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Appendix E - An Evaluation of Activities Authorized by 

the Hwy 46 Project FEIS for Consistency with the 

Aquatic Conservation Strategy

Introduction

The Aquatic Conservation Strategy was developed to restore and maintain the ecological health of 

watersheds and aquatic ecosystems contained within them on public lands. A goal of this strategy is to 

maintain a "natural" disturbance regime. In addition, management activities must comply with nine 

objectives that are included in the strategy and any associated standards and guidelines. A variety of 

tactics to accomplish these goals and objectives are incorporated into four primary components. These 

components are:

• Riparian Reserves

• Key Watersheds

• Watershed Analysis

• Watershed Restoration

These four components, along with Late Successional Reserves, are designed to operate together to 

maintain and restore the productivity and resiliency of riparian and aquatic ecosystems (Record of 

Decision for Amendments to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents 

Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl - USFS, BLM 1994, (ROD), pages B9-B12).

The Four Components

1. Riparian Reserves

The Northwest Forest Plan defined Riparian Reserves as “portions of watersheds where ripariandependent resources receive primary emphasis and where special standards and guidelines apply” 

(ROD page B12). Riparian Reserves include those portions of a watershed directly coupled to streams, 

ponds, lakes, and wetlands - that is, the portions of a watershed required for maintaining hydrologic, 

geomorphic, and ecologic processes that directly affect standing and flowing water (ROD pgs. B-12 

and B-13).

The Riparian Reserve network in the Breitenbush watershed totals over 27,925 acres which is 40% of 

the entire land base (Breitenbush Watershed Analysis update, 2014). The Watershed Analysis made no 

final recommendations to adjust riparian reserve widths for the streams in the watershed, retaining the 

initial reserve widths (of two site potential tree heights for fish bearing streams and one site potential 

tree height for all other streams) from the ROD for all streams.

During the analysis for the Hwy 46 Project, no reductions of Riparian Reserve widths along any 

streams were proposed. However, silvicultural treatments were proposed within Riparian Reserves for 

several units in order to improve structural diversity and vegetative diversity. Timber harvest is 

prohibited within Riparian Reserves but there are 3 exceptions provided in the ROD. One of which is 

Standard and Guideline TM-1(c). 
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Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs)

TM-1(c). Apply silvicultural practices for Riparian Reserves to control stocking, reestablish and 

manage stands, and acquire desired vegetation characteristics needed to attain Aquatic 

Conservation Strategy objectives.

Standard and Guideline TM-1(c) in the Northwest Forest Plan (1994) provides direction on when 

silvicultural activities can take place in Riparian Reserves. Our task is to review all the Riparian Reserves 

in the project area and at the landscape level to determine if treatment is warranted. Based on our field 

investigations and a landscape level analysis of hardwoods in the Breitenbush watershed we developed 

recommendations for each riparian reserve. The Riparian Reserves where we propose treatment (thinning, 

gaps in the secondary shade zone, and gaps near the stream channel) are previously managed stands (i.e. 

plantations) that are densely stocked and had little or no hardwoods in the reserve.

There are no cut buffers of varying width (30 feet to 340 feet) prescribed for every stream in the project 

area. Thinning Riparian Reserves means that there will be a short-term, localized effect on the supply of 

coarse woody material and ACS objective 8 states that we maintain and restore amounts and distributions 

of coarse woody debris sufficient to sustain physical complexity and stability. The plantations where we 

propose thinning are dense and there is a need to control stocking in order to maintain a healthy stand of 

trees. Densities in proposed unit Riparian Reserves range from 75 to 397 TPA, averaging 200 TPA. In 

contrast, recent forest research in the Coast Range and Western Cascades indicates that existing old 

growth stands developed with natural stand densities of 40 to 60 conifers per acre (Tappeiner et al 1997; 

Poage & Tappeiner 2002). Having a no-cut buffer adjacent to every stream would maintain a high level of 

trees per acre compared to what has been found in these studies. In the thinned Riparian Reserves there 

would still be 40-60 tpa similar to what was found in the studies, with the exception of Unit 32a which 

would be thinned to 5-10 tpa to achieve meadow restoration objectives. Natural stand densities for units 

with Riparian reserves range from 86 to 293 tpa, averaging 165 tpa. The majority of the natural stands 

that are proposed for treatment are fire-regenerated stands and in similar condition to dense plantations. 

