTURAL TREATMENTS

F- SILVICULTURAL PRESCRIPTIONS (TABLE 25)

G- WILDLIFE HABITAT ELEMENTS AND TARGETS (TABLE 26)

TABLES

Table 1. Goals and Objectives

Table 2. DVC Type: Ponderosa Pine Woodland (OFSS & OFSSO)

Table 3. DVC Type: Douglas-fir & Ponderosa Pine Woodland (OFSS)

Table 4. DVC Type: Mixed Conifer Forest (OFSS/MS)

Table 5. DVC Type: Riparian Hardwood and Upland Shrublands

Table 6. DVC Type: Wet Meadows and Upland Grasslands/Scab flats

Table 7. Major Soil Complexes on the ownership

Table 8. Topography/Soils Limiting Factors/Issues

Table 9. Creeks on the ownership

Table 10. Water Resources Limiting Factors/Issues

Table 11. Major Vegetation Types on the Ownership

Table 12. Vegetation Types Limiting Factors/Issues

Table 13. Disturbance Regimes Limiting Factors/Issues

Table 14. Rare Plants Potentially on the Ownership (Appendix D)

Table 15. Rare Plants Limiting Factors/Issues

Table 16. Noxious Weeds on the Ownership

Table 17. State/Federal/Oregon Conservation Fish and Wildlife Species

Table 18. Fish & Wildlife Limiting Factors/Issues

Table 19. Development Limiting Factors/Issues

Table 20. Range Limiting Factors/Issues

Table 21. Cultural Resources Limiting Factors/Issues

Table 22. Recreation Limiting Factors/Issues

Table 23. Management Strategies

Table 24. Silvicultural Treatments

Table 25.Silvicultural Prescriptions (Appendix F)

Table 26. Wildlife Habitat Elements and Targets (Appendix G)

Table 27. Strategy Actions

Table 28. Monitoring Approaches for the Ownership

MAPS

Map 1. Desolation Creek Ownership and Landscape

Map 2. Desired Vegetation Conditions

Map 3. Topography

Map 4. Soils

Map 5. Water

Map 6. Major Vegetation Types

Map 7. Forest Structural Stage Types (Appendix C)

Map 8. 1940 Vegetation Structural Types 1940

Map 9. Vegetation Consistency with Desired Trajectory Conditions

Map 10. Roads

Map 11. Management Opportunities

Map 12. High Priority Silvicultural Treatments 2015 (Appendix E)

Desolation Creek Land Management Plan

Introduction

Purpose and Need

The Desolation Creek ownership (referred as ownership) is a 13,440 acre tract in

North-Central Grant County, of Northeast Oregon. The ownership, purchased by

Desolation Creek LLC in 2014 and managed by Ecotrust Forest Management

(EFM) contains a diverse mix of forests and riparian habitats and is utilized both for timber and grazing. It also provides abundant wildlife habitat and recreation values. Forests throughout the Blue Mountains face challenges resulting from past timber harvests, fire suppression, and overgrazing. Well-planned stewardship of these lands is critical to the long-term sustainability of these resources and improvement of property values. Climate change adds an additional impetus for sound decision making in this ecologically complex landscape. This management plan provides a coordinated strategy towards these outcomes while meeting requirements for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.

Specifically, this document was created to assess ownership resources, identify information gaps, key issues, and opportunities and to develop a coordinated action plan based on well-defined and achievable objectives.

Plan Structure

This plan is organized into two main sections. The first assesses the current condition of natural resources, roads and human uses. As over 95% of the ownership is in forest, this assessment concentrates mainly on this resource, examining forest structure, composition, function, and disturbance processes

(insects, disease, fire). The condition of natural resources including soils, water, rare plants, noxious weeds, and fish and wildlife is discussed. Development on the ownership (primarily roads) is documented and briefly discussed. Summary limiting factors/issues and data needs for each resource are outlined at the end of each section. While briefly described, range and riparian resources are assessed in separate management documents that are included as Appendices to this Plan. In the Strategy section that follows, a set of management strategies tiered to each goal/objective is developed to address previously identified limiting factors. This strategy is based on a set of Desired Vegetation Conditions

(DVC) and goals and objectives described in the Introduction. DVC provide a template design upon which silvicultural approaches are developed. In the

Strategy section that follows, a set of management strategies tiered to each goal/objective is developed to address previously identified limiting factors. This strategy is based on a set of Desired Vegetation Conditions (DVC) and goals and objectives described in the Introduction. DVC provide a template for the development of silvicultural approaches. In the implementation subsection that follows, detailed treatments are described. A table of actions tiered to each strategy covering a five-year window is provided. Major planned management actions are presented in Map 12. Silvicultural prescriptions for each forest DVC are provided in Appendix F. The monitoring strategy at the end of this plan provides methods to evaluate the effectiveness of resource management activities and gauge progress towards DVC. For successful adaptive management, the actions table (Table 27) will be posted as a Google

Document to facilitate updates.

Location, Landscape, and Access

The Desolation Creek ownership is situated approximately 10 miles south of Ukiah, Oregon in the Central Blue Mountains (see Map 1). This ownership is an inholding surrounded by the North Fork John Day Ranger District, Umatilla National Forest.

