Twisp River Nutrient Assessment II

This project included monitoring of several restoration treatments, habitat complexity, nutrient enhancement and effect of non-native fish and listed fish species. Under this funding eight miles of stream was monitored, one mile of redd counts were monitored. The Habitat component (Hancock Springs) was treatment effectiveness, the nutrient and non-native components were pre-treatment monitoring only (as those treatments will take place in 2014 and 2016).

Benefits to Target Salmon Species: (Short description of the expected benefits to fish. Limit description to 1000 characters) The monitoring of separate and additive stream restoration methods are providing us with effectiveness data that will enable us to evaluate how specifically different life stages of listed salmonids are effected by restoration processes. This data will give us the criteria needed to prioritize a specific action when asking the question “what in-stream limiting factor is most affecting fish”.

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.