WRIA 19 Limiting Factor and Action Recommendation
Priorities
To download the entire WRIA 19 Limiting Factor Analysis, click
here.
Many of the major-limiting factors are
similar throughout the WRIA, and several factors are often the result
of a few causes. Because of this, the Washington State Conservation
Commission’s
Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for WRIA 19 recommends the following
actions for the entire WRIA to help address some of these widespread,
complex
factors that stem from similar causes. The reader should note that
updated limiting factor information is noted in bold-italic type.
- Enforce current environmental regulations, such as the Hydraulic
Code, Forest Practices Act, Shoreline regulations, Critical Area
Ordinances, and Growth Management Act.
- Revise the Growth Management Act to protect salmon habitat.
- Protect the channel migration zone (floodplain) habitat.
Floodplain development leads to a loss of riparian forest and loss
of future LWD.
It also increases sedimentation, channel instability, and water quality
problems.
- Protect conifer riparian areas.
- Convert open and hardwood riparian areas to conifer.
- Increase off-channel habitat.
- Increase instream LWD, preferably with attached rootwads.
- Stop the removal of instream wood.
- Prevent the increase of water withdrawals. These can have
a large impact on salmon because of the naturally low flow conditions
in
the summer and early autumn.
- Set up a State/Tribal/County committee to identify and purchase
critical salmon habitat for conservation and to address problem areas.
- Increase stream nutrient levels
The following are summaries of the action recommendations
for each of the geographical units or sub-units in WRIA 19, based on
the limiting
factor analysis. The reader should note that updated limiting factor
information is noted in bold-italic type. A more detailed description
of the habitat limiting factors in WRIA 19 can be found in the “Salmon
and Steelhead Habitat Limiting Factors for WRIA 19” published by
the Washington State Conservation Commission. Action recommendations
should only be used to provide project focus if a Watershed Page or Prioritized
List of Activities and Concepts is not available for a geographical unit
or
sub-unit. The full-length Limiting Factors Analyses
can be found at this link.
Limiting Factor Analyses incorporated information from Watershed Analyses
and other assessments. Stakeholders and Project Sponsors should refer
to these other assessments, if the Limiting Factor Analyses are deemed
inadequate or incomplete in any way, although it is recognized that
such incorporations of necessity were abbreviated or in some cases
omitted maps or other specifics.
Hoko River Major Limiting Factors:
- Excess sedimentation from Roads and Clearcuts - The sedimentation
has led to channel instability and a change in substrate to less suitable
spawning gravels.
- Severe Lack of Large Woody Debris (LWD) -
Sediment transport and water velocity effects are worsened by a severe
lack of large woody
debris (LWD). Many riparian areas are dominated by hardwoods, and will
not contribute to future LWD. Also, it is believed that the change in
age and type of surrounding forests contributes to an increased frequency
and severity of peak flows.
- Encroachments to the Floodplain – These
encroachments are from riparian roads and an old railroad grade in
the mainstem, as
well as dikes and channelization in the Little Hoko River. These floodplain
impacts constrain the channel, reduce side-channel habitat, and reduce
riparian vegetation and associated LWD recruitment. In addition, riparian
roads also contribute to excessive sedimentation.
- Low Flows in the Summer
and Early Autumn - Low flows contribute to high water temperatures
and limit the spawning distribution of fall
chinook to less stable areas of the mainstem, possibly increasing the
likelihood of scour during peak flow events. The naturally low flows
are worsened by water withdrawals.
Minor Limiting Factors:
- Blockages - Improving culverts would increase coho and steelhead
habitat, but would not address the large problems in the mainstem that
impact all salmonid species.
- Estuarine Habitat Alteration - The estuarine
habitat has been altered by sediment deposition in recent history.
The effects of the
estuarine sediment deposition on salmon are unclear.
Sekiu River
Major Limiting Factors:
-
Sedimentation from High Road Densities and Mass Wasting Sites - The
sedimentation has led to debris flows that have incised the mainstem
channel and removed
LWD. The mainstem provides critical rearing habitat as well as spawning
habitat for all salmon species in that watershed. The floodplain impacts
to the mainstem such as the Mainline and other riparian roads have
greatly impaired salmon production through an increase in channel
instability
(constrictions), increased sediment, loss of riparian vegetation, and
loss of off-channel habitat.
- Riparian Alteration and Forest Management
Activities – These
alterations and activities have resulted in a lack of LWD and deep pools,
extensive riparian areas that are dominated by hardwoods, and reduced
the age of the surrounding forests.
- Water Quality Impacts - The alteration
of riparian in the mainstem and South Fork has resulted in high
summer water temperatures, while
the forest management activities have contributed to increases in water
turbidity.
Minor Limiting Factors:
- Blockages – Fish passage problems have mostly impacted
coho and steelhead.
Pysht River
Major Limiting Factors:
- Sedimentation from Roads and Mass Wasting - Sedimentation from
roads and mass wasting sites have lead to channel instability, especially
in the mainstem.
- Lack of LWD – Lack of LWD has resulted in increased
channel instability and peak flow impacts as well as decreased pool
habitat formation
and spawning gravel storage.
- Conversion of Riparian Areas from Conifers
to Open Areas or Hardwoods - The conversion of a conifer riparian
to open areas and hardwoods
has limited future LWD supplies and increased water temperatures.
- Floodplain
Impacts - Severe floodplain impacts, particularly from Highway 112,
contribute to sediment problems, reduce riparian vegetation,
and increase channel instability. The removal of trees along riparian
roads also reduces important riparian vegetation for salmon.
