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KLAMATH NATIONAL FOREST

MIS Project Level Assessment Part II of II

Effects of Project on MIS Habitats

PROJECT NAME: ___Hotelling Gulch Fish Passage and Stream Restoration Project___

RANGER DISTRICT: ___Salmon/Scott River Ranger District________ 

Prepared by: Diana Meza Date: 4/3/2017 

Diana Meza, Wildlife Biologist

Prepared by: /s/ Maija Meneks Date: 1/4/2017 

Maija Meneks, Fisheries Biologist

I. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate landscape and project-level impacts to habitat conditions 

associated with the six Species Associations and related Management Indicator Species (MIS) identified 

in the Klamath Land and Resource Management Plan [LRMP] on Page 4-39.

Project Location Information

For a map of the proposed project area and a detailed description of the location, refer to the Hotelling 

Gulch Fish Passage and Stream Restoration Project file.

II. FOREST PLAN SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS AND MIS SELECTED FOR THE PROJECT

Project Level Assessment Checklist

A review was conducted using the Project Level Assessment Checklist to determine: 1) if the project is 

within the range of any MIS, 2) if habitat for which the species is an indicator is present within the 

proposed project area, and 3) if there are potential direct, indirect, or cumulative effects on habitat 

components. Species associations and MIS associated with habitats that may be affected by the project 

will be analyzed below.

The following species associations and MIS were selected for analysis for the Hotelling Gulch Fish 

Passage and Stream Restoration Project (Hotelling Project) due to the presence of suitable habitat that 

may be impacted by the project:

Hardwood Species Association

Western gray squirrel

River/Stream Species Association

Rainbow trout

Steelhead

Tailed frog

American dipper

Northern water shrew

Long-tailed vole
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Snag Species Association

Red-breasted sapsucker

Downy woodpecker

The following associations and species were not selected for further analysis due to absence of habitat or 

because the project will not directly or indirectly affect the habitat (refer to Part I, the checklist, for 

rationale):

Hardwood Species Association

Acorn woodpecker

River/Stream Species Association

Cascade frog

Marsh/Lake/Pond Species Association

Northern red-legged frog

Western pond turtle

Snag Species Association

Hairy woodpecker

White-headed woodpecker 

Vaux’s swift

Pileated woodpecker

Black-backed woodpecker

Grassland/Shrub-Steppe Species Association

Pronghorn

Montane vole

Loggerhead shrike

Swainson’s hawk

Sage thrasher

Burrowing owl

Mature Ponderosa Pine Species Association

Flammulatted owl

White-headed woodpecker

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND PROJECT AREA

PROPOSED ACTION

The proposed action includes aquatic organism passage improvement (replacing undersized crossing with 

an open-bottom structure), and stream channel reconstruction of approximately 600 feet of Hotelling 

Gulch including actions to create and enhance fish habitat features. The project area is about 5 acres and 

flows over the alluvial fan/river terrace, which is prone to channel avulsion and shifting alignments. This 

area has been highly disturbed through hydraulic mining; therefore, the pre-mining alignment of the 

channel is unknown. Cecilville Road (a Siskiyou County maintained road) crosses Hotelling Gulch’s 

eastern channel and runs through two 36 inch culverts. During large storm events, Hotelling Gulch 

sediment aggrades at the mouth of the culverts and flow overtops the road. The eastern channel dries up 

seasonally in its lower reach, making it unsuitable for aquatic species summer access to perennial stream 

habitat upstream. Hotelling Gulch flowed along the western channel alignment as recently as 1964. In the 

western channel subsurface flow creates a perennial stream channel below the road; this cold-seep 

provides a small amount of cooling to the confluence pool in the South Fork Salmon River.
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PURPOSE AND NEED

The objective of the project is to increase access to low gradient stream habitat for coho salmon and other 

anadromous fish in Hotelling Gulch, as well as improve natural stream function and the transport of 

watershed products to the South Fork Salmon River.

