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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRAFT Middle Hoh River Action Plan 071821 Photo: Raena Anderson, 10,000 Years Institute THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 5 Proposed Actions 5 Lessons Learned 5 Education, Outreach and Engagement 6 Access and Recreation 7 Development of Programs and Options for Landowners 7 Conservation Easements, Acquisitions and Relocation Actions 8 Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach 9 Spruce Canyon Reach 10 Morgans Crossing Reach 10 Willoughby Creek Reach 11 Oxbow Canyon Reach 11 Instream & Floodplain Restoration 11 Riparian Restoration 11 Engineered Log Jams and Large Wood Placement 11 Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach 13 Spruce Canyon Reach 13 Morgans Crossing Reach 14 Willoughby Creek Reach 14 Oxbow Canyon Reach 15 Prioritization & Sequencing 15 Prioritization Framework 15 Action Sequencing 17 Conceptual Design Development 17 Hoh River Lindner Creek Floodplain 17 Site B 17 Site C 17 References 18 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Actions Identified and Scored to Improve Resiliency in the Middle Hoh 17 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Rock lined bank of the Middle Hoh taken at RM 24.6 looking downstream at right bank. Guardrail along Upper Hoh Road is visible at top of right bank. 6 Figure 2. Residential cabin at imminent risk of damage on left bank of river looking upstream near RM 29, DATE 9 Figure 3. Young conifers planted in young mono-typic stand of red alder near RM 22.8, Mar 3, 2021 10 Figure 4. Wide active channel with young alder forest along the channel margin with active bank erosion near RM 29.9, Oct 2, 2020 13 Figure 5. Second-growth conifer recruitment on left bank at RM 24.1, Oct. 1, 2020. 14 Figure 6. Mixed forest age stands adjacent to broad unvegetated active channel at RM 19.5, Oct. 2, 2020. 14 Figure 6. Confined Oxbow Canyon reach with bedrock walls and turbulent flow at RM 16.5, Oct. 2, 2020. 15 INTRODUCTION The Hoh River is one of the best-preserved rivers in the United States. The upper half of the river’s watershed lies within Olympic National Park (ONP) where the Hoh’s unique temperate rainforest and alpine areas have been largely protected. The river has no dams, was never splashed dammed and has no water diversion facilities. The principal human impacts have been road construction and maintenance (in and outside ONP) and timber harvest (outside ONP). The watershed has been home to the Hoh Tribe for millennia and to all five species of Pacific Salmon (King, Coho, Pink, Sockeye and Keta), steelhead, along with Bull Trout, Pacific Lamprey and many other native species. The local community represents a diverse collection of stakeholders that include local residents, privately held timber companies, non-profits, fishing and rafting guides, tourists and county, state and federal agencies that each have different and sometimes conflicting perspectives and management goals, share a love of the Hoh River. Their management actions can impact natural processes and the river’s ecosystem and actions by the river such as flooding and erosion that can impact their land and structures. Most individuals are aware of the flood and erosion hazards, however river processes and aquatic habitats needed to sustain salmonid populations are less understood. Few rivers, including the Hoh, have comprehensive management plans that integrate the diverse members of the community in decision making and developing a common vision for the river. While there are state and federal programs that offer educational resources, few counties have budgets for outreach programs. The Middle Hoh Resiliency Plan (Plan) was started with a grant with the intent to establish better communication with local residents and setup a framework to continue outreach into the future working with other public, Tribal and non-profit organizations. A key goal of the Plan is to establish a “living document” and framework for community communication, education and decision-making that will be sustained permanently. The Plan provides a series of prioritized actions developed to provide long-term resiliency for the ecosystem of the river and the community that calls it home. The findings of the Middle Hoh Resiliency Plan were compiled to identify proposed actions focused on the casual mechanisms contributing to higher channel migration rates, loss of mature floodplain forests, loss of key aquatic habitats, the sustainability of existing infrastructure and risks to property owners within the valley. With stakeholder feedback the proposed actions were further developed, refined, and ranked to provide a prioritized sequence of actions to realize the goals of the Plan. PROPOSED ACTIONS Education is the critical first step to foster a shared understanding of the dynamic and ever-changing interaction between rivers and their floodplains, and the inherent risks posed by living in their proximity. Thoughtful and honest conversations between floodplain residents and the County will build trust and relationships to advance a long-term vision for the resiliency corridor. Lessons Learned The Hoh Valley is home to one of the few temperate rainforest and largest trees in North America. Historic logging outside ONP has accelerated upland erosion, particularly from landslides and debris flows (Parks 1990). Logging in the valley bottom removed big trees that were critical to defining the river’s morphology, habitat, and ecosystem complexity. The loss of those trees led to a more simplified river more prone to rapidly migrating across its alluvial valley (e.g., Montgomery and Abbe 2006, Abbe and Brooks 2011, Collins et al 2012, Abbe et al. 2016). While residential land development is rare in the Middle Hoh valley, the few areas that have been developed are subject to significant erosion risks and damages. Another major impact has been road construction and maintenance that has disconnected the river from portions of its floodplain and altered the natural river banks. The other major impact has been the proliferation of invasive plant species that degrade native riparian vegetation and impact habitat formation. Over the last 30 years there have been major changes in our understanding of land management impacts to rivers and new regulations improve management and protect native species. Forest practices have evolved to better protect riparian areas, floodplains, channel migration zones and unstable slopes. Portions of the Hoh floodplain have been conserved by Land Trusts and non-profits. Floodplain forestry to promote conifer development and restore the native big trees has become an important part of land management within the valley. Another essential element of current land management is invasive plant control, work that has been led by the 10,000 years Institute in Forks, WA and has been funded entirely by grants. Perspectives on river bank alteration have also changed, particularly the negative impact of traditional rock revetments on fisheries and habitat formation (e.g., Schmetterling et al. 2001). Significant portions of the Hoh’s banks have been converted to rock revetments to protect the Upper Hoh Road (both in and outside ONP) (Figure 1). Recent research has shown alternatives such as engineered logjams have been successfully applied to protect infrastructure and are much better at emulating natural river banks, enhancing aquatic habitat and preserving forest buffers along the river (e.g., Abbe et al. 1999, Abbe and Brooks 2011, Abbe et al. 2016, Abbe et al. 2018). While hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent restoring aquatic habitat around Washington State, no restoration projects have been done on the mainstem Hoh. Restoration actions in the Upper Quinault River over the last 10 years has been instrumental in restoring floodplain forests and side channels crucial to salmon. The restoration has been instrumental in restoring the native Blueback Sockeye fisheries which was opened for harvest in 2021 after being closed for years. The Middle Hoh needs many of the same actions that have been successful in the Upper Quinault. Recent changes to regulatory guidelines, more environmentally sensitive land management and restoration actions are helping to better protect and restore aspects of the Hoh River, but more aggressive restoration actions are needed, along with efforts to assist local willing landowners to reduce their risks by relocating out of hazard areas, acquisition or protection strategies that enhance native habitat. All these actions need to be sustained indefinitely as part of the natural infrastructure of the Hoh River valley. Developing the Plan and engaging local stakeholders has already greatly improved education, communication and transparency in management decisions influencing the Middle Hoh River. Sustaining the Plan and its leadership team will be crucial in securing future funding and benefiting the local community and protecting one of the “Last Great River” in the United States. Education, Outreach and Engagement The local community represents a diverse collection of individuals with a varied background and life experiences, some individuals are passionate about the Hoh River ecosystem while others are more concerned about traffic and frequent washouts. Most individuals are aware of the flood and erosion hazards, however river processes and aquatic habitats needed to sustain salmonid populations are less understood. While there are state and federal programs that offer educational resources, few counties have budgets for outreach programs. The Plan was started with a grant intended to establish better communication with local residents and setup a framework to continue outreach work into the future working with other public, Tribal and non-profit organizations. Education is the critical first step to foster a shared understanding of the dynamic and ever-changing interaction between rivers and their floodplains, and the inherent risks posed by living in their proximity. Thoughtful and honest conversations between floodplain residents and the County will build trust and relationships to advance a long-term vision for the resiliency corridor. Access and Recreation Tourism and fishing are crucial economically to the local Hoh community, thus maintaining access to the river and ONP are essential. Transportation is also critical to ensuring emergency services are available to residents and visitors. Traditional road maintenance is not environmentally sustainable and new approaches to bank protection (e.g., engineered logjams, complex timber revetments) should become standard practice where bank protection is required. Wherever possible, road segments at risk of erosion should be relocated outside the resiliency corridor. Unimproved (4x4) access for experienced guides to launch and retrieve their boats should be maintained and re-established in appropriate locations when river changes eliminate access at existing sites. Any actions regarding access should be closely coordinated with the local community and guides. The local community is not supportive of improving access since it would likely lead to more inexperienced people using the river and increase the risk of personal injury. Development of Programs and Options for Landowners The costs of flood damage to lives and property, along with environment and economic benefits of restoring floodplains, has led local, state, and federal government agencies to implement major land acquisition and relocation programs across the country (e.g., Conrad et al. 1998, FEMA 2009, Polefka 2013, Mechler et al 2014, Schiff et al. 2015, Frendenberg et al. 2016, ELI 2017, Patterson 2018, Salvesen et al. 2018, Siders 2019, Johnson et al. 2020). More locally, Pierce County has implemented very successful buy-out programs in floodplains of the Puyallup and Carbon Rivers. Helping people get out of harm’s way not only protects their lives and properties but can save taxpayers millions of dollars in flood relief. Managed retreat from increasingly hazardous areas, such as the purchase of flood prone property, will become an unavoidable situation as climate change effects intensify (see Jay et al, 2018 in https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/). The federal government shares responsibility for flood recovery and there is increasing interest in assisting state and local governments with reducing community flood risk. A comprehensive list of federal flood resilience and risk reduction assistance programs is provided in a recent 2019 Congressional Research Service report, https://crsreports.congress.gov, report number R45017. There are also several other federal resources to assist the County in developing the programs and supports necessary to provide the Lazy C reach landowners with viable options for relocation, including but not limited to: Repetitive Loss Program: Using FEMA’s Cost-Benefit Calculator, “beneficial” actions for repetitive loss properties (more than 1 FEMA insurance claim) can be identified. This opens funding opportunities and reduces community insurance premium costs (including for floodplain residents). Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: This program funds buyouts for homes and businesses that meet the cost-benefit ratio. https://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program The federal government is increasingly pushing for communities to commit to buy-out programs in chronic flood-prone areas (Mach et. al 2019). In a recent federal policy change, funding partially administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood protection and climate adaptation can be contingent on local governments agreeing to use eminent domain to purchase properties whose owners are unwilling to voluntarily sell: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/climate/government-land-eviction- floods.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage. Such policies and initiatives promote a process to identify the risks and impacts on community resilience to natural hazards, including those associated with climate change, and direct Federal agencies to support climate resilient infrastructure, including a Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) program by FEMA, which provides funding for flood mitigation strategies rooted in restoring ecological process and function. See: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1487161136815-ecad1c0312eda2111ffa28735a4d06ad/FSR_Fact_Sheet_Feb2017_COMPLIANT.pdf Other actions the County could pursue in support of landowner relocation support could include: Discourage “emergency actions” to protect the Hoh Road that degrade habitat. Encourage road re-location outside the resiliency corridor where and when possible. When bank protection is necessary utilize physically complex structures such as engineered logjams. Establish funding for immediate acquisition of flood prone properties that come up for sale. Develop preliminary criteria for prioritizing acquisitions, including utilizing the risk prioritization identified in Figure 33. In many locations, the current cost of floodplain land acquisition is 3 to 5 times less than future flood damages (Johnson et al, 2020). Develop long-term plans for moving interested residents to safe ground, including considerations such as: Establish outreach program to assist landowners who want to stay in community but move out of flood prone areas. Ensure adequate services and access to local and county roads in plans for relocation. Local government action guides exist which provide detailed guidance and resources for developing a floodplain acquisition program which maximizes ecological benefits and minimizes risk as projects are planned and completed (ELI 2017). Consider social and environmental equity and the location of the County’s low-income housing and business sectors within the 100-year floodplain and even delineated floodways. Continue local education, particularly with rafting and fishing guides regarding the natural history of the Hoh river and critical function logjams play in the river’s morphology and ecology. Education can also include discussions of public safety and hazards in natural waterways. Sustain the Resiliency Plan leadership team as a forum of communication and means of periodically updating the Plan. Conservation Easements, Acquisitions and Relocation Actions The most effective long-term flood protection is to remove structures from flood hazard areas, which also facilitates habitat restoration of these ecologically valuable areas. To do this the property can be acquired or there are additional options such as conservation easements and relocation. Relocation grants allow the landowner to move to a safer property in the area while ownership of the flood prone property is transferred to Jefferson County, a land trust or other public entity. Portions of the Upper Hoh Road are prime candidates for relocation to eliminate conflicts with the river that result in frequent washouts and pose risks to the public and ecosystem. Addressing these conflicts is critical to providing future resiliency in the Middle Hoh. Reaches of the Middle Hoh that are currently in conservation or owned by local, state or federal entities provide the greatest opportunities to improve ecologic resiliency by protecting existing mature forests and high-quality floodplain habitats. Significant progress has already been made to create a protected corridor along the Middle Hoh River, including most of the Willoughby Creek, Morgans Crossing and Spruce Canyon Reaches. Private ownership along the river corridor is centered around the Lindner Creek area in the Morgans Crossing Reach and the south of the river in the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach (plus the Lewis Homestead). Habitat protection and restoration in these areas is possible and should be pursued with interested landowners where high-quality habitat exists through outreach and collaboration. Restoration actions in the Middle Hoh to create a multi-thread main stem channel with vegetated islands, maintained by stable instream wood and connection with off-channel floodplain habitat will have the greatest ecological benefit by directly addressing limiting factors contributing to the decline of salmonids in the Hoh and providing resiliency into the future. There is historical evidence and local analogs that demonstrate the rivers planform has been altered, resulting in a single thread wandering channel that has significantly more energy than the individual channel threads of the historic anastomosing river. This higher energy, coupled with logging of the riparian corridor removing the large trees that once lined the channel banks, has resulting high channel migration rates, frequent channel avulsions and immature floodplain forests. The greatest risk to salmonid survival in the Middle Hoh is loss of high-quality rearing habitat found in floodplain side channels, wetlands and beaver ponds. Protection and restoration of these habitats is key to the long-term resiliency of the species and the broader ecosystem as a whole. Development of a mature riparian corridor, with large conifers capable of acting as key pieces in the channel to form instream habitat complexity and limit further erosion into the bank. Planting and silviculture actions that can be taken to accelerate the natural succession of the riparian forest will ultimately provide the long-term resiliency needed to give salmonids a chance to persist into the future. Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach Private property in the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach south of the river at the Brandeberry and Rain Forest Road area (RM 29 – 30) and Fletcher Ranch are at the greatest short-term risk of erosion and flooding and should be prioritized for facilitating conservation, acquisition and/or relocation actions to limit landowner risk and enable habitat restoration work (Figure 2). Continued outreach to other private landowners in the reach to similarly improve community and ecologic resiliency would be the next highest priority because these parcels are still at risk of erosion and flooding. Full acquisition of these parcels would allow for significant aquatic habitat enhancement actions in a section of the river currently largely devoid of habitat complexity. Restoration actions such as construction of ELJs, riparian planting and thinning, side channel wood loading and strategic excavations to improve side channel connectivity could be enacted aggressively if flood and erosion risk to the landowners was eliminated through acquisition. Smaller-scale actions such as shoreline setbacks, installing wood along eroding banks and riparian planting could be interim actions accomplished with conservation easements, and such actions can build community support for similar projects. However, property acquisition from willing landowners is the long-term most beneficial action to restore the river’s resiliency corridor and aquatic habitats in the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach. The Upper Hoh Road in the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach has a history of washouts, relocation and bank armoring from the Lewis Homestead upstream to ONP. The road encroaches into the delineated Resiliency Corridor here and is the highest priority for road relocation in the reach as it impairs aquatic habitat conditions and is at future risk for washouts. Relocation alternatives would require close coordination with the Hoh Tribe, NPS, USFS, WFL and private landowners in the area. Spruce Canyon Reach Short of a few parcels under private ownership at the confluence with Mable Creek, Middle Hoh through the Spruce Canyon Reach is currently in conservation or government owned. Opportunities exist to engage the private landowners at Maple Creek for acquisition or conservation within the resiliency corridor, and establishing MOU’s with USFS to ensure policies are consistent with establishing and improving ecologic and community resiliency in the Middle Hoh. Morgans Crossing Reach Commercial and residential private property lies within the resiliency corridor, creating opportunities conservation easements, acquisitions and relocation of infrastructure. These areas are at risk from flooding and erosion and should be prioritized to facilitate restoration actions in the reach. Infrastructure at highest short-term risk includes the Jefferson County Public Works facilities and east adjacent private property and structures south of the Upper Hoh Road, as recent channel migration increasing the potential for a partial to complete channel avulsion through the existing side channel that flows just south of the facilities and buildings. Long-term plans for the Public Works facilities should be developed as they are currently located within the resiliency corridor and are at high risk from flooding and erosion that will intensify over time. Continued outreach to other private landowners in the reach to similarly improve community and ecologic resiliency would be the next highest priority because parcels remain within the resiliency corridor that will remain at risk of erosion and flooding. Full acquisition of these parcels would allow for significant aquatic habitat enhancement actions by opening up a large area of the floodplain to natural processes. Restoration actions such as construction of ELJs, riparian planting and thinning, side channel wood loading and strategic excavations to improve side channel connectivity could be enacted aggressively if flood and erosion risk to the landowners were eliminated through acquisition. Smaller-scale actions