Chapter 3. Affected Environment
3.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter describes the existing biological, social, and economic resources within the study area that may potentially be affected by the alternatives.
3.2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The 375-acre study area is located in southern Tillamook County, just north of Cascade Head. Lincoln City lies approximately 13 miles to the south. The main portion of the Nestucca Bay Refuge is located approximately 4 miles north of the study area (see Figure 1).
The climate of the study area is marine influenced with moderate temperatures, high humidity, and strong periodic winds. The average temperatures and rainfall for the project area are typical for Tillamook County which has an average temperature of 42.2 degrees in January and 58.2 degrees in July. Annual precipitation averages 90.9 inches, mostly occurring as rain in the winter. Predominate winds are on-shore from the Pacific Ocean. Strong southerly winds usually accompany winter storms.
3.3 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
3.3.1 Land Cover
Based on recent core samples taken at several locations within the project area, Neskowin Marsh appears to have formed several thousand years ago when water began to pool behind a stable foredune developed along the beach, leading eventually to the well-developed marsh, peat bog, and forested wetland habitats present today.
Neskowin Marsh is a rare and outstanding example of a coastal bog ecosystem with exceptional biological value. Marsh, bog, forested wetlands, and upland meadows form a habitat complex important to a diverse and abundant group of plant and animal species. The marsh is a dynamic system that exhibits a natural pattern of habitat succession. Areas of open water are slowly being replaced by sphagnum bogs and forested wetlands, but the pace of habitat succession is highly variable, and is influenced by factors like flooding or draining, water quality, and sedimentation rates from adjacent uplands.
The general habitat and vegetation types associated with the study area include freshwater marsh, bog, forested lagg, upland meadow, upland shrub, upland forest, and dune.
Figure 4- Landcover Map
Freshwater Marsh. Freshwater marsh is a type of wetland that is associated with open standing water. Freshwater marsh makes up approximately 116 acres of the study area (see Figure 4). These areas consist of freshwater pools and ponds interspersed with emergent vegetation such as bulrush (Scirpus spp.), giant bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum), Douglas spirea (Spirea douglasii), and water parsley (Oenanthe sarmentosa). These areas of open water are remnants of what was once a much larger lake system that has been slowly filled by peat formation. Tannins leaching from the thick peat layers below the marsh acidify the water and cause it to appear tea-colored.
Freshwater marsh habitats form the core of the study area and support a diverse group of bird, mammal, and fish species, including the threatened coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). In the spring, thousands of amphibian egg masses appear in the marsh, indicating its importance as a breeding area for red-legged frogs (Rana aurora) and northwestern salamanders (Ambystoma gracile). The marsh also provides important breeding and wintering habitat for a variety of waterfowl including wood duck, mallard, American wigeon, and green-winged teal.
Bog. A peat bog is a type of wetland where sphagnum moss grows on top of water. Peat is formed from dead sphagnum moss. Over time, layers of peat covered by sphagnum moss are formed several feet above the surface of the water. Bogs make up an estimated 48 acres of the study area and are found just east of the freshwater marsh (see Figure 4). The three types of bog habitat found in the Neskowin Marsh study area include sedge fen, shrub carr, and sphagnum bog.
The sedge fen is distinguished from the other bog habitats because of the neutral pH of the water. The sedge fen bog is dominated by slough sedge (Carex obnupta) and Sitka sedge (C. sitchensis).
The shrub carr bog is dominated by western crabapple (Pyrus fusca), Trapper's tea (Ledum glandulosum), Hooker willow (Salix hookeriana), and stunted Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).
The rare and diverse sphagnum bog at Neskowin Marsh has been developing over a period of several thousand years. It contains the largest known occurrence of acid-forming mire known on the Oregon coast and supports the rare moss Pohlia sphagnicola, which occurs on the tops of sphagnum hummocks (The Nature Conservancy 1998). The sphagnum bog is dominated by sphagnum moss (Sphagnum fuscum), bog cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos), round-leaved sundew (Prosera rotundifolia) and various small ground cover plants.
Forested lagg. A structurally diverse wetland known as a forested lagg occurs adjacent to the eastern edge of the bog habitats, between the bogs and the upland meadows and upland forests. Laggs are wetlands that form as a swamp-like moat around the outer edges of some bogs. The lagg's forest canopy is dominated by Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and red alder (Alnus rubra), with an understory of salal (Gaultheria shallon) and black twinberry (Lonicera involucrata). A ground cover composed primarily of bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum), cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum), water parsley (Oenanthe sarmentosa), and wild lily of the valley (Maianthemum dilatatum) is found.
