Land Use and Fisheries History in the Lake of the Woods Watershed

Cathleen E. Rose M.S. Jesse Ford

Dept. Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR 97331-3803

Submitted to the

U.S.D.A. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region Fremont-Winema National Forests

Lakeview, Oregon

December 2004

Executive Summary Lake of the Woods, located in the Fremont-Winema National Forest, is heavily used for recreation. Recently the Fremont-Winema National Forest has been studying Lake of the Woods in an attempt to determine whether recreational use is adversely affecting water quality. This report on the land use and fisheries history of Lake of the Woods and its watershed was requested to collect existing information about the system in order to place current findings in context. Our objective in preparing this report was to locate existing documents, reports, and other literature, and to contact agencies and interview personnel in order to compile a summary of the land use and fisheries history of the Lake of the Woods watershed. We found that the recorded history of the watershed dates back over 100 years and documents both natural and anthropogenic events in the watershed. Documented natural events include fire, flooding, and forest succession. In addition, anthropogenic activities such as road-building, timber harvest, water withdrawals, fisheries management, and extensive recreational use have also impacted the watershed. All in all these anthropogenic activities at Lake of the Woods seem to be leaving a relatively small footprint on the ecosystem. However, of all the anthropogenic activities, fisheries management has probably had the largest effect. Since fish were first stocked in the lake in 1913, managers have struggled to deal with conflicting interests. While many anglers desire a salmonid fishery, the lake is relatively unproductive and lacks sufficient spawning habitat to support any large self-sustaining salmonid populations. The historic and current presence of warmwater fish populations in the lake has further compounded the management issue. While rainbow trout, tui chub, and one or more sucker species may have been native to the lake, the lake was poisoned in 1955, and no traces of the original fish populations remain. Currently, the lake is home to eleven species of fish and is stocked with brown trout, kokanee salmon, and rainbow trout annually in an attempt to provide the desired fishery. Managers continue to struggle to strike a balance between the pressures of recreational users and the resulting impacts on the watershed. .

Table of Contents Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1 Background..................................................................................................................................... 1 Research Methods........................................................................................................................... 4

U.S. Forest Service Documents .................................................................................................. 4 Internet and Library Searches ..................................................................................................... 4 Other Sources.............................................................................................................................. 4

History of the Watershed ................................................................................................................ 5 Natural History of Watershed ..................................................................................................... 5

The Forest ............................................................................................................................... 5 Fire .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Floods...................................................................................................................................... 8

Human Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 8 Development History .............................................................................................................. 8 Current Recreation and Its Impacts....................................................................................... 10 Cascade Canal and its Effects ............................................................................................... 11 Management of Great Meadow ............................................................................................ 11

History of the Lake ....................................................................................................................... 12 Early Lake Surveys ................................................................................................................... 15 Water Quality............................................................................................................................ 16

Aquatic Vegetation ............................................................................................................... 17 Shoreline Erosion.................................................................................................................. 18

Fisheries ........................................................................................................................................ 18 History....................................................................................................................................... 18

Native Species....................................................................................................................... 18 Early Management to 1940................................................................................................... 20 Management 1941-1954 ....................................................................................................... 21 Management 1955- 1990s..................................................................................................... 22

Current Status............................................................................................................................ 23 Conclusions................................................................................................................................... 24 References..................................................................................................................................... 26 Appendix A: Summary of Surveys of Lake of the Woods ........................................................... 30 Appendix B: Scientific Names of Fish Species ............................................................................ 38

Introduction

Lake of the Woods is a popular recreational lake located at an elevation of 4949 ft. in the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Klamath County, Oregon. The recreation area is used primarily in the open water season, and includes two public campgrounds and day-use areas operated by a concessionaire, a visitor center, a privately-owned resort operated under a Special Use Permit, three organizational camps, and a recreation residence tract with 218 occupied lots and 11 unoccupied lots (U.S. Forest Service 2004). Recently the Fremont-Winema National Forest has been studying Lake of the Woods in order to determine whether recreational use is adversely affecting water quality. Studies include water quality monitoring by Rogue Community College as well as a paleolimnological study (Ford 2004). The current report on land use and fisheries history of Lake of the Woods and its watershed was requested to collect existing information about this system in order to place current findings in context. Our objective in preparing this report was to locate existing documents, reports, and other literature, and to contact agencies and interview personnel in order to compile a summary of the land use and fisheries history of the Lake of the Woods watershed.

Background

This 1146-acre lake reaches a maximum depth of 55 ft. along the western shore and averages 27 ft. in depth (Johnson et al. 1985). The forested 26 mi2 Lake of the Woods watershed is drained by three main tributaries (Rainbow, Billie, and Dry creeks), all of which feed Lake of the Woods (see Figures 1 and 2). However, most of the water in the lake is supplied through groundwater seepage. Of the three tributaries, only Rainbow Creek flows year-round. The lake’s only outlet is through Great Meadow, a slough at the northeast end of the lake that drains into Seldom Creek during the wet season, ultimately reaching Upper Klamath Lake. During the dryer months, water is lost only through groundwater seepage and evaporation (Johnson et al. 1985). The watershed is covered by a dense, multi-storied mixed conifer forest, predominantly of Douglas-fir and white fir (Jahns et al. 2000). Precipitation in the watershed averages 30-44 inches annually. In 1985, the basin was composed of 90.2% forest, 0.1% range, 7.5% water, and 2.2% wetland (Johnson et al. 1985). The Lake of the Woods watershed, like much if not all of the Winema National Forest, is contained within the 20 million acres ceded by the Klamath tribes to the U.S. government in the treaty of 1864 (Wolf 2004). It first came under public management with the establishment of the Cascade Forest Reserve in 1893. Since then, the basin came under the jurisdiction of the Crater National Forest with its creation in 1908, moved to the Rogue River National Forest in 1932, and once again with the creation of the Winema National Forest in 1961 (Brown 1985a; Brown 1985b; U.S. Forest Service 1995). In 1994, the land in the Lake of the Woods basin, along with other land in the Winema National Forest, was designated as a Late Successional Reserve and is currently managed as a developed recreation area by the Fremont-Winema National Forest.

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Figure 1. Lake of the Woods watershed (provided by U.S. Forest Service, Winema National Forest).

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Figure 2. Lake of the Woods recreation area (from Johnson et al. 1985).

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Research Methods

Several kinds of materials were identified and reviewed in preparing this report.

U.S. Forest Service Documents We obtained relevant U.S. Forest Service documents from Fremont-Winema National Forest offices, the Fremont-Winema webpage and various libraries. Specific information about the lake and its management was found in Jahns et al. (2000) and U.S. Forest Service (2004). Internet and Library Searches We conducted searches of both journal article databases and the catalogs for the Oregon State University Library and the Klamath County Library to locate peer-reviewed literature, agency reports, and any other documents that might provide information about the history of the lake. A 1948 Master’s thesis by Carl Bond (Bond 1948) provided particularly valuable information on the historic condition of both the watershed and the lake fishery. Several other documents that provided both current and historical information about the lake were found through a search of the Southern Oregon Digital Archives (SODA). The websites below (Table 1) provided information on history, water quality, and lake fisheries. Table 1. Websites with relevant information.

Agency/Organization URL Center for Lakes and Reservoirs, Portland State University http://www.clr.pdx.edu/ Fremont-Winema National Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/winema/ Klamath Resource Information System http://www.krisweb.com/ The Klamath Tribes http://www.klamathtribes.org/ Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ Oregon Lakes Association http://www.oregonlakes.org/ Oregon Water Resources Department http://www.wrd.state.or.us/ Southern Oregon Digital Archives (source of federal, state, and county publications)

http://soda.sou.edu/

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/ Other Sources Other sources of information, cited throughout the report, include: 1. A meeting on 8/20/04 with Roger Smith of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

(ODFW) in Klamath Falls. This interview yielded valuable information about the lake fishery and management as well as a copy of ODFW’s management plan for the lake.

2. Communications with fisheries experts (Mark Buettner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Falls; Doug Markle, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University) in an attempt to determine what, if any, fish species were native to the lake.

3. An 8/20/04 visit to the Klamath County Museum where employees searched their records and found little about the lake history.

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4. A search of the index to the Klamath Echoes periodical, published by the Klamath County Historical Society since 1964, which yielded no references to Lake of the Woods.

5. The Klamath Falls Herald and News newspaper has been in print for many years, but has no comprehensive index to articles, only archive books for each month and year, making it impossible for us to do a comprehensive search for historic information relating to Lake of the Woods.

6. Early Game/Fish Commission reports, which were scanned for potential information on management at Lake of the Woods. These included the Oregon State Game Commission Bulletin (1946-1951), Oregon Fish Commission Contributions (1939-1965), Oregon Fish Commission Biennial Report (1917-1962), Oregon Fish Commission Research Briefs (1948-1955), Annual Reports of the Oregon State Board of Fish Commissioners (1887-1892), Biennial Report of the Oregon State Game Commission (1949-1970), and the Oregon State Game Commission Annual Report – Fishery Division (1948-1952). We were particularly interested in uncovering any information about the filling of sumps around the lake mentioned in Bond (1948). None of these reports contained information about the sumps, but did provide details on early fish management efforts.

