The Kitsap Sun did a brief update on some of the big restoration projects that will be taking place within the Skokomish watershed this summer, mainly focusing on habitat along the South Fork and mouth of the river.
From the article: (more…)
SKOKOMISH – A river mile might not seem like a lot to consider after the hundreds of miles that salmon travel to get back to their home rivers. For the Skokomish Tribe, restoring approximately one mile within the upper watershed of South Fork Skokomish River will help improve fish habitat for salmon and other listed fish.
“Installing formidable wood structure complexes in the river and riparian zone and planting native vegetation in this small stretch will improve spawning and rearing habitat for Steelhead, bull trout, coho and chinook, ” said Alex Gouley, the tribe’s habitat resource manager. “The area is open and exposed; salmon need deep pools, cover and shade associated with streams reaches that have abundant vegetation and woody debris, channel depth and complexity.” (more…)
The instrument is quite simple to use – attach a mesh bag filled with mesh kitchen scrubbers to a small buoy and place the contraption in Puget Sound. Although simple in construction, this technique for capturing baby crab has been utilized successfully worldwide for a long time.
Fortunately for tribal biologists, once post-larval crabs are ready to settle, they will grab a hold of the first thing that provides enough texture for them to hold onto. By placing the scrubbers along the nearshore, the goal is to capture a subsample of the crab as they wash towards the shore to settle. Thus, with a little luck, when the buoy is pulled 24 hours later, there will be dozens of young Dungeness crabs larvae attached.
The Kitsap Sun started its four-part series about the Skokomish watershed with a report about the Skokomish Tribe and it's connection to the area. Reporter Chris Dunagan interviewed members who…
"The partnerships that are being built both in this process and in our work regarding removal of the Elwha dams and bringing the salmon back has been gratifying," said Frances Charles, chairman of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. "It will continue to be important that we be informed when there are camps or artifacts found. Protecting all the resources on these lands and doing no harm is a joint concern. We're grateful that the details of the government-to-government relationship make this partnership work and it will evolve as we listen to one another and move forward."
Skokomish (June 6, 2008) – Since earthen dikes were breached last fall on the Skokomish tidelands, Alex Gouley has been a busy man.
The Skokomish Tribe’s habitat division manager has not only been working on the next phase to restore the 300-acre estuary back into a natural salt march area that is good for fish habitat, he’s also been teaching others about the importance of this effort.
For direct contact information at the various NWIFC Member Tribes, use the links below. Hoh Indian Tribe Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Lummi Nation Makah Tribe Muckleshoot Indian…
More than 80 years ago, President Calvin Coolidge pushed a button that energized Cushman Dam No. 1 on the North Fork of the Skokomish River. The hydroelectric dam dewatered the North Fork, wiping out salmon runs upon which the Skokomish Tribe has always depended.
Cushman Dam No. 1 was joined a few years later by Cushman Dam No. 2, built just downstream. Neither dam allows fish passage. Together, the two dams reduced water flows to a trickle, altering the biology and geology of the river system, and deeply affecting Skokomish tribal culture and treaty-reserved fishing rights. On March 7, after decades of efforts, tribal member Dave Herrera pressed a button that restored a small part of the North Fork’s historic flow from Dam No. 2. (more…)
Skokomish (April 25, 2008) – Worse case scenario: It’s mid-day and a large earthquake occurs along a fault line that runs between the two Cushman dams in the Skokomish River Valley. Both dams are breached, and the roads and bridges leading out of the valley are severely damaged. It is estimated that the resulting flood would put the Skokomish reservation under 32 feet of water within one to two hours. Homes, tribal government buildings and the Hood Canal School would be severely damaged or destroyed.
But before the water level rises, the reservation’s 1,200 residents and the school’s 350 students are able to get to higher ground using an evacuation trail built by the students this spring.
The Kitsap Sun and Tacoma News Tribune reported on the increased water flow from the Cushman Dam to the North Fork of the Skokomish River on March 7. The amount…