SALMON AND STEELHEAD HABITAT LIMITING FACTORS WATER RESOURCE INVENTORY AREA 16 DOSEWALLIPS-SKOKOMISH BASIN Hamma Hamma River, Ecology Oblique Photo, 2001 WASHINGTON STATE CONSERVATION COMMISSION FINAL REPORT Ginna Correa June 2003 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The WRIA 16 salmon habitat limiting factors report could not have been completed without considerable contributions of time and effort from the following people who participated in various capacities on the technical advisory group (TAG): Charles Toal, Washington Department of Ecology Doris Small, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Herb Cargill, Washington Department of Natural Resources Jeff Davis, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Jeff Heinis, Skokomish Tribe John Cambalik, Puget Sound Action Team Marc McHenry, US Forest Service Margie Schirato, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Marty Ereth, Skokomish Tribe Randy Johnson, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Richard Brocksmith, Hood Canal Coordinating Council Steve Todd, Point No Point Treaty Council In addition, the author also wishes to thank the following for extensive information regarding fish populations and habitat conditions and substantial editorial comments during development of the report: Dr. Carol Smith, WCC for the Introduction chapter of this report; Carol Thayer, WDNR, for extensive GIS analysis of DNR ownership; Carrie Cook-Tabor, USFWS, for data contribution on the Hamma Hamma; Denise Forbes, Mason County Public Works, for the county perspective on the Skokomish; Ed Manary, WCC, for his guidance throughout the process; Jason Manasse, Mason County, for the county’s perspective; Jennifer Cutler, NWIFC, for fish distribution mapping/table development and watershed/subbasin mapping; Larry Ogg, US Forest Service, for sharing his boundless knowledge of the South Fork Skokomish and its tributaries; Lee Boad, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, for survey data on the Duckabush River; Mike Kuttel, Jr., WCC, for valuable computer assistance; Ron McFarlane, NWIFC, for fish distribution and shoreline modification mapping; Sam Brenkman, US Park Service, for sharing fish distribution data within Olympic National Park; Ted Labbe, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, for sharing his research on the Dosewallips River and for editing this report; and Thom Johnson, WDFW, for vital assistance on stock status and distribution. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements............................................................................................................. 2 Table of Contents................................................................................................................ 3 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 6 List of Figures..................................................................................................................... 7 List of Maps ...................................................................................................................... 11 Abbreviations and Acronyms ........................................................................................... 12 Executive Summary.......................................................................................................... 13 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 17 Salmonid Habitat Limiting Factors Background .......................................................... 17 The Relative Role of Habitat in Healthy Populations of Natural Spawning Salmon ....... 18 Watershed Characterization.............................................................................................. 25 Distribution and condition of stocks................................................................................. 28 Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) ......................................................................... 28 Chum (Oncorhynchus keta) .......................................................................................... 32 Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch)....................................................................................... 39 Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) ..................................................................... 42 Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) ................................................................................ 44 Sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka).................................................................................... 48 Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) .............................................................................. 48 Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)........................................................................ 49 Fish Distribution ........................................................................................................... 49 Introduction to Habitat Limiting Factors .......................................................................... 54 Discussion of Habitat Limiting Factor Elements.......................................................... 54 Habitat Limiting Factors By Sub-Basin............................................................................ 61 Dosewallips Sub-Basin ..................................................................................................... 62 Turner Creek ................................................................................................................. 62 Dosewallips River......................................................................................................... 65 Dosewallips River – mouth to Rocky Brook at river mile 3.6...................................... 66 Dosewallips River – Rocky Brook Creek to the falls at river mile 12.5 ...................... 71 Dosewallips River – above the falls.............................................................................. 76 Rocky Brook ................................................................................................................. 78 Walker Creek ................................................................................................................ 81 Duckabush Sub-Basin....................................................................................................... 85 Duckabush River........................................................................................................... 85 Duckabush River, mouth to river mile 5.0.................................................................... 86 Duckabush River, river mile 5.0 to falls at river mile 8.0 ............................................ 90 Duckabush River, upstream of the falls........................................................................ 93 Hamma Hamma Sub-Basin............................................................................................... 96 McDonald Creek........................................................................................................... 96 Fulton Creek................................................................................................................ 100 Schaerer Creek............................................................................................................ 104 Unnamed Tributary at Mike’s Beach.......................................................................... 106 Waketickeh Creek....................................................................................................... 108 3 Hamma Hamma River ................................................................................................ 111 Hamma Hamma – Mouth to Canyon at River Mile 1.5.............................................. 112 Hamma Hamma River – River Mile 1.5 to Falls at River Mile 2.5............................ 116 Hamma Hamma River – Upstream of the Falls.......................................................... 118 Hamma Hamma River – John Creek .......................................................................... 121 Lilliwaup Sub-Basin ....................................................................................................... 125 Jorsted Creek............................................................................................................... 125 Eagle Creek................................................................................................................. 128 Lilliwaup Creek .......................................................................................................... 131 Lilliwaup Creek, Mouth to Falls at River Mile 0.7..................................................... 132 Lilliwaup Creek, Upstream of the Falls at River Mile 0.7.......................................... 134 Little Lilliwaup Creek................................................................................................. 136 Sund Creek/Miller Creek ............................................................................................ 139 Clark Creek ................................................................................................................. 142 Finch Creek................................................................................................................. 144 Hill Creek.................................................................................................................... 147 Skokomish Sub-Basin..................................................................................................... 150 Unnamed (Canal Side Diner)