Salmon Recovery Plan
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Stillaguamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan Prepared by: Stillaguamish Implementation Review Committee (SIRC) June 2005 Recommended Citation: Stillaguamish Implementation Review Committee (SIRC). 2005. Stillaguamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan. Published by Snohomish County Department of Public Works, Surface Water Management Division. Everett, WA. Front Cover Photos (foreground to background): 1. Fish passage project site visit by SIRC (Sean Edwards, Snohomish County SWM) 2. Riparian planting volunteers (Ann Boyce, Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force) 3. Boulder Creek (Ted Parker, Snohomish County SWM) 4. Stillaguamish River Estuary (Washington State Department of Ecology) 5. Background – Higgins Ridge from Hazel Hole on North Fork Stillaguamish River (Snohomish County SWM) Stillaguamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan ii June 2005 Stillaguamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 Purpose.................................................................................................................................1 SIRC Mission and Objectives..............................................................................................1 Relationship to Shared Strategy and Central Puget Sound ESU Efforts .............................2 Stillaguamish River Watershed Overview...........................................................................3 Salmonid Species in the Stillaguamish Watershed..............................................................7 Chinook Salmon..........................................................................................................7 Bull Trout....................................................................................................................8 Other Salmonid Species ..............................................................................................8 Non-Stillaguamish Salmonid Populations ................................................................13 Focus on Chinook Salmon.................................................................................................13 2. CURRENT STATUS OF STILLAGUAMISH CHINOOK SALMON POPULATIONS.... 15 Independent Populations....................................................................................................15 Chinook Salmon........................................................................................................15 Habitat Requirements of Chinook Salmon ........................................................................17 Factors Affecting Chinook Salmon Populations................................................................19 Population and Land Use .........................................................................................19 Environmental Policies and Regulations..................................................................25 Habitat Limiting Factors ..........................................................................................32 Harvest......................................................................................................................50 Hatchery....................................................................................................................55 Other Factors Affecting Chinook Salmon Populations ............................................57 3. PLANNING TARGETS FOR CHINOOK SALMON RECOVERY............................ 59 Planning Targets for Independent Populations..................................................................59 Viable Salmon Populations................................................................................................61 Abundance.................................................................................................................61 Productivity...............................................................................................................61 Diversity....................................................................................................................61 Spatial Structure .......................................................................................................62 Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment.................................................................................62 Properly Functioning Conditions.......................................................................................67 Riparian ....................................................................................................................67 Estuary/Nearshore ....................................................................................................68 Large Woody Debris.................................................................................................68 Floodplain.................................................................................................................68 Sediment....................................................................................................................69 Hydrology .................................................................................................................69 June 2005 iii Stillaguamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan 4. WATERSHED VISION FOR SALMON RECOVERY ............................................... 71 Guiding Principles for the Stillaguamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan ....71 Watershed Goal..................................................................................................................72 Habitat Strategy .................................................................................................................73 Harvest Strategy.................................................................................................................76 Harvest Management Plan .......................................................................................77 Long-Term Harvest Management Plan ....................................................................79 Hatchery Strategy...............................................................................................................80 North Fork Stillaguamish .........................................................................................80 South Fork Stillaguamish..........................................................................................85 Integrated Strategy.............................................................................................................85 5. HABITAT RESTORATION STRATEGY.................................................................... 91 10-Year Habitat Restoration Projects ................................................................................91 Riparian ....................................................................................................................92 Estuary/Nearshore ....................................................................................................94 Large Woody Debris (LWD).....................................................................................96 Floodplain.................................................................................................................97 Sediment....................................................................................................................98 Hydrology ...............................................................................................................100 10-Year Habitat Project Costs................................................................................100 Anticipated Results ..........................................................................................................109 Long-Term Habitat Restoration Projects.........................................................................111 Stakeholders for Implementation.....................................................................................112 6. HABITAT PROTECTION STRATEGY.................................................................... 115 Existing Habitat Protection Actions.................................................................................115 Habitat Protection Tools ..................................................................................................116 Incentives and Non-Regulatory Approaches ..........................................................117 Comprehensive Plans and Policies.........................................................................118 Land Use Recommendations...................................................................................120 Regulatory and Programmatic Actions ..................................................................122 Acquisition ..............................................................................................................125 Compliance and Enforcement.................................................................................125 7. STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION AND OUTREACH STRATEGY ............................... 127 Introduction and Background ..........................................................................................127 Stewardship Approach for Public Education and Outreach ............................................127 Public Education and Outreach Goals .............................................................................128 Stewardship Audiences....................................................................................................129