7. A 10/7/04 interview with Dr. Carl Bond, Emeritus Professor of Fisheries (Oregon State University) to elucidate the issue of possible natural drainage or changes in lake levels of Lake of the Woods through naturally occurring “sumps”, and actions taken to ameliorate this situation.

8. Collaboration with a Klamath Falls schoolteacher, Linda Kehr, and her fifth grade class at Ferguson Elementary School on a student project to review files at the newspaper and the historical society concerning historical lake level changes at Lake of the Woods.

History of the Watershed

Natural History of Watershed The Forest Because of its location at the crest of the Cascades, the Lake of the Woods watershed receives more precipitation than nearby areas, and the forest contains a unique mix of eastside and westside vegetation (U.S. Forest Service 1995). There is little information available on the forest composition before white settlement, but the forests in the Lake of the Woods watershed were likely late successional forests with an overstory of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and an understory of white fir (Abies concolor), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), and aspen (Populus tremuloides) in the wetland margins (Jahns et al. 2000). A 1900 survey of the township containing Lake of the Woods found forests severely affected by fire, with most of the forest less than 120 years old and composed predominantly of Douglas-fir and true fir (Abies spp.) (Leiberg 1900). As of 1900, no logging had occurred in the area. Little harvesting occurred prior to the 1940s because of lack of access (U.S. Forest Service 1995). Vegetation in the Lake of the Woods watershed has likely undergone many changes in the 100 years since Leiberg’s survey. The 1962 Columbus Day storm had a major impact on the watershed, uprooting many trees. After the storm, timber was salvaged over a large area around the lake (U.S. Forest Service 1995). By the mid-1960s, access to the area was much easier, and

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over 60% of the Late Successional Reserve that contains Lake of the Woods was cut (U.S. Forest Service 1995), although it is not clear how much of that area was in the Lake of the Woods watershed. Comparison of aerial photographs from 1974 and 2000 indicate that both logging and regrowth have affected forest composition and stand age in the intervening years (Figures 3a and 3b). Jahns et al. (2000) report that, today, the forest surrounding Lake of the Woods is a dense, multi-storied mixed conifer forest composed trees from 80-800 years old with 70-80% canopy closure and a minimal shrub component. Many watersheds, including Lake of the Woods, have lost diversity and complexity since European settlement, losing ponderosa pine and being invaded by white fir, resulting in a more uniform stand (U.S. Forest Service 2004). Long-term changes to the forest have included loss of aspen as they are overtopped by conifers, together with a general conversion to true fir at the expense of lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, and Douglas-fir, all of which have had decreased regeneration associated with infestations by insects and dwarfmistletoe (Jahns et al. 2000). This is likely related to recent fire suppression. A recent forest health assessment found some insect and disease infestations in the watershed, but none were widespread. Infestations were linked to overstocking and tree age, not to direct or indirect effects of recreation at the lake, and were probably present historically as well. Today’s forest floor is intact but lacks organic litter in areas of high use and is susceptible to erosion (Jahns et al. 2000). Jahns et al. (2000) concluded that succession was the primary source of change in vegetation in the recreation area, and that recreation use had little impact on the forest.

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Figure 3a. USFS aerial photo of Lake of the Woods, taken in 1974, from Johnson et al. (1985).

Figure 3b. USGS aerial photo of Lake of the Woods watershed, taken 8/13/2000, from www.terraserver.com.

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Fire Records of fire in the area surrounding Lake of the Woods date back over 100 years to a 1900 forest survey in which the region was described as “ravaged” by fire (Leiberg 1900). Local newspapers reported big fires in the region in 1898 (Brown 1985a). Leiberg (1900) surveyed the township containing Lake of the Woods and found almost all of the forest in the region marked by fire. Except for a few areas of lava flows on the slopes of Brown Mountain, the author did not see a patch of forest larger than 20 acres that did not show marks of fire within the past 40 years. These fires varied in intensity (from areas covered with brushy regrowth to stands only partially burned), but areas to the west and south end of the lake were badly burned. Most of the forest was less than 120 years old and composed mainly of white fir in reforesting areas (Leiberg 1900). After examining the signs of past fire, Leiberg (1900) noted that earlier fires were not the same frequency or magnitude of the fires since white settlement. He concluded that from 1750-1855, fires were smaller and more frequent, perhaps some set by Native Americans to encourage the growth of desirable species such as blackberry and huckleberry. Historic fire regimes in mixed conifer zones (<5500 ft. with 25-35” of precipitation annually) such as the Lake of the Woods watershed have fire return intervals of 10-40 years with low-intensity burns (Agee 1993). Under current management, fires are very infrequent because of fuel removal and suppression. For example, there were no large fires in the watershed between 1961 and 1998 (all were suppressed at 0.25 acre or less). Ninety-five percent of those fires were human-caused (U.S. Forest Service 2004). Giller (2003) described the significant impacts of public use on forest stands at Lake of the Woods, which included: removal of hazard trees; cleanup of slash around campgrounds and cabins; and, compaction of soil and loss of vegetation in areas of heavy foot and vehicle traffic. This has resulted in a change from a fire regime of frequent fires (return interval 10-40 years) to one of infrequent fires of low intensity. Fire suppression has led to the dominance of true firs over fire-adapted species (U.S. Forest Service 1995). Floods There is little available information on the occurrence of floods in the Lake of the Woods basin. However, notes from an assistant ranger indicated that water levels were unusually high at the lake in the summer of 1936, with July water levels at record highs, and the road at the north end of the lake covered by three feet of water (Brown 1985b). The only other flood of note in the literature was the 1964 Christmas flood, when flooding occurred throughout the state. The Medford Mail Tribune reported that the Lake of the Woods Highway was closed due to high water on both December 22 and December 24 (Oregon Department of Transportation History Center website, www.odot.state.or.us/ssbpublic/BSS/rmds/hsitory.htm, accessed 7/9/2004). This flood scoured streams, uprooted riparian vegetation, caused landslides, and destroyed some developments in the area around Lake of the Woods (U.S. Forest Service 1995). Human Impacts Development History As early as the 1860s, there was primitive access to the “high country” surrounding the settled Rogue Valley via military roads, the first of which connected Jacksonville to Fort Klamath (Jahns et al. 2000). Oliver C. Applegate of Klamath Falls named Lake of the Woods for the dense stand of timber surrounding it in 1870 when he was building a road near the lake. He also

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built the first cabin at the south end of the lake that same year (McArthur 1992). In 1898, the federal government created the Cascade Forest Reserve, encompassing the Lake of the Woods recreation area, which was increasing in popularity (Jahns et al. 2000). Another early record of recreational use of the Lake of the Woods area was in an interview with Reed Charley, who was born in 1897, and his wife (Atwood 1980). Mrs. Charley remembers camping at the lake as a child (no specific date given). She said the dust was a foot deep from all of the people that came to the lake to pick huckleberries. The first cabin that the Charleys were aware of was built in “later years” at the south end of the lake, called Peck’s cabin, and inhabited year-round (Atwood 1980). In these early years, federal management focused mainly on fire prevention with the growing number of recreational users that gathered at the lake for hunting and berry picking throughout the 1910s (Jahns et al. 2000). Development around the lake began when the first residence permit for a private cabin was issued in 1916 (U.S. Forest Service 2004). It is not known whether this first cabin was the same as Peck’s cabin described in the Charley interview. In 1920, the first official public campground was surveyed, and the recreation unit had 1850 summer visitors (Brown 1985a). In 1923, survey work began on the Lake of the Woods-Fish Lake Road, and construction continued on the public campground at the lake. In 1926, a permit was issued to Lake of the Woods Recreation Company to build a resort at the lake (Brown 1985a). In 1929, a new ranger station was built to replace the cabin that had been being used for that purpose (Figures 4a and 4b). A Post Office was established near the north end of the lake in May 1930, but was only in operation for about a year before closing again (McArthur 1992). Also in 1930, a permit was issued for a Boy Scout camp at the lake (Brown 1985a). Development continued rapidly at Lake of the Woods, and by 1937, there were 120 summer homes at the lake (Brown 1985b). In 1938, electricity became available to residents for the first time (Jahns et al. 2000). The 1930s CCC projects expanded the road system around the lake (U.S. Forest Service 2004), and by 1940, roads were constructed to all summer homes (Jahns et al. 2000). As access improved, so did the number of visitors to the lake. As of 1948, the area around the lake was populated by a resort company, 200 summer homes, four organizational camps, four forest camps, one picnic area, and a ranger station (Bond 1948), and the area was classified as “highly developed” (Jahns et al. 2000). In 1951, the resort burned down and construction on a replacement began (Brown 1985b). By the early 1950s, development around the lake looked similar to today. Visitation continued to increase throughout the early 1950s, with 5000 people visiting the lake on 4th of July weekend in 1954 (Jahns et al. 2000). By 1958, Highway 140 was completed, making the lake accessible from Klamath Falls (Jahns et al. 2000).

