Breitenbush River – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Area contains mid to high elevation managed forest and tributaries of the North Santiam River.

COA ID: 110

Recommended Conservation Actions

Identify and correct fish passage barriers.
Improve and maintain forest health; use prescribed fire to enhance wildlife habitat.
Improve in-stream habitat complexity for fish and wildlife.
Increase vegetated buffers on non-fishing bearing streams to protect water quality , quality and micro-habitat elements for sensitive amphibians.
Maintain and protect instream flows.
Manage riparian areas to develop shade and stand species diversity.
Minimize spread of invasive vegetation.
Protect and enhance amphibian breeding sites; eliminate introduced predators.
Protect and enhance amphibian breeding sites.
Protect and maintain grassland and rock features
Reduce recreation impacts to fish and wildlife including from OHV.
Reduce road densities to decrease sedimentation and improve wildlife movement
Remove and control invasive vegetation.
Remove barriers to fish and amphibian movement.
Retain and protect forest openings and meadows for wildlife habitat diversity

Local Conservation Actions and Plans

Breitenbush Watershed Analysis Update (2014)
Humbug Creek Large Wood Placement
North Santiam Watershed Council: Watershed Restoration Action Plan (2014)
Revised Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl (2012)
Willamette Basin Restoration Priorities Watershed Summaries (2005)

Potential Partners

Breitenbush Watershed Collaborative
Confederated Tribes of Warms Springs
Marion County
National Marine Fisheries Service
North Santiam Watershed Council
U.S. Forest Service - Mt Hood National Forest
U.S. Forest Service - Willamette National Forest

Special Features

General

Connects Bull of the Woods Wilderness and Mount Jefferson Wilderness areas
Includes Critical Habitat Units for Northern Spotted Owl
Several rare plant species present
Site of Spring Chinook reintroduction

Previously Associated With

2006 COA ID WC-04 (Bull of the Woods area)

Protected Areas

Breitenbush Hot Springs
Bull of the Woods Wilderness
Collawash River
Mount Hood National Forest
Mount Jefferson Wilderness
Ollalie Lake
Opal Creek Wilderness
Willamette National Forest

Ecoregions

West Cascades

The West Cascades ecoregion extends from east of the Cascade Mountains summit to the foothills of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue Valleys, and spans the entire length of the state of Oregon. It is largely dominated by conifer forests, moving into alpine parklands and dwarf shrubs at higher elevations.

Strategy Habitats

Grasslands

Grasslands include a variety of upland grass-dominated habitats, such as upland prairies, coastal bluffs, and montane grasslands.

Late Successional Mixed Conifer Forests

Late successional mixed conifer forests provide a multi-layered tree canopy, including large-diameter trees, shade-tolerant tree species in the understory, and a high volume of dead wood, such as snags and logs.

Natural Lakes

Natural lakes are relatively large bodies of freshwater surrounded by land. For the purposes of the Conservation Strategy, natural lakes are defined as standing water bodies larger than 20 acres, including some seasonal lakes.

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats

Flowing Water and Riparian Habitats include all naturally occurring flowing freshwater streams and rivers throughout Oregon as well as the adjacent riparian habitat.

Ducks on a wetland in Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, Oregon

Wetlands

Wetlands are covered with water during all or part of the year. Permanently wet habitats include backwater sloughs, oxbow lakes, and marshes, while seasonally wet habitats include seasonal ponds, vernal pools, and wet prairies.