Bill Barmettler netting bugs - - photo: Rob Schanz
News release, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in December that a petition to list four species of lamprey did not contain sufficient information to warrant further review at this time. The agency said it will continue to work with others on efforts to conserve lampreys and their habitats.
"Little detailed information is known about these species," said Dave Allen, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Region. "We applaud the ongoing conservation efforts that tribes, states, federal agencies and other parties are carrying out for these species. We are asking interested parties to continue to gather data and conduct research that will enhance the understanding of lampreys and the nature of their conservation needs. Efforts to address restoration targeted at lamprey, such as the recent Lamprey Summit sponsored by the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission, need to continue."
The petition, submitted by 11 environmental groups, asked the agency to list four species of lamprey: the Pacific lamprey, the river lamprey, the western brook lamprey and the Kern brook lamprey. The petition cited population declines and said lampreys are threatened by artificial barriers to upstream and downstream migration, dewatering and habitat degradation, among other threats.
Lampreys are eel-like aquatic vertebrates. As adults some are only a few inches in length, while the Pacific lamprey can reach two to three feet in length. Born in fresh water, the Pacific lamprey and the river lamprey migrate to sea to feed parasitically during their adult life and return to freshwater to spawn. The western brook lamprey and the Kern brook lamprey spend their entire lives in freshwater and are never parasitic. All four species of lampreys spend most of their life cycle as a larvae buried in the bottom of streams in slow moving water. Pacific and river lampreys occupy many of the same streams as Pacific salmon and are a food source for many fish, birds and mammals.
To many West Coast Indian tribes Pacific lampreys have cultural significance and value as a food source and medicine. Pacific lampreys range from Baja California, Mexico, around the Pacific Rim to Japan. They have been caught as far as 62 miles offshore and at depths up to 2,600 feet.
While declines of lamprey species' populations in some instances have been documented, the Fish and Wildlife Service found that the petition did not provide the required information to indicate that listing the four lamprey species may be warranted. In the case of the Pacific lamprey, the petitioners provided information documenting a reduction in the species' range and numbers, but they did not provide information describing how the portion of the species' petitioned range (California, Oregon, Idaho and Washington) or any smaller portion is appropriate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. For the other three petitioned species, the petition suggested they face threats similar to those faced by Pacific lampreys but it failed to provide specific information on those threats. Although little information exists on the status of Kern brook, western brook, and river lampreys, some of the threats that affect Pacific and river lampreys are not applicable to Kern brook and western brook lampreys because those two species of lamprey do not migrate to the ocean. The Fish and Wildlife Service, therefore, found that the petition did not provide sufficient information to warrant initiating a status review at this time.
The petition to list the four lamprey species was filed in January 2003. The Fish and Wildlife Service conducted an initial review of the petition to determine whether an emergency listing was warranted and decided in March 2003 that an emergency situation did not exist. Due to limited funds, no further work was done at the time. The petitioners sued the agency and in November 2004, the agency reached an agreement with the petitioners to issue a 90-day finding on the petition by December 20, 2004. December's announcement constitutes the agency's 90-day finding. The full text of the finding is contained in two separate documents, which can be found at http://pacific.fws.gov/ecoservices/endangered/listing/default.htm.
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By Rob Schanz, Chehalis River Council
February 2005. Regular readers of Drops of Water may recall that the Chehalis River Council has a grant from the Department of Ecology to monitor streams in the Upper Chehalis basin. We monitor sites on Elk Creek, the South Fork Chehalis, the South Fork Newaukum, and the Middle Fork Newaukum. We've completed our third year, and now have enough data to see some trends.
In the winter, water temperatures at our sites are cold (0.5 to 8 degrees C), and dissolved oxygen levels stay close to saturation. In the summer, things warm up quite a bit, and water temperatures rise above 10 degrees C. Low flows and high water temperatures cause dissolved oxygen levels to drop, but they usually stay above the minimum levels needed by salmon.
Bill Barmettler netting bugs - - photo: Rob Schanz |
Fecal coliform samples show a wide range of results. Fecal coliform bacteria live in warm-blooded animals and are used to indicate manure or sewage in water. In September 2002, fecal coliform levels in Elk Creek and the South Fork Chehalis both rose above the state water quality standard (100 counts/100 ml). Since this occurred in the summer, these water quality violations were probably not caused by polluted stormwater runoff. They may be linked to failing septic systems, or to animals (domestic or wild) wading in streams.
Since then we haven't seen high fecal coliform levels, and most samples have stayed below 50 counts/100ml. Surprisingly, our average coliform levels are higher in the summer than in the winter. Perhaps we are seeing a dilution effect in the winter by relatively clean runoff from undeveloped areas in our watersheds.
