Backwater Ripples - Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group

LCFEG Winter, 2010 Backwater Ripples Water Under the Bridge & Rapids Ahead 2010 was a busy year for LCFEG and we could not have accomplished so much work without our great staff, board of directors, volunteers and partners! Please take the time to read through some of the articles for more detail on LCFEG accomplishments! LCFEG staff did an outstanding job this year developing projects for grant funding. In fact, LCFEG projects accounted for 3/4 of the available SRFB/ CSF funding in our region resulting in $2 million dollars of new project funding. This means LCFEG will be very busy in the field and in the office over the next couple years working to increase local salmon populations. Looking forward to 2011 I see an increasing workload in the short‐term (2‐3 years) followed by uncertainty related to the State/ Federal fiscal crisis and loss of reliable labor in Clark/ Skamania County. This uncertainty is driving LCFEG towards becoming a more conventional 501‐c3 that is increasingly dependent upon partnerships, income from local supporters and increased opportunities for citizen volunteers to provide labor. In short, change is coming but I am confident LCFEG is up to whatever challenges we may face! 2010 marked the passing of Richard Kennon, LCFEGs longest serving board member and a dear friend of salmon, trout and steelhead everywhere! Richard served as our political guru as he was well connected to local politicians and other organizations engaged in solving environmental issues in the N.W. Richard’s passion for the resource as well as his dedication to advancing LCFEG’s mission will be sorely missed. To honor Richard’s memory we are working towards establishing an annual award in his name. Anyone interested in helping us reach this goal please contact Tammy or myself ASAP! Tight Lines, Tony Meyer, Executive Director Inside this issue Treasurer’s Corner………………..……...2 ALEA Riparian Project…………………...2 Little Washougal Project…………...….3 Nutrient Enhancement ................ ..4 Importance of Larch……………………..5 North Fork Lewis River ………………...6 Woodard Creek Reach ....... ………….7 Richard Kennon Treasurer’s Corner Treasurer Ed McMillan So how does our financial condition look? It looks good! Thanks to the efforts of our staff in the last SFRB competition for grant funded projects we were able to garner enough funding for the next couple years. Hopefully we can be successful again in 2011 and provide more security that our efforts can continue. We also have improved our accounting and cost management, and again passed the annual Federal audit with flying colors. (Thanks Tammy!) Administrative chores are becoming more complex and time consuming. Tammy has met these challenges. Even with all this on her plate she has found help from volunteers to maintain files, provide job cost distribution and completing payroll. So where do we go from here? Funding is the limiting factor. Limited funding in turn limits the number of staff. Education and out‐reach programs, continued expansion of our nutrient enhancement effort, enabling even more volunteers: all depend upon dedicating staff time to engage those willing to help. These are all very important to restoring of salmon habitat. We must make sure we continue our focus on placement of log jams, constructing side channels and restoration of riparian vegetation. We have made a significant improvement by providing refuge, spawning gravel and diversity. It is wonderful to watch fish spawning in new areas created by our efforts. Darric’s return to staff will help with expansion of volunteer involvement. Before his deployment overseas he managed our construction crew and riparian restoration volunteers on all our projects. His solid understanding of what makes restoration important and his commitment and energy will assure continued improvements to our program. “It is wonderful to watch fish spawning in new areas created by our efforts.” Welcome Back Darric! ALEA Co‐Op Riparian Project Summary Darric will rejoin us after a year overseas with the Na‐
tional Guard. We are pleased to have him back and look forward to him resuming his role as work crew supervisor. Darric was able to involve volunteers and pushed riparian plant‐
ing in addition to his super‐
