Watershed Analysis is one of the key components of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy (ACS) developed for the Northwest Forest Plan (NFP) USDA-USDI 1994). The analysis is intended to facilitate watershed planning that:

a.      achieves Aquatic Conservation Strategy objectives,

b.      provides the basis for restoration and monitoring programs for terrestrial and aquatic species,

c.      provides the foundation from which Riparian Reserves can be delineated.

The Smith River Watershed analysis is the fourth watershed analysis effort completed by either the Siuslaw National Forest and/or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on federal lands in the Smith River Basin. With the completion of this analysis, most of the federal lands in the Smith River Basin, have been included in a watershed analysis.

Small acreage of BLM managed land, east of the Oxbow assessment area remain for analysis. In addition, several larger scale assessments, including the Assessment Report for Federal Lands in and Adjacent to the Oregon Coast Province and a Late-successional Reserve Assessment for the Oregon Coast Province - Southern Portion (R0267 & R0268) have been completed. The LSR Assessment for LSR # R0265 which occupies most lands involved in this analysis is currently under way.

This watershed analysis follows the outline described in the updated Federal Guide for Watershed Analysis - Ecosystem Analysis at the Watershed Scale (Version 2.2, August l995). In this document, however, reference conditions are depicted before current conditions. Natural disturbances are discussed as part of the understanding of the reference conditions section, while non-native settlement-related activities are discussed under current conditions.