HYDROLOGY

This is a presentation describing the Hydrologic Effects of the four Alternatives analyzed in BLMs western Oregon Plan Revisions EIS. Well be giving you an overview of how the Alternatives will affect the hydrology in 1,200 subwatersheds within the planning area. The health of watersheds might well be an important issue for you. Not only does the fate of salmon depend upon it, but these watersheds are a source of drinking water for many communitiesmaybe yours.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Precipitation Hydro Regions

The studies here focused on two regions in the planning area that have different hydrologic characteristics. One region is rain dominatedthe darker area in the map above. Most of the precipitation it receives comes in the form of rain and the usual snow events are infrequent and short lived. The other regionthe lighter shaded portion of the mapis at higher elevations and receives more snowfall. Runoff events are sometimes compounded by rainfall melting accumulated snow on the ground.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Hydrologic Effects of the Alternatives

Areas of concern: Peakflow susceptibility Stream temperature increase Sediment delivery from roads Land-sliding

We looked at four specific concerns: peakflow susceptibility, stream temperature increase, sediment delivery from roads, and land-sliding.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Sub-Watershed
Size varies from 10,000 to 40,000 acres

We used subwatersheds as our field of studythats an area between 10,000 and 40,000 acres in size.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Peakflow Susceptibility
Will the level of logging under the Alternatives make a big difference to peakflow susceptibility?

Well start with peakflow susceptibility. When it rains or snows enough that theres a runoff, the highest observed runoff is called the peakflow. Deforestation can increase peakflow susceptibility in small watersheds because trees and vegetation act as a natural bufferin effect performing as a sponge to soak up the water and release it slowly instead of all at once. We wanted to answer the question: would the level of logging under the Alternatives make a big difference to peakflow susceptibility?

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Susceptible Rain-Dominated Watersheds to Peak Flow Increase

In rain dominated regions, studies found that only one subwatershed (Cooper Creek), out of 422 with BLM ownership, would be susceptible to peak flow increase, no matter which Alternative is implemented.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Susceptible Rain-on-Snow Watersheds to Peak Flow Increase

In rain-on-snow regions, only three subwatersheds out of 248 with BLM administered lands are susceptible to increased peakflow. The findings are slightly higher here because snow accumulates in openings left by logging; and secondly, snow melt is increased with increased wind speed caused by openings in the trees. That makes a combined total of 4 out of the subwatersheds evaluated that are susceptible to increased peak flows. The amount of regeneration harvestclearcutting with intent to replant and manageunder any of the Alternatives is not significant enough or concentrated enough to increase susceptibility to peakflow increases.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Temperature Increase in Streams

The second area of concern is temperature increase in streams: cool temperatures are a key requirement for salmon. The greater the tree height and canopy density near streams, the more shade is provided. The analyses here were based on perennial streams, meaning those that exist even in the summer.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

6 AM to 10AM 2PM to 6PM

10AM to 2PM
Secondary Shade Tree Distance

Primary Shade Tree Distance

This graphic represents the angle of the sun at different times of day and the trees needed to provide primary and secondary shade. For primary shade, trees zero to 60 feet from a stream shade between 10am and 2pm. For secondary shade, trees 60 to 100 feet from the stream provide shade between 6am and 10am, and between 2pm and 6pm.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Forest Canopy & Effective Shade

As you can see from the first graphand as youd expectthe wider the protected area along the stream, the greater the angular canopy density...up to a point. Angular canopy density is the measure of canopy closure as projected in a straight line from the stream surface to the sun as it varies throughout the day. The second graph shows that the more canopy density there is, the more effective shade there is. Effective shade is the total solar radiation blocked from reaching the stream over a twenty-four hour period.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Effective Shade & Water Temperature

There is very little improvement in effective shade for riparian areasor bufferswider than 100 feet. When effective shade reaches 80%, there is less than .2 degrees Fahrenheit change in stream temperature per mile of stream, which is within range of natural variability. For effective shade beyond 80%, reduction in stream temperature is not measurable. On the graph you can see that the difference between 40% effective shade and 80% is represented by a consistently descending line, while after 80% it levels out. The steeper the line, the more improvement there is.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Forest Structure Under the Alternatives