Elk Creek and the South Fork Newaukum show the best overall water quality. Aquatic invertebrate populations at both of these sites are reasonably healthy, scoring in the high range for moderately impaired rural streams. These streams are strongly fed by groundwater in the summer, and drain watersheds that are mostly used to grow timber. The South Fork Newaukum is shaded by mature trees that keep the water cool and provide food for aquatic insects and fish.
The Middle Fork Newaukum drops to barely a trickle in the late summer, leading to some water quality problems. Water temperatures in August 2004 rose above healthy levels for salmon (18 degrees C), and dissolved oxygen levels didn't meet state water quality standards in August 2003 and 2004. The pH dropped below the state standard of 6.5 in January 2005. Surprisingly, these water quality problems are not reflected in scores for aquatic invertebrate populations, which are comparable to those at Elk Creek and the South Fork Newaukum.
The South Fork Chehalis also has problems with low flows and high water temperatures, and failed to meet state Temperature standards in August 2003. Even more troubling, this site has shown a steady downward trend in its scores for aquatic invertebrate populations. In 2002 the South Fork Chehalis scored similarly to the other three sites. By 2004 scores had dropped to the low end of the range for moderately impaired sites, and bordered on severely impaired. The South Fork Chehalis watershed has the highest concentration of agricultural and dairy land among our sites. The stream has few mature riparian trees, and gravel bars are often clogged with fine sediment. Our downward trend is admittedly based on only three samples, so we will keep monitoring to see if this is a long-term problem.
Our program is funded for two more seasons. Volunteers collect all of our data using professional-level instruments and follow an approved quality assurance plan. If you are interested in joining us, call Rob Schanz at (360) 291-3725 or send an e-mail to crc@crcwater.org.
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Funding for this project has been provided in part through a grant to the Department of Ecology from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Department of Ecology allocates and administers funding for this project. The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of either the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the Department of Ecology.
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By Kathy Jacobson, CBEC Coordinator
On Thursday January 27, the Chehalis Basin Education Consortium sponsored a "Words and Images from the Watershed: Washington's River of Words" workshop for middle school students from the upper Chehalis Watershed. Thirty students representing Rochester Middle School, Boistfort Elementary School, Oakville Middle School, Onalaska Middle School, and Chehalis Middle School attended the workshop held at Millersylvania State Park. The goal of the workshop was to "use the natural environment of Millersylvania State Park as an inspiration and catalyst for poetry."
Bill Yake, local poet and author of "This Old Riddle: Cormorants and Rain" and retired environmental scientist guided the students in several poetry activities, including creating a poem of "verbs." Park Ranger, Seth Mason-Todd guided the students on an interpretive and journal-writing expedition through old growth forest.
In the afternoon, students worked on creating their own poems. Many students shared their works aloud with the whole group. Here are a few of their poems:
Recipe Start with a branch of moss Add a dash of lichen And a sprig of spruce Stir in a woodpecker And toss some ferns Melt some witches butter Add some leaves to taste Throw in a medium sized raven Mix in a babbling brook Serves all nature By Devin Dowell, Rochester Middle School |
Whirlpool Water swirling Water witching By Alex Sanchez, Rochester Middle School |
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If you fall, I cushion you If you lose your voice, the raven overhead will speak up If you go blind, the sun will lead you If you can't enjoy the scent of earth, Stroke a flowing stream and you shall drown in your senses If ever in pain, forever fall back on Mother Nature. Twyla Blanksma, Rochester Middle School |
When students were asked what they learned from the day, they said they learned:
"Experiencing something dramatically helps you properly convey a message."
"How to slow down and realize more things that I didn't know."
"To take my feelings and put them into my poetry."
Teachers and parent volunteers noted in their evaluations that:
"Images can be evoked through the five senses and transferred into meaningful poetry."
"I learned that these kids have great insight and creative forces."
"The use of verbs and keener observation."
"How to slow down and enjoy the surroundings and the use of verbs and language."
When the students were asked what their favorite parts of the workshop were, some said:
"The hike: imagination."
"Walking on the trail."
"Able to relate to the outdoors; able to share."
"It was outside."
"The walk in the forest."
"The wilderness trail."
"Having a real poet there."
"Great walk; awesome for writing and sharing poetry."
 Tessie Taylor, Emily Maciel and Brendin Sauer and other Chehalis Middle School students at Millersylvania State Park - photo: Kathy Jacobson |
The teacher and student responses demonstrated that Millersylvania State Park and the "dappled light of the forest" provided an inspirational setting for poetry, and participants strengthened their connection to the Chehalis watershed.