- Severe
Peak Flows – It is believed that changes in the
age and type of surrounding forests can contribute to the increased frequency
and severity of peak flows.
Minor Limiting Factors:
- Channelization – The lower mile and a half of the mainstem
has been channelized.
- Estuarine Sediment Impacts - Excessive amounts
of sediment have been delivered to the estuary.
- Loss of Eelgrass
Habitat - Members of the TAG believed that there may have been a
loss of eelgrass habitat in the estuary, but historical
data are not available to demonstrate this.
- Blockages (Human-Caused)
Clallam River
Major Limiting Factors:
- Excessive Sedimentation
- Lack of LWD
- Open or Hardwood Riparian Area - The altered riparian
has contributed to high water temperatures in the summer.
- Floodplain
Impacts - Significant floodplain impacts include gravel bar scalping
and riparian road impacts
- Loss of Saltmarsh
- Severe Peak Flows – It is believed that changes
in the age and type of surrounding forests can contribute to the increased
frequency
and severity of peak flows.
Minor Limiting Factors:
- Blockages – Fish passage problems have mostly impacted
coho and steelhead habitat.
Data Needs:
- Intermittent River Mouth Blockage - Some members of the TAG
expressed concern about the intermittent blockage near the mouth caused
by gravel, however the problem and potential solutions are not well-understood
and need to be studied before restoration activities are planned for
this issue. (Note: It was not clear, in reading the Limiting Factors
Analyses for WRIA 19, whether the TAG considered this to be a major or
minor problem in the Clallam River.)
Deep Creek
Major Limiting Factors:
- Excessive Sedimentation - Debris flows have resulted in extensive
channel incision and instability. Large woody debris is lacking, and
the conversion of riparian vegetation from old conifers to hardwood
or open areas results in a future lack of LWD as well as high water
temperatures.
Channel incision has contributed to floodplain impacts such as a lack
of off-channel habitat, and this lack of off-channel habitat has severely
impacted all salmonid species in Deep Creek. The excessive sedimentation
has also impacted the estuary, where the delta has increased in recent
years.
- Forest Conversion to Young Conifers - The lack of older trees
is thought to increase the frequency and severity of peak flow events.
Channel incision and the lack of instream LWD worsens water velocities.
Minor Limiting Factors:
Twin Rivers (East and West)
Not much is known about current habitat conditions in the Twin Rivers.
It is believed that the following limiting factors might be important:
- Lack of LWD – LWD is lacking in the lower reaches.
- Excessive
Sedimentation from Roads
- Blockages - Fish passage is an issue in the
East Fork of the East Twin River.
- Estuarine Impacts - Estuarine impacts
exist near the mouths of both Twin Rivers.
Lyre River
Major Limiting Factors:
- Fine Sediments - The Lyre River has been impacted with fine
sediments from Boundary and Susie Creeks. The fines have degraded spawning
habitat and increased water turbidity.
- Altered Riparian Areas – The
riparian areas along Nelson Creek are alder-dominated.
- Lack of LWD
- Nelson Creek, Susie Creek, and the lower mainstem are lacking LWD.
- Mainstem Channelization – The lower mile of the mainstem
is channelized.
- “Stream cleaning” - Removal of LWD, or “Stream
Cleaning” contributes to the lack of LWD in this river.
Minor Limiting Factors:
Salt Creek
Major Limiting Factors:
- lack of LWD - The greatest salmon habitat problem in Salt Creek
is the lack of LWD, which has resulted in a loss of holding pools for
salmon.
- Land Conversion - The following problems are likely the result
of land conversion to accommodate development. Development in the floodplain
has altered the riparian, and efforts to return the riparian to old
conifers should be encouraged
- Increased demand for water,
- Unauthorized water withdrawals,
- Excess sedimentation.
- Loss of Saltmarsh – The saltmarsh in
the estuary was lost due to road impacts.
Minor Limiting Factors:
- Blockages – Fish passage problems have reduced coho and
steelhead habitat.
- Floodplain Impacts due to Riparian Roads
East-End WRIA 19 Streams
The small salmon-producing streams in the east-end of WRIA 19 include
Colville, Field, Whiskey, Murdock, Jim and Joe Creeks.
Major Limiting Factors:
- Lack of LWD
- Conversion of the Riparian Zone to Alder or Open Areas.
- Excessive
Sedimentation – Excessive sedimentation is believed
to be a problem in Whiskey, Field, Jim, and Joe Creeks.
- Blockages – Fish
passage problems are known to exist in Colville, Field, Jim, and Joe
Creeks.
- Estuarine Impacts – Estuarine impacts have occurred
near Whiskey and Jim Creeks.
West-End WRIA 19 Streams
The small salmon-producing streams of the west-end of WRIA 19 include
the Sail River and Agency, Jansen,, Rasmussen, Bullman, Snow, and Village
Creeks.
Major Limiting Factors:
- Lack of LWD – LWD is lacking in Agency and Jansen Creeks,
as well as in the Sail River.
- Conversion of Riparian Areas – Riparian
areas have been converted in Rasmussen, Bullman, and Jansen Creeks,
and the Sail River.
- Excessive Sedimentation from Roads – Excessive
sedimentation from roads is a problem in Snow, Rasmussen, Bullman,
and Jansen Creeks.
In Jansen Creek, the resulting turbidity from roads is a significant
problem.
- Blockages – Fish passage problems are known to exist in
Agency and Village Creeks and the Sail River.
- High Water Temperatures
- High water temperatures have been documented in Agency and Rasmussen
Creeks.
- Sediment Impacts on Eelgrass Habitat - In the nearshore environment,
sediments from Highway 112 are impacting eelgrass habitat.
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