Chumstick Creek Salmon Habitat Conditions*

•Land development, road construction, and other human activities have affected channel migration and sediment delivery

•Fecal coliform and water temperatures are elevated

•Barriers to fish migration exist at the North Road culvert and numerous smaller culverts upstream

•Riparian habitat has been degraded or lost from Little Chumstick creek to mouth.

*Paraphrased from the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board’s Biological Strategy (22 May 2003)

Salmon Recovery in Chumstick Creek

Enhance Channel Movement:•Increase stream sinuosity and decrease entrenchment (meander reconstruction)

•Add LWD in the form of rootwads, log jams, and similar structures that mimic natural formations

•Decommission, modify, or relocate roads, low-priority dikes, bridges and culverts

Protect Channel Movement:•Follow existing land use and instream work regulations that limit riparian area, floodplain and wetland development

•Educate the public on the importance of stream channel movement

•Allow stream channels to develop and flood naturally

•Manage stormwater runoff from existing and new development and road construction using detention, treatment, and infiltration measures

Salmon Recovery in Chumstick Creek

Improve sediment delivery•Implement a road maintenance schedule•Remove, reconstruct, or upgrade roads where feasible •Improve stream crossings, culverts, and road drainage systems•Reconnect floodplains through dike removal or breaching•Implement in-channel projects •Construct detention and infiltration ponds •Reestablish natural riparian vegetation

Protect sediment delivery•In areas with unstable slopes, restrict:

–development, –road construction, –logging and,–intensive farming

•Minimize road density, maintain existing roads•Provide and maintain adequate drainage for new roads and existing roads•Protect geologically hazardous areas•Implement best management practices•Avoid soil disturbance

Salmon Recovery in Chumstick Creek

Fecal Coliform levels are elevated•Test water to determine if fecal coliform is present, initiate DNA testing to determine source (species) if present

•Install livestock exclusion fencing and upland watering stations to keep livestock out of streams

•Identify failing septic systems and, where feasible, decommission the septic system and hook up to an existing sewage treatment system

•Develop and implement a low-cost or cost sharing program that will allow citizens to rehabilitate or replace failed or failing septic systems

Salmon Recovery in Chumstick Creek

Water temperatures are elevated•Establish and protect riparian buffers•Implement Total Maximum Daily Loads that address temperature•Restore river features such as pool-riffle sequences, meander bends, backwaters, and side•Fence livestock out of riparian areas•Manage stormwater runoff from existing and new roads and developments using appropriate measures•Decrease the stream width-to-depth ratio •Decommission, modify, or relocate roads, low-priority dikes, bridges and culverts•Improve upland water infiltration through road decommissioning, reduced soil compaction, direct seeding activities, increasing native vegetation cover, CRP participation, etc.•Enhance the extent and function of wetlands and wet meadows.•Enhance spring inputs to streams•Improve natural stream form and function.

Salmon Recovery in Chumstick Creek

Enhance Fish Passage•Remove or replace culverts

•Use cost-sharing programs to help landowners screen diversions.

•Apply BMPs to forest practices

•Create spawning/rearing/overwintering channels or habitats

•Upgrade stream crossings

•Remove natural barriers to fish migration

Protect Fish Passage•Prevent new passage problems

•Design and construct road culverts consistent with standards and guidelines.

•Use permits or other approval mechanisms to impose design and construction restrictions on activities that may impede fish passage and access.

Salmon Recovery in Chumstick Creek

Enhance Riparian Habitat:•Improve riparian habitat using native riparian vegetation •Reduce road density•Install livestock exclusion fencing and upland watering stations

Protect Riparian Habitat:•Condition development to be consistent with state or local regulations or permits•Prohibit sand and gravel removal in inappropriate areas•Avoid or mitigate impacts of upland development where it could impact channel conditions•Establish and protect riparian buffers using regulatory and incentive mechanisms •Acquire priority riparian areas through:

–purchase; –conservation easements; and/or –transfer/purchase of timber, farm, grazing or land development rights

•Provide incentives and compensation to landowners to retain buffers.•Continue public information and outreach efforts to educate and inform citizens