The Bridge Creek State Wildlife Area is approximately one mile northeast of the ownership. The surrounding landscape is characterized by broad plateaus, with gentle to moderate rolling topography occasionally incised by steep drainages.

Vegetation bordering the ownership consists of grasslands to the northeast and mostly dense conifer forests along the remaining boundary. The North Fork John

Day River, a few miles north of the ownership, is a prominent landscape feature.

The ownership encompasses much of the lower Desolation Creek Watershed, a

70,000 acre drainage whose upper landscape contains the North Fork John Day

Wilderness.

The main ownership access is via USFS Road 10, which initiates at Highway 395 one mile north of Dale, Oregon. Other entry points include the USFS Road 1010 from the east-central boundary, and 1007 near the southwest corner.

Socio-economic Conditions

The ownership is situated in a sparsely populated area of Oregon. Grant County, with about 7,500 people, experienced a 6% drop in population between 2000 and 2010. The local economy is based on a mix of education, health and human services, ranching and timber, manufacturing, retail trade, natural resource and recreation management. The nearby small towns of Long Creek (population of

191) and Ukiah (population of 187) are ranching communities. Umatilla County to the north, with a population of approximately 77,000, is primarily an agriculture-based economy but also supports a lumber mill, manufacturing, tourism, recreation and wind power generation.

Ownership History and Use

The Desolation Creek ownership was purchased by Desolation Creek LLC in 2014.

The previous owner, Hood River County, bought the property from Pioneer

Resources in 2002. The later owner purchased the ownership from Louisiana

Pacific in 1996. The ownership was also sold in 1987 and 1966. Metzger maps from

1932 suggest the ownership was owned by multiple parties including a bank, individuals, and the US Government. Desolation creek occupies the traditional use territory of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Confederate Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation. These lands may have

Map 1. Desolation Creek Ownership and Landscape also been used by the Burns Paiute Tribe and the Nez Perce Tribe. These lands were likely utilized seasonally for hunting, fishing, and food gathering.

Over the last century, the ownership has been used primarily for timber extraction and grazing. Significant timber harvesting apparently did not occur on the ownership until after 1940 (Powell 1999). Since then the ownership has been intensively harvested with repeated partial cut entries, typically removing the largest and highest quality trees from the stands

The ownership has a long history of domestic grazing apparently since at least the late1800s. There are currently three grazing permits on the ownership. Placer mining was done in the Desolation Creek Watershed. One active mining claim and three abandoned mines occur on USFS land in the drainage.

The Desolation Creek area has been used for a wide range of recreation including hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. The ownership provides access via USFS Road 10 to campgrounds at Welsh Creek and Olive Lake and several trailheads accessing the North Fork John Day Wilderness.

Climate

Desolation Creek is strongly influenced by both maritime and continental climate patterns, with warm dry summers and cold, wet winters. Most precipitation originates from Pacific storms moving east over the Cascade Mountains. Due to the movement of wet air combined with cold continental air masses in winter months and mountain elevations, much of this annual precipitation occurs as snowfall during winter months in typical years. Average annual precipitation ranges from approximately 20-25” with most occurring between November and

May. Average annual temperatures on the adjacent Bridge Creek State Wildlife

Area range from 14°F in January to 82° F in August. Winds are often from the

Southwest with occasional northeast patterns developing in summer bring very dry and hot conditions.

Goals and Objectives

The ownership is managed according to the core values of Ecotrust Forest

Management which seek to build both conservation values and increased financial value to its holdings, while providing returns to its investors. The following management goals and associated objectives for the ownership focus on enhancing fish and wildlife habitats, improving resilience and value of its forestlands and increasing productivity of range resources (See Table 1). The overarching goal of the ownership is to increase the financial value of the property while significantly improving ecological conditions and the value provided by the property to local communities in the form of employment, recreational access, hunting and fishing access, and foraging opportunities. The ownership is part of a broader vision to spur management approaches and processing capacity to support the restoration of the fire-prone, overcrowded stands that characterize the eastside forest landscape.

Table 1. Goals and Objectives

# Goal # Objective

Manage ownership towards enhanced financial value at target

IRR.

1.1

Sustain/cultivate interest with potential conservation-oriented partners including the US

Forest Service, CTUIR, CTWSIR, and other public and private buyers.

1.2 Build value of natural capital on the ownership..

Manage ownership on cost-neutral basis.

2.1

Fund all management actions through combination of revenue neutral or positive timber sales, seek ecosystem services, grants, and other public funding to cover cost of land improvement strategies.

Create economic opportunities locally 3.1

Generate local employment and contracting opportunities. Create jobs for 5 FTEs (FTE = 35 hours/week) annually, on average. A minimum of

# Goal # Objective and expand markets for small diameter logs.

75% of FTEs should reside in low-income communities.

3.2 Study and develop local processing operations that

utilize small diameter logs.

Maintain and Improve rangelands 4.1

Improve soil stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrity of rangeland on the ownership to increase productivity for grazing while improving habitat.

