Project Level Watershed Analysis McBride Springs Campground ...

“Our road lay through dark heavy forest of pine, cedar, fir, and thickets of
underbrush which were, in places, almost impenetrable… An hour and a
half’s ride brought us to Cedar Seat Camp – a cozy little retreat hid away in
the “deep tangled wildwood” by a little mountain rivulet of sparkling water
which coursed its way from the frozen snows of Mount Shasta.” Source –
Yreka Union August 18, 1866. Location – from Strawberry Valley on
horseback with Sisson and others. 7
Fires were regularly observed during 1854 to 1884 according to these historical accounts,
with smoke or haze from forest fires annually obscuring the sky after July until the fall
rains. After 1886 fires and timber cutting, forested stands were recorded as being replaced
by extensive brush fields.
The 8th field watershed (2,642 acres) that surrounds the McBride Springs Campground
project area has had road construction since the early 1900’s. Trails followed by roads
with narrow widths were replaced with paving and proper road drainage. Road access on
the Everitt Memorial Highway has always been dependent on the snow conditions and are
usually plowed to keep the road open for recreation beyond McBride Springs at Bunny
Flat. Road closure due to abundant snow can sometimes keep the roads closed from
December until late May. The McBride Springs Campground is typically gated closed in
October, opening when ground conditions and maintenance allow.
Chapter 5: Interpretations
Chapter 5 of this analysis addresses the key question for the proposed project.
The Effects of Proposed Management Activities in Riparian Reserves:
The proposed McBride Springs Campground Diseased Trees Removal Project is consistent
with the ACS objectives. On a watershed scale, activities from the implementation of the
Project are expected to be negligible and unmeasurable. On a project scale, because
activities are proposed for Riparian Reserves the proposed project may have a temporary
effect from minimal ground disturbance on the existing hydrologic processes and function
within the reserve. No effects from the project are anticipated outside of the campground
boundary.
Very wet periods such as rain on snow events allows surface water to flow in the
intermittent channels in the campground and sometimes throughout the watershed as well
as in the steep drainages that parallel the project area. These events are more episodic in
nature and may produce debris flows in the drainages that have reached the alluvial fan
upslope of the City of Mount Shasta. This is a natural geomorphic process that is not
affected by the project.
7 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