An evaluation of fish passage at road crossings in Siskiyou County identified the county road crossing of 

Hotelling Gulch as a high priority site because it currently prevents all species and life stages of fish from 

moving upstream to access a comparatively large area of high quality habitat in this area of the watershed 

(Ross Taylor and Associates, 2002). Hotelling Gulch is located within a reach of the South Fork Salmon 

that is potentially a key coho salmon spawning reach on a river with limited potential for this species 

which is listed as Threatened by both State and Federal Endangered Species Act. Since coho salmon 

spawn in December when flows are highest, suitable spawning habitat is typically limited in the main 

river channel with off-channel habitats and small tributaries providing most suitable habitat for spawning 

coho salmon. 

The low gradient of this reach of the South Fork Salmon River makes it preferred habitat for coho salmon, 

and Hotelling Gulch would likely be utilized for both spawning and rearing if it were accessible to the 

species. Hotelling Gulch has the potential to provide 1.4 miles of suitable spawning and rearing habitat 

for coho salmon and steelhead trout above the current county road crossing. The stream contains perennial 

pools that hold cool water in the summer and dense riparian canopy. 

IV. MIS ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE AND EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT

Information on species natural history, including general habitat requirements, is found in the “Species 

Natural History Summary for MIS” found in the project file. Rationale for designation of MIS is found in 

the EIS for the Forest Plan (1995) and on the "LRMP MIS Selection Summary" in the project file.

HARDWOOD SPECIES ASSOCIATION

Western gray squirrel was selected as indicator for hardwood habitat. The Analysis Area is represented by 

the Project Area plus a 1.3 mile buffer surrounding the project area.

Western Gray Squirrel

Environmental Baseline

The analysis area is large enough in size to potentially contain habitat for a number of western 

gray squirrels. There are 463 acres of oak habitat potentially suitable for western gray squirrel

within the analysis area. 

Effects of the Proposed Project

No Action Alternative

There would be no change in the amount or quality of oak habitat in the analysis area.

Alternative 2 

There are 464 acres of oak habitat within the analysis area and only 2.5 acres of potential habitat 

located inside the project area. Although proposed actions will remove a small amount of oak 

inside the project area, the amount will be insignificant and oak habitat will still exist in the 

project area. Oak habitat will not be removed in the analysis area.

RIVER/STREAM SPECIES ASSOCIATION

Rainbow trout and steelhead, tailed frog, Cascades frog, American dipper, northern water shrew, and 

long-tailed vole were selected as indicators for water quality, in-stream woody debris, substrate, flows, 
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and channel conditions within rivers and streams.

Fish (Rainbow Trout/Steelhead Trout)

Refer to the Hotelling Project Fisheries Resource Report for direct, indirect, and cumulative effects to 

these species. The information contained below is a brief summary of the more thorough aquatic analysis 

discussed in the Resource Report.

Environmental Baseline

Steelhead/rainbow trout habitat is found in Hotelling Gulch and South Fork Salmon River; resident 

rainbow trout, and potentially anadromous steelhead trout, are present in Hotelling Gulch and SF Salmon 

River. The area of effect is considered to be fish-occupied perennial systems adjacent and downstream of 

Project components – approximately 3.9 miles of habitat total for steelhead and rainbow trout. Of this 

amount, about 600 feet of Hotelling Gulch will be directly impacted by Project activities.

Effects of the Proposed Project

No Action Alternative

Under the No Action alternative, the Project will not happen and no management actions will be taken. 

Access into Hotelling Gulch habitat will continue to be very difficult to impossible dependent upon river 

stage and size of a given individual.

Proposed Action

Steelhead/Rainbow Trout: Indicator for Water Quality (WQ), in-stream woody debris, stream substrate, 

flows, and channel condition.