such as riparian enhancements, installing wood along side channels and planting open areas could be interim actions accomplished with conservation easements, and such actions can build community support for similar and/or larger projects (Figure 3). However, property acquisition from willing landowners is the long-term most beneficial action to restore the river’s resiliency corridor and aquatic habitats in the Morgans Crossing Reach. The Upper Hoh Road encroaches into the resiliency corridor from RM 21 to 22.3, significantly limiting natural processes and salmonid habitat quantity, quality, and availability north of the road. Relocation of this section of the road would provide additional off-channel habitat for rearing salmonids and provide a safer long-term route for residence and visitors. Alternatives for relocation would require close coordination with the Hoh Tribe, Jefferson County, WFL and private landowners in the area. Willoughby Creek Reach There remain a few private parcels within the resiliency corridor in the Willoughby Creek Reach, in the Elk Creek Floodplain south of the river between RM 18 and 19. The rest of the resiliency corridor is in conservation or government owned. Opportunities exist to engage the private landowners for acquisition or conservation within the resiliency corridor. Oxbow Canyon Reach Similar to the Spruce Canyon Reach, the Oxbow Canyon Reach is largely in conservation or government owned. The land surrounded by the river on all sides is privately owned and is within the resiliency corridor, these parcels are an opportunity to engage the private landowner for acquisition or conservation to establish a mature forest. Instream & Floodplain Restoration Riparian Restoration In the face of these existing riparian forest conditions, and projected Climate changes to snowpack, precipitation, flows and fire susceptibility, a strong case can be made for restoring a mature conifer and deciduous riparian forest throughout the Middle Hoh River. The riparian forest will play an even more critical role in both water temperature amelioration in the floodplain side channel network and in production of the large mature floodplain conifers–keystones in the generation of stable forested islands, side channels, floodplains and aquatic salmonid habitat. Although some large trees are recruited and transported downstream from intact Olympic National Park riparian forest, 20th century logging of the majority of the Middle Hoh River forest has decreased the overall resiliency of the river aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Restoring the Middle Hoh River riparian forest is therefore a key and critical element for regenerating the overall resiliency of the Middle Hoh River. The future Middle Hoh River aquatic and riparian ecosystem without riparian forest restoration of floodplain conifers will simply be less resilient over the next few centuries than a restored riparian and flood plain forest. Restoring the coniferous component to the Hoh River floodplains is the mid- and long-term solution to regenerating the resiliency of the entire riverine landscape. Engineered Log Jams and Large Wood Placement Engineered log jams are intended to mimic the geomorphic functions of natural log jams by increasing flow resistance and slowing flow velocities, splitting flow into multiple channels, forcing main stem channel pools, and connecting the channel to side channels and the adjacent floodplain (Abbe and Montgomery, 2003; Montgomery et al., 2003). Log jams provide critical habitat functions such as triggering and sustaining the formation of deep pools, retaining spawning gravels, and providing in-stream cover. The goal of implementing engineered log jams is to re-initiate these habitat-forming processes in the near-term until natural wood recruitment from the restored riparian forest sustains those processes in the long-term. Design and placement of ELJs and smaller instream wood placements need to both meet geomorphic and habitat objectives while not increasing flooding or erosion hazard risks to adjacent landowners, public river users and fitting in with the floodplain management of the river system. Through the project reach, the Middle Hoh is categorized as a Special Flood Hazard Area with a regulatory Zone A floodplain by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Jefferson County code, Section 15.15.080, describes the limitations to development (referred to as encroachments) within regulatory floodplains with base flood elevations but no floodways and requires that the proposed encroachment would “not result increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the community” (Section 15.15.080(3)). Floodplain regulations require that a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis be conducted on the proposed project actions to assess if the water surface elevations during a 100-year flood event (referred to as the Base Flood Elevation) would be increased a foot or more as a result of the proposed actions. If proposed restoration actions are shown to increase the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) in the project reach one foot or more, a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) would need to be obtained from FEMA to document the proposed changes to the BFE and the 100-year floodplain before the project actions could be implemented. In addition, no increase in BFEs can impact an insurable structure as defined by the NFIP. Once the project is completed, a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) would need to be reviewed and approved by FEMA. The time frame for receiving a CLOMR and LOMR can be on the order of 6-12 months and 3-6 months, respectively, and thereby can significantly increase the design timeline for restoration actions. The floodplain management regulations, as well as the feasibility of pursuing the CLOMR/LOMR pathway, will need to be factored into the prioritization and design development of restoration actions in the project reaches. Apex Engineered Log Jams Apex ELJs are intended to mimic the geomorphic functions of natural bar apex log jams and will be placed in the middle of the channel and on existing gravel bars within the project reach. Apex ELJs are intended to split flow around the structures creating a stabilize bar and/or floodplain surface in the lee and partitioning stream power into two channels instead of one to reduce channel migration rates and increase channel length. The structures are designed to stabilize sediment in their reducing hydraulic forces so that vegetation can establish and flourish, leading to forested islands over time that can provide a long-term source of large wood to the river. Because the structures are often placed in areas with high hydraulic forces, deep pools are often scoured at the front face and around the corners of the jam. Apex ELJs are often constructed as a group of multiple structures so larger island areas can form in the lee and structures can cumulatively ‘protect each other’ by reducing the overall hydraulic forces over a larger region of the river corridor. Deflector Engineered Log Jams Deflector ELJs, which include log jams installed adjacent to the channel margin, are intended to mimic the geomorphic functions of natural flow deflection from meander bend log jams. The structures are primarily constructed along a bank and, as their name states, are intended to deflect flow from one area of the river corridor to another. Deflector ELJs can be used to slow channel migration rates to historical levels on a particular portion of bank by deflecting flow away from the bank, as well as increase the frequency of side channel inundation by deflecting flow towards side channel inlets. Because they are often placed in areas with high hydraulic forces (such as the outside of an actively migrating meander bend), large scour pools develop at the head of the structures which can provide important holding habitat for salmonids. Deflector ELJs can also be used to protect developing riparian vegetation located behind the structures by reducing the rates of future channel migration and erosion. The structures can be placed in groups to treat larger areas such as the entirety of a meander bend. Key Piece Placement or Small Engineered Logjams The placement of Key-sized logs and smaller “side channel’ ELJs is intended to improve existing habitat conditions within less hydraulically active sections of the floodplain to improve local habitat conditions and increase stable wood loading within the reach. These structures are suitable for locations where hydraulic forces (velocity and shear stress) are lower than the main channel and construction access is limited. Placement of these smaller structures is designed to add hydraulic roughness and complexity to side channels and the floodplain, provide pools with cover and rack mobilized small woody debris during floods. Natural snags that are deposited in the river should be protected from cutting and could be used to construct and/or augment smaller ELJs. Smaller beaver dam analog structures, sited in areas of low velocity, could also provide additional habitat complexity thought the floodplains to further enhance salmonid rearing opportunities. Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach The broad floodplain of the Middle Hoh through the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach historically was characterized by a multi-thread channel with large, vegetated islands complete with adjacent floodplains and abundant side channels and low-lying areas holding water throughout the year. This framework was held together by mature large trees falling into the river as the channel migrated, slowing erosion, and providing instream habitat. The loss of these large trees has resulted in a rapidly migrating channel that recycles through the floodplain faster than the trees can grow to sufficient size to provide key functions and remain stable (Figure 4). Opportunities exist to install clusters of apex ELJs to split flows, coupled with deflector ELJs to slow the channel migration rate along the channel margins to allow the forest to mature. Planting conifers and strategic thinning in the lee of constructed ELJs and the adjacent floodplains will accelerate natural succession of the riparian forest to create larger trees sooner, ultimately providing a local long-term source of large wood to the reach. Additional small ELJs along floodplain side channel would further enhance off-channel habitat complexity. Implementation of such projects will require working closely with local landowners, the Hoh Tribe and various agencies involved in permitting as any proposed actions will either be located on private lands or will impact private property somewhere in the reach. Ideally acquisitions occur or conservation easements are established where restoration actions are proposed and where they will impact hydraulic conditions prior to their design and construction. Opportunities to improve resiliency by protecting the Upper Hoh Road within the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach using ELJs was not included here as relocation outside of the resiliency corridor is the preferred option. Spruce Canyon Reach As the Middle Hoh is confined through much of the Spruce Canyon Reach, there are limited opportunities for instream and floodplain restoration actions as hydraulic forces limit appropriate locations for instream ELJs and the floodplain is relatively narrow. Local improvements to the riparian corridor to by planting conifers and strategic thinning on the adjacent floodplains where present would accelerate natural succession of the riparian forest to create larger trees sooner, ultimately providing a local long-term source of large wood to the reach. Most of these areas are at the upstream end of the reach at Spruce Island and the Maple