FY2018 Nooksack Tribe Priority Project Implementation and Maintenance

Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Acquisition

Instream Habitat
Project ID18-NOOK-01
Recovery DomainsPuget Sound
Start Date08/01/2021
End Date09/30/2022
Year2018
StatusCompleted
Last Edited01/25/2024
 
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Description    


This project involved construction of a new priority Nooksack chinook habitat restoration project: NF Nooksack River Maple Reach Phase 2 Restoration. We originally proposed to support implementation of the NF Maple Phase 1 project, but funding remaining from a prior project was allocated instead to that project, and this funding was re-allocated to the next phase of restoration. We also originally proposed to support maintenance of past priority projects, but no funding needs for maintenance were identified and no work was completed on worksite 2.


NF Nooksack River Maple Reach Phase 2 Restoration involved restoration of instream habitat in the North Fork Nooksack River, Maple Reach (RM 50.1-50.5), near Maple Falls in Whatcom County, to address North/Middle Fork (NF/MF) Nooksack chinook limiting factors of high channel instability and low habitat diversity as part of the first of two phases of restoration. Specifically, 18 engineered log jams (ELJs) were constructed, including 6 type 1 ELJs, 5 type 2 ELJs, 6 type 3 ELJs, and 1 flood fence. Final design was completed in May 2022 and included 21 ELJs, but a sudden change in landowner willingness necessitated adjustment to the design such that 2 ELJs were dropped and several ELJs were moved downstream to accommodate landowner concerns. The updated final design included 19 ELJs. However, a shallow bedrock layer was encountered during construction at two locations, resulting in one planned ELJ not being constructed and a second planned ELJ constructed but with several posts not placed to scour depth. Total restoration costs through the project end date (9/30/23) were $1,586,673, and this project contributed about 11.5% of funding. As such, we are reporting 2 ELJs.

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 restoration in the Maple Reach is to improve habitat conditions to address early chinook limiting factors of high channel instability and low habitat diversity by restoring habitat conditions and addressing the root causes of habitat degradation, namely the lack of large stable log jams that form and maintain forested islands, floodplain and associated side channels. Restoration is designed to benefit Nooksack early chinook egg-to emergence and early rearing survival by restoring stable side channels; there will be collateral benefits to other species that use the reach (steelhead, bull trout, coho, chum, sockeye, pink, cutthroat trout). The objective of the project is to place engineered log jams and stabilize existing log jams in order to stabilize alluvial bars and increase pool frequency, edge habitat, complex cover, and connectivity to stable side channel habitats with suitable spawning areas. This project is expected to lead to measurable improvement in the following habitat viability and project effectiveness indicators (Nooksack Chinook Monitoring and Adaptive Management Framework): pool frequency, natural and woody edge habitat length, floodplain forest, riparian forest stand age, forested islands, number of stable log jams, low and high flow cover, and side channel/braid-main channel ratio.

The Tribe has constructed 256 engineered log jams in priority reaches of the North and South Forks of the Nooksack River since 2007. Since that time, Tribal staff have been conducting annual visits to and periodic monitoring of stability and effectiveness of past projects, which include the Kalsbeek (2007), Todd/Sygitowicz (2008/2010), Van Zandt (2010), Hardscrabble (2012), Downstream of Hutchinson (2012/2014-2015), and Nesset (2016+) reaches in the South Fork Nooksack River; and Lone Tree (2008/2010), Wildcat (2011/2012/2013), and Farmhouse (2014-current) reaches in the North Fork Nooksack River. 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 and funding constraints, 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 .70 .03

Funding Details

SourceFunds
PCSRF$182,158
Report Total:$182,158


Project Map



Worksites

52021221    


  • Worksite Identifier: 52021221
  • Start Date:
  • End Date:
Area Description
NF Maple Reach Phase 2

Location Information

  • Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
  • Subbasin: Nooksack (17110004)
  • Watershed: Lower North Fork Nooksack River (1711000402)
  • Subwatershed: Maple Creek-North Fork Nooksack River (171100040201)
  • State: Washington
  • Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
  • Latitude: 48.914739341092144
  • Longitude: -122.0743552843731

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 182,158.00
    •      . . C.0.b Length of stream treated/protected .70
    •      . . 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.4 Instream Habitat ProjectY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . C.4.a Instream Habitat Funding 182,158.00
      •      . . . . C.4.b Total length of instream habitat treated .70
      •      . . . . 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 .07
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.4 Acres of streambed treated through channel structure placement 1.1
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.5 Pools expected to be created through channel structure placement 1
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.7 Number of structures placed in channel 3

45108976    


  • Worksite Identifier: 45108976
  • Start Date:
  • End Date:
Area Description
NF Maple Phase 1

Location Information

  • Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
  • Subbasin: Nooksack (17110004)
  • Watershed: Lower North Fork Nooksack River (1711000402)
  • Subwatershed: Maple Creek-North Fork Nooksack River (171100040201)
  • State: Washington
  • Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
  • Latitude: 48.916
  • Longitude: -122.074

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 .00
    •      . . C.0.b Length of stream treated/protected .00
    •      . . C.0.c
      Project identified in a Plan or Watershed Assessment
      None
    •      . . 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 .00
      •      . . . . C.4.b Total length of instream habitat treated .00
      •      . . . . 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 .00
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.4 Acres of streambed treated through channel structure placement .0
        •      . . . . . . 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 project0 (Yards)
        •      . . . . . . C.4.d.7 Number of structures placed in channel 0

45109136    


  • Worksite Identifier: 45109136
  • Start Date:
  • End Date:
Area Description
Past priority reaches maintentance

Location Information

  • Basin: Puget Sound (171100)
  • Subbasin: Nooksack (17110004)
  • Watershed: Lower North Fork Nooksack River (1711000402)
  • Subwatershed: Bell Creek-North Fork Nooksack River (171100040203)
  • State: Washington
  • Recovery Domain: Puget Sound
  • Latitude: 48.882064958
  • Longitude: -122.152740955

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 .00
    •      . . C.0.b Length of stream treated/protected .00
    •      . . C.0.c
      Project identified in a Plan or Watershed Assessment
      None
    •      . . 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 .00
      •      . . . . C.11.b.1 Stream or streambank maintainedY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . C.11.b.2 Miles of streambank maintained .00