1

Intensively Monitored Intensively Monitored WatershedsWatersheds

Validation Monitoring for Salmon Habitat Validation Monitoring for Salmon Habitat RestorationRestoration

2

BackgroundBackground Can habitat restoration produce Can habitat restoration produce

more fish (outmigrants)?more fish (outmigrants)?

Can we use the information Can we use the information gained to inform and guide gained to inform and guide restoration efforts?restoration efforts?

Both require that we know the Both require that we know the causal mechanisms affecting causal mechanisms affecting productionproduction

3

Strait of Juan de Fuca Skagit River Estuary

Hood Canal Complex

Lower Columbia Complex

Location of Study Watersheds

4

IMW Concept-Coho IMW Concept-Coho Steelhead Steelhead ComplexesComplexes

Long-term, paired-watershed experiments Long-term, paired-watershed experiments Fish and habitat responses to treatments are Fish and habitat responses to treatments are

conducted at multiple spatial scales from reach to conducted at multiple spatial scales from reach to whole watershedwhole watershed

Coho and steelhead Coho and steelhead Species with at least 1 year of freshwater Species with at least 1 year of freshwater

residencyresidency Often utilize small watersheds for spawning and Often utilize small watersheds for spawning and

rearingrearing Treatments can be applied to a large proportion Treatments can be applied to a large proportion

of the watershedof the watershed Increased potential to detect a response by the Increased potential to detect a response by the

fishfish

5

Design

Before-After/Control-Impact Hierarchical monitoring scheme at nested spatial

scales Reach scale-effects of specific restoration

actions Sub basin scale-effects of multiple restoration

actions Basin scale-cumulative effects of all actions

6

Reach Scale

Project-specific monitoring to determine effectiveness

Example: LWD addition Habitat effects Juvenile abundance Survival to smolting

Reference Basin

Treatment Basins

7

Sub-basin Scale

Look for opportunities to treat entire sub basins within treatment basin.

Use reference sub basin within reference basin and possibly within treatment basin.

Reference Basin

Treatment Basins

8

Basin Scale

Most appropriate scale to assess fish population response Ultimate measure of success is downstream migrant

(smolt) production Also assess habitat, juvenile (parr) and adult abundance at

this scale

Reference Basin

Treatment Basins

9

TreatmentsTreatments Wood placementWood placement Off-channel habitat creationOff-channel habitat creation Barrier removalBarrier removal Nutrient augmentation?Nutrient augmentation? Land use - urbanizationLand use - urbanization

StatusStatus

SJF complex - Habitat treatments completed SJF complex - Habitat treatments completed

in 2007in 2007 Skagit Estuary - Treatments began in 2000Skagit Estuary - Treatments began in 2000 Hood Canal (L. Anderson Cr.) - Began in 2007Hood Canal (L. Anderson Cr.) - Began in 2007 L. Columbia - Restoration plan due in 2008L. Columbia - Restoration plan due in 2008

10

Strait of Juan de FucaStrait of Juan de FucaSome Results from Years 1-4Some Results from Years 1-4

Timing of juvenile fish emigration (West Twin and East Twin)

Influence of wood addition on coho survival (West and East Twin)

11

12

13

1992 1995 1997 200330

40

50

60

70

% p

ools

Km 3.4-6.0Km 1.7-2.9

Deep Cr-LWD projectsDeep Cr-LWD projects

1992 1995 1997 200320

30

40

50

60

Wid

th:D

epth

rat

io Km 3.4-6.0Km 1.7-2.9

% pool habitatWidth:Depth

14

East Twin-LWD projectsEast Twin-LWD projects

Width:Depth % pool habitat

2002 200710

15

20

25

30

Wid

th:D

epth

rat

io

Km 1.8-2.7Km 0.0-1.8

2002 200720

30

40

50

% p

ools

15

East Twin - Cohon = 878

01020304050607080

26-A

ug

26-S

ep

26-O

ct

26-N

ov

26-D

ec

26-J

an

26-F

eb

26-M

ar

26-A

pr

26-M

ay

# o

f ta

gged f

ish

Coho Emigration from East Coho Emigration from East Twin RiverTwin River

16

Effects on Coho SurvivalEffects on Coho Survival

East Twin (Restored)

West Twin

Fall Migrants 15-28% 10-13%

Survival to Spring 6-10% 5-10%

Overall survival 23-31% 14-20%

Marine survival 5% (38 fish) 2% (12)

