2 Okanogan County Regional Setting

Transcription

1 Okanogan County Regional Setting.1 Okanogan County Profile Okanogan County is in North Central Washington State. The county borders Canada in the North and the southern and eastern edges of the county are bordered by the Columbia River. The Northern Cascade Mountain Range forms the county s western border. The Southeastern corner of the County is where the Colville Reservation takes up,1 acres. Okanogan County is the largest county in the state at, square miles with a 01 population of 1, (US Census Bureau 01). The county s climate is cold in winter and hot and dry in summer. While most of Okanogan County is considered semi-arid, precipitation and average temperatures vary widely. The geology, climate, and topography creates a semiarid region that influences agriculture, land use, hydrology, and habitat (Okanogan Watershed Planning Unit, ). This section provides a county profile description for the following items Soils and terrain Water resources and precipitation Land use and landcover Land Area.1.1 Soil and Terrain Okanogan County s topography ranges from mountainous alpine and sub-alpine terrain to gently sloping valleys. Elevation varies from 0 feet where the Columbia River crosses the county line south of Pateros, to over,00 feet in the Cascade Range. The landscape below,000 feet was sculpted by glaciers about,000 years ago. Large areas remain covered with rocks deposited by the glaciers melting and receding. The receding glaciers also left valleys, canyons, waterfalls, benches, lakes, and cliffs. The County consists of four differing geologic provinces. The Cascade Range, to the west, was created by ancient seabed uplift. Both the Okanogan highlands on the east and the Columbia basalt plateau to the south were created by volcanic activity. Finally, the oldest is the ridge of ancient seabed rocks that were folded and then carved by erosion into its present forms. Most soils are deep and well drained. Gravelly loam, silt loam, and sandy loams dominate the surface horizons throughout the County 1 (USDA 10). Forest soils are often volcanic ash capped and finer textured soils can be found in lower lying areas. Alluvial soils along the Okanogan and Methow Rivers, and many tributaries, are prime irrigated and sub-irrigated farmland. Approximately one third of the County is forested, and much of the rest of the area is shrub steppe with some dryland agriculture (USDA 10). DRAFT //01 VSP Work Plan Section 1

2 .1. Water Resources and Precipitation Water Resources The county includes major watersheds, which are known as Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIA). Okanogan River (WRIA ) Methow (WRIA ) Sanpoil River (WRIA ) Kettle River (WRIA 0) Nespelem River (WRIA 1) Lower Lake Roosevelt (WRIA ) Foster Creek (WRIA 0). Chelan (WRIA ) Precipitation Annual precipitation ranges from approximately inches at the confluence of the Okanogan and Columbia Rivers, to more than 0 inches in the upper elevations of the Pasayten and DRAFT //01 VSP Work Plan Section

3 Ashnola sub watersheds. Winter season snowfall varies from 0 to 0 inches. Snow can be expected after the first of November and remains on the ground from the first of December until March or April. On average, snow accumulates to a depth of about to 0 inches in the valleys (Okanogan Watershed Planning Unit )..1. Land Use and Landcover The landscape is largely forested at higher elevation, with shrub-steppe habitat dominating the landscape at lower elevations. Shoreline areas and other wet areas support riparian and wetland vegetation. Communities and agricultural operations in Okanogan County is concentrated in the Methow and Okanogan valleys and along the Columbia River. Agriculture, mining, forestry, and recreation are the major land-use activities. Approximately % of private land, including private land within the Colville Reservation, is in agriculture production. Agricultural lands are associated with irrigated crops, rangelands or dryland crops (Okanogan County ; USDA Census of Agriculture; WSDA Cropland Data; Okanogan County Parcel Data)..1. Land Area Okanogan County encompasses,0, acres, including surface water, and is the largest county in Washington State. Privately owned land comprises approximately % of the County. Approximately % of the county is owned by a federal, state or local agencies. The Colville Confederated Tribes own 1%, which includes land inside and outside of the Reservation boundaries (Okanogan County Assessor 01). 1 Table # Summary of Land Ownership in Okanogan County Ownership Type Acres Percent Federal 1,0, % Private, % Tribal,1 1% State 0,1 1% Total,0, 0% Federal agencies that own and manage land include the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation. State agencies include the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, State Park and Recreation, the Okanogan Public Utility District, and others..1. Major Resource Concerns Note for the Work Group: This section to be discussed further with the group. DRAFT //01 VSP Work Plan Section

