watershed land conservation subcommittee proposal · lands targeted for protection bitats at l...
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Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal –January 4, 2012 Page 1
YakimaBasinStudy
WatershedLandConservationProposedIntegrate
SubcommitteedWaterResourceManag
ProposalementPlan
January4,2012
TheproposedIntegratedWaterResourceManagementPlandevelopedundertheYakimaRiverBasinWaterEnhancementProject(YRBWEP)representsacomprehensiveapproachtowatermanagrestoreeco
ementandhabitatenhancemYakimaR
entintheYa
sustainablelogicalwater
functionsresources
inforthe
the healthiversystem
kandimaRiver
toprovbasin.Itisintendedto
agriculture,municipalanddomesticwaterusers.of
Tthehe I
riverntegra
inetedePnvi
ideronment,
moreraeliables well
andas
projectstomeettheseneedswhileanticipatingchangingwateruselsaannodfefefrfseactpsoafckclaigmeaotef
changeonwaterresourcesinthebasin.
Sectionactions
3.1.for
5thofetYheakIintmegraa Ri
tedver B
PlanidentifiesseveralHabitatProtectionandEn
actions,Enhancements.
this sec tion of the P
alansin. I
includesn addit
Targetedion to flo
odWatershedplain and
habitatProtections
restorhancement
ation
dvise tA Watershed
Protecta
ionhe YandRBEWnhaEPncementWorkgrou
elementpLandson o
Conserv
opftions f
ation Subcommittee
theIntegor iratmedplePmlan.entiTnhigsth
options. sdocumente T
wasargeted
established an
tod
A withotherlays Watershoutthose
ed
LocallanduseplansorlandOthers would require p
aoctionslit al
i onrt
gh
manaic
ementdaedIntegminis
rtatraedtivPe plan,ros
esignations.coemsseesac ttionso modify
arefundFeder
ingal,dependent.
State and
Healthytemperat
watershedsures, reduce
protectsedimen
watertati
benefitson,quality, contribute to instreamflows
are widely recognized by waterand
usersmaint
aanind lanaquaticd manager
habitast
climateacompand
lecoolerwater
changeplacescross the
xity.West. The
Ases
thealthandwatersupply.he Yakima River Basi
newn’s u
stresspper
eswaotnerwatersheds w
resourcesill becom
ande e
aquatven m
icorheabitats vital t
inotehecosfyuture,stem
Becauseat
increasing
areInteg
intreednded
Plan,tomcomplementanytheof populationsthew
patroershed
of severactions
al salmonidproposed
speciesare focused
is a porimary
ponfishh
gabitatoal of
sed fish passage projects and river and floodplainatndhe
habitat improvement
Basinprotectio
bothnaondenhanc
setmenthat are
supportsalso included in the Integrated Plan. Tribu
fwhich are listed as Threastteelheadened under
andbtheull
Etroutndang
poepreudla Stipoencsieisntary
Athce h
t.Y Iaa
tkb
aiimtaat
supportssummer Chinook,
spring andcoho,fall Chinook
and sockeye and n
lso
improved water quality and streamsalmon.aturally
Fishreprod
habitatucing p
gopuenerall
lationsy will
of rbenefiteintroduced
hydrographs within and downstream offromthe
headwaters andhigh elevation streamsprotectedby this proposal. Bull trout,with their
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal –January 4, 2012 Page 2
dwindling numbers, requirements for especially cold water and populations isolated bybdesigotht
neatmionpersaatureredaesignddned,ams
inwparereta,tospperotectcialfo
hcueadwatsofth
erispsrtreamoposa
sl.anLadnthedan
ecologicaldriverseg
hmealthent
ofspawningandrearing
fbenefits,oraging,
headwatermigration, ando
habitverw
ats.inteLrandingh
acquisita
ions
lands targeted for protectionbitats at l
underoawlsoer eaidintheprotectionofsalmonid
uniqueriparianareasandspottedowlhabitat. thelevIntatioegnrsa.ted In ad
Pladitniwonilltoprotectthese
Theeconomy
watethroughrshed protec
protectingandetions and enhancem
Washingto ndxpandinga
entswidev
proposal
nStateresidentsa visitors,includingmarietyofr
willecralsoeational
suppoopportunitiesforrt the regional
continuetoFurther,itis
supporttheregiodesirablethatso
nalecmeof
otorized
onomy.theselandsbemaintained
aansdworkingnon‐motorized
landssoactivities.theywill
TheInt
WashingtoShrub‐s
etgrepapteedPl isa
annal inc
sroecaalsilnsgfolyrpthroreattecenedtiono
afndshr
fraubgmented‐steppel
andswithintheYakimaBasin.habitat type found inCentral
Integferrug
ratinedouns h thata
supports
Planwwillk th
complementat requ
severalire la
orgdeclining species s
ngoinge block
as of intact l
uchand.