The previously managed stands proposed for treatment in the Hwy 46 Project Area were harvested and 

replanted using direction that pre-dates the Willamette Land and Resource Management Plan (1990) and 

prior to the Northwest Forest Plan (1994). As a result, the majority of these forest stands were set on a 

management-induced trajectory that has led to artificially dense, conifer-dominated stands, with tree 

densities above the range of natural variability expected in this area. When we conducted field 

investigations we based the no cut buffer on stream size, stream class, gradient, channel complexity, and 

how functional the existing coarse woody material was in the stream channel. We expect that the amount 

of woody material left in the no cut buffer and the remainder of the Riparian Reserve would be sufficient 

to sustain physical complexity and stability. All but 3 units along fish bearing streams have wider no cut 

buffers (i.e. from 100 feet to 1 site potential tree height (172 feet) or 2 site potential tree heights(344 feet) 

so thinning in these riparian reserves would have limited effects on fish and caddisflies. The 3 units along 

fish bearing streams have a fall and leave silvicultural prescription to accelerate riparian diversity.

The Breitenbush Watershed Analysis (1996) described past conditions, current conditions, and trends in 

riparian vegetation in the watershed. Fires, road construction, and timber harvest on some land types, and 

flooding can accelerate debris flow occurrence. Conditions of riparian stands will depend on previous 

timing of fires and pulses of debris flows. It is reasonable to speculate that the extensive fires of the Late1800s would have created open riparian stands in many of the Breitenbush drainages. Further, the fires 

combined with great flood of 1861 would have triggered debris flows in many first to third order streams 

during that period, with some affecting larger streams. By 1900, many small riparian areas would have 

shown mixed conifer / red alder stands with conifer about to go into a period of rapid height growth. For 

larger streams recovering from the impacts of 1800s fires and the 1861 flood, some red alder, cottonwood, 

or willow may have persisted near the active channel shelf, but conifers would have established and by 
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the early 1900s have overtopped the deciduous trees to dominate floodplains. By the time of the 45 year 

flood even in 1945, most of the stands would have lost remnants of red alder and little evidence of these 

events would remain. With fire suppression few large fires have occurred since the early 1900s. It is 

estimated that 160 fires have been suppressed in the watershed since the arrival of the Civilian 

Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s with the majority being caused by lightning. 

The Breitenbush Watershed Analysis (1996) also discussed trends in riparian vegetation. Given the 

Riparian Reserve network established by the Northwest Forest Plan (1994), the riparian areas within the 

watershed will increase dominance in the conifer communities. Unlogged areas will continue recovery 

from the 1964 flood (the flood of record in the Breitenbush Watershed). Alder stands initiated during the 

1945 and 1964 floods will persist until the middle of the next century when they will decline under 

emerging conifers. Older floodplains reset during the 1861 flood will be old growth by that time. A major 

flood would reset succession along floodplains and would affect the least confined valleys the most. In 

the absence of large fires, however, the disturbance would be evident for a century.

We conducted a “hardwood analysis” for the all the Riparian Reserves in the Breitenbush River 

watershed. For this analysis we used satellite imagery (WorldView 2) collected on July 19, 2013 and 

Google Earth imagery. The analysis found that 4.6% of the Riparian Reserves in the Hwy 46 project area 

had a deciduous and deciduous/shrub component. Deciduous leaves have a higher nutritional quality than 

coniferous needles. Near stream treatments (comprising 20 acres in total) along certain streams we expect 

will result in hardwoods that will colonize the sites and if not we would plant hardwoods (e.g. red alder, 

vine maple, and big leaf maple) to improve the quality of allochthonous sources of energy for the aquatic 

community. These near stream treatments would not be commercial and are therefore not “timber 

harvest.” All trees felled for these near stream treatments would be left on site.

At a watershed level, coarse woody debris levels will be maintained. There are 13,502 acres of Riparian 

Reserve in the project area. Alternative 2 and 3 would thin approximately 6.0% and 4.5%, respectively, of 

the Riparian Reserve acres in the project area. The action alternatives would create 20 acres of streamside 

treatments which is approximately 0.0001% of riparian reserve acres in the project area. The trees that are 

cut to create the near stream treatments would be left on site to provide structure and down woody 

material.

The recommendations made for silvicultural treatments were based on the need to control stocking and 

achieve the desired vegetation and structural characteristics needed in those plantations in order to 

improve stand vigor and the nutritional quality of organic matter used by the stream community. Also, we 

have been suppressing wildfires since the early 1900s, eliminating an important environmental 

disturbance from the landscape. We believe that this lack of wildfire is one of the contributing factors for 

the low percentage of hardwoods in the Breitenbush watershed and due to this we are outside the range of 

natural variability.

