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SHASTA-TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST

Fisheries Specialist Report for the Misery Hill Trail

Trinity River Management Unit

PROJECT NAME: MISERY HILL TRAIL PROJECT

ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT: Shasta Trinity National Forest, Trinity River Management Unit (TRMU)

LEGAL LOCATION: Portions of the Misery Hill trail to be constructed are located in

Sections 30, of T34N, R9W and Section 25 of T34N, R10W (Mount Diablo Meridian).

The trail is located in Trinity County, California.

FOURTH FIELD WATERSHED: Trinity River

WATERSHED ANALYSES: Upper Trinity River Watershed Analysis, USDA-FS 2005

Weaverville Watershed Analysis, USDA-FS March 2004

NEPA DOCUMENTATION: Categorical Exclusion; 36 CFR 220.6(e)(1); Construction and

reconstruction of trails.

ESA SPECIES CONSIDERED: Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon

(Oncorhynchus kisutch) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU)

ESA CRITICAL HABITAT CONSIDERED Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho

salmon Critical Habitat (CH)

SENSITIVE SPECIES CONSIDERED:

Klamath Mountains Province (KMP) winter steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus.mykiss) Upper Klamath-

Trinity (UKT) Rivers Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha); and Pacific lamprey (Entosphenos tridentatus)

ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: Chinook and coho salmon Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)

MANAGEMENT INDICATOR Fish Species: Resident rainbow trout (O. mykiss), steelhead trout (O.

mykiss)

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Background

The Weaver Basin Trail system (WBTS) is a highly used system of trails and roads located in and around

the community of Weaverville, California. The WBTS routes are designated for hiker, mountain bike,

equestrian, and/or motorcycle use. Comprised of approximately 40 miles of trails, the WBTS serves the

community and visitors alike with cultural, educational and recreational opportunities.

The Weaverville Basin Trail project began in 1986 with the inclusion of the WBTS in the Recreational

Element of the Weaverville Community Plan1. The Weaverville Basin Trail Committee was formed

in1988 to preserve Weaverville’s trails, and is made up of representatives from various groups including

the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Trinity County Historical Society, County of

Trinity, Weaverville/Douglas City Parks and Recreation District along with other user groups. In 1993,

the Trail Committee was adopted as a committee of the Trinity County Resource Conservation District.

One portion of the 34N01YC road which is part of the WBTS is very steep and experiences deep rutting

every year due to rain runoff and recreational use. Different sections of the road are located on private

and county lands, as well as Forest Service land. The Weaver Basin Trail Committee is currently working

with the private land owners and the county to construct a new trail to bypass this road, and the Forest is

proposing to construct a new trail on Forest Service land in order to complement the new trail

construction being done on non-Forest lands. The new trail, the Misery Hill Trail, would be open to

hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians only. The new trail would provide non-motorized users a

connection to the East Weaver/Day Ranch Trail with other portions of the WBST.

Planning Area Location

Portions of the Misery Hill trail to be constructed are located in Sections 30, of T34N, R9W and Section

25 of T34N, R10W (Mount Diablo Meridian). The trail is located in Trinity County, California.

Forest Plan Land Allocations and Management Area

Proposed activities will occur within the Matrix Roaded Recreation2 land allocation of the Shasta-

Trinity Land Resource Management Plan (LRMP).3

The purpose of this land allocation is to provide

for an area where there are moderate evidences of the signs and sounds of humans. Roads and trails

should be located, designed, constructed and maintained so that they are compatible with Roaded Natural

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) activities. These activities include hiking, auto touring, wildlife

viewing, OHV use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and horseback riding. .

Purpose and Need

The LRMP identifies desired conditions and management objectives for the land allocations and

Management Areas within the planning area. The following LRMP Goals, Standards and Guidelines

apply:

2Land Resource Management Plan pages 4-64 to 4-65.

3USDA Shasta-Trinity Natonal Forest 1995.

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Facilitate use of National Forest lands adjacent to urban areas with pocket parks, group sites, and

environmental education study areas. Develop or expand city to forest and other day use trail

opportunities. (LRMP pg. 4-24).

