Overview Continued

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 3 – Major Watersheds within the Study Area

Big Sandy Creek Watershed

The Big Sandy watershed is situated on the Fresno County side of the San Joaquin River drainage above Friant Dam. At 22,000 acres or 34 square miles, it is the smallest of the three watersheds within the assessment area. The watershed consists of a little more than 11 miles of intermittent stream drainage. The confluence of the stream at the San Joaquin River is approximately 9 miles above Finegold Creek or 15 miles from Friant Dam at the 560 feet spillway elevation, (just prior to River Mile 282). The highest elevation of the Big Sandy is approximately 4,738 feet at its headwaters near Bald Mountain within the Sierra National Forest. Big Sandy is a naturally flowing intermittent or seasonal stream. There are no known diversions, or on-stream storage facilities. There is no known active gauging station on the stream. Big Sandy is also the watershed with the most land use activities related to development in addition to cattle grazing. The watershed includes the communities of Prather, Auberry and Tollhouse. Highway 168 runs through a portion of the Big Sandy valley and Big Sandy Bluffs.

Cottonwood Creek Watershed

This is the lowermost watershed within the assessment area and is situated on the Madera County side of the San Joaquin River. There are approximately 22,864 acres or more than 35 square miles of the Cottonwood watershed within the study area. The watershed consists of over 52 miles of intermittent stream drainage. The confluence of the stream at the San Joaquin River is less than a quarter mile below the base of Friant dam and Millerton Lake at approximately the 300 foot elevation, (approximately River Mile 267). The highest elevation of Cottonwood Creek is approximately 1,200 feet. Cottonwood is a naturally flowing intermittent or seasonal stream. It is a non-impeded drainage due to the fact that the Madera Canal has a siphon under the creek near its confluence with the San Joaquin River. There are no known diversions or on-stream storage facilities. There is an automated gauging station on the stream, (California Data Exchange Center ID “CTK”).[2]

[2] Source: US Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov/surf3/hucs/18040006/

The headwaters of the Cottonwood watershed are located primarily on the San Joaquin Experimental Range administered by the US Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Research Station. The Experimental Range is over 4,400 acres in size. Most of the watershed is privately owned and used primarily for cattle grazing. There is a 600-acre conservation easement on private property upstream where the main branches of the Cottonwood converge, (see watershed map). This is also the only known riparian restoration program that is currently underway. The program is being sponsored by the property owner – and with students and instructors from Central High School, Fresno. The San Joaquin River Conservancy (State of California) acquired approximately 50 acres of the Cottonwood watershed at the confluence to the San Joaquin River. There are no communities within the Cottonwood watershed. The nearest community is the town of Friant.

Finegold Creek Watershed

The Finegold Creek watershed is situated on the Madera County side of the San Joaquin River drainage above Friant Dam (River Mile 273). It is the largest watershed within the assessment area. Most of the watershed is privately owned and used primarily for cattle grazing. The watershed is over 58,000 acres or more than 90 square miles in size. The watershed consists of over 63 miles of intermittent stream drainage. The confluence of the stream at the San Joaquin River is approximately 6 miles above Friant dam using the 560 feet spillway elevation, (approximately River Mile 273). The highest elevation of Finegold is approximately 4,750 feet at its headwaters within the Sierra National Forest (Thornberry Mountain and Goat Mountain). Finegold is a naturally flowing intermittent or seasonal stream. There are no known diversions, or on-stream storage facilities. There is no known active gauging station on the stream, (A remnant station is located on private property know as Point Millerton). Within the watershed are the small communities of O’Neals and North Fork.

