Twisp River Nutrient Assessment

Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)

Monitoring
Project ID2007-4-09
Recovery DomainsUpper Columbia River
Start Date02/01/2008
End Date11/30/2009
Year2007
StatusCompleted
Last Edited01/26/2024
 
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Description    


Pacific salmonid populations have declined dramatically across the Columbia River Basin. These population declines are often due to cumulative effects of multiple factors affecting production in freshwater and marine environments. An important result of these population declines is the concurrent nutrient, productivity, and ecosystem function losses associated with significantly reduced marine derived nutrient (MDN) loading rates from the loss of salmon carcass. Anadromous salmon carcasses provide significant amounts of MDN, which historically provided the bases for primary productivity in stream systems, especially in the interior areas which are naturally oligotrophic. Lower MDN loading from diminished salmon runs results in negative feedback through reduced juvenile rearing capacity for Pacific salmon systems. Recent research has indicated that MDN loading rates as low as 6-15% of historical levels currently exist among anadromous salmon spawning streams in the Pacific Northwest.
This project quantified and evaluated the nutrient status and availability in the Methow River Basin, a Subbasin of the Upper Columbia River watershed area in north central Washington, in response to diminished anadromous salmon runs. This project conducted a rigorous multi-trophic level sampling program to quantify and evaluate baseline water quality and nutrient availability, primary and secondary productivity rates including algal, periphyton, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities. A stratified random sampling design was used to select study sites in each of the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the study area river(s). The goal was to develop a comprehensive pre- and any post-treatment (experimental nutrient addition) biological assessment. This project provides the necessary adaptive management framework to determine if nutrient limitation and/or imbalance currently exist and to generate empirically-based recommendations and prescriptions for restoring limnological conditions needed to increase natural production of anadromous salmonids in the study area river(s).

Project Benefit    


As described above, productivity for spring chinook and steelhead is exceeding low. With relatively intact and functional habitat, one explanation to extremely low freshwater production may be due to oligitrophication caused by declining returns of salmon derived nutrients.
The proposed study would identify the magnitude and need for nutrient enhancement and is the first step in implementing a controlled nutrient enhancement program within the Methow Basin. Such a program has the potential to significantly increase productivity for all species of anadromous salmonids within the basin; increasing habitat capacity and ultimately abundance.

Accomplishments

Metric Completed Originally
Proposed
Research and Monitoring
  Stream Miles Monitored 20.60 20.60

Funding Details

SourceFunds
PCSRF$36,558
Report Total:$36,558


Project Map



Worksites

1. Twisp River    


  • Worksite Identifier: 1. Twisp River
  • Start Date:
  • End Date:
Area Description

No Area Description data was found for this worksite.

Location Information

  • Basin: Upper Columbia (170200)
  • Subbasin: Methow
  • Watershed:
  • Subwatershed:
  • State: Washington
  • Recovery Domain: Upper Columbia River
  • Latitude: 48.4633
  • Longitude: -120.6

ESU

  • Upper Columbia River Summer- and Fall-run Chinook Salmon ESU
  • Upper Columbia River Steelhead DPS
  • Un-Named ESU Coho
  • Upper Columbia River Spring-run Chinook Salmon ESU

Map

Photos

Metrics

Metrics
  • E.0 Salmonid Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RM&E)Y (Y/N)
    •      . . E.0.a RM&E Funding 16,558.00
    •      . . E.0.b
      Complement habitat restoration project
      unknown
    •      . . E.0.c
      Project identified in a plan or watershed assessment.
      unknown
    •      . . E.0.d.1 Number of Cooperating Organizations 3
    •      . . E.0.d.2
      Name Of Cooperating Organizations.
      Yakama Nation Fisheries Resource Management, University of Idaho, Cramer Fish Sciences
    •      . . E.0.e.1 Number of reports prepared 0
    •      . . E.0.e.2
      Name Of Report
      none
    •      . . E.1 MonitoringY (Y/N)
      •      . . . . E.1.a Monitoring funding 16,558.00
      •      . . . . E.1.b.1 Stream Miles Monitored 20.60
      •      . . . . E.1.b.2 Acres of Watershed Area Monitored .0
      •      . . . . E.1.b.3 Square miles of water monitored0 (Square miles)
      •      . . . . E.1.c.3 Biological instream monitoring (other than salmon)Y (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.3.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) monitored for Biological indicies (other than salmon) 20.60
      •      . . . . E.1.c.8 Water quality monitoringY (Y/N)
        •      . . . . . . E.1.c.8.a # miles (to nearest 0.01 mile) of stream monitored for water quality 20.60
        •      . . . . E.1.d
          Name Of Comprehensive Monitoring Strategy/Program
          none
        •      . . . . E.1.e
          Description of monitoring
          Though adaptive changes to watershed programs and policies have not yet been attained, this project funding started and important monitoring program that now has funding for 10 years through BPA. Given the complexities of food web monitoring adaptive changes in policy could be years away. This initial funding allowed for the collection and analysis of water quality parameters that are being used to evaluate nutrient availability.