Promote partnerships with user groups to assist in the operation, maintenance, and development of

recreation sites and facilities. (LRMP pg. 4-24).

The purpose and need for the project is to design, construct, and maintain those trails within the Weaver

Basin Trail System that are on Forest Service lands to withstand the normal traffic and reasonable user

behavior during the managed season of use in order to have minimal negative effects on adjacent

resources.

Proposed Action

Approximately 0.26 miles of new trail (Misery Hill Trail) will be constructed on Forest Service lands

within the WBTS. This will connect to the new portions of the Misery Hill Trail being constructed on

non-Forest Service lands (see the map on page 4). The trail will be open to non-motorized use only

(hiker, mountain bike and equestrian). All work will be done using non-motorized and non-mechanical

equipment. “This proposal would also include future routine maintenance of the trail.”

All new trail segments will be constructed to standards described in Forest Service Handbook 2309.18,

Trail Maintenance Handbook. Work is expected to begin in September of 2015 and be completed within

the same month.

The proposed location of the new trail has been identified collaboratively by members of the Weaver

Basin Trail Committee and US Forest Service interdisciplinary specialists. The Proposed Action has

considered the following:

Construct and maintain trails to standards described in FSH 2309.18, Trails Management Handbook.

Hydrology

East Weaver and Garden Gulch Creeks are the closest water features in the area of the proposed Misery

Hill Trail. East Weaver and Garden Gulch Creeks are greater than approximately 1000 feet away from the

proposed trail. The Riparian Reserves of both creeks are greater than approximately 700 feet away from

the proposed trail. There are no unusual or extra ordinary circumstances that could result in impact to the

Riparian Reserves or the creeks due to trail construction. Trail proximity is of sufficient distance to negate

any impacts to the floodplain. Wetlands and municipal watersheds are not present in the area of the

proposed trail. Therefore a Hydrologic special report is not warranted.

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Figure 1. Project Location of the Misery Hill Trail (highlighted in yellow). Nearest Riparian Reserves

and stream layers are shown for Garden Gulch Creek to the west and East Weaver Creek

to the east.

Special Status Terms and Descriptions

Coho Salmon Endangered Species Act (ESA) Listing and their Critical Habitat. SONCC coho

salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) were listed under the ESA as Threatened in 1997 (62 FR 24588;

May 6, 1997) and Critical Habitat (CH) was designated in 1999 (64 FR 24049; May 5, 1999).

Designated CH for SONCC Coho salmon encompasses reaches of all rivers (including the

Klamath River basin, estuarine areas, and tributaries) between the Mattole River in California to

the Elk River in Oregon, inclusive. Coho salmon CH includes the entire mainstem Trinity River

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starting with the confluence with the Klamath River upstream 109 miles to the base of Lewiston

Dam as well as most of the mainstems of the South Fork Trinity River and Hayfork Creek.

This Fish Specialist Report follows the Analytical Process (AP) for Developing BAs for Federal

Actions Affecting fish within the Northwest Forest Plan Area (USDA-USDOC-USDI, 2004) to

assess effects of the Project on ESA-listed salmonid species. The AP isolates discreet Project

‘elements’ for analysis against 18 physical fish habitat ‘Indicators’ using up to eight evaluation

‘factors’. The AP is normally limited to preparing BAs for federally ESA-listed fish - SONCC

Coho salmon within the Project assessment area. Because of the nature of this Proposed Action,

however, the Effects summarized hereafter apply to all of the fish species and habitats indicated

at the beginning of this BA/BE/ Fish Specialist report.

Garden Gulch flows intermittently sufficiently to be accessible to anadromous fish on occasion.

East Weaver Creek supports steelhead and coho salmon have been identified there. Therefore

they both possess Critical Habitat for coho salmon.

