Contributions

This technical memo gives an initial summary of the 2021 field monitoring in Port Susan Bay and the initial results of water conditions observed and fish captured. This memo encompasses all monitoring that occurred in the greater Port Susan Bay … Continued

The zis a ba tidal marsh restoration site is located in the Stillaguamish River Delta at the mouth of the old Stillaguamish River. European-American settlement in the late 19th century converted most of the Stillaguamish Delta from tidal marsh and … Continued

The Leque tidal marsh restoration site is located in the Stillaguamish River Delta opposite the mouth of the old Stillaguamish River. European-American settlement in the late 19th century converted most of the Stillaguamish Delta from tidal marsh and floodplain swamp … Continued

The zis a ba tidal marsh restoration site is located in the Stillaguamish River Delta at the mouth of the old Stillaguamish River. European-American settlement in the late 19th century converted most of the Stillaguamish Delta from tidal marsh and … Continued

This technical memo summarizes fish and habitat monitoring that occurred during 2022 and 2023 that are intended to evaluate the effect of restoration on fish use and habitat condition at the site. The project is funded by ESRP as a … Continued

Alluvial fans, as nodes in a discontinuous nested stream hierarchy, offer unique challenges and opportunities to restoration practitioners and fisheries research scientists. Illabot Creek alluvial fan restoration removed hydromodifications and reestablished multiple stream channels along a historically channelized reach of … Continued

Phase 1 of the Barnaby Slough Restoration Project involved removing off-channel hydromodifications such as dikes and structures to increase connectivity and natural process in a historically modified floodplain reach. Pre-project effectiveness monitoring for this project included evaluation of juvenile fish … Continued

In 2022, Skagit River Systems Cooperative sampled Lone Tree Creek within and upstream of the 1000 Trails Campground. The purpose of this monitoring effort is to evaluate effectiveness of removal of log weirs and channel roughening to improve fish accessibility … Continued

This memorandum is a technical summary of the activities related to WDFW contract #20-15118. The specific tasks of the contract to be completed include: Task 1) survey channel cross sections and profiles, Task 2) mapping of beaver dams, lodges and … Continued

In 2023, Skagit River System Cooperative (SRSC) sampled Lone Tree Creek within and upstream of the 1000 Trails Campground. The purpose of this monitoring effort is to continue to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration actions completed in 2021 to replace … Continued

Skagit headwater streams show a range of sensitivities to thermal inputs from surface processes (e.g. sunlight, air temperature). Some sites located close to channel heads had a stable temperature regime moderated by cool groundwater inputs. However, most sites were responsive … Continued

Estuarine habitats are essential nursery grounds for outmigrating juvenile Pacific salmonids (Oncorynchus spp.), specifically those with an ocean-type life-history strategy (Simenstad et al 1982). The Skagit River system in northern Puget Sound, Washington is unique in that it supports all … Continued

The WSU Island County Beach Watchers are working collaboratively with the Island County Marine Resources Committee and Washington State Parks. Collecting data about juvenile salmonid use of the nearshore at Cornet Bay is a part of the characterization process of … Continued

The WSU Island County Beach Watchers are working collaboratively with the Island County Marine Resources Committee and Washington State Parks. Collecting data about juvenile salmonid use of the nearshore at Cornet Bay is a part of the characterization process of … Continued

Across Washington State’s forested landscape, fish barriers exist where road crossings over streams were constructed during previous management and regulatory regimes that did not require passability. However, industrial and state forest landowners have been required to inventory and address these … Continued

Studies of fish use in Puget Sound pocket estuaries began in 2002. At first, research was limited to understanding juvenile Chinook salmon use of sites within Skagit Bay (Beamer et al. 2003). In 2004, the study expanded to sites throughout … Continued

Studies of fish use in pocket estuaries throughout the Whidbey Basin began in 2002. At first, research was limited to understanding juvenile Chinook salmon use of sites within Skagit Bay (Beamer et al. 2003). In 2004, studies were expanded to … Continued