Direct –

Water Drafting - Drafting at fish-occupied sites will occur at one location in SF Salmon River. The 

site is within the range of both steelhead and resident rainbow trout. As drafting will occur at an 

established, hardened river access point, there will be no new construction and, therefore, no alteration 

of the existing riparian or new delivery of sediment to the system. Possible area of very minor and 

insignificant impact in the analysis area would be the immediate vicinity of the drafting area when the 

pump is in operation. The use of a NOAA approved fish screen and pumping rate restrictions to less 

than 350 gallons-per-minute (gpm) or 10% of the flow will minimize intake impingement and other 

local impacts. Given the size of the SF Salmon River, sufficient room is present for adult and juvenile 

fish to move away from the screen. Water drafting will also result in slight, temporary decrease in 

flow, which is considered insignificant when drafting from larger, perennial system such as SF 

Salmon River. When drafting stops, stream flow is returned to pre-draft conditions, so no long-term 

effects will occur. Water temperature and other water quality elements will not be affected because 

areas of potential thermal refugia are avoided.

Fish Relocation - Fish relocation may be necessary. Depending on timing of construction and degree 

of wetted channel, fish may need to be relocated from the construction area. The potential for fish to 

be present is very low. The potential for fish to be present is very low. Within the Project area, 

Hotelling Gulch above the County Road is expected to be dry by the time of year construction 

activities are anticipated to commence. Below the County Road, surface discharge from seasonal 

water sources within the remnant historical channel is retained for a longer period of time, but the 

stream is normally dry by summer. When water is present, the amount of flow is very low once spring 

run-off is complete; and fish access into the historical channel under existing conditions is poor.

If water is present in the Project area prior to implementation, the channels will be checked for fish. 

Any individuals found will be captured via appropriate electrofishing protocol and relocated, as per 
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described by the 2012 Biological Opinion for projects (such as Hotelling Gulch) which can be 

permitted under the NOAA restoration project program (NOAA 2012). The Biological Opinion lists 

potential direct effects of fish relocation to be injury or mortality, but the expectation is very low; and 

that relocation activities associated with implementation of individual restoration projects will not 

significantly reduce the number of returning salmonid (steelhead) adults. Block nets and other 

appropriate actions will be taken to prevent channel reoccupation by fish should discharge levels 

change, such as the result of a summer thunderstorm or other precipitation event.

Indirect – The elements comprising the Project are varied, and degree of effect to habitat is dependent 

upon specific action considered and location in regards to fish-occupied waters. Overall, any negative 

indirect effects to River/Stream habitat indicators will be short-term and temporary; and in the longterm, the Project will benefit aquatic species and habitat.

Turbidity, a water quality component, is expected to be minimal to undetectable during in-stream 

construction activities because the Project area will be dry during implementation, either due to active 

dewatering or from seasonal channel drying. Turbidity is most likely to occur following completion of 

the Project, especially following storm events during the first winter after Hotelling Gulch connects to 

SF Salmon River. Therefore, it is assumed that there will be a temporary increase in turbidity within 

Hotelling Gulch and adjacent SF Salmon River following channel rewatering as fines are mobilized.

Turbidity is not expected to become sufficiently elevated post-implementation to negatively affect fish 

or fish habitat. Due to the volume of SF Salmon River compared to Hotelling Gulch, the visual 

observation of turbidity, when present, in the mainstem is unlikely to be large in linear extent. The 

elevation of turbidity during storm events will be short-term, returning to baseline by the first year 

post-construction, if not sooner. For water drafting, effects to turbidity will be localized, minimal in 

extent and duration, with the most likely fish behavior to be one of avoidance.

Temperature, a water quality component, may be affected by Project actions. There will be no 

measureable effect to stream temperature from channel reconstruction activities during 

implementation because Hotelling Gulch channel will be dry and the shade decrease over the SF 

Salmon River will be minimal. Hotelling Gulch may experience an insignificant increase in water 

temperature post-implementation, but the effect will diminish in two or three years as effective shade 

is re-established. Long term, there would be benefits to shade and associated stream temperature as 

the Project is likely to increase ground and surface water connections in riparian and floodplain areas. 

The project will have a minor, short-term effect to stream flow during water drafting operations on the 

SF Salmon River. However, the effects are not likely to have any detectable change to stream 

temperature or have any meaningful impact to fish habitat due to the river’s large size and flow 

volume. Additionally, thermal refugia will be avoided.