4 General Resource Concerns from landowners contacting Okanogan CD: Wind erosion Water erosion/flooding Water Quantity Water Quality Invasive Species Human and Animal interactions Plant health Wildfire Major resource concerns from work group outline: Depredations of livestock by wolves Potential depredation of livestock by Grizzly bears Depredation of crops by grazing ungulates such as deer and elk NRCS staff list of resource concerns: Fire hazards Dryland/wheat farmers worried about soil erosion Small farms/organic farms want pollinator habitat/soil health/cover crops More efficient irrigation Flooding. Agricultural Activities Note for the Work Group: Initially the focus was private lands, but we will try to estimate acreages associated with leases on lands other than private land Topography affects agricultural activities and productivity in Okanogan County. The County s productive irrigated lands are located where there is a consistent water supply from groundwater, rivers, streams, lakes, or impoundments. Irrigated and dryland crops on private lands comprise % and % of the County Private lands respectively (Okanogan County Assessor 0, USDA 01, WSDA 0). Rangelands account for at least % of land, and county-wide livestock sales account for approximately 1% of the value of products sold. Many additional acres of public and private lands are utilized as range, but are unaccounted for in census and private land use surveys like the County Assessor. For example, some private lands may be designated forest land through the County Assessment procedure, but are also utilized for livestock production. Much of the Federal, State and Reservation owned forest land at lower elevations is commonly leased for livestock. DRAFT //01 VSP Work Plan Section

5 Agriculture is a significant component of the Okanogan County economy. Crop and animal production, and agriculture associated businesses, is the County s second largest employer (US Dept. of Labor 01). Over % of privately owned land, 00,1 acres, is designated agricultural production (Okanogan County Assessor 0, USDA 01, WSDA 0). Per the 01 Census of Agriculture, crop sales account for % of the value of products sold in the County. Statewide, per the USDA Census of Agriculture 01 Okanogan County: Is the fourth highest producer of fruit (sales value) in Washington. Is the eight highest producer (sales value) for cattle and calves in Washington. Has the third highest acreage of apples in Washington. Has an annual market value from agricultural products of approximately $0 million. Has the fifteenth highest acreages of vegetables, hay, and corn (for grain) in Washington. Table # Agricultural Activity and Products 0 (private lands, including private land within the Reservation) (Okanogan County Assessor 0, USDA 01, WSDA 0 Agricultural Type % of County Primary Crops/Livestock Dryland % Cereal grains Hay/Pasture Oilseed Irrigated % Orchard Hay/Pasture Range % Cattle Horses Sheep 1 1 Total % References: DRAFT //01 VSP Work Plan Section

6 United States Census Bureau. (01). Quick Facts, Population Estimates, July, 01. Web. September wtop Meseck, Donald. Okanogan County Profile. Employment Security Department Washington State. U.S. Census Bureau. May 01. Web. September Morgan, Laurie. Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas Guidance Document. Washington State Department of Ecology (00): 1-1. Pdf. Okanogan County Assessor. (0) Parcel Data. (Data File). Okanogan County Assessor.. Web. March 01. ftp://1..1.1/assessor/ Okanogan County. Appendix A.1 Okanogan Shoreline Characterization. Okanogan County (00): 1-0. Pdf. Okanogan Watershed Planning Unit. Okanogan Watershed Plan. (June 00): 1-. Pdf. USDA Census of Agriculture. Okanogan County Washington. 01 Census of Agriculture (01): 1-. Pdf. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Conservation Service. 10. Soil Survey of Okanogan County Area, Washington. Web. September an.pdf Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. Critical Areas Assistance Handbook. (00):1-0. Paper. Washington State Department of Agriculture. 0. WSDA Cropland Data 0. (Data File). WSDA. Web. March DRAFT //01 VSP Work Plan Section