Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation ...

Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project
In the upper northwest part of Unit 4, the water influence zone is wide due to presence of several
seepage zones. These small streams are healthy, with stable banks and robust vegetation (Photo
11/Figure 3.6-12).
Figure 3.6-11 - Photo 10 - Downstream
UTM 366910/4103214
Figure 3.6-12 - Photo 11-Downstream
UTM 366714/4103304
As gradient increases, hill slopes above the stream channels also steepen (Photo 12/Figure 3.6-
13).Near the 11,000 ft level in Unit 4, a wide riparian zone is present below the steep slope
above. Upstream, slope steepens and topography is broken (Photo 13/Figure 3.6-14). In this area
another small perennial tributary is present. Water influence zone marking by Forest personnel
did not only include the minimum 100 feet from stream bank edges, but wet seepage areas with
riparian vegetation beyond that distance.
Figure 3.6-13 - Photo 12-Upstream
UTM 366646/4103324
Figure 3.6-14 - Photo 13-Upstream
UTM 366425/4103569
7 th Level Watershed of Concern
Seventh level watershed 13010005050101 is considered a “watershed of concern” because of
past timber operations and road building. The disturbance level threshold for a “watershed of
concern” designation is 15% (RGNF Forest Plan). The disturbance level in this watershed will
be about 16% when the current Spruce Park and Escarabajo timber sale contracts are finished.
Another factor used in watershed ratings is amount of disturbance in the water influence zone
Chapter 3 – Affected Environment & Environmental Consequences Page 3-19