Ownership

Ownership above the South Fork intake is 77% United State Forest Service (USFS) with the remainder under Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and private timber company control.

Ownership above the North Fork intake is 70% United State Forest Service with the remainder under Private Timber Company and private citizenry ownership. There are approximately 30 dwellings situated along Schooner Creek Road. There are an additional 7 dwellings located within the watershed and within fairly close proximity to the North Fork.

Location and Size

The Schooner Creek watershed is located in the westerly edge of the Coast Range east of the southern portion of Lincoln City Oregon. Range-10, Township-7, Section-7. A relatively small basin, the watershed encompasses approximately 20 square miles of drainage area above the in-stream intake located at the Schooner Creek water treatment facility.

• 15.5 miles of drainage was identified by CH2M Hill in September 1981 at a site designated as the lower impoundment site listed in the Phase 2 Report, Water Supply and Impoundment Evaluation
• 4.4 miles of drainage lies above the Upper Schooner Creek Intake on the South Fork
• 3.36 miles above the North Fork Intake

Classification

The Oregon Forest Practice rules define three classifications of water in the state that receive protection on forest operations. Schooner Creek falls within their Class I category. Class I water means any portions of streams, lakes, estuaries, significant wetlands or other waters of the state, which are significant for:

• Domestic use, including drinking, culinary and other household human use
• Angling
• Water dependent recreation
• Spawning, rearing or migration of adranomos or game fish

The Oregon State Health Department, water division further classifies sources by method, degree of treatment. Schooner Creek is further classified as Class 1C. A water system that utilizes a direct surface source as its supply and uses a conventional filtration system and disinfection for treatment.

Water Quality

The average turbidity in Schooner Creek ranges from 1.0 to 2.5 nephlometric units. These values can escalate quickly during river freshets, moderate rainfall to greater than 200 units. The water is neutral in pH typically ranging from 6.5 to 7.2. Seasonal temperature ranges in value of 8 to 14 degrees Celsius. The water is soft with a hardness value of 12 mg/l and alkalinity of 24 mg/l. The water is aggressive with a Langlier Index of –2.5. In August of 1982 and again in 1986 the source was evaluated for the Environmental Protection Agencies 190 primary pollutants and found an absence of any compounds of concern.

Bacterial populations are plentiful as can be expected. Some of the more significant organisms include those associated with fecal pollution such as Escherichia Coli, Streptococcus Faecalis, Yersinia Enterocolitica, Clostirdium Welchii. Those known pathogens, Salmonella, Vibrio Comma and Enterobacter Cloasae. Some less harmful but opportunistic pathogens isolated in Schooner Creek Water include Klebsiella Pneumoniae and Hafnia Alvei.

In addition the protozoan Giardia Lamblia and Giardia Mira have been identified as well as Legionnaire's disease organism. It is expected that Cryptosporidium is present as well. A two-year study conducted by Oregon State University, Ramon J. Seidler, Thomas M. Evans, Mark W. LeChevallier and C.E. Waarvick in 1980-1981 identifying and quantifying organisms in Schooner Creek is available at the Schooner Creek water treatment facility.

Water Use

By far the majority of the water is used for domestic/municipal purposes. The City of Lincoln City maintains a total of 17.39 cubic feet per second, (cfs.) or 11.23 million gallons per day, in five different permits or certificates. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODF&W) has established a minimum stream flow of 20 cfs. There are several private wells located along the stream and it is not known but assumed some of the residences on the North Fork are obtaining water directly from the stream. A fish ladder was constructed on the South Fork, attached to the City of Lincoln City’s impoundment dam. The ODF&W has communicated that a minimum of 5 cfs. is required to flow through the ladder to be effective for fish passage.

Water Flows

It has been estimated that in a critical year, 3.0 cfs would be the maximum flows at upper the South Fork intake. At the main stem a 50-year low flow of 7.8 cfs. A 9.3 cfs. flow for duration of 30 days in any 50-year period. Actual gauging shows that it is not uncommon but rather average for the stream to flow between 9.0 and 12 cfs. In late summer. High winter flows have been gauged at 1000 cfs. or greater with an average of 250 cfs.+. Lowest summer flows have regularly been gauged at <8.0 cfs.

Wildlife

The watershed is ideal for many types of animals. Roosevelt Elk, Black Tail Deer and Black Bear represent the larger species of mammal. Mountain Lion, Lynx, Coyote, Mountain Boomer, Muskrat, Pack Rat, Common Rat, Field Mouse, Common House Mouse, Beaver, Mink and other wildlife species normally found are prevalent within the watershed.

