Strengthening Partnerships and Coordination of Elwha Restoration and Monitoring Activities

Projects as large and complex as the Elwha Restoration Project are best accomplished when numerous individuals and agencies work together. These collaborative partnerships don’t occur by chance---they take significant effort by all those involved in the project. Recent staff changes at Puget Sound Partnership (PSP), the Washington State agency tasked with coordinating restoration and protective activities in Puget Sound, provided an opportunity for agency staff to further strengthen interagency partnerships and collaboration. Duane Fagergren recently became the new PSP lead for the Strait of Juan de Fuca region. In an effort to learn about the Elwha Restoration Project and begin to forge relationships, Duane contacted several individuals from the agencies involved with Elwha River restoration and monitoring, including Roger Peters (U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service biologist) and Jeff Duda (U.S. Geological Survey ecologist).


Roger Peters (left) and Jeff Duda on Altaire Bridge

Roger and Jeff took Duane on a field trip to multiple monitoring sites on the Elwha River to provide an on-the-ground perspective of the Elwha restoration progress focusing on science, monitoring, and related issues. They visited sediment monitoring sites at Altaire Bridge (where suspended sediment below the Glines Canyon Dam project is being monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Park Service, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation) and the water diversion where USGS is monitoring turbidity in the mainstem of the Elwha River (see webcams). They also visited multiple sites designed to monitor the movements of juvenile fish that are among the first group of recolonizers to portions of the watershed that haven’t seen anadromous salmonids in nearly a century. These sites included a screw trap operated by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe that is used for monitoring outmigrating juvenile salmon on Little River and a PIT tag recording station operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Indian Creek that also monitors recolonizing juveniles. 

Stumps cut during construction of the Elwha Dam are being
uncovered as sediment from Lake Aldwell erodes and is
transported downstream. Based on this picture, the current
floodplain level is likely close to the original floodplain level.

They then visited the former reservoir bottom and delta area of Lake Aldwell where the former lake bed is being transformed into a functioning floodplain river, a salmon-rearing channel created by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and a site where the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe has installed a series of engineered large woody debris jams to create fish spawning and rearing habitat. Finally, the group visited the Elwha estuary and beaches east of the river mouth. There numerous groups are studying the physical and biological changes to the ecosystem caused by the removal of the dams. At low tide, the physical changes to the beaches and submarine delta were apparent since sediment released from the former reservoirs has already moved to the coastal areas.

Accumulated small wood that has been deposited
along the Elwha nearshore after being released from
Lake Mills and Lake Aldwell after dam removal

Throughout the day, the three discussed the issues relevant to research and monitoring, particularly those projects that will contribute to a better understanding of how the restoration of the Elwha River and its salmon populations unfolds.  “A strong working relationship between the Puget Sound Partnership and those of us on the ground can only help, as we both are striving to learn as much as we can about the possibilities to recover ecosystem structure and functions that are relevant to Puget Sound,” said Jeff.

According to Duane, “This was one of the most informative and enjoyable days I’ve spent in my career working at the Puget Sound Partnership and its predecessor agencies. Roger and Jeff helped me understand the enormity of the system and the dynamic forces at work in the Elwha. The important work we all do benefits by forging personal relationships like this, and important resources like Chinook salmon in the Elwha will hopefully benefit from our cooperative, collaborative effort". Duane plans to meet with others working on the Elwha restoration effort, including individuals from NOAA, WDFW, Olympic National Park, and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe in the near future.

Duane Fagergren (left) and Jeff Duda discuss changes in the
Elwha nearshore. This picture was taken at low tide from the
Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation, east of the Elwha River
mouth and facing Freshwater Bay and Observatory Point.

 

Elwha River Fine Sediment Sampling

Late last summer, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), NOAA Fisheries, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, U.S. Geological Survey, and National Park Service participated in a multi-agency effort to measure fine sediment concentrations in salmon spawning areas of the Elwha River. This sampling was the first to occur following the initiation of dam removal on the Elwha River; baseline data had previously been collected for 2 years prior to dam removal.

Sampling area within the 'shield' showing
sediment conditions prior to dam removal (2010)

The removal of Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams is expected to release 7-8 million cubic meters of sediment. About half of this is fine sediment (silt and clay), which should be transported quickly by the Elwha River into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. However, this material could alter spawning habitat downstream of the dams. Monitoring fine sediments in locations where salmon are likely to spawn will help determine whether any impacts occur and, if so, how long they persist.

