Project Level Watershed Analysis McBride Springs Campground ...

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maintaining hillslope processes, such as existing natural erosion rates, without accelerating them. Episodic flood events are responsible for the large debris flow channels that characterize the larger drainages. Water flows in these channels in response to snowmelt conditions and occasional rainfall. Debris flows are associated with these channels, for example, Cascade Gulch, and carry rock, water and sediment from higher elevations in narrow deep canyons to lower elevations where sediment is deposited on debris fans that splay out across a wide swath. Riparian reserves associated with these types of intermittent streams are subject to large-scale natural disturbance from debris flows as well as avalanches. Vegetation Very limited aquatic, riparian and meadow habitats are present within and adjacent to the Project. White fir, ponderosa pine and cedar dominate the overstory vegetation in the project area. The understory is comprised of a diverse riparian plant community, including willow providing subdominant plant community structure and many forbs and grasses in the understory near the ground. Mature willow reaches upwards of twenty feet in height where some sunlight is able to reach the forest floor. This vegetation provides root strength to the streambanks which qare in a highly functional condition. The vegetation influenced by the springs and extended periods of wetting adjacent to the intermittent channel includes obligate and facultative plants associated with wet soils. Recreation The McBride Springs Campground provides opportunities for developed camping, and is utilized primarily during summer. Users enjoy camping, picnicking, and hiking along the campground trails. McBride has 11 campsites that are usually full during camping season. With the current situation from campground closure, users have had to camp at either Panther Meadows or Bunny Flats. This has caused campers to adjust their plans accordingly, placing extra pressure on these already well-utilized sites since the campground was closed for safety reasons. The campground is closed in the fall, winterized and opened in the spring as conditions allow. Equivalent Roaded Area and Soils The project area is approximately ten acres, approximately 0.1 percent of the 7,803 acre 7th field hydrologic unit. The threshold of concern for the McBride Springs hydrologic unit is adopted from the larger 5 th field Box Canyon Watershed which has a threshold of concern equivalent roaded area of 18%. The current ERA for the McBride Springs hydrologic unit is 3.4% primarily from roads. A large portion of the lower portion of the watershed is urban and urban interface. The upper watershed is mixed-conifer with manzanita and ceanothus brushfields. Approximately half of the upper watershed upslope of the urban area is in plantations. Timber harvest activity from the Mountain Thin and Fuels Management Project is ongoing. No recent fires have occurred in the watershed. Project Level Watershed Analysis McBride Springs Campground Diseased Trees Removal Project
7 th Field Hydrologic unit code 18020005010302 Name McBride Springs Drainage Area (acres) Forest Plan TOC (%) Existing ERA (%) 7,803 16 3.4 Soil Map Units in the watershed: Rock outcrop-Sheld family association, 60 to 80% slopes, Rock outcrop (40%) very steep lava flows on volcanic peaks. Vegetation is Scree/Scrub; Sheld family (40%), very steep mountain sideslopes. Vegetation is Scree/Scrub Scree/Conifer. Rock outcrop includes extremely cobbly glacial moraines and deposits of tuff breccia and welded tuffs. Washougal family (80) %, 20 to 40 % slopes, gently sloping volcanic sideslopes, buttes, lava flows. Typical Vegetation Series is Sierran-Cascade Mixed Conifer Forest, Greenleaf manzanita and chaparral. Sheld-Revit families- Glacial outwash association, 10 to 35% slopes Map unit components: Sheld family (40%) in the drainages and outwash channel, Typical Vegetation Series is Snowbrush Chaparal Red-Fir White-Fir Forest; Revit Family (30%) in the outwash flats, gently sloping side slopes, Red-Fir White-Fir Forest, Rubble land (30%), channels, moraines, drainages, Typical Vegetation Series is Exposure Chaparral Scree-Scrub; complex landforms with very steep drainages, moraines and glacial outwash flats. (This lies outside of the project area). Sadie family, deep (75%), gentle mountain sideslopes, lava flows. Typical Vegetation Series is White Fir Forest, Ponderosa Pine Forest. This soil has moderate erodibility. Chapter 4: Reference Conditions The purpose of Chapter 4 is to focus in on the historical activities that have affected watershed condition and are relevant to the proposed project. Historical accounts were made by visitors traveling as early as 1854. 6 First ascents of Mount Shasta describe the vegetation from the lower elevations near the City of Mount Shasta, up Cascade Gulch and continuing beyond McBride Springs. From these accounts, the vegetation is described as being expansive and impenetrable shrub fields interrupting large stands of sugar pine and ponderosa pine, with little understory. One reference regarding what may possibly be McBride Springs “1866 Ascent of Mount Shasta in August” is noteworthy: 6 Cassidy, J. March 2004. “Chronological Vegetation History of Mt. Shasta for the Mountain Thin Project.” Version 1. Mountain Thin Vegetation and Fuels Management Environmental Assessment. Project Level Watershed Analysis McBride Springs Campground Diseased Trees Removal Project
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Project Level Watershed Analysis McBride Springs Campground ...

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