2. Key Watersheds

The Northwest Forest Plan created an overlay of Key Watersheds that are intended to provide refugia for 

at-risk stocks of anadromous salmonids and resident fish species. Refugia are a cornerstone of the 

conservation strategy for these species, consisting of watersheds that provide high quality habitat or are 

expected to provide habitat. Two different levels of protection, or tiers, are identified, as well as non-Key 

watersheds (ROD page B19). In key watersheds, completion of a watershed analysis is required prior to 

most management activities. While not officially designated a key watershed under the NWFP, the 

Breitenbush is managed as a Key Watershed through an agreement with the City of Salem, due its source 

as municipal drinking water supply and re-introduction of ESA-listed andoramous fish through the truck 

and haul program. One of the important components of Key Watershed is that there must be no net gain in 
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roads. If new roads need to be built, then an equivalent mileage must be decommissioned. This project 

will result in a net decrease in road mileage of 1.99 miles. 

Standards and Guidelines

No new roads would be built in roadless areas in Key Watersheds.

The Hwy 46 project is consistent with this S&G. No new roads are proposed to be constructed in 

roadless areas.

Timber harvest cannot occur in Key Watersheds prior to completing a watershed analysis.

A watershed analysis was completed for the Breitenbush watershed in 1996 and was updated in 

2014.

Preliminary data collection at the nearby H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in 2013 support the 

fundamental idea that historically, light regimes in these headwater ecosystems were highly variable with 

areas of low light where canopies cover the stream and areas of high light associated with canopy gaps. 

The McKenzie River Ranger District worked with Oregon State University researchers to collect 

observational information on gaps on a tributary to McCrae Creek. This creek is comparable in size to the 

streams on the Detroit Ranger District where we are proposing streamside treatments, but it has not only 

mid-seral Douglas fir forest but also sections of old growth riparian forest. This stream also has a selfsustaining population of resident wild coastal cutthroat trout. Results from this and other streams in the 

region showed that there are more gaps in the old growth reach and greater light availability to the stream 

channel compared to the plantation. In our assessments of juvenile trout growth through the summer, we 

observed greater growth rates in young-of-year cutthroat in the old growth reach as compared to the 

plantation reach. The two reaches are in close proximity in the same stream with comparable young-ofyear and large adult populations, suggesting that these differences in growth are likely due to the 

differences in stream conditions between the two reaches. 

As required by the S&Gs these activities must be analyzed to ensure that significant risk to the watershed 

values does not exist. The Breitenbush River Watershed Analysis (1996) identified the following values 

for the watershed:

• Forest Road 46 is a National Scenic Byway and National Scenic Bikeway.

• Recreation. The Breitenbush watershed provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities from 

backpacking in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness to fishing, hunting, and camping.

• Scenic and Aesthetic. The Breitenbush River is a Candidate River under the Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act. The “outstandingly remarkable values” identified for the Breitenbush are scenery, 

recreation, fish, and cultural.

• Spiritual. The public has expressed to the Forest Service that they find certain places in the 

Breitenbush watershed as spiritual. For example, Breitenbush hot springs and the Jefferson Park 

area of the Mt Jefferson Wilderness.

• Employment. The Breitenbush watershed provides a variety of forest products from timber to 

floral design products. A number of recreation sites are managed under contract with the Forest 

Service by concessionaire. The salmon that are produced in the Breitenbush are part of a larger 

stock of fish that provide jobs in the commercial and sport fishing industries.
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• The North Santiam River system provides the drinking water for the city of Salem and 

communities located in the Santiam canyon. The Breitenbush River is a major tributary to the 

Santiam River. 

• Ecological Values. The Breitenbush watershed provides a variety of habitats and a diversity of 

wildlife species.

Given the small scope and area relative to the rest of the Breitenbush watershed, the streamside vegetation 

diversity project will have no effect on values such as the scenic byway, recreation of any sort, the scenic 

quality of the Breitenbush SIA or Wild and Scenic River values. The project may affect ecological values 

and water quality so this analysis will focus on those watershed values.

Water quality and especially stream temperature could be affected by the removal of shade trees. Oregon 

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) implements the Clean Water Act. Every two years, DEQ is 

required to assess water quality and report to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) on the condition of 

Oregon's waters. DEQ prepares an Integrated Report that meets the requirements of the federal Clean 

Water Act (CWA) for Section 305(b) and Section 303(d). Following a temperature TMDL (Total 

Maximum Daily Load) or other cumulative effects analysis, waste load and load allocations will restrict 

all point sources and non-point sources to a cumulative increase of no greater than 0.3o

Celcius (0.5

Fahrenheit) above the applicable criteria after complete mixing in the water body, at the point of 

maximum impact.

