Road Decommissioning and Road Stabilization, Promoting Natural Watershed and Riparian System Functions — Case Study: Washington State, South Fork Skokomish Watershed

Steep, rugged hillslopes and headwaters drain a wide valley through which flows the South Fork Skokomish River. From natural flood plain features in the lower valley to mountainous terrain encompassing the majority of the watershed, this area has a diversity of habitats defined by elevation, topography, soil type and precipitation. Most of the 83,000 acre watershed is used for commercial timber production and is managed primarily by the USDA Forest Service and Simpson Timber Company. The valley is used for agricultural and residential purposes, and is home to much of the Skokomish reservation. Logging began in the valley around 1860. Timber harvest methods and machinery capabilities limited logging to areas adjacent to mainstem Skokomish river. Floating harvested logs down the river, referred to as a log drive, came into practice. Railroad based systems were used extensively during the years of 1935 through 1949. Construction of roads began in the 1940's and clearcut harvest of steeper slopes became possible. Road density is 354 miles of road on National Forest lands and 116 miles of state, county or private roads. Road densities vary by subwatershed from 0 to 5.9 miles per square mile. Fifteen of the 21 subwatersheds have higher road densities than the 2.5 miles per square mile recommended by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for minimizing disturbance to big game. The Olympic National Forest also uses this number as a "red flag" indicator of cumulative effects issues.