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Figure 4a. Original Lake of the Woods Ranger Station in 1931, a cabin originally built by a trapper (from Brown 1985a).

Figure 4b. The “new” Lake of the Woods Ranger Station in 1931 (from Brown 1985b).

Current Recreation and Its Impacts Today, the area around the lake is managed for developed recreation. The recreation area includes 218 summer homes, two campgrounds containing 122 campsites, two day use areas for swimming and picnicking, a boat launch, three organizational camps, a visitors’ center (Jahns et al. 2000), and a resort in year-round operation that includes a restaurant, store, marine fueling facilities, 15 cabins, and employee housing. In 1998, there were an estimated 320,000

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recreational visitor days at the lake, and because the resort was not in full operation that year, use rates have likely increased since then (Jahns et al. 2000). Current use of recreation residences is estimated at 62,463 visitor days/year, 95% of which occurs between May 1 and October 31 (U.S. Forest Service 2004). Most summer use at the recreation area is water-related, as the lake is a popular place for water skiing, fishing, and swimming. The Great Meadows area is becoming increasingly popular for winter recreational use, primarily snowmobiling, with 53,300 people using the Sno-Park annually (U.S. Forest Service 2000). This area is also adjacent to hiking/bike trails for summer use (Jahns et al. 2000). Use of the recreation area is likely to increase in the near future, as further development is planned nearby with the construction of “Lakewoods Village” near Lake of the Woods. The site was a former homestead of Clayton Burton, who had a cabin and operated a sawmill at the site. The planned development, surrounded by old-growth forest, will have 115 lots for houses (Herald and News 2004). Development and recreational use probably contributed to increased erosion, soil compaction, and reductions in infiltration rates. Lake shoreline erosion has likely increased with the increased use of motorized watercraft in the lake (U.S. Forest Service 2000). Currently, roads make up 11% of the land base in the recreation area that includes Lake of the Woods at a density of 8 miles/square mile in the developed recreation area (U.S. Forest Service 2000). Other areas not classified as roads are compacted by parking, leading to increased runoff and a greater chance of sediment entering the lake (Jahns et al. 2000). Ford (2004) has reported significantly increased sedimentation rates since the early 1980s in two deep-water sediment cores from Lake of the Woods. The impact of recreational use and development on the areas of the Lake of the Woods watershed outside of the developed recreation area is unknown. Cascade Canal and its Effects In the early 1900s, Cascade Canal was built to carry water from Fourmile Lake to Fish Lake and ultimately to Medford (information from www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue/trails_highlakes.htm, accessed 8/11/04). The canal, operated by the Medford Irrigation District, removes water from Fourmile Creek (destined for Upper Klamath Lake) and Billie Creek (destined for Lake of the Woods), redirecting the water to Fish Lake (U.S. Forest Service 2004). The canal dewaters Billie Creek, turning it into an intermittent stream and decreasing freshwater inputs to Lake of the Woods, possibly decreasing the duration of overflow from the lake into Seldom Creek (U.S. Forest Service 2000). Management of Great Meadow Great Meadow is a natural wetland at the northeast end of Lake of the Woods. The lake’s only outlet drains into the meadow, which feeds Seldom Creek during high water and historically, served as a seepage basin throughout other parts of the year (Bond 1948). As development around the lake increased, modifications were made to the both the lake outlet and the outlet to the meadow. Jahns et al. (2000) speculate that without modifications, the meadow would have likely been an intermittent portion of the lake. However, in 1940, a dirt landing strip was built in Great Meadow (Jahns et al. 2000) by draining the area with ditches (U.S. Forest Service 2000). According to a U.S. Forest Service (1977) report, a “large ditch” lowered the water table in the meadow, drying it up and allowing the construction of the airstrip.

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The records contain conflicting reports on the exact year the Lake of the Woods dam was built. Brown (1985b) reports that), a 1000’ long, 10’ high dam was built in the late 1950s (to maintain the water level of Lake of the Woods (Brown 1985b). However, Atwood (1980) reported an interview with Carroll Brown, former supervisor of the Rogue National Forest, in which he stated that the airstrip at Lake of the Woods flooded in 1959 or 1960, and fish were stranded in the meadow. To prevent this from occurring again, a dam was built across the outlet of the lake to prevent future flooding of the meadow (Atwood 1980). Jahns et al. (2000) also reported that at about the same time the dam was built, a channel was dug through the meadow and Seldom Creek. The dam at the outflow of the lake raised the lake level by two feet and likely increased bank erosion into the lake (U.S. Forest Service 2000). In 1991, efforts began to restore the meadow by building a dam across the meadow outlet to Seldom Creek and filling old ditches to restore the intermittent wetland (Jahns et al. 2000). The airstrip in the meadow is no longer in use. The meadow is currently managed as a winter recreation area by opening the outlet pipe in late summer and allowing the meadow to drain before winter and therefore, accumulate snow. The outlet pipe is closed in spring to retain water once again (Jahns et al. 2000). Today’s wetland may be deeper than the area was in presettlement times, retaining water longer throughout the year, and draining into Seldom Creek longer into the summer months (U.S. Forest Service 2000). Some residents claimed that the dam at the outlet to the meadow has raised water levels in the lake, killing trees along the shoreline. However, Jahns et al. (2000) reported that the area was surveyed in response to these complaints, and results indicated that increased lake water levels are unlikely. Such flooding would require more water than the watershed is likely to produce and also would flood the road before the lake in times of high water. While trees around Great Meadow may have been impacted by recent changes in water levels as a result of management changes, the dam in the meadow is not likely to be responsible for flooding and tree mortality around the lake (Jahns et al. 2000).

History of the Lake

The first recorded description of Lake of the Woods itself was from a 1900 forest report when Leiberg (1900) described the lake much as it looks today: three miles long and one mile wide and receiving little runoff from the basin, as most of the water infiltrated into the underlying lava substrate. Leiberg described the lake as emptying into Klamath Lake through Seldom Creek, which was dry throughout most of the year. He speculated that the lake had an underground outlet. One point of interest is Leiberg’s description of the marshy areas surrounding the lake. He noted that the northern and southern ends of the lake contained marshes that covered approximately 1200 acres and were covered by two to four feet of water during parts of the year. Many other reports also note the extensive shoal areas in the lake, particularly at the north and south ends of the lake and in Rainbow Bay. In 1948, Bond described the lake as having shallow coves on the east side, the largest of which was Rainbow Bay. Marshes at the north and south ends of the lake and along the shore of Rainbow Bay were inundated in spring. Rainbow Creek, to the south, was the only perennial stream flowing into the lake. Billie Creek, to the north, reportedly dried up for about a month in summer, and Dry Creek, to the northwest, flowed only when fed by snowmelt. The lake outlet

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was the slough at the north end of the lake, and was active only during high water. It also may have served as a groundwater recharge area. Bond reported that some “natural sumps” on the east shore of the lake near the resort, together with a sump on the lake floor, were filled in by the U.S. Forest Service and homeowners to prevent the lake level from fluctuating 16 feet (Bond 1948). We found no other written records of a drop in the lake level in any published reports or surveys on the lake, and searches of the Klamath County Museum did not turn up any information on the topic. However, a fifth grade class at Ferguson Elementary School in Klamath Falls also assisted with the search. Their work is ongoing and includes interviewing family members, searching newspaper records, and searching records at the Klamath County Museum. They recently received information (via Kurt Schmidt of the Modoc Lumber Company) from Lawrence Shaw, founder of the Modoc Lumber Company and the Shaw Historical Library at Oregon Institute of Technology. Apparently, Mr. Shaw owned one of the first summer homes at Lake of the Woods, which was built in the 1930s. The home was on the southeast end of the lake, near the old Girl Scout Camp. He reported that in the early 1940s, the lake level fell 10 to 20 feet as the result of a hole that opened in the lake floor at the southeast end of the lake. In late summer, it was possible to drive a vehicle out on the lake bed to the site of the hole, which was thought to be a collapsed lava tube (Linda Kehr, Ferguson Elementary School, personal communication 12/13/04). Citizens filled the hole, reportedly with old mattresses (Dave Pawelek, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Fremont-Winema National Forests, personal communication 1/21/05) and the lake eventually returned to its original level (Linda Kehr, Ferguson Elementary School, personal communication 12/13/04). It is likely that this is what Bond (1948) was referring to when he mentioned the sumps on the lake floor. Bond (1948) also provided detailed descriptions of each of the lake’s tributary streams with details on the early condition and modifications made to these streams. He described Rainbow Creek as a small, perennial, spring-fed stream that entered Lake of the Woods through a slough at the south end of the lake. There were many beaver dams on the stream. A 1947 survey revealed that a culvert at the Ashland-Lake of the Woods Road caused the stream to leave its channel and flow through a “willow swamp” that spread the stream over a large area and blocked fish passage. Stream “improvement” work that same year entailed the removal of beaver dams or the cutting of channels through beaver dams, building of an earth and log dam to divert the stream back to its original channel, and clearing the channel of debris (Bond 1948). Bond (1948) described Billie Creek, which enters at the north end of the lake, as greatly variable in volume, drying up by the middle of August. Surveys in 1946 and 1947 showed a series of beaver dams blocking fish passage, with most of the water reaching the lake through seepage. Unsuccessful attempts at beaver removal were made, and 1947 improvement work included the removal or breaking up of beaver dams, which were subsequently repaired by the beaver (Bond 1948). Today, the U.S. Forest Service (2004) describes the lake as 2.75 miles long by .75 mile wide, fed by Rainbow, Dry, and Billie creeks along with groundwater seepage. Water exits the lake via evaporation and via Seldom Creek during high water. Currently, water levels in the lake reportedly fluctuate about two feet/year (Johnson et al. 1985). The lake was classified as mesotrophic by Johnson et al. (1985) and as oligotrophic to mesotrophic in studies done by John