Upper Finegold Creek Watershed and Sub-watersheds (Phase 2)

Phase 2 of the field-based assessment is focused on the upper portions of the Finegold Creek watershed from the Headwaters within the Sierra National Forest. This includes the highest elevations of Thornberry Mountain, Taylor Ridge, Teaford Saddle and Goat Mountain at approximately 4,750 feet. The lowest portion of the survey includes the confluence of the North Fork of Finegold Creek, Finegold Creek and Little Finegold Creek at approximately the 1,200 foot elevation. Total acreage of these three sub-watersheds is approximately 27,950 acres. Within these three sub-watershed areas are over 19 streams that are either seasonal or ephemeral. The Little Finegold Creek is the only major waterway that flows through areas of somewhat significant land use which is residential in nature. The following map illustrates these three distinct sub-watersheds within the Upper Finegold:

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 4 – Upper Finegold Sub-Watersheds

Other Sub-watersheds

Sub-watersheds include small ephemeral and intermittent streams flowing directly into the San Joaquin River. Many do not have names and are quite localized. Other noted streams include:

Stream / Location	Drainage Miles
Ciatana, Madera Co.	1.8
Fish Creek, Madera Co.	4.5
Winchell Creek, Fresno Co.	3.0

Other streams flow out of the study area further downstream into the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam. This would include in particular the North Fork of Little Dry Creek in Fresno County. There are over 173 miles of streams and river classified as “Other” within the assessment area.

Springs and Ponds

There are a significant number of ponds used for livestock. Many of these capture the run-off from winter and spring storms in ephemeral watercourses. It is not known if there are any on-stream ponds that have been developed for livestock. There are a number of springs in the watershed with varying levels of production. Those noted have been historically identified through USGS quadrangle maps.

Special Stream Features

Finegold Creek and Big Sandy Creek are known for “grotto” features in which certain segments of these creeks flow below large granite boulders and basaltic talus formations. Known grotto features on the Finegold are on privately owned lands. The talus formation is located where the Big Sandy flows into the San Joaquin River. The specific locations and magnitude of these formations have not been determined.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 5 - Springs in the Millerton Area Watershed

Geology

Geological

The San Joaquin River drainage is very similar to the geological history of the Sierra Nevada range in general. The history of the watersheds under assessment in the lower elevations begins approximately 500 million years ago during the Paleozoic Era as sedimentary and volcanic deposits. Subsequently, 120 million years ago during the Mesozoic Era, magma intrusions 4-5 miles beneath the surface were formed and cooled creating the great Sierran granitic batholith. Fifty to 10 million years ago during the Tertiary Period, uplift and erosion started to expose the granite and developed gravelly debris. Ten million years ago a great flow of lava originating from present-day Nevada flowed along the then existing course of the San Joaquin River with continued uplift and erosion. Finally, from about 3 million years ago, there were periods of glacial activity along with continued uplift and erosion that have been the primary geological processes affecting the foothill watersheds. The prominent “Table” mountain features are the results of these volcanic, glacial uplift and erosive geological processes over millions of years. Today as, a testament of the effect of those processes, the San Joaquin River cuts its deep course nearly 2,000 feet below the remnant formations of those lava flows that traced the original course of the river 10 million years ago (Table Mountain, Fresno County elevation 1,984 feet and Kennedy Table, Madera County – 2,429 feet).

Table SEQ Table \* ARABIC 1 – Geological History of the Millerton area watershed

Natural Resources

Timber

For over 100 years logging was the economic mainstay for many of the communities within the watershed study area. Both North Fork, Madera County and Auberry in Fresno County on opposite sides of the Upper San Joaquin River had mills operating until 1994. Today, the town of North Fork is headquarters for the Bass Lake District Ranger office, Sierra National Forest. The town of Prather, Fresno County is headquarters for the High Sierra District Ranger office, Sierra National Forest. Currently, small scale timber salvaging, thinning and harvesting is occurring within the Sierra National Forest and on Southern California Edison lands surrounding Shaver Lake. Today, very little if any logging is still occurring within the watershed study area. Logs are transported out the area for processing.

Mining

Historically beginning in the 1850’s, numerous placer and lode mining activities occurred within the assessment study area. Official mining districts include Finegold (and Quartz Mountain) and Hildreth, Madera County. In Fresno County this would include the Temperance and Friant Districts.[3] One of the more notable mines was the Sullivan mine from 1853 to 1915 (Temperance District), of which $100,000 of gold was produced and appears to be the longest operating. Today it is not known what, if any, residual effects on water quality may remain due to the use of mercury (quicksilver) for capturing the gold or the extent of erosion due to physical alterations of drainage areas. Within the Upper Finegold watershed very little mining appears to have taken place. There is one area identified on maps as having mining activity – which is under the Bureau of Land Management.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 6 – Historic mining operations in the Upper San Joaquin River Drainage

Other metals historically extracted were copper and zinc. Mines in the vicinity would include Fresno Copper. Today, only non-mineral extraction of aggregate material occurs for use as landscaping material, road base and for construction materials such as concrete. None of this extraction or quarrying activity is known to take place within the overall Millerton area watershed assessment study boundary.