While much restoration in Pacific Northwest estuaries has been implemented in order to improve rearing conditions for juvenile Chinook salmon, no studies to date have documented population responses in the focal stock to these restoration efforts. With this intention, we … Continued

Chinook salmon are well known for utilizing natal river tidal deltas, non-natal “pocket estuaries” (nearshore lagoons and marshes), and other estuarine habitats for rearing during outmigration (Reimers 1973, Healey 1980, Beamer et al 2003). Several studies have linked population responses … Continued

One of the goals of the Northwest Straits Commission is to facilitate citizen science by training local citizens on how to collect scientific data and monitor the status of our marine resources and habitats. A second goal of the Commission … Continued

One of the goals of the Northwest Straits Commission is to facilitate citizen science by training local citizens on how to collect scientific data and monitor the status of our marine resources and habitats. A second goal of the Commission … Continued

Our western way of thinking seems steeped in a mindset to change the landscape to suit our purposes and extract its resources. This is a conquering/subduing mindset, not a stewardship mindset. In my opinion, stewardship should be part of our … Continued

Fish use studies of pocket estuaries in the Whidbey Basin started in 2002. At first, research was limited to understanding juvenile Chinook salmon use of sites within Skagit Bay (Beamer et al. 2003). In 2004, study expanded to sites throughout … Continued

Estuaries exist anywhere along the coast where geologic and hydrologic conditions create a partially enclosed, diluted marine body of water. They vary in scale, depending on the size of the enclosure and the amount of freshwater dilution. A large estuary … Continued

Ongoing research conducted by the Skagit River System Cooperative1 observes a density dependent relationship occurring within the Skagit delta on wild ocean type Chinook. The finding provides a solid basis for advocating delta restoration, especially considering the history of approximately … Continued

To better understand decadal watershed and fishery impacts of shallow landsliding, I assessed landslide rates in six sub-areas of the Skagit River basin of northwestern Washington. All inventory areas contain predominantly forestry lands with ongoing timber management. I compiled existing … Continued

The location of perennial and seasonal reaches of non-fish-bearing streams in Washington timberlands has been of particular interest during and since the development of the Forest and Fish Report (FFR) in 1998. Under the current Washington Forest Practices Rules (WFPB … Continued

Mean annual and low flows (2-year 7-day) for Skagit River tributaries are useful for a variety of applications, including the establishment of in-stream flow requirements. This brief report documents the development of two relatively simple regression equations that may be … Continued

Despite their infrequent occurrence, major peakflows (>25-year recurrence, or annual probability <4%) play a major role in damaging road crossings and other stream-associated structures (Furniss et al. 1998), often resulting in both serious economic costs and significant aquatic habitat impacts … Continued

The following report presents selected study results that are relevant to regulatory water typing of non-fish-bearing streams in northwestern Washington. It was developed to make this information available prior to finalization of permanent Forest Practices Rules, expected to occur in … Continued

Although forest roads can adversely impact watershed processes by adding sediment and constraining stream channels, adequately sized road crossing structures can reduce such impacts. According to Washington State Forest Practice Rules, Type N Water crossing structures must be sized to … Continued

According to the Washington State Forest Practice Rules, perennial streams are defined as “flowing waters that do not go dry any time of a year of normal rainfall” (WAC-222-16-30 (3)). The uppermost point of perennial flow (UMPPF) is considered the … Continued

Stream temperature is an important water quality component, known to strongly affect aquatic life and stream health. Salmon and trout face limitations in Skagit River tributaries during mid-summer, when habitat availability is reduced by low flows and high stream temperatures. … Continued

Juvenile Chinook salmon travel through and utilize nearshore habitats as part of their life cycle. An understanding of how Skagit Chinook salmon utilize nearshore habitats, and how landscape processes and land uses determine and impact nearshore habitats, is necessary for … Continued

Recent changes to Forest Practices Regulations (Forests and Fish Report 1997) spawned out of concerns of inadequate protections to fish resources and pending Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings of local salmon stocks have led to the development of a potential … Continued