Look for a June student edition of "Drops of Water" to feature more "Words and Images from the Watershed: Washington's River of Words" works of art and poetry.
Funding for this workshop was provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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The 10th Annual Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival will be held on the weekend of May 6-8, 2005 in Hoquiam, with headquarters at Central Elementary School. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Dennis Paulson on Saturday night at the banquet. Included activities are guided field trips, fun fair for kids, live auction at the banquet, lectures, book signing by authors, poster contest in elementary schools, and lots more.
Each Spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to rest and feed in Grays Harbor estuary on their migration northward. Coming from as far south as Argentina, these Arctic-bound shorebirds are among the world's greatest migrants. Some birds travel over 15,000 miles round trip! Tens of thousands of shorebirds feed on the open mudflats in the estuary. This concentration of birds offers people a great chance to view a number of shorebird species, and with luck, to see the birds fly together in beautiful formations while trying to escape the fastest creature on earth, the Peregrine Falcon.
This wildlife spectacle happens every year at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and other parts of Grays Harbor County. People from around the world come to view this event of hemispheric importance.
Grays Harbor Audubon Society, Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, and the City of Hoquiam work with a host of other local sponsors to offer the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival. This event is timed to match the annual migration of hundreds of thousands of shorebirds as they pause at the Grays Harbor estuary to feed and rest before departing for their nesting grounds in the Arctic.
A portion of revenues in excess of festival expenses goes toward a fund to benefit the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge for activities such as: continuation of construction of the boardwalk, benches and interpretive signage, and an Education Specialist.
For information about the shorebird festival, call 800.303.8498, contact Kris Schoyen [kschoyen@hotmail.com] or visit www.shorebirdfestival.com.
Seven projects receive grant funding for habitat restoration in the Chehalis Basin
By Lee Napier, Lead Entity Coordinator for the Chehalis Basin
During its December 3, 2004 meeting, the Salmon Recovery Funding Board awarded $26.7 million in grants to local communities across the state to protect and restore salmon habitat in Washington state. The grants, ranging from $26,000 to more than $1 million, were given to organizations within 27 counties for work ranging from planting trees along streams to cool the water for salmon, to replacing crushed culverts that prevent salmon from migrating, to changing stream channels to create better places for salmon to spawn and grow.
In the Chehalis Basin, seven projects received funding. The following summarizes each project.
Replacing fish-blocking culverts on Dekay Road $307,546. The Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force will use this grant to replace culverts at three crossings on Dekay Road, north of Hoquiam. The crossings are on Polson Creek, a tributary of the west fork of the Hoquiam River. Two of the culverts will be replaced with bottomless box culverts and the third will be replaced with a concrete bridge, allowing the creek to regain normal functions and provide access to all fish at all life stages. Polson Creek has excellent coho and cutthroat spawning and rearing habitat while the Hoquiam River is used by Chinook, chum and steelhead salmon. If the barrier culverts are removed, young salmon could use the upper portions of this watershed. Combined, the three crossings will open a total of 3 miles on Polson Creek. There are eight culverts that need replacing on this stream; one is already funded for replacement and this grant would take care of another three. The Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force will match this grant with $102,422 in cash and donated materials. For more information about this project contact Lonnie Crumley at 360.482.3037.
Planting and fencing Vance Creek to help salmon $26,03 1. The Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force will use this grant to fence and plant the shoreline of Vance Creek, a tributary of the Chehalis River. The 8.6-mile-long creek supports cutthroat trout and coho salmon as well as lamprey eels, sculpins, mud minnows and other aquatic life. Local landowners have agreed to allow fencing and planting on a 25-foot buffer on both sides of the stream. The Chehalis Basin Education Consortium and teachers from the local school district will provide technical expertise while volunteers and students will replant more than 3 miles of the lower portion of the stream and place 2.37 miles of fence to keep livestock from entering the stream. The plants will provide needed shade and nutrients to spawning and rearing salmon and the fence will prevent animal waste from entering the stream. The fisheries task force will match this grant with $30,900 in donated labor. For more information about this project contact Lonnie Crumley at 360.482.3037.
Replacing culverts to open up fish habitat $35,149. The Lewis County Conservation District will use this grant to remove three culverts and replace them with a railcar bridge that will allow fish of all ages and lifestyles to migrate up and down Stearns Creek. The project is southwest of Chehalis on Pleasant Valley Road, about 2.8 miles from the confluence of Stearns Creek and the Chehalis River. This is a high priority project that will give the coho, cutthroat and steelhead that live in the creek access to more than 12 miles of habitat. The Lewis County Conservation District will match this grant with $18,000 from other federal and state grants. For more information about this project contact Bob Amrine at 360.748.0083.
