PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS

Fish Passage

Nisqually River Basin Ecosystem Diagnostic and Treatment Project

Client: Nisqually Indian Tribe, Washington

Project Description: The Nisqually River Basin (761 mi²) is a west-side Cascades watershed draining to southern Puget Sound. The watershed is primarily commercial forest land in the upper basin (above Alder Lake), and a mix of small farms, forest, and rural-residential land uses in the lower basin. The upper basin (approximately 40% of the watershed) is inaccessible to anadromous fish.

The Nisqually Indian Tribe co-manages the fisheries resources in the basin along with State of Washington. As part of an effort to develop comprehensive and integrated multi-species management plans for the Nisqually River Basin, the Nisqually Indian Tribe in 1997 began an analysis of salmon and steelhead production using the Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment (EDT) method developed by Mobrand Biometrics, Inc. (See www.mobrand.com for more information about the EDT process). The purpose was to diagnose the Basin habitat for salmon and identify constraints and opportunities for rebuilding salmon and steelhead runs.

The Nisqually Tribe contracted with Ed Salminen to provide information on fish habitat conditions within the watershed, and to help with assessing the impacts of land management on fish habitat. Ed worked with the Tribe in synthesizing basic habitat parameters (e.g., stream temperature data, substrate quality, stream survey data) and sources of impacts to fish habitat. The Fall Chinook recovery plan was completed in 2001, and a similar assessment is underway for the remaining anadromous species (Chum salmon, Coho salmon and steelhead) in the basin.

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Analysis of Instream Habitat and Refuge Areas for Salmonids in Woodland Creek, Thurston County, Washington

Client: Thurston County Public Works

Project Description: Jean Caldwell identified and quantified existing fish habitat in over 7000 feet of Woodland Creek. She analyzed and estimated the quantity of refuge habitat available at various storm flows, using hydraulic and habitat modeling. Ms. Caldwell provided preliminary recommendations for design flows, identified critical habitat to be protected, and reviewed proposed stormwater management options.

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Bear and Evans Creeks Capital Improvement Project: Habitat Inventory

Client: King County Department of Public Works, Surface Water Management Division

Project Description: Jean Caldwell managed a team of biologists that inventoried over 15 miles of stream in the Bear and Evans Creek basin (east King County) with regard to current habitat conditions, identified potential problem areas and habitat enhancement and restoration opportunities.

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Evaluation of Aquatic Habitat Criteria for Clean Water Act Programs

Client: Region 10 Environmental Protection Agency, Seattle Washington

Project Description: Steve Bauer evaluated aquatic habitat variables for use as water quality criteria in Clean Water Act programs. The report was completed as an EPA publication, "Aquatic Habitat Indicators and their Application to Water Quality Objectives within the Clean Water Act". The project evaluated limiting factors to cold water biota - specifically habitat variables were placed into one of the following categories – flow regime, habitat space, channel structure, substrate quality, streambank condition, riparian condition, temperature regime, and habitat access. Recommendations were made to EPA to improve the integration of fisheries habitat into State water quality standards and their application to Total Maximum Daily Loads.

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Balch Creek Stormwater Management Plan

Client: City of Portland

Project Description: For a stream in a Portland area regional park, Jean Caldwell performed habitat surveys and site assessments in support of stormwater management planning and fish habitat improvement projects. Jean participated in senior design review team for prototype wetlands detention pond designs.

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Mill Creek Water Quality Plan

Client: King County Surface Water Management

Project Description: Jean Caldwell participated as part of a team requested to survey and prepare water quality plan for six-mile long stream. Based on observed temperature data and results of modeling, Jean made recommendations for riparian enhancement and potential impacts of riparian management on fish habitat.

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Warm Water Fisheries Evaluation, Oxbow Dam on the Snake River, Idaho

Client: Idaho Power Company, Boise, Idaho

Project Description: Steve Bauer served as a fisheries biologist with the prime contractor to evaluate fish populations and fisheries habitat below Oxbow Dam, Snake River. Fish populations were sampled for a season using various collection gear (i.e. hoopnets, minnow traps, electrofishing) to obtain a comprehensive population estimate. Spawning and rearing habitat for smallmouth bass was assessed using SCUBA transects.

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Bull Trout Presence/Absence and Habitat Surveys

Client: Boise Cascade

Project Description: Karen Kuzis surveyed Boise Cascade streams for bull trout using snorkeling and electroshocking techniques. Karen measured selected stream habitat parameters at all sampling sites.

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Red River Meadows Stream Restoration Project

Client: Idaho County Soil and Water Conservation District

Project Description: The Red River project was undertaken to restore the meadow ecosystem to help restore the chinook salmon, resident fish, and wildlife. Steve Bauer has designed an implementation and effectiveness monitoring program including construction-related turbidity, revegetation success, stream channel response, summer water temperature regime, groundwater levels, wildlife habitat area, riparian composition, substrate conditions, and fish microhabitat features. Steve was initially involved in coordinating development of a stream restoration plan to restore spawning and rearing habitat to a section of Red River, headwaters to the South Fork Clearwater River. On a watershed scale, logging, road building, and gold mining activities altered the hydrology, sediment delivery, and water quality of the Red River. On a local scale, the river channel was straightened and riparian vegetation eliminated due to dredge mining and pasture improvement.

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Hydrologic Analysis; Shasta, Klamath, and Upper Sacramento Rivers, CA

Client: California Department of Water Resources, Red Bluff

Project Description: Sue Perkins developed hydrologic databases for studies of salmon spawning conditions in three northern California rivers that had undergone channel armoring and consequent loss of spawning habitat as a result of dam construction. Sue surveyed stream channels, measured discharge and gravel size distribution, and mapped salmon spawning areas.

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