as Tthhee egreaterfforts su
sapgeporgtrouseed by
andthe
landowners
This report
toprotectt
summarizes
hisvitalla
the
n
options
dscapetype.
ct
fo
ions
r Targete
byarange
d Watershed
ofpublicagencies
Protections
andprivate
andEnhancementsidentifiedbytheWatershedLandsConservationSubcommittee.
ConservationProposedactionsinclude
Actions::
Landrmanagement;ecrea
tacquisitionsionalan
andd tr
ain
dfroitcioonjunctio
mnal rwillieso
ngunrcesellersuses; t
oto protect and enhance ecological,
additiontofee‐simplepurchase,thetweithrm
oth“acq
erprovidestruct
uisInittegraion”c
taedninPclaurne forco
improved land
that offer a high degree of certainty over the long‐term, sludeuch
ompother
nents.techniques
In
easements.as conservation
idenfor l
tifiedand a
acndConservation
quitsaritigeton aedcthree
groupsworkinginparallelwiththeYRBWEPWorkgroup
functions.
o
tions t
kheayta wreasoul
ind htheelpY iakimamprov
aen wdNacheatersh
sedRiver and
watershecosystem
eds
o
45,000Enhancement
acres as a Conservation Target for High Elevation Watershed
o
10,000asaConservationTargetforForestHabitatEnhancement.
15,000 acres as a Conservation Target for Shrub‐Steppe HabitatEnhancement
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal –January 4, 2012 Page 3
NewfunctionDesignatio
designationsandhabitatprnscouldincludeNatio
onexistingotection
whileretainingaccessforrecrForest
nalRecreationArea(NRA),Wild
Servicelandseatio
ernnaluses.
somecombinationofthese.WhiessAreaor
wouldberequiredfor
NewWildandScenicRiversActtoprprivat
designations
elan
ofselect
NRAorWildernessAreaactions.
river
lethesecanberecommended,an
corridors
ActofCongress
omoteconservationincooperatiwithintheYakimaBasinunderthe
downersandCountygovernments.WhileWildandScenonwithpublican
desigicRiver
d
implementnation
astion.canberec
ommended,anActofCongresswouldberequiredfor
TheSubco
tablemmittee.
beginning on the following page summarizes the actions proposed by the
toimprovewatershed
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 4
Summary
WatershedLandConservationSubcommitteeProposal
AREAPROPOSEDLANDACQUISITIONS1FROMWILLINGSELLERS
PROPOSEDLANDDESIGNATIONS(ONEXISTINGPUBLICLANDS)
PROPOSEDRIVERCORRIDORDESIGNATIONS
UpperYakimaBasinForestLands
PreferredOptions
American Forest Lands Co. (AFLC) Teanaway Tract. Offer to purchase lands for a Community Forest Trust or State ownership.
Taneum and Manastash Creek headwaters (with Little Naches lands, below). Offer to purchase lands inside National Forest boundary for Forest Service ownership.
Alternatives
Plum Creek Co. lands in Big, Taneum, & Cabin Creek, and/or Cle Elum River basins.
AFLC lands, Swauk and First Creek areas Additional private forest land holdings in Kittitas Co.
Exploreconservationeasementsand/oroffertopurchaseforpublicownership.
Create Upper Yakima National Recreation Area (NRA). Approximately 20 percent proposed as wilderness.
Create Manastash‐Taneum National Recreation Area on Forest Service Lands. No wilderness designation.
Wild and Scenic (W&S) River designations for Upper Cle Elum, Waptus and Cooper Rivers.
If AFLC Teanaway land tract is acquired, W&S River designation for portions of North, Middle and West Forks of Teanaway River.
Foradditionalinformation,seeSubcommitteereporttextandassociatedmaps.AswithotheractionsintheIntegratedPlan,actionslistedwillbedependentonfunding.1Insomecircumstances,conservationeasementsmaybeusedinplaceoffee‐simpleacquisition.