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Salinas at Rogue Community College (U.S. Forest Service 2004). The lake bottom is composed of 52% detritus, 19% sand, 15% vegetation, 11% rock, and 3% mud (ODFW 1997). An Environmental Assessment (U.S. Forest Service 2000) provided information on the hydrologic condition of some of the streams in the Lake of the Woods watershed. Rainbow Creek is a perennial, fish-bearing stream. Forty percent of the Rainbow Creek subbasin is harvested for timber, and has a road density of three miles/square mile. Cold Creek, which joins Rainbow Creek near its mouth, was determined to be extremely sensitive to disturbance with a very high sediment supply potential and very high erosion potential. It is an intermittent fish-bearing stream. Twenty-five percent of the Cold Creek subbasin has been harvested for timber, and the subbasin has a road density of three miles/square mile. Seldom Creek, the intermittent outlet to Lake of the Woods, is also a fish-bearing stream. Seventy percent of the subbasin has been harvested for timber, and there is a road density of three miles/square mile. Seldom Creek does have some perennial tributaries, in which fish have been intermittently found, with 20% of the subbasin outside of wilderness harvested for timber (U.S. Forest Service 2000). In 1996 a U.S. Geological Survey team conducted high resolution acoustic surveys and acquired sediment cores from both Lake of the Woods and Upper Klamath Lake to characterize the sediments (Nichols and Colman 1996). Tracklines and coring locations are given in Figure 5. Very little useful data was retrieved from the seismic profiler because of the gas in the sediments (S. Colman, U. Minnesota Large Lakes Laboratory, personal communication 8/16/04). This is consistent with Ford’s experiences coring the lake, in which sediment mixing due to expansion and upward movement of gas bubbles hindered acquisition of cores with good stratigraphic integrity. Sediment cores were dated (only); dating results from core C2 (S. Colman, U. Minnesota Large Lakes Laboratory, personal communication 8/16/04) are generally consistent with Ford’s (2004) reconstruction of greatly increased sedimentation rates in recent years.

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Figure 5. Tracklines and coring locations from Nichols and Colman survey (provided by S. Colman, personal communication, 8/16/04).

Early Lake Surveys The first survey results recorded for Lake of the Woods were from 1941 when Pillow (1941) reported on Lake of the Woods as part of a survey of “problem” lakes, i.e., those with the heaviest fishing demands and those most in need of “corrective measures”. As early as 1969,

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there was a record of some eutrophication in the lake, likely from the development around the lake. However, McHugh (1972) concluded that the lake was in good condition, especially given the surrounding recreational development. Table 2 contains a summary of the results of several surveys of the lake, and Appendix A contains a compilation of all survey results found in the literature. We have not included the results of the ongoing monitoring that is part of an agreement between the Winema National Forest and Rogue Community College (RCC) in our summary of lake monitoring. This ongoing work is summarized in the Water Quality section below. Table 2. Summary of Lake of the Woods survey results (see Appendix A for complete summary).

Date Surface Area

Max. Depth

Volume (acre-feet)

Surface Temp

Surface pH

DO (surface)

Source

1941 1055 acres

55’ 36,925 72° F (high)

neutral Unpublished Game Commission lake survey reported in Bond (1948)

June 1941 1055 55’ 65° F 7.0 6.3 Pillow (1941) Aug. 1941 1055 55’ 71° F 7.2 7.7 Pillow (1941) Aug. 1946 1055 55’ 71° F Smith (1947) May 1969 1213 52’ 54° F 7.0 8.9 McHugh (1972) Sept. 1981 1146 55’ 30,500 65.8° F 7.1 Johnson et al. (1985) May 1982 1146 55’ 30,500 49.8° F 7.0 11.1 Johnson et al. (1985)

Water Quality Recent studies indicate that surface waters of Lake of the Woods currently warm to the low 70s (F) in the summertime, and that a thermocline (below which there is some oxygen depletion) generally occurs between 20 and 35 feet (ODFW 1997) or 33 to 40 feet (Johnson et al. 1985). Johnson et al. (1985) concluded that the lake was mesotrophic and may have experienced recent increases in productivity due to human activity. However, due to a lack of historic data, it has been difficult to establish the baseline condition of the lake (Jahns et al. 2000). In the last ten years, the Forest Service has taken steps to preserve water quality in Lake of the Woods. These steps include: encouraging cabin owners to install septic systems; a transportation plan to reduce road density; soil/water improvement projects to control the flow of water on roads; encouraging residents to use low phosphate detergents; educating visitors about the value of the forest floor in reducing sediment; restricting development in the Dry Creek Riparian Reserve; and, actions to reduce shoreline erosion (Jahns et al. 2000). Partly in order to track the effects of these measures, Rogue Community College has been monitoring water quality in Lake of the Woods since 1992 (Jahns et al. 2000; U.S. Forest Service 2004). Parameters monitored include: depth; temperature; pH; dissolved oxygen; conductivity; transmissivity; turbidity; Secchi depth; red, blue, green, and white light penetration; chlorophyll; 14C productivity; bacteria; phytoplankton assemblages; total phosphorus; orthophosphate; nitrate/nitrite nitrogen; silica; ammonia; alkalinity; and total dissolved solids. Survey results for 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2002 are available in Salinas (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003). Results from these studies indicate that there is slight variability in the lake’s trophic state, but that the lake is oligotrophic to mesotrophic (U.S. Forest Service 2004).

17

Although current levels of development have not severely degraded water quality, it is possible that at some point, additional development may exceed the lake’s tolerance level. The lake has low concentrations of phosphorous (P), which in and of itself is not surprising, as P is usually limiting in freshwater systems. However, it would be sensitive to increased P loadings that could affect both primary production and algal species composition. Johnson et al (1985) speculated, based on a 1971 report from BEAK Environmental Consulting, that P concentrations may have increased over baseline due to seepage from cabin septic tanks. Jahns et al. (2000) report that there is likely little bacterial contamination of the lake today, which may or may not be different than Johnson et al.’s (1985) statement based on the 1971 Beak report that fecal coliform bacteria had been detected in the lake in low numbers. The Center for Lakes and Reservoirs at Portland State University recently reported the results of their Lake Watch program, in which volunteers monitor lakes and reservoirs. They reported long-term (1988-2001) variation in the transparency of Lake of the Woods and much interannual variation in seasonal patterns of hypolimnetic oxygen depletion (Haag and Sytsma 2002). The Secchi disk data suggest decreased transparency during the early 1990s, a period for which the few data points for hypolimnetic oxygen suggest little or no oxygen depletion. The interpretation of these data is unclear, although the long-term variations in lake transparency appear to be natural occurrences (LakeWise Newsletter 1998). Comparing the results of the RCC monitoring studies to Johnson et al.’s (1985) observations is not straightforward. At a minimum, it appears that water quality may not have worsened in the past twenty years. In order to put these contemporary studies into a longer historical context, Ford (2004) studied the paleolimnological record at Lake of the Woods. Preliminary results based on analysis of a core obtained towards the north end of the lake in deep (16.2 m) water suggest very little evidence for significant changes in water quality over the past 100 years, although there is some evidence for increased sedimentation rates in the past 20 years, even allowing for some sediment focusing. To this point, development around Lake of the Woods has apparently been within the bounds that the lake can tolerate. Aquatic Vegetation There is concern about the potential introduction of exotic aquatic weeds into Lake of the Woods. Introductions of exotics could diminish water quality and water movement through the system and adversely impact fish habitat. Jahns et al. (2000) report that the area at the northwest end of the lake that is currently an area of submerged and emergent plant growth was once a wet meadow, but was inundated in 1965 when the outlet structure of the lake was raised by two feet, raising the lake level. Jahns et al. (2000) describe Lake of the Woods as being at risk for the introduction of Hydrilla, a filamentous alga transferred on the bottoms of watercraft, and Brazilian elodea; however, a 1997 survey showed no evidence of these species in the lake (Jahns et al. 2000). The Oregon Lakes Association continues to monitor the lake for exotics. An August 2002 survey of macrophyte biomass identified six macrophytes, one macroalga, and one bryophyte in the lake. Large-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton amplifolius) was the dominant species. P. robbinsii, P. gramineus, Elodea canadensis, Isoetes spp., Najas flexis, and Nitella were also found. Although this survey found no exotic species, it was designed to measure biomass; therefore, it was done in transects in specific locations in the lake ranging from 12 to 3

