Lower White Pine Reconnection Project Monitoring and Evaluation

Under this project the PCSRF funds were used by the Yakama Nation staff to conduct a total of nine snorkel surveys of the Lower White Pine (LWP) project area and its two accompanying reference reaches (Oxbow and Scale Station) between the summers of 2012 and 2016. This included five nighttime “winter” surveys conducted in December and/or March, and four daytime “summer” snorkels conducted in August or September. Surveys crews were composed of four to six snorkelers depending on water levels and turbidity. Each set of surveys was conducted in a two day period, with the LWP surveys by itself, and the reference reaches surveyed separately.

Monitoring in the LWP also included the operation of two ALL-Flex PIT tag antennas located on Roaring Creek and Coulter Creek; both tributaries of the LWP wetland area. Both antenna units were owned by WDFW, with YNF personnel visiting them weekly, to bi-monthly to replace batteries and download data cards. YNF personnel also aided in maintenance of the systems and basic troubleshooting under the guidance of WDFW personnel. YNF is also in the process of building its own PIT tag antennas to replace the WDFW owned units. Although monitoring of these antennas will not occur until this project has expired, planning and initial building of these units was funded by FY 2011 PCSRF funds in the spring/summer of 2016.

Fall spawning ground surveys were conducted on Roaring Creek between 2012 and 2015. Surveys were conducted in conjunction with YNF’s concurrent coho spawning ground surveys. Depending on the number of fish know have passed into the upper basin (via Tumwater dam count), surveys were conducted either bi-monthly or a few times per season (September 15 through December 1).

With additional contributions from other funding sources than PCSRF, a total of 109 watershed acres were monitored and 1.5 miles were monitored for adult and smolt salmonid populations. Also 2.1 miles of the LWP project area was monitored for biological instream indices, water quality, water quantity, habitat conditioning, post-project implementation, restoration effectiveness and streambank monitoring. Water velocity and depth were measured at high and low flow at 16 permanent sites selected throughout the study area in potential fish habitat using a portable flow meter and measuring stick or stadia road. Water temperature was monitored continuously using data loggers that measured water level at the same 16 permanent sites used for depth and flow measurements. Other water quality collected at water quality monitoring sites before and after implementation included dissolved oxygen (DO). Turbidity measurements were also taken at the same time. Photo points were established and sites were chosen to display likely changes in vegetation and inundation. Vegetative changes will most likely result from changes in the hydrology of the restored floodplain. To capture these changes the same subset of photo point transects were used. Sampling sites were located at 50 m intervals along the transect line starting from the center line of the transect and moving north and south of that center line. Beaver ponds were marked using GPS prior to implementation and then annually after implementation. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected instream with a 330 mm i.d. X 400 mm high 363 µm nitex Hess Stream Sampler near the substrate or in fine substrate using a 5 cm diameter plastic pvc core. Cores were taken to a depth of 10 cm yielding a volume of 196.25 cm3. Drift invertebrates were collected using a drift sampler or fall-out trap.

Benefits will include accessibility to an increased amount of “preferred” habitats for multiple life histories and life stages to include migratory access to spawning grounds, increased juvenile rearing and foraging opportunities, overwinter access to groundwater influenced waters, etc.). ESA listed species such as spring Chinook,summer steelhead and bull trout as well as reintroduced coho salmon, would likely utilize these areas with the hypothesis that each species would benefit from the additional niche being provided for these multiple species of concern. The Nason Creek drainage has a high potential to increase salmonid abundance and productivity; therefore, the restoration of ecosystem function in Nason Creek through increasing habitat complexity is a priority for salmon recovery in the Wenatchee watershed (Upper Columbia Regional Technical Team 2008). Currently, Nason Creek is home to stable populations of spring Chinook and steelhead populations as well as a targeted stream of emphasis for the Mid-Columbia Coho Reintroduction Program and historically thought to be one of the main contributors of coho in the Wenatchee basin.