We believe that water quality standards can be met and that stream temperatures will not rise by 0.3o C 

(0.5o F) due to the following:

• The individual streamside treatment areas (See hydrology report for individual unit treatment 

acres) are relatively small. Hardwoods would be planted in some of the areas, and within 6 to 10 

years we expect that more hardwood trees would colonize the openings and provide effective 

shading.

• The streams are moderately to relatively steep (7%-29%) so the water would move quickly 

through the treatment areas. Relative to a flat stream (2% gradient) there would be less time for 

the sun to heat up the water as it passes through the treatment areas. In addition, shade will not be 

affected downstream of the treatment areas. In unit 430, the closest unit to listed fish habitat, the 

stream slope is 30% and has a north facing aspect. 

• Because these streams are relatively steep they are considered “cascades” from a stream channel 

perspective. They have a variety of substrates such as sand, gravel, cobbles, small and large 

boulders. This creates complex channel conditions and allows for hyporheic exchange which 

helps to cool the stream.

Since we do not expect a jeopardy determination from the National Marine Fisheries Service and we do 

not expect to violate the 303(d) requirements of the Clean Water Act, this project would not pose a 

significant risk to the values identified in the Breitenbush Watershed Analysis (1994).

3. & 4. Watershed Analysis and Watershed Restoration

The Breitenbush Watershed Analysis was prepared for the Detroit Ranger District in 1996 and updated in 

2014. The watershed was characterized in terms of past and current conditions, and a synthesis discussion 

was provided to guide development of management proposals to maintain and restore watershed 

conditions.

The Hwy 46 Project has incorporated information from the watershed analysis into the project design. 

Current vegetative landscape patterns reflect past management activities that did not consider what the 
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landscape might look like under natural disturbance regimes. Many of the proposed projects seek to create 

vegetative patterns, late successional stand structures, and fuel loadings that would have been typical of 

this landscape under the natural disturbance regimes that historically occurred in the area. 

Watershed restoration has been ongoing in the Breitenbush River since 1994. Most of this work has 

centered on dispersed recreation use and mitigation efforts have been focused there. Current planning 

efforts by USFS aquatics staff focus on large scale restoration efforts on the Breitenbush River, upstream 

of Cleator Bend campground and the N. Fork Breitenbush River. This planning effort will place LWD, 

rehabilitate dispersed campsite, decommission roads, replace culverts, and include planting of native trees 

and shrubs in the riparian zone. Numerous dispersed campsites adjacent to the Breitenbush have been 

closed or rehabilitated. Roads have been decommissioned and stored in the watershed and more roads are 

proposed for these treatments in the Hwy 46 project. 

Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives

The previous discussions highlighted the consistency of the Hwy 46 Project with the four components of 

the Aquatic Conservation Strategy. This section will outline how the activities proposed in the alternatives 

conform to the nine objectives of the ACS. The information presented is summarized from Chapters 2 and 

3 of the Environmental Impact Statement, where greater detail can be found if needed.

Objective #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.

Alternative 1 (No Action) – This alternative would maintain landscape complexity at the current 

condition. Several hundred acres of Riparian Reserves would remain in dense homogenous stand 

conditions until natural processes created openings and down wood. This could take several decades. 

Aquatic habitats would continue to experience a low volume of large (greater than 36” in diameter at 50’ 

from the large end) in-stream wood. Until a fire or large flood disturbs the riparian habitat the Breitenbush 

River will continue to have a low percentage of hardwood vegetation in the Riparian Reserves.

Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) – The thinning treatments were developed so that they would, to the 

extent possible, emulate the effects of the natural fire regime that historically occurred in the vicinity as 

well as maintain existing habitat near streams and wetlands. Creating structural and species diversity 

within dense, homogenous Riparian Reserve stands were key drivers in the proposed treatments. The 

objective is to provide a balance between the maintenance of existing habitat for species, populations, and 

communities, with opportunities to develop landscape scale features with distribution, diversity and 

complexity of the historical landscapes. This includes aquatic and riparian elements of the landscape. 

Specific treatments are included to enhance early seral habitat which has been declining in the watershed 

as a result of past fire suppression activities and land management choices. Though no regeneration 

harvest is proposed within the Riparian Reserves, these treatments would enhance the overall diversity 

and complexity across the landscape.

