FY17 Ongoing Dungeness Salmonid Recovery and Riparian Habitat Restoration Planning and Coordination

Worksite: Sequim/Dungeness Watershed (Location ID: TRS of Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center)
This ongoing project involved three main tasks: 1) planning riparian habitat restoration and protection projects for streams and tributaries in the Dungeness and Sequim Bay watersheds, including use of acquired aerial photo images, as well as orthophotography (geo-referenced images); 2) technical assistance by tribal staff to partners planning and implementing restoration projects benefiting ESA-listed salmonids; and, 3) coordination of activities related to ESA-listed salmonid recovery and watershed restoration, such as leading and participating at DRMT meetings, reviewing/evaluating salmon recovery projects, and including activities appointed by Jamestown to the Point-No-Point Treaty Council (Treaty Council). [Worktypes: Coordination on implementing Recovery Plan; Habitat survey]

Staff engaged in planning and coordination of: floodplain and riparian restoration, including dike setback and large woody debris installations; riparian conservation property acquisitions, including some as recommended in the “Recommended Land Protection Strategies for the Dungeness River Riparian Area (Jamestown Tribe, 2003)” (updated 2017); and other Dungeness River and nearshore habitat restoration opportunities as they arose. [Worktypes: Coordination on implementing Recovery Plan; and, Evaluation/analysis of restoration plans and projects]

Treaty Council efforts (in 2019) assisted with: 1) riparian salmonid habitat protection and restoration planning; 2) furthering development of an ESA-listed Puget Sound Steelhead Recovery Plan and implementation and adaptive management of the HCCC Hood Canal/Strait of Juan de Fuca Summer Chum Salmon Recovery Plan; 3) design of projects that address factors limiting the productivity and viability of ESA-listed Pacific anadromous salmonids; and, 4) participation in other forums, processes and initiatives focused on improving salmonid productivity and viability. [Worktypes: Coordination on implementing Recovery Plan (Chinook); Coordination of development of Recovery Plan (Steelhead); Evaluation/analysis of restoration activities]

Worksite: Dungeness Levee/Setback (Location ID: area of future levee removal) [NOTE: staff time related to this worksite award concluded by 8/21/20 for this FY17, and resumes 8/25/20 within FY18 award]
The project provided technical and project management support for developing designs related to removal and/or setback of levees in the lower Dungeness River. This included a) providing technical expertise to Clallam County on designs related to the Countys lower Army Corps of Engineers dike setback project (referred to as Clallam Countys Lower Dungeness Levee Setback - Phase I, at Dungeness River RM 1.0-1.8), and b) reviewing designs and work products related to the dike removal and setback elements of the River’s Edge project (directly upstream of the County’s project). [Worktypes: Engineering/Design work for restoration projects]

NOTES:
[June 2020] The Tribe received a no-cost extension to 9-30-20 to accommodate a slightly prolonged timeline from what we initially anticipated for some tasks. Most work was completed by 8/31/20.
[December 2020] It was determined that our FY 2018 habitat restoration implementation project (2018-JKST-04) elements that relate to its restoration design work (a NOAA level 1 Priority) would be more appropriately reported under a Worktype (Engineering/design work for restoration projects) within the planning and assessment project of that year. This same circumstance was present with our FY17 award. A separate Worksite (Dungeness Levee Setback) and related Worktype were added to this project to address this. The difference between proposed and actual budgets reflect final accounting following approved budget modification and transferring above Worktype.

Planning and coordination of riparian habitat restoration and protection projects in Dungeness and Sequim Bay watersheds: 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. Ongoing lower Dungeness riparian corridor restoration and Dungeness floodplain restoration are 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 implement recovery plan recommendations, especially with regard to enhancing habitat regulatory protections and incentive programs.

Technical assistance by tribal staff to partners involved with restoration projects that benefit ESA-listed salmonids:
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. Instream flow improvement is one of the 10 strategic elements for recovery listed in the Dungeness Chapter of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan, so participation in related forums is essential.

Coordination of activities related to ESA-listed salmonid recovery and watershed restoration, including those appointed by Jamestown to the Point-No-Point Treaty Council (Treaty Council):
The planning and coordination activities conducted by Point-No-Point helps protect natural resources and therefore tribal fishing opportunities, which directly address tribal treaty fishing rights. Pass through to the Treaty Council helps the Tribe fulfill staff capacity needs by having Treaty staff keep us well-informed on a variety of region-wide salmon recovery issues.

These tasks are recommended in several documents, such as: Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan, WRIA 18 Elwha-Dungeness Watershed Plan, Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative, HCCC Summer Chum Salmon Recovery Plan, and NOPLE Three-Year Work Plan.