Ecosystem
Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland
The structural and functional dynamics.
The ecosystem is managed to provide valuable aquatic and territorial wildlife habitat, fantastic setting, healthy streams and scenic quality for recreational activities. The main aim of the reserve is to restore the Oregon forests to a more conducive and sustainable long-term ecosystem process. The reserve has implemented a project called “more Kids in the woods” to help connect the youth to nature which was started by the United States Forest service. Alongside this, Deschutes and Ochoco National forest of Central Oregon, protects the communities hazardous fuel and large catastrophic reduction projects (US forest Service, 2010). The environmental consequences that the reserve faces are organized by resources area: Fisheries, Botany, Heritage Resource, Wildlife, Hydrology, Soils and Forest Vegetation. The area has a history of wildfires which have occurred across the Ranger District. It has become one of the major concerns to come up with a long term solution.
The projects that are being implemented in the park are for the purpose of meeting the objective of bald eagles, mule winter range and other wild species under Management Area 7 and Management Area 8 in the Deschutes National Forest Land and Resource management Plan (LRMP) (Stewardship, 2010, p 2). The affected environmental change is the physical, social and biological conditions that exist in the area which are subject to change either indirectly or cumulatively as a result of human action. Since 2008, there has been thinning of under trees and fuel treatment in the Whychus Creek Watershed and Lower Metolius Watershed. Whychus Creek water shed also faces the challenge of prescribed burning within the urban areas that interfere with the sister community. The large Fire history date back in 2002 called the early fire. There was the Cache Mountain Fire in that same year. In 2003, there was Link Fire and R&B fire. Kin 2006 Black Crater Fire and Lake Gouirge fire occurred.
GW fire happened in 2008.Road densities in the Lower Fly Creek account for 2.5 miles of road per squire mile. In the recent past, road obliterations closure and invasive plant treatment have been the main focus for restoration. The ongoing historical activities include, fire wood collection, timber harvesting, grazing, fuel reduction, grazing and hunting. The quality of water has been affected through changes brought about by the activities in the stream flow and hydraulic cycle regimes. Oregon has implemented and adopted water quality standards. This includes native numerical and beneficial, use criteria. Water quality standards include anti degradation policies which are designed to protect the most sensitive beneficial use within a water body. Water quantity is represented by backflow, storm flow and the combination of the two. In 1998, during the stream inventory surveys on the fly Creek, measurement was taken on discharge of 1.1 at the bottom end of reach two. The records indicated the level to be constant but in summer, the flows became very low and dry in some parts of the lower reaches.
Knowledge of the ecosystem and Alternative measures
The knowledge of these ecosystem’s structure and function has helped to develop plans for its management and restoration in the lower flying creek. The loss of riparian vegetation through wild fires and stream of longer solar radiation experienced in the past years have caused increased water temperatures. There is also high probability of increase sediments delivery which will cause adverse effects on aquatic habitat. The project in this area the roads of the influence zone would not be decommissioned or closed. As an alternative the Riparian Management Objectives and Forest Plan riparian Management goal which would protect designated beneficial used consisting of Executive Order and Clean Water Act. A second alternative that the project aims to conduct and include the maintenance of vegetative buffer strips.
This will conform to the Riparian Habitat Conservation areas as defined in INFISH (Stewardship, 2010, p 36). The alternative would directly and indirectly affects water quality, water quality and reparation areas. It would be consistent with Riparian Management Goals, Forest Plan which will include a combination of combine treatment including mechanical treatment of small brush and trees, thinning trees. Prescribed burning would be used to reduce the fuel loading in the planning areas.Cumulative Effects alternative for water quantity and quality and the riparian condition for the proposed Lower Fly Creek Project have been implemented because water conditions like sedimentation flow modification, runoff, wood recruitment turbidity and temperature are predicted. This will be beneficial for the general good infiltration rate of soil, use of existing roads and adequate buffering streams (Stewardship, 2010, p 39).
Reference
Stewardship, F (2010) Environment Assessment; Lower Fly Creek Project. Retrieved from
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/projects/units/sisters/flycrk/05-10-10-flycrk-ea.pdf
On May 28, 2010
US forest Service (2010) Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland. Retrieved from
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/
On May 28, 2010
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