nisqually steelhead recovery planning
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given by Chris Ellings, Salmon Recovery Program ManagerTRANSCRIPT
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Planning
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Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council March 2014
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
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Nisqually River Watershed
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
The Problem: Nisqually Steelhead abundance plummets in early 90’s
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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Early-‐Marine Survival
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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Plan Development
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! Funding for Plan: $87,500 (thank you Recovery Council) + NIT match
! Identify Goals and Objectives for all H’s ! Evaluate Steelhead Biological Information and Habitat Conditions
! Assess Habitat Potential using EDT ! Identify Restoration, Protection, and Assessment Priorities ! Develop Implementation/Action Plan ! Integrate Steelhead Recovery into existing Nisqually Chinook adaptive management process
! Develop an Open Standards nexus for integration with regional plan
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Plan Goals and ObjecJves
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Goals and objecJves developed based on co-‐manager and Nisqually River Council discussions.
Include short and long term habitat and harvest metrics.
In-‐Review….
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
1st step: Review current and historic Nisqually Steelhead Biological InformaJon and Nisqually River Habitat CondiJons
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Some takeaways: • Hatchery influence has been minimal, with winter steelhead supplementaJon ending in 1981 • Current smolt to adult survival is around 1% • Current smolt producJon is around 65,000, with over 250 smolts/adult esJmated 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 PotenJal
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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
What can we do within the watershed to help steelhead in the face of terrible marine survival?
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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
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Nisqually River Watershed
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Primary steelhead habitat (EDT esJmate)
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Habitat PotenJal – 1% SAR
Current Abundance about 62% of Historic
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
ProtecJon/RestoraJon PrioriJes
• 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 PrioriJes
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Steelhead habitat protecJon and restoraJon acJon plan in review. Some highlights include:
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• ConJnue to implement Chinook Recovery acJons including mainstem and Mashel habitat protecJon and restoraJon • Implement Nisqually Community Forest in upper Mashel River watershed and manage for watershed processes and ecosystem services • Remove all barriers on small streams which are not prioriJes in Chinook plan • ConJnue to work with JBLM to protect and restore the unique Muck Creek prairie ecosystem • Assess small prairie streams for protecJon and restoraJon, establish a prairie stream stronghold for life history diversity
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
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IntegraJng Nisqually Plan with Regional Effort
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Estuary
June 2009
Nisqually Estuary
March 2010
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Lower Site – Before
Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Lower Site – Aeer
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Nisqually Chinook Annual Review
Steelhead recovery efforts in the watershed can help prevent exJrpaJon but recovery is not possible without a strong regional commitment to address survival in Puget Sound.
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-Support the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project!