Riparian Structural Age Classes No Action
NonForest
1200000

Riparian Structural Age Classes Alternative 1

NonForest
600000 500000 400000

Stand Establishment

Young

Mature

Structurally Complex

Stand Establishment

Young

Mature

Structurally Complex

1000000 800000

Acres

Acres

600000 400000

300000 200000 100000 0

200000 0 0 10 20 50 100

10

20

50

100

Time, years

Time, years

Riparian Structural Age Classes Alternative 2

NonForest
300000 250000 200000

Riparian Structural Age Classes Alternative 3

NonForest
300000 250000 200000

Stand Establishment

Young

Mature

Structurally Complex

Stand Establishment

Young

Mature

Structurally Complex

Acres

Acres

150000 100000 50000 0 0 10 20 50 100

150000

100000 50000 0 0 10 20 50 100

Time, years

Time, years

In all of the Alternatives, the riparian management areas fully occupy the primary and secondary shade zones. In the No Action Alternative and Alternative 1, riparian management widths exceed what is actually needed to maintain 80% effective shade. In Alternatives 2 & 3, trees within the primary shade zone (within 60 feet of the stream) would be retained. From 60 to 100 feet, stands could be thinned but at least 50% canopy closure would be maintained. One of the benefits of thinning here is that by removing some trees, others are able to grow taller, thus providing better shade.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Summary Stream Temperature

All alternatives (except BLM lands within the Coquille Tribal Management Area) would limit stream temperature increase within the range of natural variability.

To sum up, all Alternatives, except for BLM lands within the Coquille Tribal Forest Special Management Area, would maintain stream temperatures within range of natural variability. For further information on the Coquille exception, and for further details of what weve talked about here, please see the document.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Sediment Delivery

Sediment delivery is our third concern. Stream habitat can be degraded by excess sediment delivery; salmon are particularly affected. Roads are a leading cause of sediment delivery to streams. On roads more than 200 feet away from streams, studies have shown there is limited sediment delivery, as sediment will get caught by trees and duff layer; however, while roadside ditches route sediment to the forest floor through relief culverts, they can also carry sediment swiftly along to streams, with little chance to filter.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Thousands of Road Segments Evaluated Inside 200 Foot Sediment Delivery Screen.

This map shows road segments as they were evaluated against a 200 foot sediment delivery screen. To see how far roads have to be from streams to make a difference, take a look at the following:

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Alternatives New Permanent Road Fine Sediment Delivery, miles

BLM Road Contributing to Sediment Delivery 10 Year Projection, Miles
100000 10000 1000 100 10 1
Existing No Action Alternative Alternative Alternative 1, 2, 3,
All Roads
13

14273 5096 345 38 8 513 604 37 526

Roads Within Sediment Delivery Distance

This graph shows the ten-year projection of fine sediment delivery under each of the Alternatives. The blue bar is the projected miles of new roads within the sediment delivery zone of streams; the yellow bar is the total miles of new roads projected over ten years. The difference between the two bars represents miles of roads not in the sediment delivery zone. Many road segments near streams are already in existence. Road improvement and decommissioning near streams is of greater importance to decreasing fine sediment delivery than the effect of news roads.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Effects of Land Slides

The fourth and last area of concern is the risk of landslide due to potentially compromising the stability of lands by removing the organic systems that hold soil in place. Approximately 90,000 acres of BLM lands (about 3.5%) have been withdrawn from forest harvest because of landslide potential. An additional portion will be protected anyway to keep bigger trees available for large wood for salmon habitat. (For more about salmon habitat, take a look at the fisheries presentation.)

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology

Example of Fragile Lands Withdrawn

This map of the Upper Smith River Watershed illustrates how fragile lands are identified and protected from treatments which may cause land slides. Under all Alternatives, the most fragile soils susceptible to landsliding have been withdrawn. Prescribed Best Management Practices for new road construction and unit layout require avoiding susceptible sites. For more detailed information and figures on all of these areas of concern, please go to the document.

BLMs Western Oregon Plan Revision Draft EIS

Hydrology