UPPER WENATCHEE RIVER STREAM CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT AND HABITAT RESTORATION STRATEGY YAKAMA NATION FISHERIES | PO BOX 15, FORT ROAD | TOPPENISH, WA 98948 Prepared by INTER‐FLUVE, INC. 1020 WASCO STREET, SUITE I | HOOD RIVER, OR 97031 541.386.9003 | www.interfluve.com This page left blank for printing purposes. UPPER WENATCHEE RIVER STREAM CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT AND HABITAT RESTORATION STRATEGY Prepared for YAKAMA NATION FISHERIES PO Box 15, Fort Road Toppenish, WA 98948 Prepared by INTER-FLUVE, INC. 1020 Wasco Street, Suite I Hood River, OR 97031 (541) 386.9003 www.interfluve.com August 2012 This page left blank for printing purposes. UPPER WENATCHEE RIVER ASSESSMENT Acknowledgements: The Yakama Nation and Inter-Fluve would like to thank numerous entities and individuals for their assistance in this assessment effort. Entities that have provided technical assistance and input include the U.S. Forest Service, Chelan County, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Washington State Parks, and the Upper Columbia Regional Technical Team (RTT). Rob Richardson, with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, provided useful input that improved the final report. Numerous landowners along the river corridor allowed for access to the river and provided useful information on site conditions and river history. The Upper Valley Museum, the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, and Bryon Newell provided historical information and photos. Image credit: Unless otherwise noted, aerial imagery used in maps and figures are Bing Maps provided through ESRI ArcMaps. Upper Wenatchee River Stream Corridor Assessment and Habitat Restoration Strategy Yakama Nation Fisheries Page i UPPER WENATCHEE RIVER ASSESSMENT Table of Contents 1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Background ................................................................................................................................1 2.1 Purpose ......................................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Study Area ..................................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Salmonid Use and Population Status ............................................................................................ 4 2.4 Recovery Planning Context ........................................................................................................... 5 3 Assessment Area Conditions .......................................................................................................7 3.1 Setting ........................................................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Geology ......................................................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Historical Forms and Processes................................................................................................... 13 3.3.1 Channel Form and Process .................................................................................................. 13 3.3.2 Hydrologic Regime .............................................................................................................. 16 3.3.3 Large Wood Dynamics ........................................................................................................ 16 3.3.4 River Ice ............................................................................................................................... 18 3.3.5 Habitat Conditions .............................................................................................................. 19 3.4 Human Disturbance History ........................................................................................................ 20 3.4.1 Early Disturbance ................................................................................................................ 20 3.4.2 Great Northern Railroad ..................................................................................................... 21 3.4.3 Timber Harvest and Log Drives ........................................................................................... 21 3.4.4 Fire Suppression .................................................................................................................. 26 3.4.5 Residential Development and Roadways............................................................................ 27 3.4.6 Habitat Alterations .............................................................................................................. 28 3.5 Existing Forms and Processes ..................................................................................................... 29 3.5.1 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................ 29 3.5.2 Hydraulics ............................................................................................................................ 32 3.5.3 Geomorphology .................................................................................................................. 42 3.5.1 Existing Large Wood Dynamics ........................................................................................... 46 3.5.2 Habitat Conditions .............................................................................................................. 47 3.5.3 Reach-Based Ecosystem Indicators ..................................................................................... 48 4 Reach-Scale Conditions ............................................................................................................. 51 4.1 Reach 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 51 4.1.1 Reach Overview .................................................................................................................. 51 4.1.2 Forms and Processes ........................................................................................................... 53 4.1.3 Effects of Human Alterations .............................................................................................. 54 4.2 Reach 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 59 Upper Wenatchee River Stream Corridor Assessment and Habitat Restoration Strategy Yakama Nation Fisheries Page ii UPPER WENATCHEE RIVER ASSESSMENT 4.2.1 Reach Overview .................................................................................................................. 59 4.2.2 Forms and Processes ........................................................................................................... 61 4.2.3 Effects of Human Alterations .............................................................................................. 62 4.3 Reach 3 ........................................................................................................................................ 65 4.3.1 Reach Overview .................................................................................................................. 65 4.3.2 Forms and Processes ........................................................................................................... 67 4.3.3 Effects of Human Alterations .............................................................................................. 68 4.4 Reach 4 ........................................................................................................................................ 75 4.4.1 Reach Overview .................................................................................................................. 75 4.4.2 Forms and Processes ........................................................................................................... 77 4.4.3 Effects of Human Alterations .............................................................................................. 78 4.5 Reach 5 ........................................................................................................................................ 81 4.5.1 Reach Overview .................................................................................................................. 81 4.5.2 Forms and Processes ........................................................................................................... 83 4.5.3 Effects of Human Alterations .............................................................................................. 84 4.6 Reach 6 ........................................................................................................................................ 89 4.6.1 Reach Overview .................................................................................................................. 89 4.6.2 Forms and Processes ........................................................................................................... 91 4.6.3 Effects of Human Alterations .............................................................................................. 92 4.7