[3] Gold Districts of California – Bulletin 193, California Division of Mines and Geology, 1963

Hydroelectric

The Upper San Joaquin River Basin is well noted for historically being the first major source of hydroelectricity generated in the state of California. Between 1910 and 1955, eight hydroelectric facilities were constructed. Today, both Southern California Edison Company (SCE) and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) operate this series of sophisticated hydroelectric storage facilities and diversions along the San Joaquin River drainage. None of the diversions make their way out of the drainage. However as a result, the natural hydrology of the upper San Joaquin River basin has been altered due to the hydroelectric operations requirements of these facilities.

All storage and power generation operations are licensed under the Federal Electrical Regulatory Commission otherwise known as FERC. All re-licensing requirements addressing potential impacts to hydrology, fisheries, wildlife migration, cultural and natural resources are the responsibility of FERC. Excluding PG&E’s Kerchoff Lake with the A.G. Wishon Powerhouse facility and Kerchoff Powerhouse 1 and 2 facilities at the San Joaquin River Gorge Recreational Area, all FERC licensed operations are above the watershed assessment area – and thus the Upper Finegold watershed. Within the Millerton area watershed study area are approximately 30 miles of submergences and diversions. There are eight surface storage facilities for power generation noted:

Table SEQ Table \* ARABIC 2 – Listing of Hydroelectric Storage facilities and Operators

Operator	Storage Facility
Southern California Edison	Florence Lake
Southern California Edison	Lake Edison
Southern California Edison	Mammoth Pool
Southern California Edison	Huntington Lake
Southern California Edison	Shaver Lake
Southern California Edison	Redinger Lake
Pacific Gas and Electric	Bass Lake
Pacific Gas and Electric	Kerchoff Lake

Grazing

Grazing in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada has been a multi-generational occupation that has dominated the landscape for nearly 150 years. Since the diminishment of logging, the raising of cattle and to a lesser extent sheep has been the predominant land-use of the watershed along with recreational activities. Today, there are a significant number of largely undeveloped parcels in the Millerton area watershed study area – as well as the upper Finegold watershed which are sparely populated and used as rangeland.

Fisheries

Historically, the upper San Joaquin River Basin was a very rich fishery that supported salmon (Chinook or King) and native trout. Even with the advent of upper basin storage facilities being constructed and operated in the early 1910’s, a viable anadromous fishery of spring and fall salmon spawning runs continued to occur until about 1950.[4] Today, there is a fish hatchery in the town of Friant that produces trout and Kokanee (a non-native salmon) for planting in various lakes and streams. The upper Finegold watershed is well above the Friant Operation.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 7 – Photo of Chinook or King Salmon caught on the San Joaquin River in the 1940s[5]

Wildlife

As with most areas of California, a wide variety of wildlife was endemic to the area. The Native American and subsequently early settlers depended upon various types of wildlife and plants as sources of food and clothing. The only known modern extinction of wildlife in the area would include the California Grizzly (1924) and possibly the California condor. Today, Bald Eagles winter in the Millerton area. Golden Eagles are year round residents. Black bears are known to frequent portions of the watershed. Mule deer, coyotes, bobcats and even beaver are common residents. Various reptiles and amphibians such as the Western Pond Turtle and Yellow-legged Frog can be seen. Vernal pools have thriving populations of different species of fairy shrimp. Further on, Section 6 of the assessment publication is devoted exclusively to aquatic, riparian and upland biodiversity and habit.

[4] Historic Conditions in the San Joaquin River Watershed, draft publication – Friant Water Users Authority

[5] Photo courtesy of Dr. Marvin Kientz, Auberry. This Chinook salmon weighed 33 pounds and was caught on the San Joaquin River at a place called Big Eddy in the early 1940s by his father Louis Kientz.

