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Home My WebLink About1993 Quillayute River System - working draftx 3 Quillayute River- System Priority Streams / Instream Flow October 11, 1993 Quileute Natural Resources Department 1 Quillayute /Barnes This is a tool issues in the located in the The system size present in the Bogachiel. Quillayute Raver System Priority Streams J Instream Flow October 11, 1993 INTRODUCTION to help in understanding water Quillayute River system. The Northwestern Olympic Peninsula is a.pproximatly 640 sq miles. F Quillayute system; the Dickey, resources /water rights Quillayute system is region of Washington. our major drainages are Sol Duc, Calawah, and Each of these drainages has different water quality issues of importance. Assurance of sufficient instream flows, and environmentally sound allocation of water rights are intergral to the continued health of fisheries and wildlife resources, and the maintenance of the human quality of life in the Quillayut.e River system. Most of the Quillayute system is classified as AA, as defined by the State of Washington Water Usage Classification Standards Guide. However, during the summer low flow period low flow, temperature and pH values are of concern; these values are sometimes exceeded. This document describes water quality and fisheries resource concerns in the major rivers and tributaries of the Quillayute system. Reported water quality problems water usage patterns, and fisheries resources concerns are detailed, and available summer low discharge and water allocation data is presented. SAL.MONID STOCK BACKGROUND Salmonid stocks of significant population size in the Quillayute River drainage are 1) spring Chinook (hatchery stock), 2) summer Chinook (native stock), 3) fall chinook (native stock), 4) summer coho (composite hatchery and native stock), S) fall coho (composite hatchery and native stock), 6) hatchery summer steelhead, 7) native summer steelhead (present stock status unknown), 8) hatchery winter steelhead, 9 ) native winter steelhead, 10 ) chum ( native stock), 11 ) cutthroat trout (native stock), 12) resident rainbow trout (native stock), and 13) sockeye (natural spawning stock, unknown if current population was introduced or native to drainage). The chinook, coho, and steelhead stocks are of high economic importance to the tribal, non - tribal, and sport fisheries on the region, and all fish populations are of cultural and ecological significance to the tribe. In regards to the issues of water diversions and their impacts on salmonid production, coho, cutthroat, resident rainbow, and to a lesser extent steelhead would be most affected by water diversions and 2 Quillayute /Barnes alterations to small streams, ponds, and off - channel habitats. This is due to the life cycles of these species, which include 1) a propensity to spawn in small streams (sometimes less than 10cfs), and 2) extended freshwater rearing, 1 year or more, during which wintertime survival is very dependent upon small streams and off - channel habitats for shelter from high mainstem flows. Chinook, and a large percentage of the steelhead and chums spawn in medium to large streams, so water diversions would have to be of a significant nature to affect their spawning activities. Chinook juveniles rear for less than one summer in mainstem habitats, and chum fry migrate immediately to the ocean, so as with spawning, water diversions would have to be of a significant nature to impact their rearing habitats. The general hydrologic cycle of the Olympic Peninsula involves a very dry period from mid - summer to early fall, which results in extremely low stream flows in many watersheds by early fall. The late summer low flow period is considered by many fisheries biologists to be a critical period for juvenile coho survival. Water removals from streams during this period could have a detrimental impact on coho populations during this period. For more detalied information on the current state of salmonid resources in the Quillayute River system, please refer to the 1992 Washington State Salmon and Steelhead Stock _Inventor _y ( Washington Departments of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western Washington Treaty Tribes, 1993). PHYSICAL PARAMETERS OF STUDY AREA Rivers The Quillayute system drains approximately 629 sq miles of Clallam and Jefferson county (Fretwell 1984). The