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 5
Summary(continued)
WatershedLandConservationSubcommitteeProposal
AREA PROPOSEDLANDACQUISITIONSFROMWILLINGSELLERS1
PROPOSEDLANDDESIGNATIONS(ONEXISTINGPUBLICLANDS)
PROPOSEDRIVERCORRIDORDESIGNATIONS
MiddleYakimaandNachesBasinForestLands
PreferredOption
Little Naches River basin lands (with Taneum and Manastash lands, above). Offer to purchase lands inside National Forest boundary for Forest Service ownership.
Alternatives
Various lands in Tieton, Cowiche, and/or Ahtanum Creek/Klickitat River basins. Explore conservation easements and/or offer to purchase for public ownership.
Wilderness designation of lands in vicinity of Bumping Lake.
W&S River designation of South Fork Tieton River, Indian Creek, and Rattlesnake Creek.
W&S River designation of Deep Creek (tributary to Bumping Lake).
W&S River designation of American River and Rainier Fork.
Shrub‐SteppeLands PreferredOption
Eaton Ranch, adjacent to proposed Wymer Reservoir site. Explore conservation easements; or offer to purchase for State or Federal ownership.
Alternatives
Rattlesnake Mountain site in Benton County
Cowiche Creek Basin lands in Yakima County.
For both properties, explore conservation easements and/or offer to purchase for public ownership.
Notapplicable. Notapplicable.
Foradditionalinformation,seeSubcommitteereporttextandassociatedmaps.AswithotheractionsintheIntegratedPlan,actionslistedwillbedependentonfunding.1Insomecircumstances,conservationeasementsmaybeusedinplaceoffee‐simpleacquisition.
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 6
ProgramTheguide
Subcommitteethe
Principleestablished
s:a set of prin
actions underprogram.
this p Therogram
principleswill improve
expressciplesthe e
for eachofsth
ecosysofese
watershedxpectation
andtheactionssubcommittee
tobe used to
supportinglocaleconomicconditionsandtraditionalusesbythelocalcommunities.tem functions w
thhiat
le
Theenhancem
agencentsies involved in carrying out the targeted watershed protections and
aexisndtindegvoerloproposedping
m lustand
actively
consult stw
futuremana
adjacentgement
landraithtelocal landowners in
usgieses.a Tnd/orhese
la andctmionanas mcarrying out the program
alandscapelevelapproach.Addigeumentst be
desintegratedignations
withwith
Principle
Acquirelandsoreasem
Maintainec
sforForest
onomicuseswherelan
LandAcquisitions:
tionalprinciplesarelis
tedasfollows:
entsonlyfromwillingsellersatfairmarketvalue.
wherethisisconsistentwithprotectionofkdshavehist
eyo
habitat.Thiswillhelptofosterwaterricallybeenused
shedfunctionsasworkinglands,
supportfromlocalcommunitiandaquatic
andecosystemprotectionobjectivesasthewatershed
anongoingfundingsourceformanagiesar
ngtheepursued.Thisw
properties.illalsoassistinproviding
Maintforava
ainanrietyofrecr
d,wherepoeationalus
ssible,ies,mproveaccesstolandsandwherethis
enhanceopportunities
watershedfunctionsandaquaticlocalcommunitiesasthewatershedand
habitat.ecosystemprotThisisconsistentwillalsohelpt
withprotectionofkofostersupportfrom
ey
pursued.ectionobjectivesare
Principle
Restorattheacquisit
sforShrub
ionionprograandmana
‐Steppe
gm,includi
Land
ement
Acquisit
activnglong‐term
itiesareessfundingsoentialand
umustbercesforth
supportedunderesepurposes.
Acquirelandsoreasementsonlyfromwillingsellersatfairmarketvalue.
Landacquisitionswillhelptoofromlowlandreservoirprojects
ffsesuchasWytimpactsof
ions
merReservoir,andwiinundatingshrub‐steppehabitat
llcompleme
managedongoingeffortstoprotectshrub
forhabitatprotectiona‐steppelandsinCentralWashinndrestoration.
gton.Landswillbent
Accessandopportunitiesforrecreationwillbeenhanced.
Principle
Aworkinglandsoutcomewillbechabitatandsensitivewildlif
Newdesign
sforNew
ationsw
Designations
illenhance
on
especies.
