Contents

Millerton Area Watershed Assessment

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements.. 8

List of Tables.. 10

List of Figures.. 11

Section 1 – Assessment Overview... 12

CALFED Bay-Delta Watershed Program and California Bay-Delta Authority. 12

Watershed Coalition Organization. 15

History of the Coalition. 15

Coalition’s Charter under CALFED.. 16

Coalition’s Vision and Mission. 16

Steering Committee. 17

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) 17

Assessment Work Group. 18

Purpose of Watershed Assessment 19

Goals and Objectives of the Millerton Area Watershed Assessment 20

Goal 1 – Broadness or Level of Comprehensiveness. 20

Goal 2 – Accurate Statement of Condition and High Level of Support 20

Goal 3 – Use as a Planning Tool and Plan of Action for the Coalition. 20

Goal 4 – Use as a Planning Tool and Plan of Action for CALFED.. 20

Assessment Approach and Quality Assurance. 21

Components and Scope. 21

Existing Data versus New Data. 21

Regional Setting. 22

Bioregions and the Watershed Study Area. 22

Watershed Study Area. 27

Historic Conditions and Chronology. 37

Land Use and Trends. 48

Land Ownership. 52

Demographics. 52

Cultural Resources. 54

Recreational and Scenic Resources. 54

Research Facilities and Special Management Areas. 55

Section 2 – Surface Water.. 57

Introduction. 57

Water Quantity and Use. 57

In Stream Water Rights. 57

Consumptive Water Use. 57

Non-consumptive Water Use. 60

Hydroelectric Operations, Storage and Diversions. 61

Surface Water Levels and Flows (Seasonal) 61

Water Quality Data. 62

Introduction. 62

Attributes or Constituent Standards. 65

Other Sources of Water Quality Impairment 65

Summary of Findings. 66

Conclusions. 66

Section 3 – Groundwater.. 68

Introduction. 68

Water Rights. 68

Geological Structure. 68

Water Quantity. 69

Water Quality. 73

Consumptive Water Use. 73

Summary of Findings. 73

Conclusions. 75

Section 4 – Surface and Groundwater Hydrology.. 76

Introduction. 76

Evapotranspiration. 76

Percolation. 78

Impervious Surfaces. 78

Summary of Findings. 79

Conclusions. 79

Section 5 – Sediment, Erosion and Soils.. 81

Introduction. 81

Soil Type and Structure. 81

Erosion – Natural Influences. 84

Erosion – Land Use and Infrastructural Effects. 84

Summary of Findings. 84

Conclusions. 86

Section 6 – Biodiversity and Habitat (Aquatic, Riparian, Upland) 87

Introduction. 87

Channel Habitat Types. 89

Invertebrates. 91

State and Federally Protected Species. 92

Summary of Findings. 92

Conclusions. 94

Section 7 – Fuels and Fire.. 95

Introduction. 95

Fuel Models. 95

Fire History. 98

Summary of Findings. 101

Conclusions. 101

Section 8 – Invasive Vegetation and Noxious Weeds.. 103

Introduction. 103

Summary of Findings. 105

Conclusions. 106

Section 9 – Watershed Condition Summary.. 107

Introduction. 107

Conclusion. 108

Section 10 – Recommendations.. 109

Section 1 – Assessment Overview.. 109

Section 2 – Surface Water. 109

Section 3 – Ground Water. 109

Section 4 – Surface and Ground Water Hydrology. 110

Section 5 – Sediment, Erosion and Soils. 110

Section 6 – Biodiversity and Habitat 111

Section 7 – Fuels and Fire History. 111

Section 8 – Invasive Vegetation and Noxious Weeds. 112

Section 11 – Supplemental Materials.. 113

References. 113

Watershed Publications. 113

Additional Internet-based Resources. 114

Appendices.. 117

Section 1 – Assessment Overview

A – Millerton Area Watershed Coalition Visioning Workshop – Questions with Participant Inputs, June 15, 2002.