visor duties. SW Washington Cooperative Riparian Restoration Project Funding Source: WDFW ALEA Fund Landowner: Washington Department of Corrections During 2010, the Cooperative Riparian Enhancement Project has facilitated the cultivation of a new partnership with the Hudson’s Bay High School and Vancouver School District’s “Bay ACES” program and Larch Correctional Facility. During the last 6 months, project volunteers have potted 2,500 native bare root tree and shrubs in addition to potting 2,500 willow live cuttings. This rooted stock will soon be stored in a 12 foot X 50 foot hoop greenhouse located at Larch Correctional Facility. During the Spring of 2011, ACE instructors, WSU Master Gardeners volunteers, and LCFEG staff will engage students for hands on learning and provide direction on the importance of native plants in our local watersheds. The LCFEG plans to host field trips to local restoration project sites and utilize ALEA tools and equipment to plant the trees raised in the ACE Greenhouse. This project offers a unique opportunity to educate over 360 students each year, provide them with an in‐depth environmental experience, and heighten their appreciation and outlook on fish and wildlife for many years to come. His experience is invaluable. Welcome back Darric! 2 Little Washougal Project Summary Little Washougal Phase IV Restoration Funding Source: Salmon Recover Funding Board Landowner: Gary Stauffer Consultant: Waterfall Engineering Inc. Contractor: Mike Watters Excavation & Robb Construction The goal of this off‐channel restoration project was to increase riparian/
floodplain function, fish passage, summer rearing, habitat complexity, winter refuge, and spawning habitat in three degraded tributary streams along the Little Washougal River. During the month of August, LCFEG hired Mike Watters Excavation and Robb Construction to excavate 1,100 cubic yards of floodplain material and created an 850 square meter bead channel. The new off‐channel channel is fed by two wall based springs which will provide optimal winter‐rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids. In addition, 400 feet of a third spring creek was cleared of invasive Himalayan blackberries and enhanced with 30 cubic yards of spawning gravel, 6 plank weirs, and pieces of large woody debris. During November, Larch Correctional crews and Americorp volunteers installed 1,800 willow cuttings and 550 potted trees to enhance the riparian corridor. In total, this project will dramatically increase the availability of spawning and rearing habitat to increase the overall productivity of the native salmon, cutthroat trout and steelhead species. Memories of Richard Kennon Richard passed away unexpectedly from cancer. He was one of the original founding board members and a strong supporter of increasing wild salmon stocks. He kept us all aware of related political and scientific issues. He frequently related stories of fishing expeditions and his dedication to fly fishing. Richard always stepped in front to lead efforts protecting our rivers and streams when challenged by potential damage from development. He did not hesitate to put the environment first. He will be missed and fondly remembered for his efforts. Wall‐based spring off channel at Little Washougal 3 Nutrient Enhancement Project Summary Southwest Washington Nutrient Enhancement Funding Source: WDFW ALEA Fund, NFWF Community Salmon Fund. Landowner: Private, State and Federal Project Managers: Clark‐Skamania Flyfishers, Fish First, LCFEG, Cowlitz Tribe, Lower Columbia Flyfishers, & Kalama Sportsmen Club Salmon have developed a unique life history trait that only allows them one chance to successfully spawn in their natal stream as mature adults. After spawning, all salmon die. We now know the death of adult salmon brings life to the watershed that supports juvenile salmon before they go to the ocean to become adult salmon. If you could imagine, historically the Columbia River and its tributaries had annual salmon returns estimated at 16‐20 million adults! As those adults spawned and died, small streams and Caption describing picture or graphic rivers must have been literally covered with thousands of rotting salmon carcasses. In contrast, current numbers of Columbia River salmon have dwindled to less that 6% of the historic totals (Gresh et al. 2000) of which over 85% are hatchery‐produced. The diminished returns of adult salmon that spawn and die naturally has created a nutrient deficit in local watersheds which in turn has diminished the ability of these watersheds to support naturally produced juvenile salmon. Scientific studies performed by Ashley, Slaney, Stockner, Bilby, Cedarholm and many others have shown the presence of salmon carcasses to be a key ingredient for increased survival of naturally produced juvenile salmonids, as well as for providing nutrients to enhance the growth rates of plants in the surrounding riparian zone. Bilby found that 85% of a juvenile steelheads diet in Fall and Winter consisted of the flesh and eggs of adult salmon. Furthermore, marine‐