Improve riparian habitats

5.1

Enhance the channel structure and function of

Desolation Creek and designated fish bearing tributaries.

5.2 Enhance channel structure and function of other

streams.

5.3

Expand native hardwood shrub and tree cover along Desolation Creek and designated fish bearing tributaries.

5.4

Enhance desired native vegetation composition and structure associated with seeps and wet meadows and other streams including aspen, cottonwood, and native broadleaved shrubs and sedge dominated communities.

Improve the habitat and financial value of upland forest resources.

6.1 Manage ownership according to FSC principals and

standards.

6.2 Manage forests for dominance by desirable tree

species associated with each site based on DVC.

6.3

Manage stand density to reduce crown fire potential, balance individual tree and stand growth based on DVC.

6.4

Manage stands for heterogeneity, cohort structure, dead wood, and understory plant conditions based on DVC.

6.5

Improve the condition of upland hardwood shrubs by increasing cover and vigor of desirable native species based on DVC.

6.6

Reduce risk of fire spread from adjacent USFS lands onto ownership to protect timber and watershed values.

7 Control noxious weeds 7.1

Reduce noxious weeds focusing on containing spread of houndstongue and other state-listed species along roads, landings and other high use areas. Prevent invasion of new noxious weeds on the ownership.

7.2 Utilize grazing strategies to reduce noxious weeds.

Protect and Enhance

Rare Plants 8.1

Identify rare plants, modify grazing and logging practices to protect and enhance these populations.

Sustain/improve habitat for native fish and wildlife associated with

9.1

Manage forest habitats for associated wildlife species with a focus on specific conditions needed by focal management and at-risk species.

# Goal # Objective ownership historic and present vegetation.

9.2

Manage upland meadow/grassland habitats for associated wildlife species with focus on specific conditions needed by focal management and at-risk species.

9.3

Manage stream and wet meadow habitats to benefit native fish populations with focus on specific conditions needed by focal management and at-risk species.

Manage roads to achieve ownership goals.

10.1 Reduce fish passage issues at stream crossings.

10.2

Reduce road source erosion and sediment delivery to streams and other waters, prioritizing fish bearing streams.

10.3

Maintain road network necessary to allow efficient implementation of management activities, including fire control.

10.4 Reduce road impacts to wildlife related to

disturbance.

Manage recreation to reduce resource impacts and fire risk.

11.1

Reduce roads to those necessary to maintain reasonable access for hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking.

11.2 Reduce riparian impacts from campgrounds.

11.3 Reduce risk of accidental fires initiating on

ownership.

Desired Vegetation Conditions

Desired vegetation conditions (DVC) describe a vision for the future structure and composition of plant communities on the ownership. Templates describing conditions for each major DVC type, including desired disturbance processes, are provided below (see Table 2-6 and Map 2). These designs are based on a synthesis of the following ownership goals and site conditions:

1- Reference Conditions as interpreted from site conditions and 1940 aerial photographs and productive capacity of each site.

2- Practical considerations including current vegetation, costs to achieve and maintain DVC.

3- Ecological sustainability of DVC given climate change and disturbance regimes (primarily fire and insects and disease).

4- Desire to build and protect value of the asset during the holding period.

5- Desire to enhance habitat for native fish and wildlife species associated with reference conditions, with a particular focus on at-risk species.

DVC in this plan are long-term conditions will be achieved over many decades.

The “desired trajectory conditions” (those current or post-treatment conditions that align the stands on a pathway toward DVC) are described in the DVC templates and more detailed in the silvicultural prescriptions for each type. As some stands are best characterized by a dominant type but also contain patches of other types (e.g. a mixed conifer stand contains patches of ponderosa pine on south slopes), DVC template allows flexibility to manage for

“variants”. These exceptions to the rule are also described in the DVC template.

Silvicultural prescriptions also account for this variability by being “scenario based” as opposed to fixed on a single target.

Ponderosa Pine Savanna and Woodland (OFSSO & OFSS - Old Forest Single

Stratum Open & Old Forest Single Stratum, 2,526 acres, 19% of ownership)

These stands occupy the hottest, and driest forest sites on the ownership and overlap with the current distribution of pure ponderosa pine stands. DVC for these areas is characterized by mostly open canopied, multi cohort woodlands featuring a mosaic of clumps, single trees, and openings with grass and forb dominance with some low shrub understories. Understory tree cohorts are widely scattered in occasional openings. Large tree structure featuring nearly exclusively ponderosa pine dominates and dead wood is 1-5% of tree density, primarily in large snags and broken/dead tops. Disturbance regimes operate at fine scales, only causing scattered or clump mortality from agents including bark beetles, dwarf mistletoe, and fire. Fire may be used as a tool to maintain open conditions. Additional unmapped acreage of this DVC type occurs throughout the ownership in moister stands that contain some areas with dry slopes.

Ponderosa Pine & Douglas-fir Forest (OFSS - Old Forest Single Stratum, 5,600 acres, 42% of ownership)

This DVC is the most dominant desired condition on the ownership and is designed for slightly moister sites than the ponderosa pine type. It overlaps closely with the current distribution of mixed ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir stands.