18

feet in depth. A lake-wide presence/absence survey for any additional species (native or exotic) was recommended (Pennington 2003). Shoreline Erosion With the recent increases in recreation use at Lake of the Woods, came increased use of motorized watercraft and the potential for increased shoreline erosion (U.S. Forest Service 2004). Jahns et al. (2000) concluded that increased recreation use, several years of above average precipitation (late 1990s), and the higher lake level that resulted from the 1960s damming of the lake outlet have most likely increased shoreline erosion. Amendments to the recent re-issuance of the recreation residence permit for Lake of the Woods require revegetation of the lake shoreline with native plants and provisions to leave felled and wind-thrown trees around the lake to protect the shoreline from erosion (U.S. Forest Service 2004).

Fisheries

History Native Species There is some question as to what, if any, fish species are native to Lake of the Woods. The earliest fish survey of the Klamath River Basin, which included descriptions of several new species, was reported in Gilbert (1898), but it did not include Lake of the Woods. The earliest records of fish in the Lake of the Woods watershed come from personal accounts, recorded in Bond (1948), dating back to the late 1800s. The first official fish survey in Lake of the Woods was conducted in 1941 (see Table 3 for results of all recorded surveys); however, because this was many years after fish stocking began, the survey provides little information on the historic condition of the lake. The lake was poisoned with rotenone in 1955 in an attempt to “restore” the lake salmonid fishery (see below for details) and that, coupled with nearly 100 years of stocking, have erased any trace of any putative original fish populations. Therefore, there are differing opinions and a lack of consensus about the fish inhabitants of the lake before human intervention. Possible native species could have been rainbow trout, and/or one or more species of sucker, and/or tui chub (see Appendix B for scientific names of fish species). Alternatively, the lake may not have supported fish when Europeans first arrived. Because of its current status as an endangered species, it is of particular interest to know whether the shortnose sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) was native to the lake. The genus Chasmistes encompasses suckers known as lake suckers, adapted for feeding on zooplankton in lakes (NRC 2004). These suckers vary in morphology and may hybridize, making identification, particularly in the early years of reconnaissance studies, difficult. Early identifications of two additional species, Chasmistes stomias and Chasmistes copei, are now generally recognized as C. brevirostris (Moyle 2002). Bond (1948) did extensive research at the lake in 1947 when the Game Commission became concerned about the declining trout fishery due to the “trash fish” species (namely anything that competed with or preyed upon salmonid species) and low food production in the lake. He interviewed several fishermen who visited the lake in the late 1880s and 1890s, well before any documented fish stocking, and based on their recollections, concluded that tui chub, rainbow trout, and several sucker species (Chasmistes sp., Catostomus

19

sp.) were likely native to the lake (Bond 1948). However, based on an assessment by Dr. R.R. Miller, Professor of Biological Science, Curator of Fishes, University of Michigan, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife concluded that it was unlikely that any sucker species were native to the lake. Dr. Miller apparently assessed Lake of the Woods and Seldom Creek, concluding that the lake’s original condition was that of a “trout lake,” and that redband trout were possibly the only species native to the lake. Miller concluded that there were probably no suckers native to Lake of the Woods, particularly not Chasmistes species, which are adapted to life in eutrophic lakes like Upper Klamath Lake. Lake of the Woods differs dramatically from the typical habitat of Chasmistes species in eutrophic lakes with suitable spawning habitat (Roger Smith, ODFW, personal communication 8/20/04). In addition, these suckers would have had no access to Lake of the Woods from Upper Klamath Lake via the steep gradient through Seldom Creek (personal communication with R.R. Miller cited in ODFW 1997). It is difficult to know how to reconcile these two lines of evidence, and there appears to be inadequate evidence to conclude whether any sucker species were native to the lake, and if not, how the suckers collected in early surveys got into the lake. Sucker specimens obtained from Lake of the Woods in 1949 and 1952 have contributed to the debate over the lake’s original ichthyofauna (Miller and Smith 1981). Andreasen (1975) concluded that these sucker specimens, were Chasmistes stomias, a synonym of C. brevirostris, which he speculates were extirpated from the lake by the 1955 rotenone treatment. Miller and Smith (1981) also commented on the specimens, which they identified as 25 shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris), 11 hybrids, and one Klamath largescale sucker (Catostomus snyderi). However Mark Buettner of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Klamath Falls (personal communication via email 9/1/04) notes that the sucker specimens described by Andreasen had large heads and small, poorly nourished bodies, suggesting that the lake was likely not providing suitable habitat for these animals to thrive. This, coupled with the lack of access via the steep gradient of Seldom Creek suggests that they may not have been native to the system. While Bond (1948) described accounts of suckers in the lake as early as the 1880s, perhaps they were transported to the lake by humans at some previous time. The National Research Council (NRC 2004) refers to the extirpated Lake of the Woods sucker species as likely shortnose sucker. Miller and Smith (1981) noted that the only indisputable Chasmistes native to the Klamath Lakes region occurred in Klamath Lake and its lower tributaries, implying that all other occurrences are open to question. They concluded that the suckers collected from Lake of the Woods before it was poisoned in 1955 were likely not native. In summary, most of the taxonomic experts agree that the samples collected from Lake of the Woods in 1949 and 1952 were likely Chasmistes brevirostris, the endangered shortnose sucker. However, whether these fish were native to the lake, and if not, how they got there is open to speculation. It is quite possible that rainbow trout were native to Lake of the Woods (Miller and Smith 1981), although again concrete evidence is lacking. The lake provides adequate habitat, but food availability and lack of spawning habitat were probably limiting factors. While there is evidence of rainbow trout in Lake of the Woods in the late 1800s, it is not clear how they got there. Again, they may have been part of a native population, or they may have been brought there by humans. The status of rainbow trout in the lake has received much less attention than that of the endangered shortnose sucker.

20

Table 3. History of fish presence in Lake of the Woods.

Bla

ck c

rapp

ie

Blu

e ch

ub

Blu

egill

sunf

ish

Bro

ok tr

out

Bro

wn

bullh

ead

Bro

wn

trout

C

arp

Cat

osto

mus

sp.

Cha

smis

tes s

p.

Chi

nook

salm

on

Coh

o sa

lmon

C

utth

roat

trou

t K

okan

ee sa

lmon

La

rgem

outh

bas

s Pu

mpk

inse

ed su

nfis

h R

ainb

ow tr

out

Smal

lmou

th b

ass

Tui c

hub

War

mou

th

Yel

low

per

ch

Source Native ?a ? ? ? Bond (1948); ODFW (1997); Miller and

Smith (1981); Moyle (2002); NRC (2004)1941 x x x x x x x x x x xb x Pillow (1941) 1947 x x x x xc x xd xe x x x x x x x x Bond (1948) 1955f x x x Oregon State Game Commission (1956);

ODFW (1997) 1970 x x x x Thompson et al. (1970) 2004 x x x x x x x x x x x ODFW (1997); Roger Smith, ODFW,

personal communication aMost likely Chasmistes native is shortnose sucker (C. brevirostris) bPillow did not identify lake chubs present to species, but they were likely tui chub (Siphateles bicolor bicolor) cNote: there are no records of brown trout stocking prior to this survey, but a ten-year old individual was found dIdentified as Catostomus snyderi and another unknown Catostomus species eIdentified as Chasmistes stomias and Chasmistes copei fLake poisoned with rotenone in 1955 and restocked with the species listed Early Management to 1940 The first record of fish stocking in Lake of the Woods was in 1913 when citizens planted rainbow trout, provided from the Spencer Creek hatchery by the Oregon State Fish and Game Commission (ODFW 1997). Since that time, the fish community has undergone many changes as the result of the changing desires of anglers and shifting management philosophies (see Table 3). There was reportedly good fishing for rainbow trout in the years following the original rainbow trout introduction (Oregon State Game Commission 1947). However, at the request of Lake of the Woods homeowners in 1922, the Oregon State Game Commission planted warmwater fish, including largemouth bass, warmouth, black crappie, bluegill and pumpkinseed sunfish, brown bullheads, yellow perch, carp, and perhaps suckers, seined from Sauvies Island in the Columbia River (Bond 1948; ODFW 1997). Yellow perch quickly became the dominant species in the lake, feeding on caddis fly larvae, dipterans, and, as adults, other fish. The perch probably competed with trout for both food and habitat, perhaps forcing trout from the areas with abundant aquatic vegetation and higher food production (Bond 1948). Between 1925 and 1935, brook trout, cutthroat trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon, and steelhead were also stocked (Bond 1948; ODFW 1997). In 1935, largemouth bass were reintroduced, as a population was apparently not established after the 1922 introduction. Managers were already beginning to understand that competition, predation by other species, lack of spawning areas, and angling pressure, combined to limit the success of the salmonid populations (Bond 1948). In the early years, there was evidence of some natural production of rainbow trout, as anglers reported catching large fish in Rainbow Creek in 1938, which likely entered the creek to spawn (Bond 1948). Although rainbow trout were not stocked in the lake

21

between 1916 and 1946, there was reportedly good fishing for this species in the lake until around 1938 (Bond 1948). Management 1941-1954 As the warmwater fish populations continued to flourish, the Game Commission began efforts to control these populations by spot treatments of poison in 1942 (Oregon State Game Commission 1947). In 1946, the Game Commission again attempted to control the “trash fish”, predominantly yellow perch and carp, now well established in the lake (Bond 1948) in an effort to make the lake more suitable for trout (Oregon State Game Commission 1947). Efforts to control perch included poisoning on the spawning beds, gill netting, and egg removal from the shallows after spawning (Oregon State Game Commission 1947; Bond 1948). In 1946, many fish were trapped in a slough and poisoned. Despite these efforts, a large warmwater fish population remained in the lake (Oregon State Game Commission 1947). By 1947, largemouth bass were also unfavorably affecting the salmonid populations of Lake of the Woods, preying on trout and competing with them for food. Therefore, attempts were made to control the population by poisoning fry and fingerlings in the shallows (Bond 1948). Control efforts also targeted other species that potentially competed with trout, including warmouth, several species of sunfish, suckers, and carp (Bond 1948). Using traps and poison, the Game Commission continued their attempts to control the population of stunted yellow perch that had apparently exceeded the lake’s carrying capacity and lacked a sufficient food source. Anglers caught an estimated 3394 perch in 1947 (Bond 1948), but it did not appear to affect the population. In 1947, over 2000 pounds of fish including carp, chub, bullheads, bass, and perch, were removed from the lake (Bond 1948). Tui chub, which may or may not have been native to the lake, were also subject to both direct and indirect control efforts, including the trapping and removal of an estimated 725 pounds of fish in the summer of 1947 (Bond 1948). Catfish were incidentally affected by poisoning efforts in 1947 despite there being a popular fishery for them. The rainbow trout population, popular with anglers, was in serious decline by 1947. Despite annual plants of fry in the lake (almost one million fingerlings between 1926 and 1954), catches were less frequent and fish smaller than reported in earlier surveys (Bond 1948; ODFW 1997). Prior to stocking in 1947 only a few fingerlings were observed in the tributaries with one adult reported in the lake. Angler pressure, predation and competition from other species, and stranding in streams as water levels fell after spring floods were cited as likely factors for the decline. Lack of suitable spawning habitat did not allow much natural production (Bond 1948). Similar to conditions today, there was very little stream area accessible to fish. The three tributaries to the lake are short, some are ephemeral or dewatered for irrigation, leaving little habitat with suitable spawning gravel. In addition to a physical lack of habitat, Bond (1948) described likely high juvenile mortality as fingerlings were stranded in drying streams. Between 1949 and 1954, a total of 80,000 legal-sized rainbow trout were stocked (ODFW 1997). Most of the other stocked salmonid species did not fare much better. Brook trout were rarely seen in the lake in 1947, although they were abundant in Rainbow Creek (Bond 1948). However, coho salmon were present up to four years after stocking in 1943. They traveled in schools and fed on fish and insects in deep water in warmer months and at the surface near dark. Chinook

22

salmon were also planted in the early 1940s (Bond 1948). Cutthroat trout, planted in 1940, had disappeared from the lake by 1947 (Bond 1948). Another part of the management effort to improve fish habitat in 1947 included attempts to improve stream habitat and passage in the tributaries to Lake of the Woods. Brook trout and a few rainbow trout were present in Rainbow Creek, and aquatic insects, a primary food source, abundant. Although the creek provided little spawning habitat for trout, managers found that, in some years, beaver dams blocked fish passage in the creek. Therefore, as part of “stream improvement” work, managers removed or cut beaver dams and built a small earth and log dam to divert the stream into what was deemed to be its original channel. The stream channel was also cleared of debris in some areas (Bond 1948). Similar efforts were undertaken on Billie Creek. The creek dried in the summertime, and surveyors found rainbow trout fingerlings trapped in potholes in a dewatered section of the creek. These fish were moved into the lake. Attempts to remove beaver from the creek to improve fish passage were unsuccessful (Bond 1948). In 1948, the Game Commission continued its warmwater fish control efforts by removing perch eggs from the lake after spawning and operating a fish trap at the entrance to the slough at the north end of the lake. Removals were large: 100 adult perch and millions of fry, as well as 2585 adult suckers and many sucker fry, 1311 adult catfish, 2000 adult carp and millions of fry, thousands of chub fry, and 50 adult bass and many fry (Oregon State Game Commission 1949). Similar efforts continued through 1949. That year, the Game Commission first applied rotenone to the lake, selectively treating the east shore of the lake where suckers were spawning. This treatment killed more than 2000 pounds of fish. Slough areas frequented by perch, catfish, and carp fry were also poisoned, eliminating hundreds of thousands of fry and three or four tons of adults (Oregon State Game Commission 1950). Similar management activities continued through 1952, including local applications of rotenone and trapping operations at the mouth of the slough (Oregon State Game Commission 1953). Management 1955- 1990s Despite the many control efforts, warmwater fish continued to proliferate, inhibiting trout management. Therefore, the entire lake was poisoned with rotenone in the fall of 1955, resulting in a complete fish kill (Oregon State Game Commission 1956). The lake was then restocked with rainbow trout, brook trout, and kokanee salmon (ODFW 1997), and angling improved temporarily (Oregon State Game Commission 1956). From 1956 to 1961, 1.25 million fingerling and legal-sized rainbow trout were released into Lake of the Woods to rebuild the population (ODFW 1997). Rainbow trout fingerlings continued to be released annually from 1962 to 1986. In addition, ODFW began releasing larger fish in 1974. Since 1988, both fingerlings and larger brood fish have been stocked annually (ODFW 1997). Rainbow trout from five different stocks have been released in the lake since the 1955 treatment, but there has been little evidence of natural reproduction of any of these stocks. Since the late 1970s, surveys show poor angler success for rainbow trout, likely due to poor survival of the stocked fish due to predation on stocked fingerlings. Slightly greater angling success has been reported on the larger sizes of stocked rainbows. However, trout anglers continue to meet with little success, and survival of stocked fish is low (ODFW 1997).

23

Brook trout fingerlings were stocked in the lake off and on from the late 50s to the early 1990s, when brook trout stocking was discontinued due to budget constraints. Even after stocking ended, small populations persisted in Rainbow and Billie creeks. Brook trout are known to spawn in Rainbow Creek, but the few fish that enter lake are rarely caught by anglers (ODFW 1997). In 1958, the Game Commission began stocking kokanee in Lake of the Woods. This was popular with anglers and there was an ice fishery for kokanee in the 1970s. ODFW discontinued stocking in the late 1970s because kokanee were spawning naturally. However, natural production could not sustain the levels needed for a fishery. Stocking was resumed in 1986 and continues today (ODFW 1997). Over the several decades since 1955, the fishery has changed as various species have made their way back into Lake of the Woods. Brown bullhead catfish, returned to the lake in 1961, due to illegal releases. They reproduced successfully, and the lake became home to an abundance of small bullheads. As the fish continued to successfully reproduce, the average size of fish doubled by 1994. However, recent surveys indicate that there is little evidence that brown bullheads are still reproducing successfully. Fewer fish are being caught by anglers and only older fish are present (ODFW 1997). Two chub species (blue and tui chubs) first reappeared in 1973, likely an unintentional release from bait fishing (ODFW 1997). Largemouth bass also returned to the lake through illegal introductions, and became established by 1984 (ODFW 1997). Although the bass fishery was popular, Lake of the Woods provides only marginal habitat for bass. The high elevation and cool temperatures limit growth and increase natural mortality. The lake provides abundant spawning habitat, but only limited cover in the form of aquatic vegetation and wood along lake margins. More cover was added in the form of root wads in 1993 (U.S. Forest Service 2004) to encourage bass, as they are thought to help control crappie, perch, bullhead, and chub populations (although they also feed on trout) (ODFW 1997). In 1986, ODFW began stocking brown trout, which seemed to survive better than rainbow trout and could potentially help control warmwater fish populations; stocking has continued through the present. Creel surveys indicated that there was initial success in brown trout angling (ODFW 1997). By 1988, black crappie were discovered in the lake for the first time since 1955. However, the population remains small, perhaps kept in check by the largemouth bass population (ODFW 1997). In 1994, yellow perch were seen for the first time since they were eradicated in 1955 (ODFW 1997). Since then their numbers have skyrocketed. Although they can successfully spawn in the cool water of Lake of the Woods, the population appears stunted, much as it was more than five decades ago. Current Status As early as 1941, managers were aware that Lake of the Woods had limited capacity to support fish populations because of low food production. Pillow (1941) reported survey results that showed below average food production. Another survey five years later (reported in Bond 1948), supported those findings, noting that fish food was scarce in the lake and temperatures were low for warmwater fish. In 1947, Bond’s (1948) more extensive survey of the lake bottom showed that silty areas with the most aquatic vegetation had the greatest food production, which was predominantly midge larvae, but even in these areas, production was low. Rocky bottom areas produced more mayflies and caddis flies and trout were observed to be feeding in these areas.

