Reach

Species

Habitat Type

Recommended Action

Actions/Needs

Rationale

Comments

Estuary

Restore marsh and historic eelgrass flats

Remove dredge spoils and pilings that are blocking marsh.

All fresh water is currently channeled. 

Corps of Engineers to remove dredge spoils

Lower reaches

Warm temperatures are lethal to salmon in summer

reduce temperatures through riparian reforestation

floodplain

Restore floodplain complexity and connectivity

Implement actions resulting from current Elwha study (Mike Haggerty) to identify and prioritize actions to restore floodplain connectivity

floodplain

Reduce impacts on floodplain by Hwy 112

Implement recommendations resulting from current reach analysis by DOT with Makah, Elwha, Herrara (Tim Abbe)

Mainstem

Provide access to habitat

Replace culverts (WDOT undersized concrete that have gotten worst with channel incision)

Throughout watershed but especially in Mainstem and South Fork

spawning and rearing

Slow down velocity to reduce mortality, increase habitat, reduce scour and incision, and improve access to tributaries

Addition of large woody debris. Mainstem jams must be large and channel spanning, and form beads on a string, to capture wood and spawning gravel. Jams can be smaller on higher tribs, to reduce peak flows.

Legacy of forestry practices has left insufficient riparian buffer for input of large woody debris. Must be accompanied by riparian restoration, but riparian restoration alone will take too much time.

Mainstem sedimentation, hydrology probably the most degraded in WRIA 19 (except perhaps for the Clallam). South Fork has been reduced to bedrock.

Tribs

Warm temperatures are lethal to salmon in summer

Protect riparian conifers and underplant alder with spruce

Alder conversions have increased stream temperatures

Tribs

Protection and restoration of alluvial fans

Where alluvial fans hit flood plains, channel incision due to increased peak flows has resulted in tributaries becoming perched and disconnected. Alluvial fans are unpredictable, need to keep them heavily forested and multiply channeled. 

Throughout watershed

spawning and rearing

Protect riparian corridors to prevent additional damage to watershed hydrology processes and salmonid habitats.

Acquisition of slopes, 500 foot river corridors, fluvial landscape, and all of the floodplains will ensure corridor stability, riparian refugia, cool stream temperature, and protect water quality and velocity.

Current forestry practices and buffers are not sufficient to prevent changes to river hydrology and damage to salmonid habitat. Helicopter logging would reduce roads and some sedimentation but remaining riparian corridor will still be insufficient for providing necessary refugia for shade, large woody debris, and stability.

Crown, Cascade might be willing to sell.  M&R not likely to sell although perhaps would sell corridors.