Appendix A

Washington State Watershed Analysis Overview

Forest landowners, tribes, environmental groups, and state natural resource agencies developed a watershed analysis process to investigate the combined effects of forest practices on watersheds over time. Watershed analysis assesses a watershed’s resources and the activities and elements that affect the conditions of the condition of the resources. The primary goals of watershed analysis are:

To address the cumulative effects of two or more forestry practices on public resources such as fish, water, and capital improvements.
To protect and restore the public resources and fish habitat adversely affected by forest practices while maintaining a viable forest products industry.

Washington State has been divided into watershed administrative units (WAUs) which have been defined by the Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, federally recognized Indian tribes, local government, forest landowners, and the public (Washington Forest Practices Board 1997). WAUs are distinct hydrologic units ranging in size from 10,000 to 50,000 acres. Periodically, the WAUs are reviewed to determine if changes in boundaries are needed to accurately address cumulative impacts in the area.

The Department of Natural Resources has worked in cooperation with Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, affected Indian tribes, forest land owners, and the public to prioritize the watersheds based upon the need for watershed analysis (Washington State Forest Practices Board 1997). The availability of affected Indian tribes and local government entities to participate and provide assistance was considered in the process of prioritizing the watersheds. Forest landowners with more than ten percent of the nonfederal forest land acreage in the watershed may conduct an assessment at their own expense (qualifications are outlined in WAC 222-22-030).

The watershed analysis process evaluates slope stability, erosion, riparian areas, water flow patterns, and stream channel conditions (DNR 1997). In addition, the impact of these processes on water quality, fish and fish habitat, and capital improvements of the state are evaluated. The level one assessment requires a team of qualified individuals in forestry, forest hydrology, forest science or geology, fisheries science, and geomorphology. An inventory of the watershed is performed as described in the manual (Washington State Forest Practices Board 1997). This includes surveying and mapping the WAU with the condition of fish, water, and capital improvements. Adverse changes to the condition of the resources by one forest practice or cumulative effects are assessed. The vulnerability of potentially affected resource characteristics is assessed. In addition, areas of resource sensitivity are identified. The level two assessment completes tasks that weren’t fulfilled in the level one assessment. In addition, the likelihood of any adverse changes or vulnerabilities that were rated indeterminate in the level one assessment are reviewed and rated as low, moderate, or high.

Prescriptions for the WAU are determined from the watershed analysis. They are reasonably designed to help protect and allow recovery of the public resources (DNR 1997). The prescriptions provide landowners with advance information in planning forestry activities.

Source: DNR. 1997. Forest Practices Illustrated. Olympia, WA.

Washington State Forest Practices Board. 1997. Standard methodology for conducting watershed analysis under Chapter 222-22 WAC.

From WAC 222-22:

Watershed Analysis Goals and Objectives:

To address the cumulative effects of two or more forestry practices on public resources (fish, water, and capital improvements of the state or its political subdivisions).
To protect and restore the public resources and the productive capacity of fish habitat adversely affected by forest practices while maintaining a viable forest products industry.
System allows for monitoring, subsequent watershed analysis, and adaptive management.

Adaptive Management:

Requires advances in technology and cooperation between resource managers.
Need for monitoring success in predicting and preventing adverse change to public resources.

Non-Forest Practice Contributions:

Should be addressed by the proper jurisdictional authorities.
The department should notify any governmental agency or Indian tribe having jurisdiction.

Watershed Administrative Units:

The state is divided into watershed administrative units (WAUs) which are defined by DNR in cooperation with ecology, fish and wildlife, federally recognized Indian tribes, local government entities, forest landowners, and the public.
The WAUs should generally be between 10,000 to 50,000 acres and be discrete hydrologic units.
Periodic reviews will be conducted to determine if changes in the WAUs need to occur to more efficiently assess potential cumulative damages.

Watershed Prioritization:

Department of Natural Resources determines the order in which WAUs will be analyzed for each region.
The availability of participation and assistance that may be provided by local Indian tribes and local government entities is considered.

Analysis by forest land owner:

The owners of ten percent or more of the nonfederal forest land acreage in a WAU may conduct a level 1 or level 2 assessment at their own expense. The owners must notify DNR in writing of their intent, identify the teams proposed to conduct the assessment (individuals must meet the qualifications outlined in WAC 222-22-030), begin analysis within 30 days of the notice. An approved forest landowner shall, only for the purposes of conducting the watershed analysis, be a duly authorized representative for DNR. Owners are encourage to include available, qualified expertise from state and federal agencies, affected Indian tribes, forest land owners, local government entities, and the public.

Level One Assessment:

Team shall include qualified individuals in forestry, forest hydrology, forest science or geology, fisheries science, and geomorphology.
An inventory is performed using the methodology, indices of resource condition, and checklists described in the manual.
Includes survey and mapping of the WAU for fish, water, and capital improvements (including the condition of the resources). The likelihood of adverse changes by one forest practice or cumulative effects is assessed. The vulnerability of potentially affected resource characteristics is assessed. Areas of resource sensitivity are identified.

Level Two Assessment:

Team shall include qualified individuals in forestry, forest hydrology, forest science or geology, fisheries science, and geomorphology.
An inventory is performed using the methodology, indices of resource condition, and checklists described in the manual.
If a level 1 assessment hasn’t been completed, the level 2 team will complete the tasks except will not rate the likelihood of adverse change and deliverability or vulnerability as indeterminate.
If a level 1 assessment has been completed, the level 2 team will review each likelihood or adverse change and deliverability and resource vulnerability rated as indeterminate and shall revise the rating to low, moderate, or high.

Prescription Recommendation:

Prescriptions will be reasonably designed to minimize, prevent, or avoid the likelihood of adverse change and deliverability that has the potential to cause a material, adverse effect to resource characteristics as described in WAC 222-22-070.