Existing
onsidered,
Public
w
Lan
hereconsistentwi
ds
thprotectionof
watershedandfishhabitatprotectionandpreserveorimproverecreationalopportunities.
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 7
Newdesignationswillminimizenegativeeffectsonexistingorreason
protectioforeseeableeconomicusesofthea consistentw
ably
nofwatershedfunctionsandfishhabitat.ffectedpubliclandsthatare
ith
PubliclanddesignationswilldiPlan,including(butnot
rectlycomplementotheractionsintheIntegrated
Principle
acquisitions,andriver
sforRiverCorridor
corridordesignations.
Newriv
Designations
limitedto)fishpassag
eandhabitatrestoration,land
developedc
ercoooperativelrridordesignationsa
ywithpublicandprivndassociatedmanagem
jurisdictionoverlocallanduseregulations.atelandowne
entplansrsandthec
willbeountyhaving
NewrivPlan,par
etrcicularlyfishpassage,habitatrorridordesignationswillcomplementotherac
estoration,landacqutionsiisition
nthes,an
Integdpublicland
rated
designations.
Newrivpublicly‐ownedlands
ercorridordesignatwillbedevel
ionproopedinclosecooperatposalsandassociated
ionwitmanagem
haffectedenentplanson
t
willbeproposedonlywithsubstaandtheCountyofjurisdiction.Newdesignationswhichencompassprivatelands
ities
Managementplansfordesignationntialsupportfromaffectedlasonprivatelandswillbedeve
ndolopedwners.
collaborativelywiththeaffected
Options
perspectivesoftheprivoverlocallanduseregulations.
n ingj
ThiscooperationwlandownersandtheCou tyhav urisdiction
for theUpperYakima
ateandpubliclandown
RiverBasin
ersaswillrecogni
ellasthzetherightsanderespectiveCounty.
Land
TheSubcommittee
Acquisitions
hasidentified
landsprovetobeunavThese
include
Preferred
options
Option:
ailableortolisted in th
teheIntfollowingegrated P
olan,ptions
asforthe
asU
ocostlyforacquisition.well
applternaterYakima
ives inRivercase
Basthose
in.
inthemiddleandlowerTeaAcquisition
nawfromapotentiala
willingsellerofa46,000acretract
Teamixedconiferforestandlowere
nawayRiverflowsintotheYaklevatioyRiverbasin
ngrandfirandPocomprisedofmidtohighelevation
connectivitytohighelevationcolderwaimaRivera
ter.Protectndprovides
nderosapineforest.The
significantecosystem,waterqualityandquantity,andspingthisa
fishpareawouldprovide
ssageand
complementthehabitatsandspececiesbenefitsthat
HabitatCoproposedarea.Th
nservationProgram(HCiesprotectP),directly
edbythePlumCreekadjacenttothewest
CernentportionoftralCascades
ePonderosapineforestsareparticularlysignificantduetotheirhe
limitedrrecognized
angteandhat:
vulnerabilitytoclimatechange.TheDepartmentofEcologyhas
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 8
Inaddition,
“The Teanaway River system represents some of the highest quality
strategyof
water fish spawning
acquiringaconservatio
ndprotectn
and r
ofthe
earing areas in the Yakima River Basin.”
Teanawaylandingnon‐federallandsto
scapefitswensurellintotheoverall
streams and cold-1
esuccessful
landscape‐s
PreferredOption
calelinkages.
headwatersofTaneumandManasta:Acquisitionfrompotentialwillingsellersoflandsatthe
Privadjacen
ateltalanndsinthesdsintheLittleNachesBasin(see
shCreeksinconnectiooptionsforNach
nwithacesBasin,below).
quisitionof
generallyinacheckerboardpatteewatersheds
rn.ThelandisprimarilymidareintermingledwithNationalForestland,
old‐growthforestremain.Theuconiferforest.Mostoftheareahasbeenloggedand
pperreachesofTaneum,andManreplanted,butsomeareas
toupperelevatioofn
importantforwaterquality(maintainingcooltemperatures)andtheyalsoprotectastashCreeksare
watersupplyandprovidecurrentogrounds.