system includes the Calawah, Bogachiel, Sol Duc, Dickey and Quillayute rivers (Figure 1), According to information summarized by Fretwell (1984), the Bogachiel and Sol Duc Rivers begin at about 5,000 feet in altitude, while the headwaters of the Calawah is 3,000 feet, the Dickey is a lowland river beginning at 700 feet with the East Fork at 1,700 ft. The rivers are not glacial in origin and ground water is related to river flow. During times of low flow ground water is the major contributor to streamflow ( Fretwell 1984) . Historic information (USGS 1992) show low flow months in July, August, September, and October. All rivers within the system seem to respond within hours of large rainfall amounts. All rivers are within S0 miles of the ocean and all rivers flow to the sea. The importance of around water to the Quillayute drainage system can not be overstated. This hydraulic continuity is most obvious throughout times of low flow when ground water is the only source of water for the system. This ground water must come from aquifer sources but aquifers in this area are poorly defined. The .importance of adequate rain into the system is pivotal to those aquifers and to water flow. The chemical constituents of the system are of similar 3 Quillayute /Barnes composition. Surface flow and ground water composition are similar, the major difference is dilution. Human Influence The Quillayute drainage system has gone though many changes over the last 100 years. Fire, logging and land clearing has altered the landscape through time and must have invariably effected water quality. Clearcut lodging has been applied to all of the drainage in the study area. Major movements of soils have been documented through time. Fires have frequently caused damage to river drainage while wind storms have been an important contributor to ecosystem development. Nutrient chemical changes are clearly effected by these different processes. Human influences on the land have changed the physical and chemical parameters of stream flow. The human population of Forks has increased from a few settlers in the late 1800's to a population of over 3,000 in 1991. The unincorporated areas surrounding Forks have also continued to grow in parallel. Continued rural development of Forks and the surrounding area is of increasing concern. 4 Quillayute /Barnes QUILLAYUTE RIVER CLASS AA WATERS Quillayute mainstem Water Use: Unknown Stream-- - -'-Domestic multiple. Quillayute /Barnes SOL DUC RIVER SYSTEM CLASS AA WATERS Sol Duc mainstem- ---- -( increases of property ownership - --building of homes by the river could cause septic problems- --land clearing -over allocation of water rights ?) TRIBUTARIES Hale Spring Gunderson--- -- -(ph fluctuation- -low Tassel - - ---( culvert problem) Ripple Shuwah Maxfield flows --- nutrient problems) Swanson---- - ---( reports of batteries--dead culvert - -lots of debris above and below cedar mill may be leaking oil into creek. birds in creek below 101 Iverson road culvert) Old Lake Creek - - -- (continued development along lower creek - -old landfill at mouth) Bockman Bockete Beaver --- - -( cattle Rainy Bear Walgren S.F. Bear Redoubt Wisen Kugal Snider- ---- -( rearing Camp Adelson Goodman crossing the lower creek) pond concerns) Water Use: Unknown Stream --- USFS-- °Domestic Multiple Unknown Spring- ----Domestic Multiple Gunderson /Unknown Springs - -- Domestic Multiple, Stock watering, Irrigation Unknown Spring -- -- Domestic Single Sol Duc River--- -Domestic Multiple Sol Duc River-- -- Domestic Single, Irrigation Sol Duc River ---- --Domestic Single Unknown Spring-- -- Domestic Single Unknown Spring-- - --ITT RAYONIER --- Domestic Single, Commercial /Industrial Tassel Creek - --- Domestic Single, Fish Propagation, Fire Protection Dry Creek - -- Domestic Single, Irrigation Dry Creek --- Domistic Single 6 Quillayute /Barnes Littleton Creek- -- Domestic Single Unknown Stream - -- FIBERBOARD INC --- Domestic Multiple Unknown Stream --- USF5-- -w-Fire Protection Sol Duc River -- --Domestic Single Unknown Stream - --- Domestic Single Eureka Creek - -- Domestic Single Unknown Stream ---- Domestic Single, Irrigation Unknown Stream ---- Domestic Single Unknown Stream ---- -Domestic Single Bear Creek --- USFS --- Domestic Multiple, Fire Protection Unknown Stream-- -USFS --- Domestic Single, Power Sol Duc River - --- Domestic Single Sol Duc River /Unknown