Bird Species

Federally listed and proposed endangered and threatened and candidate bird species in the Schooner Creek vicinity include: Bald Eagle, Northern Spotted Owl, Marbled Murrelet, Aleutian Canada goose and the Little Willow Flycatcher. However, although these special-status bird species may occur in the general area, critical habitat is limited or absence.

American Merganser, Wood Duck can be found as well as other waterfowl. Peleating Woodpeckers are also sited in the area. A myriad of other common species inhabits the area. Great Blue Heron, Lessor White Egret, Rock Dove, Band-Tailed Pigeon Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Turkey Vulture, Canada goose to name a few.

Fishery Resouce

There has been an extensive effort by the Northwest Steelheaders in cooperation with the National Forest Service to re-establish and enhance salmon populations. Coho, Fall Chinook, winter-run steelhead, sea-run cutthroat seasonally and permanently inhabit the stream as well as Steelhead. Cutthroat and Rainbow trout can be found as well as German Brown.

Geology

Bedrock units in the watershed area are fine-grained igneous rocks of the Siletz River Volcanics. The rock outcrops show in road cuts, locally in scattered outcrops on steep hillsides, and along several portions of Schooner Creek. Generally, however, a mantle of younger alluvium, colluvium and terrace deposits overlies bedrock. Surface soils are generally a relatively thin covering of colluvial and residual clayey silts that display-localized creep. The brown, clayey silt is of moderate plasticity and moderate dry strength. Smectite and vermiculite clay is prevalent. The rock is medium hard, slightly weathered basalt with common close jointing.

Seismicity

Seismicity in the watershed area has historically been low, with only a few small earthquakes within 50 miles of the site. Small events have occurred near Tillamook, Newport and Beaver. The largest Modified Mercalli Intensities reported in this area have been MM VI near Beaver (1957) and Timber (1963) and MM V near Dallas (1944). The recent Scotts Mills earthquake Near Mt. Angel (1994) was reported to be felt by local residences within the watershed.

Sewage Disposal

Of the total occupied dwellings it is assumed that all have working septic systems for sewage disposal and that the county sanitarian is maintaining the responsible role of assuring the compliance of the systems with state and local regulations. The nearest residence to the North Fork intake is approximately 2 miles. There are no human inhabitants above the South Fork intake and the run of stream intake at the water treatment plant is 7.5 miles west of the confluence to the North and South Forks. There are 17 residences located within 50 feet of the main stem of Schooner creek between the run of stream intake and the confluence of the North and South Forks. There are 11 additional residences located greater than 50 feet but less than 100 feet.

Human Activities

There is marginal agricultural activity evident within the watershed. Primarily home garden plots and livestock pasturing. The extent of cultivation and pastureland is minimal estimating to be approximately 20 acres. There have been extensive efforts in the past and on going to re-establish salmon runs on the streams and increase salmon habitat through the installation of fish passage structures over impassible barriers. The only identified industrial activity is commercial logging by private contractors. Human activity primarily consists of single family residential dwellings. The majority of the watershed is zoned either primary timberland, secondary timberland or timber conservation. Those classifications are limiting factors in development of human habitat.

Transportation

Transportation consists primarily of commuting by the few residences along the North and South Forks. Commercial hauling by log trucks is common in the summer months. The road is a paved two lane rural road for the first 4.5 miles from the city limits. It then reduces to a single lane gravel road. This is the single route between Lincoln City and Bear Creek that eventually enters onto Highway 18 near Rose Lodge. It is frequently used in the summer months by other travelers familiar with it to avoid traffic in Lincoln City. The Lincoln County road crew maintains the road. There is also a small network of logging roads within the watershed. At the upper most region of the watershed a major United States Forest Service road that is paved connects an extensive network of back roads. This is more heavily used by commercial traffic.

Climate

Located in the coast range, the watershed receives an approximate average of 12 inches of rain in the winter months. November through January. During the summer months rainfall can average 2.75 inches. Little snowfall occurs annually with an approximate maximum of 4 to 6 inches accumulation above 1000 feet. The average temperature range is between 45 and 60 degrees year around with extremes as low as –4 to +100 degrees Fahrenheit though these are infrequent. Typical winter winds can average 30 to 40 miles an hour with gusts at the coastal headlands above 100 miles per hour.