Creek confluence area north of the river. As most of the property is under conservation or owned by the government, restoration actions can more readily be implemented as long as proposed actions fit within existing agreements. Morgans Crossing Reach As the Middle Hoh exits Spruce Canyon the valley widens and the channel again begins to freely migrate across the floodplain, similar to the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach. Opportunities exist to install clusters of apex ELJs to split flows, coupled with deflector ELJs to slow the channel migration rate along the channel margins to allow the forest to mature. Planting conifers and strategic thinning in the lee of constructed ELJs and the adjacent floodplains will accelerate natural succession of the riparian forest to create larger trees sooner, ultimately providing a local long-term source of large wood to the reach. Implementation of such projects downstream of RM 23 will require working closely with local landowners, the Hoh Tribe and various agencies involved in permitting as most proposed actions will either be located on private lands or will impact private property somewhere in the reach. Ideally acquisitions occur or conservation easements are established where restoration actions are proposed and where they will impact hydraulic conditions prior to their design and construction. Upstream of RM 23 most of the resiliency corridor is within conservation or government ownership, easing implementation and design costs and complexity. Opportunities to improve resiliency by protecting the Upper Hoh Road within the Morgans Crossing Reach using ELJs was not included here as relocation outside of the resiliency corridor is the preferred option. Willoughby Creek Reach The Middle Hoh retains its broad valley and floodplain as it enters the Willoughby Creek Reach, maintaining opportunities for clusters of apex ELJs to split flows coupled with deflector ELJs on the adjacent floodplains slowing further channel migration. Side channels traversing floodplains with young forests include smaller ELJs to improve off-channel cover and habitat complexity. Hydraulic conditions are less intense in this reach due to backwatering effects from Oxbow Canyon during large floods and may require less engineered approaches relative to other reaches in the Middle Hoh. However the same backwater effect promotes aggradation as velocities diminish approaching the canyon, creating a dynamic channel that is prone to frequent avulsions. Planting conifers and strategic thinning in the lee of constructed ELJs and the adjacent floodplains will accelerate natural succession of the riparian forest to create larger trees sooner, ultimately providing a local long-term source of large wood to the reach (Figure 6). Patches of remaining old-growth should be prioritized for protection from channel migration to maintain this largely lost floodplain habitat in the Middle Hoh. Most restoration work in the reach would be on land under conservation or government ownership, making design and implementation relatively cheaper and simpler. If proposed restoration actions will impact private land in the reach additional outreach and coordination is needed to move design and implementation forward. Ideally acquisitions occur or conservation easements are established if needed prior to design and construction of restoration actions. Opportunities to improve resiliency by protecting the Upper Hoh Road within the Morgans Crossing Reach using ELJs was not included here as relocation outside of the resiliency corridor is the preferred option. Oxbow Canyon Reach The Middle Hoh is confined through the Oxbow Canyon Reach and thus there are limited opportunities for instream and floodplain restoration actions as hydraulic forces limit appropriate locations for instream ELJs and the floodplain is relatively narrow (Figure 6). Local improvements to the riparian corridor to by planting conifers and strategic thinning on the adjacent floodplains where present would accelerate natural succession of the riparian forest to create larger trees sooner, ultimately providing a local long-term source of large wood to the reach. Most of the property is under conservation or owned by the government, therefore restoration actions can more readily be implemented as long as proposed actions fit within existing agreements. PRIORITIZATION & SEQUENCING Prioritization Framework A prioritization framework was developed by applying a hierarchical implementation of restoration strategies (watershed scale process prioritization) adapted from Roni et al. (2002) and Beechie et al. (2008), which results in the logical sequencing of restoration actions based on their probability of “success, response time, and longevity.” Using this approach, we applied the following priority order to restoration opportunities in the five reaches of the study area: Protect intact habitat Restore riparian zone Restore impaired processes Enhance instream habitat Using this framework, opportunities were scored by reach/location based on their ability to meet project goals and its related objectives for maximum improvement in aquatic habitat, extent, and durability of anticipated biological benefits. Long-term and short-term actions were not considered separately as they can and should be evaluated and conducted in parallel to make progress on longer-term goals like community engagement, conservation easements, and acquisition from willing sellers, while shorter-term actions are being planned, designed, and implemented. Higher scores and thus higher ranking were given to actions that provided protection of intact, naturally functioning habitat in a more expedient manner (e.g., through conservation easement rather than through acquisition) and to actions which could provide improvement of a targeted impaired process and immediate improvements in aquatic habitat. A greater range of scores was ascribed to the riparian restoration, ELJ and large wood placement criteria to account for the priority placed on actions which would address impaired processes identified in each reach and the limiting factors for Hoh River salmonids (i.e., lack of velocity refuges, spawning gravel sorting and storage, and floodplain connection/rearing habitat). Table 1 presents the opportunity identified, and its score for the prioritization criteria considered based on improvements to community and ecologic resiliency. Overall community resiliency is most improved upon through relocation measures but have the least benefit from habitat restoration actions. Conversely ecologic resiliency is most improved through habitat restoration, preservation, and conservation actions while community resiliency is less improved. Some actions, if continued unchanged, will diminish overall resiliency over time and should be avoided. Scores for preservation and conservation measures assume that additional actions would be taken if needed to restore or maintain desired habitats. Opportunities for implementing riparian and aquatic habitat restoration actions are constrained in the Huelsdonk-South Fork and Morgans Crossing Reaches due to large private inholdings within the resiliency corridor and will require further landowner outreach and engagement. Working in these reaches in areas under conservation would still require agreements with private landowners effected by the project(s). The Willoughby Creek Reach is similarly broad with abundant habitat potential, but more completely under conservation and has the added benefit of reduced flow velocities during large floods due to the backwater effect of Oxbow Canyon. For these reasons, and the lack of restoration opportunities in Spruce and Oxbow Canyon reaches, we recommend prioritizing short-term habitat restoration actions in the Willoughby Creek Reach and were there are willing landowners in the Huelsdonk-South Fork and Morgans Crossing Reaches, pursued concurrent with landowner outreach over the long-term to establish conservation easements or relocation to safe ground where needed for habitat protection and restoration. Relocation of infrastructure and landowners in hazard areas should be prioritized for the Upper Hoh Road, communities south of the river in the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach south of the river, and the Jefferson County Public Works facilities and east adjacent landowners. Pursuing relocation scores at the top overall for cumulative resiliency benefiting both the community and aquatic environment. Table 1. Actions Identified and Scored to Improve Resiliency in the Middle Hoh Proposed Actions Community Resiliency Ecologic Resiliency Cumulative Resiliency  Preservation and Conservation  Conservation easements with private landowners 6 5 11  Property acquisition for conservation 5 8 13  Average 5.5 6.5 12       Relocation and Infrastructure Protection  Road relocation out of resiliency corridor 8 6 14  Relocate at risk landowners 10 8 18  Habitat “friendly” erosion protection for existing development 5 3 8  Develop and implement county plan for new development in geologically safe areas outside of resiliency corridor 10 10 20  Improve visitor access through Middle Hoh to ONP* 8 0 8  Continue past practices to protect road -5 -9 -14  Average 6 3 9       Habitat Restoration  Reach restoration proposals focused on floodplain side channels 3 10 13  Floodplain forestry to advance conifer growth 4 7 11  Restore and sustain forested islands 4 10 14  Restore and sustain mainstem pools and cover 0 10 10  Average 2.75 9.25 12       Cumulative Resiliency Score     Total possible 240  Total 126  Average 11  *visitor access could include improved local river access but this could impact ecological resiliency, it could also include reducing vehicular traffic which would improve ecologic resiliency Action Sequencing CONCEPTUAL DESIGN DEVELOPMENT Hoh River Lindner Creek Floodplain Site B Site C REFERENCES Abbe, T. and D.R. Montgomery. 1996. Large woody debris jams, channel hydraulics, and habitat formation in large rivers. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management, 12, 201-221. Abbe, T.B. and D.R. Montgomery. 2003. Patterns and processes of wood debris accumulation in the Queets River Basin, Washington. Geomorphology 51, 81-107. Abbe, T., J. Bountry, L. Piety, G. Ward, M. McBride, and P. Kennard. 2003. Forest Influence on Floodplain Development and Channel Migration Zones. Geological Society of America Abstracts. Abbe, T. and A. Brooks. 2011. Geomorphic, Engineering and ecological considerations when using wood in river restoration. In Simon, A., Bennett, S., and Castro (Eds.), Stream Restoration in Dynamic Fluvial Systems: Scientific Approaches, Analyses, and Tools. Geophysical Monograph Series 194. AGU. pp.419-451. Abbe, T., B. Belby, M. Fox and D. Shields. 2016. Geomorphology and Hydrology Considerations. Chapter 4, National Large Wood Manual: Assessment, Planning, Design, and Maintenance of Large Wood in Fluvial Ecosystems: Restoring Process, Function, and Structure. pp.234-326. Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2016. National Large Wood Manual: Assessment, Planning, Design and Maintenance of Large Wood in Fluvial Ecosystems: Restoring Process, Function, and Structure. 628 pages + AppendixConrad, D.R., McNitt, B.H., and Stout, M. 1998. Higher Ground: A Report on Voluntary Property Buyouts in the Nation’s Floodplains. National Wildlife Federation, Washington D.C. 221 p. Beechie, T., G. Pess, P. Roni, and G. Giannico. “Setting River Restoration Priorities: A Review of Approaches and a General Protocol for Identifying and Prioritizing Actions.” North American Journal of Fisheries Management 28, no. 3 (2008): 891–905. Environmental Law Institute (ELI). 