derived nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Carbon) leaching from the salmon carcasses has been shown to increase primary production within the watershed, thus increasing the population size of the aquatic invertebrate community and ultimately providing an additional food source for rearing juvenile salmonids. During the month of October, LCFEG held nine Nutrient Enhancement events at Washougal Salmon Hatchery and accumulated 656 volunteer hours with a total of 93 volunteers. Project highlights included spawning over 1,000 Fall Chinook in the hatchery setting, dispersing approximately 6,600 salmon carcasses into the headwaters of the Washougal River, freezing 1,400 salmon and educating local volunteers from Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), WSU Watershed Stewards, AmeriCorp and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) about the purpose/importance of nutrient enhancement. Additional volunteers from Fish First, Cowlitz Tribe, Lower Columbia Flyfishers, Kalama Sportsmen Club and Clark‐Skamania Flyfishers, donated their time to collected and disperse nearly 20,000 salmon into their respective watersheds. The continued success of this highly beneficial restoration project relies upon volunteer support, if you would like to engage in this activity that benefits the entire aquatic ecosystem please contact Peter Barber, phone (360) 904‐7922 or email [email protected] . 4 Importance of Larch Corrections Center We have been fortunate to have Department of Correction Crews from Larch Corrections Center available to provide skilled labor at an economical cost. State funding agencies have recognized the economic benefit and environmental learning opportunities and credited us with “cost share” for these participants. By using Correctional crews we have made major strides in restoring habitat by placing large wood in our rivers and streams. This has resulted in trapping gravel which creates spawning opportunities, creation of deep water which provides resting and refuge zones, and provides a host for organisms. Log jams are a major feature of a diverse environment that is very important to Salmon. We faced the loss of Larch Correction crews last year because the Department of Corrections declared they were closing Larch to help balance their budget. They proposed this during the last legislative session based upon a management study that erroneously predicted a decline in inmates. This did not happen. Corrections management simultaneously pushed Crews can prove to be a major factor in the creation of log jams constructing new facilities and insisting on maintaining the McNeil Island facility despite it being horrendously expensive. Closing Larch seemed to reflect knee‐jerk reactions from management to balance the budget. We encouraged citizens to contact their legislators arguing that closing Larch was short sighted‐given the benefits Larch work crews provide this region. Not only does salmon recovery benefit, Larch crews provide critical quick economical response to forest fire suppression. This was demonstrated during the 2010 fire season. Last month we learned that again Larch was to be closed. Now though the news is it will remain open. Is this see‐saw saga what we should continue to expect? Hopefully not. So we will resume including utilization of crews from Larch in our construction planning. We will pursue a partnership with them to create a low cost nursery which will help expand our riparian restoration program. This could provide a base for developing a robust volunteer program. We agree there is a serious State budget problem and it needs to be reduced to match revenue. Solutions though should not reduce services to our communities when efficiencies can be implemented that will accomplish the same budget goals and maintain services. We will engage the Larch Corrections Center however we can to help restore Salmon. Thanks go to their management for facilitating the opportunity. 5 North Fork Lewis River Project Summary North Fork Lewis River RM 13.5 Habitat Enhancement Funding Source: PacifiCorp ACC Fund & Salmon Recover Funding Board Landowner: Sam Kysar Consultant: Interfluv Inc. Contractor: Kysar & Koistenin Historically, the Lewis River watershed was impacted by past clearing and snagging, gravel mining, residential development, blockage of LWD transport due to the dams, and flow regulation. These impacts have reduced LWD loading, channel complexity, the development of side‐channels and off‐channels, and reduced habitat‐forming processes (e.g. floods) necessary for creating and maintaining complex habitats. The project was implemented to enhance important early rearing habitat for Chinook that originate in the upstream reaches in addition to improve spawning, rearing, and adult holding habitat for all species. During September of 2010 we successfully placed 15 main stem LWD structures and built 11 off‐channel complexity jams along the east shoreline of the North Fork Lewis River. In total, the project has enhanced over 2,000 feet of stream bank and off‐channel habitat. After project completion, WDFW has counted Fall Chinook and Coho Redds along the project reach, in addition to observation of and large schools of salmonid juveniles congregating around LWD structures. During 2011, the second phase of construction was funded by the SRFB. In the future, we will construction a 2,500 foot long side‐channel with pool‐riffle habitat and LWD jams, enhancement existing off‐channel ponds using LWD, and rehabilitation of 500 feet