17

Skagit River DeltaSkagit River Delta

Hw: Restoring estuary habitat increases salmon production (connectivity and capacity)

18

1

2

3

4

5

19

TreatmentsTreatmentsSkagit EstuarySkagit Estuary Dike removal/flooding to restore Dike removal/flooding to restore

habitathabitat Connectivity-improve access to existing Connectivity-improve access to existing

habitathabitat Barrier removal-self regulating Barrier removal-self regulating

tidegates, other infrastructuretidegates, other infrastructure Long lead times and complex planning Long lead times and complex planning

required but hundreds of acres required but hundreds of acres

affected. affected.

20

Deepwater SloughDeepwater Slough (dike removal)(dike removal)

A - Blind Channel Habitat, 2001

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

March April May June July

Wild

juve

nile

Ch

inoo

k sa

lmon

per

h

ecta

re

Reference

Treatment

B - Blind Channel Habitat, 2002

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

March April May June July

Wild

juve

nile

Ch

inoo

k sa

lmon

per

h

ecta

re

Reference

Treatment

C - Blind Channel Habitat, 2003

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

March April May June July

Wild

juve

nile

Chi

nook

sal

mon

per

hect

are Reference

Treatment

E - Distributary Channel Habitat, 2002

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

Mar Apr May Jun Jul

Wild

juve

nile

Ch

inoo

k sa

lmon

per

h

ecta

re

Reference

Treatment

F - Distributary Channel Habitat, 2003

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

Mar Apr May Jun

Wild

juve

nile

Ch

inoo

k sa

lmon

per

h

ecta

re

Reference

Treatment

D - Distributary Channel Habitat, 2001

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

Mar Apr May Jun Jul

Wild

juve

nile

Chi

nook

sal

mon

per

hect

are Reference

Treatment

21

Juvenile Chinook salmon, 2004

0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.00.0 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.00.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Month

Ave

rage

fis

h pe

r se

t Upstream TG

Downstream TG

Juvenile Chinook salmon, 2005

1.00.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

0.71.7

4.7

2.1

0.7

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Month

Ave

rage

fis

h pe

r se

t Upstream TG

Downstream TG

Juvenile Chinook salmon, 2006

0.00.7

3.02.3

0.3 0.0 0.0

1.7

8.0

6.0

3.1

1.71.1

0.30.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Month

Ave

rage

fis

h pe

r se

t Upstream TG

Downstream TG

Fornsby SRTFornsby SRT(opened in 2006)(opened in 2006)

SRT

22

Habitat RestorationHabitat Restoration

Passive Restoration Active Restoration

23

24

25

26

Frequent ConcernsFrequent Concerns

When will results be available? When will results be available?

What magnitude of change can What magnitude of change can be detected?be detected?

27

Coho production Power Coho production Power AnalysisAnalysis

Post-restorationPost-restoration

Pre-restorationPre-restoration

Stavis Cr

0

2000

4000

6000

Se

ab

eck C

r

28

Seabeck Cr-Minimum Seabeck Cr-Minimum PP

29

ConclusionsConclusions

Well-designed monitoring Well-designed monitoring program can detect relatively program can detect relatively small (20-40%) increases in small (20-40%) increases in smolt productionsmolt production

Understanding why is critical to Understanding why is critical to differentiate between restoration differentiate between restoration impacts and other factorsimpacts and other factors

30

IMW Program IMW Program ParticipantsParticipants

Oversight Committee:Oversight Committee: Washington Dept. of Ecology - Washington Dept. of Ecology - Bill EhingerBill Ehinger Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife - Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife - Tim QuinnTim Quinn NOAA Fisheries (NWFSC) - NOAA Fisheries (NWFSC) - Phil Roni, Correigh Phil Roni, Correigh

GreeneGreene Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe - Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe - Mike McHenryMike McHenry Skagit River System Coop - Skagit River System Coop - Eric BeamerEric Beamer Weyerhaeuser - Weyerhaeuser - Bob BilbyBob Bilby

IMW Partners: IMW Partners:

Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board -Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board - Jeff Breckel Jeff Breckel

Hood Canal Coordinating Council -Hood Canal Coordinating Council - Richard Richard BrocksmithBrocksmith

Salmon Recovery Funding BoardSalmon Recovery Funding Board