2017. Floodplain Buyouts: An Action Guide for Local Governments on How to Maximize Community Benefits, Habitat Connectivity, and Resilience. Chapel Hill, NC. 77 p. FEMA. 2019. Flood Insurance Study. Jefferson County, Washington. Study Number 53031CV000A. Effective June 7, 2019. Frendenberg, R., Calvin, E., Tolkoff, L. and Brewley, D. 2016. Buy-In for Buyouts the Case for Managed Retreat from Flood Zones. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Cambridge, MA. 76 p. Johnson, K.A., Wing, O.E.J., Bates, P.D., Farigone, J., Kroeger, T., Larson, W.D., Sampson, C.C., and Smith, A.M. 2020. A benefit-cost analysis of floodplain land acquisition for US flood damage reduction. Nature Sustainability 3, 57-62. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-019-0437-5/ Mach, K. J., C. M. Kraan, M. Hino, A. R. Siders, E. M. Johnston, and C. B. Field. “Managed Retreat through Voluntary Buyouts of Flood-Prone Properties.” Science Advances 5, no. 10 (2019): eaax8995. Montgomery, David R., and John M. Buffington. “Channel-Reach Morphology in Mountain Drainage Basins.” Geological Society of America Bulletin 109, no. 5 (May 1, 1997): 596–611. https://doi.org/10.1130 /0016- 7606(1997)109<0596:CRMIMD>2.3.CO;2. Patterson, G. Case Studies in Floodplain Buyouts: Looking to best practices to drive the conversation in Harris County. (2018) Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research: https://doi.org/10. 25611/hvon-iusb. Polefka, S. 2013. Moving out of Harm’s Way. Center for American Progress. Washington D.C. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/reports/2013/12/12/81046/moving-out-of- harms-way/. Mechler, R., Czajkowski, J., Kunreuther, H., Michel-Kerjan, E., Botzen, W., Keating, A., McQuistan, C., Cooper, N., and O’Donnell, I. 2014. Making communities more flood resilient: the role of cost benefit analysis and other decision-support tools in disaster risk reduction. Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance. 82 p. Roni, P., T. J. Beechie, R. E. Bilby, F. E. Leonetti, M. M. Pollock, and G. R. Pess. “A Review of Stream Restoration Techniques and a Hierarchical Strategy for Prioritizing Restoration in Pacific Northwest Watersheds.” North American Journal of Fisheries Management 22, no. 1 (2002): 1– 20. Salvesen, D., BenDor, T.K., Kamrath, C., and Ganser, B. 2018. Are floodplain buyouts a smart investment for local governments? Final Report for the UNC Policy Collaboratory, Chapel Hill, NC. 43 p. Schiff, R., Bighinatti, S., Fitzgerald, E., Wahlund, N., Carlton, D., Church,A., Louiso, J. and Cote, B. 2015. Evaluating the costs and benefits of floodplain protection activities in Waterbury, Vermont and Wilsboro, New York, Lake Champlain Basin, U.S.A. Report prepared for Lake Champlain Basin Program and New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. 137 p. http://www.lcbp.org/media-center/publications-library/publication-database/ Schmetterling, D.A., C.G. Clancy and T.M. Brandt. 2001. Effects of riprap bank reinforcement on stream salmonids in the Western United States. Fisheries 26(7), 6-13. Siders, A.R. 2019. Managed retreat in the United States. One Earth 1 (2):216–25. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2019.09.008. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Rock lined bank of the Middle Hoh taken at RM 24.6 looking downstream at right bank. Guardrail along Upper Hoh Road is visible at top of right bank. 6 Figure 2. Residential cabin at imminent risk of damage on left bank of river looking upstream near RM 29, DATE 9 Figure 3. Young conifers planted in young mono-typic stand of red alder near RM 22.8, Mar 3, 2021 10 Figure 4. Wide active channel with young alder forest along the channel margin with active bank erosion near RM 29.9, Oct 2, 2020 13 Figure 5. Second-growth conifer recruitment on left bank at RM 24.1, Oct. 1, 2020. 14 Figure 6. Mixed forest age stands adjacent to broad unvegetated active channel at RM 19.5, Oct. 2, 2020. 14 Figure 6. Confined Oxbow Canyon reach with bedrock walls and turbulent flow at RM 16.5, Oct. 2, 2020. 15 INTRODUCTION The Hoh River is one of the best-preserved rivers in the United States. The upper half of the river’s watershed lies within Olympic National Park (ONP) where the Hoh’s unique temperate rainforest and alpine areas have been largely protected. The river has no dams, was never splashed dammed and has no water diversion facilities. The principal human impacts have been road construction and maintenance (in and outside ONP) and timber harvest (outside ONP). The watershed has been home to the Hoh Tribe for millennia and to all five species of Pacific Salmon (King, Coho, Pink, Sockeye and Keta), steelhead, along with Bull Trout, Pacific Lamprey and many other native species. The local community represents a diverse collection of stakeholders that include local residents, privately held timber companies, non-profits, fishing and rafting guides, tourists and county, state and federal agencies that each have different and sometimes conflicting perspectives and management goals, share a love of the Hoh River. Their management actions can impact natural processes and the river’s ecosystem and actions by the river such as flooding and erosion that can impact their land and structures. Most individuals are aware of the flood and erosion hazards, however river processes and aquatic habitats needed to sustain salmonid populations are less understood. Few rivers, including the Hoh, have comprehensive management plans that integrate the diverse members of the community in decision making and developing a common vision for the river. While there are state and federal programs that offer educational resources, few counties have budgets for outreach programs. The Middle Hoh Resiliency Plan (Plan) was started with a grant with the intent to establish better communication with local residents and setup a framework to continue outreach into the future working with other public, Tribal and non-profit organizations. A key goal of the Plan is to establish a “living document” and framework for community communication, education and decision-making that will be sustained permanently. The Plan provides a series of prioritized actions developed to provide long-term resiliency for the ecosystem of the river and the community that calls it home. The findings of the Middle Hoh Resiliency Plan were compiled to identify proposed actions focused on the casual mechanisms contributing to higher channel migration rates, loss of mature floodplain forests, loss of key aquatic habitats, the sustainability of existing infrastructure and risks to property owners within the valley. With stakeholder feedback the proposed actions were further developed, refined, and ranked to provide a prioritized sequence of actions to realize the goals of the Plan. PROPOSED ACTIONS Education is the critical first step to foster a shared understanding of the dynamic and ever-changing interaction between rivers and their floodplains, and the inherent risks posed by living in their proximity. Thoughtful and honest conversations between floodplain residents and the County will build trust and relationships to advance a long-term vision for the resiliency corridor. Lessons Learned The Hoh Valley is home to one of the few temperate rainforest and largest trees in North America. Historic logging outside ONP has accelerated upland erosion, particularly from landslides and debris flows (Parks 1990). Logging in the valley bottom removed big trees that were critical to defining the river’s morphology, habitat, and ecosystem complexity. The loss of those trees led to a more simplified river more prone to rapidly migrating across its alluvial valley (e.g., Montgomery and Abbe 2006, Abbe and Brooks 2011, Collins et al 2012, Abbe et al. 2016). While residential land development is rare in the Middle Hoh valley, the few areas that have been developed are subject to significant erosion risks and damages. Another major impact has been road construction and maintenance that has disconnected the river from portions of its floodplain and altered the natural river banks. The other major impact has been the proliferation of invasive plant species that degrade native riparian vegetation and impact habitat formation. Over the last 30 years there have been major changes in our understanding of land management impacts to rivers and new regulations improve management and protect native species. Forest practices have evolved to better protect riparian areas, floodplains, channel migration zones and unstable slopes. Portions of the Hoh floodplain have been conserved by Land Trusts and non-profits. Floodplain forestry to promote conifer development and restore the native big trees has become an important part of land management within the valley. Another essential element of current land management is invasive plant control, work that has been led by the 10,000 years Institute in Forks, WA and has been funded entirely by grants. Perspectives on river bank alteration have also changed, particularly the negative impact of traditional rock revetments on fisheries and habitat formation (e.g., Schmetterling et al. 2001). Significant portions of the Hoh’s banks have been converted to rock revetments to protect the Upper Hoh Road (both in and outside ONP) (Figure 1). Recent research has shown alternatives such as engineered logjams have been successfully applied to protect infrastructure and are much better at emulating natural river banks, enhancing aquatic habitat and preserving forest buffers along the river (e.g., Abbe et al. 1999, Abbe and Brooks 2011, Abbe et al. 2016, Abbe et al. 2018). While hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent restoring aquatic habitat around Washington State, no restoration projects have been done on the mainstem Hoh. Restoration actions in the Upper Quinault River over the last 10 years has been instrumental in restoring floodplain forests and side channels crucial to salmon. The restoration has been instrumental in restoring the native Blueback Sockeye fisheries which was opened for harvest in 2021 after being closed for years. The Middle Hoh needs many of the same actions that have been successful in the Upper Quinault. Recent changes to regulatory guidelines, more environmentally sensitive land management and restoration actions are helping to better protect and restore aspects of the Hoh River, but more aggressive restoration actions are needed, along with efforts to assist local willing landowners to reduce their risks by relocating out of hazard areas, acquisition or protection strategies that enhance native habitat. All these actions need to be sustained indefinitely as part of the natural infrastructure of the Hoh River valley. Developing the Plan and engaging local stakeholders has already greatly improved education, communication and transparency in management decisions influencing the Middle Hoh River. Sustaining the Plan and its leadership team will be crucial in securing future funding and benefiting the local community and protecting one of the “Last Great River” in the United States. Education, Outreach and Engagement The local community represents a diverse collection of individuals with a varied background and life experiences, some individuals are passionate about the Hoh River ecosystem while others are more concerned about traffic and frequent washouts. Most individuals are aware of the flood and erosion hazards, however river processes and aquatic habitats needed to sustain salmonid populations are less understood. While there are state and federal programs that offer educational resources, few counties have budgets for outreach programs. The Plan was started with a grant intended to establish better communication with local residents and setup a framework to continue outreach work into the future working with other public, Tribal and non-profit organizations. Education is the critical first step to foster a shared understanding of the dynamic and ever-changing interaction between rivers and their