Subject: Kittitas County Atlasing south of Bald Mountain
Date: Jun 21 06:58:11 1999
From: Andy Stepniewski - steppie at wolfenet.com


Tweeters,

I spent yesterday (20 June) atlasing the "Lefthand Fork of Rock Creek
(Head) (T 17N R15E SW) for the Kittitas County project. I noted 50
species. The lower part of the block is characterized by Ponderosa pine and
interior Douglas fir forests, the upper part, mixed conifer. I could find
no access to any well-developed riparian habitats. Logging has been
moderate to intense over much of the block, but a scattered few tracts of
uncut timber remain. The largest clearcut (Plum Creek, who else?), now
regenerating and in the brush stage lies in the northeast part of the block
south of Bald Mtn.

Though only a few miles east of another block "Rock Creek," (T 17N R14E NE)
Denny Granstrand and I atlassed 12 June, it is clearly drier and hence some
"coastal" species such as Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Varied Thrush were
not detected. Others, such as Townsend's Warbler were obviously far less
numerous.

Lower elevations on gentle slopes have habitats similar to the Wenas:
Ponderosa pine and pine grass on deeper soils, threetip sage and Eriogonom
on shallow soils. Blue Grouse, White-headed Woodpecker, White-breasted
Nuthatch, and Cassin's Finch were easily found. Missing, however, were some
Wenas "specialties" such as Gray Flycatcher and Pygmy Nuthatch.

I found at least three pairs of Williamson's Sapsuckers at higher
elevations (1,350-1,400 m) in the mixed conifer forests. Cassin's Finches
were also present in forest openings there.

The Plum Creek clearcut was logged at least 10 years ago, and has a dense
gooseberry/elderberry shrub layer. Dusky Flycatcher, MacGillivray's
Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, Lincoln's and White-crowned (pugetensis) Sparrows
were all common in this area.

Large numbers of elk (20+) were seen, including calves. Their sign is
everywhere, as is typical in many mountain areas of Yakima County. It seems
the politically unpopular topic of carrying capacity needs to be addressed
for this herd. A study needs to address the obvious trampling, erosion, and
introduction of weedy plants in the Yakima Basin by thousands of elk, whose
primary function, it seems to me, is satisfying hunter demand.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA