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Watersheds

South Umpqua River Watershed

Key Statistics

Size (acres) 141,575
Percent Public Ownership 43
Miles of anadromous salmonid streams 137
Highest elevation (feet) 4,052
Lowest elevation (feet) 627

Location and Size

The South Umpqua River fifth-field watershed is located in the south-central portion of the Umpqua Basin.  The watershed is approximately 141,575 acres, stretching a maximum of 14 miles north to south and 20 miles east to west. The watershed begins at the confluence of the South Umpqua River and Elk Creek in the east and flows 28 river miles to the confluence with Cow Creek at river mile 47.

UserUploaded/UBEAdmin/11/South_Umpqua_River_Land_Cover.jpg

E&S Environmental Chemistry

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Landscape and Features

Elevations in the South Umpqua River Watershed range from 627 feet where the South Umpqua River meets Cow Creek to 4,052 feet at Red Top Mountain on the northeastern tip of the watershed.  Most of the watershed is fairly steep with stream channels that dissect the landscape. Days Creek and the South Umpqua River both have floodplains. The South Umpqua River floodplain from Canyonville to the confluence with Days Creek is the largest low-relief feature in the watershed.

Over half of the land base in the South Umpqua River Watershed is privately owned.   Public ownership is mostly federal (43%) and administered by the Bureau of Land Management.  The upland areas are favorable for forest management and approximately 89% of the land base is used for public or private forestry.  The South Umpqua River and Days Creek floodplains have mostly been converted from native vegetation to agricultural lands and grazing pastures, with some urban and residential development.  Around 9% of the watershed's land is used for agricultural purposes, while commercial/industrial lands and residential lands each constitute approximately 1% of the watershed.

The City of Canyonville is the only incorporated city within the South Umpqua River Watershed.  Other population centers are the unincorporated towns of Days Creek and Milo. Interstate Five (I-5) runs through Canyonville and the western portion of the watershed. The Tiller-Trail Highway follows the South Umpqua River, and Days Creek Road follows Days Creek.

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E&S Environmental Chemistry

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Current Conditions

The South Umpqua River Watershed is home to many fish species, including five salmonids.  Spring and fall chinook spawn in the South Umpqua River.  According to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) aerial counts of fall chinook, each year between 10% and 20% of the fall chinook documented in the South Umpqua River are within in the watershed.  Winter steelhead and coho spawn in many of the watershed's tributaries, including Days Creek and Canyon Creek (a tributary to the South Umpqua River which flows through Canyonville and along I-5).  The watershed's numerous higher-gradient tributary streams provide habitat for cutthroat trout.  Smallmouth bass are found in the South Umpqua River, especially during the summer months.

This watershed has two major dams: Win Walker Dam on West Fork Canyon Creek and Oshea Creek Dam on Oshea Creek.  These dams were built by the City of Canyonville to provide water to the city.  Both dams are complete barriers to fish passage.

  

The South Umpqua River, Days Creek, Canyon Creek, as well as eight other tributaries, are on the ODEQ 303(d) list for violating stream temperature standards.  Within the watershed, the South Umpqua River is also 303(d) listed for chlorine, fecal coliform, pH, aquatic weeds/algae, and biological criteria.  The following streams are considered water quality limited for habitat or flow modification: Beals Creek (habitat), Canyon Creek (flow) Days Creek (habitat and flow), Oshea Creek (flow), St. John Creek (flow), Shively Creek (habitat), and the South Umpqua River (habitat and flow).

UserUploaded/UBEAdmin/9/South_Umpqua_Above_Days_Creek.jpg

Photo courtesy of Partnership
for the Umpqua Rivers

Stream and riparian habitat conditions vary from stream to stream.  In general, riparian zones in the watershed's higher-elevation regions are dominated by conifer forests of various age classes.  In the watershed's valleys, the South Umpqua River, Days Creek, and Canyon Creek are predominantly thin strips of hardwoods mixed with shrubs and blackberries.  In many of the South Umpqua River Watershed's tributaries, ODFW stream habitat surveys conducted during the summers of 1992 through 1996 show inadequate levels of large woody debris (ODFW did not survey the South Umpqua River).

Specific UBWC Enhancement Opportunities for the South Umpqua River Watershed

UBWC staff members believe that within the South Umpqua River Watershed, Stouts Creek and Shively Creek are generally in good condition. Beals Creek, Upper Days Creek, Corn Creek, Coffee Creek, and Stouts Creek are the UBWC's top priority streams for projects within the watershed. Listed below are specific UBWC enhancement opportunities within the South Umpqua River Watershed. These recommendations are based on the assessment findings as well as the professional experience of UBWC, DSWCD, and ODFW staff members.

1. Actively seek out opportunities with landowners, businesses, and resident groups in key areas to enlist participation restoration projects and activities:

  • Remove/replace barriers to fish passage Stinger Gulch, Beals Creek, and Fate Creek.

  • Install efficient irrigation systems and encourage instream water leasing on streams with irrigation rights, such as the South Umpqua River.

  • Place fish habitat improving logs and boulders in Upper Days Creek, Beals Creek, Stouts Creek, Shively Creek and Coffee Creek.

  • Plant trees (especially conifers), remove blackberries, and fence riparian areas along Coffee Creek, Days Creek, Stinger Gulch, Wood Creek, and Beals Creek. Install upland stock water systems as appropriate.

2. Work with landowners on a case-by-case basis to create or improve wetlands, especially along the South Umpqua River in the Morgan Creek area.

3. Assist the Umpqua Basin Fish Access Team's evaluation of fish passage barriers and obstacles, especially on Morgan Creek, Upper Days Creek, East Fork Shively Creek, Corn Creek, and Coffee Creek.

4. Develop a page on the UBWC website that provides local information on wetlands and wetland conservation programs to help landowners enroll in programs that can benefit wetlands and meet landowner goals.

5. Develop educational materials and/or outreach programs to educate target audiences about fish habitat and water quality related issues:

  • Create educational brochures about bank erosion, the problems associated with channel modification, and the importance of riparian areas. These could be given to new landowners through real estate agents.

  • Develop public service announcements about ways of improving or maintaining riparian and instream conditions, such as the benefits of riparian fencing and how to use fertilizers and pesticides in a stream-friendly fashion.

  • Design engaging displays about fish passage barriers for community events, such as the Douglas County Fair.

  • Give presentations at citizen groups about the benefits to landowners and to fish that result from upland stock water systems, off-channel shade trees, and instream water leasing.

6. Support local fish habitat and water quality research:

  • Train volunteers to conduct fish and water quality monitoring and research.

  • Provide equipment necessary for local water quality research and monitoring.

  • Survey long-term landowners and residents about historical and current fish distribution and abundance.

  • Encourage school and student participation in monitoring and research.

  • Collaborate with other organizations and agencies on monitoring projects, such as assisting ODEQ with monitoring South Umpqua River ammonia and chlorine levels below Canyonville.

7. Educate policy makers about the obstacles preventing greater landowner participation in voluntary fish habitat and water quality improvement methods.

Sources

Geyer, Nancy A. South Umpqua River Watershed Assessment and Action Plan. Roseburg, Oregon: Prepared for the Umpqua Basin Watershed Council; 2003 November.