floodplains, and the inherent risks posed by living in their proximity. Thoughtful and honest conversations between floodplain residents and the County will build trust and relationships to advance a long-term vision for the resiliency corridor. Access and Recreation Tourism and fishing are crucial economically to the local Hoh community, thus maintaining access to the river and ONP are essential. Transportation is also critical to ensuring emergency services are available to residents and visitors. Traditional road maintenance is not environmentally sustainable and new approaches to bank protection (e.g., engineered logjams, complex timber revetments) should become standard practice where bank protection is required. Wherever possible, road segments at risk of erosion should be relocated outside the resiliency corridor. Unimproved (4x4) access for experienced guides to launch and retrieve their boats should be maintained and re-established in appropriate locations when river changes eliminate access at existing sites. Any actions regarding access should be closely coordinated with the local community and guides. The local community is not supportive of improving access since it would likely lead to more inexperienced people using the river and increase the risk of personal injury. Development of Programs and Options for Landowners The costs of flood damage to lives and property, along with environment and economic benefits of restoring floodplains, has led local, state, and federal government agencies to implement major land acquisition and relocation programs across the country (e.g., Conrad et al. 1998, FEMA 2009, Polefka 2013, Mechler et al 2014, Schiff et al. 2015, Frendenberg et al. 2016, ELI 2017, Patterson 2018, Salvesen et al. 2018, Siders 2019, Johnson et al. 2020). More locally, Pierce County has implemented very successful buy-out programs in floodplains of the Puyallup and Carbon Rivers. Helping people get out of harm’s way not only protects their lives and properties but can save taxpayers millions of dollars in flood relief. Managed retreat from increasingly hazardous areas, such as the purchase of flood prone property, will become an unavoidable situation as climate change effects intensify (see Jay et al, 2018 in https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/). The federal government shares responsibility for flood recovery and there is increasing interest in assisting state and local governments with reducing community flood risk. A comprehensive list of federal flood resilience and risk reduction assistance programs is provided in a recent 2019 Congressional Research Service report, https://crsreports.congress.gov, report number R45017. There are also several other federal resources to assist the County in developing the programs and supports necessary to provide the Lazy C reach landowners with viable options for relocation, including but not limited to: Repetitive Loss Program: Using FEMA’s Cost-Benefit Calculator, “beneficial” actions for repetitive loss properties (more than 1 FEMA insurance claim) can be identified. This opens funding opportunities and reduces community insurance premium costs (including for floodplain residents). Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: This program funds buyouts for homes and businesses that meet the cost-benefit ratio. https://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-grant-program The federal government is increasingly pushing for communities to commit to buy-out programs in chronic flood-prone areas (Mach et. al 2019). In a recent federal policy change, funding partially administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood protection and climate adaptation can be contingent on local governments agreeing to use eminent domain to purchase properties whose owners are unwilling to voluntarily sell: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/climate/government-land-eviction- floods.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage. Such policies and initiatives promote a process to identify the risks and impacts on community resilience to natural hazards, including those associated with climate change, and direct Federal agencies to support climate resilient infrastructure, including a Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) program by FEMA, which provides funding for flood mitigation strategies rooted in restoring ecological process and function. See: https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1487161136815-ecad1c0312eda2111ffa28735a4d06ad/FSR_Fact_Sheet_Feb2017_COMPLIANT.pdf Other actions the County could pursue in support of landowner relocation support could include: Discourage “emergency actions” to protect the Hoh Road that degrade habitat. Encourage road re-location outside the resiliency corridor where and when possible. When bank protection is necessary utilize physically complex structures such as engineered logjams. Establish funding for immediate acquisition of flood prone properties that come up for sale. Develop preliminary criteria for prioritizing acquisitions, including utilizing the risk prioritization identified in Figure 33. In many locations, the current cost of floodplain land acquisition is 3 to 5 times less than future flood damages (Johnson et al, 2020). Develop long-term plans for moving interested residents to safe ground, including considerations such as: Establish outreach program to assist landowners who want to stay in community but move out of flood prone areas. Ensure adequate services and access to local and county roads in plans for relocation. Local government action guides exist which provide detailed guidance and resources for developing a floodplain acquisition program which maximizes ecological benefits and minimizes risk as projects are planned and completed (ELI 2017). Consider social and environmental equity and the location of the County’s low-income housing and business sectors within the 100-year floodplain and even delineated floodways. Continue local education, particularly with rafting and fishing guides regarding the natural history of the Hoh river and critical function logjams play in the river’s morphology and ecology. Education can also include discussions of public safety and hazards in natural waterways. Sustain the Resiliency Plan leadership team as a forum of communication and means of periodically updating the Plan. Conservation Easements, Acquisitions and Relocation Actions The most effective long-term flood protection is to remove structures from flood hazard areas, which also facilitates habitat restoration of these ecologically valuable areas. To do this the property can be acquired or there are additional options such as conservation easements and relocation. Relocation grants allow the landowner to move to a safer property in the area while ownership of the flood prone property is transferred to Jefferson County, a land trust or other public entity. Portions of the Upper Hoh Road are prime candidates for relocation to eliminate conflicts with the river that result in frequent washouts and pose risks to the public and ecosystem. Addressing these conflicts is critical to providing future resiliency in the Middle Hoh. Reaches of the Middle Hoh that are currently in conservation or owned by local, state or federal entities provide the greatest opportunities to improve ecologic resiliency by protecting existing mature forests and high-quality floodplain habitats. Significant progress has already been made to create a protected corridor along the Middle Hoh River, including most of the Willoughby Creek, Morgans Crossing and Spruce Canyon Reaches. Private ownership along the river corridor is centered around the Lindner Creek area in the Morgans Crossing Reach and the south of the river in the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach (plus the Lewis Homestead). Habitat protection and restoration in these areas is possible and should be pursued with interested landowners where high-quality habitat exists through outreach and collaboration. Restoration actions in the Middle Hoh to create a multi-thread main stem channel with vegetated islands, maintained by stable instream wood and connection with off-channel floodplain habitat will have the greatest ecological benefit by directly addressing limiting factors contributing to the decline of salmonids in the Hoh and providing resiliency into the future. There is historical evidence and local analogs that demonstrate the rivers planform has been altered, resulting in a single thread wandering channel that has significantly more energy than the individual channel threads of the historic anastomosing river. This higher energy, coupled with logging of the riparian corridor removing the large trees that once lined the channel banks, has resulting high channel migration rates, frequent channel avulsions and immature floodplain forests. The greatest risk to salmonid survival in the Middle Hoh is loss of high-quality rearing habitat found in floodplain side channels, wetlands and beaver ponds. Protection and restoration of these habitats is key to the long-term resiliency of the species and the broader ecosystem as a whole. Development of a mature riparian corridor, with large conifers capable of acting as key pieces in the channel to form instream habitat complexity and limit further erosion into the bank. Planting and silviculture actions that can be taken to accelerate the natural succession of the riparian forest will ultimately provide the long-term resiliency needed to give salmonids a chance to persist into the future. Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach Private property in the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach south of the river at the Brandeberry and Rain Forest Road area (RM 29 – 30) and Fletcher Ranch are at the greatest short-term risk of erosion and flooding and should be prioritized for facilitating conservation, acquisition and/or relocation actions to limit landowner risk and enable habitat restoration work (Figure 2). Continued outreach to other private landowners in the reach to similarly improve community and ecologic resiliency would be the next highest priority because these parcels are still at risk of erosion and flooding. Full acquisition of these parcels would allow for significant aquatic habitat enhancement actions in a section of the river currently largely devoid of habitat complexity. Restoration actions such as construction of ELJs, riparian planting and thinning, side channel wood loading and strategic excavations to improve side channel connectivity could be enacted aggressively if flood and erosion risk to the landowners was eliminated through acquisition. Smaller-scale actions such as shoreline setbacks, installing wood along eroding banks and riparian planting could be interim actions accomplished with conservation easements, and such actions can build community support for similar projects. However, property acquisition from willing landowners is the long-term most beneficial action to restore the river’s resiliency corridor and aquatic habitats in the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach. The Upper Hoh Road in the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach has a history of washouts, relocation and bank armoring from the Lewis Homestead upstream to ONP. The road encroaches into the delineated Resiliency Corridor here and is the highest priority for road relocation in the reach as it impairs aquatic habitat conditions and is at future risk for washouts. Relocation alternatives would require close coordination with the Hoh Tribe, NPS, USFS, WFL and private landowners in the area. Spruce Canyon Reach Short of a few parcels under private ownership at the confluence with Mable Creek, Middle Hoh through the Spruce Canyon Reach is currently in conservation or government