DVC for these areas is characterized by open to semi-closed canopied, multi cohort woodlands. Spatial patterns feature a mosaic of clumps, single trees, and openings with less clumping in areas dominated by Douglas-fir and Western larch. Understory tree cohorts are widely scattered in occasional openings and range in species composition among the desired species. In mistletoe areas, composition of younger cohorts differs from that of the surrounding overstory

(e.g. avoid fir under fir) to control disease spread. Understory conditions vary from grass and forb dominance to heavy shrub cover. Tree composition among desired species (i.e. Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and Western larch) varies from patches of single species to mixed stands. Large tree structure dominates and dead wood is 1-5% of tree density, primarily in large snags and broken/dead tops and mistletoe infected trees. Disturbance regimes operate a fine scales, only causing scattered or clump mortality from agents including bark beetles and fire.

Ponderosa Pine & Mixed Conifer Forest (OFMS & MS - Old Forest Single Stratum and Multi Stratum, 4,757 acres, 35% of ownership)

Deep ashy soils support a productive DVC that is concentrated in the southwest to central parts of the ownership. This DVC type is designed on sites currently containing a mix of trees, though lodgepole pine often is the dominant species.

Future desired condition of these forests is a mixed species stand featuring ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and Western larch. Lodgepole pine is a minor species. Englemann spruce is present, primarily in very moist riparian areas. Areas within this DVC type will feature nearly pure patches of ponderosa pine on dry slopes. While mature forest structure is the standard, patches of younger regenerating stands are within a desired range of variability1. While lodgepole pine is a very prolific regenerator, it is susceptible to insect and fire disturbance that is not compatible with management objectives. Moreover, climate change models predict a major decline in the range of this species in the coming decades. This species will remain common after treatments where it currently dominates stands unless other desirable species are present.

Forest structure should be a mix of single and multi-stratum, dominated by large trees in mix of spatial patterns though clumping is not as prevalent. Understory tree cohorts are widely scattered in occasional openings and range in species

1 These sites were historically a mixed-fire severity regime.

composition among the desired species. Untreated patches will be retained throughout these stands to provide hiding cover for big game and roost cover for other wildlife. The perimeter of these areas are isolated from the general stand canopy through wide tree spacing.

Understory conditions feature grass, forb and low shrub cover. Large tree structure dominates and dead wood is 1-5% of tree density, primarily in large snags and broken/dead tops and mistletoe infected trees. Disturbance regimes operate a fine scales, only causing scattered or clump mortality from agents including bark beetles and dwarf mistletoe, fire and snow/wind.

Riparian Conifer Forest

These stands are primarily along Desolation Creek. They will be managed as mixed species forests with high levels of dead wood. High tree densities and multi-stratum structure is desirable to maintain stream shade and optimal habitat for focal species such as marten, pileated woodpecker, and bats. The understory is often dominated by a heavy and diverse cover of hardwood shrubs.

Riparian Hardwood/Shrub and Upland Dry to Moist Shrublands

Shrublands and hardwoods groves associated with wet meadows, other perched water and streamside areas feature multiple age classes free of chronic overbrowsing. These thickets are composed of multi-species (many presently hawthorne due to heavy browsing) and feature willow spp., mountain alder, and

Rocky Mountain maple, with heavy cover along Desolation Creek and tributaries

Shrub cover (elderberry, currant spp. chokecherry, serviceberry, rose, Mountain mahogany) is highly desirable throughout the ownership. Most of this shrub component should have a mix of age classes, exhibit an uninterrupted growth form and be vigorous enough to fruit.

Meadow and riparian stringer aspen should be multi-aged, with mature and decadent stems with younger uninterrupted or released suckers. Establishment of aspen in wet areas of the ownership where not present currently is desired.

Cottonwood should be well distributed along Desolation Creek with multi-age classes and some decadent older trees.

Wet Meadows and Upland Grasslands (545 acres, 4% of ownership)

Wet meadows are highly desirable features on the ownership. DVC include native plant communities that reflect stable ecosystems appropriate to the site

(open and primarily sedge and forb dominated).

Induced or “stump meadows” are maintained in an open condition and dominated by a mix of native and introduced but not noxious species.

Table 2. DVC Type: Ponderosa Pine Woodland (OFSS & OFSSO)

PVG/PAG: Warm & Hot Dry Upland Forest/Ponderosa Pine Total Acres: 2,526

Desired Vegetation Conditions: Desired Disturbance Processes:

Parameter: Description: Agent: Description:

Tree Structure-

Single to multi-stratum, clumps and scattered trees. Dominance by trees >20"

DBH.

Bark/Wood Boring

Beetles:

Background levels, scattered mortality only

Age Class Distribution: Multi-cohort Insect Defoliators:

Absent to background levels. Very low mortality

Density (Basal Area):

Open canopy (savanna to woodland), basal area 40 to 120ft2/acre, < 5% in understory

Root Rot: Very low incidence or absent

Stem Rot: Very low, sap rots present in new snags

Composition Overstory: Ponderosa pine in all cohorts (<5% DF) Dwarf Mistletoe:

Very low incidence, scattered individuals. to small groups

Composition

Understory:

Ponderosa pine in all cohorts (<5% DF) Other Disease:

Very low incidence, scattered individuals. to small groups

Understory:

Open native grass/forb/shrubs (mix). Typical dominants are Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, elk sedge, pinegrass, bitterbrush

& snowberry.