Within prescribed fire units, the introduction of low severity fire into patches of Riparian Reserves is 

anticipated. Fire would be allowed to back into the Reserves and burn in a mosaic pattern rather than 

requiring a fire line around the Reserves which would potentially result in erosion. Low severity fire is 

expected to increase the plant species and stand structural diversity on a small scale. At low burn 

severities, large wood would not be removed from the Reserves. In addition with local differences in soil 

moisture and relative humidity, the pattern of burning in the Riparian Reserves is expected to resemble a 

patchwork mosaic of unburned and lightly burned sites. In the unburned portions, the existing understory 

vegetation, including conifers, would be retained. In lightly burned areas, understory conifers would 
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experience some mortality, but fire adapted species such as willow and other hardwood shrubs would resprout and, in some instances, be stimulated into increased growth in response to the disturbance. The net 

result would be increased plant species and stand structural diversity, with a closer resemblance to historic 

stand condition than non-thinned plantations.

Additionally, over 26,487 acres of Riparian Reserves throughout the Breitenbush 5th field would remain 

untreated.

Alternative 3 – The effects of Alternative 3 would be similar to Alternative 2 since the acres proposed for 

treatment within the Riparian Reserves are similar (372 acres). Treatments outside the Riparian Reserves 

affect fewer acres. 

This objective would be maintained.

Objective #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.

Alterative 1 (No Action) –Failing culverts and inadequately maintained roads would continue to affect the 

ability of some aquatic species to disperse. Culverts that are currently barriers to fish and other aquatic 

dependent species would not be replaced. Otherwise, implementation of this alternative would maintain 

existing spatial and temporal connectivity.

Alterative 2 (Proposed Action) – Road treatments include upgrade of stream crossings to accommodate 

100 year flood events, so that these events can flow through the landscape unimpeded and without the risk 

of catastrophic fill failures. Riparian Reserves, as established by the Record of Decision for the Northwest 

Forest Plan and re-assessed in the Breitenbush Watershed Analysis have been incorporated into the design 

of all treatment units where streams occur. Treatments are proposed within riparian reserves, where they 

have the potential to enhance functions such as the development of future large wood, stand structural 

diversity, vegetative species richness and diversity, connectivity, and other late successional 

characteristics.

Alternative 3 – Implementation of this alterative incorporates many of the same elements as Alternative 2. 

Fewer culverts would be upgraded though most of these are on intermittent streams high up on the slopes 

where fewer aquatic species reside. Also fewer (372 acres) acres of riparian thinning would occur. 

This objective would be maintained. 

Objective #3 - Maintain and restore the physical integrity of the aquatic system, including 

shorelines, banks, and bottom configurations.

Alternative 1 (No Action) – Implementation of this alternative would maintain existing conditions. Roads 

and drainage features would continue to fail creating potential for damage to channel integrity. Large instream wood levels would remain low for several decades until natural processes occurred to create it. 

The ability of some streams to store gravels would be greatly reduced during this time which would 

continue to alter the channel morphology.

Alterative 2 (Proposed Action) – All proposed treatments were designed with channel stability in mind. 

All harvest activities restrict the use of ground disturbing equipment in and around streams, and provide 

for retention of all vegetation that is contributing to the stability of banks and channels. Where aerial 
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yarding methods are prescribed, full suspension is required when yarding over streams and their buffers to 

prevent disturbance of stream banks and channels. Trees cut for skyline corridors would be retained on 

site as down woody material.

Trees cut for the near-stream treatments would all be maintained on site for down woody material. Tree 

stumps and their rootwads would maintain bank stability for a number of years. The duration is typically 

considered 5 years but we have noted stumps along streams providing stability for at least a decade. In 

addition, hardwoods would begin to colonize the treatment areas and their root systems would provide for 

bank stability. If natural colonization is not occurring as expected manual planting of the treatment sites 

would occur. We expect that hardwoods would be fully established in the treatment areas in six to ten 

years.

Roads are a known potential source of damage to stream habitat, where improper design or location, or 

inadequate maintenance results in failures or roadway erosion, channel confinement or fine sediment 

delivery to streams. The Hwy 46 Project addresses this concern by minimizing permanent road 

construction and upgrading numerous culverts. Approximately 117 miles of maintenance and 

reconstruction of portions of the existing road network that are in poor repair, replacement of undersized 

or old culverts, drainage improvement, and application of aggregate where necessary, will reduce chronic, 

low amplitude sources of fine sediment from the existing transportation system, and the potential of 

crossing fill failures. This will reduce the possibility of gravels and cobbles becoming embedded in fine 

materials in the stream channel bottoms. Approximately 5.2 miles of temporary roads will be constructed 

on stable locations, and all of these will be decommissioned following harvest activities. Additionally, 

approximately 1.99 miles of road would be decommissioned and 0.75 miles stored in a hydrologically 

stable condition.

