195 



DRAFT 



marine mammals for the entire state of Oregon (Table 2.2.7-2. and 2.2.7-3.) were 

 based on questionable assumptions, incorrect estimates of marine mammal abundance 

 and highly variable information that did not accurately portray the complex dynamics 

 of predator-prey relationships. 



Incomplete Summary of Scientific Information 



The information included in the report is incomplete and selectively presented for 

 several topics. In general, a signiflcant amount of information is presented concerning 

 harvest and Columbia River issues, but considering the amount of information on the 

 topic, little is presented for fish habitat degradation. For example, research studies on 

 the effects of forestry practices are numerous, but only a minor portion of these studies 

 were referenced. Several major topics, such as water temperature and the effects of 

 long-term riparian harvest on large woody debris abundance were inadequately 

 discussed. Several important forest management studies were also ignored including 

 the Oregon Alsea Watershed Study (Moring 1975a, 1975b; Moring and Lantz 1975) 

 and the Carnation Creek Study (Hartman and Scrivener 1990, Holtby 1988). These 

 studies are unique in their assessment of the long-term effects of forest practices on the 

 production of salmonids. 



An example where only a portion of the results of a study were presented was the 

 discussion of the Tillamook Bay Erosion Study (USDA-SCS, 1978). In the discussion 

 of this study, the authors misuse information to conclude that "stream sediments /rom 

 agriculture were twice that from forests... on a unit area basis... " In making this 

 conclusion, the report directly conflicts with conclusions of the original study which 

 states: 



"Erosion and sediment delivery rates on forest lands still make significant 

 contributions to the problems of the basin. The mean annual gross erosion 

 amounts to 286,245 tons. The mean annual fluvial sediment load is 51,602.6 

 tons from forest lands. These are 95.6 and 85.1 percent, respectively, of the 

 basin totals. " (USDA-SCS 1978) 



"The total sediment in the system is the crucial problem. " (ibid) 



Chapter Summaries 



MANAGEMENTT FACTORS 



Section 1.1 Harvest 



The overall conclusion of this section is that overharvest is largely responsible for the 

 decline of anadromous salmonids in Oregon. The major problems with this conclusion 

 can be summarized into three general issues: 



(1) an over-reliance upon Columbia River harvest and population status data to 

 conclude that anadromous populations are depressed statewide due to harvest. 



(2) failure to acknowledge the synergistic relationships of habitat alteration, 

 harvest, and other factors to explain population declines. 