Wind/Snow:

Infrequent and limited to individual and small groups

Dead Wood: Low levels but well-distributed Fire:

No wildfire, Rx fire desirable. Fire both under Rx and wild would behave with low intensity/severity.

Snags/

Declining/Damaged

Trees:

1-4 spa (snags per acre), mixed decay classes (50% >20" DBH)/< 5% of overstory density

Down

Wood/Surface

Fuels:

< 5 tpa (tons per acre) > 8"/< 2 tpa (1-

1,00hr.)

Focal Wildlife: White-headed woodpecker, bats, pygmy nuthatch, Table 17 bats

Variants:

1-Slopes >30%, other difficult access areas, riparian zones, and edges with moister forest types may develop into multi-stratum conditions and at high end of density, dead wood, and fuels range. 2- Pine savanna will be managed at low end of range for the above.

Desired Trajectory

Conditions:

Open to semi-closed stands of ponderosa pine with basal areas ranging from 40-100 ft2/acre, scattered PP regeneration occurring in openings only. Clumpiness desired with some scattered patches of dense trees as hiding and roost cover. Tree layering at fine scales only occasionally. Snag levels 0-4/acre at least 12" +DBH

(larger desirable).

DVC = Desired Vegetation Condition, PVG = Potential Vegetation Group, PAG = Plant Association Group, OFFSSO = Old Forest Single Stratum Open, PP = Ponderosa Pine

Table 3. DVC Type: Douglas-fir & Ponderosa Pine Woodland (OFSS)

PVG/PAG: Warm Dry Upland Forest/Douglas-fir Total Acres: 5,600

Desired Vegetation Conditions: Desired Disturbance Processes:

Parameter: Description Agent: Description

Tree Structure- Multi-stratum Bark/Wood Boring

Beetles:

Background levels, scattered mortality only

Age Class Distribution: Multi-cohort Insect Defoliators:

Absent to background levels. Very low mortality

Density (Basal Area):

Open canopy to semi-closed canopy, basal area 60 to 120ft2/acre, < 5% in understory

Root Rot: Very low incidence or absent

Stem Rot:

Very low, heart and sap rot in dead and dying.

Composition Overstory: Mix of PP, DF, & WL Dwarf Mistletoe:

Very low incidence, scattered individuals. to small groups, Composition

Understory:

Mix of PP, DF, & WL Other Disease:

Very low incidence, scattered individuals. to small groups

Understory:

Open native grass/forb/shrubs (mix). Typical dominants are Idaho fescue, elk sedge, pinegrass, & snowberry.

Wind/Snow:

Infrequent and limited to individual and small groups

Dead Wood: Low levels but well-distributed Fire:

No wildfire, Rx fire desirable. Fire both under Rx and wild would behave with low intensity/severity.

Snags/

Declining/Damaged

Trees:

1-4 spa, mix spp. & decay class (approx.

50% >20" DBH)/< 5% of overstory density

Down

Wood/Surface

Fuels:

5-10 tpa (tons per acre) > 8"/< 4 tpa (1-

1,000hr.)

Focal Wildlife: Williamson's sapsucker, flammulated owl, Table 17 bats

Variants:

1-Slopes exceeding 30%, other difficult access areas, riparian zones, and edges with moister forest types may develop into multi-stratum conditions and high end of density dead wood and fuels range.

Desired Trajectory

Conditions:

Open to semi-closed stands of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and Western larch with basal areas ranging from

40-100 ft2/acre, scattered mixed species regeneration occurring in openings only. Clumpiness desired with some scattered patches of dense trees as hiding and roost cover. Tree layering at fine scales only occasionally. Snag levels 0-4/acre at least 12" +DBH (larger desirable) with mix of species.

DVC = Desired Vegetation Condition, PVG = Potential Vegetation Group, PAG = Plant Association Group, OFFSS = Old Forest Single Stratum

DF = Douglas-fir, PP = Ponderosa Pine, WL = Western Larch

Table 4. DVC Type: Mixed Conifer Forest (OFSS/MS)

PVG/PAG: Cool Moist Upland Forest/Grand Fir Total Acres: 4,757

Desired Vegetation Conditions: Desired Disturbance Processes:

Parameter Description Agent Description

Tree Structure:

Single Stratum with patches of multi-stratum in difficult management areas.

Bark/WB Beetles

Background levels, scattered mortality only

Age Class Distribution: Single to multi-cohort Insect Defoliators Absent to background levels. Very low mortality.

Density (Basal Area):

Open to semi-closed canopy with areas of closed canopy in high density retention patches, basal area 100 to 140ft2/acre, <

10% in understory

Root Rot Very low incidence or absent

Stem Rot

Low but some large trees infected with

Indian paint fungus desired, sap rots present in new snags.