Sensitive Species

The Forest service definition and description of Sensitive Species (Forest Service Manual at

2670.5) is: “Those plant and animal species identified by a Regional Forester for which

population viability is a concern, as evidenced by a) Significant current or predicted downward

trends in population numbers or density; b) Significant current or predicted downward trends in

habitat capability that would reduce a species’ existing distribution. Sensitive species must

receive special management emphasis to ensure viability and to preclude trends toward

endangerment that would result in the need for Federal listing”. Biological Evaluations (FSM

2672.4) must be written whenever appropriate to ensure that Forest Service actions do not

contribute to loss or viability of any native Sensitive-listed plant or animal species or trends

toward Federal listing of any of the Sensitive-listed species. Analysis of all the fish listed at the

beginning of this report will be conducted concurrently.

KMP Steelhead have been observed in East Weaver Creek and Garden Gulch. No doubt Pacific

Lamprey have been able to migrate up into these two streams as well. I have observed Pacific

Lamprey in 2015 in West Weaver Creek.

.

Essential Fish Habitat

In addition to CH designations for SONCC coho salmon,

Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) require heightened

consideration of habitat for commercial fish species in resource management decisions, including

EFH for SONCC coho salmon and UKT Rivers Chinook salmon. EFH is defined in section 3 of

the MSA as “those waters and substrates necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or

growth to maturity.” National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) interprets EFH to include

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aquatic areas and their associated physical, chemical and biological properties used by fish that

are necessary to support a sustainable fishery and the contribution of the managed species to a

healthy ecosystem. The MSA and its implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600.92(j) require that

before a federal agency may authorize, fund or carry out any action that may adversely affect

EFH, it must consult with NMFS. The purpose of the consultation is to develop conservation

recommendations that address reasonably foreseeable adverse effects to EFH. Freshwater EFH

for Pacific salmonids includes all those streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and other water bodies

currently, or historically, accessible to salmon in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California,

except areas upstream of certain impassable man-made barriers, and long-standing impassable

natural barriers.

Analysis of CH or any anadromous fish habitat will include concurrent analysis of EFH.

Management Indicator Fish Assemblages and Species

From the STNF’s Land and Resource Management Plan (1995): “Fish species have been

grouped into specific assemblages or groups to simplify tracking the effects of Forest Service

management activities on fish habitats. Three assemblages have been established. These are: (1)

Fish Habitat – Anadromous Assemblage, (2) Fish Habitat – Inland Cold Water Assemblage, and

(3) Fish Habitat – Inland Warm water Assemblage. Winter-run Steelhead, spring-run Chinook

salmon and summer steelhead were selected as management indicators for the anadromous fish

assemblage. The rainbow trout was selected for the inland cold water fish assemblage.” The

Misery Hill Trail Project Action Area includes assemblages numbered one and two. The

Weaverville Forest Service fisheries section has identified coho salmon in their annual fishery

snorkeling surveys at East Weaver Creek in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Description of the Environmental Baseline

Per 50 CFR § 402.02, the environmental baseline includes the past and present impacts of all

Federal, state, or private actions and other human activities in the action area, including the

anticipated impacts of all proposed Federal projects in the action area that have undergone

Section 7 consultation and the impacts of state and private actions that are contemporaneous with

the consultation in progress.

For actions that affect freshwater habitat, the environmental baseline is described in terms of

properly functioning condition (PFC). PFC is defined as the sustained presence of natural

habitat-forming processes in a watershed that are necessary for the long-term survival of the

species through the full range of environmental variation (NOAA-NMFS 1999; USDI-FWS

1998). PFC constitutes the habitat component of a species’ biological requirements.

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CHECKLIST FOR DOCUMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE AND EFFECTS OF

PROPOSED ACTION(S) ON RELEVANT INDICATORS

Misery Hill Trail Project Area

Weaverville 5th

Field Watershed

Pathways:

INDICATORS

ENVIRONMENTAL

BASELINE Properly Not Properly

Functioning At Risk Functioning

EFFECTS OF THE ACTION(S)

Restore Maintain Degrade

Water Quality Temperature

CDFG

(2002)

X

Sediment

PJ

USFS (2001) X

Chemical Contamination

PJ X

Habitat Access Physical Barrier

PJ

X

Habitat Elements Substrate

USFS (2001)

X

LWD

USFS (2001) X

Pool Frequency USFS-2001

X

Pool Quality USFS (2001) X

Off-channel Habitat

N/A

N/A

Refugia

USFS (2001) X

Channel Cond & Dyn W/D Ratio

USFS

(2001)

X

Streambank Condition.

