tim abbe, bill armstrong, arthur fleming, jeremy bunn, karen

Tim B. Abbe, PhD, PEG, PHG

Entrix, Inc.

Bill ArmstrongQuinault Indian Nation

Arthur Fleming, PE, Jeremy Bunn, Karen Williams, PE,

Laura Musikanski, JD, CEM, Jenna Scholz

Entrix, Inc.

Channel migration, big trees, side channels and

the Sockeye (Blueback) Salmon:

Design and implementation of a comprehensive

sustainable restoration plan for the Upper

Quinault River Valley, Washington

Environmental and Natural Resource ManagementConsultants

Quinault River Basin

A = 531 km2

T = 363 cm

Upper Quinault River Valley

Forest valleys, bank erosion,

and channel patterns

Micheli, E.R., J.W. Kirschner, and E.W. Larsen 2003.

(Agricultural erosion rates) = 2 * (Forest erosion rates)

Erosion rates for agriculture and forest floodplains of Sacramento River

Normalized Erosion Rates for large and small diameter forest tree classes

Max

Min

75%

25%

Median

Riparian Forest Structure

No

rma

lize

d E

rosi

on

Ra

te (

m/y

r)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

Old Young

median

75% tile

25% tile

maximum

minimum

Abbe et al. 1996>21” dbh <21” dbh

(young forest erosion rates) > 2 * (old forest erosion rates)

Big trees were historically found on river banks

throughout North America

Sitka Spruce, lower Bogachiel River

Big trees in the river can deflect flows and partition shear stress to reduce shear stress acting on bank

Queets River, 2003

Forest plantation along glacial outwash terrace, Hoh River, 2002.

Small trees have no chance of sticking around and carried away along with the bank

Fallen trees can create

foundation for forest

colonization within valleys

susceptible to frequent

channel changes.

• ~700 km2

• Intact forests

• Unregulated flows

• Dynamic channel

Queets River – Olympic National Park

50 km50 km

© J.J. Latterell 2005

• ~700 km2

• Intact forests

• Unregulated flows

• Dynamic channel

Queets River – Olympic National Park

50 km50 km

© J.J. Latterell 2005

Queets River

Photo by Josh Latterell

Side channels

through trees

Old-growth riparian

forest encroachment

into valley

Old-growth valleys show forest encroachment on the river valley (Abbe et al. 2003)

Wood accumulations buried in these floodplains (can be an issue in driving piles)

Logjam Hardpoints

in the Upper

Quinault

Hard point

Mature

conifers

(Abbe & Montgomery 1996)

Initiation and evolution of a

hard point

Upper Quinault Geomorphic

Investigation:

River assessment by Davidson and Barnaby, 1936:

“the constant shifting of the channels has been

particularly noticed. It is worthy of note that this

feature is a matter of comparatively recent years

and has developed at an alarming rate during

the past twenty years… there is no definite river

bed ….”

Similar interpretations were documented more than 60

years later: QIN Watershed Analysis 2001, O’Conner et

al. (2003), BoR 2005

Gravel bars

much wider than

low flow channel

Limited small

woody debris, lack

of key members

Limited conifers

only on floodplain

margins

Channel Conditions in 2004 near Ewell Homestead

(about 3.6 kilometers above lake)

Historic expansion of channel migration zone

Within HCMZ few

vegetated areas have

persisted more than

50 yrs with a mean

residence time

of 25-30 yrs

Current pattern of floodplain forest maturation

Desired pattern of floodplain forest maturation

Different Types of Side

Channels found in

Quinault Floodplain

H H

“Young” Side Channels

Young side channels

Young side channels

Young side channels

Young side channels

“Old” Side Channels

Old side channels

Old side channels

The loss of old side channels has

important implications for fish:

The productivity of the Quinault stock has declined

significantly since the 1950s.

-

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1905 1915 1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Blu

eb

ac

k

HARVEST

ESCAPEMENT

RUNSIZE

Project Site

Pre-existing conditions Spring 2008

Pre-existing conditions Spring 2008

Alder Creek

side channel

Quinault

mainstem

Project Plan

Before

Eroding

bank Unstable

natural

logjams

Infra-

structure

As-built

Protective

buffer Stabilization

of natural

logjams

Infra-

structure

Created by Herrera Environmental Consultants

Future

Protective

buffer

Mature forest

patches develop

on ELJ hard-

pointsInfra-

structure

Fundamental Elements of Restoration Plan

Project Plan

Structures Q100=51,000 cfs

U = 3.7 m/s

t0 = 270 Pa

River 2D Finite Element output

River 2D Finite Element output

Scour Analysis

abutment pier

• Pier Scour Equations: 14-18 ft.

• Abutment Scour Equations: 12-20 ft.

Existing Log Jam – Reinforced with new Piles

Pile Driving for ELJ (1 down, 158 to go)

Log Crib Installation

Looking Upstream from top of ELJ

Slash gets stuffed along inside face

Backfilling begins as crib walls go up

Fastest Way to backfill (D-8 dozer)

Racking Logs Installed in Front of ELJ

1 of 13 Completed ELJs

Project site prior to construction, Spring 2008

Before

Project site post-construction, high water December 2008

After

Project site post-construction, high water December 2008

After 2 high flows, January 21, 2009

11/8/08 – 1.5 yr event

1/8/09 - 5 yr event

ELJ 1

ELJ 2

After 2 high flows, January 21, 2009

11/8/08 – 1.5 yr event

1/8/09 - 5 yr event

Blueback Sockeye spawning by ELJ 5

13 ELJ structures

November-January 2 peak flows

~1.5 yr (16,100 cfs, 456 cms)

~5 yr (25,050 cfs, 710 cms)

Alder Creek Side channel remains intact

5 new pools

1 in active mainstem channel

5 m deep, 50 m2

4 in gravel bar

1.2 m average depth, 32 m2 average area

2 of 4 pools inhabitated by juvenile coho

Acknowledgements: Funding

Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund

Washington Salmon Recovery Funding

Board

Wild Salmon Center

Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition

Jefferson County

U.S. Forest Service

Total Cost (assessment, design, materials, & construction)

$1,100,000

Acknowledgements: Project Partners

Quinault Indian Nation

Olympic National Forest

Olympic National Park

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

National Marine Fisheries Services

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Department of Natural Resources

Department of Ecology

Department of Fish and Wildlife

Washington State Historical Preservation Office

Jefferson County

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

Lutz Family

Esses Family Partnership

Mr. Clay Butler

Mr. Vern Wilson

Acknowledgements: Construction

DO Construction

Quinault Valley Forestry