Alternatives:
rpotentialsalmonandsteelheadspawning
availableorcannotbeacquiredIfthelandsintheU
well.Allofthesewouldalsoreatareasonablecost,otheroptpperYakimaBasinidentifiedaboveare
ionsareavailableasnot
quirewillingsellers.These
AElumRicquisitionofPlumCr
verwatersheds.eekholdinKittitasCounty.37,950acres.
gsinBigCreek,TaneumCree
include:
k,Cabin
CreekandCle
AKittitasCo.2cquisitionofAmericanForestL
,700acres..andsResourceholdings,SwaukandFirstCreekareas.
Acquisitionofadditionalprivatelandholdings.KittitasCounty.Forestlands.6,600
Public
Thetheupper
subcommittee
Lan
acres.
dsDesignations
proposes
applyingt
habitat funYakimactionswhile
Basin.preserThisdesigna
ving thetheionNisatfionallexible
RecenoreatughiontoAreaprovide
desigpnatrotectioniontoland
forskeyin
is,NatinioenssenalRe
cce,reaatpioweronAr
fuleadmarketingesignation
featurealsooverarai
llsthemethepr
ofof
thseatw
ilreecreaofthese
tionarlecreatiouse for
naltheselands
landsand
.
localNation
economicalRecreat
Creation
vionA
of
italit
the
ryeasa
Upper
. Itnisdwi
Yakima
importanllnotbenotboundbyNRArule
National
t to note
Recreation
tillhatattprractivatmeorlandseu
serareswh
notoco
includedntributet
no
s.i
100,000acresofexistingUSForesonapproximately
approximately6,000proposedNRA,approximately21,0
t
acreswouldbe00acresServicelandsinthes
wouldbedesignat
Areeaareas.W
edasithWilderness,inthe
designatedforbackcountrymotorizedrecreationaluse,andapproximately1,000acreswouldbedesignatedforbackcountrynon‐motorizedrecreationaluse.Alloftheseproposedusesare
1 http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/TeanawayTMDL.html(October2011).
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 9
consistentwiththeusesidentifiedinthecurrentOkanogan‐WenatcheeNational
Forest(OWNF)PlanRevisionproposeNRAdesignation.
ProposedAction;howevertheforestplandoesnot
Creation41,000NRA,approximately
acresofexistingoftheManastash
35,000acresUSFores
‐TaneumtServic
Nationalelandsinthes
Recreation onapproximately
recreationaluse.Theseproposedusesarecowouldbedesig
nsistentnatedforbackcou
eareasArea.Withintheproposed
ntrymotorized
riversThe
River
Subcommittee
Cor
currentOW
ridorDesignations
NFProposedActionandwithcurrentusesowiththefthisarea
usesident.
ifiedinthe
andreachesprwhereoposes
desd
ignaesignat
tionsionswillunbenefitderthefederalWildandScenicRiversActfor
Ysalmonids.akima Inte
Bullgrat
teroutd Pl
caann. The intent is to protec
tdirec spa
twlynitnheg,faishnde rriesearsiupportedng habita
itns thfoer
desigprotectio
natedncoriticalhabitatfof headwaters
easpec
rndbulltiallyhigh‐elevatio
benefitfrnomstreams.thecool,
Allcleanof t
waterhe reaches
thatcan
rout,mostarealsocriticalhabitatforsteelhead.proposedresultfrom
are
TheSubcommittee
WildandScenicCooperRive
id
rs
ent
i
riversandreachesaboveCleElum.InadditiontodocumentedorRiver
fiedthe
Designations
followingashighprioritydesi
forUpper
gnations:
salmonandsteelheadasfishareReservoirw
presumedbulltrouthaillallreceivein
CleElumRiver,
creasingnumbersof
Wabitat,thptusand
ese
ElumDam
bestqualityWestForks.TheTeanawayRiverWildandScenic
.
spawning
River
habitatfo
Designations
reintroduced
forTeanaway
andfishpassage
River
providedaboveCle
anditstributariescurrentlyp:North,Middleand
rsalmonidsinthebasin,withsteelhead,bulltrout,rovidesomeofthe
andspringChinookpresent.TheacquisitionoftheTeanawayforestlandsand
protectionandmanagementproWildandScenicdesig
pno
centraltothesalmonidrestoratationsedthrough
ioneffortsundertheYakimaIntegratedPlan.are
DesignatioThelowerlimitofWildandScen
nwouldbelinkedtoacqicdesiguisitionofthe46,000acreTeanawayproperty.
determinedinconsultationwiththosepropertnationaffectspriv
yowners.atepropertyandwillbe
WiththeexceptionoftheTeanawayRiver,theser
inthe1990theWenatcheeNatio
WenatcheenalForestanForestPlan
dhavebeenorinthe2011Okanogan‐Wenat
proposedforWildaiversareprimaril
ndyorexclusivelyinScenicdesignat
RevisionProposedAction.WheretherearesignificantprivatepropertyinterestscheeForestPlan
ion
affected,suwillbeproposedonlywithsubsta
chasforthemiddleandlowerreachesofthentialsupportbytheaffected
Teanalandowners(seewayRiver,designations
Principlessection).
