Upper Finegold
creek watershed Assessment
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements.
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List of Tables.
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List of Figures.
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Section 1 Assessment Overview..
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Introduction.
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CALFED Bay-Delta Watershed Program and California Bay-Delta Authority.
PAGEREF _Toc124147163 \h 17
Watershed Coalition Organization.
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History of the Coalition.
PAGEREF _Toc124147165 \h 20
Coalitions Charter under CALFED Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147166 \h 21
Coalitions Vision and Mission.
PAGEREF _Toc124147167 \h 21
Steering Committee.
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Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
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Assessment Work Group.
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Purpose of Initial and Current Watershed Assessment
PAGEREF _Toc124147171 \h 24
Future Assessment Program Recommendations
PAGEREF _Toc124147172 \h 24
Surface Water
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Ground Water
PAGEREF _Toc124147174 \h 25
Surface and Ground Water Hydrology.
PAGEREF _Toc124147175 \h 25
Sediment, Erosion and Soils
PAGEREF _Toc124147176 \h 25
Biodiversity and Habitat
PAGEREF _Toc124147177 \h 26
Fuels and Fire History.
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Invasive Vegetation and Noxious Weeds
PAGEREF _Toc124147179 \h 27
Goals and Objectives of the Millerton Area Watershed Assessment Phase 1 and
2
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Goal 1 Broadness or Level of Comprehensiveness
PAGEREF _Toc124147181 \h 28
Goal 2 Accurate Statement of Condition and High Level of Support
PAGEREF _Toc124147182 \h 28
Goal 3 Use as a Planning Tool and Plan of Action for the Coalition.
PAGEREF _Toc124147183 \h 28
Goal 4 Use as a Planning Tool and Plan of Action for CALFED.
PAGEREF _Toc124147184 \h 28
Phase 2 Upper Finegold Assessment Approach and Quality Assurance.
PAGEREF _Toc124147185 \h 29
Components and Scope.
PAGEREF _Toc124147186 \h 29
Existing Data (Phase 1) versus New Data (Phase 2)
PAGEREF _Toc124147187 \h 29
Regional Setting.
PAGEREF _Toc124147188 \h 30
Bioregions and the Watershed Study Area.
PAGEREF _Toc124147189 \h 30
Millerton Watershed Study Area.
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Geology.
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Climate.
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Land Use and Trends
PAGEREF _Toc124147193 \h 49
Land Ownership.
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Demographics
PAGEREF _Toc124147195 \h 53
Cultural Resources
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Recreational and Scenic Resources
PAGEREF _Toc124147197 \h 55
Research Facilities and Special Management Areas
PAGEREF _Toc124147198 \h 56
Section 2 Surface Water.
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Introduction.
PAGEREF _Toc124147200 \h 58
Water Quantity and Use.
PAGEREF _Toc124147201 \h 58
In Stream Water Rights
PAGEREF _Toc124147202 \h 58
Consumptive Water Use.
PAGEREF _Toc124147203 \h 58
Non-consumptive Water Use.
PAGEREF _Toc124147204 \h 62
Hydroelectric Operations, Storage and Diversions
PAGEREF _Toc124147205 \h 63
Surface Water Levels and Flows (Seasonal)
PAGEREF _Toc124147206 \h 63
Water Quality Data.
PAGEREF _Toc124147207 \h 64
Introduction.
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Attributes or Constituent Standards
PAGEREF _Toc124147209 \h 67
Other Sources of Water Quality Impairment
PAGEREF _Toc124147210 \h 67
Upper Finegold Watershed Monitoring Phase 2.
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Summary of Findings Phase 1.
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Summary of Findings for Upper Finegold Watershed based upon field monitoring
and surveys Phase 2
PAGEREF _Toc124147213 \h 71
Conclusions Phase 1.
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Conclusions Upper Finegold Phase 2.
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Section 3 Groundwater.
PAGEREF _Toc124147216 \h 73
Introduction.
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Water Rights.
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Geological Structure.
PAGEREF _Toc124147219 \h 73
Water Quantity.