Large woody debris has two considerations – recruitment and transportation. Trees will be removed 

as a consequence of the Project. The primary area of tree removal includes the historic channel (1) on 

the east side of the riparian corridor below the County Road and (2) the alignment above the County 

Road. Some trees may also be removed during the plugging of the existing channel, but numbers are 

expected to be small. Amount of already down wood which must be moved within the grounddisturbing portion of the Project footprint is minimal. By removing trees adjacent to Hotelling Gulch 

and SF Salmon River, a consequence is that the Project also removes the potential of those trees to 

eventually recruit to the system as large woody debris. However, trees removed during construction 

activities will be saved for incorporation into various project elements. As appropriate, salvaged trees 

will be used as a component of pool structures, as general in-stream wood, or as floodplain (terrestrial) 
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coarse woody debris habitat. Therefore, most trees removed during channel reconstruction will not be 

lost from the pool of potential recruits, and will instead be artificially “recruited” to Hotelling Gulch. 

Wood transportation will experience an immediate benefit upon completion of the Project because 

design consideration for the crossing structure to be installed at the historical alignment will take into 

account the need to accommodate stream processes, including the passage of wood through the

crossing. The largest pieces may still be removed from the channel if determined to threaten the 

structure, but most debris should be free to be transported to SF Salmon River in a manner which is 

not possible under existing conditions. In the very long-term, the Project will benefit future production 

of woody debris. One of the expected results of the Project is for the development of a riparian area 

across the alluvial fan which is similar to that currently present below the County Road. This means 

that the potential for Hotelling Gulch to produce large and small wood will be expanded. While alders 

are likely to be the primary tree species in the near future for large debris, conifers are expected to 

propagate in the longer term. The development of a riparian capable of supplying large wood is a 

process which will require decades (large alders) to over a century (conifers), and is dependent upon 

occurrence of detrimental events such as large flood. However, channel reconstruction will produce a 

system which is more resilient to extreme events, and is therefore more likely to move towards a 

mature riparian compared to the existing condition.

The Project will affect stream substrate composition during and after implementation, with a longterm benefit expected. The Hotelling Gulch stream channel reconstruction will use a reach just above 

the Project area as a template, resulting in a post-construction substrate configuration which will be 

slightly coarser than that present in the current channel (which will be in-filled). Additionally, the new 

channel will be built to incorporate pool and other habitat structures lacking in the current channel. 

The impact of fine sediments to Hotelling Gulch or SF Salmon River from in-stream construction 

activities is expected to be minimal to undetectable because the Project area will be dry during 

implementation. Following the first storm events after implementation, erosion and mobilization of 

fine sediment is expected. Because of the relatively small size of Hotelling Gulch and the normally 

low volume of water, there may be an initial measurable adjustment to sediment composition within 

the reconstructed channel. Amount of sediment within the sand/silt classes, while it has the potential 

to detrimentally affect newly constructed fish habitat, should not be enough to meaningfully affect 

pool volume nor width/depth ratio of the channel. It is anticipated that fine sediment will promote the 

streambed sealing process, a beneficial action which will contributing towards an anticipated delay in 

seasonal channel drying. Fine sediment which is exported to the SF Salmon River will not have an 

effect on fish habitat parameters such as pool quality or width/depth ratio due to the large size of the 

river compared to the expected volume of sediment input. The mobilization of fine sediment will 

decrease as riparian vegetation regrows along Hotelling Gulch. In the long-term, the alteration of 

stream substrate condition from its current status to one more resilient and able to support natural 

instream processes will benefit biota, including steelhead and resident rainbow trout. 