Climate

Precipitation

Contemporary precipitation records for the Millerton Area Watershed were made available through the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC – http://cdec.water.ca.gov/). Data was obtained from three stations: Friant Government Camp (FGC – 1900 to current), Auberry (ABR – 1915 to 2002) and the North Fork Ranger Station (NFR – 1904 to current). These records are the most complete, and complement the profile of the watershed from low elevation (410 feet) semi-arid conditions to mid elevation (2,090 feet) and significantly increased rainfall – to a final station elevation of 2,630 feet where the greatest rainfall was recorded within the watershed assessment area. The following is the CDEC Station information for the 3 sites:

Table SEQ Table \* ARABIC 3 – Listing of Precipitation Stations in Millerton watershed

Friant Government Camp (FGC)

Station ID	FGC	Elevation	410 feet
River Basin	SAN JOAQUIN R	County	FRESNO
Hydrologic Area	SAN JOAQUIN RIVER	Nearby City	FRIANT
Latitude	36.9830°N	Longitude	119.7170°W
Operator	National Weather Service	Data Collection	MANUAL ENTRY

Auberry (ABR)

Station ID	ABR	Elevation	2,090 feet
River Basin	SAN JOAQUIN R	County	FRESNO
Hydrologic Area	SAN JOAQUIN RIVER	Nearby City	AUBERRY
Latitude	37.0830°N	Longitude	119.5000°W
Operator	National Weather Service	Data Collection	MANUAL ENTRY

North Fork Ranger Station (NFR)

Station ID	NFR	Elevation	2,630 feet
River Basin	SAN JOAQUIN R	County	MADERA
Hydrologic Area	SAN JOAQUIN RIVER	Nearby City	BASS LAKE
Latitude	37.2330°N	Longitude	119.5000°W
Operator	US Forest Service	Data Collection	SATELLITE

Additionally, a newer site has been established at Goat Mountain part of the Headwaters of the Finegold watershed. This site appears to have been established around 1988 and is operated by the US Bureau of Reclamation

Station ID	GTM	Elevation	4520' ft
River Basin	SAN JOAQUIN R	County	MADERA
Hydrologic Area	SAN JOAQUIN RIVER	Nearby City	OAKHURST
Latitude	37.2700°N	Longitude	119.5430°W
Operator	US Bureau of Reclamation	Data Collection	SATELLITE

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 8 – Comparison of Average Monthly Precipitation: Friant, Auberry and North Fork Stations

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 9 – Accumulated Precipitation by Month (Inches): Friant, Auberry and North Fork Stations

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 10 – Percentage of Precipitation by Month: Friant, Auberry and North Fork Stations

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 11 – Statistical Analysis of Precipitation Records: Friant, Auberry and North Fork Stations

The following are the Statistical Definitions:

Mean – The average is also called the mean. Total all values and divide by the number of values to obtain the mean or average value.

Median – The median is the number in the middle of a set of numbers; that is, half the numbers have values that are greater than the median, and half have values that are less.

Mode – Returns the most frequently occurring, or repetitive, value in an array or range of data. Like MEDIAN, MODE is a location measure.

Kurtosis – Characterizes the relative peakedness or flatness of a distribution compared with the normal distribution. Positive kurtosis indicates a relatively peaked distribution. Negative kurtosis indicates a relatively flat distribution.

Sample Variance – Estimates the variance of a population based on a sample by using the numbers in a column of a list or database that match conditions you specify.

Skewness – Characterizes the degree of asymmetry of a distribution around its mean. Positive skewness indicates a distribution with an asymmetric tail extending toward more positive values. Negative skewness indicates a distribution with an asymmetric tail extending toward more negative values.

Standard Deviation – The standard deviation is a measure of how widely values are dispersed from the average value (the mean).

Standard Error – Returns the standard error of the predicted y-value for each x in the regression. The standard error is a measure of the amount of error in the prediction of y for an individual x.

