Salmon Anchor Habitat and State Forests

Salmon Anchor Habitat and State ForestsPresented by Bob Van Dyk and Tom Miewald to the Oregon Board of Forestry

September 3, 2008

Wild Salmon Center 2

Overview and Presentation Context

• Wild Salmon Center mission and the North Coast Watersheds

• State Forests and Salmon

• Data Analysis of Watershed Conditions


Key Findings and Recommendations• Findings

– North Coast of regional importance for wild salmon

– State Land is the largest landowner on the North Coast and provides vital wild salmon habitat

– Few of the North Coast watersheds score high for watershed condition for salmon; state lands are better condition than private lands

– Few areas in the North Coast are managed with a high conservation emphasis; Salmon Anchor Habitat expiring in 2011-1013

• Recommendations– Extend and Enhance Current Salmon Anchor Habitat Strategy


Globally Significant Salmon Rivers

Wild Salmon Center is an international science-based organization whose mission is to identify, understand and protect the best wild salmon ecosystems of the North Pacific.


North American Context• Many salmon runs extinct or

depressed in Pacific Northwest.

• The Wild Salmon Center regional assessment identified salmon strongholds with high abundance and high life –history diversity.

• Tillamook and Nehalem Basins scored among the highest in the Lower 48 contiguous states.

Multi-Species Salmon Population Ratings


Key Salmon of the

North Coast• Chinook

• Coho

• Chum

• Steelhead

• Sea-run Cutthroat

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North Coast Area


Coho• 3-6% of historical levels

• Require summer and winter shelter habitat

• Summer shelter habitat are principally in forested streams


Fall Chinook• Largest run north of Rogue,

appx. 20% of historic levels

• Since 1990 Tillamook Basin among top 3 Fall Chinook runs north of Rogue.

• 2008 Forecast: Largest run north of Rogue.

• World-class recreational fishery.

• Juveniles spend less than one year in river/estuary.


Chum• Southernmost significant run

in United States

• Small fraction of historic abundance

• Miami and Kilchis support the largest runs in Oregon

• Spawn low in basin

• 2 weeks – 1 month in river


Steelhead• Salmonberry River is

internationally famous for wild steelhead.

• High gradient reaches of State Forest land are key steelhead production areas.

• Juveniles over winter 2-3 years.

• Substantial but not quantified wild runs throughout North Coast.


Salmon and Greatest Permanent Value• Protecting salmon habitat also provides…

– Healthy riparian areas for many aquatic and terrestrial species

– Recreation

– Water Quality

– Commercial Fishing

– Long-term, sustainable economic engine

• Protecting salmon is compatible with sustainable timber harvests


North Coast Context:Planning for Salmon• Oregon Dept. of Forestry is a

key owner on North Coast of key fish habitat– Little federal land north of

the Nestucca River

• Little land in High Conservation Emphasis

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Oregon North Coast Ownership & Location

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Current Oregon North Coast Forest Conservation Emphasis


Conservation Emphasis and Forest Management• Private forests: more clearcutting

• State lands: more thinning

• Federal: less management

• Key concerns– Shortage of large wood for proper

aquatic function

– Extensive road networks, including legacy roads, contribute sediment

– Temperature

Oregon North Coast Timber Harvest1972 - 2007

1984199520042007 with thinning19722007


North Coast Context:Current Protection for Salmon• Salmon Anchor Habitats

– Reduce risk that management activities pose to salmon

– Still allow up to 25% of some watersheds to be clearcut in 10 years of the plan

– Expire 2011-2013

– Subject to revision in current consideration of changes to forest plan

Oregon North Coast Salmon Anchor Habitats

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Assessment of Watershed Condition and Fish Distribution

• Objective of Analysis

Provide insight into the following questions:– Where are key areas for salmon based on latest data and

science?

– What is the current condition of watershed processes across ownerships?

– How to create a conservation plan across the North Coast?

– Better understand implications of changes to Salmon Anchor Habitat strategy.


Collaborative Decision Support Model

• The analysis was conducted with the expertise and input of:

– Oregon Dept. of Forestry

– OR Dept. Of Fish and Wildlife

– U.S. Forest Service

– Ecotrust

– The Nature Conservancy

– Local Fish Biologists

• The collaboration developed a model to understand regional watershed and fish condition.