There will be a post-implementation benefit to stream discharge, including peak and base flows, 

within the Hotelling Gulch project area. With a streambed composed of a high porosity coarse 

substrate and exhibiting an elevation that is higher than the low drainage point, the existing alignment 

typically dries by late spring. The historical channel aligns with the low point through the alluvial fan; 

and channel reconstruction will build a streambed which will be much closer to local groundwater 

elevation. During summer, water may still go subsurface, but such is normal behavior due to the 

coarse nature of the fan. The incorporation of finer substrates into the constructed bedload will in-fill 

some channel porosity and further assist in maintaining surface flow later into the year. Additionally, 
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while frequency of high flow events and discharge quantity will not be altered, how those flows affect 

the alluvial fan will be modified. The existing channel is so deeply entrenched that there is no 

functional floodplain. Channel reconstruction will include the construction of a floodplain, thereby 

providing a location for high flows to dissipate energy and deposit transported sediment, nutrients, 

and wood. Within the SF Salmon River, water drafting to support Project implementation will result 

in a temporary decrease in flow, the effects of which are considered insignificantly small to fish and 

fish habitat

Overall channel condition is a synthesis of sediment and discharge, and how such relates to pool 

habitat and width/depth ratio. Regarded as a whole, the Project will benefit Hotelling Gulch by 

normalizing both the hydrologic regime and the sediment/wood transport process. Post-construction 

effects within the reconstructed area of Hotelling Gulch is expected due to mobilization of fine 

sediment and natural channel adjustment, but it will not detrimentally impact fish or fish habitat. In 

the long-term, the purpose of the Project is to have a more natural stream habitat condition to benefit 

all biota and allow for increased connectivity between SF Salmon River and Hotelling Gulch across 

both the Country Road and the alluvial fan.

Overall, while individual steelhead/rainbow trout may be impacted and there may some short-term, 

habitat quality impacts, the long-term response of Hotelling Gulch is expected to benefit both 

steelhead and rainbow trout.

Cumulative Effects - For a complete analysis of direct, indirect and cumulative effects refer to the 

Aquatics Resource Report. There will be no negative short-term or long-term cumulative effects to 

habitat or populations. There will be long-term benefits to the landscape because the Project will result 

in the lessening of cumulative impact of past anthropogenic impacts to the watershed.

Frogs (Tailed frog)

Tailed frog: Indicator for Water Quality (WQ), in-stream woody debris, stream substrate, flows, and 

channel condition.

Environmental Baseline

Tailed frog may occur within suitable habitat in about 2.2 miles of intermittent and 4.4 miles of perennial

streams within and adjacent to the project area. Of this amount, about 600 feet of Hotelling Gulch will be 

directly impacted by Project activities. No surveys to verify the presence or abundance of this frog species 

have been conducted within the Project area, although tailed frog are known to be present within the 

larger SF Salmon River drainage.

Effects of the Proposed Project

No Action Alternative

Under the No Action alternative, the Project will not happen and no management actions will be taken. 

Proposed Action

Tailed frog habitat would be expected to occur in perennial and intermittent streams within and adjacent 

to the project area. Overall, habitat quality for tailed frog will not decline or be reduced in volume, and 

benefits are expected.

Direct –

Water Drafting – Drafting will occur at one location in SF Salmon River. It is unknown if this portion 

of the SF Salmon River supports tailed frog, but presence is unlikely. Possible area of very minor and 

insignificant impact in the analysis area would be the immediate vicinity of the drafting area when the 
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pump is in operation. The use of a NOAA approved fish screen and pumping rate restrictions to less 

than 350 gallons-per-minute (gpm) or 10% of the flow will minimize intake impingement and other 

local impacts. Given the size of the SF Salmon River, sufficient room is present for frogs to move 

away from the screen. Water drafting will also result in slight, temporary decrease in flow, which is 

considered insignificant when drafting from larger, perennial system such as SF Salmon River. When 

drafting stops, stream flow is returned to pre-draft conditions, so no long-term effects will occur. 

Water temperature and other water quality elements will not be affected because areas of potential 

thermal refugia are avoided.

Channel Reconstruction – The Project may require dewatering of the Hotelling Gulch channel prior to 

commencing construction activities, assuming the stream has not already gone subsurface by the time 

implementation is ready to begin.