Temperature

The Millerton area watershed is generally influenced by the San Joaquin Valley. The spring season starts out in the low 70’s, Fahrenheit – and then climb into the 90’s by mid-June. Summers are generally very hot, exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit for many days. Fall begins the cooling trend towards the 80’s range. By winter, it is usually fairly cool – with daytime temperatures in the low 60’s and evenings where a heavy frost can occur and temperatures down into the 30’s and 40’s or colder. However, the valley fog rarely extends into the foothill elevations above about 1,000 feet.

Paleo-climate

An interesting perspective on the historic variations of climate and their magnitude and duration is the science of paleo-climatology. Through tree ring analysis (dendro-chronology[6]), and reviewing historic chronicles of significant variations in weather patterns over extended periods (e.g. “Little Ice Age” and “Medieval Warm Period”) a reconstruction of a region’s prior climate can be achieved to some level of accuracy. Synthesizing these various sources of climate information by “looking back” over time is useful in estimating historic temperature and moisture conditions – and whether current climate conditions are relatively greater or lesser than those of the past. Future trends in climate such as “global” warming require extensive research – and may not be scientifically conclusive. A study of the Yosemite region had made extensive effort to articulate possible historic climate conditions.[7] In the case of the Millerton watershed it can be stated that its condition can be affected based upon climate (precipitation and temperature) changes of different durations and magnitudes.

[6] San Joaquin River Millerton Lake – Stahle, D.W. and Therrell, M.D. Study on Blue Oaks, 1996

[7] Archeological Synthesis: Yosemite National Park – Moratto and Hull

Land Use and Trends

Communities

Population Densities and Locations

Within or closely adjoining the watershed study area is six unincorporated communities recognized by the US Census Bureau:

? Auberry – Fresno County

? Friant – Fresno County

? North Fork, Madera County

? O’Neals, Madera County

? Prather, Fresno County

? Tollhouse, Fresno County

The population of these communities increased from 9,679 to 12,042 based on comparisons of the 1990 and 2000 US Census. This represents a 24 percent population increase in 10 years. Average population density over the 231 square miles equates to 52 people per square mile. However, the majority of the population is clustered around these six communities and predominantly in the 4 Fresno County Communities.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 12 – Geographical location of communities

Specific Planning Areas

There are only two known planning areas within or closely adjoining the watershed study area. These would be:

? Millerton New Town Specific Plan Area, Fresno County

? North Fork, Madera County

Millerton New Town Specific Plan Area is outside of the town of Friant and across from Millerton State Recreational Area. The specific plan allows for the potential development of 3,500 homes.

North Fork’s planning area is directed towards the town’s revitalization. The North Fork Community Development Coun-cil is a significant participant in this effort.

All other areas are based on current zoning as designated in each county’s general plan. In Fresno County this is the Sierra-North Regional Plan, which establishes land-use designations and parcel densities.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 13 – General illustration of parcel densities and prominent land-use activities

Economic Activities

Commercial

Retailing, manufacturing are limited in scope and size within a few communities. For example, Ponderosa Telephone Company is the major employer in the town of O’Neals, Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern Californian Edison have facilities in Auberry. School districts are major employers as well. This includes Sierra Unified and Chawanakee Joint Unified School Districts. The largest commercial activity would be in the town of Prather (Canyon Forks) in which there is a significant number of businesses such as grocery, hardware, drug store, and professional services. North Fork has a number of businesses as well. However, due to the mill closure in 1994, their local economy has faltered.

Agriculture

There is very little agriculture that requires irrigation that is within the watershed study area. Outside the town of O’Neals, Madera County off of Road 200 is a vineyard for winemaking. A cherry orchard exists on Auberry Road southwest of the assessment study area.

Ranching

Probably well over 75 percent of the watershed is or can be devoted towards ranching. Economic information as it relates to this locality has not been determined. However, its significance is also measured as a tradition or way of life within the watershed – and gives meaning to the term working landscape as a natural and cultural legacy.

Timber

As noted earlier, very little actual timber harvesting occurs on private or public lands within the watershed assessment area at this time. However, there are two US Forest Service district offices located in North Fork and Prather that provide support to the local economy.