PAGEREF _Toc124147220 \h 74
Upper Finegold Watershed Ground water Quantity Phase 2.
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Methodology of Initial Analysis
PAGEREF _Toc124147222 \h 78
Results of Initial Analysis
PAGEREF _Toc124147223 \h 79
Ground Water Quality.
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Upper Finegold Well Water Quality Analysis under Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147225 \h 83
Consumptive Water Use.
PAGEREF _Toc124147226 \h 87
Summary of Findings Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147227 \h 88
Summary of Findings for Upper Finegold Watershed based upon field monitoring
and surveys Phase 2
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Conclusions Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147229 \h 89
Conclusions Upper Finegold Phase 2.
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Section 4 Surface and Groundwater Hydrology.
PAGEREF _Toc124147231 \h 91
Introduction.
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Evapotranspiration.
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Percolation.
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Impervious Surfaces.
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Upper Finegold Surface and Groundwater Hydrological Analysis under Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147236 \h 94
Summary of Findings Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147237 \h 95
Summary of Findings for Upper Finegold Watershed based upon field monitoring
and surveys Phase 2
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Conclusions Phase 1.
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Conclusions Upper Finegold Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147240 \h 96
Section 5 Sediment, Erosion and Soils.
PAGEREF _Toc124147241 \h 97
Introduction.
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Soil Type and Structure.
PAGEREF _Toc124147243 \h 97
Major Soils Associations of the Upper Finegold Watershed.
PAGEREF _Toc124147244 \h 100
Erosion Natural Influences.
PAGEREF _Toc124147245 \h 101
Erosion Land Use and Infrastructural Effects.
PAGEREF _Toc124147246 \h 101
Upper Finegold Field Investigations and Surveys under Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147247 \h 101
Summary of Findings Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147248 \h 103
Summary of Findings for Upper Finegold Watershed based upon field monitoring
and surveys Phase 2
PAGEREF _Toc124147249 \h 104
Conclusions Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147250 \h 105
Conclusions Upper Finegold Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147251 \h 105
Section 6 Biodiversity and Habitat (Aquatic, Riparian, Upland)
PAGEREF _Toc124147252 \h 106
Introduction.
PAGEREF _Toc124147253 \h 106
Channel Habitat Types.
PAGEREF _Toc124147254 \h 108
Vegetation.
PAGEREF _Toc124147255 \h 110
Wildlife.
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Fish.
PAGEREF _Toc124147257 \h 110
Invertebrates.
PAGEREF _Toc124147258 \h 110
State and Federally Protected Species.
PAGEREF _Toc124147259 \h 111
Upper Finegold Field Investigations and Surveys under Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147260 \h 111
Summary of Findings Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147261 \h 113
Summary of Findings for Upper Finegold Watershed based upon field monitoring
and surveys Phase 2
PAGEREF _Toc124147262 \h 114
Conclusions Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147263 \h 114
Conclusions Upper Finegold Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147264 \h 115
Section 7 Fuels and Fire.
PAGEREF _Toc124147265 \h 116
Introduction.
PAGEREF _Toc124147266 \h 116
Fuel Models (CDF).
PAGEREF _Toc124147267 \h 116
Fire History.
PAGEREF _Toc124147268 \h 119
Upper Finegold Field Investigations and Surveys under Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147269 \h 122
Summary of Findings Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147270 \h 126
Summary of Findings for Upper Finegold Watershed based upon field monitoring
and surveys Phase 2
PAGEREF _Toc124147271 \h 126
Conclusions Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147272 \h 127
Conclusions Upper Finegold Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147273 \h 128
Section 8 Invasive Vegetation and Noxious Weeds.
PAGEREF _Toc124147274 \h 129
Introduction.
PAGEREF _Toc124147275 \h 129
Upper Finegold Field Investigations and Surveys under Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147276 \h 132
Summary of Findings Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147277 \h 133
Summary of Findings for Upper Finegold Watershed based upon field monitoring
and surveys Phase 2
PAGEREF _Toc124147278 \h 133
Conclusions Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147279 \h 134
Conclusions Upper Finegold Phase 2.
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Section 9 Watershed Condition Summary Phase 1.
