FY2016 Nooksack Tribe Priority Project Implementation and Maintenance

Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Acquisition

Instream Habitat
Project ID16-NOOK-01
Recovery DomainsPuget Sound
Start Date07/01/2018
End Date06/30/2021
Year2016
StatusCompleted
Last Edited01/25/2024
 
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Description    


This project involved both construction of new priority Nooksack chinook habitat restoration projects and maintenance of past priority projects:
• Worksite 1: SF Nooksack Nesset Phase 2. This priority project restored instream habitat in the South Fork Nooksack River, RM 10.95-11.4, near Acme in Whatcom County, to address South Fork (SF) Nooksack chinook limiting factors of lack of key habitat, low habitat diversity, and high temperatures. The project constructed 5 log jams in a 0.4-mile river segment, as part of the second phase of restoration in the Nesset reach. Total project cost was $548,866, funded by: (1) WA State Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) funding: $517,519 (85%; RCO #16-2049); (2) $68,146 (12%) PCSRF FY15 funding; (3) $12,580 (2.3%) PCSRF FY16 funding; and (4) $5,586 (1%) other EPA and BIA funding. NOTE: NWIFC PCSRF FY15 funding provided 12% of the funding, but reported 0.24 miles, 4 pools, and 4 structures placed. Since the source of funding for the RCO grant #16-2049 is PSAR, double reporting to the PCSRF database is not an issue, and full metrics were reported under RCO grant #16-2049. Metrics reported under PCSRF FY15 funding were subtracted from actual metrics, and the remainder reported to this project: 0.16 miles and 1 log jam.
• Worksite 2: North Fork Nooksack Farmhouse Reach Phase 4 Restoration This priority project restored instream and side channel habitat in the North Fork Nooksack River, Farmhouse Phase 4 Reach (RM 47-48), near Kendall in Whatcom County, to address North Fork/Middle Fork (NF/MF) Nooksack early chinook limiting factors of high channel instability and low habitat diversity. The project constructed 56 log jams in a 1.0-mile river segment and will form an estimated 24 pools, as part of the fifth phase of restoration in the broader Farmhouse reach (RM 46.4-49). Initially, PCSRF FY16 funding was expected to comprise a significant match source, but construction bids came in substantially lower than projected, and PCSRFY FY16 funds were allocated to Worksite 3. Total estimated project cost is $3,113,864. Funding sources include: (1) WA State Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) funding: $2,408,695 (77%; RCO #18-1685); (2) $237,910 SRFB – Salmon State funding(7.6%; RCO #18-1685); (3) $377,864 NOAA Critical Stocks funding granted through RCO – ORCA funding program (12%; RCO #18-1685); (4) $75,601 PSP FY16 funding (2.4%); (5) $5,832 PCSRF FY16 funding (.19%); and (6) $7.962 other funding (0.26%). PCSRF FY16 comprised <1% of the total project costs, so we reported 1 log jam and .01 miles treated.
• Worksite 3: North Fork Nooksack Maple Reach Phase 1 Restoration This project, constructed in summer 2021, restores instream and side channel habitat in the North Fork Nooksack River, Maple Phase 1 Reach (RM 49.8-50.1), near Maple Falls in Whatcom County, to address North Fork/Middle Fork (NF/MF) Nooksack early chinook limiting factors of high channel instability and low habitat diversity. The project constructed 22 log jams and 300 ft of flood fencing in a 0.3-mile river segment and will form an estimated 6 pools, as part of the first phase of restoration in the broader Maple reach (RM 49.8 – 50.6). Total estimated project cost is $1,782,758. Funding sources include: (1) WA State Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) funding: $578,593 (32%; RCO #19-1395); (2) $634,073 NRCS EQIP funding (36%); (3) $364,395 EPA Puget Sound FY17 and FY18 funding (20%); (4) $117,915 BIA funding (6.6%); (5) $79,506 PCSRF FY16 funding (4.5%); and (6) <1% other funding. Although PCSRF FY16 funding comprised <1% of the total project costs, we are reporting full metrics: 22 log jams, 0.3 miles treated, 6 pools formed.
Worksite 4: Past restoration sites. This project addressed maintenance needs of past restoration projects. The only maintenance needed was to replace hazard signs as needed in reaches restored through the lower South Fork.

Project Benefit    


South Fork Nooksack and North Fork/Middle Fork Nooksack early chinook are essential for ESU recovery, but wild abundances and productivity are critically low. Restoring instream habitat in both Forks through the construction of historic-scale engineered log jams is an important strategy to improve abundance and productivity in the near term.