Recreation and Tourism

Recreation and tourism resources are fairly significant to this area. Millerton State Recreational Area operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the San Joaquin River Gorge Recreational Area (formerly Squaw Leap) operated by the US Bureau of Land Management are the two major recreational resources. Additionally, there is day use, camping and aquatic activities at Smalley Cove, Kerchoff Lake that is operated by PG&E. There is also what is known as the San Joaquin River Trail which extends from Millerton Lake over the crest of the Sierra Nevada to Devil’s Postpile National Monument and Mammoth Mountain. In addition the Sierra Foothill Conservancy owns nearly 4,000 acres of preserves (McKenzie and Black Mountain) that are available to the public for docent-led hikes and educational programs.

The amount of recreational resources for hiking, camping and aquatic activities such as boating and fishing may amount to almost 20 percent of the watershed. The communities of the watershed are also “gateways” to other recreational resources in the higher elevations of the upper San Joaquin River Basin. More recently, the County of Fresno’s Office of Tourism has embarked on the identification and promotion of these resources.

Natural Resources

Within the watershed area the greatest natural resource is rangeland for grazing, viable wildlife habitat and the open land itself for surface water production. The vast majority of the watershed is sparsely populated with very little development that utilizes seasonal surface water run-off for irrigation and domestic purposes. Historically, the area was noted for mineral extraction, in particular gold and some copper. Today most of the watershed is not heavily utilized for agricultural, municipal or industrial uses. In the upper reaches, the transition zone from predominantly oak woodlands to primarily conifer forests begins. Again, utilization of forest materials is minimal in these reaches. Along the San Joaquin and its major tributaries hydroelectric operations make significant use of the surface run-off generated in the upper reaches. Crane Valley (Bass Lake) along Willow Creek begins the journey for generating power at A.G.Wishon Powerhouse at Kerchoff Lake. Kerchoff Stations 1 and 2 are below Kerchoff Dam within the San Joaquin River Gorge Recreational Area, with water diverted through a series of tunnels.

Infrastructures

The most significant infrastructure within the watershed is the road system. There are estimated to be over 450 miles of improved and unimproved roads within the watershed. Most are two lane roads. There are also a significant number of unpaved ranch roads, and some forest roads within the watershed. A total of 338 miles of roads are estimated for Madera County and 112 miles in Fresno County.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 14 – Map of Roadways in the Watershed Assessment Area

All community areas have access to on-grid electrical power, ground-based telephone, and cellular service. There is no access to natural gas through pipes into households and businesses. Fuel for heating is primarily provided through liquid propane being transported by truck – then stored in tanks on individual premises. Water for domestic and other purposes is primarily through wells that have been drilled in the fractured granite formations. Sewage from individual households and businesses is treated by way of septic systems with leach fields. There are a number of maintenance and service districts for water (surface and ground sourced) and for the treatment of effluent. However, the majority of systems throughout the watershed are well and septic-based.

Land Ownership

Private, Public and Trusts

Nearly 80 percent of the watershed is privately owned. Many parcels have been in the same family for generations with very little change to land use over time. A significant number of these properties are under the provisions of the Williamson and Super-Williamson property tax program. Approximately, 16 percent is public land managed by State or Federal agencies. The largest management operation is performed by the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) in relation to Millerton Lake and the Friant Operation under the Central Valley Project (CVP). The California Department of Parks and Recreation has an agreement with the USBR that allows for Millerton to be operated as a State Recreational Area (SRA) in Fresno and Madera Counties. Other holdings include the US Bureau of Land Management, in particular 4,600 acres at the San Joaquin River Gorge Recreational Area (Fresno and Madera County). Other Public lands under Federal management include the Sierra National Forest (Fresno and Madera County) and the 4,400 acre San Joaquin Experimental Range in the Cottonwood watershed in Madera County – both by the US Forest Service. These areas amount to approximately 25,000 acres.

Demographics

Population, Employment and Income

Economically, communities have faltered due to mill closures in North Fork, Madera County and Auberry, Fresno County. In 1990, North Fork was already hard-pressed. By 2000, Auberry and Friant had joined the ranks. Prather, Tollhouse, Fresno County and O’Neals, Madera County have been able to hold up economically as they transform more into “bedroom communities” where residents commute to the Fresno/Clovis metropolitan area.