Composition Overstory:

DF, PP, WL (major) GF, ES, LP (minor).

Dominance by any of the major species is possible within patches of larger stands.

Dwarf Mistletoe

Very low incidence, scattered individuals. To small groups, some heavily infected trees desired for wildlife platforms.

Composition

Understory:

DF, PP, WL (major) GF, ES, LP (minor) Other Disease:

Very low incidence, scattered individuals. To small groups. Western gall rust only occasional.

Understory

Open native grass/forb/shrubs (mix). Typical dominants are elk sedge, pinegrass, Columbia brome, grouse huckleberry, twinflower, & pinemat manzanita.

Wind/Snow Infrequent and limited to individual and small groups.

Dead Wood- Low to high levels, low in developed areas Fire No wildfire, Rx ok

Snags/

Declining/Damaged

Trees:

Up to 12 spa (approx. 30-50% >20"DBH), mixed species & decay classes, W. larch highly desirable/< 5% of overstory density.

Down

Wood/Surface

Fuels:

10-20 tpa (tons per acre) > 8"/< 7 tpa (1-

1,000hr.)

Focal Wildlife: Pileated woodpecker, Table 17 bats, American marten

Variants:

1-Patches with site indicators of warm, dry pine are managed as ponderosa pine woodland (OFSS) DVC. 2-

High density retention patches, slopes exceeding 30%, other difficult access areas, riparian zones may develop into multi-stratum conditions and high end of density dead wood and fuels range. 3- Fuel break area managed at low end of density, dead wood and surface fuels.

Table 4. DVC Type: Mixed Conifer Forest (OFSS/MS)

Desired Trajectory

Conditions:

Mosaic of open to semi-closed stands. Features mostly open canopy stands with patches of dense forest interspersed throughout. Desired composition features ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and Western larch. Grand fir should be well-represented where it occurs currently but a minor species Lodgepole pine is only retained where more desirable species cannot meet the Rx for stocking. Englemann spruce is retained. Snag levels 0-

10/acre at least 12" +DBH (larger desirable) with mix of species.

DVC = Desired Vegetation Condition, PVG = Potential Vegetation Group, PAG = Plant Association Group, OFFSS = Old Forest Single Stratum

DF = Douglas-fir, ES = Englemann Spruce, GF = Grand Fir, LP = Lodgepole Pine, PP = Ponderosa Pine, WL = Western Larch

Table 5. DVC Type: Riparian Hardwood and Upland Shrublands

Plant Communities: Seep and streamside quaking aspen

Desired Vegetation Condition Narrative Desired Disturbance Processes

Dominated by mix of mature trees, some with decadence, and younger regenerating suckers with uninterrupted growth. Aspen are generally free from competition with conifers, widely scattered ponderosa pine and edge conifers acceptable. New areas for clone expansion available without heavy conifer cover. Understory dominated by high diversity native site appropriate species.

Natural insect and disease agents. Browse pressure not desirable due to rarity of resource and heavy wildlife use of understory. Beaver activity desirable upon establishment of sufficient aspen to sustain the resource.

Plant Communities: Streamside cottonwood, aspen, willow, alder, hawthorne, maple

Desired Vegetation Condition Narrative Desired Disturbance Processes

Dominated by mix of mature trees, some with decadence, and younger regenerating trees with uninterrupted growth. Conifers can co-mingle but hardwoods dominate based on light needs. Areas for new hardwood expansion available without heavy conifer cover. Understory dominated by high diversity of native site appropriate species.

Natural insect and disease agents. Browse pressure light. Beaver activity desirable upon establishment of sufficient hardwoods to sustain the resource.

Plant Communities: Dry to Moist Shrublands (serviceberry, hawthorne, chokecherry, mountain mahogany)

Desired Vegetation Condition Narrative Desired Disturbance Processes

Scattered small clumps to larger patches dominated by the above species. Most plants exhibit an uninterrupted growth form and overstory light is sufficient for fruiting to occur.

Natural insect and disease agents. Browse pressure not desirable until establishment of sufficient shrublands to sustain the resource.

Light browse sustainable as occurs when adequate alternative forage is available to livestock, deer and elk.

Table 6. DVC Type: Wet Meadows and Upland Grasslands/Scab flats

Plant Communities: Sedge/forb dominated wet meadows

Desired Vegetation Condition Narrative Desired Disturbance Processes

Native plant dominated based on species reflecting a lightly grazed site. Utilization controlled to prevent overgrazing and maintenance of desirable species composition and plant vigor.

Natural processes, grazing unacceptable or strictly controlled.

Plant Communities: Grass/forb dominated upland grasslands

Desired Vegetation Condition Narrative Desired Disturbance Processes

Native plant dominated based on species appropriate to the site. Species composition should be dominated by those that reflect a well-managed grazing program (limited increasers and noxious weeds). Where present mountain mahogany is not over browsed.

Natural processes, grazing, both native and domestic as designed to achieve DVC.