The primary goal of chinook habitat restoration in the South Fork Nooksack River is to address South Fork Nooksack early chinook limiting factors of lack of key habitat (deep pools with complex woody cover), low habitat diversity, and high water temperatures by restoring the stable log jams that historically formed pools, created temperature refuges, provided complex cover, and connected floodplains. Higher wood loading should impede flow and roughen the channel enough to reduce effective shear stress throughout the reach, thereby reducing sediment transport and redd scour and channel incision in the reach. Riparian areas in the reach have been or will be restored through other funding sources, with the exception of structure locations and disturbed areas, which will be replanted through this project. Restoration is designed to benefit Nooksack early chinook adult (holding and spawning life stages), incubation, and juvenile life stages (post-emergence, oversummer, overwinter rearing), although there will be collateral benefits to other species that use the reach [steelhead, bull trout, coho, chum, riverine sockeye, and pink salmon (odd- and even-year stocks), as well as cutthroat trout]. Restoration of the lower South Fork

Specific near-term objectives of Nesset Reach Phase 2 Restoration are to construct 5 historic-scale instream logjams to accomplish the following objectives:
• Length treated: 0.45 river miles (immediate)
• Increase in count of stable log jams: 5 (immediate)
• Number of pools formed in the near-term: 5 (2 primary, 3 secondary) after channel-forming flow, ~2 years
• Increase in length of woody cover engaged at low-flow: 233 ft. (immediate)
• Increase in length of woody cover engaged at high flows: 534 ft. (immediate)
• Increased number of temperature refuges: 1 (pool formed at Pond Creek confluence after channel-forming flow)

The Tribe has constructed 233 engineered log jams in priority reaches of the North and South Forks of the Nooksack River since 2007. For the most part, structures have met or exceeded our expectations in terms of stability and effectiveness. However, although structures are designed to remain stable in a 100-year-recurrence-interval flood, we have observed some damage and/or unanticipated channel response to structures, due to a combination of limitations of the design process, pressure to use only natural materials in construction, and the unpredictable nature of channel dynamics. While we have adapted our designs over time as a result, we have identified the need for funding to be able to address maintenance needs of past projects as they arise. In addition, as a condition of Tribe’s Aquatic Use Authorization, WA Department of Natural Resources requires that the Tribe monitor structures at least annually – if there any public safety concerns identified, they may require staff to take actions to reduce risk (e.g. signage, restrict access, fill voids with gravel). The goal of the maintenance component of the project is to ensure that engineered log jams that have been constructed to date remain stable and effective and do not cause unintended negative consequences to adjacent landowners or the public, and that riparian plantings meet survival targets and are on trajectory to forested condition. This project will benefit salmonid habitat directly by increasing longevity and magnitude of habitat benefit and indirectly by increasing support for habitat restoration by increasing agency, landowner, and public confidence in our commitment to maintenance.

Accomplishments

Metric Completed Originally
Proposed
Instream Habitat
  Stream Miles Treated .47 .12

Funding Details

SourceFunds
PCSRF$113,256
Report Total:$113,256


Project Map



Worksites

NF Maple Phase 1    


  • Worksite Identifier: NF Maple Phase 1
  • Start Date:
  • End Date:
Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

  • Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
  • Subbasin: Nooksack (17110004)
  • Watershed: Lower North Fork Nooksack River (1711000402)
  • Subwatershed:
  • State: Washington
  • Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
  • Latitude: 48.913747
  • Longitude: -122.077304

ESU

  • Puget Sound Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • C.0 Salmonid Habitat Restoration and AcquisitionY (Y/N)
    •      . . C.0.a Habitat restoration and acquisition funding 88,065.00
    •      . . C.0.b Length of stream treated/protected .30
    •      . . C.0.c
      Project identified in a Plan or Watershed Assessment
      Shared Strategy Development Committee and National Marine Fisheries Service. 2007. Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan for the Puget Sound Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Comprised of two documents: 1) Shared Strategy Development Committee, 2005, Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan, Volumes I and II, adopted by the National Marine Fisheries Service on January 19, 2007; and 2) NMFS, 2006, Final Supplement to the Shared Strategy's Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan.
    •      . . C.0.d.1 Project Monitoring (LOV)
    •      . . C.0.d.2 Monitoring Location (LOV)
    •      . . C.0.d.3
      Monitoring text (from Phase I)
      As-built report
    •      . . C.4 Instream Habitat ProjectY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . C.4.a Instream Habitat Funding 88,065.00
      •      . . . . C.4.b Total length of instream habitat treated .30
      •      . . . . C.4.d.1 Channel structure placementY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.2 Material used for channel structure (LOV)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.3 Miles of stream treated through channel structure placement .30
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.5 Pools expected to be created through channel structure placement 6
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.7 Number of structures placed in channel 22