24

Today, ODFW reports that the lake remains relatively unproductive for both benthic invertebrates and zooplankton (ODFW 1997). Reporting on the work of John Salinas at Rogue Community College, the U.S. Forest Service (2004) noted that food production is low to moderate in Lake of the Woods. There is low zooplankton production, and there has been a general decrease zooplankton productivity since 1993. The fish species inhabiting the lake in 2004 are shown on Table 3. Although Klamath speckled dace were found during surveys in the 1970s and early 1980s, they have not been seen in trap net surveys since 1981, likely the result of predation by largemouth bass (ODFW 1997). Today the lake is once again home to a large yellow perch population that managers struggle to control. Few species prey on the spiny yellow perch once they are more than a few inches long (Roger Smith, ODFW, Klamath Falls, personal communication), although bass may prey on very young perch. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife currently manages the Lake of the Woods fishery for natural production, augmented by stocking of kokanee, brown trout, and redband trout from the Williamson River broodstock (ODFW 1997). Brook trout, black crappie, brown bullheads, yellow perch, and largemouth bass are managed for natural production (ODFW 1997). However, despite stocking of catchable sized fish, trout anglers continue to meet with only marginal success. In recent years, bass fishing has also declined, apparently due to a lack of interest (Roger Smith, ODFW, Klamath Falls, personal communication). Factors contributing to low fishing success include both the generally oligotrophic nature of the lake (limited food production) coupled with limited salmonid natural reproduction due to limited spawning habitat. For example, there is little habitat for rainbow trout spawning, there is no evidence that brown trout are spawning, and although kokanee may spawn in the lake, the population needs to be maintained by stocking (U.S. Forest Service 2004). Both competition and predation play important roles. For all of these reasons, angling success has been sporadic. Finally, despite the possibility that the endangered shortnose sucker was native to Lake of the Woods, as well as to other parts of the Klamath Basin, this lake is not included in the critical habitat listing for the species. Despite the fact that no suckers are present in the lake today, Lake of the Woods does play a role in sucker recovery, providing cool water (via Seldom Creek) to critical habitat of suckers in Upper Klamath Lake (Jahns et al. 2000). Lake of the Woods has also been identified as a potential sucker repository if temporary refuges are needed for sucker recovery due to habitat degradation elsewhere (Jahns et al. 2000; NRC 2004). Reintroduction of suckers, which falls below other recovery actions on a list of recommendations, would involve removing all fish from the lake and reintroducing shortnose suckers to the system (NRC 2004).

Conclusions

Lake of the Woods has a century-long history of recreational use. This use has had the potential to impact water quality, forests, and soil condition. Despite high levels of use, it appears that the current levels are within the bounds that the lake can tolerate. However, future increases in use may stress the ecosystem beyond its tolerance level. Recent studies showing increases in shoreline erosion and sedimentation rates give us a glimpse of the potential effects of unchecked

25

increases in use. Managers need to continue to strive for a balance between the needs of recreational users and actions to preserve water quality. Years of intensive management appear to have had more of an effect on the lake’s fish populations than the other factors described above. Although there is not enough evidence to determine which, if any fish species were native to the lake, introductions and poisoning of the lake have removed all traces of any native fish populations. Although Lake of the Woods is a popular angling destination, it is a high-elevation, low productivity lake, unlikely to support large self-sustaining fish populations. Managers need to balance the desires of recreational users with the costs of maintaining the desired fishery.

26

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Society Press, Portland, OR. 957 pp. McHugh, R.A. 1972. An interim study of some physical, chemical, and biological properties of

selected Oregon lakes. Oregon State Department of Water Quality, Portland, OR. 109 pp. Miller, R.R. and G.R. Smith. 1981. Distribution and evolution of Chasmistes (Pisces:

Catostomidae) in western North America. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology University of Michigan 696:1-46.

Moyle, P.B. 2002. Inland fishes of California: Revised and expanded. University of California

Press, Berkeley. 502 pp. National Research Council (NRC). 2004. Endangered and threatened fishes in the Klamath River

Basin: Causes of decline and strategies for recovery. The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C. 397 pp.

Nichols, D.R. and S. Colman. 1996. High resolution acoustic survey techniques and coring

operations Upper Klamath Lake and Lake of the Woods, Oregon. Open-File Report 96-734. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. 7 pp.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). 1997. Klamath River Basin, Oregon Fish

Management Plan. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Klamath Falls, OR. Oregon State Game Commission. 1947. Rough fish control at Lake of the Woods. Oregon State

Game Commission Bulletin, June 1947: p. 3. Oregon State Game Commission. 1949. Annual Report Fishery Division, 1948. Oregon State

Game Commission, Portland, OR, p. 34. Oregon State Game Commission. 1950. Annual Report Fishery Division, 1949. Oregon State

Game Commission, Portland, OR, pp. 80-82. Oregon State Game Commission. 1951. Annual Report Fishery Division, 1950. Oregon State

Game Commission, Portland, OR, pp. 82-83.

28

Oregon State Game Commission. 1953. Annual Report Fishery Division, 1952. Oregon State Game Commission, Portland, OR, p. 177.

Oregon State Game Commission. 1956. 1955-1956 Biennial Report. Oregon State Game

Commission, Portland, OR, p. 28. Pennington, T. 2003. 2002 aquatic vegetation survey in Lake of the Woods, Oregon. In: Salinas,

J. 2003. A Cascade Lakes limnological survey summer, 2002. Report CAS-0303. Produced for the Winema National Forest. 8 pp.

Pillow, B. 1941. Oregon State Game Commission: Lake Survey Report No. 2. Oregon State

Game Commission, Portland, OR. Unpaginated. Salinas, J. 1994. Lake of the Woods, The Winema National Forest: A limnological survey, 1992.

Report CAS-9401. Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR. Salinas, J. 1999. A Cascade lakes limnological survey in the Umpqua and Winema National

Forests, 1998. Report CAS-9901. Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR. Salinas, J. 2000. A Cascade lakes limnological survey in the Rogue River, Umpqua and Winema

National Forests, 1999. Report CAS-0001. Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR. Salinas, J. 2001. A Cascade lakes limnological survey in the Umpqua and Winema National

Forests, 2000. Report CAS-0101. Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR. Salinas, J. 2003. A Cascade lakes limnological survey in the Winema National Forest, 2002.

Report CAS-0302. Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR. Smith, F.W., Jr. 1947. Oregon State Game Commission: Cascade Lakes Survey Report – 1946.

Oregon State Game Commission, Portland, OR. Unpaginated. Thompson, K.E., J.E. Lauman, J.D. Fortune, Jr. 1970. Fish and wildlife resources of the Klamath

Basin, Oregon, and their water requirements. Oregon State Game Commission, Portland, OR. 56 pp.

U.S. Forest Service. 1977. Draft environmental statement: McLoughlin-Klamath Planning Unit

land use plan. USDA-FS-R6-DES 77-9. U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 78 pp.

U.S. Forest Service. 1995. Late successional reserve assessment for #R0227 (eastern half),

#R0228, and #R0229 on the Klamath Ranger District Winema National Forest. U.S. Forest Service, Klamath Ranger District Winema National Forest, Klamath Falls, OR. 55 pp.

U.S. Forest Service. 2000. Seldom/Varney Environmental Assessment. U.S. Forest Service,

Klamath Ranger District Winema National Forest, Klamath Falls, Oregon. 81 pp.

29

U.S. Forest Service. 2004. Environmental Assessment: Lake of the Woods recreation residence

permit re-issuance. U.S. Forest Service, Klamath Ranger District Winema National Forest, Klamath Falls, OR. 89 pp.

Wolf, E.C. 2004. Klamath Heartlands: A guide to the Klamath Reservation Forest Plan. Ecotrust,

Portland, OR.