owned. Opportunities exist to engage the private landowners at Maple Creek for acquisition or conservation within the resiliency corridor, and establishing MOU’s with USFS to ensure policies are consistent with establishing and improving ecologic and community resiliency in the Middle Hoh. Morgans Crossing Reach Commercial and residential private property lies within the resiliency corridor, creating opportunities conservation easements, acquisitions and relocation of infrastructure. These areas are at risk from flooding and erosion and should be prioritized to facilitate restoration actions in the reach. Infrastructure at highest short-term risk includes the Jefferson County Public Works facilities and east adjacent private property and structures south of the Upper Hoh Road, as recent channel migration increasing the potential for a partial to complete channel avulsion through the existing side channel that flows just south of the facilities and buildings. Long-term plans for the Public Works facilities should be developed as they are currently located within the resiliency corridor and are at high risk from flooding and erosion that will intensify over time. Continued outreach to other private landowners in the reach to similarly improve community and ecologic resiliency would be the next highest priority because parcels remain within the resiliency corridor that will remain at risk of erosion and flooding. Full acquisition of these parcels would allow for significant aquatic habitat enhancement actions by opening up a large area of the floodplain to natural processes. Restoration actions such as construction of ELJs, riparian planting and thinning, side channel wood loading and strategic excavations to improve side channel connectivity could be enacted aggressively if flood and erosion risk to the landowners were eliminated through acquisition. Smaller-scale actions such as riparian enhancements, installing wood along side channels and planting open areas could be interim actions accomplished with conservation easements, and such actions can build community support for similar and/or larger projects (Figure 3). However, property acquisition from willing landowners is the long-term most beneficial action to restore the river’s resiliency corridor and aquatic habitats in the Morgans Crossing Reach. The Upper Hoh Road encroaches into the resiliency corridor from RM 21 to 22.3, significantly limiting natural processes and salmonid habitat quantity, quality, and availability north of the road. Relocation of this section of the road would provide additional off-channel habitat for rearing salmonids and provide a safer long-term route for residence and visitors. Alternatives for relocation would require close coordination with the Hoh Tribe, Jefferson County, WFL and private landowners in the area. Willoughby Creek Reach There remain a few private parcels within the resiliency corridor in the Willoughby Creek Reach, in the Elk Creek Floodplain south of the river between RM 18 and 19. The rest of the resiliency corridor is in conservation or government owned. Opportunities exist to engage the private landowners for acquisition or conservation within the resiliency corridor. Oxbow Canyon Reach Similar to the Spruce Canyon Reach, the Oxbow Canyon Reach is largely in conservation or government owned. The land surrounded by the river on all sides is privately owned and is within the resiliency corridor, these parcels are an opportunity to engage the private landowner for acquisition or conservation to establish a mature forest. Instream & Floodplain Restoration Riparian Restoration In the face of these existing riparian forest conditions, and projected Climate changes to snowpack, precipitation, flows and fire susceptibility, a strong case can be made for restoring a mature conifer and deciduous riparian forest throughout the Middle Hoh River. The riparian forest will play an even more critical role in both water temperature amelioration in the floodplain side channel network and in production of the large mature floodplain conifers–keystones in the generation of stable forested islands, side channels, floodplains and aquatic salmonid habitat. Although some large trees are recruited and transported downstream from intact Olympic National Park riparian forest, 20th century logging of the majority of the Middle Hoh River forest has decreased the overall resiliency of the river aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Restoring the Middle Hoh River riparian forest is therefore a key and critical element for regenerating the overall resiliency of the Middle Hoh River. The future Middle Hoh River aquatic and riparian ecosystem without riparian forest restoration of floodplain conifers will simply be less resilient over the next few centuries than a restored riparian and flood plain forest. Restoring the coniferous component to the Hoh River floodplains is the mid- and long-term solution to regenerating the resiliency of the entire riverine landscape. Engineered Log Jams and Large Wood Placement Engineered log jams are intended to mimic the geomorphic functions of natural log jams by increasing flow resistance and slowing flow velocities, splitting flow into multiple channels, forcing main stem channel pools, and connecting the channel to side channels and the adjacent floodplain (Abbe and Montgomery, 2003; Montgomery et al., 2003). Log jams provide critical habitat functions such as triggering and sustaining the formation of deep pools, retaining spawning gravels, and providing in-stream cover. The goal of implementing engineered log jams is to re-initiate these habitat-forming processes in the near-term until natural wood recruitment from the restored riparian forest sustains those processes in the long-term. Design and placement of ELJs and smaller instream wood placements need to both meet geomorphic and habitat objectives while not increasing flooding or erosion hazard risks to adjacent landowners, public river users and fitting in with the floodplain management of the river system. Through the project reach, the Middle Hoh is categorized as a Special Flood Hazard Area with a regulatory Zone A floodplain by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Jefferson County code, Section 15.15.080, describes the limitations to development (referred to as encroachments) within regulatory floodplains with base flood elevations but no floodways and requires that the proposed encroachment would “not result increase the water surface elevation of the base flood more than one foot at any point within the community” (Section 15.15.080(3)). Floodplain regulations require that a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis be conducted on the proposed project actions to assess if the water surface elevations during a 100-year flood event (referred to as the Base Flood Elevation) would be increased a foot or more as a result of the proposed actions. If proposed restoration actions are shown to increase the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) in the project reach one foot or more, a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) would need to be obtained from FEMA to document the proposed changes to the BFE and the 100-year floodplain before the project actions could be implemented. In addition, no increase in BFEs can impact an insurable structure as defined by the NFIP. Once the project is completed, a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) would need to be reviewed and approved by FEMA. The time frame for receiving a CLOMR and LOMR can be on the order of 6-12 months and 3-6 months, respectively, and thereby can significantly increase the design timeline for restoration actions. The floodplain management regulations, as well as the feasibility of pursuing the CLOMR/LOMR pathway, will need to be factored into the prioritization and design development of restoration actions in the project reaches. Apex Engineered Log Jams Apex ELJs are intended to mimic the geomorphic functions of natural bar apex log jams and will be placed in the middle of the channel and on existing gravel bars within the project reach. Apex ELJs are intended to split flow around the structures creating a stabilize bar and/or floodplain surface in the lee and partitioning stream power into two channels instead of one to reduce channel migration rates and increase channel length. The structures are designed to stabilize sediment in their reducing hydraulic forces so that vegetation can establish and flourish, leading to forested islands over time that can provide a long-term source of large wood to the river. Because the structures are often placed in areas with high hydraulic forces, deep pools are often scoured at the front face and around the corners of the jam. Apex ELJs are often constructed as a group of multiple structures so larger island areas can form in the lee and structures can cumulatively ‘protect each other’ by reducing the overall hydraulic forces over a larger region of the river corridor. Deflector Engineered Log Jams Deflector ELJs, which include log jams installed adjacent to the channel margin, are intended to mimic the geomorphic functions of natural flow deflection from meander bend log jams. The structures are primarily constructed along a bank and, as their name states, are intended to deflect flow from one area of the river corridor to another. Deflector ELJs can be used to slow channel migration rates to historical levels on a particular portion of bank by deflecting flow away from the bank, as well as increase the frequency of side channel inundation by deflecting flow towards side channel inlets. Because they are often placed in areas with high hydraulic forces (such as the outside of an actively migrating meander bend), large scour pools develop at the head of the structures which can provide important holding habitat for salmonids. Deflector ELJs can also be used to protect developing riparian vegetation located behind the structures by reducing the rates of future channel migration and erosion. The structures can be placed in groups to treat larger areas such as the entirety of a meander bend. Key Piece Placement or Small Engineered Logjams The placement of Key-sized logs and smaller “side channel’ ELJs is intended to improve existing habitat conditions within less hydraulically active sections of the floodplain to improve local habitat conditions and increase stable wood loading within the reach. These structures are suitable for locations where hydraulic forces (velocity and shear stress) are lower than the main channel and construction access is limited. Placement of these smaller structures is designed to add hydraulic roughness and complexity to side channels and the floodplain, provide pools with cover and rack mobilized small woody debris during floods. Natural snags that are deposited in the river should be protected from cutting and could be used to construct and/or augment smaller ELJs. Smaller beaver dam analog structures, sited in areas of low velocity, could also provide additional habitat complexity thought the floodplains to further enhance salmonid rearing opportunities. Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach The broad floodplain of the Middle Hoh through the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach historically was characterized by a multi-thread channel with large, vegetated islands complete with adjacent floodplains and abundant side channels and low-lying areas holding water throughout the year. This framework was held together by mature large trees falling into the river as the channel migrated, slowing erosion, and providing instream habitat. The loss of these large trees has resulted in a rapidly migrating channel that recycles through the floodplain faster than the trees can grow to sufficient size to provide key functions and remain stable (Figure 4). Opportunities exist to install clusters of apex ELJs to split flows, coupled with deflector ELJs to slow the channel migration rate along the channel margins to allow the forest to mature. Planting conifers and strategic thinning in the lee of constructed ELJs and the adjacent floodplains will accelerate natural succession of the riparian forest to create larger trees sooner, ultimately providing a local long-term source of large wood to the reach. Additional small ELJs along floodplain side channel would further enhance off-channel habitat complexity. Implementation of such projects will require working closely with local landowners, the Hoh Tribe and various agencies involved in permitting as any proposed actions will either be located on private lands or will impact private property somewhere in the reach. Ideally acquisitions occur or conservation easements are established where restoration actions are proposed and where they will impact hydraulic conditions prior to their design and construction. Opportunities to improve resiliency by protecting the Upper Hoh Road within the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach using ELJs was not included here as relocation outside of the resiliency corridor is the preferred option. Spruce Canyon Reach As the Middle Hoh is confined through much of the Spruce Canyon Reach, there are limited opportunities for instream and floodplain restoration actions as hydraulic forces limit appropriate locations for instream ELJs and the floodplain is relatively narrow. Local improvements to the riparian corridor to by planting conifers and strategic thinning on the adjacent floodplains where present would accelerate natural succession of the riparian forest to create larger trees sooner, ultimately providing a local long-term source of large wood to the reach. Most of these areas are at the upstream end of the reach at Spruce Island and the Maple Creek confluence area north of the river. As most of the property is under conservation or owned by the government, restoration actions can more readily be implemented as long as proposed actions fit within existing agreements. Morgans Crossing Reach As the Middle Hoh exits Spruce Canyon the valley widens and the channel again begins to freely migrate across the floodplain, similar to the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach. Opportunities exist to install clusters of apex ELJs to split flows, coupled with deflector ELJs to slow the channel migration rate along the channel margins to allow the forest to mature. Planting conifers and strategic thinning in the lee of constructed ELJs and the adjacent floodplains will accelerate natural succession of the riparian forest to create larger trees sooner, ultimately providing a local long-term source of large wood to the reach. Implementation of such projects downstream of RM 23 will require working closely with local landowners, the Hoh Tribe and various agencies involved in permitting as most proposed actions will either be located on private lands or will impact private property somewhere in the reach. Ideally acquisitions occur or conservation easements are established where restoration actions are proposed and where they will impact hydraulic conditions prior to their design and construction. Upstream of RM 23 most of the resiliency corridor is within conservation or government ownership, easing implementation and design costs and complexity. Opportunities to improve resiliency by protecting the Upper Hoh Road within the Morgans Crossing Reach using ELJs was not included here as relocation outside of the resiliency corridor is the preferred option. Willoughby Creek Reach The Middle Hoh retains its broad valley and floodplain as it enters the Willoughby Creek Reach, maintaining opportunities for clusters of apex ELJs to split flows coupled with deflector ELJs on the adjacent floodplains slowing further channel migration. Side channels traversing floodplains with young forests include smaller ELJs to improve off-channel cover and habitat complexity. Hydraulic conditions are less intense in this reach due to backwatering effects from Oxbow Canyon during large floods and may require less engineered approaches relative to other reaches in the Middle Hoh. However the same backwater effect promotes aggradation as velocities diminish approaching the canyon, creating a dynamic channel that is prone to frequent avulsions. Planting conifers and strategic thinning in the lee of constructed ELJs and the adjacent floodplains will accelerate natural succession of the riparian forest to create larger trees sooner, ultimately providing a local long-term source of large wood to the reach (Figure 6). Patches of remaining old-growth should be prioritized for protection from channel migration to maintain this largely lost floodplain habitat in the Middle Hoh. Most restoration work in the reach would be on land under conservation or government ownership, making design and implementation relatively cheaper and simpler. If proposed restoration actions will impact private land in the reach additional outreach and coordination is needed to move design and implementation forward. Ideally acquisitions occur or conservation easements are established if needed prior to design and construction of restoration actions. Opportunities to improve resiliency by protecting the Upper Hoh Road within the Morgans Crossing Reach using ELJs was not included here as relocation outside of the resiliency corridor is the preferred option. Oxbow Canyon Reach The Middle Hoh is confined through the Oxbow Canyon Reach and thus there are limited opportunities for instream and floodplain restoration actions as hydraulic forces limit appropriate locations for instream ELJs and the floodplain is relatively narrow (Figure 6). Local improvements to the riparian corridor to by planting conifers and strategic thinning on the adjacent floodplains where present would accelerate natural succession of the riparian forest to create larger trees sooner, ultimately providing a local long-term source of large wood to the reach. Most of the property is under conservation or owned by the government, therefore restoration actions can more readily be implemented as long as proposed actions fit within existing agreements. PRIORITIZATION & SEQUENCING Prioritization Framework A prioritization framework was developed by applying a hierarchical implementation of restoration strategies (watershed scale process prioritization) adapted from Roni et al. (2002) and Beechie et al. (2008), which results in the logical sequencing of restoration actions based on their probability of “success, response time, and longevity.” Using this approach, we applied the following priority order to restoration opportunities in the five reaches of the study area: Protect intact habitat Restore riparian zone Restore impaired processes Enhance instream habitat Using this framework, opportunities were scored by reach/location based on their ability to meet project goals and its related objectives for maximum improvement in aquatic habitat, extent, and durability of anticipated biological benefits. Long-term and short-term actions were not considered separately as they can and should be evaluated and conducted in parallel to make progress on longer-term goals like community engagement, conservation easements, and acquisition from willing sellers, while shorter-term actions are being planned, designed, and implemented. Higher scores and thus higher ranking were given to actions that provided protection of intact, naturally functioning habitat in a more expedient manner (e.g., through conservation easement rather than through acquisition) and to actions which could provide improvement of a targeted impaired process and immediate improvements in aquatic habitat. A greater range of scores was ascribed to the riparian restoration, ELJ and large wood placement criteria to account for the priority placed on actions which would address impaired processes identified in each reach and the limiting factors for Hoh River salmonids (i.e., lack of velocity refuges, spawning gravel sorting and storage, and floodplain connection/rearing habitat). Table 1 presents the opportunity identified, and its score for the prioritization criteria considered based on improvements to community and ecologic resiliency. Overall community resiliency is most improved upon through relocation measures but have the least benefit from habitat restoration actions. Conversely ecologic resiliency is most improved through habitat restoration, preservation, and conservation actions while community resiliency is less improved. Some actions, if continued unchanged, will diminish overall resiliency over time and should be avoided. Scores for preservation and conservation measures assume that additional actions would be taken if needed to restore or maintain desired habitats. Opportunities for implementing riparian and aquatic habitat restoration actions are constrained in the Huelsdonk-South Fork and Morgans Crossing Reaches due to large private inholdings within the resiliency corridor and will require further landowner outreach and engagement. Working in these reaches in areas under conservation would still require agreements with private landowners effected by the project(s). The Willoughby Creek Reach is similarly broad with abundant habitat potential, but more completely under conservation and has the added benefit of reduced flow velocities during large floods due to the backwater effect of Oxbow Canyon. For these reasons, and the lack of restoration opportunities in Spruce and Oxbow Canyon reaches, we recommend prioritizing short-term habitat restoration actions in the Willoughby Creek Reach and were there are willing landowners in the Huelsdonk-South Fork and Morgans Crossing Reaches, pursued concurrent with landowner outreach over the long-term to establish conservation easements or relocation to safe ground where needed for habitat protection and restoration. Relocation of infrastructure and landowners in hazard areas should be prioritized for the Upper Hoh Road, communities south of the river in the Huelsdonk-South Fork Reach south of the river, and the Jefferson County Public Works facilities and east adjacent landowners. Pursuing relocation scores at the top overall for cumulative resiliency benefiting both the community and aquatic environment. Table 1. Actions Identified and Scored to Improve Resiliency in the Middle Hoh Proposed Actions Community Resiliency Ecologic Resiliency Cumulative Resiliency  Preservation and Conservation  Conservation easements with private landowners 6 5 11  Property acquisition for conservation 5 8 13  Average 5.5 6.5 12       Relocation and Infrastructure Protection  Road relocation out of resiliency corridor 8 6 14  Relocate at risk landowners 10 8 18  Habitat “friendly” erosion protection for existing development 5 3 8  Develop and implement county plan for new development in geologically safe areas outside of resiliency corridor 10 10 20  Improve visitor access through Middle Hoh to ONP* 8 0 8  Continue past practices to protect road -5 -9 -14  Average 6 3 9       Habitat Restoration  Reach restoration proposals focused on floodplain side channels 3 10 13  Floodplain forestry to advance conifer growth 4 7 11  Restore and sustain forested islands 4 10 14  Restore and sustain mainstem pools and cover 0 10 10  Average 2.75 9.25 12       Cumulative Resiliency Score     Total possible 240  Total 126  Average 11  *visitor access could include improved local river access but this could impact ecological resiliency, it could also include reducing vehicular traffic which would improve ecologic resiliency Action Sequencing CONCEPTUAL DESIGN DEVELOPMENT Hoh River Lindner Creek Floodplain Site B Site C REFERENCES Abbe, T. and D.R. 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