Several watershed analyses and synthesis documents were written on the Oak Creek Basin during the 1990's. Reports were authored by students, OSU faculty, and consultants to the Marys River Watershed Council. Below are some notes about these reports:

In 1994, two groups of students in Bob Beschta's Watershed Analysis course (FE530/630), carried out studies of the Oak Creek Basin (Augerot et al, 1994; Buckley et al, 1994). The structure of these reports were based on Washington State's Watershed Analysis Manual and included sections on mass wasting, surface erosion, hydrology, riparian, stream channel, fish habitat and water quality. These reports were prepared over a several week period by graduate students in Civil Engineering, Fisheries and Wildlife, Forest Engineering, and Geosciences.

In 1999, Toby Hayes, then Vice Provost for Research, created an Oak Creek Action Team and appointed four faculty members to evaluate the major management issues in the basin and make recommendations for corrective actions. Stan Gregory served as chairperson with Bob
Beschta, Jim Moore, and Ken Williamson making up the rest of the team. Team meetings were open to the public and their report was made available through an Oak Creek website. OSU issued a press release about the Task Force in 1999.

Also in 1999, the Marys River Watershed Council hired Ecosystems Northwest to conduct a preliminary assessment of the Marys River Watershed. The Oak Creek Basin makes up about 4% of the Mary's River Basin.

In Spring 2002, the Benton Soil and Water Conservation District (Donna Schmitz) began and additional assessment as part of the development of a Farm Plan for the OSU livestock operations.

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Datasets and Class Projects

Augerot, X., Cain, B., Larsen, E., Lee, Y., Perkins, R., and Rogers, V., 1994, Watershed analysis of Oak Creek Watershed, Coast Range Mountains, Oregon: Oregon State University.

Available: Bob Beschta has a copy of this report.

Abstract or Excerpt: This watershed analysis was conducted as part of a graduate course (FE530/630) in the Forest Engineering Department at OSU. The approach used for this analysis of the Oak Creek watershed was based on Washington State's Watershed Analysis Manual. However, their methodology was modified where necessary. The watershed analysis was initiated in the middle of October and was completed in a bout six weeks.

The first step in the process was to identify key issues in the watershed. Several OSU administrators, faculty members, and students from a variety of natural resource-related departments were interviewed. The key issues they identified are summarized in Table I-1. We were able to examine and address most of these issues but time constraints and insufficient data limited the number and the types of issues we addressed. Water supply, wildlife, and some of the water quality issues were not addressed for these reasons.

Each individual in the analysis group was assigned to a particular module. Eric Larsen collected and analyzed information on mass wasting in the watershed. Brendan Cain was responsible for surface erosion. Reed Perkins examined the watershed's hydrologic characteristics. Val Rogers looked at riparian functions. Xan Augerot examined stream channel conditions and some water quality data. Yu Man lee evaluated fish habitat. Aerial photographs, topographic maps, soil and geology maps, unpublished OSU research reports and firsthand field data were used during the resources assessment process. The information we collected during this process was compiled during the synthesis stage and was used in determining resource vulnerability (i.e.e, channel sensitivity and fish habitat potential), the likelihood of input factors impacting resources, and management recommendations (i.e., rule calls) for three indicator areas in the watershed.

Notes: Cited in Moret, 1997.

Buckley, A., Castro, J., Jodice, P., Sherer, R., Villanueva, V., and Williams, K., 1994, Oak Creek Watershed analysis: Oregon State University.

Available: Bob Beschta has a copy of this report.

Abstract or Excerpt: See pdf file.

Moret, S. L., Allen, M., and Jacek, L. L., 1995, Relative analysis of stability and land use in the Oak Creek drainage, Benton County, Oregon: Oregon State University.

Notes: Cited in Moret, 1997.