Indirect – The elements comprising the Project are varied, and degree of effect to habitat is dependent 

upon specific action considered and location in regards to frog-occupied waters. Overall, any negative 

indirect effects to River/Stream habitat indicators will be short-term and temporary; and in the longterm, the Project will benefit aquatic species and habitat.

Turbidity, a water quality component, will be as described for steelhead/rainbow trout. During and 

after implementation, turbidity is not expected to become sufficiently elevated to negatively affect 

tailed frog or frog habitat. Any elevation in turbidity will be short-term, returning to baseline by the 

first year post-construction. For water drafting, effects to turbidity will be localized, minimal in extent 

and duration, with the most likely frog behavior to be one of avoidance

Temperature, a water quality component, will be as described for steelhead/rainbow trout. The longterm benefits to shade and associated stream temperature would be positive for tailed frog, if present, 

because this species is reliant on upon cold water. The project will have a minor, short-term effect to 

stream flow during water drafting operations on the SF Salmon River. However, the effects are not 

likely to have any detectable change to stream temperature or have any meaningful impact to fish 

habitat due to the river’s large size and flow volume.

Large woody debris will be as described for steelhead/rainbow trout. While the specific benefit of 

instream wood for tailed frog has not been described, at the very least it serves as a component of 

overall habitat complexity and health, and a likely substrate for food (algae/fungus for tadpoles; 

insects for adults). Therefore, actions which normalize wood transportation processes and promote

long-term wood recruitment should provide a general benefit for all aquatic biota, including tailed 

frog.

Stream substrate composition will be as described for steelhead/rainbow trout. During and after 

implementation, mobilization of fine sediment is not expected to become sufficiently elevated to 

negatively affect tailed frog or frog habitat. Erosion will decrease as riparian vegetation regrows along 

Hotelling Gulch. In the long-term, the alteration of stream substrate condition from its current status to 

one more resilient and able to support natural instream processes will benefit biota, including tailed 

frog.

Stream discharge, including peak and base flows, will be as described for steelhead/rainbow trout. 

Because tailed frog are strongly associated with cool, perennial flows, any action taken which will 

promote increased persistence of water through the alluvial fan will benefit this species, if present, in 

regards to the potential for population connectivity and gene flow. Within the SF Salmon River, water 
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drafting to support Project implementation will result in a temporary decrease in flow, the effects of 

which are considered insignificantly small to frog and frog habitat

Overall channel condition is a synthesis of sediment and discharge, and how such relates to pool 

habitat and width/depth ratio. Regarded as a whole, the Project will benefit Hotelling Gulch by 

normalizing both the hydrologic regime and the sediment/wood transport process. Post-construction 

effects within the reconstructed area of Hotelling Gulch is expected due to mobilization of fine 

sediment and natural channel adjustment, but it will not detrimentally impact frog or grog habitat. In 

the long-term, the purpose of the Project is to have a more natural stream habitat condition to benefit 

all biota and allow for increased connectivity between SF Salmon River and Hotelling Gulch across 

both the Country Road and the alluvial fan.

Overall, there may some short-term, insignificant habitat quality impacts, the long-term response of 

Hotelling Gulch is expected to benefit tailed frog.

Cumulative Effects - There will be no short- or long-term cumulative effects to frog habitat or frog 

populations. There will be long-term benefits to the landscape because the Project will result in the 

lessening of cumulative impact of past anthropogenic impacts to the watershed.

American Dipper, Long tailed Vole and Northern Water Shrew

American dipper - Indicator for Water Quality (WQ), in-stream woody debris, stream substrate, and 

flows.

Long-tailed vole – Indicator of riparian vegetation including canopy, deciduous vegetation, and 

grass/forb.

Northern water shrew – Indicator of riparian vegetation including canopy, deciduous vegetation, and 

grass/forb.

Environmental Baseline 

The Analysis Area is represented by the Project Area plus a 1.3 mile buffer surrounding the project area.

American dippers, long-tailed vole and Northern water shrew may occur within 2.2 miles of intermittent 

stream and 4.4 miles of perennial stream inside the analysis area. 