of a perennial spring‐fed tributary. The proposed project will design enhancement features that increase the quantity and quality of spawning and rearing habitat for Interns Program Summary LCFEG Interns program Funding Source: Volunteer Support piles are driven into the streambed Woodard Creek Reach Project Summary Woodard Creek Reach 1 Restoration Funding Source: Clark‐Skamania Fly‐fishers, Coastal Protection Fund & Williams NW Pipeline Landowner: Washington State Parks and Recreation Consultant: Waterfall Engineering Inc. Contractor: Mike Watters Excavation Inc. Woodard Creek is a small watershed that originates in the upper slopes of the Columbia River Gorge and flows for approximately 5.5 miles to the Columbia River in Skamania County. The creek is home to four federally‐threatened salmonid runs: Lower Columbia Chinook, Lower Columbia Steelhead, Lower Columbia Coho, and Columbia River Chum. Woodard Creek is relatively unique in the lower Columbia region in that it lies predominately within public ownership (Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Beacon Rock State Park). Therefore, the potential for implementing restoration projects is high. During the summer of 2010, project staff and Watters Excavating place 1 large log jam and 2 complexity structures in the alluvial fan of Woodard Creek. The placement of these structures are the first in a phase construction schedule that will build a fish‐friendly transition area into the Columbia River and eliminate the existing fish barrier. During the summer of 2011, LCFEG will utilize USFS (RAC) funding to remove a 200‐ft floodplain berm in addition to placing log complexity structures in the 1,500‐foot reach. Completion of this restoration will reduce the depth‐to‐width ratio, force a pool/riffle morphology, and create a channel thalweg down to low Columbia River levels. Providing floodplain roughness will also create natural channel features to allow increased passage for returning Coho, fall Chinook, steelhead and chum adults; it will also provide refuge areas for juveniles (age 0, 1+) during peak flow events. The LCFEG intern project offers a unique opportunity to utilize volunteer assistance during a summer restoration construction season. During the month of August, Glenn Saastad spent 120 hours working with LCFEG crew supervisor Ken Nyholm while working on the Upper Washougal Phase II Restoration project. Glen was immersed in the numerous tasks necessary for securing logs to a bed‐rock river bed. During his 2 month internship, Glen operated gas‐
powered drills, chop saws, chain saws, rock hammers, impact wrenches, torque wrenches and set epoxy and mechanical anchors while also providing direction to DNR correction crews. During his environmental experience, we believe he has dramatically increased knowledge of our local fish species that inhabit our local watersheds, in addition to a heighten appreciation of the effort it takes to restore fish habitat. 7 A Note From our President The Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group has been doing "on‐the‐ground/in‐
the‐stream" habitat improvement since 1991. Our stated mission is: "To protect, restore and enhance the region salmonid populations by fostering a non‐partisan, community based approach to increasing salmonid populations that blends best available science and the social and economic realities of each unique watershed where salmon and people live together." We are one of fourteen Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups in Washington State, created by the State legislature under RCW 75.50.070. The legislation's stated goals are: "(1) Enhance the salmon and steelhead resources of the state; (2) Maximize volunteer efforts and private donations to improve the salmon and steelhead resources for all citizens; (3) Assist The Department (of Fish & Wildlife) in achieving the goal to double the state‐wide salmon and steelhead catch by the year 2000; and (4) Develop projects designed to supplement the fishery enhancement capability of the department." Our organization has leveraged millions of dollars over the past 19 years for stream improvements. Many members and volunteers have spent thousands of hours working in our regional watersheds, all in the name of bettering the chances for President Hal Mahnke success of our wild salmon and steelhead. Have the goals been met since the stated goals were created? I don't think they have. It is a major and complex issue. So the work continues. With a dedicated staff, board of directors, members and volunteers, we still have a chance to make a difference. As funding sources appear to be dwindling, we are in need of more members and volunteers to help get the work done. If you are reading this and not already somehow involved with helping the fish, please give us some consideration. If you are interested in getting involved, contact us. We can find a place for you where you can help make a difference. With us, it's all about the fish!