• Model is at the landscape scale.


Model Tests for support of the proposition that the watershed is in good condition


Watershed Condition

Watershed Condition Scores:

Dark Green: High Scores

Dark Red: Low Scores

Riparian condition

Deciduous component: Measures % of riparian zones with deciduous (hardwood) cover with trees> 14” diameter at breast height

Riparian zones for providing shade and nutrients.

Riparian Deciduous Condition Greater than 14’ DBH

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Watershed Condition




Riparian condition

Conifer component: measures % of conifer cover with trees> 20” diameter at breast height

Riparian zones as a source for large woody debris and shade.

Riparian Conifer Condition Greater than 20’ DBH

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Watershed Condition




Floodplain Road Density

Measures miles of road per sq. mile

Roads alter the hydrology of low gradient streams, source of sediment.

Flood Plain/Road Condition Road density in low gradient stream

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Watershed Condition




Fine Sediment

Shows areas with fine sediment that are problematic.

Excess Fine Sediments

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Areas with low scores:– Tillamook lowlands

– Upper Nehalem

Areas with high scores:– Kilchis, Salmonberry, Little North

Fork Wilson, Nestucca

Oregon North Coast Watershed Condition for SalmonWatershed Condition

This map shows the aggregation of key ecological attributes:

Darkest Green: Data shows high support, watershed is in good condition

Darkest Red: Data shows low support, indicating that watershed is not in good condition


Watershed Condition by Ownership

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

North Coast Private ODF SAH

Average watershed condition scores by ownershipH

igh S

core

s Lo

w S

core

s Lands

OR Dept. of Forestry

Salmon Anchor Habitat Lands

Lands


Fish population data

• Data were gathered using the following sources:– Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Spawning and Juvenile

surveys from 1998- 2007

– Tillamook whole watershed surveys, 2005-2007

– Intrinsic Potential

– Expert Opinion

• Data is incomplete across the whole region.

• Intrinsic Potential


Multiple Species

• Watersheds draining directly into Tillamook Bay have high diversity and abundances.

– Chum

– Coho

– Steelhead

– Chinook

• Miami, Kilchis

• Little North Fork of the Wilson.

• Current Salmon Anchor Habitat status protects these areas, except the Upper North Fork Kilchis and Lower Kilchis.

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Multispecies Abundance, Density, Diversity from Multiple Surveys


Synthesis & Conclusions• Few watersheds scored high for overall

condition.

• State Forests have:– Better watershed condition

– High fish abundance and diversity

– High Intrinsic Potential areas for multiple species.

• Salmon Anchor Habitats:– Protect areas that are in better

condition currently.

– Protect multiple species across the landscape.

– Provide the potential for a healthy distribution of good watershed condition across the landscape.

– There are additions to Salmon Anchor Habitats that would enhance protection.

Oregon North Coast Timber Harvest1968 - 2008

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Synthesis & Conclusions• Few watersheds scored high for overall

condition.

• State Forests have:– Better watershed condition

– High fish abundance and diversity

– High Intrinsic Potential areas for multiple species.

• Salmon Anchor Habitats:– Protect areas that are in better

condition currently.

– Protect multiple species across the landscape.

– Provide the potential for a healthy distribution of good watershed condition across the landscape.

– There are additions to Salmon Anchor Habitats that would enhance protection.

Oregon North Coast Watershed Condition for Salmon


Policy Recommendations

• Extend and Enhance Current Salmon Anchor Habitat Strategy– Adopt for 20-year planning horizon

– Add specific key watersheds

– Revisit riparian strategies and clearcut caps to ensure protection of salmon habitat while allowing multiple uses

– Aggressively reduce harms from known problems, e.g. road improvements and/or removal

– Identify and protect micro-anchors (reach-scale) across the landscape

• Make salmon protection the highest priority in a subset of anchor habitats at the watershed level– Miami, Kilchis, Little North Fork Wilson, Salmonberry


Current versus Enhanced Conservation Strategy for Salmon on State Land

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Potential Oregon North Forest Conservation Emphasis

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Current Oregon North Forest Conservation Emphasis


Comments and Questions

Salmon Anchor Habitat and State Forests

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