B – Historic Conditions in the San Joaquin River Watershed – Friant Water Users Authority.

C – Millerton Lake State Recreational Area – Annual Usage Chart: 1986 to 2002.

D – Precipitation in the Millerton area watershed (Monthly/Annual) – California Data Exchange Center (CDEC)

E – Precipitation Map of the San Joaquin Basin – Science Leadership Institute, California State University – Fresno.

Section 2 – Surface Water

A – San Joaquin Watershed Report – Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, 2002.

B – Maximum Contaminate Levels and Detection Limit – California Department of Health Services.

C – Millerton Lake Water Testing (Ramp 3): 1998 to 2002 – U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

D – San Joaquin River Lost Lake water quality Testing: 1996 to 2000 – U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Section 3 – Ground Water

A – Well Density Information Table – Township/Range-Section, California Department of Water Resources.

B – Groundwater Basins Map, California Department of Water Resources.

C – Groundwater in Fractured Rock – Water Facts #1, California Department of Water Resources.

D – Managing Groundwater Supplies – Water Facts #2, California Department of Water Resources.

E – Cover Page – Todd Engineers Draft Technical Memorandum – Ground Water in Eastern Madera County, 2003.

Report Text – Todd Engineers Draft Technical Memorandum – Ground Water in Eastern Madera County, 2003.

Figures Appendix – Todd Engineers Draft Technical Memorandum – Ground Water in Eastern Madera County, 2003.

Tables – Todd Engineers Draft Technical Memorandum – Ground Water in Eastern Madera County, 2003.

F – Ground Water Discussion with Richard Fronk (Fronk’s Mountain Well Drilling) and Steering Committee, February 12, 2003.

G – Ground Water Panelist – Bio and area of focus for Presentation to Millerton Area Watershed Coalition, October 8, 2003.

Ground Water Presentation to Millerton Area Watershed Coalition by Panelists, October 8, 2003.

H – Well Standards – Water Facts #5, California Department of Water Resources.

I – Well Completion Report – California Department of Water Resources.

J – Listing of Community Wells Overseen by Fresno County Environmental Health.

K – Well Status – Pine Ridge Landowners Association.

Section 4 – Surface and Ground Water Hydrology

A – Groundwater – Water Facts #6, California Department of Water Resources.

Section 5 – Sediment, Erosion and Soils

A – Soils Survey Map of Madera County – Natural Resources Conservation Service.

B – Soils Survey Map of Fresno County – Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Section 6 – Biodiversity and Habitat

A – Cover Page – Millerton Area Watershed Coalition Biological Resources Background Report, Live Oak Associates, Inc., July 31, 2003.

Text – Millerton Area Watershed Coalition Biological Resources Background Report, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/31/03.

Figure 1 – Site/Vicinity Map, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.

Figure 2 – Management Plan Study Area Map, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.

Figure 3 – Hydrologic Features, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.

Figure 4 – Gap Vegetation, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.

Figure 5 – Special Status Habitat, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.

Figure 6 – Special Status Plants, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/28/03.

Figure 7 – Special Status Animals, Live Oak Associates, Inc., 7/278/03.

Figure 8 – Land Ownership, Live Oak Associates, Inc., July 28, 2003.

B – Special Status Plants and Mexican Elder Surveys (in) Point Millerton, Madera County, Live Oak Associates, July 28, 2003.

Figure 1 – Vicinity Map, Live Oak Associates, Inc., July 28, 2003.

Figure 2 – Transect Map, Live Oak Associates, Inc., July 28, 2003.

Figure 3 – Elderberry Location Map, Live Oak Associates, Inc., July 28, 2003.

C – Publications of Land Management Assessments and Plans – Oak Woodlands, Vernal Pools, Rangelands and Grasslands (Listing)

Section 7 – Fuels and Fire History

A – Fuels and Fire Presentation to Millerton Steering Committee by California Department of Forestry – April 8, 2003.