USFS-2001 X

Floodplain Cond.

USFS (2001) X

Flow /Hydrology Peak/Base Flow

CDFG

(2002)

X

DrainageNetworkIncreas

e NetworkIncresee

PJ X

Watershed Condition

Road Dens./Location

GIS

X

Disturbance History

PJ X

Riparian Reserves

PJ

X

Key: N/A - generally not applicable to this channel type.

PJ - professional judgment, no recent data available, little other information is available, indicator is rated based on

observation, anecdotal information, and professional opinion.

CDFG (2002) – Annual Report Trinity River Tributary Juvenile Steelhead Reach Project 2000-2001 Project 2c2,

Patrick Garrison, Weaverville CA.

USFS (2001) – Stream Condition Survey Report –Trinity River Management Unit, Weaverville CA.

GIS – Information developed from Shasta-Trinity National Forest GIS road layer.

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Project Element(s)

The proposed action is broken down into the following discreet components, or elements:

Trail Construction.

All Misery Hill Trail work will be done using non-motorized and non-mechanical equipment. All new

trail segments will be constructed to standards described in Forest Service Handbook 2309.18, Trail

Maintenance Handbook.

Effects Analysis of the Proposed Action

The proposed action occurs at greater than approximately 700 feet from the outermost edges of

the Riparian Reserves for both East Weaver Creek and Garden Gulch Creek (See Figure 1). All

work will be done using non-motorized and non-mechanical equipment. All new trail segments will be

constructed to standards described in Forest Service Handbook 2309.18, Trail Maintenance Handbook.

The Project as proposed will have neutral effects, or no effect, to all 18 of the fish habitat

indicators listed in the Table below. This is because the Project will create no physical

perturbation to fish habitat directly or indirectly in any manner, nor promote the initiation of any

such management which could in turn lead to an effect. Trail construction will be outside of

Riparian Reserve boundaries which is 300 feet slope distance on each side of East Weaver and

Garden Gulch Creek and will eliminate any chance for possible adverse effects to coho salmon,

Critical Habitat, and/or the remaining species listed in this report.

The Effects Summary is confirmed by the rationale of the following ‘Factor Analysis’ as per the

AP (2004). When possible effects can be dismissed based on the following initial three ‘factors’,

then analyzing the project elements for the remaining five factors is unnecessary.

a) Proximity ~ The geographic relationship between the project element or

proposed action and the species or designated Critical Habitat.

b) Probability ~ The likelihood that the species or habitat will be exposed to the

biotic or abiotic effects of the PE or action to the indicator.

c) Magnitude ~ The severity and intensity of the effect.

All Trail work will occur outside of Riparian Reserve habitat boundaries. The proximity of the

actions to coho salmon CH, EFH, and all of the other fish species addressed in this report is

therefore of sufficient distance to prevent any possible adverse effects. The probability in turn

drops to zero for the Project generating any adverse effects. Considering these two conclusions,

the magnitude of the potential effect would therefore also be zero.

The Effect of this proposed action to all fish species is summarized in the following table:

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Indicator Misery Hill Trail Construction

Temperature 0

Suspended Sediment / Turbidity 0

Chemical Contamination / Nutrients 0

Physical Barriers 0

Substrates / Embeddedness 0

Large Woody Debris 0

Pool Frequency and Quality 0

Large Pools 0

Off-channel Habitat 0

Refugia 0

Average Wetted Width / Maximum Depth pools

0

Streambank Condition 0

Floodplain Connectivity 0

Peak/Base Flows 0

Drainage Network 0

Road Density/Location 0

Disturbance History 0

Riparian Reserves 0

Note: 0= Neutral Effect

The possible effects to fish and fish habitat will also be summarized below.

