Elwha River Smolt Enumeration Project

Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)

Project ID	23HR R-8
Recovery Domains	Puget Sound
Start Date	01/01/2024
End Date	09/30/2025
Year	2023
Status	Ongoing
Last Edited	03/31/2025

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Description

This project will estimate the number of natural Origin smolts for multiple species of salmon for the Elwha River. This data is critical for the evaluation of the recovery of Elwha salmon populations following dam removals completed in 2015. Overall recovery goals for the Elwha are based on Viable Salmonid Populations (VSP) including productivity which requires estimates of both returning adults and outmigrating smolts

Project Benefit

Benefit: Recovery of naturally produced stock is the overarching goal for the Elwha River. As steelhead and chinook recover, hatchery production will be reduced and eventually eliminated (if recovery targets are reached). This would allow the facility to begin new programs perhaps focusing on conservation of species such as chum and pink salmon or even conservation of other stocks in the Tribe’s Treaty Area.

Accomplishments

Metric

Completed

Originally
Proposed

Research and Monitoring

Stream Miles Monitored

3.50

Source

Funds

PCSRF

$98,859

Report Total:

$98,859

Worksites

54450101

Worksite Identifier: 54450101
Start Date:
End Date:

Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
Subbasin: Dungeness-Elwha (17110020)
Watershed: Elwha River (1711002005)
Subwatershed: Lake Aldwell-Elwha River (171100200514)

State: Washington
Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
Latitude: 48.133176
Longitude: -123.548525

ESU

Puget Sound/Strait of Georgia Coho Salmon ESU
Puget Sound Steelhead DPS
Odd-year
Puget Sound Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

E.0 Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)Y (Y/N)
- . . E.0.a RM&E Funding .00
- . . E.0.b
  Complement habitat restoration project
- . . E.0.c
  Project identified in a plan or watershed assessment.
- . . E.0.d.1 Number of Cooperating Organizations
- . . E.0.d.2
  Name Of Cooperating Organizations.
- . . E.0.e.1 Number of reports prepared
- . . E.0.e.2
  Name Of Report
- . . E.1 MonitoringY (Y/N)
  - . . . . E.1.a Monitoring funding
  - . . . . E.1.b.1 Stream Miles Monitored
  - . . . . E.1.c.2 Salmonid smolt or fry monitoringY (Y/N)
    - . . . . . . E.1.c.2.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for Salmonid smolt or fry
    - . . . . E.1.d
      Name Of Comprehensive Monitoring Strategy/Program