Analysis of fish populations and fish habitats in the Skagit River watershed has been hampered for decades by the lack of mapped hydrography that accurately depicts the existence and location of streams in a digital geographic information system (GIS) format. … Continued

Deepwater Slough was restored through dike removal in the summer of 2000 to provide in-channel habitat and restore an important migratory corridor for juvenile Chinook and other salmon in the Skagit Delta. Dikes blocking the channel were removed from a … Continued

The marine riparian zone (MRZ) provides a variety of ecological functions (Levings and Jamieson 2001). Many of them involve movement of material from the terrestrial system to the marine system, and much of this movement is mediated through the flow … Continued

Dugualla DOT Lagoon, located in the southeast corner of Dugualla Bay in Skagit Bay, was created in the autumn of 2016 (Figure 1). This tidal lagoon was created by the Washington Department of Transportation (DOT) as mitigation for wetland impacts … Continued

The South Fork Dike Setback restoration project area is a riverine tidal wetland site located on the left bank of the South Fork of the Skagit River, approximately ¾ of a mile upstream from the town of Conway (Figure 1). … Continued

Delta habitats within the Skagit River basin and other Salish Sea river estuaries have been identified as priority habitat for restoration for the benefit of juvenile Chinook salmon and other listed species by numerous regional planning processes (SRSC and WDFW … Continued

Restoration and protection of Dugualla Heights lagoon was identified as a priority in the Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan (page 216 in SRSC & WDFW 2005) because of its importance to early rearing of wild fry migrant Chinook salmon originating from … Continued

Within the delta and nearshore ecosystems of the Skagit River, Beamer et al. (2005) used habitat connectivity as an attribute to help predict the use of specific habitats for Chinook salmon recovery planning. Landscape connectivity was defined as a function … Continued

Restoration and protection of Dugualla Heights Lagoon was identified as a priority in the Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan (page 216 in SRSC & WDFW 2005) because of its importance to early rearing of wild fry migrant Chinook salmon originating from … Continued

The primary objective for the Lone Tree Creek and Lagoon Pocket Estuary project is to increase the size and ecological capacity of the Lone Tree pocket estuary by restoring: (1) tidal hydrology to the historic drowned channel part of the … Continued

The Deepwater Slough Restoration Project is located in the South Fork Skagit River delta. The project was constructed in August and September of 2000 by removing 2.77 miles of dike and restoring tidal and river hydrology to 221 acres of … Continued

The primary objective for the Lone Tree Creek and Lagoon Pocket Estuary project is to increase the size and ecological capacity of the Lone Tree pocket estuary by restoring tidal hydrology to the historic lagoon and freshwater hydrology and sediment … Continued

This report describes how bull trout use Swinomish Reservation waters based on existing data collected by the Skagit River System Cooperative (SRSC) Research Program. The same general relationships between fish and habitat use and Skagit Bay bull trout population trends … Continued

Small net beach seine methods are used for sampling shallow intertidal shoreline areas of Skagit and Padilla Bays or distributary channel habitat in the Skagit tidal delta and Swinomish Channel. The areas seined are typically less than 4ft deep (1.2m) … Continued

This report summarizes progress made by the Skagit Chinook Life History Study during 1998. The multi-year workplan includes: (1) preparation of juvenile Skagit chinook otolith samples collected by the Skagit Chinook Restoration Study, (2) visual and quantitative analysis of the … Continued

Bowman Beach, Bowman Lagoon and Lottie Bay are located on the northwest side of Deception Pass along Rosario Strait (Figure 1). Large and small net beach seines were used at these sites after methods described in Skagit System Cooperative (2003). … Continued

The Island County Beach Watchers are working collaboratively with the Island County Marine Resources Committee and Washington State Parks. Collecting data about juvenile salmonid use of the nearshore at Cornet Bay is a part of the characterization process of the … Continued

The purpose of this report is to describe the condition of tidal channels on the newly restored Port Susan Bay tidal marsh restoration site, three years after dikes were removed to restore tidal inundation to the site. We anticipate that … Continued