Program areas at Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition
Restoration of Salmon Habitat Sites:(1) Kugel Creek - A fish passage project that opened access to 2.9 miles of salmon habitat. Bid contract drawn up by Clallam County Public Works. Nationwide permit received from USACE. Review bid contracts. Advertised request for bids. Contract awarded to Scarsella Bros Inc. Pre-construction planning. Construction implemented in August 2022. The project completion & close out will be completed in 2023. (2) Boulder Creek Creosote Piling Removal - Creosote piling left behind from a crossing abandonment project will be removed. In 2022, nationwide permit process was delayed due to COVID-related issues. The goal is to commence the project in summer of 2023. (3) Morganroth Springs Fish Passage Final Design - SRF board awarded funding in 2019 to finalize the preliminary designs. This project is oriented towards a permanent, low to no maintenance solution in providing a fish passage for all species that will restore and improve habitat conditions for rearing juvenile Coho salmon. In 2022, the final designs were submitted & reviewed. The project was completed & closed out in 2022. In the next grant cycle, we will apply for RCO SRFB funding for the project restoration stage. (4) SSHEAR Legacy Fishway Resolution - The intent of this restoration project is to restore fish passage at three off-channel sites -- Tall Timer, Elkhorn and T-Bone. The goals are to provide permanent access to high quality, high quantity habitat through natural functioning process for juvenile salmonids. In 2022, started to process of USACE Nationwide permits. The goal in 2023 is permitting process completed & received, cultural resource report, and commence the project in the summer of 2023. Assessment & Survey Projects:Off Channel Habitat Assessment & Design - In 2022, three field crew members were recruited, hired, & trained; gear & monitoring equipment was purchased and acquired; online maps & data forms were developed; and assessment protocols were established. Field crew training included: project & salmonid screen, habitat enhancement & restoration (SSHEAR) site orientation; Map & data from development, utilization & troubleshooting training using ArcGIS only (AGO), field maps and Survey123; eDNA samples collection w/ the Northwest Fisheries Indian Commission (NWFIC) and Quileute Natural Resources. Assessment components & protocols were developed in collaboration with project sponsors and advisors from Wild Salmon Center, WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife, QNR, NWFIC. PCSC field crew members completed habitat characterization surveys at 22 sites. In addition to characterizing stream and riparian habitats during the habitat surveys, field crews mapped the stream and constructed structures. Additionally, stream and air temperature data loggers were installed in June at six priority sites, loggers were monitored and downloaded monthly, and removed in October. This data will be used to determine the seven-day average daily maximum temperature (7DADMT). During the last two weeks of October, field crews measured water height drops at controls and fishways. Field crews completed trainings and practiced skills related to topographic surveying, Civil3D designs, ArcGIS Pro, chainsaw safety and maintenance, and low-tech restoration techniques and planning. Office and administrative work included: map and data form development and maintenance, presentations at PCSC board meetings and the annual meeting, data management, photo organization, reporting, brochure development, and monitoring planning.Forest Service - Title II Grant Funds:Eagle Springs - The project did help improve the habitat quality of a Sol Duc tributary for the benefit of Coho, Chinook, and Sockeye salmon, Steelhead and cutthroat trout. In the Spring of 2022, project was completed & closed out.
Nutrient Enhancement:The Organization received an average number of salmon carcasses from local WDFW hatcheries. Approximately 10-30 percent of which were food quality and were donated to local food banks. The rest went to nutrient enhancement in the local watersheds (WRIA 20 & 21).
Monitoring & Maintenance:The Organization monitors 55 WDFW sites and over 100 more sites that include past and current projects and fish passage sites.