FY 2011 Continued Dungeness (and ESU) Salmon Recovery Planning and Coordination

Summary of Project Worktypes completed in Strait of Juan de Fuca Worksite:

Restoration Planning and Coordination Metric:
- Coordination of implementation of Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan and WRIA 18 Watershed Plan via staffing/coordinating/chairing meetings of the Dungeness River Management Team, and subcontracting with Point No Point Treaty Council to represent the Tribe on various salmon recovery forums, including those associated with developing a Steelhead Recovery Plan.
- Tribal infrastructure support to implement natural resource goals of the Tribes Comprehensive Plan.
- Evaluation/analysis of restoration plans and projects, via providing technical support to various entities, especially to the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity (NOPLE) and those related to implementing the NOPLE 3-Year Work Plan.

Salmon Habitat Assessment/Inventory Metric:
- Habitat Survey conducted in the form of producing aerial photography for assessing and planning restoration of riparian conditions and estuarine/nearshore habitat conditions, and floodplain mapping.

Additional Details:
Continued Recovery Planning & Coordination: The project continued to support the Tribe’s leadership role on the local watershed council (DRMT) and provided ongoing staff support in local or regional salmon recovery planning forums. PSCSR funding also supported ongoing ESA-related oversight, coordination and recovery planning work by the Point-No-Point (PNP) Treaty Council.

The Tribe continued to participate in the WRIA 18 in-stream flow and water management rulemaking process and related meetings and outcomes with DOE. This included participation in a “local leader’s work group”, and after rule adoption by Ecology in January 2013, participation in a rule implementation forum and a water exchange advisory committee.

Continued Riparian Habitat Protection/Restoration Planning: The project continued to support tribal staff in providing ongoing technical assistance in several planning processes related to riparian protection and restoration of the Dungeness River and other creeks of Tribal interest.

Below is a list of planning activities that were assisted with this PSCSR allocation:
• Continued lower Dungeness River restoration planning (RM 3.0-10.0) - planning for reach-scale property acquisitions (rather than the more common parcel-scale acquisitions) for restoration and preservation of riparian areas; planning for additional riparian and in-channel wood restoration.
• Continued planning for Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) dike setback and channel reconstruction in lower Dungeness. ACOE began a feasibility study June 2011. Our channel-design contractor completed channel design work in 2012 and 2013. ACOE stopped work on feasibility study, but recently started again, and expects to be complete by September. The Tribe continued related planning meetings with the ACOE and its project partners, as well as coordinated updates to the Dungeness River Management Team.
• Obtained aerial photo flights of pertinent areas for protection/restoration planning purposes (proposed as stream survey work in the Worktype B.2.d). For example, continued to use previous aerial photos to track riverside and marine shoreline development for compliance with Shoreline Management Plans; used previous aerial photos to calculate rates of marine bluff erosion in the JSKT-priority marine drift cells.

Continued Water Conservation Planning/Tracking: The Tribe continued to track and support where possible water conservation efforts, including meeting with irrigators regarding a potential project to eliminate use of McDonald Creek as a conveyance for Dungeness irrigation water.

Continued Recovery Planning and Coordination: The Tribe’s involvement in coordinating recovery projects with the community and local and federal agencies helps sustain partnerships and provide for efficiencies in accomplishing salmon recovery goals. Recommendations in the local watershed plan and the regional recovery plan are intended to improve water quality, in-stream habitat, in-stream flows, and aid in salmon recovery. We hope that the in-stream flows and water supply strategies that will be set in rule will improve habitat for listed species, and that a successful water exchange can be developed to assist with our water conservation efforts. On a regional scale, our continued participation in activities related to the Puget Sound Partnership, and the many other ongoing planning and salmon management forums, keeps us informed about and gives the Tribe a stronger voice in decision-making related to regional salmon recovery. The planning/coordination activities conducted by Point No Point help protect natural resources and therefore tribal fishing opportunities, which directly address tribal treaty fishing rights.

Continued Riparian Habitat Protection/Restoration Planning: This planning sub-task targets critical habitat parcels and stream reaches to halt or reverse the decline of healthy riparian corridor habitat. It includes ongoing planning for lower-river and estuary restoration. Much of the planning relates to projects listed in the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity Group’s 3-Year Plan. Benefits include:
• Eventual riparian and habitat improvements in lower Dungeness River.
• Spawning, rearing and refugia habitat improvements in the lower river diked reach.
• A better understanding of riparian planning needs by comparing aerial photos over time.

Water Conservation Planning: Further irrigation efficiencies projects and/or agreements reached with irrigators can improve in-stream flows. Agreed upon minimum instream flows will facilitate the implementation phase of watershed-wide planning, and help protect in-stream habitat. It is hoped that continued discussions/research on aquifer recharge may provide an alternative water supply option to that of uncontrolled drilling of exempt wells and/or may provide recharge to the water table and base flows during times of low instream flows.