Resource Assessment

Physical Environment

Topography and Soils

Desolation Creek ownership is situated in the John Day/Clarno Highlands of the

Blue Mountains Ecoregion. The ownership consists of mostly gently to moderately sloping lands (see Map 3). Surrounding lands feature broad, incised plateaus in the lower watershed, becoming more mountainous with elevation gains to the southeast. Steeper slopes occur in canyons created by Desolation Creek and its larger tributaries, along parts of the ownership boundary, and in the northern and north-eastern uplands. Lands west of Desolation Creek are mostly north & north-east facing while areas east are predominantly south & southwest aspects. The elevation ranges from approximately 3,050 at north end of the ownership along

Desolation Creek to a highpoint of 5,100’ along near the south-eastern boundary.

The present topography results from landslides and debris flow deposits with exposed areas of basalt and volcanic tuff.

Soils on Desolation Creek consist of ashy loams and ashy silty loams with increasing composition of clays and cobbles with depth. The underlying rock is typically basalt. Draft NRCS soil mapping of the ownership lists 56 distinct soil complexes, a

Map 3. Topography of the ownership. Terrain in this figure has been over exaggerated to highlight features, including the canyon formed by Desolation Creek. Note broad, gentle landscape southwest of Desolation Creek.

result of the strong influence of aspect on soil development in this region. With the exception of the Silvies-Gerow complex, which is a hydric soil associated with some stream terraces and wet meadows, soils are typically well drained and with depth to bedrock ranging from less than a foot to over 60”. High levels of ash in most areas enhance soil moisture retention but are susceptible to erosion along water courses and steep slopes with vegetation disturbance. Deeper soils support more productive forest communities, while thin cobbly clay and clay loams are typically vegetated with grass, forbs, and scattered trees.

Major soil complexes are listed in Table 7 and displayed in Map 4. Meaufun-

Dunstan-Btree landslide complex is the most extensive soil condition. These are very productive soils for tree growth on the ownership and support mixed conifer stands. Pinuscreek-Payraise-Dunstan landslide complex is the second most common soil, has moderate productivity for tree growth and supports ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. Geisercreek-Btree-Olot complex are the best soils on the ownership for tree growth. The other major types in table 7 are moderately productive soils.

Table 8. Topography/Soils Limiting Factors/Issues

Resource: Limiting Factor/Issue:

Soils Ash cap soils are susceptible to compaction and displacement during logging.

Data Needs:

Soil survey for Desolation Creek ownership has not been published to the NRCS Web Soil Survey.

Table 7. Major Soil Complexes on the Ownership

Soil type Acres

Dunstan-Cougarrock-Fivebeaver complex 470

Dunstan-Cougarrock-Fivebit moist complex 1,427

Geisercreek-Btree-Olot complex 597

Larabee-Crackercreek-Gaib complex 940

Meaufun-Dunstan-Btree complex landslide 2,838

Pinuscreek-Payraise-Dunstan complex landslide 1,827

Sharpridge-Crackercreek-Fivebeaver complex 1,240

Other Types 4,100

Total 13,439

Water Resources

The ownership is situated within the Desolation Creek Drainage of the North Fork

John Day Watershed. Water resources on the ownership include 41 delineated creeks as well as numerous springs, a pond in an old rock pit and wet meadows where water ponds seasonally (see Table 9 and Map 5). National Wetland

Inventory data shows 174 acres of wetlands occurring on the ownership. There are nearly 51 miles of combined seasonal and perennial creeks. Desolation Creek, a major tributary to the North Fork John Day River, originates in the Greenhorn

Mountains, flowing in a northwesterly direction for nearly 11 miles on the ownership and enters the river 1.5 miles from the property boundary.

Desolation Creek is state-classified as a “Large” fish bearing stream.

Named tributaries to

Desolation Creek within the ownership include

Moonshine, Kelsay, Spring, Park, East Fork

Meadow Brook Creek2, and Starveout Creeks.

These tributaries are a mix of “Small” and

“Medium” classified creeks with some fish presence.

The condition of these creeks is not well understood and data on fish use and stream condition is needed. Grazing, channel straightening, road building, and timber harvests have degraded this resource with notable impacts including loss of riparian vegetation and bank stability, channel widening, lack of pools and water quality impacts. Powell (1999) notes probable losses of riparian hardwood shrub and tree cover throughout Desolation Creek Drainage resulting from overuse.

Stream conditions in more inaccessible parts of the ownership often have much higher levels of hardwood cover and intact streambanks and highlight degraded riparian conditions in overused areas. Loss of beaver in the watershed also has impacted stream health.

Numerous springs occur throughout the ownership and are often seeps located at the head of meadows and small drainages. There are currently 19 springs mapped

2 Unnamed in stream layer but named on USGS and USFS maps.

Table 9. Creeks on the Ownership

Name Length

(miles) Fish FPA Size

Desolation Creek 10.8 Fish Large

Kelsay Creek 1.9 Fish Medium

Moonshine Creek 2.2 NonFish Small

Park Creek 0.9 Fish/NonFIsh Small

Spring Creek 1.2 NonFish Small

Starveout Creek 1.9 Fish Small

Other Fish 1.4 Fish Small

Other Combined

Fish/NonFish or

Unknown

3.7 Fish/NonFish

or Unknown Small

Other Combined

Non-Fish/Unknown 26.7

Non-

Fish/Unknown Small

Total 50.7

FPA = Oregon Forest Practices Stream Class, Fish = Fish presence, Data source: ODFW/ODF forest practices GIS layer.

with more to be inventoried. Livestock grazing and logging has impacted many of these springs and associated wet meadows.