Springs /Snider Creek --- USFS -- -GUIDE ASSOCIATION -- -Fish Propagation Unknown Stream- ---- Domestic Multiple, Stock watering, Irrigation Wisen Creek--- -- Domestic Single, Fire Protection, Irrigation Wisen Creek - -- -Domestic Single, Fire Protection, Irrigation Wilson Creek----- Domestic Single Wilson Creek --- --Domestic Single Eagle Creek -- -Fish Propagation Bear Creek /Antons Creek -- --Domestic Single Unknown Spring - -- Domestic Single Unknown Spring ---- Domestic Multiple Unknown Spring - --w Domestic Multiple Unknown Spring - -- Domestic Multiple, Commercial /Industrial Unknown Spring----- Domestic Single Sol Duc River -- -MASON LUMBER PROD ---- -Domestic Multiple, Fire Protection Unknown Spring----- Domestic Single Pavel Sprs Cr /Unknown Springs- -WDF-- -Fish Propagation Pavel Sprs Cr /Unknown Springs----WDF-° -Fish Propagation Bear Springs --- WDW --- Fish Propagation Bear Springs --- WDW --- Fish Propagation Unknown Stream --- Domestic Single Unknown Stream ----- Domestic Single Unknown Stream ---- -Power Unknown Stream - -- Domestic Single Unknown Stream-- -- Domestic Multiple Lake Creek /Unknown Stream - -- Domestic Multiple, Irrigation Lake Creek /Unknown Stream --- Domestic Multiple Lake Creek /Unknown Stream- -----Domestic Single Lake Creek /Unknown Stream- -- --Domestic Single, Irrigation Lake Creek /Unknown Stream - --- Domestic single Lake Creek /Unknown Stream - -- Domestic Single 7 0uillayute /Barnes Lake Creek-w-- Domestic Single Lake Creek--- -- Domestic Single Sylvia Creek- - - -WA ST DIV FORESTRY ----- Domestic Multiple Pavel Sprs Cr /Unknown Springs --- WDF --- Fish Propagation Sol Duc; River --- WDF --- Fish Propagation Pavel Sprs Cr /Unknown Springs --- WDF --- -Fish Propagation Unknown Springs- --w-Domestic Multiple Total Allocated Water Use= (approx) 157.05 CFS Historic Water Summer Months CFS Values Sol Duc Raver near Mouth (Discharge 1977 -1980) Station 12042500 - (River mile 7). Data From U.S. Geological Survey Report 83 -4162 Date CFS 07101178 448 07/31/78 239 07/01/79 503 07/31/79 260 07/01/80 448 07/31/80 239 08/01/78 235 08/31/78 275 08/01/79 253 08/31/79 180 08/01/80 235 08/31/80 255 09/01/78 410 09/30/78 615 09/01/79 180 09/30/79 250 09/01/80 393 09/30/80 710 10101177 180 10131177 2810 10101178 610 10/31/78 420 10/01/79 260 10/30/79 1390 Total Allocated Water Use= (approx) 157.05 CFS 8 Quillayute /Barnes CALAWAH RIVER SYSTEM CLASS AA WATERS Calawah mainstem ---- (sewage treatment plant next to river -- steelhead rearing pond waters out flowing into river near month). TRIBUTARIES S. Fork N. Fork Sitkum Elk Falcon Cool Upper Cool Fahnstock Devils Albion Canyon Pistol Hyas Water Use Elk Creek - -- Domestic Single, Stock Watering, Irrigation Elk Creek -- --Domestic Single Elk Creek ---- -Domestic Single Calawah River- - -- Domestic Single, Irrigation Unknown Creek -- -Stock Watering Ford Creek -- -Stock Watering Elk Creek-- -- Domestic Single, Power, Irrigation Unknown Creek --- WDW --- Fish Propagation Unknown Creek --- WDW --- Fish Propagation Total Allocated Water Use= (approx) 34.4 CFS 9 Quillayut.e /Barnes Historic Water Summer Months CFS Values Calawah River 101 Bridge ( Discharge 1988-1991) Station 12043000 - (River mile 7). Data From U.S. Geological Survey Report 83--4162 ___..-__ -___ __---- _-_-...___-___-_____- ____ -____w_-- _____ -_____- -____ Total Allocated Water Use= (approx) 34.4 CFS Date CFS ___..___...._______ -.___.._____ -____ -_______r_ --_..______...________-___-__ - 07/01/89 596 07/31/89 92 07/01/90 269 07/31/90 111 07/01/91 169 07/31/91 85 08/01/89 106 08/31/89 100 08/01/90 108 08/31/90 658 08/01/91 82 08/31/91 4180 09/01/89 97 09/30/89 60 09/01/90 232 09/30/90 60 09/01/91 1830 09/30/91 147 10/01/89 58 10/31/89 471 10/01/90 79 10/31/90 1510 10/01/91 144 10/30/79 101 10 Quillayute /Barnes BOGACHIEL RIVER SYSTEM CLASS AA WATERS Bogachiel mainstem ---- (Cattle allowed access creek and before state fish hatchery. Cow /Elk water mark. Steelhead fish hatchery nutrients a TRIBUTARIES Murphy Maxfield S ,E Maxfield Weeden to river -- -below Mill dropping below high problem ?) Mill-- ---(76-77, possible surface water contamination (sewage)-- appliances in creek between sportsman club and 101 bridge --runoff of cedar mills on Russel road may be pollute creek -- cattle may be corning into creek) Grader Dry Bear Swamp Eaton Coon Dowens Hemphill Morganroth Morganroth Spring Kahkwa Kahkwa