Auberry, Fresno County and North Fork in Madera County constitute the greatest populated areas. Over 70 percent of the population within the watershed is in Fresno County. Median Household Income (MHI) in four communities is less than the California MHI of $47,493 based upon the 2000 US Census figures. In fact, the lowest MHI is at 64%, or $30,234 for the town of Friant. Employment varies from community to community. Auberry’s unemployment rate earlier this year was 11 percent, (Source: EDD – 03/03). North Fork’s has been determined to be at 17 percent with an additional 17 percent “underemployment” rate.[8]

There are over 4,040 parcels in the watershed – 2,052 parcels in Madera County and 1,978 parcels in Fresno County. Assessed valuation of all parcels in the study area is approximately $313.6 million.

· Assessed Valuation – Property and Improvements

	$154,237,000 – Fresno County
	$159,379,000 – Madera County

Parcels without assessed improvements

	913 / 46% - Fresno County
	1,133 / 55% - Madera County

The following table summarizes and compares the population and Median Household Income (MHI) of the six defined communities in the watershed assessment area based upon 1990 and 2000 US Census figures:

Table SEQ Table \* ARABIC 4 – Economic analysis of communities based on 1990 and 2000 US Census data[9]

[8] Source: North Fork Community Development Council

[9] Census data provided by the Council of Fresno County Governments, (COG)

Cultural Resources

There is a significant amount of cultural resources related to the Native American, early American settlement and mining efforts. Mortar rocks, former village sites, abandoned railroad lines associated with logging and building dams early in the last century (Sugar Pine, Madera County and SJ&E, Fresno County); old homesteads and numerous chronicles attest to the rich cultural heritage of the area. There are a number of historical societies that are a wealth of information on cultural and natural resources of the upper San Joaquin River Basin. Native American cultural resources indicating specific locations and significance are not readily obtainable for non-Native individuals and entities. The Anthropology Department of Fresno Community College has conducted extensive investigations within the San Joaquin Experimental Range in Madera County.

Museum	Location
Madera County Museum and Historical Society	Madera, Madera County
Fresno Flats Historical Park	Oakhurst, Madera County
Eastern Fresno Co. Historical Society and Museum	Auberry
Central Sierra Historical Society and Museum	Shaver Lake
Sierra Mono Indian Museum	North Fork, Madera County
San Joaquin River Gorge Cultural and Natural Museum	San Joaquin River Gorge

Recreational and Scenic Resources

Scenic resources include The Southern Yosemite Highway (Highway 41) and Sierra Vista Scenic Byway in Madera County. Within Fresno County, scenic resources would include Table Mountain along Auberry Road, Highway 168 and the Sierra Heritage Scenic Byway. Much of the foothill areas attract visitors because of their scenic attributes. As noted earlier, Millerton Lake and the San Joaquin River Gorge Recreational Areas as resources may constitute 20% of the watershed area. At the easternmost portions, the Sierra National Forest with its recreational resources begins.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 15 – Watershed and San Joaquin River Basin Recreational and Scenic Resources

Research Facilities and Special Management Areas

San Joaquin Experimental Range

The San Joaquin Experimental Range (SJER)[10] is a foothill property that encompasses 4462 acres of annual grass oak-pine woodland on the upper Cottonwood watershed off of Highway 41 in Madera County. This is one of the most diverse habitat types in all of California. In 1933 the land was purchased by USDA to be managed by the Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) as California’s very first center for rangeland research. Located in Madera County about 28 miles north of Fresno, SJER is accessed from Highway 41 to Yosemite. Elevation varies from 700 to 1700 feet. Intermittent streams, swales, and springs are numerous. The watershed drains into Cottonwood Creek, a tributary of the San Joaquin River.

Established in 1934, SJER was originally conceived as an interdisciplinary research center to identify cost-effective methods of commercial livestock production, while maintaining the integrity of the surrounding foothills. More recently, research objectives have expanded and diversified through research projects making contributions to our knowledge of watershed management related to water quality and watershed stability, wildlife and plant ecology, species biodiversity, methods and design for resource inventory and monitoring, archaeology, geology, and integrated hardwood management. Cooperators continue to include scientists and technicians from numerous state and federal agencies, universities, and foreign organizations.

