The Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Team developed this recovery plan to guide actions aimed at recovering steelhead populations in the Nisqually Watershed. Contact Sayre Hodgson with any questions.

1. NISQUALLY RIVER STEELHEAD RECOVERY PLAN
DRAFT
P R E P A R E D B Y :
Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Team
Contact: Sayre Hodgson, Nisqually Indian Tribe
July 2014

2. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team.
2014.
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan.
Draft.
July.
Seattle,
WA.
Prepared
for
the
Nisqually
Indian
Tribe,
Olympia,
WA.

3. Nisqually River Steelhead Recovery Plan
i
July 2014
ICF 00153.13
Contents
List of Tables........................................................................................................................................... v
List of Figures......................................................................................................................................... vi
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations.................................................................................................... viii
Page
Chapter 1 Introduction....................................................................................................................1-1
1.1 Recovery Plan Development............................................................................................1-3
1.1.1 Need for Recovery ...........................................................................................................1-3
1.1.2 Goals and Objectives........................................................................................................1-4
1.1.3 Analytical Framework ......................................................................................................1-5
1.1.4 Implementation, Adaptive Management, and Monitoring .............................................1-6
1.1.5 Next Steps........................................................................................................................1-6
1.1.6 Document Contents.........................................................................................................1-7
Chapter 2 Recovery Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................2-1
2.1 Long-Term Watershed Goals ...........................................................................................2-1
2.1.1 Conservation Goals..........................................................................................................2-1
2.1.2 Harvest Goals...................................................................................................................2-1
2.2 Short-Term Recovery Goals .............................................................................................2-2
2.2.1 Conservation Goals..........................................................................................................2-2
2.2.2 Harvest Goals...................................................................................................................2-2
2.3 Recovery Strategic Objectives .........................................................................................2-3
2.3.1 Habitat Objectives............................................................................................................2-3
2.3.2 Fish Management Objectives ..........................................................................................2-3
2.3.3 Monitoring and Adaptive-Management Objectives........................................................2-4
Chapter 3 Nisqually River Overview.................................................................................................3-1
3.1 Nisqually River Watershed...............................................................................................3-1
3.1.1 Subbasins and Ecoregions................................................................................................3-1
3.1.2 Land Use...........................................................................................................................3-7
3.1.3 Hydroelectric Development.............................................................................................3-8
3.2 Nisqually River Estuary ..................................................................................................3-10
3.3 Nisqually River Mainstem..............................................................................................3-12
3.4 Tributary Subbasins .......................................................................................................3-13
3.4.1 McAllister Creek.............................................................................................................3-13
3.4.2 Muck Creek ....................................................................................................................3-15

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3.4.3 Prairie Tributaries ..........................................................................................................3-15
3.4.4 Ohop Creek ....................................................................................................................3-16
3.4.5 Lackamas, Toboton, and Powell Creeks.........................................................................3-17
3.4.6 Mashel River ..................................................................................................................3-17
3.5 Historical and Current Habitat Conditions.....................................................................3-20
3.5.1 Flow Regime...................................................................................................................3-20
3.5.2 Water Quality.................................................................................................................3-25
3.5.3 Channel Morphology and Degree of Confinement........................................................3-27
3.5.4 Channel and Substrate Characteristics..........................................................................3-30
3.5.5 Sediment Budget ...........................................................................................................3-31
Chapter 4 Nisqually River Steelhead ................................................................................................4-1
4.1 Nisqually River Winter Steelhead Juvenile and Adult Life History ..................................4-1
4.2 Adult Abundance .............................................................................................................4-7
4.2.1 Harvest...........................................................................................................................4-11
4.2.2 Annual Run Size .............................................................................................................4-13
4.3 Smolt Outmigration Monitoring....................................................................................4-13
4.3.1 Smolt Abundance...........................................................................................................4-14
4.3.2 Migration Timing............................................................................................................4-14
4.3.3 Smolt Age and Size.........................................................................................................4-16
4.4 Steelhead Marine Survival and Recruitment.................................................................4-17
4.4.1 Marine Survival Estimates .............................................................................................4-17
4.4.2 Freshwater Productivity (Smolt Recruits per Spawner) ................................................4-22
4.4.3 Estimates Adult per Spawner Recruitment ...................................................................4-23
4.4.4 Anadromy and Resident Life-History Forms..................................................................4-25
4.4.5 Incidence of Iteroparity in Nisqually Winter Steelhead.................................................4-26
4.5 Nisqually River Hatchery Releases.................................................................................4-26
4.5.1 Steelhead Hatchery Programs .......................................................................................4-26
4.5.2 Other Hatchery Programs in the Nisqually Watershed .................................................4-30
4.6 Nisqually River Steelhead Genetic Analyses..................................................................4-32
Chapter 5 Restoration and Protection Needs....................................................................................5-1
5.1 Analytical Methods..........................................................................................................5-1
5.2 Analysis of Current and Historical Habitat Potential .......................................................5-4
5.3 Factors Affecting Steelhead in the Watershed................................................................5-9
5.3.1 Comparison of Life Cycle Segment Survival and Abundance...........................................5-9
5.3.2 Watershed Geographic Restoration and Protection Priorities......................................5-11
5.3.3 Watershed Habitat-Limiting Factor Priorities................................................................5-12
5.4 Parameter Uncertainty and Stochastic Variation..........................................................5-14

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Chapter 6 Habitat Recovery Strategies.............................................................................................6-1
6.1 Analysis of Recovery Plan Habitat Potential....................................................................6-6
6.2 Factors Affecting Steelhead in the Watershed................................................................6-9
6.2.1 Watershed Geographic Improvements ...........................................................................6-9
6.2.2 Watershed Habitat-Limiting Factors Addressed by the Recovery Plan.........................6-10
6.3 Conclusions and Guidance.............................................................................................6-12
Chapter 7 Nisqually River Steelhead Management ...........................................................................7-1
7.1 Hatchery Options.............................................................................................................7-2
7.2 Harvest Management ......................................................................................................7-4
7.3 Conclusions......................................................................................................................7-9
Chapter 8 Implementation ..............................................................................................................8-1
8.1 Strategic Objectives for Recovery....................................................................................8-1
8.1.1 Habitat Objectives............................................................................................................8-2
8.1.2 Fish-Management Objectives..........................................................................................8-2
8.1.3 Monitoring and Adaptive-Management Objectives........................................................8-3
8.2 Winter Steelhead Action Plan..........................................................................................8-3
8.2.1 Application of Steelhead Common Framework...............................................................8-5
8.2.2 Implementation Strategy Framework..............................................................................8-6
8.2.3 Priority Recovery Actions for Steelhead Recovery ..........................................................8-7
8.3 Adaptive Management during Recovery.......................................................................8-10
8.3.1 Data Gaps.......................................................................................................................8-11
8.3.2 Assessment Needs.........................................................................................................8-12
8.3.3 Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Needs ...............................................................8-13
8.3.4 Annual Project Review...................................................................................................8-14
8.4 Climate Change Considerations.....................................................................................8-16
8.4.1 Projected Impacts of Climate Change in the Pacific Northwest....................................8-16
8.4.2 Projected Impacts of Climate Change in the Nisqually River Watershed......................8-17
8.4.3 Restoration Actions to Ameliorate Climate Change Effects ..........................................8-18
Chapter 9 References ......................................................................................................................9-1
Appendix A Reach Structure for Assessment of Winter Steelhead Performance in the
Nisqually River........................................................................................................9-1
Appendix B Nisqually Steelhead Tracking Study................................................................................9-1
Appendix C Nisqually Winter Steelhead Action Plan .........................................................................9-1
Appendix D Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation...........................................................9-1

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Appendix A Reach Structure for Assessment of Winter Steelhead Performance in the
Nisqually River
Appendix B Nisqually Steelhead Tracking Study
Appendix C Nisqually Winter Steelhead Action Plan
Appendix D Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation

7. Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Team Contents
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Tables
Table 3-1. Characteristics of EPA Level IV Ecoregions in the Lower Nisqually Basin.............................3-5
Table 3-2. Amount of Channel Area (hectares) by Channel Type and Estuarine Zone .......................3-12
Table 3-3. Nisqually Watershed Streams, Reaches, and Springs by Subbasin ....................................3-14
Table 3-4. USGS Stream Gages used to Characterize Streamflow in Nisqually Basin .........................3-23
Table 3-5. Fine Sediment and Spawning Gravel Sampling Results for Ohop Creek and
Mashel River Watersheds (1990–1994) .............................................................................3-33
Table 4-1. Nisqually River Wild Winter Steelhead Age Composition
(freshwater/saltwater years and total age)..........................................................................4-5
Table 4-2. Locations of Aerial and Ground-Based Survey Reaches in the Nisqually Rivera
...................4-8
Table 4-3. Recent Steelhead Survey Effort (2004–2013) on the Nisqually River and Mashel River .....4-9
Table 4-4. Nisqually River Wild Winter Steelhead Run Reconstruction (1979/1980–2011/2012) .....4-12
Table 4-5. Trap Operations Dates and Percent Time Fishing during Years of Operation....................4-14
Table 4-6. Steelhead Smolt Abundance Estimates and Percent Coefficient of Variation for
Years of Trap Operation......................................................................................................4-14
Table 4-7. Dates for Quantiles of Run Timing for Years of Trap Operation ........................................4-16
Table 4-8. Percent of Steelhead Smolt Age Structure for Years of Trap Operation............................4-16
Table 4-9. Steelhead Smolt Fork Lengths in Millimeters for Years of Trap Operation........................4-16
Table 4-10. Mean Steelhead Smolt Fork Length in Millimeters and Standard Deviation at
Age for Years of Trap Operation.......................................................................................4-17
Table 4-11. River Smolt-to-Adult Survival Rates for Nisqually River Steelhead (2009–2010) ............4-20
Table 4-12. Estimated Smolts per Spawner for the Smolt Outmigrant Brood Years
Collected to Date..............................................................................................................4-22
Table 4-13. Estimated Adult Recruits per Spawner for Nisqually River Steelhead .............................4-24
Table 4-14. Historical Releases of Unknown or Winter Run Hatchery Steelhead to Nisqually River .4-27
Table 4-15. Historical Summer-Run Steelhead Hatchery Releases in the Nisqually River..................4-28
Table 4-16. Incidence of Hatchery-Origin Steelhead in the Nisqually River Treaty Net Catch ...........4-29
Table 4-17. Hatchery Salmonids Released in the Nisqually Watershed..............................................4-31
Table 4-18. Hatchery Rainbow Trout Captured at the Nisqually River Smolt Trap.............................4-32
Table 4-19. Nisqually River Steelhead/Resident Rainbow Trout Genetic Samples.............................4-33
Table 5-1. EDT Predicted Adult to Adult Productivity, Capacity, Abundance, and Diversity Index
(1% Marine Survival)...........................................................................................................5-4
Table 5-2. EDT-Predicted Spawner-to-Smolt Productivity, Capacity, and Abundance .......................5-5
Table 6-1. Recovery Plan Action Items................................................................................................6-2
Table 6-2. EDT Predicted Adult to Adult Productivity, Capacity, Abundance, and
Diversity Index (1% Marine Survival)..................................................................................6-6
Table 6-3. EDT-Predicted Spawner to Smolt Productivity, Capacity, and Abundance........................6-7
Table 7-1. Assessment of Hatchery Options for Nisqually River Steelhead........................................7-3
Table 7-2. Fish Management Thresholds for Two Scenarios Used to Explore Harvest Opportunities
for Nisqually River Steelhead .............................................................................................7-6
Table 7-3. Results for Low and High Conservation Scenario Simulations...........................................7-7

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Figures
Figure 1-1. Nisqually River Watershed..................................................................................................1-2
Figure 3-1. Anadromous Portion of the Nisqually River Basin (WRIA 11).............................................3-2
Figure 3-2. EPA Level IV Ecoregions in the Lower Nisqually Basin........................................................3-4
Figure 3-3. Land Cover Classification for Nisqually River Watershed Subbasins ..................................3-9
Figure 3-4. Nisqually Estuary Restoration of Channels (1990 Condition and 2012 Extent)................3-11
Figure 3-5. Ohop Creek Channel Restoration Completed and Planned..............................................3-18
Figure 3-6. Location of Engineered Log Jams in the Lower Mashel River...........................................3-19
Figure 3-7. Daily Mean Flow for the Upper Nisqually River near National, Lower Nisqually River
at La Grande, and Lower Nisqually River near McKenna..................................................3-21
Figure 3-8. Annual Peak Flows for the Upper Nisqually River near National, Lower Nisqually River
at La Grande, and Lower Nisqually River near McKenna..................................................3-22
Figure 3-9. Daily Mean Flows in Four Tributary Streams in the Lower Nisqually Basin......................3-24
Figure 4-1. Nisqually River Winter Steelhead Generalized Life History................................................4-1
Figure 4-2. Winter Steelhead Spawning Timing in the Nisqually River and Mashel River
(2009–2013); data provided by James Losee, WDFW. .......................................................4-2
Figure 4-3. Distribution of Fyke Net Catches of Three Size Classes of Rainbow Trout and
Steelhead in Muck Creek (1980).........................................................................................4-3
Figure 4-4. Temporal Distribution of Size Classes of Juvenile Rainbow Trout and Steelhead (1980)...4-4
Figure 4-5. Nisqually River Wild Winter Steelhead Distribution of Years in Freshwater and
Saltwater and Total Age at Return......................................................................................4-6
Figure 4-6. Age Structure (Freshwater/Saltwater age) of Adult Returning Nisqually River
Wild Winter Steelhead........................................................................................................4-7
Figure 4-7. Steelhead Spawning Escapement to the Nisqually River and Major Tributaries
(1980–2013)........................................................................................................................4-7
Figure 4-8. Steelhead Spawning Distribution......................................................................................4-10
Figure 4-9. Recent Year Estimated Adult Winter Steelhead from Tributary Surveys
(Muck Creek was not surveyed 2004 to 2009) .................................................................4-11
Figure 4-10. Nisqually River Wild Winter Steelhead Run Reconstruction (1979/1980–2012/2013)....4-13
Figure 4-11. Steelhead Smolt Run Timing by Week for Years of Trap Operation.................................4-15
Figure 4-12. Weekly Mean, Minimum, and Maximum Fork Lengths in Millimeters of
Steelhead Smolts for Years of Trap Operation..................................................................4-18
Figure 4-13. Length Density Histograms for the Observed Age Classes for Years of Available
Age Data............................................................................................................................4-19
Figure 4-14. Survivorship Curves for Steelhead Smolts in Puget Sound and Hood Canal....................4-22
Figure 4-15. Nisqually River Winter Steelhead Adult Brood Spawner Abundance versus
Adult Recruits (dashed line is 1.0 recruit per spawner)....................................................4-25
Figure 5-1. Relationship between Spawner Abundance and Adult Progeny (Recruits)........................5-2
Figure 5-2. Hypothetical Example of the Multistage Beverton-Holt Function for Capacity in EDT ......5-3

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Figure 5-3. EDT-Predicted Nisqually Steelhead Spawner-to-Adult S-R Functions for Current and
Historical Conditions (1% Marine Survival).........................................................................5-5
Figure 5-4. EDT-Predicted Nisqually Steelhead Spawner-to-Smolt S-R Functions for Current and
Historical Conditions ...........................................................................................................5-6
Figure 5-5. Predicted Habitat Utilization (Adult Distribution) of Nisqually Steelhead
(1% Marine Survival) ...........................................................................................................5-6
Figure 5-6. Pattern of Habitat Degradation in the Nisqually River Watershed by Life Stage .............5-13
Figure 5-7. Pattern of Habitat Degradation in the Nisqually River Watershed by Subbasin ..............5-14
Figure 5-8. Current Condition Results with Alternative Marine Survival............................................5-15
Figure 6-1. EDT-Predicted Nisqually Steelhead Spawner-to-Adult S-R Functions for the
Recovery Plan, Current, and Historical Conditions (1% Marine Survival)...........................6-6
Figure 6-2. EDT-Predicted Nisqually Steelhead Spawner-to-Smolt S-R Functions for the
Recovery Plan, Current, and Historical Conditions .............................................................6-7
Figure 6-3. Predicted Habitat Utilization (Adult Distribution) of Nisqually Steelhead
(1% Marine Survival) ...........................................................................................................6-8
Figure 7-1. Results Low and High Conservation Scenarios for Run to River and Catch (top) and
Spawning Escapement (bottom).........................................................................................7-8
Figure 8-1. Process for Reviewing and Updating Information during Annual Project Review ...........8-15

