University of Washington Environmental Law and Regulation Practicum Project

1
University of Washington Environmental Law and
Regulation Practicum Project
2
Fisheries Habitat Enhancement with
Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force

• Presented by
• Eileen Canola
• Peter Drakos
• Heather Page
• Donya Williamson

3
About Our Client Stilly-Snohomish
Fisheries Enhancement Task Force
4
Regional Fishery Enhancement Groups (RFEG)

• History
• Intent
• Range Region 3 (WRIAs 5, 6, 7, 8)
• Allies for the Project (Tribes, City of Duvall,
  WDFW )
• Funding

5
Intent of RFEGs

• 1990-WA State Legislature authorized in RCW
  75.50.070 RFEGs (non-profit)
• To enhance states salmon populations
• Work within community and create partnerships for
  salmon enhancement
• Seek funding and use large volunteer base
• Work to benefit commercial and recreational
  fisheries

6
Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group Boundaries
http//wdfw.wa.gov/volunter/index.htm
7
Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIA)
Mike Woodall, GIS Analyst/CartographerWashington
State Department of Ecology
8
Allies for the Project

• Tribes
• Western Washington Indian Tribes
• City of Duvall
• WDFW (Bill Mavros)

9
Funding

• Fish licenses
• Sale of salmon eggs and carcasses
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• Individual grants and donations (government
  agencies, private and community organizations)
• Volunteer
• Our project King Conservation District/USFWS

10
Dave Steiner
11
Dave Steiner

• History
• Role with the Task Enhancement Group
• Projects
• How he gets them done

12
The Project The Duvall Reach Riparian Awareness
Project

• Location City of Duvall in King County
• McCormick Park and Taylors Landing
• Coe-Clemons and Thayer Creeks
• Site History
• Project History

13
Vicinity Map
14
History of Project Area
15
Client Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement
Task Force
16
Project Elements

• Beaver dam management
• Beaver Deceiver
• Water quality
• Wetland enhancement
• Bank stabilization
• Large woody debris placement
• Culvert replacement (future)

17
Beaver Dam on Coe-Clemons Creek
18
Beaver Dam Management

• Loss of Historic Habitat
• Rearing Potential
• Limiting Factor for Salmonids

19
A Beaver Deceiver
20
Water Quality

• Ecologys 303d list
• Snoqualmie
• Thayer
• Coe-Clemons
• Sources

21
Wetland Enhancement
Wetland Enhancement
22
Bank Enhancement
23
Large Woody Debris
24
Inadequate Capacity of Culvert
25
Permits

• Streamlining
• Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application (JARPA)
• Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA)

26
Biological Assessment
Species Status Agency Species Effects Determination Critical Habitat Effects Determination
Puget Sound chinook salmon(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Threatened NMFS NLTAA NLTAA
Puget Sound steelhead salmon(Oncorhynchus mykiss) Proposed as Threatened NMFS NLTAA N/A
Puget Sound coho salmon(Oncorhynchus kisutch) Species of Concern NMFS NLTAA N/A
Coastal Puget Sound bull trout(Salvelinus confluentus) Threatened USFWS NLTAA NLTAA
Bald eagle(Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Threatened USFWS NLTAA N/A
27
Puget Sound Chinook Salmon

• Status Threatened
• Critical Habitat Designated
• Distribution in Project Area

28
WDFW Priority Habitat Species (PHS) Map
29
(No Transcript)
30
Puget Sound Steelhead Salmon

• Status Proposed as Threatened (March 29, 2006)
• Critical Habitat Not Determined
• Distribution in Project Area

31
Puget Sound Coho Salmon

• Status Species of Concern
• Critical Habitat Not Designated
• Distribution in Project Area

32
(No Transcript)
33
Coastal Puget Sound Bull Trout

• Status Threatened
• Critical Habitat Designated
• Distribution in Project Area

34
(No Transcript)
35
Bald Eagle

• Status Threatened
• Critical Habitat Not Designated
• Distribution in Project Area

36
How Will the Project Affect ESA-listed Species?

• May affect, but not likely to adversely affect
• Chinook salmon, steelhead salmon, and bull trout
  are not documented in the action area
• Poor spawning habitat (low gradient and lacks
  gravel)
• The creeks provide poor fish passage due to
• Channels are generally choked with reed
  canarygrass
• Riparian vegetation is limited across the
  floodplain
• Three culverts have been documented as a fish
  barrier in Coe-Clemens Creek
• The constructed beaver dam limits access to
  habitat areas and suitable spawning areas
  upstream of Coe-Clemens Creek

37
Conclusion

• Project what we thought it waswhat it turned
  out to be
• Communication
• Timelines disjointed
• Benefits