Continued Salmon Recovery Planning and Coordination

Watershed & Salmon Recovery Planning: The project supported the Tribes continued leadership role on the local watershed council (DRMT) by coordinating watershed/sub-basin planning & provide ongoing staff support (as Tribal and/or DRMT representative) in local and regional salmon recovery planning forums. This included involvement in meetings related to Chinook salmon recovery and meetings related to implementation and revision of the Puget Sound Partnerships Action Agenda, and preliminary planning for recovery of ESA-listed Puget Sound Steelhead. PCSR funding was passed through to the PNP Treaty Council to continue coordination with other Tribes and agencies on recovery planning activities in ESUs for ESA-listed fish. PNP provided status reports on salmon recovery planning in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

With technical consulting assistance from a Natural Resources (NR) Consultant, the Tribe continued to participate in the WRIA 18 in-stream flow and water management rulemaking process and related meetings with DOE for WRIA 18. The Consultant participated in planning meetings, consultation meetings, as well as internal Tribal NR meetings. Tribal staff and the DRMT provided comments to Ecology on various drafts of the Rule, and the Tribe participated in a Local Leaders Work Group to provide related strategies and recommendations to Ecology. The DRMT continues to discuss plans for developing a Detailed Implementation Plan for the East WRIA 18 Watershed Plan. The rule is scheduled to become effective by Ecology in January, 2013.

Riparian Habitat Protection/Restoration Planning: The project supported our restoration planner in providing continued technical assistance on several planning processes related to riparian protection and restoration of several creeks of importance to the Tribe. Some of the planning activities included:
•Continued Dungeness Meadows restoration planning meetings (which included planning for purchase of 20 acres, which was completed with non-project funds).
•Continued Meadowbrook Ck restoration planning (for reconnection to the Dungeness River): PCSR funding supported Tribal staff time at meetings and submitting funding proposals for restoration project, which was ultimately funded and turned over to restoration partner.
•Continue planning for Army Corps dike setback and channel reconstruction in lower Dungeness: Planning involved the Corps, affected landowners, and dike set-back subcommittee - and review of design plans and proposals prepared by ACOE and also consultants.
•Obtain aerial photo flights of pertinent areas for protection/restoration planning purposes. Used aerial photographs in numerous restoration planning and tracking efforts.

Water Conservation Planning: The Tribe continued its water conservation planning efforts by working with the agricultural community, Clallam County, Clallam Conservation District, and/or funding agencies to promote water conservation. The Tribe attended meetings with the irrigators and Ecology and provided comments on the updated agreement between irrigators and Ecology about water withrawals and timing, and in relation to the draft instream flow rule.

Watershed and Salmon Recovery Planning: The Tribes involvement in coordinating recovery projects with community members 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 regional recovery plan are intended to improve water quality, in-stream habitat, in-stream flows, and aid in salmon recovery. We hope that the in-stream flows and water supply strategies that will be set in rule will improve habitat for listed species, and that a successful water exchange can be developed to assist with our water conservation efforts. 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, keep us informed about and give us a stronger voice in decision-making related to regional salmon recovery.

Riparian Habitat Protection/Restoration Planning: This sub-task targets planning for critical habitat parcels and stream reaches to halt or reverse the decline of healthy riparian corridor habitat, including continued planning for lower river and estuary restoration. Much of the planning relates to projects listed in the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity Groups Three Year Plan. Benefits for the various subtasks include:
• Increased awareness and involvement by landowners in the Dungeness Meadows/Kincade reach about the implications of the restoration project (including flood modeling and other information) planned for this reach.
• Eventual reestablishment of the connection of Meadowbrook Creek with the Dungeness River would restore 40 acres of wetland and salt marsh associated with the Creek and with Dungeness Bay. All salmonid species and stock found in Meadowbrook Creek and Dungeness River would benefit.
• Morse Creek restoration is expected to restore high quality mainstem, side channel, and off-channel habitat historically used by all the imperiled Morse Creek salmonids and coastal Cuthroat trout.
• Further planning for and eventual implementation of lower river dike modifications will improve the spawning, rearing and refugia habitat that has been inhibited by lower river dikes and other floodplain alterations.
• Aerial photo flights of the various water bodies are instrumental in understanding habitat modifications and treatments, and for future protection and restoration planning.

Water Conservation Planning: Past water conservation efforts (including ditch piping and agreements established with irrigators) have resulted in documented, measurable increases in in-stream flows in the Dungeness River, but flows in the late summer are still insufficient for ESA-listed salmon during the spawning and migration portions of their life cycle. Further irrigation efficiencies projects and/or agreements reached with irrigators can improve in-stream flows. Agreed upon minimum instream flows will facilitate the implementation phase of watershed-wide planning, and help protect in-stream habitat. It is hoped that continued discussions/research on aquifer recharge may provide an alternative water supply option to that of uncontrolled drilling of exempt wells and/or may provide recharge to the water table and base flows during times of low instream flows.