We sampled both mainstem and floodplain channel habitat, collecting 30 samples from just below Glines Canyon Dam to near the mouth of the river. A plywood shield blocked water flow during sampling, providing a calm water area where the sample of the river bed material could be collected. We removed the surface layer of the sediment and placed it into a sample bag for later processing to determine sediment size distribution. We also collected a 'before-and-after' water sample to determine the amount of fine sediment that was suspended in the water column during sampling.

Measuring pre-sampling water depths within the shield.
This is done to determine the depth of the sediment sample and
the water volume behind the shield. This volume is used to
calculate the overall weight of fine sediment suspended
in the water column during sampling.

Preliminary results suggest that there is more fine sediment in the spawning areas today than before dam removal began; however, the level was lower than expected. There was also a change from large cobble to gravel substrate in some areas, which will greatly improve salmon spawning habitat. We expect larger changes this year following the complete removal of Glines Canyon Dam, which holds back the majority of the sediment in this river system.

 

Wild Fish Go Where They Please

Wild fish go where they please. This can make catching them somewhat difficult, but there are ways to direct fish in the direction you want them to go. Juvenile salmon naturally migrate downstream and we use this instinct to our advantage when trying to collect information about their size and numbers.

Screw trap (at bottom) with panels

When setting up a sampling device such as a screw trap or fyke net, fish need to be guided into the trap. The trap is usually set up in the middle of a stream or in higher flow areas and, in some cases, panels need to be set up to act as a wall. This wall of panels is set up so that it points downstream like an arrow, directing fish into the trap. Once the fish are caught, they are measured, weighed, and marked. They are then released, unharmed, to continue their migration downstream.

Scientists have used weir panels to control the movement of fish for decades. Knowing the amount of fish that use a river is vital in sustaining a healthy population. The information collected from these sampling activities tells scientists if a fish population is in danger and if action needs to be taken to protect it.  In this way, we can protect fish populations for future generations to enjoy and appreciate

If you see panels like these (or ones like them) in a river or stream, please do not touch them. Climbing on or wiggling them could endanger the information they are helping to collect. Please feel free to LOOK, but DON’T TOUCH. Scientists are trying to help the fish and we need your help to do it!  

  

Elwha River Weir Summary 2011

The Elwha River weir (a temporary trap) was re-installed on August 18, 2011, to count and collect biological data from adult salmon and steelhead as part of an ongoing effort to determine how these populations change as a result of dam removal. A secondary goal is to provide broodstock for hatchery production and conservation during dam removal when turbidity levels are expected to be lethal to fish in the river.


2.340 cfs and still working

Due to an unusually high snowpack (190% of normal), the trap had to be installed at a flow of 1,640 cubic feet per second (cfs). The first fish caught was a sockeye, which was marked and passed upstream. The trap fished continuously from August 18 to October 19, 2011, except for three days when flows exceeded 4,000 cfs. The weir was once again pushed to the limits in 2011, fishing at flows over 2,500 cfs (compared to a high of 2,200 cfs in 2010), which significantly exceeded our weir design expectation of 2,000 cfs. The weir was removed on October 19, 2011, after the removal of a log boom at the Elwha Dam which resulted in the release of hundreds of large logs into the lower Elwha River.

A total of 647 live and dead (carcasses) salmon and trout were captured at the weir during the 2011 summer/fall season, compared to 492 fish captured in 2010. A total of 218 live adult salmon and trout, representing seven different species including Chinook (73), pink (129), chum (1), coho (1), and sockeye salmon (8), and steelhead (3) and bull trout (3) were captured at the weir in 2011.  


Species present in the Elwha River

Fifty-five Chinook salmon were retained for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Chinook salmon broodstock program at the Elwha rearing channel. One hundred twelve pink salmon were also retained as broodstock for the pink salmon captive brood program. This program is designed to protect the pink salmon stock during lethal turbidity levels occurring during dam removal.

In addition to the live fish caught at the weir, 429 salmon carcasses, including 381 Chinook and 48 pinks, were handled. These post-spawn carcasses represent fish that had either migrated upstream past the weir before it was installed or were passed above the weir by weir personnel.

Data collected for fish caught at the weir included, species, fish condition, sex, origin (wild/hatchery), presence/absence of coded-wire tags and passive integrated transponder tags (PIT), fin condition, length, scale samples for aging, DNA samples, and information on adult run timing. Otolith samples were collected from Chinook salmon carcasses.



Sampling a sockeye salmon for PIT tag detection

The weir is planned to be re-installed during the winter of 2012 to capture and count adult steelhead and any other adult salmonids migrating in the Elwha River. In addition to biological data collection, the weir will be used in conjunction with a SONAR system to assess steelhead abundance.