SF Nesset Ph2    


  • Worksite Identifier: SF Nesset Ph2
  • Start Date:
  • End Date:
Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

  • Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
  • Subbasin: Nooksack (17110004)
  • Watershed: South Fork Nooksack River (1711000404)
  • Subwatershed:
  • State: Washington
  • Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
  • Latitude: 48.694180691172754
  • Longitude: -122.16542243957304

ESU

  • Puget Sound Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • C.0 Salmonid Habitat Restoration and AcquisitionY (Y/N)
    •      . . C.0.a Habitat restoration and acquisition funding 11,525.00
    •      . . C.0.b Length of stream treated/protected .16
    •      . . C.0.c
      Project identified in a Plan or Watershed Assessment
      Shared Strategy Development Committee and National Marine Fisheries Service. 2007. Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan for the Puget Sound Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).
    •      . . C.0.d.1 Project Monitoring (LOV)
    •      . . C.0.d.2 Monitoring Location (LOV)
    •      . . C.4 Instream Habitat ProjectY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . C.4.a Instream Habitat Funding 11,525.00
      •      . . . . C.4.b Total length of instream habitat treated .16
      •      . . . . C.4.d.1 Channel structure placementY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.2 Material used for channel structure (LOV)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.3 Miles of stream treated through channel structure placement .16
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.4 Acres of streambed treated through channel structure placement
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.5 Pools expected to be created through channel structure placement 0
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.6 Yards of average stream-width at mid-point of channel structure placement project (Yards)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.7 Number of structures placed in channel 1

NF Farmhouse Phase 4    


  • Worksite Identifier: NF Farmhouse Phase 4
  • Start Date:
  • End Date:
Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

  • Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
  • Subbasin: Nooksack (17110004)
  • Watershed: Lower North Fork Nooksack River (1711000402)
  • Subwatershed:
  • State: Washington
  • Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
  • Latitude: 48.90321559327171
  • Longitude: -122.12136418084665

ESU

  • Puget Sound Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • C.0 Salmonid Habitat Restoration and AcquisitionY (Y/N)
    •      . . C.0.a Habitat restoration and acquisition funding 6,859.00
    •      . . C.0.b Length of stream treated/protected .01
    •      . . C.0.c
      Project identified in a Plan or Watershed Assessment
      Shared Strategy Development Committee and National Marine Fisheries Service. 2007. Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan for the Puget Sound Chinook Salmon. WRIA 1 Salmon Recovery Board. 2015. SRFB/PSAR 2015 Project Strategy Matrices. Bellingham, WA.
    •      . . C.0.d.1 Project Monitoring (LOV)
    •      . . C.0.d.2 Monitoring Location (LOV)
    •      . . C.4 Instream Habitat ProjectY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . C.4.a Instream Habitat Funding 6,859.00
      •      . . . . C.4.b Total length of instream habitat treated .01
      •      . . . . C.4.d.1 Channel structure placementY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.2 Material used for channel structure (LOV)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.3 Miles of stream treated through channel structure placement .01
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.4 Acres of streambed treated through channel structure placement
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.5 Pools expected to be created through channel structure placement 0
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.6 Yards of average stream-width at mid-point of channel structure placement project (Yards)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.7 Number of structures placed in channel 1

Past restoration sites    


  • Worksite Identifier: Past restoration sites
  • Start Date:
  • End Date:
Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

  • Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
  • Subbasin: Nooksack (17110004)
  • Watershed: Middle Fork Nooksack River (1711000403)
  • Subwatershed:
  • State: Washington
  • Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
  • Latitude: 48.825166089
  • Longitude: -122.043457031

ESU

  • Puget Sound Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • C.0 Salmonid Habitat Restoration and AcquisitionY (Y/N)
    •      . . C.0.a Habitat restoration and acquisition funding 6,807.00
    •      . . C.0.b Length of stream treated/protected .10
    •      . . C.0.c
      Project identified in a Plan or Watershed Assessment
      WRIA 1 Salmon Recovery Board. 2015. SRFB/PSAR 2015 Project Strategy Matrices. Bellingham, WA. Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Various years. Aquatic Lands Conservation License. Individual licenses granted to projects.
    •      . . C.0.d.1 Project Monitoring (LOV)
    •      . . C.0.d.2 Monitoring Location (LOV)
    •      . . C.11 Site maintenance projectY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . C.11.a Site maintenance funding 6,807.00
      •      . . . . C.11.b.1 Stream or streambank maintainedY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . C.11.b.2 Miles of streambank maintained .10