Oregon Coastal Salmon Restoration Initiative |
Phase I Implementation Plan
ODF 1 - Road Erosion And Risk Project
Background: Many forest roads built prior
to the development of the Oregon Forest Practices Act, or prior
to establishment of the current Best Management Practices (BMPs),
pose increased sediment risk to fish habitat. Industrial forest
landowners have agreed to implement a voluntary program to identify
risks from roads and to address those risks.
Goal: The goals of this project are to:
Roads assessed by this project will include all roads on non-federal
forest land used as part of an industrial or state forest operation
since 1972, regardless of their construction date. Emphasis will
be given to road systems constructed prior to current forest practice
standards and road systems in core areas.
Objective: This action will make improvements
to road elements such as road fills, stream crossings, and drainage
and surface problems to improve fish passage and habitat.
These improvements will also reduce the risks of adverse watershed
effects associated with "legacy" roads and major storm
events, such as the storm that occurred in February 1996.
The following priorities (highest priority listed first) will be used to implement this project:
Action Items:
Funding: The funding commitment for implementation
of this project by OFIC landowners over the next ten years is
estimated to be approximately $130 million, or $13 million per
year on average. Technical support funding will be provided by
ODF and DEQ.
Work Schedule:
Monitoring: This is a voluntary effort that
will be monitored by ODF in cooperation with OFIC and ODFW. An
annual accomplishment report by OFIC landowners and annual meetings
will be used to measure progress. At the end of ten years, landowners
will be evaluated on their substantive progress. For landowners
who have not made substantive progress, more aggressive application
of regulatory options will be considered.
ODF 2 - State Forest Lands Road Erosion And Risk
Project.
Background: State forest landowners have
agreed to implement a voluntary program (to include 1996 storm
damage) on state-owned lands to identify risks from roads and
to address those risks. This proposed effort will upgrade at
least 130 miles of road in each of the next three biennium. Many
of the road systems were built prior to the Oregon Forest Practices
Act to salvage Tillamook burn timber in the 1950s. The state
forestland was in private ownership at that time.
Goal: To restore, upgrade, and in some cases close state forest roads and stream crossing structures to meet current Forest Practices Act requirements.
Objective: The project will upgrade at least 130 miles of forest road in each of the next three biennium. This effort will reduce the risk of erosion and sedimentation that could severely impact fisheries resources.
Action Items: Roads will be inventoried using
new road inventory protocol developed by ODF and OFIC to identify
high priority road repair/improvement projects. Roads will be
reconstructed, improved, or put to bed. All repairs and improvements
will meet or exceed requirements of the revised Oregon Forest
Practices Act rules.
Funding: Storm damage portion (FEMA and
District storm-related costs): Current biennium $3 to $4
million anticipated.
For the Phase 2 portion of this measure $3 million dollars is
available for the 97-99 biennium pending approval.
Road improvement program (Phase 2):
The Department is requesting authorization to spend an additional
$3 million dollars and add 6.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) personnel
as part of a program option package for the 97-99 biennium to
support this portion of the program. The revenue to implement
this project is available awaiting authorization.
Work Schedule: July 1996 through 2002
Monitoring: Reconstruction, road
closures, and repair work will be monitored by ODF road engineers
using GIS data collection techniques.
ODF 3 - Technical And Policy Review Of Rules And
Administrative Processes Related To Slope Stability
Background: To analyze the effects of the
February 1996 and November 1996 storms, the Department is in the
process of collecting and analyzing landslide information from
study zones within the storm areas (reference ODF 13). As a followup
of the monitoring effort, the Board of Forestry will review the
existing forest practice rules and program in relation to slope
stability to determine if changes in rules or administration procedures
are needed. The review process will be two-fold, focusing on
public safety and impacts on fish habitat and water quality.
Goal: Review forest practice rules related
to slope stability.
Objectives:
Action Items: Water Quality/Habitat Issues
Adaptive Management
Regulatory Program
Implement Voluntary Program
Public Safety/Property Issues
Funding: Funding of hazard mapping portion
of this project will be contained within ODF's forest practices
budget.
Work Schedule:
Monitoring: Annual reporting.
ODF 4 - Stream Habitat Assessments.
Background: For the last three years, industrial
forest landowners and state forest lands have contracted with
ODFW to complete stream habitat surveys following modified Hankin
and Reeves protocol (ODFW protocol).