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 10
OptionsfortheNachesandMiddleYakimaRiverBasins
LandAcquisitions
Preferredheadwaters
Option.oftheLittl
AcquisitioneNachesR
fromapotentialwillingselleroflandatthe
watershedsManastashandTaneu
areintermingledwithmbasins,to
iverincombinattalingupto10,000
ionwacres.Privithadjacentl
atelaandsinthe
NationalForestland,generallyinacheckerboardndsinthese
pattern.Thelandisprimarilymid‐toupper‐elevationconifer
Theupperrareahasbeenlogged
maintaine
andreplanted,butsomeareasofold‐growtforest.Mostofthe
achesoftheLittleNachesRiverareimportantforwathforestremain.
ingcooltemperaturesforbulltroutprotectionandrestoration.Theyalerqualityand
protectwatersupplyandprovidecurrentorpotentialsalmonandsteelheadso
spawninggrounds.
Alternatives:availableorcannotbeacquired
IfthelandsintheLittleNachesatareasonablecost,otheropt
Basinidentifiedabove
well.TheSubcommitteehasidionsare
areavailableas
not
entifiedseveral
River,CowicheCreek,andAhtanumCreekwatforestlan
acquiredfrompotentialwillings
ellers.AlloftheseareinYershedsthatcouldp
d‐holdingsintheTietonotentiallybe
F
orestAcquisitionAlternative1.TietonRiverwatershed. 3,1
akimaCo
65acres
unty.
ForestAcquisitionAlternative2.AhtanumCreekandKlickitat
Riverwatersheds..
10,200acres.
Facres.orestAcquisitionAlternative3:7ForestlandsinCowicheCreekwatershed. 5,700
ForestAcquisitionAlternative4:ForestedlandsintheCowicheCreekwatershe
d.
PublicLand
4
s
,70
and
0a
cre
Rive
s
Thesubcommitteeproposesthefollowing:
rCorridor
ofappro
Designations
ximately
WildernessDesignation 1,500acresadjacentto
PreliminarWilliamO.DouglasWildernessint
yAdministrativelyRecommendedhevicinityofBumpingLake.
WildernesslandsinInadditio
andnearthe
thecurrentntothe
OkanogthattheWil
an‐WenatcheeNationalForestProposedAction,theSubcomm
additionalUSFSlandtothegreadernessboundarynea
testextentprrBumpingLakebeadj
acticable,consisustedto
WildernessAct,followingthecomt
designateitteeproposes
pletionofanyBumpingLakeReentw
servoirexpansioniththe
aspartofthisproject,andtha
reservoir.Wilderness
Wildand
Scenic
trailheadsa
RattlesnakeCreek.Bulltroutpo
bovethelakeandttherecontinuetobeprovisio
facilitiesforrecreatnofroadaccessto
RiverDesignation
ionalboatingonthe
pulationsinthonS.ForkoftheTieton,IndianCreekand
CreekarethestrongestremainingintheYakimabasin.RattleseSouthForkoftheTietonandIndian
nakeCreekisalsoabulltroutstronghold.
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 11
Wildpopulationisoneofthestronge
andScenicRiverDesignationonDeep reek.TheDeepCreekbulltrout
wouldbepartiallyinundatstremaining
C
passageatthenewdamwouldallowbothupstreamandedbyexpansionofBumpingReservo
inthebasin.Whilespawninggrounds
downstreamir,add
passage,itionoffish
reconnecting
PlanRevDeepCreek
isionProposedActionisidentifiedtheDeepC
fordreekpopul
esationwithotherpopulationsandh
;ignationinthehowever,theSubcommitteepropos
2011Okanogan‐WenaesdesigtcheeForesabitat.All
tof
nation
abovetheelevatio
bulltrouthabitat
Wildtributarhabitat.Th
andiesScenicteotheBumpingRivAmericanRiverspri
River
inofnthereach.
