Program areas at Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition
Restoration of Salmon Habitat Sites:(1) Boulder Creek Creosote Piling Removal In this project we removed 4 trestlesmade of creosote piling and associated road fill material left in Boulder Creek from a relic crossing. Boulder Creek is a tributary to Goodman Creek in JeLerson County,WA. The creosote wood used in the trestles leaches highly toxic chemicals into theGoodman Creek Watershed and the road fill material in the riparian area confinesthe channel and impedes natural stream process. The project was completed inSummer 2023. (2) Morganroth Springs Fish Passage Restoration This project is to provide apermanent, low to no maintenance solution, allowing fish passage for all speciesand will restore and improve habitat conditions for rearing juvenile Coho salmon atMorganroth Springs. We finalized designs in 2022 and were awarded a SRFB grant tofund the restoration phase. This site is on Forest Service land and we worked withthem in 2023 to get a NEPA permit to complete the restoration, but that process isstill ongoing. 3) SSHEAR Legacy Fishway Resolution - The intent of this restoration project is torestore fish passage at three oL-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. We completed the permitting process, cultural resource report, and prepared the project sites in the summer of 2023. We're anticipating completing the project in 2024. (4) Goodman Creek Collapsed Stringer Bridge Removal For this project weremoved the cabling and fill material associated with a collapsed relic stringerbridge in mainstem West Fork Goodman Creek which is impeding fish passage andthreatening to cause wasting of the road prism. The project was done in Summer2023. Assessment & Survey Projects:Off-Channel Habitat Assessment & Design - In 2022, three field crew memberswere recruited, hired, & trained; gear & monitoring equipment was purchased andacquired; online maps & data forms were developed; and assessment protocolswere established. Field crew training included: project & salmonid screen, habitatenhancement & restoration (SSHEAR) site orientation; Map & data fromdevelopment, utilization & troubleshooting training using ArcGIS only (AGO), fieldmaps and Survey123; eDNA samples collection w/ the Northwest Fisheries IndianCommission (NWFIC) and Quileute Natural Resources. Assessment components &protocols were developed in collaboration with project sponsors and advisors fromWild Salmon Center, WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife, QNR, NWFIC. PCSC field crewmembers completed habitat characterization surveys at 22 sites. In addition tocharacterizing stream and riparian habitats during the habitat surveys, field crewsmapped the stream and constructed structures. Additionally, stream and airtemperature data loggers were installed in June at six priority sites, loggers weremonitored and downloaded monthly and removed in October. This data will be usedto determine the seven-day average daily maximum temperature (7DADMT). Duringthe last two weeks of October, field crews measured water height drops at controlsand fishways. Field crews completed trainings and practiced skills related totopographic surveying, Civil3D designs, ArcGIS Pro, chainsaw safety andmaintenance, and low-tech restoration techniques and planning. OLice andadministrative 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. Thiswork that started in 2022 continued throughout 2023, we are still working on theproject in 2024, and we may extend the project into 2025.
Education & Outreach:Salmon Camp - Salmon Camp is a joint program between the Quillayute ValleySchool District and the Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition. It is funded by a Washingtonstate grant we were awarded by the Department of Recreation and Conservationcalled "No Child Left Inside". Salmon Camp invited 6th and 7th graders whoqualified for summer school due to academic needs. Our focus was on engagingunder served youth in environmental stewardship through salmon education andoutdoor experiences. It was a 3 week program in 2023.
Monitoring & Maintenance:The Organization actively monitors 55 WDFW salmon habitat sites and over 100more sites that include past and current projects and fish passage sites.