Name: Downie River and its tributaries

Location/Access: Twenty five miles on Highway 25 off Highway 49 provides access to West Yuba. Highway 49 provides access just north of Downieville to East Yuba. Lakes Basin is accessed via the Gold Lake Highway or from Plumas Eureka State Park.

General Description: The proposed Downie River Wild and Scenic complex will contain five Wild and Scenic river segments including Empire Creek, Pauley Creek, Lavezzola Creek, Canyon Creek, and the Downie River..

Geology:

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

andesite flows, in contrast to the granitic Sierra Nevada to the south. Chimney Rock in West Yuba is representative of the volcanics. East Yuba contains glacially scoured rock with small lakes and meadows. The Lakes Basin region is very rocky and sparsely vegetated. Water erosion has not yet removed glacial polish, striations, and morainal debris.

Vegetation:

The vegetation is representative of the Sierran Forest Province and contains perhaps the largest block of late successional/old growth mixed coniferous and red fir forests in the northern Sierra. There are also many acres of hardwoods, brush, riparian vegetation, and wetlands. 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 area support outstanding wildflower displays.

Lakes and Streams:

The Lakes Basin portion of the area contains over 15 lakes and ponds and is otherwise characterized by wet meadows, cold streams, and scattered sub-alpine forest. Recreational activities in the beautiful canyon range from whitewater rafting, kayaking, and hiking. The North Fork of the Yuba River is fed by Canyon Creek that has also been recommended for Wild and Scenic. Its scenic values include steep rocky cliffs, dramatic waterfalls, deep plunge pools, and large sculptured boulders. The Downie River, Empire Creek, Lavezzola Creek and Pauley Creek are beautiful and valuable streams surrounded by old-growth and ecosystem values. They will continue to provide clear, flowing water to the North Fork of the Yuba, a clean drinking water source of the community. New York Ravine also flows to the North Fork and contains several rare caddisflies and is the type locality for Farula praelonga, to date found only there and in Big Springs on Hwy 49 (see Erman and Nagano 1992). Several other rare species found in New York Ravine tributary are Goeracea oregona, Neothremma genella, Rhyacophila spinosa, all listed as candidate species on the 1989 Federal List.

Fish:

All of the streams support self-sustaining trout populations. Lavezzola Creek is designated as a California Blue Ribbon Wild Trout Stream.

Wildlife:

The Downieville area has the highest concentration of spotted owls on the Tahoe National Forest. It provides an excellent east-west across-the-crest low-elevation corridor for pine martins, fishers, and wolverines. Other species include bald eagle, golden eagle, Northern goshawks, Blue grouse, Sierra Nevada mountain beaver, pileated woodpecker, Sierra red fox, northwestern pond turtles, and foothill yellow-legged frogs.

Multiple uses: No dams will be built on designated wild and scenic stream segments, where mountain biking is allowed. OHV use will be allowed in designated areas. The Downieville Classic is a world recognized mountain biking race that will be able to continue to generate revenues to local businesses.

Potential disturbance: OHV use is increasing in the area, and should be limited to designated trails.