1 Intensively Monitored Watersheds Validation Monitoring for Salmon Habitat Restoration

2 Background  Can habitat restoration produce more fish (outmigrants)?  Can we use the information gained to inform and guide restoration efforts? Both require that we know the causal mechanisms affecting production Both require that we know the causal mechanisms affecting production

3 Location of Study Watersheds

4 IMW Concept-Coho Steelhead Complexes Long-term, paired-watershed experiments Long-term, paired-watershed experiments Fish and habitat responses to treatments are conducted at multiple spatial scales from reach to whole watershed Fish and habitat responses to treatments are conducted at multiple spatial scales from reach to whole watershed Coho and steelhead Coho and steelhead Species with at least 1 year of freshwater residency Species with at least 1 year of freshwater residency Often utilize small watersheds for spawning and rearing Often utilize small watersheds for spawning and rearing Treatments can be applied to a large proportion of the watershed Treatments can be applied to a large proportion of the watershed Increased potential to detect a response by the fish Increased potential to detect a response by the fish

5 Design Before-After/Control-Impact Hierarchical monitoring scheme at nested spatial scales Reach scale-effects of specific restoration actions Sub basin scale-effects of multiple restoration actions Basin scale-cumulative effects of all actions

6 Reach Scale Project-specific monitoring to determine effectiveness Example: LWD addition Habitat effects Juvenile abundance Survival to smolting Reference Basin Treatment Basins

7 Sub-basin Scale Look for opportunities to treat entire sub basins within treatment basin. Use reference sub basin within reference basin and possibly within treatment basin. Reference Basin Treatment Basins

8 Basin Scale Most appropriate scale to assess fish population response Ultimate measure of success is downstream migrant (smolt) production Also assess habitat, juvenile (parr) and adult abundance at this scale Reference Basin Treatment Basins

9 Treatments Wood placement Wood placement Off-channel habitat creation Off-channel habitat creation Barrier removal Barrier removal Nutrient augmentation? Nutrient augmentation?  Land use - urbanization Status SJF complex - Habitat treatments completed in 2007 SJF complex - Habitat treatments completed in 2007 Skagit Estuary - Treatments began in 2000 Skagit Estuary - Treatments began in 2000 Hood Canal (L. Anderson Cr.) - Began in 2007 Hood Canal (L. Anderson Cr.) - Began in 2007 L. Columbia - Restoration plan due in 2008 L. Columbia - Restoration plan due in 2008

10 Strait of Juan de Fuca Some Results from Years 1-4 Timing of juvenile fish emigration (West Twin and East Twin) Influence of wood addition on coho survival (West and East Twin)

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% pools Km Km Deep Cr-LWD projects Width:Depth ratio Km Km % pool habitatWidth:Depth

14 East Twin-LWD projects Width:Depth % pool habitat Width:Depth ratio Km Km % pools

15 Coho Emigration from East Twin River

16 Effects on Coho Survival East Twin (Restored) West Twin Fall Migrants15-28%10-13% Survival to Spring6-10%5-10% Overall survival23-31%14-20% Marine survival5% (38 fish)2% (12)

17 Skagit River Delta H w : Restoring estuary habitat increases salmon production (connectivity and capacity)

19 Treatments Skagit Estuary Dike removal/flooding to restore habitat Dike removal/flooding to restore habitat Connectivity-improve access to existing habitat Connectivity-improve access to existing habitat Barrier removal-self regulating tidegates, other infrastructure Barrier removal-self regulating tidegates, other infrastructure Long lead times and complex planning required but hundreds of acres affected. Long lead times and complex planning required but hundreds of acres affected.

20 Deepwater Slough (dike removal) A - Blind Channel Habitat, ,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 MarchAprilMayJuneJuly Wild juvenile Chinook salmon per hectare Reference Treatment B - Blind Channel Habitat, ,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 MarchAprilMayJuneJuly Wild juvenile Chinook salmon per hectare Reference Treatment C - Blind Channel Habitat, ,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 MarchAprilMayJuneJuly Wild juvenile Chinook salmon per hectare Reference Treatment E - Distributary Channel Habitat, ,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 MarAprMayJunJul Wild juvenile Chinook salmon per hectare Reference Treatment F - Distributary Channel Habitat, ,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 MarAprMayJun Wild juvenile Chinook salmon per hectare Reference Treatment D - Distributary Channel Habitat, ,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 MarAprMayJunJul Wild juvenile Chinook salmon per hectare Reference Treatment

21 Fornsby SRT (opened in 2006) SRT

22 Habitat Restoration Passive RestorationActive Restoration

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26 Frequent Concerns When will results be available? When will results be available? What magnitude of change can be detected? What magnitude of change can be detected?

27 Coho production Power Analysis Post-restorationPre-restoration

28 Seabeck Cr-Minimum  P

29 Conclusions Well-designed monitoring program can detect relatively small (20-40%) increases in smolt production Well-designed monitoring program can detect relatively small (20-40%) increases in smolt production Understanding why is critical to differentiate between restoration impacts and other factors Understanding why is critical to differentiate between restoration impacts and other factors

30 IMW Program Participants Oversight Committee: Washington Dept. of Ecology - Bill Ehinger Washington Dept. of Ecology - Bill Ehinger Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife - Tim Quinn Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife - Tim Quinn NOAA Fisheries (NWFSC) - Phil Roni, Correigh Greene NOAA Fisheries (NWFSC) - Phil Roni, Correigh Greene Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe - Mike McHenry Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe - Mike McHenry Skagit River System Coop - Eric Beamer Skagit River System Coop - Eric Beamer Weyerhaeuser - Bob Bilby Weyerhaeuser - Bob Bilby IMW Partners: Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board - Jeff Breckel Hood Canal Coordinating Council - Richard Brocksmith Salmon Recovery Funding Board