The Elwha River weir project is part of a multi-agency effort which includes the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Olympic National Park, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), to evaluate the response of adult salmonids to the removal of two Elwha River hydroelectric dams. The weir was funded in 2011 by cooperating agencies as part of their annual budget. Additional funds were obtained through the President’s stimulus program (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) which funded the project through September 30, 2011. The weir is funded through September 30, 2012, with funds provided by USEPA through the Puget Sound Partnership.

     


Hoh River Project - Field Work 3



Seining in the Hoh River

 We continued field work for the Hoh River Engineered Logjam (ELJ) study in March 2011. Fish abundance, density, and diversity were assessed using seining and mark-recapture methods.  

At each of the two sites, we captured and marked fish with Bismarck Brown on one night, then recaptured fish the following night. We caught a total of 419 fish during the surveys. Recapture rates for coho and Chinook salmon at Hoh I and Hoh II sites were 11% and 13%, respectively. From these numbers, we will be able to make rough population estimates. Additionally, we recaptured 1 fish that we had PIT-tagged at the Hoh I (ELJ) site last year.

It was a fun-filled but hectic couple of days as we scrambled to get everything done before forecasted rain increased river discharge to a point where we couldn’t work, which would have washed away all of our sampling efforts. We compressed all of our work into two nights; one night for marking at both sites and one night for recapture at both sites. The work was completed just in time, with river discharge increasing to 5,000 cfs the day after we finished.

Data entry, checking, and analysis will be completed from April through May.  A final report will be completed by June 30, 2011. 

How Many Salmon Live in a River?



Screw trap in the Big Quilcene River

It’s that time of year again when young Big Quilcene River coho salmon (smolts) begin to outgrow the home they have lived in for the past year. Soon they will begin to make their way downstream and into Hood Canal where they will find habitat that will allow them to continue to grow. The fish will spend up to 2 years there, out of the fresh water of the Big Quilcene River, eating and growing to adult size.  Some of these fish will return to the river after only 1 year; these fish are called jacks. The majority, though, will return after spending 2 full years in the ocean.
 

Staff preparing to install trap

To monitor the number of juvenile smolts leaving the river and going out to the salt water, we installed a trap that gently collects fish as they swim downstream. The trap we installed is a screw trap; it is made of a metal cone in the shape of a funnel that spins in the water. This type of trap allows fish to be funneled through the trap into a live box where they are held. The cone and live box are suspended on the water by two pontoons. An employee from our office will check the trap daily and take data on any fish caught in it. Any coho smolts caught in the trap are tagged and then released to complete their journey to the ocean. This tag will allow us to identify these fish when they return as adults. 

The trap will remain in the Big Quilcene River for the next couple of months, the entire time period when fish are headed out of the river to the ocean.  From the data collected during this time, we will be able to determine how many coho salmon left the Big Quilcene River for the ocean and how many fish call the Big Quilcene River home.

Looking upstream at the screw trap

Hoh River Project - Field Work 2

Measuring habitat at Hoh II

We continued field work for the Hoh River habitat study in September. Habitat surveys were conducted to identify the distribution of habitat types within Hoh I (engineered logjam) and Hoh II (riprap) sites. Fish abundance, density, and diversity were assessed using seining and mark-recapture methods.

At each of the two sites, we captured and marked fish with Bismarck Brown on one night, then recaptured fish on the following night. Recapture rates for coho and Chinook salmon at Hoh I and Hoh II sites were 12% and 9%, respectively. From these numbers we will be able to make rough population estimates, as well as compare habitat use at the two sites. Additionally, we recaptured 46 previously PIT-tagged salmonids at Hoh I and 16 at Hoh II. We also tested the effectiveness of a fixed PIT tag reader for detecting previously PIT-tagged fish by placing it at the base of a logjam at Hoh I.

Prototype mobile PIT tag reader installation at Hoh I

It was a fun-filled but hectic week as we scrambled to get everything done before forecasted rain increased river discharge to a point that we couldn’t work, which would have washed away all of our sampling efforts. On the second night, we compressed two nights’ work into one by recapturing at Hoh I and also marking at Hoh II--working from 7:30pm to 5:00am.

Data entry, checking, and analysis will be completed from October through December. In January, we will return to the Hoh River to do another population assessment of the two sites.

Hoh River Project - Field Work 1

Field work for the Hoh River habitat study has started for 2010. We used beach seines, minnow traps, and hook-and-line methods to capture more than 1,700 fish at the two study sites (974 at the engineered logjam site - Site 1 - and 785 at the riprap site - Site 2). Most of the fish captured were juvenile salmon and trout; however, we also caught other types of fish. Our catch included Chinook salmon, coho salmon, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout (steelhead), Mountain whitefish, dace, and lamprey. A few crayfish were also captured.

