Salmon and Steelhead Habitat Limiting Factors: Chehalis Basin and Nearby Drainages, Water Resource Inventory Areas 22 and 23
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SALMON AND STEELHEAD HABITAT LIMITING FACTORS CHEHALIS BASIN AND NEARBY DRAINAGES WATER RESOURCE INVENTORY AREAS 22 AND 23 WASHINGTON STATE CONSERVATION COMMISSION FINAL REPORT Carol J. Smith, Ph.D. Washington State Conservation Commission 300 Desmond Drive Lacey, Washington 98503 And Mark Wenger Columbia Pacific RC&D Aberdeen, Washington May, 2001 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was developed by the WRIA 22 and 23 Technical Advisory Group for Salmonid Habitat Limiting Factors. Their expertise and cooperation made this report possible. Participants included: Bob Amrine, Lewis Conservation District Bruce Baxter, WA Dept. Fish and Wildlife Scott Brummer, Thurston Conservation District Lonnie Crumley, LWC Consulting Brian Erickson, Columbia Pacific RC&D Doug Fricke, Chehalis Fisheries Task Force Craig Graber, WA Dept. Ecology Lee Hansmann, Grays Harbor County Kahle Jennings, WA Dept. Ecology Mike Kelley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mike Madsen, Mason Conservation District Mike McGinnis, Chehalis Indian Tribe Osa Odum, NWIFC, SHHIAP John Penberth, Chehalis Basin Partnership Jim Park, WA Dept. Transportation John Sims, Quinault Indian Nation Margaret Rader, Chehalis Basin Partnership Dr. Carol Smith, WA Conservation Commission Chad Stussy, WA Dept. Fish and Wildlife Mark Wenger, Columbia Pacific RC&D Ron Wisner, Grays Harbor Conservation District In addition, an additional committee was formed to develop the prioritization processes. This committee was comprised of technical and non-technical participants, who included: Bob Amrine, Lewis Conservation District Brian Blake, Dept. Corrections, Stafford Creek Facility Lonnie Crumley, LWC Consulting Earl Emerson, Thurston County Citizen Brian Erickson, Columbia Pacific RC&D Doug Fricke, Chehalis Fisheries Task Force Craig Graber, WA Dept. Ecology Lee Hansmann, Grays Harbor County Kahle Jennings, WA Dept. Ecology John Kliem, Creative Community Solutions Mike Madsen, Mason Conservation District Mike McGinnis, Chehalis Indian Tribe Mac McWhorter, Port of Grays Harbor Chris Mendosa, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2 Phil Miller, Governor's Salmon Recovery Office Lori Morrison, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Jim Park, WA Dept. Transportation John Penberth, Lewis County Citizen Margaret Rader, Chehalis Basin Partnership Chris Runner, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers John Sims, Quinault Indian Nation Dr. Carol Smith, WA Conservation Commission Chad Stussy, WA Dept. Fish and Wildlife Mark Wenger, Columbia Pacific RC&D Ron Wisner, Grays Harbor Conservation District A special thanks to Dave Hamilton (Chehalis Fisheries Task Force) and Jennifer Goodhart (Grays Harbor County) for reviewing the documents and providing additional information, and to Ed Manary (Conservation Commission) for writing the ”Habitat Limiting Factors Background”. I also extend appreciation to Devin Smith (NWIFC) and Kurt Fresh (WDFW) for compiling and developing the habitat rating standards, and to Ron McFarlane (NWIFC) for digitizing and producing the maps. John Kliem (Creative Community Solutions) facilitated the strategic development section and developed our prioritization template. His efforts are greatly appreciated. Lastly, thanks to the many people who were consulted for this project, including Pat Hanratty (WDFW), Rodney Lakey (Lewis County), Bob Oliver (Grays Harbor County), John Linth (WDFW), Jeanne Kinney (Thurston County), Jay Hunter (WDFW), Dave Seiler (WDFW), Dave Kloempken (WDFW), John Gow (citizen), and Bob Burkle (WDFW). 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. 7 LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................... 10 WRIAS 22 AND 23 MAP APPENDIX............................................................................14 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................... 15 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 19 Habitat Limiting Factors Background........................................................................... 19 The Relative Role Of Habitat In Healthy Populations Of Natural Spawning Salmon . 20 Introduction to Habitat Impacts .................................................................................... 26 CHEHALIS WATERSHED DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION.................................. 27 The Mainstem Chehalis River Habitat Description and Salmonid Distribution........... 