Upland Meadow. The upland meadow habitat is dominated by a variety of grasses, slough sedge, and trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus). The habitat is found east of the forested lagg and continues to the north end of the marsh (see Figure 4).
Upland Forest. A forested buffer of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, red alder, and salal occurs along the eastern edge of the study area.
Upland Shrub. The upland shrub habitat includes species such as salal (Gaultheria shallon), thimbleberry (Rubus parvifloris), bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), nutka rose (Rosa nutkana), sword fern (Polystichum munitum), and black hawthorne (Crataegus douglasii).
Dune. A small area of undeveloped dune habitat is included in the project area. Located northwest of the marsh, the foredune and the area directly east of the foredune, known as a deflation plain margin, are dominated by non-native european beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria), dunegrass (Elymus mollis), shore pine (Pinus contorta), evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum), salal, yarrow (Achillea millefolium), seaside tansy (Tanacetum camphoratum), and bracken fern. The existence of the marsh and bog habitats in the study area depends on the protection provided by these stable foredunes.
Golf Course. The Neskowin Beach golf course is located in the southern portion of the project area (see Figure 4). The golf course was built in the early 1930s by filling, ditching, and draining the south end of Neskowin Marsh. The golf course floods during fall, winter, and spring periods.
3.3.2 Water Resources
The three streams found in the study area are Meadow Creek, Butte Creek, and Hawk Creek (see Figure 4). Meadow Creek originates in Neskowin Marsh and flows south from the marsh through the Neskowin Beach Golf Course where it flows into Butte Creek near the south end of the golf course. Hawk Creek flows west through the Hawk Creek Golf Course, under Highway 101 where it empties into Butte Creek through the freshwater marsh, just south of the Neskowin Beach golf course.
Much of Meadow Creek has been ditched. During 1912 and 1913, the freshwater marsh was ditched and drained north of the golf course to grow cranberries commercially. This effort proved unsuccessful as a result of brackish water reaching the marsh in high tide events, killing the cranberries (Tillamook County 1981). The ditching that occurred can still be seen today on aerial photos, although it is less obvious in the northern portion of the marsh. Meadow Creek flows through the golf course in a ditch that continues to be maintained in an attempt to keep the golf course drained.
Tidal influence extends up Butte Creek to the tide gates located just south of the Neskowin Beach Golf Course Clubhouse.
3.3.3 Wildlife Resources
Neskowin Marsh supports a diversity of bird, mammal, and amphibian species. Waterfowl use the area during fall and spring migration. Species commonly observed include mallard (Anas platyrynchos), wood duck (Aix sponsa), American wigeon (Anas americana), northern pintail (Anas acuta), green-winged teal (Anas crecca), ring-necked duck (Aytha collaris), lesser scaup (Aythya affinis), and bufflehead (Bucephala albeola). Service biologists have documented that wood ducks and mallards breed at Neskowin Marsh.
A variety of waterbirds also use the study area. These include great blue heron (Ardea herodias), green heron (Butorides striatus), Virginia rail (Rallus limicola), sora (Porzana carolina), American coot (Fulica americana), and American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus). Service biologists have documented that American bittern breed at Neskowin Marsh. This a rare occurrence along the Oregon coast. In addition, it is suspected that the American coot also breeds at Neskowin Marsh. If this is confirmed, it would be the only known breeding site for this species along the Oregon coast.
The study area also provides important habitat for neotropical migrant songbirds such as warblers, flycatchers, and thrushes. Local residents recorded 79 species of birds, many of them neotropical migrants, in the wetlands just south of the golf course. It would be expected that these same species would be found in the northern portion of the marsh as well.
In the spring, thousands of amphibian egg masses appear in the marsh, indicating its importance as a breeding area for red-legged frogs (Rana aurora) and northwestern salamanders (Ambystoma gracile). In addition to northwestern salamanders and red-legged frogs, rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) were identified in surveys completed in the spring of 1999. Based on the wetland's size and natural characteristics, it is suspected that many more species of reptiles and amphibians would also occur.
Evidence of Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus), black bear (Ursus americanus), black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus), beaver (Procyon lotor), raccoon (Procyon lotor), river otter (Lutra canadensis), muskrat (Ondatra zibethica), and nutria (Myocastor coypus) is abundant.
