nisqually steelhead recovery planning
DESCRIPTION
Chris Ellings' presentation at the 2014 Nisqually Annual Program ReviewTRANSCRIPT
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Planning
1
Annual ReviewMay 2014
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
The Problem: Nisqually Steelhead abundance plummets in early 90’s
2
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
3
Smolt-to-adult survival rates for three Puget Sound populations (Elwha, Skagit, Puyallup), three coastal Washington populations (Quillayute, Quinault, Humptulips, Chehalis), and Lower Columbia River (Kalama and Washougal; summer and winter-run). Averages for some years do not include all populations within a region because of the lack of SAR estimates in some populations in some years. Data were compiled by Iris Kemp (LLTK).
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Early-Marine Survival
4
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
5
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
6
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Plan Development
7
Funding for Plan: $87,500 (thank you Recovery Council) + NIT match
Identify Goals and Objectives for all H’sEvaluate Steelhead Biological Information and
Habitat ConditionsAssess Habitat Potential using EDTIdentify Restoration, Protection, and Assessment
PrioritiesDevelop Implementation/Action PlanIntegrate Steelhead Recovery into existing
Nisqually Chinook adaptive management processDevelop an Open Standards nexus for integration
with regional plan
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Plan Goals and Objectives
8
Goals and objectives developed based on co-manager and Nisqually River Council discussions.
Include short and long term conservation, habitat, and harvest metrics.
In-Review….
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
1st step: Review current and historic Nisqually Steelhead Biological Information and Nisqually River Habitat Conditions
9
Some takeaways:•Hatchery influence has been minimal, with winter
steelhead supplementation ending in 1981•Current smolt to adult survival is around 1%•Current smolt production is around 65,000, with over
250 smolts/adult estimated for one of the brood years analyzed! –Freshwater survival is very good.
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Steelhead Recruits per Spawner
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Habitat Potential
11
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
What can we do within the watershed to help steelhead in the face of terrible marine survival?
12
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
13
Nisqually River Watershed
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Primary steelhead habitat (EDT estimate)
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Habitat Potential – 1% SAR
Current Abundance about 62% of Historic
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Protection/Restoration Priorities
Degradation Restoration Degradation Restoration Degradation
Nisqually River Mainstem A 1 B 4McAllister Creek E 7 E 7
Muck Creek C 4 A 3Prairie Tributaries B 3 A 2
Toboton/Powell/Lackamas C 5 C 5Ohop Creek C 6 C 6Mashel River B 2 A 1
Percentage change Percentage change Percentage change
Category/rank Category/rankGeographic Area
Change in Abundance with Change in Productivity withProtection
benefitRestoration
benefit
-35% 0% 35% -35% 0% 35%
Degradation Restoration
Percentage change
Change in Diversity Index with
-35% 0% 35%
• Mainstem protection priority similar to Chinook• Mashel restoration of upper reaches emerging top priority• Muck Creek and Prairie Tributaries are priorities unique to Steelhead
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Subbasin Priorities
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Steelhead habitat protection and restoration action plan in review. Some highlights include:
18
• Continue to implement Chinook Recovery actions including mainstem and Mashel habitat protection and restoration
• Implement Nisqually Community Forest in upper Mashel River watershed and manage for watershed processes and ecosystem services
• Remove all barriers on small streams • Continue to work with JBLM to protect and restore Muck Cr.• Assess small prairie streams for protection and restoration,
establish a prairie stream stronghold for life history diversity• Integrate Nisqually plan with the regional effort
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Estuary
June 2009
Nisqually Estuary
March 2010
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
20
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Lower Site – After
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Steelhead recovery efforts in the watershed can help prevent extirpation but recovery is not possible without a strong regional commitment to address survival in Puget Sound.
22
-Support the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project!