Direct Effects. Direct Effects are the direct or immediate effects of the Project on the species or

its habitat. The Project will have no direct effect on anadromous salmonids or their habitat in the

Project area. Because the Project design excludes entry into Riparian Reserves for any Project-

related activity, it becomes impossible for direct effects to occur to any anadromous fish or fish

habitat. It is therefore impossible for the Project as proposed to have Direct Effects to any

anadromous fish.

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Indirect Effects. Indirect Effects are those effects that are caused by or will result from the

proposed action and are later in time, but are still reasonably certain to occur. The exclusion of

Riparian Reserve entry will eliminate the possibility of indirect effects to anadromous fish and

fish habitat. There is absolutely no manner in which Project implementation can cause indirect

effects to anadromous fish in the stream reaches closest to the Project or downstream from the

Project. No sediment is expected to be generated from the Project that could reach the stream

courses of East Weaver Creek or Garden Gulch. Trail work is expected to be initiated in

September and completed by the end of the month.

Viability of Sensitive Fish Species

A trend toward ESA listing of the three pertinent Forest Service Sensitive Species listed on the

USFS Regional Sensitive Species List, summarized on page one of this document, is not

anticipated and viability is not at risk. The Project does not adversely modify their habitat in

the short or long term. Individual anadromous salmonids are not expected to be adversely

impacted by the Project.

Aquatic MIS Species

In line with the discussions above, the Project will have zero impact to the two MIS fish species

that could conceivably occur adjacent to or downstream from the proposed Project area due to

the exclusion of entry into Riparian Reserves.

Cumulative Effects The ESA defines cumulative effects in 50 CFR 402.02 as “those effects of future State or

private activities, not involving Federal activities that are reasonably certain to occur within the

action area of the Federal action subject to consultation.”

Cumulative effects under NEPA include Federal or non-Federal activities not yet undertaken,

for which there are existing decisions, funding, or identified proposals.

The Misery Hill Trails project is not expected to trigger any adverse cumulative effects to or

translate to adverse effects to anadromous or resident salmonid habitats.

Determination Summary

It is my determination that the proposed Project would have no effect on SONCC coho salmon

and their Critical Habitat. The Project would not result in a trend towards listing or loss of

viability of USFS Sensitive steelhead, Chinook salmon or pacific lamprey. The Project will

have no effect to the two MIS species considered. It is also my determination that the Project

will have no effect on coho and Chinook salmon EFH.

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Aquatic Conservation Strategy

The Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS) has 4 key components to help maintain and restore

fish populations and their habitat: 1) Riparian Reserves, 2) Key Watersheds, 3) Watershed

Analysis, and 4) Watershed Restoration.

The following is excerpted from the Northwest Forest Plan Record of Decision as per the

Forest’s LRMP (1994):

Riparian Reserves exist for protection of riparian areas, as well as specific requirements for

timber management, road construction and maintenance, grazing, recreation, minerals

management, fire/fuels management, research, and restoration activities. Initial boundary

widths for riparian reserves are as follows:

Fish-bearing streams - the area on each side of the stream equal to the height of

two site-potential trees, or 300 feet slope distance, whichever is greater;

Permanently flowing nonfish-bearing streams - the area on each side of the stream

equal to the height of one site-potential tree, or 150 feet slope distance, whichever is

greater;

Lakes and natural ponds - the body of water and the area to the outer edges of

riparian vegetation, or to a distance equal to the height of two site-potential trees, or

300 feet slope distance, whichever is greater;

Constructed ponds and reservoirs and wetlands greater than one acre - the area

from the edge of the wetland or the maximum pool elevation to a distance equal to the

height of one site-potential tree, or 150 feet slope distance, whichever is greater;

Seasonally flowing or intermittent streams - the area on each side of the stream to

a distance equal to the height of one site-potential tree or 100 feet slope distance,

whichever is greater;

Wetlands less than one acre and unstable and potentially unstable areas -the extent

of unstable and potentially unstable areas, and wetlands less than one acre to the

outer edges of the riparian vegetation.

Riparian reserve initial boundary widths will remain in effect until they are modified following

watershed analysis.