The American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) and the bald eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus) nest in the vicinity of the study area. These birds use the area for hunting, foraging, and resting. The bald eagle is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
3.3.4 Fishery Resources
Preliminary surveys in the southern marsh have revealed substantial use of the area by fry and smolt-sized coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki). The coho salmon and cutthroat trout use the marsh as off-channel overwintering habitat prior to their migration from fresh water to salt water. This means that these fish must navigate through the Neskowin Beach golf course to reach the marsh.
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) spawn in nearby Neskowin Creek, and may use Neskowin Marsh as well. In addition, fish surveys have identified western brook lamprey (Lampetra richardsoni), threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), and sculpin (Cottus spp.).
3.4 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
3.4.1 Community of Neskowin
The study area is surrounded by the community of Neskowin. Neskowin is an unincorporated community located just north of Cascade Head and south of Nestucca Bay. In 1912, much of the property in Neskowin was bought by William Walton. Walton envisioned a family-oriented community so when he subdivided the land, parcels were sold with 50-year timed deed restrictions that did not allow commercial use of the properties. As a result, the core area of Neskowin is primarily single family residences with little commercial development (Tillamook County 1999).
Today, Neskowin is a cottage community with a large amount of vacation beach homes that have been passed down through generations. Commercial enterprises are still at a minimum and include such businesses as a motel, a restaurant, two golf courses, and a grocery store and deli. Tourism, primarily the cottage industry, makes a significant contribution to the local economy. The full-time residents of Neskowin typically commute outside of Neskowin for employment (Tillamook County 1999).
Neskowin has seen rapid growth in the last few years. Several subdivisions have been developed and several more are planned.
The Neskowin Beach Golf Course is located within the project area. This is one of two golf courses within the community. The golf course experiences localized flooding during the fall, winter, and spring periods, limiting the golfing season to 6 months or less a year. It was built in the 1930s and was the first golf course built along the Oregon coast (Tillamook County 1999).
3.4.2 Wildlife-Dependent Public Use Activities
There are six primary wildlife-dependent public-use activities that the Service manages, provided that they are compatible with the purposes for which the Refuge was established. These six wildlife-dependent public use activities are hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. These uses must receive enhanced consideration over other uses in refuge planning and management.
All the parcels within the study area are privately owned. Wildlife observation along the fringe of the study area is the only wildlife-dependent recreational activity that occurs. This use occurs primarily from the foot path that runs east to west along the northern edge of the Neskowin Beach Golf Course. Wildlife observation also takes place when waterfowl congregate on the golf course during spring, fall, and winter flooding. Although fishing occasionally occurs, it is not considered an owner-authorized existing wildlife-dependent public use. Local individuals have also documented isolated incidents of big-game hunting, waterfowl hunting, and canoeing in the study area, but these activities were not open to the general public.
3.4.3 Cultural Resources
The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office has records of two archaeological investigations undertaken immediately adjacent to the study area. The earliest (Follansbee 1978), indicated that a "village site" was reported by local residents near the confluence of Hawk and Butte creeks. However, the on-the-ground survey failed to find any cultural materials. A second investigator (Burtchard 1988) also conducted interviews of local residents, but could not find anyone who had found or heard of cultural materials from the reported site location. An additional survey near the confluence of the creeks was also negative. No other prehistoric sites have been reported in the analysis area.
The Neskowin Beach Golf Course was built in the 1930s and is the oldest golf course on the Oregon coast. This property has not been evaluated for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places.
3.4.4 Land Use Zoning
All of the lands within the study area are privately owned. In April 1999, Tillamook County adopted the Neskowin Community Plan which established the land use zoning in the Neskowin Area. The zoning found within the project area includes Neskowin Rural Residential Zone (NeskRR), Neskowin Rural Residential-Planned Development Zone (Nesk RR-PD), Neskowin Recreation Management Zone (NeskRM), and Neskowin Commercial Zone (NeskC-1) (see Figure 5). In addition to the zoning designations, most of the study area has been designated by Tillamook County as significant wetlands which restricts development to, "only low intensity uses and developments such as hiking trails and platforms for wildlife viewing or similar types of educational, scientific or recreational uses...providing that such uses and developments will not act as a barrier to or result in major disturbances or displacement of fish or wildlife species" (Tillamook County 1981). Even though the Neskowin Beach Golf Course has been designated as a significant wetland, the ordinance specifically allows continuation of its use as a golf course.
The dune, upland meadow, and upland shrub habitats and some of the upland forest habitat are not designated as significant wetlands and are zoned NeskRR-PD (see Figure 5). This means that with approval from Tillamook County, housing developments could be built in these areas as long as they do not result in major impacts to the adjacent significant wetlands.