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Acronyms and Abbreviations
°C degrees Celsius
ADM Admiralty Inlet
AM aerial mapping
APR annual project review
BNSF Burlington Northern Santa Fe
cfs cubic feet per second
Common Framework Puget Sound Chinook Salmon Recovery: A Framework for the
Development of Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plans
DIP Demographically Independent Population
DP Deception Pass
DPS Distinct Population Segment
EDT Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s
FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
HCB Hood Canal Bridge
I-5 Interstate 5
JDF Strait of Juan de Fuca
M&AM Monitoring and Adaptive Management
NAR Tacoma Narrows
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NSRT Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Team
Open Standards Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation
PIT passive integrated transponder
Prairie Tributaries prairie-type tributaries
RAD redd accumulation and deterioration
RCO Recreation and Conservation Office
recovery plan Nisqually Winter Steelhead Recovery Plan
RITT Recovery Implementation Technical Team’s
RK river kilometer
RM river mile
SR State Route
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
USGS U.S. Geological Survey
VSP viable salmonid population
WDFW Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
WDNR Washington Department of Natural Resources lands
WRIA 11 Water Resource Inventory Area 11

11. Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Team Contents
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Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Team Participants
The individuals listed below attended one or more of the NSRT workshops and contributed
information for this plan. This report was drafted principally by the Nisqually Indian Tribe fisheries
staff and their consultants, with contributions by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The smolt monitoring section in Chapter 4, Nisqually River Steelhead, was prepared by Matt Klungle
of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Name Agency/Company/Tribe
Calahan, Amy Nisqually Indian Tribe
Cutler, Jennifer Nisqually Indian Tribe
Ellings, Christopher Nisqually Indian Tribe
Hodgson, Sayre Nisqually Indian Tribe
Moore, Jed Nisqually Indian Tribe
Sampselle, Cathy Nisqually Indian Tribe
Smith, Craig Nisqually Indian Tribe
Troutt, David Nisqually Indian Tribe
Walter, George Nisqually Indian Tribe
Hughes, Kirt Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Klungle, Matt Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Loosee, James Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Marshall, Anne Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Phillips, Larry Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Leischner, Florian Tacoma Power
Richardson, John Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Blair, Greg (Consultant) ICF International
Luiting, Torrey (Consultant) ICF International

13.
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
1-­‐1
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
Chapter
1
Introduction
Salmon
are
important
to
the
economic,
social,
cultural,
and
aesthetic
values
of
the
people
in
the
Nisqually
River
watershed.
Winter
steelhead
(Oncorhynchus
mykiss)
were
at
one
time
abundant
in
the
Nisqually
River;
the
species
was
a
significant
component
of
the
Nisqually
ecosystem
and
provided
an
important
winter
fishery
for
tribal
and
sport
fishers.
Run
size
estimates
dropped
substantially
in
the
early
1990s
and
remain
low.
In
May
2007,
the
Puget
Sound
steelhead
Distinct
Population
Segment
(DPS)
was
listed
as
a
threatened
species
under
the
Endangered
Species
Act.
Since
implementation
of
the
original
Nisqually
Chinook
Recovery
Plan
(Nisqually
Chinook
Recovery
Team
2001),
several
major
habitat
restoration
initiatives
have
resulted
in
habitat
improvements
in
the
Nisqually
River
watershed.
These
have
included
the
restoration
of
tidal
hydrology
to
1,878
acres
(760
hectares)
of
the
Nisqually
River
estuary
(2009),
the
first
phase
of
restoration
of
Ohop
Creek
(2009),
and
several
in-­‐stream
wood
placement
projects
on
the
Mashel
River.
Future
large-­‐scale
restoration
projects
include
the
second
and
third
phases
of
the
Ohop
Creek
restoration
and
continued
habitat
protection
efforts.
However,
despite
this
focus
on
habitat
restoration
and
the
elimination
of
sport
harvest
and
directed
tribal
harvest
the
Nisqually
winter
steelhead
population
remains
at
a
depressed
level.
The
Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
(NSRT)
was
formed
to
develop
a
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
(recovery
plan).
The
NSRT
is
composed
of
technical
representatives
of
the
Nisqually
Indian
Tribe
and
the
Washington
Department
of
Fish
and
Wildlife
(WDFW).
The
NSRT
also
collaborated
with
other
watershed
stakeholders
such
as
Pierce
County,
Thurston
County,
Joint
Base
Lewis-­‐McChord,
the
Nisqually
River
Council,
South
Puget
Sound
Salmon
Enhancement
Group,
Tacoma
Power,
and
the
Nisqually
Land
Trust.
Together
with
WDFW,
these
stakeholders
will
have
a
critical
role
during
cooperative
implementation
of
the
strategies,
actions,
and
next
steps
recommended
in
this
recovery
plan.
This
effort
was
funded
by
a
grant
from
the
Washington
State
Recreation
and
Conservation
Office
(RCO)
and
Nisqually
Indian
Tribe.
This
draft
report
is
the
first
step
toward
developing
a
comprehensive
habitat
and
fish
management
plan
for
recovering
Nisqually
winter
steelhead.
Additional
discussions
will
occur
between
the
tribe
and
state
co-­‐managers
in
the
watershed
community
to
refine
goals,
objectives,
and
plan
elements.
The
recovery
plan
includes
a
habitat
action
plan
with
specific
habitat
protection
and
restoration
strategies
and
will
eventually
serve
as
an
inclusive
steelhead
stock
monitoring
and
adaptive
management
plan.
The
recovery
plan
incorporates
the
needs
and
threats
faced
by
winter
steelhead
into
the
existing
salmon
management
framework
for
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
that
is
currently
focused
on
Chinook
salmon
(Oncorhynchus
tshawytscha)
recovery
(Nisqually
Chinook
Recovery
Team
2011).
Figure
1-­‐1
shows
the
complete
Nisqually
River
watershed
and
the
anadromous
portion
available
to
winter
steelhead.

14. Graphics/00153.13NisquallySteelheadRecoveryPlanning(12-13)SS
Figure 1-1
Nisqually River Watershed

15. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
Introduction
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
1-­‐3
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
1.1 Recovery
Plan
Development
The
recovery
plan
is
a
broad
and
comprehensive
approach
to
recovering
steelhead
in
the
Nisqually
River
watershed;
it
is
based
on
available
historical
information
on
habitat
conditions
in
the
watershed
and
current
habitat
information.
The
plan
relies
heavily
on
stock
assessment
data
and
steelhead
research
findings
derived
from
the
Nisqually
Indian
Tribe
and
WDFW.
The
plan
includes
an
analysis
of
current
and
historical
population
abundance
data
and
an
assessment
of
freshwater
habitat
potential
for
the
current
and
reconstructed
historical
Nisqually
River
watershed.
From
these
analyses,
the
NSRT
identified
freshwater
habitat
restoration
and
protection
priorities
and
completed
an
analysis
of
the
potential
benefits
of
specific
habitat
actions.
Together
these
represent
a
Nisqually
River
watershed
habitat
plan
that
addresses
the
factors
specifically
identified
as
limiting
winter
steelhead
in
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
and
priority
areas
to
protect
high-­‐quality
habitat
in
the
watershed.
Although
marine
survival
is
an
important
factor
affecting
Nisqually
steelhead
recovery,
an
in-­‐depth
analysis
of
complex,
interrelated,
and
far-­‐reaching
factors
affecting
marine
survival
is
beyond
the
scope
of
this
recovery
plan.
The
NSRT
plans
to
work
closely
with
Salish
Sea
Marine
Survival
Project
team
to
better
understand
factors
affecting
Nisqually
steelhead
in
the
marine
environment
and
implement
their
recommendations
to
address
those
factors
where
possible
(Steelhead
Marine
Survival
Workgroup
2014).
1.1.1 Need
for
Recovery
Steelhead
have
one
of
the
most
complex
suites
of
life
history
strategies
of
any
anadromous
Pacific
salmonid
species.
Nisqually
winter
steelhead
usually
spend
1
to
3
years
in
freshwater,
with
the
greatest
proportion
typically
spending
2
years
there.
Consequently,
steelhead
rely
heavily
on
freshwater
habitat
and
are
present
in
streams
year-­‐round.
Nisqually
River
winter
steelhead
share
habitat
with
resident
O.
mykiss
and
likely
interact
as
a
single
population
(Section
4.4.1.6,
Anadromy
and
Resident
Life-­‐History
Forms).
Juvenile
steelhead
also
interact
with
other
salmonids
in
the
watershed,
including
feeding
on
pink
and
chum
salmon
fry
when
abundant.
These
complexities
necessitate
a
recovery
plan
that
has
a
strong
focus
on
understanding
steelhead
freshwater
life
history
and
habitat
use.
Steelhead
are
in
decline
throughout
Puget
Sound.
Recent
abundance
of
Puget
Sound
steelhead
has
been
estimated
at
only
1%
to
4%
of
historical
levels,
with
abundance
estimates
for
the
period
of
1980
to
2004
of
22,000
fish,
compared
to
historical
(1895)
abundance
of
485,000
to
930,000
fish
(Gayeski
et
al.
2011).
Despite
the
generally
less-­‐developed
character
of
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
relative
to
other
Puget
Sound
basins,
annual
winter
steelhead
abundance
in
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
has
declined
substantially
since
the
1980s
and
has
consistently
remained
at
less
than
1,000
fish
since
the
early
1990s
(Chapter
4,
Nisqually
River
Steelhead).
During
the
1980s,
the
number
of
wild
steelhead
returning
to
the
Nisqually
River
was
estimated
to
be
between
approximately
4,000
and
7,000
fish.
This
is
likely
a
low
estimate
because
escapement
numbers
were
based
on
Nisqually
River
mainstem
redd
surveys
and
did
not
account
for
fish
returning
to
spawn
in
numerous
tributaries
in
the
watershed.
Hiss
et
al.
(1982)
provides
partial
records
of
winter
steelhead
escapement
to
Muck
Creek,
reporting
134
females
returning
to
this
stream
to
spawn
in
1980.
The
number
of
steelhead
returning
to
the
Nisqually
River
has
plummeted
to
300
or
less
in
the
last
4
of
10
years.
Again,
spawning
abundance
estimates
are
for
the
mainstem,
and
in
recent
years,
include
the
Mashel
River.
Therefore,
the
total
run
size
to
the
river
is
likely
slightly
larger
to
account
for
fish
spawning
in
other
tributaries.

16. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
Introduction
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
1-­‐4
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
The
Puget
Sound
Steelhead
Technical
Recovery
Team
conducted
a
viability
analysis
of
Puget
Sound
steelhead
populations
(Puget
Sound
Steelhead
Technical
Recovery
Team
2013a).
Their
analysis
of
abundance
and
recruitment
data
for
Nisqually
River
steelhead
found
that
the
population
is
at
“a
very
high
risk
of
quasi-­‐extinction
over
the
next
100
years.”
Wild
fish
management
of
winter
steelhead
has
been
the
primary
management
focus
in
the
Nisqually
River
for
the
last
25
years.
The
fishery
focus
has
historically
been
on
wild
fish
and
ensuring
adequate
escapement
of
wild
fish.
Tribal
and
sport
harvest
on
Nisqually
steelhead
was
eliminated
in
the
early
1990s.
Since
then,
a
few
winter
steelhead
have
been
caught
during
the
tribal
winter
chum
fishery
each
year.
Historically,
there
have
been
hatchery
releases
of
both
winter
and
summer
non-­‐native
steelhead
smolts
in
the
watershed
(Chapter
4,
Nisqually
River
Steelhead).
The
last
hatchery
release
of
winter
steelhead
was
in
1981.
The
program
was
never
large;
the
average
number
of
winter
steelhead
smolts
released
between
1975
and
1981
was
approximately
20,000
fish.
Summer
steelhead
smolts
were
released
up
until
1994,
averaging
about
23,000
smolts
per
year.
Winter
and
summer
steelhead
released
into
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
were
fish
reared
in
hatcheries
outside
of
the
watershed.
Fish
were
transported
from
the
donor
hatcheries
and
released
directly
into
the
Nisqually
River
mainstem.
In
years
with
hatchery
adults
in
the
return
the
contribution
of
hatchery
fish
to
harvest
was
accounted
for
through
scale
analysis
of
fish
in
the
fishery.
Run
size
to
the
river
during
the
period
that
included
hatchery
returns
was
adjusted
to
remove
hatchery
origin
adults.
Land-­‐use
practices
in
the
Nisqually
River
watershed,
including
commercial
timber
harvest
and
development,
have
increased
sediment
loads,
reduced
large
woody
material
input
and
recruitment
potential,
and
altered
precipitation
runoff
patterns.
The
conversion
of
valley
bottomlands
and
wetlands
to
agricultural
and
rural
residential
and
hobby
farms
has
altered
the
habitat
support
functions
provided
by
these
floodplain
habitats.
Prior
to
its
recent
restoration,
the
Nisqually
River
estuary
had
lost
approximately
30%
of
its
historical
intertidal
and
subtidal
habitat
and
54%
of
its
intertidal
emergent
marsh
habitats.
The
Nisqually
River
mainstem
is
constrained
by
revetments
and
levees
in
the
lower
5.2
miles,
remnant
flood
control
dikes
in
areas
near
McKenna
and
maintained
dikes
that
protect
the
Yelm
Diversion
Canal
between
river
mile
(RM)
21.8
and
RM
26.4
(Kerwin
1999).
Two
hydroelectric
projects
have
been
constructed
in
the
watershed
on
the
Nisqually
River
mainstem.
The
Centralia
Diversion
Dam
(operated
by
the
City
of
Centralia
as
part
of
its
Yelm
Hydro
project)
constructed
at
RM
26.2
in
1929
has
affected,
and
continues
to
affect,
adult
and
juvenile
fish
passage.
The
dam
diverts
water
to
a
9-­‐mile
canal
running
parallel
to
the
river
before
returning
to
the
river.
The
La
Grande
Hydroelectric
Project
at
RM
40.8,
operated
by
Tacoma
Power,
was
constructed
in
1910,
and
Alder
Dam
was
added
just
upstream
of
this
dam
in
1944.
This
project
affects
the
hydrologic
regime
of
the
Nisqually
River
mainstem
through
flood
storage
and
flow
regulation.
1.1.2 Goals
and
Objectives
The
specific
Nisqually
Indian
Tribe
and
WDFW
(co-­‐managers)
goals
and
objectives
detailed
in
Chapter
2,
Recovery
Goals
and
Objectives,
were
developed
collaboratively
through
a
series
of
NSRT
meetings
held
in
2012
and
early
2013.

17. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
Introduction
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
1-­‐5
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
Development
of
the
goals
and
objectives
included
both
short-­‐
and
long-­‐term
escapement
and
harvest
goals,
formulated
to
reflect
several
considerations.
 The
economic,
cultural,
and
social
importance
of
Nisqually
winter
steelhead
to
the
Nisqually
Indian
Tribe.
 The
risk
of
run
extinction
reflected
by
the
2007
listing
of
Puget
Sound
steelhead
as
a
federally
threatened
species
under
the
Endangered
Species
Act.
 The
obligation
of
the
NSRT
member
agencies
and
organizations
as
influential
regional
stakeholders
to
guide
recovery
efforts.
 The
desire
for
a
wild
winter
steelhead
population
that
is
self-­‐sustaining,
capable
of
supporting
both
species
recovery
and
harvest
opportunities,
and
resilient
in
the
face
of
a
changing
landscape
and
climate.
1.1.3 Analytical
Framework
In
developing
this
recovery
plan,
the
NSRT
employed
a
science-­‐based
analysis
that
focused
on
gathering
and
synthesizing
the
most
current
habitat
information
available
for
all
subbasins
and
tributary
streams.
The
NSRT
also
compiled
co-­‐manager-­‐derived
stock
assessment
data
and
the
most
current
steelhead
research
findings
to
provide
the
best
possible
and
comprehensive
characterization
of
winter
steelhead
population
characteristics
and
freshwater
habitat
use.
The
recovery
plan
used
the
Ecosystem
Diagnosis
and
Treatment
(EDT)
model
(Mobrand
et
al
1997;
Blair
et
al.
2007)
to
organize
habitat
conditions
and
analyze
the
current
and
historical
production
potential
of
Nisqually
winter
steelhead.
The
EDT
model
results
were
used
to
identify
and
rank
threats
to
population
productivity,
abundance,
and
diversity
based
on
the
relationships
between
environmental
conditions
and
steelhead
life
stage
survival
across
a
range
of
spatial
and
temporal
scales.
The
results
were
also
used
to
evaluate
factors
affecting
current
habitat
potential,
compare
current
to
historical
habitat
potential,
and
compare
benefits
of
possible
actions
to
restore
habitat
potential.
This
analysis
informed
the
compilation
of
data
gaps
and
habitat
protection
and
land-­‐use
strategies
developed
as
part
of
the
recovery
plan.
The
analytical
framework
of
the
recovery
plan
acknowledges
the
consequence
of
data
uncertainty
on
the
assessment
of
threats
to
Nisqually
winter
steelhead
(Section
6.5,
Uncertainty).
This
analysis
focused
on
the
development
of
a
working
hypothesis
to
guide
understanding
of
the
major
habitat
influences
in
predicting
past,
present,
and
future
population
productivity,
abundance,
and
diversity.
These
predictions
were
analyzed
in
terms
of
the
rules
that
translate
environmental
conditions
to
survival.
The
effect
of
variability
and
uncertainty
in
the
knowledge
of
environmental
conditions,
and
the
effect
of
uncertainty
in
fish
spatial
and
temporal
distribution
patterns
need
to
be
recognized
when
reviewing
model
results
presented
in
this
plan.
The
analytical
framework
of
the
recovery
plan
also
included
the
identification
of
data
gaps
(Section
7.4,
Data
Gaps)
drawn
from
analyzing
habitat,
steelhead
population,
and
habitat
use
data
and
considering
research
and
monitoring
needs
(Section
7.5,
Research
and
Monitoring
Needs)
and
the
potential
effects
of
climate
change
on
Nisqually
winter
steelhead
recovery
planning
and
actions
(Section
7.6,
Climate
Change
Considerations).

18. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
Introduction
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
1-­‐6
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
1.1.4 Implementation,
Adaptive
Management,
and
Monitoring
The
keys
to
achieving
recovery
goals
over
time
are
to
assemble
the
most
recent
and
relevant
information
and
use
this
information
to
report
on
population
status,
patterns
of
fish
use
and
survival,
watershed
habitat
conditions,
and
fish
management
consistent
with
the
established
guidelines.
To
this
end,
steelhead
will
be
included
in
the
ongoing
adaptive
management
framework
established
for
Nisqually
Chinook
recovery
(Nisqually
Chinook
Recovery
Team
2011).
A
central
component
of
the
framework
is
an
annual
project
review
(APR)
in
which
a
four-­‐step
process
is
defined
to
establish
Nisqually
recovery
plan
actions
and
objectives
annually
for
the
upcoming
management
season.
1. Update
key
assumptions.
2. Update
status
and
trends
information.
3. Review
and
apply
the
decision
rules
used
to
set
activities
for
the
upcoming
season.
4. Update
models
to
predict
expected
future
conditions
and
population
response,
and
review
for
consistency
with
goals.
This
recovery
plan
also
incorporates
adaptive
management
and
monitoring
plans
that
are
consistent
with
the
framework
developed
by
the
Puget
Sound
Salmon
Recovery
Implementation
Technical
Team
(RITT)
as
part
of
National
Oceanic
and
Atmospheric
Administration–
(NOAA-­‐)
approved
Chinook
recovery
plans.
The
RITT
has
developed
the
Common
Framework
concept
for
the
development
of
monitoring
and
adaptive
management
plans.
The
Common
Framework
and
its
supporting
database
program
Miradi™
are
expected
to
become
the
standard
conceptual
structure,
format,
and
method
for
reporting
and
tracking
salmon
recovery
in
Puget
Sound.
The
steelhead
recovery
plan
is
expected
to
result
in
products
that
are
both
consistent
with
and
translated
into
Common
Framework
terminology
and
data
management
tools.
1.1.5 Next
Steps
A
comprehensive
steelhead
recovery
plan
is
an
ongoing
process.
Not
included
in
this
draft
of
the
recovery
plan
is
an
analysis
of
management
options
for
more
active
intervention
if
run
size
continues
to
decline
or
remains
at
critically
low
levels.
Also
not
included
in
this
draft
of
the
plan,
but
needed,
is
an
analysis
of
recovery
levels
necessary
to
achieve
community
harvest
goals
for
the
population.
Actions,
strategies,
and
priorities
to
improve
steelhead
survival
and
health
during
their
transit
through
the
Puget
Sound
will
also
be
developed
as
data
and
analyses
from
Salish
Sea
Marine
Survival
research
efforts
become
available.
The
draft
recovery
plan
presented
in
this
document
is
based
on
information
presently
available
from
which
the
NSRT
was
able
to
develop
an
understanding
of
the
current
population
potential
relative
to
its
historical
potential
and
likely
factors
that
caused
the
decline.
The
result
is
a
guide
to
early
actions
for
steelhead
recovery.
Throughout
this
document
the
NSRT
identifies
uncertainty
resulting
from
data
gaps,
an
incomplete
analysis
of
existing
data,
or
a
general
lack
of
knowledge
requiring
future
research/analysis
to
guide
recovery
activities.

19. Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Team Introduction
Nisqually River Steelhead Recovery Plan
1-7
July 2014
ICF 00153.13
Next steps in the process of steelhead recovery planning also include the following two items.
1. Develop and implement monitoring plans to improve the understanding of steelhead stock
health parameters: abundance, productivity, spatial structure, genetic diversity, and life history
diversity.
2. Monitor habitat improvement plans and track habitat health using Common Framework data
management tools.
1.1.6 Document Contents
In addition to this introductory chapter, the recovery plan is organized as follows.
 Chapter 2, Recovery Goals and Objectives, presents the long-term vision and short-term goals for
Nisqually steelhead.
 Chapter 3, Nisqually River Overview, describes the current status of the environment and
historical conditions.
 Chapter 4, Nisqually River Steelhead, describes what is known about Nisqually steelhead.
 Chapter 5, Restoration and Protection Needs, details the diagnosis and identification of habitat
protection and restoration needs and priorities for Nisqually steelhead.
 Chapter 6, Habitat Recovery Strategies, presents an analysis of the freshwater habitat recovery
strategy.
 Chapter 7, Nisqually River Steelhead Management, provides an overview of options for hatchery
intervention and scenarios for future fish management.
 Chapter 8, Implementation, discusses implementation including monitoring and adaptive
management.
 Chapter 9, References, includes full references cited in this recovery plan.

21.
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
2-­‐1
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
Chapter
2
Recovery
Goals
and
Objectives
The
NSRT
identified
broad
long-­‐term
goals
and
more
specific
shorter-­‐term
goals
for
winter
steelhead
in
the
Nisqually
River
watershed.
These
goals
represent
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
community
vision
for
the
watershed
and
the
future
of
its
salmon
and
steelhead
populations.
Long-­‐
term
and
short-­‐term
goals
include
both
conservation
and
harvest
components,
consistent
with
the
NSRT’s
interest
in
restoring
the
winter
steelhead
population
to
a
point
where
a
sustainable
level
of
tribal
and
recreational
harvest
is
again
possible.
To
meet
these
goals
the
NSRT
identified
strategic
objectives
and
priorities
specific
to
habitat,
fish
management,
and
plan
implementation
including
monitoring
and
adaptive
management.
2.1 Long-­‐Term
Watershed
Goals
The
successful
recovery
of
Nisqually
winter
steelhead
depends
on
addressing
all
of
the
factors
contributing
to
population
declines
through
a
comprehensive
strategy
that
includes
consideration
of
all
sources
of
mortality
from
both
an
ecosystem
perspective
and
a
harvest
perspective,
protection
of
intact
functional
habitat,
and
restoration
of
degraded
conditions
including
provisions
to
mitigate
the
effects
of
hydropower
facilities
where
possible.
The
following
long-­‐term
goals
for
steelhead
in
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
are
intended
to
be
accomplished
within
a
50-­‐to-­‐100-­‐year
timeframe,
but
they
serve
to
guide
short-­‐term
efforts
as
well.
2.1.1 Conservation
Goals
Long-­‐term
conservation
goals
are
intended
to
ensure
the
existence
and
genetic
diversity
of
Nisqually
winter
steelhead,
as
well
as
the
economic,
cultural,
social,
and
aesthetic
benefits
that
the
Nisqually
Tribe
and
all
residents
of
the
watershed
derive
from
a
healthy
Nisqually
River
ecosystem.
The
NSRT
identified
the
following
three
long-­‐term
conservation
goals.
 Ensure
a
thriving
and
harvestable
natural
production
of
winter
steelhead
in
perpetuity
by
providing
high
quality,
functioning
habitat
across
a
range
of
habitats
historically
used
by
Nisqually
steelhead.
 Ensure
the
long-­‐term
protection
of
the
genetically
unique,
locally
adapted
Nisqually
winter
steelhead
population.
 Ensure
that
the
economic,
cultural,
social,
and
aesthetic
benefits
derived
from
the
Nisqually
ecosystem
will
be
sustained
in
perpetuity.
2.1.2 Harvest
Goals
Long-­‐term
harvest
goals
are
intended
to
ultimately
ensure
a
harvestable
population
of
Nisqually
winter
steelhead
for
tribal
and
sport
fishers
that
is
consistent
with
and
supported
by
achievement
of
the
long-­‐term
conservation
goals
and
maintenance
of
a
healthy
Nisqually
River
ecosystem.

22. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
Recovery
Goals
and
Objectives
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
2-­‐2
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
The
NSRT
identified
the
following
three
long-­‐term
harvest
goals.
 Ensure
sustainable
harvest
of
natural-­‐origin
winter
steelhead.
 Provide
for
a
winter
steelhead–directed
treaty
fishery
of
approximately
2,500
fish
in
the
Nisqually
River
to
achieve
cultural
and
economic
significance
for
the
Nisqually
Indian
Tribe.
 Provide
for
a
full
season
of
winter
steelhead
sport
fishery
in
the
Nisqually
River.
2.2 Short-­‐Term
Recovery
Goals
The
following
short-­‐term
goals
for
steelhead
in
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
are
intended
to
be
accomplished
within
a
5-­‐to-­‐10-­‐year
timeframe
to
slow
the
decline
of
the
population,
preserve
its
genetic
identity,
and
improve
habitat
conditions
as
quickly
as
possible
in
the
watershed.
The
goals
are
intended
to
be
consistent
with
the
long-­‐term
conservation
goals
and
ultimately
work
to
create
conditions
under
which
the
long-­‐term
harvest
goals
can
also
be
accomplished.
2.2.1 Conservation
Goals
Short-­‐term
conservation
goals
are
intended
to
immediately
support
the
protection
and
recovery
of
Nisqually
winter
steelhead
productivity,
abundance,
spatial
distribution,
and
diversity.
The
NSRT
identified
the
following
four
short-­‐term
conservation
goals.
 Restore
population
productivity,
abundance,
distribution,
and
diversity
to
levels
sufficient
to
ensure
short-­‐term
and
long-­‐term
viability
of
Nisqually
winter
steelhead.
 Protect,
restore,
and
enhance
important
habitat
values
and
functions
important
to
winter
steelhead
throughout
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
and
Puget
Sound.
 Protect
the
existing
genetic
and
life
history
diversity
of
steelhead
(including
sympatric
resident
rainbow
trout)
in
the
watershed,
and
promote
the
ability
of
steelhead
to
adapt
to
changing
habitat
conditions.
 Ensure
that
local
and
regional
hatchery
programs
for
all
salmonids
are
managed
to
reduce
impacts
on
wild
steelhead
(including
genetic,
competition,
predation,
and
disease
risks).
2.2.2 Harvest
Goals
Short-­‐term
harvest
goals
are
intended
to
immediately
support
the
recovery
and
preservation
of
the
genetic
diversity
of
Nisqually
winter
steelhead,
while
simultaneously
supporting
Nisqually
tribal
ceremonial
and
subsistence
harvest
of
winter
steelhead.
The
NSRT
identified
the
following
two
short-­‐term
harvest
goals.
 Restore
population
productivity
and
abundance
levels
adequate
to
provide
sufficient
steelhead
to
eliminate
incidental
harvest
conflicts
(these
recovery
threshold
numbers
have
not
yet
been
estimated)
during
the
Nisqually
treaty
winter
chum
fishery.
 Provide
for
a
predictable
Nisqually
tribal
ceremonial
and
subsistence
harvest
(these
recovery
threshold
numbers
have
not
yet
been
estimated).

23. Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Team Recovery Goals and Objectives
Nisqually River Steelhead Recovery Plan
2-3
July 2014
ICF 00153.13
2.3 Recovery Strategic Objectives
Recovery objectives are measurable outcomes of strategies and actions necessary to achieve the
long-term and short-term recovery goals for winter steelhead. These objectives were carefully
evaluated to determine their relationships to overall goals. The NSRT assumes that achieving
recovery objectives will be a significant step toward recovery of Nisqually steelhead.
Recovery objectives were divided into habitat objectives, fish management objectives, and
monitoring and adaptive-management objectives to reflect the essential components and varying
scales across which recovery would need to occur.
2.3.1 Habitat Objectives
Habitat objectives are intended to support both long-and short-term conservation goals. These
objectives will be achieved through the implementation of priority freshwater restoration and
protection strategies. This includes continuing to promote habitat restoration and protection
activities identified for Chinook that also benefit steelhead. Habitat objectives will be defined in
detail within the action plan. Habitat objectives are also expected to encompass activities intended
to better understand critical data gaps regarding factors affecting marine survival and eventually a
plan to improve smolt-to-adult survival of Nisqually steelhead. Specific activities toward these
objectives are as follows.
 Identify habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement actions from the fall Nisqually
Chinook Recovery Plan that are relevant to the new actions specific to steelhead. Use this new
list of overlapping actions to prioritize and implement actions to achieve recovery goals for both
species and secure recovery funding.
 Identify habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement actions unique to steelhead, and
develop a method for incorporating habitat restoration actions with a focus on steelhead into
the Nisqually-wide salmon recovery portfolio of actions.
 Identify how findings of marine survival research are relevant to recovery of Nisqually
steelhead.
 Support the incorporation of marine survival research findings into a Puget Sound-wide
steelhead recovery plan, and implement strategies with the greatest likelihood to improve
smolt-to-adult survival, including indirect benefits through an ecosystem approach to recovery.
 Support the development and implementation of actions to improve marine survival at scales
relevant to the Nisqually Demographically Independent Population (DIP) specifically, and the
Puget Sound Distinct Population Segment (DPS) as a whole.
2.3.2 Fish Management Objectives
Fish management objectives are intended to support both the long- and short-term harvest goals
and ensure fishery-related mortality does not impede recovery. This is best achieved by having
clearly defined management plans guiding steelhead harvest levels and resident rainbow population
management. Fish management objectives also include the need to ensure short- and long-term
population genetic diversity and viability.

24. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
Recovery
Goals
and
Objectives
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
2-­‐4
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
Specific
strategies
to
achieve
these
objectives
are
as
follows.
 Develop
and
implement
a
winter
steelhead
management
plan
to
guide
future
sustainable
harvest,
including
escapement
targets,
and
thresholds
for
indirect
and
targeted
harvest.
 Develop
and
implement
a
resident
rainbow
trout
management
plan
to
guide
resident
fish
harvest
and
incidental
mortality
of
juvenile
steelhead
encountered
in
the
fishery.
 Develop
and
implement
a
hatchery
rainbow
trout
stocking
plan
in
lakes
to
reduce
potential
genetic
and
ecological
impacts
on
steelhead
and
resident
rainbow
trout.
 Develop
a
steelhead
hatchery
conservation
plan
and
criteria
as
necessary
to
protect
population
genetic
diversity
and
viability.
2.3.3 Monitoring
and
Adaptive-­‐Management
Objectives
Monitoring
and
adaptive-­‐management
objectives
are
intended
to
integrate
steelhead
recovery
efforts
with
other
salmon
recovery
efforts
in
the
watershed,
to
track
the
effectiveness
of
steelhead
recovery
efforts
and
address
data
gaps
identified
in
the
plan.
Specific
strategies
to
achieve
these
objectives
are
as
follows.
1. Develop
a
monitoring
program
that
will
describe
the
population
sufficiently
to
ensure
progress
toward
goals,
or
lack
thereof,
is
detected.
The
program
would
include
such
elements
as:
a. Estimates
of
adult
steelhead
run
size,
escapement,
and
total
brood
year
adult
recruits.
b. Estimates
of
juvenile
outmigrants
and
annual
smolt-­‐to-­‐adult
survival
estimates.
c. Monitoring
habitat
status
and
trends
2. Incorporate
steelhead
into
the
existing
Nisqually
River
adaptive-­‐management
framework
developed
for
fall
Chinook,
including
the
APR
workshops
3. Incorporate
steelhead
threat
analysis
and
recovery
strategies
into
the
Puget
Sound
Partnership’s
Monitoring
and
Adaptive
Management
(M&AM)
project
data
structure
that
is
based
on
the
RITT’s
Common
Framework.
4. Complete
and
implement
recommendations
of
an
assessment
of
the
resident
and
anadromous
genetic
resource
in
the
Nisqually
River
watershed,
including
O.
mykiss
upstream
of
the
Tacoma
Power
dams.
5. Complete
a
review
of
hatchery
rainbow
trout
stocking
programs
in
the
watershed
(origin,
life
history,
reproductive
cycle,
risk
of
hybridization,
etc.)
and
evaluate
their
potential
impact
on
wild
winter
steelhead.
6. Assess
nanophyetus1
impacts
on
steelhead
survival
upon
marine
entry.
7. Identify
landscape-­‐scale
pressures
that
are
causing
habitat
degradation
and
incorporate
strategies
to
reduce
or
mitigate
these
pressures
into
habitat
actions.
1
Nanophyetus
salmincola
is
a
trematode
common
in
the
Pacific
Northwest
that
uses
salmonids
as
one
of
three
hosts.
The
Salish
Sea
Survival
Project
has
identified
it
as
a
possible
explanation
of
the
observed
low
marine
survival
of
Puget
Sound
steelhead.