Effects of the Proposed Project

No Action Alternative

Under the No Action alternative, the Hotelling Gulch Project will not occur, and thus there will be neither 

ground disturbance nor water diversion/drafting. Water quality parameters (such as stream temperatures, 

nutrients, turbidity, etc.) and substrate (e.g., sediment fines within gravels, pools, etc.) will therefore be 

unaltered from current conditions.

Proposed Action

Possible areas of impact will be the 600 feet of Hotelling Gulch where project activities will be 

implemented. However, the reconstruction of the historic channel will recreate 600 feet of suitable habitat 

benefiting the American dipper, long-tailed vole, and northern water shrew. Water quality parameters and 

substrate will be as described for steelhead/rainbow trout. Potential for negative indirect effects to the 

American dipper, long-tailed vole, and Northern water shrew will be short-term and temporary. 
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SNAG SPECIES ASSOCIATION

Red-breasted sapsucker and Downy woodpecker were selected as indicators of snags as a habitat element

within mature conifer habitats. The Analysis Area is represented by the Project Area plus a 1.3 mile 

buffer surrounding the project area. The number of snags within the analysis area is limited, and there will 

not be any trees larger than 18 inches removed. 

Red-breasted sapsucker

Environmental Baseline

The analysis area for snag-associated species in the Hotelling Gulch Project is large enough in size to 

potentially contain habitat for several red-breasted sapsucker territories. There are 1,310 acres of midseral and mature mixed conifer in the analysis area. 

Effects of the Proposed Project

No Action Alternative

Under the No Action alternative, the Hotelling Gulch Project will not occur, and thus there will be neither 

ground disturbance nor water diversion/drafting. There would be no change in the amount or quality of 

snag habitat in the project area.

Proposed Action

There are 3 acres of available suitable habitat for the sapsucker inside the project area. Habitat 

modification will be insignificant and the habitat will continue to be classified as suitable mid seral and 

mature mixed conifer habitat. Large snags that could provide habitat components will not be removed. 

Snag habitat outside the project area should remain undisturbed. 

Downy Woodpecker

Environmental Baseline

The analysis area for snag-associated species in the Hotelling Gulch Project is large enough in size to 

potentially contain habitat for several downy woodpecker territories. There are 600 acres of mature mixed 

conifer in the analysis area. This woodpecker species are associated with mature mixed conifer, but are 

more specifically linked with deciduous riparian habitats interspersed along streams within mixed conifer 

forest.

Effects of the Proposed Project

No Action Alternative

Under the No Action alternative, the Hotelling Gulch Project will not occur, and thus there will be neither 

ground disturbance nor water diversion/drafting. There would be no change in the amount or quality of 

snag habitat in the project area.

Proposed Action

There is 1 acre of mature mixed conifer and 1 acre of riparian deciduous potentially affected within the 

project area. Proposed actions will not cause a significant change in habitat and suitable woodpecker 

habitat in the form of mature mixed conifer and riparian deciduous will continue to exist. Large snags that 

could provide habitat components will not be removed. Snag habitat outside the project area should 

remain undisturbed. 
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MIS Habitat by MIS Species

MIS Species MIS Habitat

Acorn Woodpecker Oak

Western Gray Squirrel Oak 

Hairy Woodpecker Mat MC, Mat dense MC

Downy Woodpecker Mat MC, Mat dense MC

White headed Woodpecker Mat F, Mat MC, and Mat dense MC

Vaux’s Swift Mat F, Mat MC, and Mat dense MC

Pileated Woodpecker Mat F, Mat MC, and Mat dense MC

Red breasted Sapsucker Mat MC, Mat dense MC, and mid seral

Black backed woodpecker Mat F
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V. REFERENCES

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 2001. NOAA Fisheries Water Drafting 

Specifications. National Marine Service, Southwest Region.

Available online: http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/hcd/WaterDrafting-02.htm

USDA Forest Service (USFS). 2016. Hydrology report – Hotelling Gulch Project. Salmon-Scott 

River Ranger District, Klamath National Forest, Fort Jones, CA.