Section 8 – Invasive Vegetation and Noxious Weeds

A – Field Guide to Invasive Non-Native Weeds of Mariposa, Madera, and Fresno Counties – Sierra-San Joaquin Weed Management Alliance (December, 2003)

B – Exotic Pest Plants of Greatest Ecological Concern in California – CalEPPC (Cal-IPC) California Invasive Plant Council (1999)

List of Tables

Table 1 – Geological History of the Millerton area watershed. 37

Table 2 – Listing of Hydroelectric Storage facilities and Operators. 42

Table 3 – Listing of Precipitation Stations in Millerton watershed. 43

Table 4 – Economic analysis of communities based on 1990 and 2000 US Census data. 53

Table 5 – Upper San Joaquin River Detailed Analysis Unit 203 (above Friant Dam) – Applied, ETAW, Depletion & Net Water Demand in Acre Feet – Water Years 1998, 2000 and 2001. 59

Table 6 – Listing of Contract Specifics for the Friant Water Users Authority. 60

Table 7 – Hydroelectric Operations, Storage and Electrical Production. 61

Table 8 – Table of inactive surface water quality monitoring locations in the Millerton Watershed. 64

Table 9 – Porosity (in percent) of soil and rock types. 69

Table 10 – Ground Water Recharge Analysis of Oakhurst and Raymond, Madera County. 78

Table 11 - Biological Studies Associated with Millerton Area Watershed. 88

Table 12 – Noxious Weeds / Invasive Species Location Table within the Millerton area watershed. 105

List of Figures

Figure 1 – Bioregions of California and Millerton Watershed. 22

Figure 2 – Millerton Watershed Study Area Map. 27

Figure 3 – Major Watersheds within the Study Area. 29

Figure 4 - Springs in the Millerton Area Watershed. 36

Figure 5 – Photo of Margaret Baty, Big Sandy Rancheria. 38

Figure 6 – Contemporary location of Yokut and Mono Tribes. 39

Figure 7 – Historic mining operations in the Upper San Joaquin River Drainage. 41

Figure 8 – Photo of Chinook or King Salmon caught on the San Joaquin River in the 1940s. 42

Figure 9 – Comparison of Average Monthly Precipitation: Friant, Auberry and North Fork Stations. 44

Figure 10 – Accumulated Precipitation by Month (Inches): Friant, Auberry and North Fork Stations. 45

Figure 11 – Percentage of Precipitation by Month: Friant, Auberry and North Fork Stations. 45

Figure 12 – Statistical Analysis of Precipitation Records: Friant, Auberry and North Fork Stations. 46

Figure 13 – Geographical location of communities. 48

Figure 14 – General illustration of parcel densities and prominent land-use activities. 49

Figure 15 – Map of Roadways in the Watershed Assessment Area. 51

Figure 16 – Watershed and San Joaquin River Basin Recreational and Scenic Resources. 54

Figure 17 – Carpenteria californica. 56

Figure 18 – Map of San Joaquin River Region Planning Sub-Areas (PSA) 58

Figure 19 – Active Surface Water Quality monitoring in the Millerton Watershed. 62

Figure 20 – Inactive surface water quality monitoring locations in the Millerton Watershed. 63

Figure 21 – Well in Finegold watershed, Madera County. 68

Figure 22 – Interior of well in Finegold watershed, Madera County. 70

Figure 23 – Well Count and Average Density Map by Township/Range-Section. 72

Figure 24 – Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo) map of California and watershed location. 77

Figure 25 – Map showing location of recent biological investigations. 89

Figure 26 – Observation map of Special Species - CNDDB.. 90

Figure 27 – Fuel Models within the Watershed. 97

Figure 28 – Map showing the history of fire in the Millerton Watershed. 99

Figure 29 – Map of Fuel Modification Projects in the Millerton Watershed. 100

Figure 30 – Weed Type and Location map for the Millerton Watershed. 104

02/15/06