25.
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
3-­‐1
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
Chapter
3
Nisqually
River
Overview
This
chapter
describes
current
and
historical
conditions
in
the
Nisqually
River,
its
delta
and
particular
subbasins
integral
to
steelhead
production.
Specific
habitat
characteristics
important
to
the
EDT
model
are
also
summarized.
In
addition,
factors
that
affect
steelhead
habitat,
such
as
land
use
and
hydromodification
of
the
Nisqually
River,
are
described.
3.1 Nisqually
River
Watershed
The
ancestral
home
of
the
Nisqually
Indian
Tribe,
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
(Figure
3-­‐1),
Water
Resource
Inventory
Area
11
(WRIA
11)
was
one
of
the
earliest
areas
settled
by
European-­‐American
immigrants
in
Puget
Sound.
The
watershed
was
prized
for
its
deep-­‐water
access
to
salt
water,
large
tracts
of
pristine
old
growth
forests,
native
prairies,
fertile
river
valleys,
and
numerous
species
of
wildlife
and
abundant
runs
of
salmon
(Kerwin
1999).
The
Hudson’s
Bay
Company
established
Fort
Nisqually
as
a
fur
trading
post
in
1833
near
the
mouth
of
the
Nisqually
River.
Homesteads
and
settlements
began
appearing
in
the
1840s.
The
new
arrivals
initiated
a
series
of
actions
to
modify
the
landscape
to
fit
their
needs,
including
diking
the
estuary
(1904
through
the
late
1920s),
construction
of
the
Yelm
Hydroelectric
Project
(1929),
and
the
La
Grande
Hydroelectric
Project,
now
called
by
Tacoma
Power
the
Nisqually
River
Project
(1910)
(Kerwin
1999).
3.1.1 Subbasins
and
Ecoregions
The
Nisqually
River
originates
from
the
Nisqually
Glacier
on
the
southern
slope
of
Mount
Rainier
and
flows
west-­‐northwest
for
approximately
78
miles
until
it
enters
south
Puget
Sound
8
miles
northeast
of
Olympia,
Washington.
The
Nisqually
River
is
fed
by
rainfall,
snowmelt,
and
to
a
lesser
extent
by
glacial
melt.
Its
watershed
encompasses
an
area
of
approximately
761
square
miles.
The
geographic
extent
of
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
follows
the
State
of
Washington’s
WRIA
11
(Figure
3-­‐1).
Two
streams
that
discharge
directly
into
the
Nisqually
estuary
are
typically
considered
part
of
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
for
planning
purposes:
McAllister
Creek,
which
discharges
into
the
western
portion
of
the
estuary
and
Red
Salmon
Creek,
which
discharges
into
the
eastern
portion
of
the
estuary.
The
watershed
contains
332
streams
that
total
a
linear
distance
of
714
miles
(Williams
et
al.
1975).
The
La
Grande
Canyon,
at
RM
42,
divides
the
watershed
into
two
distinct
physiographic
areas.
Downstream
of
the
canyon,
the
watershed
consists
of
low
hills
and
plains
of
glacial
outwash.
Upstream
of
the
canyon,
volcanic
rocks
and
steeper
mountainous
terrain
dominate
the
area.
The
canyon
itself
contains
sheer
cliffs
extending
upward
of
200
feet.
Upper
Nisqually
River
watershed
refers
to
the
portion
of
the
watershed
that
is
upstream
of
La
Grande
Canyon
and
lower
Nisqually
Basin
refers
to
the
portion
of
the
watershed
below
La
Grande
Canyon.

26. Graphics/00153.13NisquallySteelheadRecoveryPlanning(12-13)SS
Figure 3-1
Anadromous Portion of the Nisqually River Watershed (WRIA 11)

27. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
Nisqually
River
Overview
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
3-­‐3
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
La
Grande
Dam,
located
at
RM
42.5
on
the
Nisqually
River,
is
the
current
upstream
boundary
of
anadromous
salmonids
in
the
watershed
and
is
also
the
likely
upper
extent
of
the
historical
distribution
of
anadromous
salmonids
in
the
watershed
(Chapter
4,
Nisqually
River
Steelhead).
Consequently,
only
615
of
1,149
possible
linear
kilometers
of
streams
in
the
watershed
have
the
potential
for
anadromous
fish
use.
However,
much
of
this
potential
habitat
comprises
streams
with
insufficient
flow
to
accommodate
steelhead
utilization
or
is
above
natural
migration
barriers.
This
assessment
evaluated
steelhead
potential
across
321
linear
kilometers
of
streams.
In
addition
to
historical
accounts,
the
description
of
pre-­‐European
settlement
conditions
in
the
lower
Nisqually
River
watershed
uses
characteristics
of
the
U.S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency’s
(EPA)
level
IV
ecoregions
described
for
the
area
by
Pater
et
al.
(1998).
Ecoregions
denote
areas
of
general
similarity
in
ecosystems
and
in
the
type,
quality,
and
quantity
of
environmental
resources.
They
are
designed
to
serve
as
a
spatial
framework
for
the
research,
assessment,
management,
and
monitoring
of
ecosystems
and
ecosystem
components
(Pater
et
al.
1998).
Ecological
regions
are
identified
through
analysis
of
the
patterns
and
composition
of
biotic
and
abiotic
phenomena
(e.g.,
geology,
physiography,
vegetation,
climate,
soils)
that
reflect
differences
in
ecosystem
quality
and
integrity.
For
the
Nisqually
River
watershed,
the
description
of
these
ecoregions
is
of
sufficient
detail
to
help
formulate
a
hypothesis
of
the
watershed’s
aquatic
environment.
The
lower
Nisqually
River
watershed
falls
within
three
level
IV
ecoregions
(Figure
3-­‐2).
All
of
the
EDT
analysis
streams
fall
within
the
Southern
Puget
Prairies
level
IV
ecoregion,2
with
the
exception
of
tributaries
of
Ohop
Creek
(Lynch
and
Twenty-­‐Five
Mile
Creeks)
and
the
Mashel
River
watershed.
As
summarized
in
Table
3-­‐1,
the
Southern
Puget
Prairies
ecoregion
comprises
nearly
level
to
rolling
glacial
outwash
plains
and
ground
moraines
(Pater
et
al.
1998).
Well-­‐drained
soils
promote
a
land
cover
mosaic
of
Douglas
fir/western
hemlock
forests,
prairies,
and
oak
woodlands.
The
majority
of
Lynch
and
Twenty-­‐Five
Mile
Creeks
and
the
Mashel
River
flow
through
the
Western
Cascades
Lowlands
and
Valleys
ecoregion.
Streams
in
this
ecoregion
are
medium
gradient,
with
headwaters
in
western
hemlock,
western
red
cedar,
and
Douglas
fir
forests
and
lower
reaches
in
valleys
near
confluences
with
the
Nisqually
River.
The
Nisqually
watershed
falls
within
the
jurisdiction
of
three
counties.
The
entire
watershed
north
of
the
Nisqually
River
is
within
the
jurisdiction
of
Pierce
County
and
forms
its
southern
boundary.
The
upper
watershed
south
of
the
Nisqually
River
is
in
Lewis
County,
and
the
lower
watershed
south
of
the
Nisqually
falls
within
the
jurisdiction
of
Thurston
County.
2
The
level
IV
ecoregions
depicted
in
Figure
3-­‐2
were
compiled
at
a
scale
of
1:250,000
and
are,
therefore,
subject
to
errors
of
scale.