PAGEREF _Toc124147281 \h 135
Introduction.
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Findings.
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Impacts
PAGEREF _Toc124147284 \h 135
Data Gaps
PAGEREF _Toc124147285 \h 136
Conclusion.
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Upper Finegold Watershed Condition Summary Phase 2.
PAGEREF _Toc124147287 \h 137
Introduction.
PAGEREF _Toc124147288 \h 137
Findings
PAGEREF _Toc124147289 \h 137
Conclusion.
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Section 10 Upper Finegold Watershed Protection Plan Recommendations.
PAGEREF _Toc124147291 \h 139
Section 1 Assessment Overview..
PAGEREF _Toc124147292 \h 140
Section 2 Surface Water
PAGEREF _Toc124147293 \h 140
Section 3 Ground Water
PAGEREF _Toc124147294 \h 140
Section 4 Surface and Ground Water Hydrology.
PAGEREF _Toc124147295 \h 141
Section 5 Sediment, Erosion and Soils.
PAGEREF _Toc124147296 \h 141
Section 6 Biodiversity and Habitat
PAGEREF _Toc124147297 \h 142
Section 7 Fuels and Fire History.
PAGEREF _Toc124147298 \h 142
Section 8 Invasive Vegetation and Noxious Weeds.
PAGEREF _Toc124147299 \h 143
Section 11 Supplemental Materials.
PAGEREF _Toc124147300 \h 144
References.
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Watershed Publications
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Additional Internet-based Resources
PAGEREF _Toc124147303 \h 145
Appendices.
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Section 1 Assessment Overview..
PAGEREF _Toc124147305 \h 149
A Millerton Area Watershed Coalition Visioning Workshop Questions with
Participant Inputs, June 15, 2002
PAGEREF _Toc124147306 \h 149
B Historic Conditions in the San Joaquin River Watershed Friant Water
Users Authority
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C Millerton Lake State Recreational Area Annual Usage Chart: 1986 to 2002.
PAGEREF _Toc124147308 \h 149
D Precipitation in the Millerton area watershed (Monthly/Annual)
California Data Exchange Center (CDEC)
PAGEREF _Toc124147309 \h 149
E Precipitation Map of the San Joaquin Basin Science Leadership Institute,
California State University Fresno.
PAGEREF _Toc124147310 \h 149
Section 2 Surface Water
PAGEREF _Toc124147311 \h 150
A San Joaquin Watershed Report Central Valley Regional Water Quality
Control Board, 2002
PAGEREF _Toc124147312 \h 150
B Maximum Contaminate Levels and Detection Limit California Department of
Health Services
PAGEREF _Toc124147313 \h 150
C Millerton Lake Water Testing (Ramp 3): 1998 to 2002 U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation
PAGEREF _Toc124147314 \h 150
D San Joaquin River Lost Lake water quality Testing: 1996 to 2000 U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation
PAGEREF _Toc124147315 \h 150
Section 3 Ground Water
PAGEREF _Toc124147316 \h 151
A Well Density Information Table Township/Range-Section, California
Department of Water Resources
PAGEREF _Toc124147317 \h 151
B Groundwater Basins Map, California Department of Water Resources
PAGEREF _Toc124147318 \h 151
C Groundwater in Fractured Rock Water Facts #1, California Department of
Water Resources
PAGEREF _Toc124147319 \h 151
D Managing Groundwater Supplies Water Facts #2, California Department of
Water Resources
PAGEREF _Toc124147320 \h 151
E Cover Page Todd Engineers Draft Technical Memorandum Ground Water in
Eastern Madera County, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147321 \h 151
Report Text Todd Engineers Draft Technical Memorandum Ground Water in
Eastern Madera County, 2003
PAGEREF _Toc124147322 \h 151
Figures Appendix Todd Engineers Draft Technical Memorandum Ground Water in
Eastern Madera County, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147323 \h 151
Tables Todd Engineers Draft Technical Memorandum Ground Water in Eastern
Madera County, 2003
PAGEREF _Toc124147324 \h 151
F Ground Water Discussion with Richard Fronk (Fronks Mountain Well
Drilling) and Steering Committee, February 12, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147325 \h 151
G Ground Water Panelist Bio and area of focus for Presentation to
Millerton Area Watershed Coalition, October 8, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147326 \h 151
Ground Water Presentation to Millerton Area Watershed Coalition by Panelists,
October 8, 2003
PAGEREF _Toc124147327 \h 151
H Well Standards Water Facts #5, California Department of Water Resources
PAGEREF _Toc124147328 \h 151
I Well Completion Report California Department of Water Resources
PAGEREF _Toc124147329 \h 151
J Listing of Community Wells Overseen by Fresno County Environmental Health.