Table 10. Water Resources Limiting Factors/Issues

Desolation Creek Impacted stream morphology & lack of structure Degraded riparian vegetation

Tributary Creeks Channel downcutting Degraded riparian vegetation

Potential fish passage issues

Springs/Seeps Degraded aspen and other native hardwood shrub and tree communities.

Pugging of soils and water quality impacts from grazing.

Data Needs:

Baseline data on stream and spring conditions and additional info on fish presence. Morphology study of Desolation Creek. Inventory of remaining springs.

Vegetation

Desolation Creek contains a diverse mosaic of open to closed forests, grasslands and riparian areas, spanning a range of structural/compositional and potential vegetation. The distribution of vegetation is strongly influenced by a combination of interacting factors including elevation, aspect, topographic location, disturbance regimes and past timber harvest. Currently about 96% of the ownership is savanna-forest with the remainder in meadow/grasslands. Nearly all forest is less than 70 years old and comprised of a mix of conifer species.

Ponderosa pine is the most dominant species and found throughout the ownership in pure stands on the driest sites and in moist, mixed stands. Douglas-fir occurs in a few pure stands but is more commonly associated with ponderosa pine and

Western larch at lower elevations on dry sites, and mixed with the above species and grand fir and lodgepole pine on moister sites. Lodgepole pine is a highly opportunistic species, and occupies much of the mid to high elevation stands.

Western juniper sporadically occurs on pine sites. Englemann spruce occasionally grows along Desolation Creek. Hardwoods including black cottonwood, quaking aspen, and mountain alder are confined to riparian areas.

Vegetation has been organized below for narrative purposes into six major types

(see Table 11 and Map 6). For assessment and prescription development, it has been further classified into 22 classes based on current tree composition and structural stage (Map 7, Appendix C)3. Throughout the ownership, repeated partial cuts have created very diverse stand conditions (distinct thickets of trees of different ages and openings). Therefore, conditions can be found within a given major type or structural stage that do not match the classification.

Major Vegetation Types

Ponderosa Pine Savanna and Woodland (2,280 acres, 17% of ownership)

These stands occupy the driest portion of the Warm Dry PVG (potential vegetation group) and tend to be concentrated on thinner soils and south to westerly aspects. Ponderosa pine is nearly exclusive in the overstory. Understory regeneration is scattered and mostly ponderosa pine with some Douglas-fir. These stands are generally open canopied with understories dominated by elk sedge, pine grass, Idaho fescue, and snowberry.

Ponderosa Pine & Douglas-fir Forest (2,632 acres, 20% of ownership)

These Warm Dry PVG forests occupy slightly moister sites than the pine savanna and woodlands and occur on a range of aspects and concentrated at the north end of the ownership. They contain a widely varying mix of ponderosa pine and

Douglas-fir. Western larch is often scattered in these stands. The overstory in these

3 This classification is a modified version developed by O’hara et al. (1996).

stands is open to closed and understory is typically a mix of elk sedge, pine grass, Idaho fescue, and snowberry.

Ponderosa Pine & Mixed Conifer Forest (7,472 acres, 56% of ownership)

Mixed conifer stands are comprised of a mix of tree species including ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, western larch, Douglas-fir and grand fir. The relative composition of trees varies widely. These stands occupy the transition area between Warm Dry and

Cool Moist PVG and are generally found on northerly aspects and on deeper soils at mid to upper elevations on ownership. Typical understory dominant vegetation includes pinegrass, elk sedge, twinflower and grouse huckleberry.

Grasslands/Meadow (545 acres, 4% of ownership)

Grass dominated areas are scattered throughout the ownership. While some appear to be natural openings maintained open by either wet or thin soils, many have been created or expanded by logging (“stump meadows”). Some dry grasslands, often referred to as “scab flats” are vegetated by a mix of grasses

(onespike oatgrass, Sandberg’s bluegrass, and forbs (yarrow, low pussytoes, balsamroot stonecrop spp. and lomatium spp.). Other dry grasslands on exposed dry, rocky slopes which include some pine savannas are dominated by grasses

(Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, Sandberg’s bluegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail), shrubs (bitterbrush), and forbs (yarrow, basalt milkvetch, twin arnica, Western hawkweed, and groundsel). Invasive non-native species including medusahead and Ventenata (wiregrass) are present in some of these areas.

Wet Meadows are common on the ownership and associated with seeps and meadow streams. These communities are typically openings surrounded by dense young conifer forest, contain both wet and dry plant communities and are composed of a mix of native and exotic species. Wet areas are sedge dominated.

Drier meadows within the forest setting are often dominated by introduced grasses including Kentucky bluegrass, bromes spp. wheatgrass spp., and orchard grass.

Minor Vegetation…