San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan - Part 2

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Land Management Plan Part 2 San Bernardino National Forest Strategy September 2005 Lytle Creek Theme: Lytle Creek offers a popular year-round stream gathering place for urban families. Steep, chaparral-covered hillsides with perennial and intermittent streams and fragmented riparian vegetation, coastal sage scrub, scattered groves of large sugar pine and bigcone Douglasfir provide important wildlife habitat. This Place supplies the primary source of water for the city of Fontana. Setting: The Lytle Creek Place lies at the easternmost extension of the San Gabriel Mountains. The area is highly dissected by deep canyons, steep slopes, cliffs, and narrow ridges. The North, Middle, and South Forks of Lytle Creek are the dominant physical features in this Place, which has been a popular recreation destination for many generations of local residents from the cities of San Bernardino, Rialto, Fontana, and Colton. The San Andreas Fault is prominent here, extending in a northwest/southeast trend along the northern boundary of this Place. Elevations range from 2,000 feet along the Interstate-15 corridor to 9,000 feet along the boundary with the San Gabriel High Country. Cucamonga Peak, the Cucamonga Wilderness, the Sheep Mountain Wilderness and Mt. San Antonio typify the rugged, mountainous country west of the I-15 transportation corridor. The climate of the area ranges from Mediterranean to mountain, from temperate to hot, with cooler temperatures at the higher elevations. Precipitation ranges from seven inches at lower elevations to 40 inches, with snow in the winter on the taller peaks. Lytle Creek and its tributaries are perennial streams. Surface and groundwater extraction for hydropower and municipal uses, campgrounds and picnic areas, and unauthorized use have reduced flow in the lower reaches of the canyon. Riparian and water Page 72
September 2005 Land Management Plan Part 2 San Bernardino National Forest Strategy resources are affected by the large numbers of recreationists that come into contact with the water. Recreation dams impede downstream flow during periods of low water and affect species dependent upon a consistent flow regime. Riparian vegetation is fragmented and discontinuous along many sections of Lytle Creek due to the dynamic nature of rain events in the drainage, and is generally limited to a narrow swath along the streams. Mature stands of mixed conifer with black oaks, chaparral, and some pockets of bigcone Douglas-fir are found in the Middle and South Forks of Lytle Creek, while some of the largest sugar pines in southern California are found on San Sevaine Ridge. The south-facing slopes throughout the area are mostly dominated by chaparral. Vegetation along the urban interface and transportation corridors is being converted from chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and hardwood/Douglas-fir stands to annual grasses due to the increased frequency of stand replacing wildland fire. Vegetation remains adjacent to the urban community in some locations, presenting fire risks to private landowners. Wildland/Urban Interface Community Defense Zones are needed to protect the Lytle Creek community from wildland fire. The 2003 Grand Prix Fire resulted in the loss of homes in the Lytle Creek community and Middle Fork recreation residence tract, demonstrating the serious fuels problem here. Post fire flooding in this area also occurs. A high concentration of tree-of-heaven, a non-native invasive plant species, is present here and should be eradicated. Lytle Creek supports a diverse population of riparian species, particularly in the upper reaches where water flow and riparian vegetation are adequate. Riparian bird diversity is high and the lower reaches of the creek support a healthy population of speckled dace, a Region 5 sensitive species. Most of the perennial streams support trout, and the most heavily used reaches are planted by the California Department of Fish and Game. Water withdrawal in the lower reaches of the canyon is affecting downstream species and their habitats, especially during periods of low water. Critical habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat and the California Gnatcatcher is found in the southeastern portion of the Place. Periodic flooding in Lytle Creek Wash is required to maintain suitable habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat. Nelson's Bighorn Sheep are found at the higher elevations of the Place. Over the last two decades, the sheep population in the San Gabriel Mountains has declined by 85-95 percent for reasons that are poorly understood. Sheep habitat burned in the 2003 Grand Prix Fire is expected to greatly improve habitat quality. Sheep response to the burned habitat will need to be monitored. Native Americans occupied this Place in the past and obtained animal and plant resources important to their life ways. Native American botanical gathering areas are present today. Lytle Creek Canyon contains the community of Lytle Creek, as well as two tracts of nearby recreation residences on National Forest System land. Conflicts occur on busy summer weekends as crowds spill onto private land. The community is working with the Forest Service to manage this use. Access into the Place is primarily gained via the county road system with further dispersal of recreational or service traffic being accomplished via the national forest road system. The Lytle Creek Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project operated between Southern California Edison and Fontana Union Water Company was re-licensed in 2002 for 20 years. It includes a diversion, flow-lines, powerhouses, and other water delivery facilities. It also includes an underground water collection facility called the Grapeland Tunnel that was built around the turn of the century. Page 73
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San Bernardino National Forest Land Management Plan - Part 2

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