The Project will therefore have zero negative effect to any of the Riparian Reserves and not

adversely trend any of the ACS components. The proposed action meets the following Aquatic

Conservation Strategy Objectives by maintaining the status quo via elimination of Riparian

Reserve.

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Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives Forest Service and BLM-administered lands within the range of the northern spotted owl will

be managed to:

1. Maintain and restore the distribution, diversity, and complexity of watershed and

landscape-scale features to ensure protection of the aquatic systems to which species,

populations and communities are uniquely adapted.

2. Maintain and restore spatial and temporal connectivity within and between watersheds.

Lateral, longitudinal, and drainage network connections include floodplains, wetlands,

upslope areas, headwater tributaries, and intact refugia. These network connections must

provide chemically and physically unobstructed routes to areas critical for fulfilling life

history requirements of aquatic and riparian-dependent species.

3. Maintain and restore the physical integrity of the aquatic system, including shorelines,

banks, and bottom configurations.

4. Maintain and restore water quality necessary to support healthy riparian, aquatic, and

wetland ecosystems. Water quality must remain within the range that maintains the

biological, physical, and chemical integrity of the system and benefits survival, growth,

reproduction, and migration of individuals composing aquatic and riparian communities.

5. Maintain and restore the sediment regime under which aquatic ecosystems evolved.

Elements of the sediment regime include the timing, volume, rate, and character of

sediment input, storage, and transport.

6. Maintain and restore in-stream flows sufficient to create and sustain riparian, aquatic,

and wetland habitats and to retain patterns of sediment, nutrient, and wood routing. The

timing, magnitude, duration, and spatial distribution of peak, high, and low flows must be

protected.

7. Maintain and restore the timing, variability, and duration of floodplain inundation and

water table elevation in meadows and wetlands.

8. Maintain and restore the species composition and structural diversity of plant

communities in riparian areas and wetlands to provide adequate summer and winter

thermal regulation, nutrient filtering, appropriate rates of surface erosion, bank erosion,

and channel migration and to supply amounts and distributions of coarse woody debris

sufficient to sustain physical complexity and stability.

9. Maintain and restore habitat to support well-distributed populations of native plant,

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invertebrate, and vertebrate riparian-dependent species.

In addition, Northwest Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines within Riparian Reserves also

include the following specifically directed toward trail management:

ACS – Recreation Management

1. New recreational facilities within Riparian Reserves, including trails and dispersed sites,

should be designed to not prevent meeting Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives.

Construction of these facilities should not prevent future attainment of these objectives. For

existing recreation facilities within Riparian Reserves, evaluate and mitigate impact to ensure

that these do not prevent, and to the extent practicable contribute to, attainment of Aquatic

Conservation Strategy objectives.

2. Adjust dispersed and developed recreation practices that retard or prevent attainment of

Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives. Where adjustment measures such as education, use

limitations, traffic control devices, increased maintenance, relocation of facilities, and/or

specific site closures are not effective, eliminate the practice or occupancy.

References NOAA-NMFS (Fisheries). 1999. The habitat approach-Implementation of Section 7 of the

Endangered Species Act for actions affecting the habitat of Pacific anadromous salmonids.

Northwest Region, Habitat Conservation and Protected Resource Divisions. August. P. 12.

USDA Forest Service, US Department of Commerce, US Department of the Interior-USFWS

and BLM (USDA-USDC-USDI). 2004. Analytical Process for Developing Biological

Assessments for Federal Actions Affecting Fish within the Northwest Forest Plan Area.

USDA Forest Service 2004. Weaverville Watershed Analysis.

USDA Forest Service 2002. Watershed Analysis for West Weaver Creek and Sidney Gulch

Subwatersheds of the Weaverville 5th

Field Watershed. Nine pages.

USDA Forest Service. Trinity River Management Unit Annual Fishery Surveys, 2010, 2011,

2013,2014.

USDI-FWS. 1998. The framework to assist in making Endangered Species Act determinations

of effect for individual or grouped actions at the bull trout subpopulation watershed scale.

February. p. 44

USDA Forest Service, 1995. Shasta-Trinity National Forest Land and Resource Management

Plan.