FY2015 Nooksack Priority Project Implementation

This project partially funded implementation of priorioty projects in the South Fork Nooksack River, including:
• South Fork Nesset Phase 1 Restoration
Project placed 20 log jams in the South Fork Nooksack River (RM 11.4-11.9) to form deep pools and temperature refuges with complex cover and to promote floodplain connectivity to restore habitat for South Fork Nooksack early chinook. Restoration at this worksite was implemented in summer 2016. Worksite restoration was primarily funded with RCO funding (#15-1283 Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration funding; $1,009,330 allocated), with required 15% match provided primarily by this project ($79,315.44 documented match; $92,373 total funding), and PCSRF FY14 funding. At the time that final reporting for PCSRF project #14-NOOK-02 was completed, it was assumed that RCO would report 85% of metrics to NOAA, and that the Tribe would report 15% of implementation metrics through NWIFC PCSRF projects. However, we have since learned that RCO has reported none of the worksites implementation metrics, so the remainder of benefits beyond that reported under #14-NOOK-02 is being attributed to this project. This project is reporting 0.57 miles treated and 19 log jams.
• South Fork Nesset Phase 2 Restoration
Project placed 5 log jams in the South Fork Nooksack River (RM 11.1-11.4) to form deep pools and temperature refuges with complex cover to restore habitat for South Fork Nooksack early chinook. Restoration was implemented at this worksite in summer 2018. Worksite restoration is being primarily funded with RCO funding (#16-2049 Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration funding; $517,519 allocated), with required 15% match provided primarily by this project ($68,145.56 documented match, $99,289 total funding) and PCSRF FY16 funding. To avoid redundancy, we communicated with RCO staff and ascertained that RCO would not be reporting any worksite implementation metrics to PCSRF. Based on proportional funding contribution relative to #16-NOOK-01, this project is reporting 0.24 miles and 4 log jams.

SF Nooksack early chinook are essential for ESU recovery, but abundances are critically low. A captive brood program was initiated in 2007 to conserve the population, but sustained recovery will not be achieved without an aggressive strategy to restore habitat. The goal of the project is to address the habitat factors most limiting the South Fork Nooksack early Chinook population, especially holding adults: key habitat, low habitat diversity, and high temperatures. Forming deep, complex pools and temperature refuges is expected to reduce prespawn mortality that has been observed in the South Fork related to Columnaris, the virulence of which is greater with increased temperatures. Given the location (2 miles downstream of the Skookum hatchery), the Nesset reach is also expected to be an extremely important area for holding and potentially spawning when South Fork chinook returns increase significantly over the next few years as a result of the successful captive brood program. Other salmonids that use the reach will also benefit, including ESA-listed bull trout and steelhead, as well as coho, chum, pink, and sockeye salmon and cutthroat trout.