Assessments, to date, have included approximately 3,000 miles
of stream. Landowners plan to continue to provide funding for,
or conduct, additional assessments during the next several years.
The focus of these assessments will be completing all coho streams.
Goal: Assess the condition of salmonid habitat in all coastal watersheds, at a target of approximately 1,000 miles per year.
Objective: See ODFW measure I.B.2.
Action Items: See ODFW measure I.B.2. (Responsibilities).
Funding: See ODFW measure I.B.2.
Work Schedule: See ODFW measure I.B.2.
Monitoring: Annual reporting.
ODF 5 - North Coast Salmonid Habitat Restoration
Project
Background: The North Coast Salmonid Habitat
Restoration Project is an existing program that has been in place
for two years. Membership is open to all landowners who share
a commitment to stream habitat conservation, restoration, and
enhancement through cooperative means and who can contribute valuable
resources (time, equipment, and funding) to support the Project's
objectives.
A steering committee oversees the project. Representatives on
the steering committee include a representative of each landowner;
a representative from each of the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife, Oregon Forest Industries Council, Oregon Small Woodlands
Association, and the Associated Oregon Loggers; and two representatives
from the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
The geographic area this project encompasses includes all river
basins from Neskowin Creek near Lincoln City north to the mouth
of the Columbia River. The area is divided into three regions:
the Nehalem, the Tillamook and the Nestucca. Approximately 64
original potential restoration sites were located within the project
area during the first two years. An additional 92 potential project
sites have recently been identified on state forestland by ODFW
through a three-month contract funded by ODF. Work will also
begin during 1997 to identify additional habitat improvement projects
on private lands.
Goal: To conserve, restore, and enhance salmonid habitat of the North Coast through voluntary participation of area landowners in cooperation with the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Objective: The development and implementation of detailed habitat restoration plans for individual stream reaches identified in the Tillamook/North Coast and Lower Columbia Project Selection Guide developed by ODFW on private and state lands.
Action Items: Of the 64 total identified
project areas for the Tillamook/North coast, 38 have been completed
to date, 17 are scheduled to be completed in 1997, and 9 currently
do not have scheduled completion dates. Contracts are being written
to begin addressing the 92 projects on state forestland that are
part of this Initiative.
Funding: Periodically, members of the Project may contribute money or something of value to the Foundation for the purpose of habitat restoration. The Foundation seeks contributions from other interested parties including federal agencies and private foundations. This money is used in part to fund an ODFW habitat biologist, to leverage additional federal funds, and to provide cost share dollars to small landowners who might otherwise not be able to afford projects on their lands.
Work Schedule: Current projects funded for completion (17 of
which are currently in progress):
Monitoring: Completion of identified restoration
projects. Monitoring of all the North Coast Initiative projects
will occur using established protocol established by ODFW.
ODF 6 - Mid-Coast Restoration Project
Background: The Mid-Coast Restoration Project
has been modeled after the North Coast Restoration Project. Membership
is open to all landowners who share a commitment to stream habitat
conservation, restoration, and enhancement through cooperative
means and who can contribute valuable resources (time, equipment,
funding) to support the Project's objectives.
In 1996, the Mid-Coast Habitat Restoration Project completed
24 projects, including the placing of over 280 structures affecting
approximately 21 miles of stream. Landowner participation included
several industrial forest landowners (Boise Cascade, Georgia Pacific,
Starker, Willamette, Simpson, Weyerhauser, Stimpson, Hampton,
and Hancock), small private landowners, and Oregon Department
of Forestry.
Goal: Conserve, restore, and enhance salmonid habitat (particularly Coho) of the Mid-Coast through voluntary participation of area landowners in cooperation with the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Objective: The development and implementation of detailed habitat restoration plans for individual stream reaches identified by ODFW.
Action Items: For 1997, a total of 26 potential projects have been identified within the Salmon, Siletz, Yaquina, Alsea, and Siuslaw basins. These potential projects include instream work, fencing, riparian planting, fish weir repair, maintenance, dike repair, and bridge installation. The potential projects could affect approximately 25 miles of stream reach. Five of the 26 potential projects are continuation of 1996 projects.
Funding: For 1996-97 and 1997-98, estimated
funding is $850,000. Periodically, members of the Project may
contribute money or something of value to the Foundation for the
purpose of habitat restoration. This money is used to fund a
habitat biologist hired by ODFW to implement projects and to leverage
additional federal funds. The Foundation may also receive contributions
from other interested parties.
