FY 2013 Continued Dungeness (and ESU) Salmon Recovery Planning and Coordination

[REVISED 3-21-17, PER NOAA COMMENTS/GUIDANCE]

This ongoing project provided salmonid recovery staff support in 3 areas:

(a) Design and planning of riparian habitat restoration and protection projects for streams and tributaries in the Dungeness and Sequim Bay watersheds (WRIAs 17 and 18). This included essential staff support for collaborating with partners on key habitat protection and restoration projects. Our focus continued to be the following: Dungeness Floodplain restoration, including dike setbacks (ongoing); tracking land use activities and reviewing permits that may impact freshwater and marine riparian areas (ongoing); planning for the acquisition of key riparian properties for the protection of ESA-listed salmon; drift cell conservation planning for the Dungeness, Sequim Bay and Washington Harbor drift cells; and, large woody debris installation in Dungeness watershed streams (ongoing).

[Worktype: Coordination of implementation of a recovery plan.]

The Tribe also obtained annual aerial photo images for use in riparian planning (e.g. tracking shoreline development or areas in need of protection, tracking shoreline erosion, etc.). For example, the Tribe began to use the digital imagery to assist in planning of a large woody debris placement in upper Dungeness, which will be constructed in the near future using non-project funds.

[Worktype: Habitat survey to assess habitat condition via remote sensing].

(b) Technical assistance by Tribal staff to restoration partners within various ESA-listed salmon recovery and watershed planning forums. Forums included: the East WRIA 18 Planning Unit (Dungeness River Management Team) and other groups; the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity Group, which coordinates salmon recovery efforts and prioritizes habitat restoration and protection projects for the North Olympic region; the River Restoration Work Group, focusing on Dungeness Watershed restoration; Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC), the implementing entity for the Hood Canal/Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca Summer Chum Recovery Plan (which includes Jimmycomelately Creek and Dungeness River); the Jefferson County Chumsortium, a local technical assistance group that assists HCCC in implementing the habitat portion of the Summer Chum Recovery Plan; Puget Sound Partnership (and the Strait Ecosystem Recovery Network), and the County’s Shoreline Management Planning committee. Technical assistance was also provided to partners on specific projects such as dike setback and lower river/estuary restoration.

[Worktypes: Coordination of implementation of a recovery plan; Evaluation of restoration projects.]

(c) Continued coordination of tribal activities related to ESA-listed salmonid recovery, and directed work by the Point-No-Point Treaty Council (Treaty Council). Treaty Council activities supported by FY2013 PCSRF included many ongoing tasks:
(i). assistance with salmonid habitat protection and restoration planning (e.g., participating as a member of the Hood Canal Coordinating Council Lead Entity Technical Advisory Group to review/rank proposed salmon recovery projects submitted for funding);
(ii). efforts (such as participating meetings and tracking progress) related to developing a recovery plan for ESA-listed Puget Sound Steelhead;
(iii). participation in the development of studies and projects that address factors limiting the productivity of ESA-listed Pacific anadromous salmonids;
(iv). participation in the Treaty Rights at Risk Initiative (including meeting participation) to address habitat protection and habitat restoration efforts needed to address loss of salmon habitat and the consequent loss of treaty-reserved resources;
(v). participation in the implementation of the Puget Sound Partnership’s 2012 Action Agenda via the Lead Integrating Organizations for the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Strait ERN) and Hood Canal (HCCC) regions.

a) Design and planning of riparian habitat restoration and protection projects for streams and tributaries in the Dungeness and Sequim Bay watersheds (WRIAs 17 and 18). This planning targets critical habitat parcels and stream reaches in efforts to halt or reverse the decline of healthy riparian corridor habitat. 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 and habitat changes by comparing aerial photos over time.
• The habitat, harvest and hatchery management planning and implementation activities help protect tribal fishing opportunities, which directly address tribal treaty fishing rights.

Dungeness riparian corridor restoration (including land protection strategies for specific riparian parcels), Dungeness floodplain restoration (including dike setbacks), lower Dungeness River restoration and large woody debris installation are all among the 10 strategic elements for recovery listed in the Dungeness Chapter of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan. Aerial photography is included in the “summary of Dungeness monitoring program” within the Dungeness Chapter of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan. As noted in APPENDIX A of the Puget Sound Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan, funding for staff capacity is an ongoing need to work on the numerous policies, programs and additional planning and coordination needed to move the entire Recovery Plan forward, especially with regard to enhancing habitat regulatory protections and incentive programs.

b) Technical assistance by Tribal staff to restoration partners within various ESA-listed salmon recovery and watershed planning forums. These forums are linked to salmon recovery priorities, as described below:
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 Recovery Plan are intended to improve water quality, in-stream habitat, in-stream flows, and aid in salmon recovery. 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.
c) Continued coordination of tribal activities related to ESA-listed salmonid restoration, and directed work by the Point-No-Point Treaty Council (Treaty Council).
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.