28. Graphics/00153.13NisquallySteelheadRecoveryPlanning(12-13)SS
Figure 3-2
EPA Level IV Ecoregions in the Lower Nisqually River Watershed

29. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
Nisqually
River
Overview
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
3-­‐5
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
Table
3-­‐1.
Characteristics
of
EPA
Level
IV
Ecoregions
in
the
Lower
Nisqually
Basin
Level
IV
Ecoregion
2g.
Southern
Puget
Prairies
4a.
Western
Cascades
Lowlands
and
Valleys
4b.
Western
Cascades
Montane
Highlands
Physiography
Description
Nearly
level
to
rolling
glacial
outwash
and
till
plains
with
low
gradient
streams
and
lakes
Westerly
trending
ridges
and
valleys
with
reservoirs
and
medium
gradient
rivers
and
streams.
U-­‐
shaped,
glaciated
valleys
in
the
east.
Steep,
glaciated,
dissected
mountains
and
ridges
with
high
to
medium
gradient
streams
and
glacial
rock-­‐basin
lakes.
Elevation/Local
Relief
(feet)
0–900
200–500
800–4,000
400–3,000
2,800–5,900
2,000–3,100
Geology
Surficial
material
and
bedrock
Pleistocene
Vashon
Glacial
outwash
and
till
deposits
Oligocene-­‐Eocene
andesitic,
basaltic,
and
rhyolitic
lava
flows
and
breccia.
Oligocene-­‐Miocene
andesitic
and
basaltic
lava
flows
and
breccia.
Soil
Order
(Great
Groups)
Inceptisols
(Durochrepts,
Xerumbrepts),
Andisols
(Melanoxerands)
Inceptisols
(Haplumbrepts),
Ultisols
(Haplohumults,
Palehumults),
Andisols
(Haploxerands)
Inceptisols
(Haplumbrepts),
Andisols
(Hapludands,
Fulvicryands,
Haplocryands)
Common
Soil
Series
Alderwood,
Everett,
Spanaway,
Nisqually.
Deep,
moderately
well
drained
to
somewhat
excessively
well-­‐drained,
gravelly
loam,
gravelly
sandy
loam,
very
gravelly
sandy
loam,
loamy
fine
sand.
Klickitat,
Kinney,
McCully,
Peavine,
Honeygrove,
Orford,
Olympic,
Cinebar.
Very
deep
to
deep,
clay
loam,
silty
clay
loam,
silt
loam,
gravelly
clay
loam,
gravelly
silt
loam,
cobbly
loam.
Keel,
Hummington,
Aschoff,
Bull
Run,
Illahee,
Mellowmoon.
Very
deep
to
moderately
deep,
silt
loam,
gravelly
silt
loam,
gravelly
loam,
cobbly
loam.
Temperature/Moisture
Regimes
Mesic/
Xeric
Mesic/
Udic
Frigid,
Cryic/
Udic

30. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
Nisqually
River
Overview
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
3-­‐6
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
Level
IV
Ecoregion
2g.
Southern
Puget
Prairies
4a.
Western
Cascades
Lowlands
and
Valleys
4b.
Western
Cascades
Montane
Highlands
Climate
Precipitation
Mean
annual
(inches)
40–55
60–90
70–120
Frost
Free
Mean
annual
(days)
150–210
120–180
80–120
Mean
Temperature
January
min/max;
July
min/max,
(°F)
34/46;
52/77
31/41;
47/78
26/37;
44/75
Potential
Natural
Vegetation
Douglas-­‐fir,
prairies;
some
oak
woodland,
western
hemlock,
red
cedar
Western
hemlock,
western
red
cedar,
Douglas-­‐fir.
Pacific
silver
fir,
western
hemlock,
mountain
hemlock,
Douglas-­‐fir;
some
noble
fir.
Ecoregion
4b
is
higher
in
elevation
than
ecoregion
4a
and
is
snow
influenced.
Land
Use
and
Land
Cover
Douglas-­‐fir/western
hemlock
forests,
prairies,
oak
woodlands.
Forestry,
hay
farming,
pastureland.
Mix
of
military
and
private
land
ownership
Douglas-­‐fir/western
hemlock/western
red
cedar/vine
maple/red
alder
forests
are
wide-­‐
spread.
Forestry
and
recreation
are
important
land
uses
and
pastureland
occurs
in
lower
valleys.
Extensive
Pacific
silver
fir/western
hemlock/Douglas-­‐fir/mountain
hemlock/noble
fir/sub-­‐alpine
fir/grand
fir/white
fir
forests.
Common
land
uses
include
forestry
and
recreation.
Eco-­‐
region
4b
is
an
important
regional
water
source.
Source:
Pater
et
al.
1998

31. Nisqually
Steelhead
Recovery
Team
Nisqually
River
Overview
Nisqually
River
Steelhead
Recovery
Plan
3-­‐7
July
2014
ICF
00153.13
3.1.2 Land
Use
The
headwaters
of
the
Nisqually
River
are
protected
by
Mount
Rainier
National
Park,
and
its
estuary
resides
in
the
Nisqually
National
Wildlife
Refuge
(Nisqually
River
Task
Force
1987).
Between
the
federally
protected
headwaters
and
estuary,
the
Nisqually
River
watershed
is
a
mixture
of
private
and
public
lands.
The
Nisqually
River
watershed
is
relatively
undeveloped
compared
to
other
south
Puget
Sound
rivers.
The
land
use
percentages
in
the
upper
Nisqually
River
watershed
as
estimated
in
2000
(David
Evans
&
Associates
2000)
were
as
follows.
 Agricultural
and
Vacant
Land
2%
 Forestry
and
Recreation
78%
 National
Park
18%
 Urban/Residential/Commercial
2%
Pierce
County
recently
estimated
the
percentage
of
land
use
for
tributary
subbasins
in
its
jurisdiction
(Pierce
County
2012).
The
area
west
of
Eatonville
encompassing
the
Murray
Creek,
Brighton
Creek,
Horn
Creek,
Harts
Lake,
Tanwax
Creek,
Kreger
Creek
and
lower
Ohop
Creek
subbasins
is
approximately
50%
rural-­‐residential,
12%
to
30%
open
space,
and
5%
to
10%
agricultural.
The
portion
of
the
watershed
east
of
Eatonville
that
includes
the
Mashel
River
subbasin
consists
of
25%
rural
residential
and
75%
forested
land
(Pierce
County
2012).
Land
use
within
the
Muck
Creek
subbasin,
the
largest
tributary
by
area
to
the
lower
Nisqually
River,
was
estimated
to
be
32%
residential
and
37%
open
space,
with
25%
of
the
basin
within
Fort
Lewis
(Pierce
County
2005).
Major
public
landholdings
in
the
watershed
include
the
Mount
Baker-­‐Snoqualmie
National
Forest,
Gifford
Pinchot
National
Forest,
Mount
Rainier
National
Park,
Washington
Department
of
Natural
Resources
lands
(WDNR),
and
the
City
of
Tacoma
(Nisqually
River
Project).
Large
timber
holdings
include
real
estate
investment
companies
(Hancock,
West
Fork,
ORM
Timber
Fund,
WACF
TA,
and
TWR
Timberlands),
Weyerhaeuser
Timber
Company,
the
Muckleshoot
Indian
Tribe,
and
Manke
Timber
Company.
Due
to
the
significant
land
ownership
by
natural
resource
agencies
and
timber
companies,
only
a
small
portion
of
the
upper
watershed
has
undergone
urban
or
residential
development
(2%).
Large
sections
of
land
adjacent
to
the
Nisqually
River
in
the
lower
watershed
lie
within
Joint
Base
Lewis-­‐McChord
(JBLM
–
Department
of
Defense)
or
the
Nisqually
Indian
Reservation
and
are
protected
from
typical
development.
As
it
flows
west,
the
Nisqually
River
bisects
Fort
Lewis.
Fort
Lewis
is
north
(Pierce
County)
of
the
river
from
RM
19
to
RM
2.3;
the
military
base
is
south
of
the
river
(Thurston
County)
from
RM
17.6
to
RM
14
and
RM
12.3
to
RM
11.
The
Nisqually
Indian
Reservation
bounds
the
river
in
Thurston
County
from
RM
11
to
RM
5.4.
Additional
conservation
easements
and
outright
purchases
by
the
Nisqually
Land
Trust
have
expanded
protection
of
shoreline
and
floodplain
habitats
on
the
Nisqually
River
mainstem
and
estuary,
Ohop
Creek,
and
lower
Mashel
River.
As
of
2013
and
across
all
entities,
72%
of
the
Nisqually
River
shoreline
below
Alder
Dam
is
in
protected
status
(Nisqually
Indian
Tribe
n.d.).
However,
the
Whitewater,
McKenna,
and
Wilcox
reaches
of
the
Nisqually
River
mainstem
are
only
67%,
21%,
and
49%
protected,
respectively.
In
Ohop
Creek,
downstream
of
the
lake,
39%
of
the
shoreline
is
protected
and
the
lower
7
miles
of
the
Mashel
River
69%
is
protected.
Land
uses
in
the