a
nexp
Designation
andedBumpingReservoir,protectingtheremaining
erprovidestonAmer
eelhead,springChinicanRiverandRainerF
ookandbulltroutork.These
distinctstock.ngChinookareademographicallyandgenetically
TheseForest
laandnda
hndave
riverbeen
dpesigroposednations
foarerW
primarild and
ily
oga eeFores Sor
ForestPlanorinthe2011Okanceni
ecxclusively
n‐WenatchtdPlesaignRevnatio
inntihen the
Wen1990atchee
WenatcheeNational
isionProposedAction.
Thefor new
foresdesignationstlandsdiscus
asedre
forpotentialacquisitionareshown
designationareshownonFigure3.shown o
n Figure 2, and rivers proposed
inFigurfeor1.LWaildndsandpro
Scenicposed
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 12
Figure1.OptionsforForestLandAcquisition.
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 13
Figure2.OptionsforNationalRecreationAreaandWildernessDesignations
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 14
Figure3.OptionsforWildandScenicRiverDesignations
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 15
OptionsThehabitat
shrubfor
for
conservatiosteppe
Shrubeco
‐system
Steppe
n forWiashingto
s
Protectionextremely
n Statethreat
Deparened
tment in Washin
of Fishgto and
n aWildlife.nd is a p
Srpeciesiority
that rely on
eagles,sferruginous
agesparrow,s hawks,
this habitatblack‐tailed
in centraland w
White‐tailedashington State include greater sage grouse,
agethrasher,andsagebrushlizard.jackrabbits, burrowing owls, golden
Ahabitatgricult
lossural
, dandeve
myrlopment was historically the m
WymerReservoirunderiad
theactiv
Integities
ratedstill threa
Planwtenouldremaostininimgposrhtrubant
steppe.cause o
fC sonstructionhrub steppe
totheYakimaRiverCanyon.inundateshrubsteppehabitatadjacent
of
TheFigure4):
Subcommitteeid
Preferredoption
entifiedthefollowingoptionsforprotectingshrub‐steppehabitat(see
canyon,hasbeenid:Thent
eifiedEatonRanch,a15,000acr
asapreferredshrubsteppeconservetractintheYak
ationoption.ThimaRiver
ranchincludeslandsinthevalleybottomandeasternslopesofe
numberonepriorityfoandextendseastwardf
rprotectromtheYakimaRivertoInterstate82(I‐
theYakimaCanyo82).Thisisthe
n,
andgoldenproposedWymerRes
eaglenestservoir,and
ionbecauseofdocumentedsagegroubecauseofitsimmediateproximitytothe
shrub‐steppevegetation,acrites.Th
iticalhabitattype.Itisproetractiscomposedprimar
posedthatilyofbasal
setbreedcliffsa
ingndareas
Alternatives:
orsuitableconservationeasementsbeacquiredonawilling‐sellerbasis.eitherthel
and
isnotfeasible,otheroptionsaIfacquisitionof
reavailableforshrub‐steppeptheEatonRanchorsuitableconserv
rotectioationeasnfrom
ements
potentialwillingsellers.The
o
sealternatesitesinclude:
ShrubSteppeAlternativeA:RattlBentonCo.14,000acres.Highpr
esnakeMountain(McWhorterRanch).
toprankedSteppeand
sRhrub‐steppeprojecangelandpartnership
iority.TheMcWhorterRanc
forSouthCentralWhacquisitashingto
ionShrub
tpartiallyfundedbythe2011Washingtonnisthe
WildlifeandRecreationProgramBentonCounty.
andhaslongbeensoughtbyWDFWand
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 16
o ShrubSteppeAlternativesBthroandencompass10,000to12,000
ughEareintheCowicheCreekacres.Priorityhabitatspresentandin
watershed,
good‐to‐excellentconditionincluwoodland,cliffsandtalus.
de:stream,riparian,shrub‐steppe,oak
Therecmanagementonser
isvaatiownide. T
rangeofhabitatquality
measuresherefo
andre,
thein a
fudndsdition
onthelandsundercon
tosupportto acq
tuhemiring
will lan
bedsn, isiderationdentificat
forshrub‐steppe
thedesiredhabitatconditions.ecessaryin
ionorder
oftosspecificecure
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 17
Figure4.OptionsforShrub‐SteppeHabitatAcquisitions
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 18
WhoThereacquir
e
Willard.e
ios. T
a
Ownrange
and
scenar
Private
hef
ownership
ollowofin
g
Manageallteristnatdes
icvr
e
the
isberse
Lands
sgardever
ingal
Acquired?
