Environmental Co ncerns 



The Mount Haggin area was acquired for fish and wildlife management 

 and multiple forms of outdoor recreation. The future management of the area 

 calls for a return of lands to a more natural state. While the aquatic resource 

 of the area appears to be in relatively good shape, certain areas of environmental 

 concern should be addressed. 



1 ) The area along the continental divide roughly located between Grassy and 

 Sugarloaf Mountains has suffered from past practices. Intensive clear cutting, 

 sheep grazing, fires and precipitates from the Anaconda Smelter have resulted 

 in poorly vegetated land marked by heavily eroded hillsides. This area is the 

 source of important headwater tributaries of Mill, Willow, Oregon, California 

 and French Creeks. These slopes have been found to produce large amounts of 

 sediment and iron into streams during runoff periods. The sediment and com- 

 pounds of iron could be detrimental to downstream fisheries. Furthermore, the 

 lack of shading from tree canopy could result in high summer water temperatures 

 which may inhibit trout growth. 



2) Water quality analysis detected elevated levels of some metals which are 

 known to be detrimental to fish and other aquatic organisms. Concentrations 

 of lead in Oregon Creek and mercury in California Creek approached levels 



found to be harmful to fish. Arsenic was found in relatively high concentrations 

 in streams with past mining histories and streams subject to precipitates from 

 the Anaconda Smelter. Although none of the concentrations of these metals 

 exceeded EPA water quality standards, they do pose a potential threat to some 

 of the Mount Haggin streams. 



3) The grazing of livestock along Mount Haggin streams has been in practice 

 since the mid-1880' s and continues at present. Concentration of sheep and 

 cattle along streams has resulted in numerous areas of streambank erosion 

 and mass wasting. This problem is particularly evident along French and 

 California Creeks. Livestock grazing practices have also been responsible 

 for the chemical removal of much of the willow cover along these two streams. 

 Unstable erodable banks and the loss of streambank and overhanging cover as 



a result of past livestock grazing practices may be acting to depress trout 

 populations in California and French Creeks and in smaller reaches of other 

 Mount Haggin streams. 



4) Timber harvest began in the Mount Haggin drainages in 1883 and has 

 persisted through the present day. Logging activities on national forest 

 lands surrounding Mount Haggin could produce undesirable amounts of sediment 

 into Mount Haggin streams. A current timber harvest contract between Louisana 

 Pacific and MDFWP on the Mount Haggin property may also represent a potential 

 threat to fisheries via sedimentation, elevated water temperatures, channel 

 blockages and damage to riparian zones. 



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