Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Air Quality Report
Wilderness ID: 129
Wilderness Name: Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness
Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Air Quality Report
National Forest: Umatilla National Forest
State: OR, WA
Counties: Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Wallowa
General Location: South East Washington, North East Oregon
Acres: 176,557
Thursday, May 17, 2012
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Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Air Quality Report
Wilderness ID: 129
Wilderness Name: Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness
Wilderness Categories
Information Specific to this Wilderness
Year Established
1978
Establishment Notes
Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978
Designation
Clean Air Act Class 2
Administrative
Umatilla National Forest
Unique Landscape Features
This Wilderness is a maze of deep, sheer-walled canyons that cut into what was once
a flat and expansive plateau at the northernmost reach of the Blue Mountains located
in Northeast Oregon and Southeast Washington. The plateau has since eroded into
long ridge tops and wide, forest-covered mesas that now stand as much as 2,000 feet
above the drainages. Following ridges will often bring you to a bluff line that fall
away vertically into a confluence of drainages. Much of the area's water runs south
into Oregon's Wild and Scenic Wenaha River, although some of it slips north into
Washington's Tucannon River. Ponderosa pine dominates the lower drainages, then
defers to a forest of lodgepole pine above about 4,500 feet, with some larch, fir, and
spruce. Subalpine fir reigns supreme at the highest elevations, with native grasses
and forbs covering the ground. Elevation ranges from nearly 2,000 feet at the
Wenaha River to Oregon Butte which is the tallest point of this vast wilderness at
6,401 feet. Rocky Mountain elk thrive in this area, which seasonally attracts more
hunters than hikers. Rattlesnakes love the area, too, and you may see mule deer,
white- tailed deer, black bears, coyotes, cougars, bobcats, and snowshoe hares. You
might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Big Horned sheep.
Lakebed Geology Sensitivity
High
Lakebed Geology Composition
andesite dacite diorite phylite (98%), amphibolite hornfels paragneiss
undifferentiated metamorphic roc (2%), GC 1+2 (98%), GC 1+2+3 (98%), GC
4+5+6 (2%)
Not reported in the database.
Not reported in the database.
Visitor Use
Mean Annual Precipitation
Elevation Range
Mean Max Aug Temp
Mean Min Dec Temp
Lake Acres
Pond Acres
Lake Count
Pond Count
TES Flora
TES Wildlife
TES Fish
Ozone Sensitive Plants
Air Quality Sensitive Lichens
Cultural Resources
Status/Trends: Acid Deposition:
574 - 1943 (meters)
Not reported in the database.
Not reported in the database.
Not reported in the database.
4
Not reported in the database.
12
Allium dictuon, Bolandra oregana, Calochortus macrocarpus var. maculosus, Carex
backii, Cypripedium fasciculatum, Linanthus pungens, Ranunculus populago
Not reported in the database.
Not reported in the database.
Blue elderberry, Ninebark, Ponderosa pine, Red alder, Scoulers willow, Snowberry,
Thinleaf huckleberry, Western wormwood
Not reported in the database.
Not reported in the database.
Not reported in the database.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
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Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Air Quality Report
Wilderness ID: 129
Wilderness Categories
Status/Trends: Nutrient
Enrichment:
Status/Trends: Ozone Impacts:
Wilderness Name: Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness
Information Specific to this Wilderness
Not reported in the database.
Not reported in the database.
AQRV's
Fauna
Fauna Priority: Medium
Fauna Receptor: Fish
Fauna Indicator: Concentration of methyl mercury
Fauna Trends: Not reported in the database.
Fauna Actions:
Collect resident fish and sample for mercury. Also collect water quality samples at the same time.
Flora
Flora Priority: High
Flora Receptor: Lichens
Flora Indicator: Changes in community composition
Flora Trends: Not reported in the database.
Flora Priority 2: High
Flora Receptor 2: Lichens
Flora Indicator 2: Concentrations of N, S, P, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Ti, V and Zn
Flora Trends 2: Not reported in the database.
Flora Priority 3: High
Flora Receptor 3: Ozone
Flora Indicator 3: Visible injury on ozone-sensitive plants
Flora Trends 3: Not reported in the database.
Flora Actions:
Need three additional lichen plots to achieve the 1 plot/20,000 acre desired spatial density. Repeat visits to lichen plots
once every 10 years. Consider while on-site, surveying vegetation for ozone injury.
Visibility
Visibility Priority: Medium
Visibility Receptor: Scenic Views
Visibility Indicator: Regional haze
Visibility Trends: Not reported in the database.
Visibility Actions
Nearest IMPROVE monitoring site is Starkey (STAR1).
Water
Water Priority: Medium
Water Receptor: Water Chemistry
Water Indicator: ANC
Water Trends: Not reported in the database.
Water Priority 2: Medium
Water Receptor 2: Water Chemistry
Thursday, May 17, 2012
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Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Air Quality Report
Wilderness ID: 129
Wilderness Name: Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness
Water Indicator 2: DIN: TP
Water Trends 2: Not reported in the database.
Water Priority 3: Low
Water Receptor 3: Diatoms
Water Indicator 3: Community Composition
Water Trends 3: Not reported in the database.
Water Actions:
Consider collecting a water quality sample for anions, cations, and nutrients.
Challenge Points
Fauna Challenge Points: Not reported in the database.
Flora Challenge Points: 4
Total Plots: 6
Desired Plots: 9
Additional Plots Needed: 3
Data Type: Baseline
Round 1 Visits: 0
Round 2 Visits: 6
Baseline %: 68
Trends %: 0
Visibility Challenge Points: Not reported in the database.
Water Challenge Points: Not reported in the database.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
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