These analyses are aimed at answering specific questions raised by the MCWC Action Planning Team. The goal of these analyses is to develop a ranked list of 6th Field watersheds for use in MCWC's Action Planning process.

This analysis has two components, Potential Habitat and Functioning Habitat (both defined by the MCWC Tech Team). Potential winter coho habitat is a sub-6th field analysis based on three physical factors: unconfined (flat) areas near streams, low gradient streams and streams flowing through hydric soils. Potential winter coho habitat represents areas in the stream network where conditions may be conducive for coho over-wintering. The functioning winter coho habitat analysis ranks 6th fields on the length of potential habitat, plus rankings for (1) large woody debris frequency (AHI), (2) percent pools and channel widths per pool (AHI), and (3) length of side channels (AHI).

Note: Data availability was an important consideration in developing this analysis.

This analysis has two components, Potential Habitat and Functioning Habitat (both defined by the MCWC Tech Team). Potential summer coho habitat is a sub-6th field analysis based on two physical factors: unconfined (flat) areas near streams and low gradient streams. Potential summer coho habitat represents areas in the stream network where conditions may be conducive for summer coho populations. The functioning summer coho habitat analysis ranks 6th fields on the length of potential habitat plus rankings for (1) large woody debris frequency (AHI), (2) percent pools and channel widths per pool (AHI), (3) percent shade (AHI), (4) length of riffle habitat with substrate dominated by bedrock vs. gravel (AHI), and (5) average juvenile coho density from 1998 and 1999 snorkel surveys (Rapid Bioassessment).

Note: Data availability was an important consideration in developing this analysis.

This analysis has two components, Potential Habitat and Functioning Habitat (both defined by the MCWC Tech Team). Potential Steelhead habitat is a sub-6th field analysis based on two physical factors: stream reaches that are confined and are medium gradient (2-8% slope). Potential Steelhead habitat represents areas in the stream network where conditions may be conducive for Steelhead. The Functioning Steelhead Habitat Analysis ranks 6th field watersheds by the length of potential habitat plus rankings for (1) total riffle length and (2) length of riffles with gravel-to-boulder-sized substrate.

Note: Data availability was an important consideration in developing this analysis.

This analysis will identify potential floodplains (hydric soils that intersect streams) which are not zoned urban, rural residential, rural commercial, and rural industrial.

This analysis will rank 6th Field Watersheds on the basis of shallow landslide risk / soil erosion risk. Factors in this analysis include the output from SMORPH and presence of erodible soil groups.

This analysis will identify areas that may benefit from LWD placement. Factors in this analysis are low levels of LWD and salmonid presence.

This analysis will rank 6th Field Watersheds on the potential of LWD delivery to streams. Factors in this analysis include landslide risk (SMORPH model) and zoning (forestry) within a 400 ft buffer of streams.

This analysis will identify proportion of 6th Field Watersheds occuring at three elevations (0-1000, 1000-2000, and > 2000 ft) that are non-forested. This analysis is an important component of the OWEB hydrologic impact section.

This analysis will be a stand in for actual road densities. 6th Field Watersheds will be ranked by area-weighted (by ownership classes) road frequencies.

Please address questions or comments to:

Dr. Ralph Garono
Principal Investigator
Earth Design Consultants, Inc.
rgarono@earthdesign.com

Laura Brophy
Principal Investigator
Green Point Consulting
brophyl@peak.org | homepage