TABLE 3.-Estimated land use and crops of irrigation area 71. With the project, big-game values of the operating reservoirs would be negligible since the former habitat on Howard Prairie Reservoir site and the area inundated by enlargement of Emigrant Reservoir would be eliminated. On the gross irrigation area, the provision of water and succulent forage might normally be expected to attract black-tailed deer to the irrigated lands, especially during the dry summer and fall months. However, ready access by deer to the broad valley irrigation tracts will be further hindered with project development and increased human occupancy. In addition, the Oregon State Game Commission intends to minimize deer use of the area by various control measures to circumvent agricultural damage. In view of this, it is believed that deer utilization of the irrigated and nonirrigated lands will be of little consequence, and no with-the-project use or harvest values are assigned. Upland game 72. With project development, the upland-game habitat inundated by the new and enlarged reservoirs would be lost. Slight marginal use of the storage pools by such species as grouse, mourning doves, and band-tailed pigeons may occur. However, utilization of the reservoir areas by upland game will in all probability be trivial with the project. The irrigation of additional lands would create a habitat attractive to pheasants, valley quails, and mourning doves. Bandtailed pigeon and cottontail rabbit populations are not expected to be greatly altered. Reductions in the small populations of silvergray squirrels and the virtual elimination of ruffed grouse are anticipated. It is concluded that the additional acreage of irrigated lands will moderately increase the value of the area for upland game, particularly pheasants and quails, which are the species of principal economic importance. The annual upland-game values with project operation are appraised at $15,900. Fur animals 73. Construction of Howard Prairie Reservoir will destroy furanimal habitat that was of small worth for beavers, muskrats, raccoons, and a few minks, skunks, and weasels, without the project. Furthermore, proposed reservoir operation schedules will entail undesirable annual fluctuation in pool levels and discourage the possibility of shore environment of significant value to the fur resource. However, studies on existing Hyatt Prairie Reservoir indicate that the constructed Howard Prairie Reservoir area may be utilized by raccoons and a few muskrats, minks, and, occasionally, beavers, but this use is expected to be of little economic significance. With development, fur-animal use of Hyatt Prairie Reservoir is expected to continue about the same as without the project, and consequently fur-animal values would remain small. The enlarged Emigrant Reservoir will eliminate habitat formerly occupied by small populations of muskrats, racoons, skunks, and a few minks, beavers, and weasels. In addition, further increases in pool fluctuations will occur with the project, and consequently very little fur-animal environment will be created. The barren shore zones resulting from manipulation of water levels will be largely unproductive of food and cover. fore, it is probable that use of the reservoir area by beavers, muskrats, weasels, and skunks will be virtually terminated. Minks would continue to use the impoundment shore zone, and raccoons may increase some on the habitat adjacent to the reservoir, but the slight population variations expected will be of little consequence. There 74. Development of the agricultural area's irrigation and drainage works would benefit the fur-animal resources. Modest increases in muskrats, beavers, and minks are expected. Likewise, the current populations of raccoons, weasels, and skunks should be augmented. However, the latter group are not considered valuable fur species locally, and little change in trapping intensity or harvest may occur. 75. The average annual value of the fur yield with the project is appraised at $3,000. Waterfowl 76. The construction and proposed operation of Howard Prairie Reservoir are expected to result in waterfowl nesting and resting use similar to that now provided by Hyatt Prairie Reservoir. Water fluctuations will nearly parallel those of Hyatt Prairie Reservoir without the project; however, because of the larger shore and water area that would be provided by Howard Prairie Reservoir, a greater use by waterfowl may occur. Nevertheless, waterfowl utilization would probably be moderate since the new reservoir will be located in a mountainous region remote from croplands and principal flight lanes. In addition, the pool will generally be ice covered during much of the spring and part of the fall migration periods. With the project, Hyatt Prairie Reservoir should receive some additional waterfowl use induced by an enlarged average annual minimum pool with favorably modified water fluctuations. The expanded Emigrant Reservoir will be situated on the valley floor immediately adjacent to available food supplies of the project irrigation area. Therefore, it is expected that an increase in waterfowl resting use of the impoundment will occur with project development, but fluctuating water levels will continue to preclude establishment of vegetation needed for food and nesting cover. The expansion of irrigated croplands will augment feeding habitat 48980-54-12 attractive to migratory waterfowl, and canals, drains, and waterways will increase available nesting sites. 77. Therefore, although the region is not considered a good waterfowl area, some increment in migratory and nesting use should occur. However, this increase will not be comparable to that which would be anticipated for a similar development situated on a major flight lane. 78. The with-the-project waterfowl value is appraised at $5,700 annually. SUMMARY OF ANNUAL WILDLIFE VALUES 79. A summary of annual wildlife values is given in table 4. 