SL Mosquito Devils Club Olallie Walrus Indian Water Use: Hemp Hill Creek ---- Domestic Single, Power Hemp Hill Creek- ---- Domestic Single Unknown Stream -- --Domestic Multiple, Irrigation Bogachiel River ---- Irrigation Unknown Stream ---- Domestic Single Unknown Spring --- --Domestic Multiple Bogachiel River - -- -Domestic Single, Irrigation Uncle Johns Creek - - -- Domestic Single, Unknown Ditch- -- Commercial /Industrial Mill Creek - --- Irrigation Mill Creek /Unknown Spring --- Domestic Mill Creek /Unknown Stream --°- -- Domestic Mill Creek Unknown Spring -- --Domestic Mill Creek /Elterick Spring ---- -Domestic Mill Creek /Unknown Spr- ing---- -Dornestic 11 Stock Watering, Irrigation Single Multiple Single Single Multiple Qua l layute /Barnes Mill Creek /Unknown Spring-- -- -Domestic Single Unknown Stream --- WDW --- Fish Propagation Unknown Stream --- WDW- --Fish Propagation Unknown Springs- - -- Domestic Multiple Unknown Springs—Domestic Single Unknown Springs --- - Domestic Multiple Cochran Springs -- --Domestic Single Unknown Spring --- Domestic Single Unknown Spring - -- Domestic Single Unknown Spring -~-- Domestic Single Unknown Spring --- --Domestic Single Unknown Spring----- Domestic Single, Irrigation Total Allocated Water Use= (approx) 109.4 CFS Historic Water Summer Months CFS Values Bogachiel River 101 Bridge ( Discharge 1976-1978) Station 12042800 - (River mile 15). Data From U.S. Geological Survey Report 83 -4162 __________ w.______-w..______ -________ _-_________________-_______-___ Date CFS 07/01/76 550 07/31/76 242 07101177 191 07/31/77 116 07/01/78 188 07/31/78 98 08/01/76 233 08/31/76 280 08/01/77 114 08/31/77 260 08/01/78 96 08/31/78 312 09/01/76 250 09/30/76 150 09/01/77 220 09/30/77 320 09/01/78 1120 09/30/78 482 10/01/76 143 10/31/76 1750 10/01/77 265 10/31/77 2530 10/01/78 502 10/30/78 352 Total Allocated Water Use= (approx) 109.4 CFS 12 Quillayute /Barnes DICKEY RIVER SYSTEM: GLASS AA AND GLASS A WATERS The Dickey River is Class AA above Dickey Lake and Glass A below Dickey Lake. Dickey mainstem ---- (sediment, temperature and flow (aeration) problems). TRIBUTARIES W. Fork Goal - - --( fecal- -coliform a problem ? ) Colby -- --µw-(garbage dumped into Crib at falls) E. Fork ---- ( some type of algae ?? in pools--mile 13.2--15.5) Mna Smith Thunder Gunderson Tangle Empty Skunk Northup M. Fork Spiddle Sands Stampede Haehule Water Use Allocations: Colby Greek ---- Domestic, Stock watering, power. 13 Quillayute /Barnes Table 1. Observed /Recorded Areas of Concern Quillayute Drainage System. (1). Lake pleasant (Sol Duo River System) Possibly reduced Sockeye salmon runs and continued development of lake area. Water Rights Applications (2). Upper and Lower Lake creek (Sol Duo River System) Upper creek fisheries may be impacted by Lake Pleasant development. Lower creek Coho /Chinook spawning areas may be impacted by development of area. There is concern about old landfill near mouth. (3) . Sol Duc River Continued development along river areas --- impacted tributaries by developrent-- -septic --- cattle -- dumping- -land clearing- - --Water right withdrawls. (4) . Mill creek ( Bogachiel River) Old (1976 -77) information show nutrient (sewage) values to be of concern. Alleged old sewage discharge wells. Cattle may be a problem crossing over creek. Seepage from mills near Russel road could be a problem. Creek drains 1/2 of Forks. (5). Bogachiel /Calawah Rivers Bogachiel River near Mill creek has cattle coming down to water. Fish rearing ponds near Mill creek may be discharging large nutrient values into Bogachiel. Large acreage irrigated on the Bogachiel. Calawah River near mouth has rearing pond waters draining into it. (6). Snider creek ( Sol Duo River System) Steelhead rearing pond a concern. DO and discharge amounts need to be evaluated. (7). Beaver creek (Sol Duo River System) Cattle crossing over the lower section of creek. (8) . Gunderson ( Sol Duo River System) pH fluctuations ---- nutrients may be Problem. (9). Coal creek (Dickey River System) Fecal- coliform concentration higher than background values. (10). Colby creek (Dickey River System) Garbage dumped into creek. (11). Swanson creek (Sol Duo River System) Garbage debris in creek- -old cedar mill may be leaking oil into creek. (12). Dickey River Low gradient stream --- siltation and possible dissolved oxygen problems (other water quality problems ? ?). 14