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Available: OSU Valley Library, LD4330 1998 .M64

Abstract: Pre-flood (1995) and post-flood (1996) channel stability surveys were conducted on 22 reaches along Oak Creek, Benton County, Oregon in an effort to note if the flood of February 1996 altered the channel and if the channel stability survey that was being used accurately predicted the channels resistance to change resulting from a flood. The channel stability survey that was used was the method described in "Channel Stability Evaluation and Stream Reach Inventory" designed by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, in Colorado (Pfankuch, 1978).
This was a non-parametric study, based on an opportunity to reoccupy survey locations from a previous study. A model was proposed to describe the 1995 ratings as predictions for change that occurred as a result of the 1996 flood in order to test he surveys ability to accurately predict change. Changes in the survey totals, the 15 channel stability indicator items that compose the survey, and the sediment distribution were evaluated within and between years at the reach, station and stream scale.
An increase in the percentage of fine gravel occurred at all scales when post-flood and pre-flood sediment distribution was compared. Except for an increase in fine gravel, the stream remained similar to its pre-flood state.
In 1995, the stream's channel stability was rated as "fair", indicating that a moderate amount of change should take place if a flood occurred. The 1995 predictions for change did not match the actual change observed after the February 1996 flood at the three scales when defined by the survey totals. When independently evaluating the fifteen individual channel stability indicator items, a considerable amount of change was detected at the reach level. Although change occurred in the indicator items, a considerable amount of change was detected at the reach level. Although change occurred in the indicator items at each reach, the stream average for each of the independent indicator items was similar between the two years. This may indicate that, although change occurred at the reach level, the stream maintained its physical diversity after the flood.
The survey method was unable to accurately predict changes to Oak Creek incurred by the February 1996 flood when viewed at the entire stream level, yet it may be more applicable at the reach level when viewing specific changes to channel stability indicator items. In general, the Stream Reach Inventory and Channel Stability Evaluation is designed for observational efficiency but does not have sufficient scientific basis or measurement precision to accurately predict the extent or type of channel change.

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Ecosystems Northwest, 1999, Marys River Watershed, Preliminary Assessment. [Watershed Assessment prepared for the Marys River Watershed Council], 158 p.

Available: Online on the Mary's River Watershed Council website.

Abstract or Excerpt: This document is the product of a preliminary watershed assessment for the Marys River Watershed. The purpose of the document is to describe what is known about the condition of the Marys River Watershed, and to present a list of prioritized issues for the Marys River Watershed Council for their use in the development of strategies for further assessment and subsequent watershed protection and restoration. The assessment examined land use history, water quality, aquatic and terrestrial habitats, soil conditions, and social and economic conditions. The assessment followed the guidance provided by the Oregon Watershed Assessment Manual (NonPoint Solutions 1998) where practical. In some instances, diversions were made from the Assessment Manual based on discussions and direction from the technical steering committee of the Council. Examples of divergence includes the addition of a chapter on social or economic conditions, inclusion of upslope conditions such as soil erosion processes, and the initiation of an annotated bibliography. This assessment, in general, did not collect new data, did not perform channel typing, and did not perform aerial photographic assessments of riparian zones. The main focus of the assessment was a synthesis of existing data sets and studies pertaining to the Marys River Watershed to provide a better picture of the watershed at this point in time.

Gregory, S., Beschta, R. L., Moore, J., and Williamson, K., 2000, Report of the Oak Creek Action Team to Oregon State University, Submitted to Office of Research Oregon State University: Oregon State University.

Available: action_team_report.pdf

Abstract or Excerpt: In May 1999, Oregon State University formed a team of scientists to explore potential impacts of land uses on University lands in the Oak Creek basin. The University asked the Oak Creek Action Team to explore management issues that 1) caused severe environmental degradation, 2) were illegal, or 3) impacted the teaching and research potential of the University lands. The Action Team identified six critical issues for assessment:

Manure application and water quality
Riparian condition and water quality
Water withdrawal
Dams and barriers
Storm water drainage
Toxic waste storage and handling

Critical actions that are recommended by the Action Team are summarized in the Introduction of the report.

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