Work Schedule: February 11, 1997 steering
committee meets to determine 1997 project priorities.
Monitoring: Completion of identified restoration
projects.
ODF 7 - Fund Seven New Fish Biologists To Provide
Technical Assistance For Salmonid Habitat Restoration
Background: This voluntary measure by the
Oregon Forest Industries Council (OFIC) landowners will function
to provide technical assistance in western Oregon to forest landowners
conducting salmonid habitat restoration projects. Current in-place
grassroots efforts, such as the North and Mid-coast initiatives
(ODF 5 and 6) lack stable funding; this action will absorb these
and create five additional areas covering all of western Oregon
providing long-term stable funding. This project area will include
the western slopes of the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean.
Goal: To conserve, restore, and enhance salmonid
habitat in western Oregon through voluntary participation of area
landowners in cooperation with the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation,
Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife.
Objective: Provide technical support for
the development and implementation of detailed habitat restoration
plans and projects for individual stream reaches identified by
ODFW.
Action Items: This program is in the initial
phase of development.
Funding: OFIC forest landowners will voluntarily
contribute up to $500,000 annually to fund seven biologists hired
by ODFW. Additionally, in conjunction with the Oregon Wildlife
Heritage Foundation, additional dollars will be leveraged to fund
restoration projects on non-industrial forestland. On forest
industry lands, restoration projects will be funded by the landowners.
Work Schedule: This program is in the initial
phase of development; funding will be available spring of 1997.
Restoration projects will be identified after biologists are
on board and then prioritized for completion.
Monitoring: Completion of identified projects
documented through annual reporting.
ODF 8 - Riparian Hardwood Conversions.
Background: Forest practice rules adopted
in the fall of 1994 affecting vegetation retention requirements
have been changed to allow the conversion of conifer sites currently
dominated by brush and hardwoods back to conifers.
This measure can only be implemented on conifer sites and only
on sites where current RMA conifer basal area is half of that
required by stream size and stream type under the general water
protection rules. No more than half of the total stream length
within the harvest unit can be converted, and the conversion
blocks cannot exceed 500 feet in width. The conversion blocks
must be separated from each other by a minimum of a 200-foot retention
block where the general vegetation retention prescription is applied.
This management measure includes modifications of applications
within initiative identified core areas. In lieu of the standard
procedures within the rules, hardwood conversions within core
areas will be subject to additional review and will require a
site-specific plan to be submitted and reviewed.
Goal: To restore riparian conifers on conifer
sites, while assuring potentially adverse effects are fully considered.
Objective: On sites where the native tree
community would be conifer dominated, but due to historical events
the stand has become dominated by hardwoods, in particular, red
alder, the rules allow disturbance to produce conditions suitable
for the re-establishment of conifer. In this and other situations
where the existing streamside vegetation is incapable of developing
characteristics of a mature streamside stand in a "timely
manner," the desired action will provide functional stream
shade, some woody debris, and bank stability in the short term
while creating conditions in the streamside area to attain desired
future conditions more quickly than would otherwise be achievable
under natural succession.
Action Items:
Funding: Funding is within ODF Forest Practices
budget.
Work Schedule:
Monitoring: Both validation and effectiveness
monitoring have been initiated. Effectiveness monitoring will
include analysis of riparian vegetation structure both pre- and
post-operation and effectiveness of riparian reforestation efforts.
Implementation monitoring will analyze the frequency of hardwood
conversions.
ODF 9 - Northwest State Forest Lands Management
Plan
Background: Oregon Department of Forestry is preparing a Northwest Oregon State Forest management Plan. A draft plan is expected to be completed by the summer of 1997. The plan will cover over 600,000 acres of state forest land and will address the full array of statutory mandates and Board and department policies. ODF is working closely with ODFW in developing the plan and has solicited input from stakeholders through a variety of forums.
Goal: To produce a forest plan that:
The plan will be used to develop a Habitat Conservation Plan,
if possible, that serves as a means of complying with the federal
ESA, and also achieves the purposes of the state ESA.
Objective: Plans are now in development and are not expected to be approved until late 1997. Riparian management practices focus on developing mature streamside stands to provide for the needs of multiple species. Watershed