27 The Humptulips River Basin Habitat Description and Salmonid Distribution.............28 Habitat Description and Salmonid Distribution in the Hoquiam, Wishkah, and South Grays Harbor Sub-Basins.............................................................................................. 34 Habitat Description and Salmonid Distribution in the Wynoochee Sub-Basin ............38 The Satsop River Sub-Basin Habitat Description and Salmon Distribution.................43 Habitat Description and Salmonid Distribution in Newman, Workman, Delezene, Cloquallum and Mox Chehalis Sub-Basins ..................................................................47 Habitat Description and Salmon and Steelhead Distribution in Gaddis, Rock, Garrard, Independence, and Lincoln Creeks ............................................................................... 48 Habitat Description and Salmonid Distribution in the Porter Creek, Cedar Creek, and Gibson Creek Sub-Basins ............................................................................................. 49 Black River Habitat Description and Salmonid Distribution........................................ 50 Scatter Creek and Prairie Creek Habitat Description and Salmon and Steelhead Distribution ...................................................................................................................52 The Skookumchuck River and China Creek Basin Habitat Description and Salmon Distribution ...................................................................................................................52 Newaukum River, Dillenbaugh Creek, and Salzer Creek Sub-Basin Salmon Habitat and Salmonid Distribution ............................................................................................55 Salmon Habitat Distribution in Stearns, Scammon, Mill, Bunker, Deep, and Van Ornum Creeks ............................................................................................................... 56 South Fork Chehalis Salmon Habitat and Salmonid Distribution ................................57 Salmon Habitat and Salmonid Distribution in the Upper Chehalis Sub-Basin............. 59 DISTRIBUTION AND CONDITION OF SALMONID STOCKS IN THE CHEHALIS BASIN............................................................................................................................... 61 General Notes on Chehalis Basin Salmonid Population Status and Distribution.........61 Status of Salmonid Populations in the Humptulips Sub-Basin.....................................63 Status of Salmonid Populations in the Hoquiam, Wishkah, and South Grays Harbor Sub-Basins..................................................................................................................... 68 Status of Salmonid Populations in the Wynoochee Sub-Basin.....................................71 Status of Salmonid Populations in the Satsop Sub-Basin .............................................75 Salmon and Steelhead Stocks in the Newman, Delezene, Cloquallum, and Mox Chehalis Sub-Basins...................................................................................................... 78 Status of Salmon and Steelhead in Gaddis, Rock, Garrard, Independence, and Lincoln Creeks............................................................................................................................ 79 Status of Salmon and Steelhead in the Porter, Gibson, and Cedar Creek Sub-Basins.. 79 Status of Salmon and Steelhead in the Black River Sub-Basin .................................... 80 Scatter Creek Salmon and Steelhead Population Status ............................................... 82 Skookumchuck Sub-Basin Salmon Population Status..................................................82 Newaukum Sub-Basin Salmon Population Status ........................................................84 Salmon and Steelhead Populations in Stearns, Mill, Bunker, and Deep Creeks .......... 87 South Fork and Upper Chehalis Sub-Basin Salmon Population Status ........................87 HABITAT LIMITING FACTORS IN THE CHEHALIS DRAINAGE BY SUB-BASIN ........................................................................................................................................... 89 Categories of Habitat Limiting Factors used by the Washington State Conservation Commission ..................................................................................................................89 Rating Habitat Conditions.............................................................................................91 Habitat Limiting Factors in the Grays Harbor Estuary and along the Near Shore ....... 91 Habitat Limiting Factors in the Mainstem Chehalis River .........................................103