Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Planning

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Planning

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Annual ReviewMay 2014

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

The Problem: Nisqually Steelhead abundance plummets in early 90’s

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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

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Smolt-to-adult survival rates for three Puget Sound populations (Elwha, Skagit, Puyallup), three coastal Washington populations (Quillayute, Quinault, Humptulips, Chehalis), and Lower Columbia River (Kalama and Washougal; summer and winter-run). Averages for some years do not include all populations within a region because of the lack of SAR estimates in some populations in some years. Data were compiled by Iris Kemp (LLTK).

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Nisqually Steelhead Early-Marine Survival

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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Plan Development

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Funding for Plan: $87,500 (thank you Recovery Council) + NIT match

Identify Goals and Objectives for all H’sEvaluate Steelhead Biological Information and

Habitat ConditionsAssess Habitat Potential using EDTIdentify Restoration, Protection, and Assessment

PrioritiesDevelop Implementation/Action PlanIntegrate Steelhead Recovery into existing

Nisqually Chinook adaptive management processDevelop an Open Standards nexus for integration

with regional plan

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Plan Goals and Objectives

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Goals and objectives developed based on co-manager and Nisqually River Council discussions.

Include short and long term conservation, habitat, and harvest metrics.

In-Review….

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

1st step: Review current and historic Nisqually Steelhead Biological Information and Nisqually River Habitat Conditions

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Some takeaways:•Hatchery influence has been minimal, with winter

steelhead supplementation ending in 1981•Current smolt to adult survival is around 1%•Current smolt production is around 65,000, with over

250 smolts/adult estimated for one of the brood years analyzed! –Freshwater survival is very good.

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Steelhead Recruits per Spawner

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Nisqually Steelhead Habitat Potential

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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

What can we do within the watershed to help steelhead in the face of terrible marine survival?

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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

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Nisqually River Watershed

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Primary steelhead habitat (EDT estimate)

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Habitat Potential – 1% SAR

Current Abundance about 62% of Historic

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Protection/Restoration Priorities

Degradation Restoration Degradation Restoration Degradation

Nisqually River Mainstem A 1 B 4McAllister Creek E 7 E 7

Muck Creek C 4 A 3Prairie Tributaries B 3 A 2

Toboton/Powell/Lackamas C 5 C 5Ohop Creek C 6 C 6Mashel River B 2 A 1

Percentage change Percentage change Percentage change

Category/rank Category/rankGeographic Area

Change in Abundance with Change in Productivity withProtection

benefitRestoration

benefit

-35% 0% 35% -35% 0% 35%

Degradation Restoration

Percentage change

Change in Diversity Index with

-35% 0% 35%

• Mainstem protection priority similar to Chinook• Mashel restoration of upper reaches emerging top priority• Muck Creek and Prairie Tributaries are priorities unique to Steelhead

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Subbasin Priorities

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Steelhead habitat protection and restoration action plan in review. Some highlights include:

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• Continue to implement Chinook Recovery actions including mainstem and Mashel habitat protection and restoration

• Implement Nisqually Community Forest in upper Mashel River watershed and manage for watershed processes and ecosystem services

• Remove all barriers on small streams • Continue to work with JBLM to protect and restore Muck Cr.• Assess small prairie streams for protection and restoration,

establish a prairie stream stronghold for life history diversity• Integrate Nisqually plan with the regional effort

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Nisqually Estuary

June 2009

Nisqually Estuary

March 2010

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Lower Site – After

Nisqually Chinook Annual Review

Steelhead recovery efforts in the watershed can help prevent extirpation but recovery is not possible without a strong regional commitment to address survival in Puget Sound.

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-Support the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project!