We implanted PIT tags in 933 fish that were over 65 mm (2.55 inches) in length. The purpose of this tagging is to compare fish survival at the two sites over the next couple of months. We plan to return to the sites in September to conduct a habitat survey, perform a fish survey to look for the fish we just PIT tagged, and determine the total number of fish in both sites.

My Life Aquatic - Part 3

Since my last blog update I have had the pleasure of assisting with three different monitoring and research projects with the USFWS. I have worked with colleagues on the Duwamish Estuary, Issaquah Creek and the Hoh River. Participating in these projects as a STEP student has been a great opportunity for me to diversify my field experience.

My first field work opportunity with the USFWS was a habitat mapping event on the Duwamish Estuary, located in Seattle, Washington. This is a restoration monitoring project that focuses on two species of sedges - Lyngbye's sedge ( Carex lyngbyei) and Soft Stem Bulrush (Scirpus validus). I became familiar with the morphological features and life histories of these two sedges and it was my first experience collecting field data in an estuary.
The sampling events I assisted with at Issaquah Creek are part of the Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 8 project. Under the Watershed Planning Act (WA State - ESHB 2514), WRIA 8 is monitored to ensure that the best possible management practices are implemented to protect Washington’s water resources. Our USFWS sampling crew teamed up with King County employees to conduct habitat surveys and fish population surveys via electroshocking. This was a great example of how different agencies can work together to practice fisheries conservation.
I am currently focusing on the sampling events on the Hoh River and they have proved to be amazing adventures! I have learned new skills such as beach and herd seining, minnow trapping and surgically inserting PIT tags into juvenile salmonids (trout, whitefish and salmon). Some of this work included night sampling which was a new and exciting experience. For more information on this project, be sure to visit the Hoh River Project page on this site.

-MORE-

Hoh River Project - Overview

USFWS and Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are working together to investigate the response of fish and stream habitat to alternative riverbank stabilization techniques. The WSDOT Hoh River project is located on the western side of the Olympic Peninsula where WSDOT is attempting to protect U.S. Highway 101 from eroding into the Hoh River as a result of river channel migration during flood events. WSDOT has installed engineered logjams consisting of large pieces of natural wood and tree rootwads along the river bank in the first site called Hoh I. River bank in the second site (Hoh II) is currently treated with large angular rock, often called riprap. This riprap, which has continuously failed to protect the bank, will be replaced with engineered logjams during the summer of 2011 or 2012.

Both approaches have been used to stabilize eroding banks, especially when infrastructure such as roads and houses is threatened. Several reports, however, suggest that the more commonly used method of stabilizing river banks, rock riprap, negatively impacts fish habitat complexity and aquatic communities including fish. Additionally, several reports suggest that wood is an important ecological component of aquatic systems, and fish and other aquatic life often occur in greater densities and diversity at locations associated with wood. As a result, large wood complexes, such as engineered logjams, are viewed as an alternative tool for bank stabilization and stream restoration. Therefore, bank stabilization with engineered logjams may provide the dual benefit of protecting infrastructure and conserving aquatic natural resources, such as fish populations, when compared to alternative stabilization techniques.

USFWS and WSDOT are conducting the Hoh River study to compare fish habitat diversity, fish density, growth, survival, movement, and species diversity in Hoh I and Hoh II. Fieldwork started in August 2009 with two study components. Fish survival in both Hoh I and Hoh II was estimated and compared between sites by capturing, tagging, and recapturing fish at a later date. A total of 495 fish were tagged with passive interrogated transponder (PIT) tags between the two sites. The second study component relied upon acoustic tagging technology to provide spatial information in order to identify how fish utilize the engineered logjams at the Hoh I site. In this second effort, USFWS technicians and biologists deployed a series of sound recorders called hydrophones on the river bottom. Twenty-nine fish were captured and surgically implanted with an acoustic tag. The hydrophones passively tracked the location and movement of the tagged fish over a couple of weeks. Preliminary results from Hoh River study indicate that engineered logjams are a valuable technique for bank stabilization projects and can provide favorable habitat for juvenile salmonids when compared to sites utilizing other bank stabilization methods.

In August 2010, we plan to PIT tag more fish at both sites. We are also preparing to collect habitat information in order to describe differences in the habitat quality and quantity from the perspective of fish in the study areas. Check back for postings of our upcoming fieldwork!