30

Appendix A: Summary of Surveys of Lake of the Woods*

Reference Date of survey

Location Surface Temp

Temp 5' Depth

Temp 10' Depth

Temp 15' Depth

Temp 20' Depth

Pillow 1941 6/13/1941 300' off west shore 1 mile from south end of lake 65° F 64° F 63° F 62° F Pillow 1941 8/10/1941 300' off west shore 1 mile from south end of lake 71° F 70° F 71° F Smith 1947 8/2/1946 Center of lake north & south; 50 yd. off west shore 71° F 70° F 69.5° F 68.5° F 68.5° F Bond 1948 4/1947 Average surface temperature at resort dock 46° F Bond 1948 5/1947 Average surface temperature at resort dock 57.4° F Bond 1948 6/1947 Average surface temperature at resort dock 59.2° F Bond 1948 7/1947 Average surface temperature at resort dock 66.4° F Bond 1948 8/1947 Average surface temperature at resort dock 66.4° F Bond 1948 9/1947 Average surface temperature at resort dock 63.9° F McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Off Rainbow Creek 54° F McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Off Aspen Campground 54° F McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Resort McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Rainbow Bay McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Center of Lake 54° F McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Summer homes (north) McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Summer homes (south) McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Westside summer homes (north) McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Westside summer homes (south) McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Boy Scout Camp McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 Ranger Station McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 Near [Billie] Cr. outlet 64° F McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 Opposite Rainbow Creek outlet 66° F Johnson et al. 1985 9/11/1981 Lake surface 65.8° F Johnson et al. 1985 5/19/1982 Lake surface 49.8° F Johnson et al. 1985 8/12/1982 Lake surface Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Marina transect Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Girl Scout Camp Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Boy Scout Camp

* Note: This appendix does not contain data from the ongoing research that is part of the agreement between the Winema National Forest and Rogue Community College. These data are available in several reports (Salinas 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003).

31

Appendix A: Summary of Surveys of Lake of the Woods (cont.)

Reference Date of survey

Temp 25' Depth

Temp 30' Depth

Temp 35' Depth

Temp 40' Depth

Temp 45' Depth

Temp 50' Depth

Temp 55' Depth

Surface pH

pH 25'

pH 40'

Pillow 1941 6/13/1941 58° F 56° F 52° F 51° F 50° F 49° F 49° F 7 6.9 Pillow 1941 8/10/1941 68° F 58° F 54° F 53° F 7.2 7.1 Smith 1947 8/2/1946 66.5° F 66.5° F 53.5° F 50.5° F 48° F 48° F Bond 1948 4/1947 Bond 1948 5/1947 Bond 1948 6/1947 Bond 1948 7/1947 Bond 1948 8/1947 Bond 1948 9/1947 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 6.8 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 7.2 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 7 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 7.2 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 7.2 Johnson et al. 1985 9/11/1981 7.1 Johnson et al. 1985 5/19/1982 7 Johnson et al. 1985 8/12/1982 7.4 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002

32

Appendix A: Summary of Surveys of Lake of the Woods (cont.)

Reference Date of survey

pH 55'

Transpar- ency (ft.)

Turb- idity

P mg/L

PO4 Chlorophyll a ug/L

Alkalinity mg/L

Hard-ness

Cond-uctivity

Surface DO

Pillow 1941 6/13/1941 6.9 15 6.3 Pillow 1941 8/10/1941 6.2 11 7.7 Smith 1947 8/2/1946 Bond 1948 4/1947 Bond 1948 5/1947 Bond 1948 6/1947 Bond 1948 7/1947 Bond 1948 8/1947 Bond 1948 9/1947 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 5 0.03 12 9.2 26 9 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 5 0.03 11.9 9.6 26 8.8 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 8.9 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 0 <.01 12 17.5 26 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 1 <.01 12 12 27 Johnson et al. 1985 9/11/1981 27.6 0.017 8.8 8 27 Johnson et al. 1985 5/19/1982 13.8 0.013 1.4 6 26 11.1 Johnson et al. 1985 8/12/1982 27.9 0.02 0.8 11 27 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002

33

Appendix A: Summary of Surveys of Lake of the Woods (cont.)

Reference Date of survey

DO 25'

DO 30'

DO 40'

DO 49'

DO 55'

Na mg/L

K mg/L

Ca mg/L

Mg mg/L

Cl mg/L

SO4 mg/L

NH3-N

NO3-N

Total Coliform

Pillow 1941 6/13/1941 9 7.4 Pillow 1941 8/10/1941 9 1.7 Smith 1947 8/2/1946 8.8 5.1 Bond 1948 4/1947 Bond 1948 5/1947 Bond 1948 6/1947 Bond 1948 7/1947 Bond 1948 8/1947 Bond 1948 9/1947 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 0.7 1.1 0.17 0.02 23 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 1.1 <0.2 0.11 0.03 6 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 4.6 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 6 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 6 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 1.3 1 0.05 0.13 60 (?) McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 1.1 1 0.03 0.06 <45 (?) Johnson et al. 1985 9/11/1981 0.2 2.8 1.6 1 0.2 Johnson et al. 1985 5/19/1982 1.3 0.2 2.2 1.3 0.8 <0.1 Johnson et al. 1985 8/12/1982 1.4 0.2 2.6 1.2 1 <0.1 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002

34

Appendix A: Summary of Surveys of Lake of the Woods (cont.)

Reference Date of survey

Fecal Coliform

Total Solids

Susp. Solids

Synedra radians (#/mL)

Anabaena sp. (#/mL)

Achnanthes minutissima (#/mL)

Ankistrodesmus falcatus (#/mL)

Pillow 1941 6/13/1941 Pillow 1941 8/10/1941 Smith 1947 8/2/1946 Bond 1948 4/1947 Bond 1948 5/1947 Bond 1948 6/1947 Bond 1948 7/1947 Bond 1948 8/1947 Bond 1948 9/1947 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 21 2 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 18 2.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 <4.5 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 <45 (?) 34 3 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 <45 (?) 33 3 Johnson et al. 1985 9/11/1981 19 8 5 4 Johnson et al. 1985 5/19/1982 195 75 Johnson et al. 1985 8/12/1982 3.3 8.8 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002

35

Appendix A: Summary of Surveys of Lake of the Woods (cont.)

Reference Date of survey

Fragilaria construens (#/mL)

other (#/mL)

Asterionella formosa

Dinobryon sp. Crucigenia quadrata

Melosira granulata

Tabellaria fenestrata

Pillow 1941 6/13/1941 Pillow 1941 8/10/1941 Smith 1947 8/2/1946 Bond 1948 4/1947 Bond 1948 5/1947 Bond 1948 6/1947 Bond 1948 7/1947 Bond 1948 8/1947 Bond 1948 9/1947 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 p p p p McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 p p p McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 Johnson et al. 1985 9/11/1981 4 17 Johnson et al. 1985 5/19/1982 27 25 11 Johnson et al. 1985 8/12/1982 1.9 7.2 1.4 2.3 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002

36

Appendix A: Summary of Surveys of Lake of the Woods (cont.)

Reference Date of survey

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae

Anabaena circinalis

Anabaena planktonica

Bosmina longirostris

Daphnia rosea

Keratella cochlearis

Staurastrum arctiscon

Potamogeton amplifolius

Pillow 1941 6/13/1941 Pillow 1941 8/10/1941 Smith 1947 8/2/1946 Bond 1948 4/1947 Bond 1948 5/1947 Bond 1948 6/1947 Bond 1948 7/1947 Bond 1948 8/1947 Bond 1948 9/1947 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 p p p p p McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 p p p p p McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 Johnson et al. 1985 9/11/1981 Johnson et al. 1985 5/19/1982 Johnson et al. 1985 8/12/1982 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 p Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 p Pennington 2002 8/21/2002

37

Appendix A: Summary of Surveys of Lake of the Woods (cont.)

Reference Date of survey

Potamogeton robbinsii

Elodea canadensis

Bryophyta Isoetes spp. Potamogeton gramineus

Najas flexilis

Nitella spp.

Pillow 1941 6/13/1941 Pillow 1941 8/10/1941 Smith 1947 8/2/1946 Bond 1948 4/1947 Bond 1948 5/1947 Bond 1948 6/1947 Bond 1948 7/1947 Bond 1948 8/1947 Bond 1948 9/1947 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 5/27/1969 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 McHugh 1972 9/3/1969 Johnson et al. 1985 9/11/1981 Johnson et al. 1985 5/19/1982 Johnson et al. 1985 8/12/1982 Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 p p p Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 p p p p p Pennington 2002 8/21/2002 p p p p p p

38

Appendix B: Scientific Names of Fish Species

Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) Blue chub (Gila coerulea) Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) Brown trout (Salmo trutta) Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Catostomus sp. Chasmistes sp. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) Klamath largescale sucker (Catostomus snyderi) Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) Lost River sucker (Delistes luxatus) Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Shortnose sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) Tui chub (Siphateles bicolor bicolor) Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) Yellow perch (Perca flavescens)