Snoqualmie River 2016 Water Temperature Study: Fall City to Carnation

Josh Kubo Environmental Scientist King County Water and Land Resources Division Special Thanks

• Snoqualmie Watershed Forum • King County Staff: Beth Ledoux, Curtis DeGasperi, Kate OLaughlin, Eric Ferguson • Snoqualmie Valley Landowners: Changing Seasons Farm, Full Circle Farm, Jubilee Farm, Keller Farms, Blue Heron Golf Course Why Monitor Temperature in This Reach? • Groundwater gaining reach (Department of Ecology)

Losing Reach Flow

Gaining Reach Why Monitor Temperature in This Reach? • Groundwater gaining reach (Department of Ecology) • Areas of decreased maximum temperatures during summer of 2015 (King County)

Mainstem Snoqualmie Upstream Flow Downstream Why Monitor Temperature in This Reach? • Groundwater gaining reach (Department of Ecology) • Areas of decreased maximum temperatures during summer of 2015 (King County) • Variations in river temperatures can impact salmon survival

Flow Goals of Water Temperature Study

• Evaluate a groundwater gaining reach • Further evaluate localized water temperature variations observed in 2015 • Monitor 2016 water temperature in the Snoqualmie River from Fall City to Carnation Study Design

• Deployed 14 thermistors in mainstem and one in Patterson Creek • Continuous temperature from June 30th to September 30th Data Analyses and Comparisons

• Washington State water temperature standards • Focus on 7-day average of the daily maximum temperatures (7DADMAX) • Standards for aquatic life uses • core summer habitat = 16°C (60.8°F) • spawning, rearing, and migration = 17.5°C (63.5°F) • spawning and incubation = 13°C (55.4°F) Upstream

Downstream

• Mainstem above state standards for designated uses • Two peaks in water temperatures (different patterns among peaks) 7-29-16 8-16-16

Flow Flow

• Upstream to downstream • Area of temperature cooling increase in temperature 7-29-16 8-16-16

Flow Flow

• Average flows = ~1050 cfs • Average flows = ~640 cfs

Possibly Groundwater or Hyporheic Exchange

pubs.usgs.gov

• Groundwater = reduce summer

stream water temperatures Temp. Date - Time • Hyporheic = reduce the daily range in stream water temperatures and

influence the phase of temperatures Temp. Date - Time • Likely hyporheic exchange = reduced daily range (decreased maximum and increased minimum) Snoqualmie River Temperature 8/16 - 8/19 24

C) °

MS_SNOQ_2 Water Temperature ( Temperature Water 16 SAFC_6 SAFC_7 MS_SNOQ_9 14

Date - Time

• Likely hyporheic exchange = change in phase throughout area of cooling Conclusions • Water temperatures were consistently above state standards • Localized temperature moderation occurred during periods of low flow • Areas of potential hyporheic exchange • Variations in temperature patterns can influence Snoqualmie river thermal diversity • Thermal diversity important to salmon survival • Conservation and restoration focused on thermal diversity Follow-Ups

• Evaluate reaches downstream of Carnation • Relative contribution of hyporheic and groundwater based on conductivity and instream wells/piezometers • Spatial analysis of relict channels and alluvial floodplain features • Evaluation of levee/revetment influence on hyporheic flow and connectivity • Analysis of mainstem thermal regimes and salmonid distribution and habitat use Questions

Snoqualmie Stream-Type (yearling) Chinook Pilot Study

Coho Chinook

Josh Kubo Environmental Scientist King County Water and Land Resources Division Catch/Effort

February July

Up to 30% of returning adults Past Studies and Observations • Cherry Creek • Tuck Creek • Mainstem near NE 124th St. • Deer Creek • Ames Creek • Chinook Bend Floodplain Channels • Camp Gilead Tributary • Tolt River Goals of Snoqualmie Stream-Type Chinook Pilot Study

• Investigate juvenile stream-type Chinook presence and distribution • Compile past information and data sets on stream-type Chinook presence, habitat use, and distribution • Develop a detailed follow-up study • Inform project effectiveness monitoring and restoration strategies Goals of Snoqualmie Stream-Type Chinook Pilot Study

← Tributaries

Mainstem → Late August – Early September 2017

• 38 Chinook observed • Sand/Gravel bars • Diel patterns • Spatial patterns Possible Implications of Pilot Study • Stream-type Chinook distribution and habitat use information • Summer project effectiveness monitoring • Connectivity and barrier evaluation • Temperature-related restoration strategies • Detailed scale/otolith evaluation Questions

Any summer-winter Chinook observations or data sets?