Addition of in-stream large wood along 20 acres of stream (mostly fish-bearing) would occur. This would 

impact stream banks or beds by increasing a streams ability to store and sort gravels thus adding to the 

channel complexity.

Alterative 3 – Implementation of this alternative would have similar effects as Alternative 2 with the 

exception of fewer road miles maintained and 2.2 fewer miles of temporary roads. This may result in 

impacts to the streams along roads not repaired.

This objective would be maintained.

Objective #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. 

Alterative 1 (No Action) – Implementation of this alternative would maintain existing water quality 

conditions including current levels of shade for stream temperatures. As stands continue to develop 

towards more natural conditions, conditions would improve also. This could take several years to several 

decades in streams hit heavily by historic logging (clear-cutting to the stream edge) and stream “cleaning” 

(removal in in-stream wood).

Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) – The over-all objective of any treatment within the Riparian Reserves is 

to maintain compliance with the Regional TMDL Implementation Strategy so that stream temperatures 

are not detrimentally impacted. Over 26,487 acres of Riparian Reserves throughout the Breitenbush 5th

field watershed would remain untreated. Where vegetative treatments are proposed within Riparian 

Reserves, effective stream shading is retained at levels sufficient to maintain water temperature. A 
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minimum of 50% canopy closure is preserved throughout the Riparian Reserve to maintain 

microclimates. No-harvest buffers were developed to preserve the primary shade zone. Five units are 

proposed for streamside treatment. All of the remaining units with perennial Class 3 and Class 2 streams 

have a minimum 60-foot no-harvest buffer.

Where in-stream wood or near-stream treatments are proposed, thermal loading is naturally low. The 

lengths of stream exposed to direct solar radiation are kept to a minimum to achieve resource objectives 

while providing shaded reaches to “re-cool” the stream immediately below the treatments. Additionally, 

the creation of in-stream wood improves gravel storage and pool formation which in turn increases 

hyporehic exchange and improving cold water influx to the channels. 

Alternative 3 – Implementation of this alternative would have similar effects as Alternative 2. The acres 

Riparian Reserve treatments and the acres of stream side wood creation are the same. Design features for 

stream-side shade is also the same though there are fewer acres (372 acres) proposed for thinning in 

Alternative 3.

This objective would be maintained.

Objective #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.

Alterative 1 (No Action) – Under natural, unmanaged conditions, the sediment regime is regulated 

overland and via streamflow’s, (big events like debris flows and ongoing small inputs like bank erosion). 

Sediment storage and transport is influenced by stream channels, including obstructions such as large 

woody debris that slow the flow, allowing sediment to settle out. Approximately 22% of the Breitenbush 

5th field watershed lies in designated wilderness, so much of the watershed would not have any change in 

sediment regime by No Action. This helps provide for landscape processes that are dominated by nature 

rather than humans. Implementation of this alternative would maintain existing anthropogenic sediment 

input at their current levels for potentially several years to several decades. Natural sediment regime 

processes would still continue, including debris flow and downstream delivery of sediment. However, 

Alternative 1 would not correct existing road erosion problems nor reduce the risk of future road or 

culvert failure.

Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) – Project design elements are intended to maintain and restore the 

physical integrity of the aquatic system, including shorelines, banks, and bottom configurations, as 

discussed above under Objective 3. These design elements will also provide protection to water quality 

from the introduction of sediment into streams and resulting effects on stream turbidity.

Roads are a known potential source of damage to stream habitat, where improper design or location, or 

inadequate maintenance results in failures or roadway erosion. The Hwy 46 Project addresses this concern 

by minimizing permanent road construction and upgrading numerous culverts. Approximately 117 miles 

of maintenance and reconstruction of portions of the existing road network that are in poor repair, 

replacement of undersized or old culverts, drainage improvement, and application of aggregate where 

necessary, will reduce chronic, low amplitude sources of fine sediment from the existing transportation 

system, and the potential of crossing fill failures. This will reduce the possibility of gravels and cobbles 

becoming embedded in fine materials in the stream channel bottoms. During culvert replacement, some 

sediment may enter the stream system. However, the amount will be minimized by following BMPs and 

the impact will be relatively short lived. Approximately 5.2 miles of temporary roads will be constructed 

on stable locations, and all of these will be decommissioned following harvest activities. Additionally, 
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approximately 1.99 miles of road would be decommissioned and 0.75 miles stored in a hydrologically 

stable condition. 