The research effort is facilitated through a cooperative agreement and Memorandum of Understanding between PSW and the Agricultural Foundation of California State University Fresno (Fresno State). The collective goal through this agreement is to encourage the increased use of SJER for research and educational activities directed toward an increased understanding of the foothill ecosystem including a balanced and sustainable plan that includes livestock production.

Among its diverse foothill habitats, SJER has some areas typical of blue oak woodlands, where few to no trees of other species occur, and the understory is relatively open. Elsewhere, the overstory consists of a sparse cover of some combination of blue oak, interior live oak, and foothill pine. Shrubs grow as scattered individuals or in denser clumps, and annual grasslands form a mosaic across gentle slopes where the overstory is lacking. The oak woodlands of SJER are extremely rich in animal species and provide breeding, wintering, and migratory stopover habitat for many wildlife species. Birds are well-studied and conspicuous inhabitants of SJER. To date, 169 native and 6 introduced bird species have been observed. When SJER was acquired, an un-grazed comparison area was set aside. A73-acre Research Natural Area was formally designated from this un-grazed parcel in 1971.

SJER was selected as one of 10 locations for the International Biome Project (IBP), representing the annual grassland biome. Numerous in-depth ecosystem studies were published through 1975. Resulting from the IBP and the long-term database, in 1976 SJER was designated as a managed biological reserve under the Man and the Biosphere Program by UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization) to serve as a demonstration area for cooperation between human activities and the conservation of ecosystems and biological diversity. SJER also has considerable historic significance. Seventeen original structures on the property have retained sufficient historic integrity to contribute to eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.

SJER remains one of three research centers in California, including Hopland and the Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center, permitting research across oak woodland situations. These research, demonstration, and educational efforts have continued to make great contributions to the knowledge of California's annual grass oak-pine woodland resources.

[10] Source: SJER info sheet, Rene Denton, USFS – Pacific Southwest Research Center, Fresno

Botanical Management Areas

The Big Sandy Bluffs (430 acres) and Backbone Creek Botanical Management Areas are under the management of the US Forest Service. These areas were established as critical habitat due to the presence of the rare plant Carpenteria californica. This plant is located only in these two areas and at the Mary Elizabeth Preserve on Black Mountain in Fresno County.

Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 16 – Carpenteria californica

Other Research or Management Areas

The Sierra Foothill Conservancy (SFC) owns approximately 2,960 acres known as the McKenzie Table Mountain Preserve and 992 acres at the Mary Elizabeth Miller Preserve at Black Mountain. These preserves are used for educational and research purposes. Additionally, SFC has established at Kennedy Table Mountain, Madera County a 600 acre Wetlands Mitigation Bank for vernal pools under permit of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust has a 600 acre conservation easement for the Hallowell Ranch which is situated on the mid portion of the Cottonwood Creek watershed in Madera County. The arrangement with the Hallowell Ranch has generated an educational stream restoration program with Central High School, Fresno.

The California State San Joaquin River Conservancy has approximately 50 acres at the confluence of the Cottonwood Creek and San Joaquin River.

Goals and Objectives of the Millerton Area Watershed Assessment – Phase 1 and 2

Goal 1 – Broadness or Level of Comprehensiveness

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

Phase 2 Upper Finegold Assessment Approach and Quality Assurance

Upper San Joaquin River Basin[1]

Big Sandy Creek Watershed

Cottonwood Creek Watershed

Upper Finegold Creek Watershed and Sub-watersheds (Phase 2)

Other Sub-watersheds

Springs and Ponds

Special Stream Features

Geological

Natural Resources

Timber

Mining

Hydroelectric

Grazing

Fisheries

Wildlife

Precipitation

Temperature

Paleo-climate

Communities

Population Densities and Locations

Specific Planning Areas

Economic Activities

Commercial

Agriculture

Ranching

Timber

Recreation and Tourism

Natural Resources

Infrastructures

Private, Public and Trusts

Population, Employment and Income

San Joaquin Experimental Range

Botanical Management Areas

Other Research or Management Areas