Biodiversity Guide - The Intertwine

egional conservation strategybiodiversity guideAppendix I Watershedsit remains healthy andproductive for nativefish and as a drinkingwater source. Toachieve this, suchtributaries need to beprotected from excessnutrients, sediments,and debris from loggingand agriculture.Stream side shadeneeds to be retained tokeep streams cool.Other water qualityissues in variousareas of the subbasininclude nitrates, dissolvedoxygen, fecalbacteria, metals (iron,manganese and arsenic; the latter two may occurnaturally), and legacy pesticides—primarily DDTand dieldrin.FishThe headwaters of the Molalla River provide vitalspawning, rearing, and migration areas for twoESA-listed fish: wild winter steelhead and springChinook salmon. The river also has residentrainbow and cutthroat throat and a reintroducedpopulation of coho salmon. Butte Creek, whichbecomes the Pudding River south of the SenecalCreek–Pudding River watershed, has some ofthe best remaining and potential salmon habitatand is identified as an important priority in fishrecover.Chinook SalmonThe Molalla River historically supported relativelyabundant Chinook populations, but these dwindledthrough the 20th century because of habitatconditions caused by agricultural and forest practices,urbanization, out-of-basin stockings, andpoaching in summer holding areas. The Molallaspring Chinook salmon run is part of the UpperWillamette evolutionary significant unit (ESU),which was federally listed as threatened under theEndangered Species Act in 1999. Recovery plan-ning efforts have identified the need to recoverall historical populations of Chinook in theUpper Willamette ESU, including in the Molalla-Pudding subbasin. Abundance and productivityinformation indicate that the subbasin’s Chinookpopulation is likely close to extirpation and hasbeen assigned an extinction risk category of veryhigh (see the Oregon Department of Fish andWildlife’s Upper Willamette River Conservationand Recovery Plan for Chinook Salmon andSteelhead).SteelheadThe Molalla wild winter steelhead run is part ofthe Upper Willamette ESU, which was federallylisted as threatened under the Endangered SpeciesAct in 1999. The Molalla River population is nowconsidered a stronghold population. For decadesbefore 1997, the Molalla River was stocked without-of-basin summer steelhead, winter steelheadand coho salmon. These stockings, combinedwith heavy timber harvest in the mid-century, ledto the sharp decline of this population. Stockingstopped with the listing of native winter steelheadand spring Chinook salmon. Only a decade ago,Molalla River wild winter steelhead were estimatedto number fewer than 200 fish, but in 2007and 2008 the estimate grew to more than 1,500fish, according to Oregon Department of Fish andWildlife and Native Fish Society reports.Trout, Lamprey, and Coho SalmonThe upper Molalla River has a healthy populationof native cutthroat and resident rainbowtrout. A remnant population of Pacific lampreyalso remains in the river. In addition, Native FishSociety observations and Willamette Falls fishcounts indicate that a run of reintroduced cohosalmon from a stocking program that was discontinuedin 1998 has had a steady and significantlinear increase.Wildlife and Key Habitat AreasWithin the greater Portland-Vancouver region,the Molalla-Pudding subbasin supports deer, elk,native squirrels, beaver, mountain beaver (aplodontia),raccoons, fox, coyotes, cougar, and bear.Wet areas support rough-skinned newt, Pacifictree frog, Pacific giant salamander, and the commongarter snake. Many song birds breed, forage,and migrate through the area, as do geese, woodducks, grouse, pileated woodpeckers, Americandippers, great blue heron, osprey, and commonand hooded mergansers.Low-lying and foothill areas in the subbasininclude native Oregon white oak and prairie remnants,although thorough mapping has yet to bedone. These habitats support numerous sensitive,threatened, or endangered plants and animals,such as western gray squirrel and white-breastednuthatch.Molalla River State Park protects the confluenceof the Pudding, Molalla, and Willametterivers. The floodplains of these rivers provideimportant habitat for waterfowl, wading birds,deer, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.A blue heron rookery, one of the largest in theWillamette Valley, is located in Molalla RiverState Park.Watershed PrioritiesThe Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’sUpper Willamette River Conservation and RecoveryPlan for Chinook Salmon and Steelhead listswater quality (including water temperature),habitat access, and physical habitat quality assome of the factors limiting the viability of fishpopulations in the upper Willamette River andits tributaries. The plan recommends severalstrategic actions, such as restoring fish passage,improving water quality (especially temperature),improving habitat access through river restoration,protecting habitat quality by reducingforestry impacts, and successfully designating theMolalla a Wild and Scenic River. The key priorityfor groups working on the Molalla River is topreserve or improve the water quality of the riverand sustain the people, wildlife, fish and plantsthat inhabit its watershed.Initiatives Currently Under WayThe Molalla River Alliance initiated and leadsefforts to secure federal Wild and Scenic Riverdesignation for approximately 22 miles of theupper river. The designation would protectapproximately 7,000 acres of riparian land alongthe river.Several local organizations, including MolallaRiverWatch and many volunteers, are workingwith federal, state and local agencies as well aslocal landowners to protect the Molalla River,restore its fish and wildlife, and encourage tourism.A fish barrier on Russell Creek was replacedto open up passage for winter steelhead, cohosalmon, and resident rainbow and cutthroattrout. Local organizations are actively seekingfunding to open more streams to fish passageand improve spawning and rearing habitat. Eachyear the Native Fish Society guides volunteers inconducting surveys and placing hatchery salmoncarcasses for nutrient enrichment in the upperwatershed.The Molalla River Alliance, Molalla River-Watch, and the Native Fish Society created theMolalla River Resource Center in downtownMolalla so that the community has a centrallocation for information on the Molalla River andits recreational opportunities. The Molalla RiverAlliance is also engaged in environmental educationthrough schools and guided field trips, trashpick-up parties, trail improvement, and removalof invasives.Organizations and PartnershipsMolalla RiverWatchContact: Bruce Taylor, riverwatch@molalla.net,503-824-2195Molalla RiverWatch is a nonprofit organizationcreated in 1992 by local citizens to protect, preserve,and restore the flora, fauna, and water quality ofthe Molalla River and its tributaries. The OregonWatershed Enhancement Board recognizes MolallaRiverWatch as the Molalla River Watershed Council.The council is committed to promoting respect andunderstanding of the Molalla River watershed througheducation and conservation for current and futuregenerations.300 301