80. No screening of diversion canals or laddering of the low diversion dams in the south fork of Little Butte Creek and its tributaries is planned by the Bureau. No great need for such structures is seen at the present time. It is felt that free passage of fish between these streams and Howard Prairie Reservoir would be beneficial to the fish and fishery of both waters. 81. Howard Prairie Reservoir should be stocked with cutthroat and/or rainbow trout and preserved as a cold-water lake fishery. It is possible that some loss of fish may occur through the outlet works of both Howard Prairie and Hyatt Prairie Reservoirs into the concrete lined delivery canal to the penstocks of Green Springs powerplant where they would be doomed to destruction while the powerplant was running. If water is to be drawn from the surface of these reservoirs, the intakes should be screened to prevent the passage of fish. 82. No ladder is needed at Emigrant Dam, and in Bear Creek the existing diversion dams are laddered and their respective ditches are screened at present. 83. In a previous report by this service (supplement A to Rogue River Project Report, March 1950), a minimum flow was stipulated if Clawson Dam were to be constructed to take in the flows of Walker and Neil Creeks. As the presently proposed plan will not affect the flows of Walker or Neil Creeks, no minimum flow is requested at this time. WILDLIFE 84. The transbasin reservoir collection and distribution canals will be concrete lined. They will have no appreciable effect on wildlife resources provided deer escape ramps and similar protection devices are included in the canals if detailed studies by the Oregon State Game Commission subsequently reveal their necessity. RECOMMENDATIONS 85. It is recommended that: (1) The following language be incorporated in the recommendations of the report of the regional director of the Bureau of Reclamation: "That additional detailed studies of fish and wildlife resources affected by the project be conducted as necessary, after the project is authorized, in accordance with section 2 of the act of August 14, 1946 (60 Stat. 1080), and that such reasonable modifications in the authorized project facilities be made by the Secretary as he may find appropriate to preserve and propagate these resources." (2) The Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of Oregon, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the irrigation district enter into an agreement which shall cover such assistance as the Bureau and the district can reasonably and lawfully provide for making land within the district accessible for public hunting and fishing and otherwise assuring that the maximum possible benefits are realized from the fish and wildlife resources. (3) If water is to be drawn from the surface of the reservoirs, the intakes be screened to prevent the passage of fish. (4) If continuing studies show deer losses in project canals, the Bureau cooperate with the Oregon State Game Commission in achieving reasonable and feasible means to reduce such losses. (5) Federal lands and waters in the project area be open to free use for hunting and fishing so long as title to the lands and structures remains in the Federal Government, except for sections reserved for safety, efficient operation, or protection of public property. (6) Leases of Federal land in the project area stipulate the right of free public access for hunting and fishing. CONCLUSIONS 86. It is concluded that the effects of the project, if developed according to present plans, will be beneficial to both fish and wildlife. The fishery benefit is estimated at $27,400 annually, and the annual wildlife benefit is appraised at $2,100. 87. Engineering data upon which this report is based were obtained prior to April 1953. To determine the ultimate effects of the project on fish and wildlife resources, it is requested that the Fish and Wildlife Service be advised of all changes in construction and operational plans so that consideration of the effects may be made. JULY 13, 1953. SAMUEL J. HUTCHINSON, LETTER REPORT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY Mr. LEE MCALLISTER, FEBRUARY 17, 1953. Planning Area Engineer, United States Bureau of Reclamation, Salem, Oreg. DEAR SIR: Reference is made to your letters of December 10, 1952, and January 15, 1953, requesting determination of the flood-control benefits which would accrue to enlargement of Emigrant Reservoir in Rogue River Basin under a plan proposed by the Bureau of Reclamation which provides storage for flood control from October through February. The 1861, 1890, 1907, 1909, and 1927 floods were routed through such a reservoir and effect was determined of the flood-control storage on flows at Medford. The benefits are based on the effect such storage would have on flows in Bear Creek as there would be little appreciable effect on Rogue River below the confluence with Bear Creek. It was found that the proposed storage was adequate to regulate all of these floods at the reservoir site. However, since the reservoir controls only 60 square miles of the 285 square miles above Medford, only small floods could be regulated to the channel capacity of 2,200 secondfeet at Medford. The results of this flood-routing study are summarized as follows: 1 Regulated discharge in order of presentation shows the maximum release from the reservoir after the flood has subsided and secondly the reservoir release when the inflow is a maximum. 2 Storage available at the start of the flood as prescribed by the Bureau of Reclamation filling schedule. The two recent 1950 and 1953 floods would have been controlled at the reservoir site with the proposed flood-control storage. In October 1950, the flood occurred at a time the present storage reservoir was empty and the 8,000 acre-feet of storage space was adequate to hold back all floodwaters and to reduce the discharge at Medford to 2,480 second-feet. In January 1953, the reservoir was full at the time the flood occurred. The peak discharges were 2,580 second-feet below the dam and 4,900 second-feet at Medford. 170 |