All proposed treatments were designed with sediment transport potential in mind. All harvest activities 

follow Best Management Practices (BMP) guidelines and restrict the use of ground disturbing equipment 

in and around streams. This reduces the potential of water routing along skid roads or the creation of 

overland flow due to high compaction levels. Where aerial yarding methods are prescribed, full 

suspension is required when yarding over streams to prevent disturbance of stream banks and channels. 

Trees cut for skyline corridors would be retained on site as down woody material. 

Alternative 3 – Implementation of this alternative would have similar effects as Alternative 2 with the 

exception of fewer road miles maintained or reconstructed. This may result in impacts to the streams 

along roads not repaired. 

This objective would be slightly improved. 

Objective #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. 

Alterative 1 (No Action) – Approximately 22% of the Breitenbush 5th field watershed lies in designated 

wilderness. This helps provide for landscape processes that are dominated by nature rather than humans. 

Implementation of this alternative would maintain existing in-stream flows. 

The area’s sub-watersheds are moving into a vegetative condition which buffers the effect of snow 

accumulation from past clear-cutting harvest. With ARP values projected to remain well above the 

threshold of concern, No Action, would result in no changes to existing peak flows based on vegetation 

removal. However, lack of density reduction and fuel treatments of overstocked stands would retain an 

increased risk of high severity wildfire or disease outbreaks, that would have the potential to increase 

peak flows in the near-term following an event. 

Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) –Implementation of a landscape design that is intended to restore 

vegetative structure, landscape patterns, and disturbance regimes to a more natural condition will result in 

a hydrology that more closely resemble those under which historic stream flow conditions developed. 

This alternative maintains current canopy cover at levels above the maximum mid-point Aggregate 

Recovery Percentage (ARP). Therefore, no altered flows are anticipated from implementation of this 

alterative.

It is anticipated that implementation of standards in the Willamette National Forest Plan would maintain 

stream flows sufficiently to create and sustain riparian, aquatic and wetland habitats, and to retain patterns 

of sediment, nutrient, and wood routing. In the short term, potential adverse effects on the timing, 

magnitude, duration, and spatial distribution of peak and high flows will be minimized by managing the 

planning subdrainages within the analysis area to Aggregate Recovery Percentage (ARP) levels. 

Alternative 3 – Implementation of this alternative would have similar effects as Alternative 2, and no 

altered flows are anticipated. 

This objective would be maintained.

Objective #7 – Maintain and restore the timing, variability, and duration of floodplain inundation 

and water table elevation in meadows and wetlands.
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Alterative 1 (No Action) – As mentioned in previous objective, approximately 22% of the Breitenbush 5th 

field watershed lies in designated wilderness which helps provide for natural landscape processes 

Implementation of this alternative would maintain existing floodplain inundations and water table 

elevations. Conifer encroachment would continue in the wet meadow in Unit 32a, reducing water 

availability for meadow vegetation and eventually losing the meadow habitat all together in the absence 

of other disturbance.

Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) – Implementation of a landscape design that is intended to restore 

vegetative structures, landscape patterns, and disturbance regimes to a more natural condition will result 

in watershed conditions that more closely resemble those under which historic stream flow conditions 

developed. Floodplains and wetland areas were excluded from consideration with the exception of Unit 

32a for harvest activities and where treatment units occur adjacent to these features. Ground based 

equipment is restricted from buffers to minimize soil and groundwater impacts. Addition of in-stream 

wood has the potential to alter floodplains. However, research has shown that this type of alteration 

usually leads in increased channel complexity and improved aquatic habitat. Conifer encroachment would 

be addressed in the wet meadow in Unit 32a, increasing shallow water availability for meadow vegetation 

and increasing wet meadow diversity.

Alternative 3 – Implementation of this alternative would have similar effects as Alternative 2, and no 

altered flows are anticipated. Conifer encroachment would continue in the wet meadow in Unit 32a, 

reducing water availability for meadow vegetation and eventually losing the meadow habitat all together 

in the absence of other disturbance.

This ACSO would be maintained. 

Objective #8 - Maintain and restore the species compositions 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 distribution of coarse woody debris sufficient to sustain 

physical complexity and stability.

Alternative 1 (No Action) – This alternative would maintain landscape complexity at the current 

condition. Several hundred acres of Riparian Reserves would remain in dense homogenous stand 

conditions until natural processes created openings in which hardwoods and understory species could 

thrive. This could take several decades. Aquatic habitats would continue to experience low volumes of instream and terrestrial down wood.

Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) – Over 26,487 acres of Riparian Reserves throughout the Breitenbush 5th

field would remain untreated and provide landscape-scale diversity. Some stands in Riparian Reserves are 

proposed for treatment to encourage development of large wood and late successional stand structure and 

increasing understory species diversity. Many of the plantations showed relatively high levels of large 

down wood that was left from the original harvest, with quite large diameters over 40”, such that it will 

last many more decades. At present, these stands are dense with a homogeneous overstory dominated by 

Douglas-fir. This forms a condition which shades out almost all light before it can reach the forest floor. 

Because of this, there are very little hardwoods or herbaceous vegetation on the forest floor. Thinning 

these stands outside of the streams primary shade zone will allow more sunlight to reach the forest floor 

and encourage greater vegetative diversity than currently exists. This activity will have the short term 

effect (years to a couple of decades) of reducing coarse woody material loading in the Riparian Reserve 

outside the no-harvest buffer. However given the unnaturally over-stocked conditions of these managed

stands, in the long term (decades to a century) there will still be adequate woody material to maintained 

volumes within the natural range of variability.
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Wetlands and floodplain areas that are critical to nutrient filtering are eliminated from treatment areas and 

use of ground disturbing equipment adjacent to them is restricted. Near-stream treatments and large wood 

input will help improve the nutritional quality of organic matter delivered to streams and allow for 

increased primary productivity.

Use of low severity fire is restricted to the edges of streamside buffers where the risk of adverse effects on 

ground cover and duff retention cannot impact water quality.

Alternative 3 - Implementation of this alternative would have similar effects as Alternative 2 with the 

exception there are fewer acres (372 acres) proposed for thinning in Alternative 3.

This objective would be slightly improved.

Objective #9 – Maintain and restore habitat to support well-distributed populations of native plant, 

invertebrate, and vertebrate riparian-dependent species.

Alternative 1 (No Action) – This alternative would maintain current habitat conditions for both aquatic 

and riparian-dependent species. Many of the aquatic and riparian-dependent species need complex stand 

structures like that found in old-growth stands in order to thrive. However, several hundred acres of 

Riparian Reserves would remain in dense homogenous stand conditions until natural processes created 

openings in which hardwoods and understory species could thrive. This could take several decades. 

Meanwhile aquatic habitats would continue to experience low volumes of down wood and a lack of 

hardwood leaf litter. Deciduous trees provide leaf matter to streams that is of higher nutritional quality 

than conifer needles. 

Alternative 2 (Proposed Action) – Over 26487 acres of Riparian Reserves throughout the Breitenbush 5th

field watershed would remain untreated and provide landscape-scale diversity. In addition, this project 

complies with the Northwest Forest Plan and all of its applicable standards and guidelines. Objective 9 

was expected to maintain and restore late-successional and old-growth forest ecosystems, and provide 

adequate viability levels for all late successional species including species listed in the FSEIS ROD Table 

C-3.

As discussed in the other Objectives above, many stands in Riparian Reserves are proposed for treatment

to encourage development of large wood, late successional stand structure and understory plant diversity. 

This would help to create a rich variety of habitats for native species. Adequate amounts of down woody 

debris will be retained on site.

Thinning in the upland portion of the Riparian Reserves in Hwy 46 will help restore habitat for a variety 

of native plant species. Currently these areas are even aged Douglas-fir plantations and lack a diversity of 

understory vascular and lichen and bryophyte species. Thinning these areas could increase botanical 

species richness by creating more multi-aged and multi-canopy stands as well as increase species 

diversity. 

Many of the sensitive and survey and manage plant species in the project area are found within or 

adjacent to Riparian Reserves. These sites will be buffered to protect the sites from disturbance and 

maintain the microclimate. See the Botany Report and/or Botanical Biological Evaluation for more 

information on these sites. 

The Breitenbush River and its numerous tributaries provide excellent habitat for native fish. This is due to 

the cold, clean water. This habitat will be maintained by the implementation of no cut buffers along fish 

bearing streams. Additionally, upgrades to several culverts will provide better dispersal opportunities to 
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aquatic invertebrates and salamanders. Roads that are decommissioned will restore stream channels so 

that there will be unobstructed passage at the former road crossing.

Alternative 3 - Implementation of this alternative would have similar effects as Alternative 2 with the 

exception that Alternative 3 proposes fewer acres (372 acres) of Riparian Reserve thinning and fewer 

miles of road maintenance/repairs.

This objective would be slightly improved.