CRP Chapter Update

The project updated the estuarine restoration target chapter in the 2005 Stillaguamish Chinook Recovery Plan (Plan). Since Plan was written, much more data had been collected in the Stillaguamish estuary (fish use, habitat quality and extent- both current and historic), and the original targets were in need of a comprehensive update. The Plan is the road map for watershed stakeholders as they work to recover harvestable populations of Chinook salmon in the Stillaguamish, and is designed to be a living document that evolves as more information is collected. The Plan contains 10 and 50-year restoration targets in each of the six habitat limiting factor categories, including estuary habitat. We analyzed recently released historic habitat reconstructions and produced a white paper (including new maps) that updated the estuarine targets in the Plan with the most recent data that available for the Stillaguamish estuary. While the old targets only included goals for marsh restoration, the new targets in the white paper include acreage in emergent marsh, shrub scrub, and tidal forested habitat types. All together, the restoration targets increased by almost 1000 acres, spread amongst the three habitat types. The white paper allows for an informed prioritization of restoration work in the Stillaguamish estuary going forward, and enables watershed stakeholders to revise their progress towards Chinook recovery goals.

The goal of the project is to produce a white paper updating the estuarine habitat restoration targets in the 2005 Chinook Recovery Plan. The white paper will detail the location, type, and extent of restoration needed based on a detailed GIS analysis of recently completed historic habitat reconstructions undertaken by the River History Project at the University of Washington. Currently the estuarine chapter is light on specifics (e.g. only lists targets for marsh restoration and neglects riverine tidal and shrub scrub habitats altogether) for watershed stakeholders, and the proposed project will provide much more detail for those seeking to plan and implement estuarine restoration projects in the Stillaguamish. The current Plan significantly underestimates the restoration needs in the estuary, and the proposed white paper will educate policy makers and watershed stakeholders to the habitat needs of Chinook in the Stillaguamish estuary.