Replacing a culvert on Lucas Creek $345,000. Lewis County Public Works will use this grant to replace a culvert in Lucas Creek east of Chehalis with a bridge to improve fish passage. Lucas Creek is a tributary to Newaukum River, which flows into the Chehalis River, and is home to Chinook, coho, steelhead, resident and sea-run cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. The culvert is a barrier to migrating adult fish, and its 1-foot drop at the outlet presents a barrier to young salmon trying to migrate upstream. The grant will allow the county to place a new precast concrete bridge, gravel, large woody debris (which creates salmon habitat), and streamside plantings in the creek to restore fish passage. Lewis County will match this grant. For more information about this project contact Rod Lakey at 360.740.1123.
Replacing culverts to let fish pass through $156,000. Mason County Public Works will use this grant to replace two culvert crossings on a county road near Schaffer State Park, 20 miles southwest of Shelton. The crossings, which are above the confluence of two major forks of an unnamed tributary to the east fork of the Satsop River, are too steep and prevent young salmon from migrating. The existing culverts would be replaced with 10-foot-wide concrete box culverts. Replacement of both culverts would provide salmon access to more than 2 miles of habitat. Fish that use the stream include chum, coho and coastal and resident cutthroat. The county will match this grant with $39,000 in equipment and labor. For more information about this project contact Rick Hirshberg at 360.427.9670.
Replacing culverts to help salmon $104,000. Mason County Public Works will use this grant to replace a culvert in Petersen Creek, a tributary to the east fork of the Satsop River. The crossing is made up of two culverts stacked on top of each other on Beeville Road, near Matlock. The bottom culvert is a barrier to fish because of its slope. The grant would allow the county to install an 18-foot-wide oval aluminum culvert that would open 3.85 miles of habitat. This crossing is the lowermost remaining fish passage barrier on a county road. Chum, coho and coastal and resident cutthroat salmon use the stream. The county will match this grant with $26,000 in equipment and labor. For more information about this project contact Rick Hirshberg at 360.427.9670
Protecting habitat in the Black River $200,366. The Capitol Land Trust will purchase a conservation easement on 75 acres on the Black River near Littlerock that contain a mix of salmon habitat and forests. With a conservation easement, the landowner still owns the property but has agreed to limit the impact of current and future activities on salmon habitat. The Black River and the waterways coming off or flowing into the river form a complex system of pathways for salmon. A rich native buffer of plants and trees lines the property's shoreline, providing excellent protection for salmon. The Black River is one of the largest remaining wetland systems in western Washington. The river and its tributaries provide important rearing and spawning habitat for steelhead, coastal cutthroat trout, and chum, coho and Chinook salmon. The 75 acres, called the Bergquist parcel, are between major areas protected by the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge and The Nature Conservancy, Thurston County and the Capitol Land Trust. The Capitol Land Trust will match this grant with $35,359 in county funding through conservation futures. For more information about this project contact Eric Erler at 360.943.3012.
If you are interested in developing a habitat restoration project for funding consideration by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, please contact Lee Napier 1.800.230.1238 ext 435 or e-mail Lnapier@co.grays-harbor.wa.us to find out more about the Chehalis Basin Lead Entity program for salmon recovery.
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1. True or false: Watersheds are located mainly in mountainous regions with high rainfall.
2. Circle the correct answer: Most of the pollutants entering our waters come from the following sources:
A. Wastewater treatment plants
B. Runoff from fields and streets
C. Factories along rivers
3. True or false: Dirt, bacteria, and nutrients are the most common pollutants of our waters.
Can you find the answers? They are somewhere in this edition.
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By Janet Strong
Once one of many giants in this forest, This massive spruce now rules alone, Spared the saw long ago Because triple spires Top its enormous trunk, Points on a spreading crown Branched out to embrace the sky. The monarch rises solid from the land, Beside a lively, noisy creek. At its feet logs lie prostrate in homage To their still upright brother. The tree and the stream, Witnesses to centuries of change, Support each other, Exchanging precious moisture For stability and shade. All along the path of the water A younger forest grows, Many sizes, many shapes and shades of green, Subjects in the kingdom, Striving to become their own Lords of the realm, Connected and nourished By the timeless, youthful stream And the spirit of the ancient spruce. |
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1. False. We all live in a watershed.
2. B.
3. True.
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