awholterna
shouldtivesf
orownpotential
and mlandanag
meanagement the lands
,whichmayincludeacquisitionofconservationeasements
conservaan
Local
ex
isting
ownership
tionprivateorganiza
lation.ndowner, or outright ownership by a private, non‐profit
from
consortiuminvolvi.ngs Th
takehis ma
oyl idergronclude
u ops.Thwner
isoshipptio bnym aayCalousnotyincludeuseofanew government or a
programremaintobeo
State
ption
ownership
forCommunityFdeveloped).orestTrus
tsunderWashingtonStatelaw(protocolsforthis
ResourcesorDepartm
Federalownersh
b
ip
y aentofFishandWildlife.n agency such asWashington State Department of Natural
example, any landsbaycquiredtheU.S.
wForestithin
Servthe
iceexist
oringBureau
boundarofL
iesand
NationoManagf the
eWment.enatchee
For
Tribal
alForestwouldpresumablybeowned
ownership
bytheForestService.
bytheYakamaNation.
Cprotectioonserva
ntioannd eaesnhancemen
etsment c
an pwrithovoidute aconvert flexib
ingle
tprooival to promote habitat and watershed
Emayasem
includeentsca
developmentnbepurchas
rights,edforspecificrightsassociated
te ownershipwith
to public ownership.
theeas
TheSubcommittee
ementremai
nv
recommends
estedinthepropertyoaccess,
thatowner
orotherwner.
ship
rights.
opt
ions
Any
in
rightsagi
thatvenl
aarendnpotaricncludedel.Thes
specif
ine
icareasbeprioritizedasfollows:
Alllandinprmechanismtosupportpermanentw
landsivunderateown
considerationershipcoupledwithacons
.Foreveryacquisitiont
atershedaendhabitarvationea
heoptionofkeepingthsementorsimilar
e
lityoft rotectio
canmeetcoconsidered.Thesuitab
ni thisapproachwilldependonwh
p
servationobjectives,recreationalaccessobjectiveether
nshouldbetheoutcome
landowner’sneeds.
asaCommunityForestTrust.IfForested
ownership
la
withstrong
ndsintheTeanawayBasin
sandthecurrent
:Consortium/communityownershipsuch
ForestedareasintheThesear
headwaters
participattionbyastakeholderadvisorychisisnot
ofthe
feasible,then
Litt
thenextbestoptionisommittee.
State
ManastashCreeks. e“checkerboard”landswhereprleNachesRiver,
ivaTantelandsareumand
e
Watershed Lands Conservation Subcommittee Proposal – January 4, 2012 Page 19
intacquiredis
Eaton
ermingl
Ranch
edwithU.S.ForestServ
shrub‐steppe
FiceownersorestServ
lands.
hiceLands.ip.
Thebestoptioniftheselandsare
includingst
Additional
ateor
forested
fed
reviewedownershipo
er
and
alowner
shrub
ship,couldbepursuedonthese
‐steppe
Avarietyofalternativeconservationoptio
landoptions.
lands.ns,
ptionsindetailfortheadditionallThesubcommitteehasnotandoptions.
Theparticulfundingsour
arconditionsofeachcesusedforlandacq
individualproperty,proximituisitionorconservationeasem
ytootherents,ando
largepublicland‐holdings,
issuesindetimportantinassessinglandowne
ailforthepropertiesidentified.TheSubcommittrshipoptions.TheSubcommitte
eeintendsthehasnot
texploredherconsiderationsare
allofthese
bedeterminedproperty‐by‐property,inamannerthatleadstooutcomesmatchingtheprinciplesatownershipdecisions
outlinedinthisreport.
WatershedLandConservationSubcommittee
IreneDavidson,U.S.ForestService
PeterDykstra,TheWildernessSociety
PaulJewell,KittitasCountyBoardofCommissioners
SteveMalloch,NationalWildlifeFederation
TomRing,YakamaNation
JeffTayer(Chair),WashingtonStateDepartmentofFishandWildlife
JeanneWilliams,WashingtonStateDepartmentofNaturalResources