PAGEREF _Toc124147330 \h 151
K Well Status Pine Ridge Landowners Association.
PAGEREF _Toc124147331 \h 151
Section 4 Surface and Ground Water Hydrology.
PAGEREF _Toc124147332 \h 152
A Groundwater Water Facts #6, California Department of Water Resources
PAGEREF _Toc124147333 \h 152
Section 5 Sediment, Erosion and Soils.
PAGEREF _Toc124147334 \h 153
A Soils Survey Map of Madera County Natural Resources Conservation Service.
PAGEREF _Toc124147335 \h 153
B Soils Survey Map of Fresno County Natural Resources Conservation Service.
PAGEREF _Toc124147336 \h 153
Section 6 Biodiversity and Habitat
PAGEREF _Toc124147337 \h 154
A Cover Page Millerton Area Watershed Coalition Biological Resources
Background Report, Live Oak Associates, Inc., July 31, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147338 \h 154
Text Millerton Area Watershed Coalition Biological Resources Background
Report, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/31/03.
PAGEREF _Toc124147339 \h 154
Figure 1 Site/Vicinity Map, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.
PAGEREF _Toc124147340 \h 154
Figure 2 Management Plan Study Area Map, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.
PAGEREF _Toc124147341 \h 154
Figure 3 Hydrologic Features, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.
PAGEREF _Toc124147342 \h 154
Figure 4 Gap Vegetation, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.
PAGEREF _Toc124147343 \h 154
Figure 5 Special Status Habitat, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.
PAGEREF _Toc124147344 \h 154
Figure 6 Special Status Plants, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.
PAGEREF _Toc124147345 \h 154
Figure 7 Special Status Animals, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/278/03.
PAGEREF _Toc124147346 \h 154
Figure 8 Land Ownership, Live Oak Associates, Inc., July 28, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147347 \h 154
B Special Status Plants and Mexican Elder Surveys (in) Point Millerton,
Madera County, Live Oak Associates, July 28, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147348 \h 154
Figure 1 Vicinity Map, Live Oak Associates, Inc., July 28, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147349 \h 154
Figure 2 Transect Map, Live Oak Associates, Inc., July 28, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147350 \h 154
Figure 3 Elderberry Location Map, Live Oak Associates, Inc., July 28, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147351 \h 154
C Publications of Land Management Assessments and Plans Oak Woodlands,
Vernal Pools, Rangelands and Grasslands (Listing)
PAGEREF _Toc124147352 \h 154
Section 7 Fuels and Fire History.
PAGEREF _Toc124147353 \h 155
A Fuels and Fire Presentation to Millerton Steering Committee by California
Department of Forestry April 8, 2003.
PAGEREF _Toc124147354 \h 155
Section 8 Invasive Vegetation and Noxious Weeds.
PAGEREF _Toc124147355 \h 156
A Field Guide to Invasive Non-Native Weeds of Mariposa, Madera, and Fresno
Counties Sierra-San Joaquin Weed Management Alliance (December, 2003)
PAGEREF _Toc124147356 \h 156
B Exotic Pest Plants of Greatest Ecological Concern in California CalEPPC
(Cal-IPC) California Invasive Plant Council (1999)
PAGEREF _Toc124147357 \h 156
Figure 52 - Illustration of Developing a Protection Plan for the Upper
Finegold Watershed
PAGEREF _Toc124147518 \h 139
