A Pacific Northwest Region Native American Program Highlight in Fiscal Year 2001 with update in 2002
Geomorphical studies examine river processes and responses to potential changes--crucial information for resource managers. These studies include literature reviews; field reconnaissance; topographic surveys; stream gaging; and collecting and analyzing historical maps, ground photographs, aerial photographic, tree ring samples, and soil samples.
In FY2001, the Pacific Northwest Region's Native American Program worked with Tribes and others in three river systems to study geomorphic processes.
As a member of the Dungeness River Management Team, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe approached Reclamation about undertaking a geomorphological investigation of the lower Dungeness River at the northeast end of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. The team was interested in restoration actions to improve salmonid habitat in the river, but lacked scientific information on the potential impacts of proposed projects.
The investigation was to describe the existing physical river processes, determine how the processes have been affected by human activity, and develop potential restoration options for consideration. The study focused on physical river processes and human impacts that result in channel changes such as bank erosion, aggradation of the riverbed, loss of flood plain, or cutting off access to important fish habitat in side channels.
Dungeness River Studies Update
After years of data collection and analysis, collaboration with the study partners, and production of special reports focusing on areas or activities of special interest to the partners, Reclamation published a final report in May 2002. Publishing the report did not end Reclamation’s involvement in the Dungeness River basin, though. The team continues to call upon Reclamation’s expertise to expand some of the analyses developed in the report. One major goal of these additional efforts is to provide enough information to the team to help reach consensus on establishing instream flow needs for the Dungeness River basin.
As a result of its work in the Dungeness River basin, Reclamation has been asked to undertake similar analyses in other major river basins on the Olympic Peninsula. The Hoh Tribe, concerned about loss of salmonid habitat and erosion on its one-square-mile Reservation, engaged Reclamation in a study of the Hoh River. Erosion along the banks of the Hoh River has also impacted infrastructure owned and maintained by the Olympic National Park and by Jefferson County, so these entities are also participating in the study.
The analysis will provide a comprehensive understanding of natural physical processes from Olympic National Park downstream to the mouth. Components of this analysis include such items as a channel migration zone, which is an assessment of historic and potential future locations of the river channel. In addition, geomorphic characteristics are being identified to document locations and extent of woody debris in the channel, pools and hydraulic controls (riffles and rapids), and sediment inputs to the system such as debris flows. By understanding the natural processes and tendencies of the river, a comprehensive risk assessment of existing infrastructure along the Hoh River could also be pursued. The risk assessment will provide a documentation of areas that are currently at risk from the river and areas that have a high potential to be at risk in the near future based on geomorphic reach analysis. In addition, potential management options could be developed for areas of risk to assist other study cooperators in the design and implementation of successful bank stabilization projects that also improve salmonid habitat.
More recently, the Quinault Tribe and the Olympic National Park have asked Reclamation to study the Quinault River. As with the Hoh River, erosion threatens National Park infrastructure.
Sockeye Restoration Activities
The Quinault Tribe wants to ensure that any bank stabilization project would not create other problems that could affect their reservation downstream or degrade existing salmonid habitat. Reclamation is working with the Quinault Tribe to develop a study plan geared toward sockeye restoration activities between Lake Quinault and the confluence of the North and East Forks of the Quinault River. Reclamation assisted the Tribe in developing a successful grant proposal with the Washington Department of Ecology that will provide funds for this effort. In 2002, activities will focus on analyzing photos from a time-lapse camera and developing information for effective restoration activities.
Protecting Graves Creek Road
The Olympic National Park (ONP) Office in Port Angeles, Washington, asked Reclamation to provide thoughts on potential strategies for protecting the Graves Creek Road. Reclamation developed a draft document on the geomorphic, hydraulic, and sedimentation perspectives on alternatives for the Graves Creek Road.
Erosion damage at Graves Road Mile 1.5
Watershed Assessments
Another offshoot of the work initiated in the Dungeness River basin have been requests to assist other watershed groups in quantifying available water supplies as part of the State of Washington’s watershed assessment process. Tribes are prominent members of these watershed groups, including the Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Makah, Quileute, and Hoh Tribes. One goal of these watershed assessment efforts is to establish instream flow requirements that would be recognized under State water rights law. Instream flows are critical for the recovery of salmonid species that help form the cultural identities of these Tribes.
Geomorphological Studies:
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