Reach-Scale Plan: South Fork Nooksack River
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REACH-SCALE PLAN: SOUTH FORK NOOKSACK RIVER Prepared For: Nooksack Indian Tribe Funded By: Washington Department of Ecology Grant Agreement #SEANEP-2015-NookIT-00024 Prepared By: Nooksack Natural Resources Department June 2017 Disclaimer: This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under Assistance Agreements BG - 00J70201, by the Bureau of Indian Affairs under Assistance Agreement A07AV00183, and by the WashinGton Department of EcoloGy Grant Agreement #SEANEP-2015-NookIT-00024 to the Nooksack Indian Tribe. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of these agencies, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. South Fork Nooksack River Reach-Scale Plan June 2017 i List of Preparers: Oliver Grah, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Water Resources ProGram Manager, Project Manager Holly O’Neil, Crossroads Consulting, Co-Project Manager, Public Outreach Specialist Michael Maudlin, Nooksack Indian Tribe, GeomorpholoGist Treva Coe, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Habitat ProGram Manager Contributors: Ian Smith, Crossroads ConsultinG, Riparian Restoration Specialist Vikki Jackson, Northwest EcoloGical Services, LLC. Wetlands EcoloGist Jason Hatch, WashinGton Water Trust, Water RiGhts Specialist Jezra Beaulieu, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Water Resources Specialist Chris Elder, Whatcom County PlanninG and Development Services, Agriculture Planner Gabe Epperson, Whatcom Land Trust, Conservation Director Susan Dickerson-LanGe, Natural Systems DesiGn, Inc., Watershed HydroloGist Robert Suttles, Northwest Real Estate Valuation, LLC. Real Estate Appraiser Lindsie Fratus, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Restoration Coordinator Eric Stover, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Restoration Coordinator South Fork Nooksack River Reach-Scale Plan June 2017 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Watershed Characteristics ........................................................................................................ 1 2.1 GeoGraphic SettinG ................................................................................................................ 1 2.2 South Fork Nooksack River Reaches ...................................................................................... 2 2.3 Land Use ................................................................................................................................ 5 2.4 HydroloGy .............................................................................................................................. 6 2.5 Sediment ................................................................................................................................ 8 2.6 Stream Temperature ............................................................................................................. 9 2.7 Riparian Conditions ............................................................................................................. 10 2.8 Channel Processes ............................................................................................................... 11 2.9 Salmonids ............................................................................................................................ 13 2.9.1 Occurrence ................................................................................................................... 13 2.9.2 Salmon Habitat Restoration Projects ........................................................................... 16 3.0 Climate ChanGe Impacts on the South Fork Nooksack River ................................................... 17 3.1 General Impacts................................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Snow Accumulation and Melt ............................................................................................. 18 3.3 Stream Flow ......................................................................................................................... 19 3.4 Stream Temperature ........................................................................................................... 23 3.5 Sediment Dynamics ............................................................................................................. 24 3.6 Spatial Distribution of Impacts ............................................................................................ 25 4.0 South Fork Nooksack River Watershed Community EnGagement .......................................... 29 4.1 Background .......................................................................................................................... 29 4.2 Methods and Results ........................................................................................................... 30 4.3 Next Steps ............................................................................................................................ 31 5.0 Recommended Actions for Watershed Restoration and Conservation .................................. 32 5.1 Floodplain Reconnection ..................................................................................................... 32 5.1.1 Objective ....................................................................................................................... 33 5.1.2 ChallenGes and Opportunities ...................................................................................... 33 5.1.3 Actions .......................................................................................................................... 34 South Fork Nooksack River Reach-Scale Plan June 2017 iii 5.2 Stream Flow Regimes .......................................................................................................... 34 5.2.1 Description ................................................................................................................... 34 5.2.2 Objective ....................................................................................................................... 35 5.2.3 Challenges and Solutions .............................................................................................. 35 5.2.4 Actions .......................................................................................................................... 35 5.3 Erosion and Sediment Delivery ........................................................................................... 35 5.3.1 Description ................................................................................................................... 35 5.3.2 Objective ....................................................................................................................... 36 5.3.3 ChallenGes and Solutions .............................................................................................. 36 5.3.4 Actions .......................................................................................................................... 36 5.4 Riparian Restoration ............................................................................................................ 36 5.4.1 Description ................................................................................................................... 36 5.4.2 Objective ....................................................................................................................... 37 5.4.3 ChallenGes and Solutions .............................................................................................. 37 5.4.4 Actions .......................................................................................................................... 37 5.5 Instream Rehabilitation ....................................................................................................... 37 5.5.1 Description ................................................................................................................... 37 5.5.2 Objective ....................................................................................................................... 38 5.5.3 ChallenGes and Solutions. ............................................................................................. 38 5.5.4 Actions .......................................................................................................................... 38 5.6 Acquisition and Easements ................................................................................................. 39 5.6.1 Description ................................................................................................................... 39 5.6.2 Objective ....................................................................................................................... 39 5.6.3 ChallenGes and Opportunities ...................................................................................... 39 5.6.4 Actions .......................................................................................................................... 39 5.7 Fish Passage Barrier Removal .............................................................................................. 39 5.7.1 Description ................................................................................................................... 39 5.7.2 Objectives ....................................................................................................................