Report on Potential

   Castle Peak Wilderness

 

 

 


 

 

 


Upper Independence Creek flowing into Independence Lake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by Yuba River Wild Lands Campaign

December 6, 2000

Name: Castle Peak roadless (Rare I - no Rare II code number)

 

Acreage: 17,253 acres (Rare II)

 

Current Status: not recommended for wilderness in Rare I

 

Location/Access: Highway 80 at Boreal Ridge exit provides access to the southern boundary of Castle Peak three miles north of Highway 80 via Forest Road 80-50.

 

General Description: The Castle Peak Roadless Area has been considerably reduced in area by logging and roads on checkerboard private lands within the former boundary. The remaining 12,800-acre roadless area has outstanding scenery and remarkably diverse fauna and flora.  In addition, it is a very popular year-round recreation area that still offers considerable opportunities for solitude. The Castle Peak roadless area is located along the crest of the Sierra Nevada between Castle Peak on the south and Mount Lola on the north. Castle Peak, Mount Lola, and Basin Peak, all over 9000 feet, are the highest points in the area.

 

Geology:

The geology of the Castle Peak region is dominated by volcanic rock, mostly derived from

andesite flows, in contrast to the granitic Sierra Nevada to the south.  Turreted Castle Peak is a remnant of a partially eroded Pliocene volcano.  The Castle Peak region has been extensively reshaped by glaciers from ice ages ending 10,000 years ago. Water erosion has not yet removed glacial polish, striations, and morainal debris.

 

Vegetation:

The area is characterized by steep rocky terrain, shallow soils, and scattered conifer stands. Conifer species include red and white fir, Jeffrey, lodgepole, and western white pine, and mountain hemlock. Aspen, mountain alder, and willows occur along some streams. The volcanic soils of the Castle Peak area support outstanding wildflower displays. The lush streambank areas, seeps, and stringer meadows on the eastern slopes of Castle and Basin Peaks are particularly spectacular.  A number of relatively rare or sensitive plants occur within the roadless area: Silene invisa, Eriogonum umbellatum var. torreyanum, Drosera anglica, Claytonia megarhiza, Lewisia longipetala, Erigeron miser, and Ivesia sericolenca.  Scheuchzeria palustris var. americana, Vaccinium coccinium, and three Ivesia species occur near the roadless area and may occur within the area. Also the Perazzo Canyon drainage contains an unusual diversity of species including mountain maple, ash, dogwood, hemlock and numerous succulents and wildflowers.

 

 

 

Lakes and Streams:

Five alpine lakes lie entirely within the roadless area: Warren, Paradise, Devils Oven, Summit, and Sand Ridge Lakes. The roadless area is drained on the north by Perazzo, Coldstream, and Independence Creeks, all of which are tributary to the Little Truckee River, on the east by the North and South Forks of Prosser Creek, which empties into the Truckee River, and on the west by White Rock, North, Lower Castle, and upper Castle Creeks, all tributary to the South Yuba River. The roadless area is an important source of high-quality water for users in Placer, Nevada, Sierra, and eastern Plumas Counties, and users in western Nevada.

 

Fish:

All of the streams support self-sustaining trout populations. The five alpine lakes all support trout fisheries maintained by periodic aerial planting of fingerlings. Independence Lake is unique in that it is the only lake in California still supporting an indigenous naturally reproducing population of Lahontan cutthroat trout, a federally listed threatened species. This population is maintained by natural spawning in the lower 0.7 miles of Upper Independence Creek, inside the roadless area. During the spawning season, black bear and southern bald eagle can be observed feeding on the relatively abundant trout.

Upper Independence Creek supports a nearly complete assemblage of fish native to the Lahontan Basin. The Upper Independence Creek drainage contains a diverse assemblage of wet meadows, aspen groves, mixed conifer forest, and willow thickets, making it the most productive and varied wildlife habitat within the roadless area.

 

Wildlife:

The Castle Peak roadless area and adjacent lands support a surprising diversity of wildlife for a subalpine area. A number of relatively rare or sensitive species, including California wolverine, pine marten, willow flycatcher, Southern spotted owl, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, golden eagle, and osprey have been observed in the area.  Northern goshawks, Sierra Nevada mountain beaver, pileated woodpecker, Sierra red fox, and Pacific fisher are believed to still occur in the region.


 


                     Lahontan CutthroatTrout                                                                                                    ORV damage

 

 

Potential disturbance: The northwestern portion of the Castle Peak proposal (about 7,000 acres) is in the Sierraville Ranger District, and is therefore to be managed in the near future as directed by the Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act.  The Quincy Library Group Final EIS allocates some of this area to "deferred" status (areas of special concern) and some to "offbase" (backcountry) status. These designations expire in 2004.