One of the best things we can do to recover salmon is to protect and restore riparian habitat. What’s riparian habitat, you ask?
Riparian Habitat is the Cornerstone of Salmon Recovery in Washington
“As salmon go, so go we. Salmon is connected to everything in our lives. We are committed today to do everything we can to the preservation of this incredible blessing. I was going to say ‘resource,’ but I think blessing is the right way to think of salmon in this state. I am committed to working with everyone … on this divine mission we are on.”
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee
2021 State Salmon Recovery Conference
Riparian, or streamside, habitat is essential to both our region’s salmon recovery efforts and climate change resiliency. Salmon continue to decline in western Washington because their habitat is being lost and damaged faster than we can restore and protect it, as a result of development, farming and past logging practices.
What Does Healthy Riparian Habitat Look Like?
Shade
Treed riparian areas provide shade to help maintain cold stream temperatures. Water temperatures nearing 70 degrees can be fatal to salmon. About 1,800 miles of streams in western Washington do not meet state standards for water temperatures.
Large Woody Debris and Instream Habitat
Large trees in riparian areas are a major source of instream large woody debris that captures gravel, creates spawning beds, builds cold water pools for salmon to rest, and provides protection from predators. Large woody debris also helps form side channels and islands that provide refuge for salmon from high stream flows.
Bank Stability
Roots prevent banks from eroding during floods and large storms while keeping sediment out of streams and protecting incubating salmon eggs.
Nutrient Delivery
Leaves and stems from riparian vegetation fall into streams and provide nutrients that support aquatic food webs.
Pollutant Filtering
Treed riparian areas capture and filter sediment, concentrated nutrients, toxic chemicals, and other pollutants from sources like farms, lawns and roads.
Streamside Buffers Have a Formula
A scientific standard for forested riparian buffers is called site potential tree height (SPTH). It is calculated using the maximum height of the tallest dominant species of trees – usually 200 years or older – in a streamside location. When converted to buffer widths, the distance ranges from about 100 to 300 feet depending on soil conditions, rainfall and other factors.
How Does Site Potential Tree Height Help Habitat?
Mitigates human disturbances
In degraded ecosystems, every established and newly planted tree contributes to protecting and restoring riparian and aquatic ecosystems.
Increases buffer resiliency
Riparian ecosystems are dynamic, and catastrophic events are unpredictable. Narrow buffers are at higher risk of being destroyed than large buffers from flood, fire and windstorm disturbances. A single event can destroy a stand of riparian trees that require hundreds of years to grow back. Anything less than full riparian protection adds uncertainty and risk to restoring salmon and other resources.
Increases climate change resiliency
Climate change is increasing pressure on stressed aquatic ecosystems. Floods are more frequent and intense, droughts are longer and drier, and stream temperatures are rising. Forested riparian areas provide cooler microclimates instream and for the surrounding environment. For fisheries already on the brink of disappearing, establishing and protecting fully functioning riparian ecosystems is absolutely necessary for their continued survival.
Increases opportunities for carbon sequestration
Riparian areas capture and store carbon in their vegetation and soil, such as carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.
The key to recovering salmon is to restore lost riparian forests and protect existing habitat. Still, every single report over the past few decades says the same thing: Our ecological health is getting worse. Our salmon populations continue to decline because their habitat is being lost faster than it can be restored.
Our current approach to salmon recovery simply isn’t working. We know what needs to be done to protect and restore salmon habitat, but it isn’t reflected in land-use laws such as the Shoreline Management Act and Growth Management Act. At best, these laws attempt to balance development with conservation by trading environmental impacts in one place with improvements elsewhere, not necessarily in the same watershed.
These management laws are supposed to require “no net loss” of ecological function. But there is no agreed-upon legal definition for “no net loss” and no way to evaluate conditions or changes over time.
As a result, the status quo of habitat loss continues unabated, in part through variances and exemptions to these acts.
We need to take a hard look at how we live here, so that we can all continue to thrive in a way that respects the environment.
Protecting existing habitat and restoring degraded riparian areas with uniform, science-based riparian management to protect salmon and their habitat offers the best chance of achieving our goal. History teaches us that our salmon recovery mission will not be successful without the deployment of new tools and advanced strategies.
Let this hard work continue in earnest.
THE MEASURING STICK OF OUR SURVIVAL
Being Frank is a column written by Chairman Ed Johnstone of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. As a statement from the NWIFC chairman, the column represents the natural resources management concerns of the treaty Indian tribes in western Washington. Originally published at https://nwtreatytribes.org/being-frank-the-measuring-stick-of-our-survival/
My mentor Billy Frank Jr. always said salmon are the measuring stick of our survival.
He was referring to all of us.
Salmon are the keystone that supports dozens of other species of fish and wildlife. Their survival, and ours, depends on clean, cool, flowing rivers and streams.
We had an opportunity to protect those waters with the Lorraine Loomis Act, proposed by Gov. Jay Inslee and named for NWIFC’s former chairperson, who passed away last year. Lorraine knew protecting riparian habitat is essential to salmon recovery. She wanted nothing more than to ensure future generations of Washingtonians could experience what it means to have healthy salmon runs and the joy of salmon fishing.
We understand that the bill is not progressing in the state Legislature this year, but that doesn’t mean the work stops. It can’t.
We’re already behind schedule. It’s been 10 years since Billy said, “We are at a crossroads and we’re running out of time.”
The Lorraine Loomis Act was a starting point that sought to protect and grow trees in the riparian zones along salmon and steelhead streams. It also would have provided financial assistance to help landowners comply with the law. It would have included a regulatory backstop for those unwilling to comply.
Tribes have been pushing for legislation like this for years. But this isn’t an “Indian bill.” Numerous environmental groups as well as recreational and commercial fishing organizations have supported it because they understand we’re all in this together. They have prioritized salmon restoration because they know how critical the situation is.
Tribes are bearing the burden of fixing a problem we didn’t create.
Our hatcheries release more than 35 million salmon and steelhead every year and we have restored thousands of miles of habitat. But habitat destruction has run rampant, and the state has failed to do enough about it. Our people are hungry and there’s no end in sight.
Climate change is a primary culprit. Temperatures in streams are the highest on record. After last summer’s extreme heat wave, more than 2,500 chinook salmon died on the South Fork Nooksack River before they could reach the Lummi Nation’s Skookum Creek Hatchery, because of lethal temperatures for salmon and low flows. Improved riparian conditions and channel complexity could have prevented this tragedy.
If the Lorraine Loomis Act passed this year, it would have helped prevent more such tragedies in the years to come. As it is, the number of temperature-impaired salmon stream segments in our US v. Washington case area has increased from 400 to 2,000 over the past few decades.
Getting trees in the ground is the first step toward protecting riparian habitat. It’s a small step, but an important one that requires a long-term commitment. The treaty tribes are committed to this work. It’s going to take at least 40 years before trees grow enough to protect our salmon streams. Additional habitat restoration is needed, and we need to build capacity and infrastructure to do the work – now.
Yes, there are those who oppose these critical efforts. Some in the agricultural industry seem to think creating riparian management zones puts the burden of salmon recovery on them. They claim it could harm their businesses. It’s a short-sighted attitude given the fact that protecting streams, rivers and the environment is an investment in their future as well as ours. Also, failing to protect salmon habitat violates treaty tribes’ federally protected right to harvest salmon.
We’ve already lost more than 90 percent of our salmon harvest. We aren’t asking farmers to give up 90 percent of their livelihood. Planting trees won’t put anyone out of business. It won’t impede the economy, the environment or the Northwest way of life. Quite the opposite.
Fully functioning riparian habitats provide bank stability, shade, pollution control and the large woody debris salmon need to survive. The lack of these habitats eats away evermore at our precious way of life.
There is no more time to waste. The state needs to get serious about re-establishing riparian habitats – now.
Photo from Welcome to the Riparian Zone. North 40 Productions.
A BOLD MOVE FOR SALMON HABITAT
Being Frank is a column written by the Lorraine Loomis, chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. As a statement from the NWIFC chair, the column represents the natural resources management interests and concerns of the treaty Indian tribes in western Washington. Originally published at https://nwtreatytribes.org/a-bold-move-for-salmon-habitat/
The greatest obstacle to salmon recovery in western Washington is that we continue to lose salmon habitat faster than it can be fixed and protected. Until that changes, salmon populations will continue to decline.
That’s why we are encouraged by Gov. Jay Inslee’s leadership to challenge the status quo and take an important step needed for salmon recovery.
The potentially groundbreaking move came last November at the annual state/tribal Centennial Accord meetings. Created in 1989 to mark the state’s 100th anniversary, the gathering brings together the tribes and state in a government-to-government forum to address issues of mutual interest such as health care, education, and natural resources.
As part of the 2019 Centennial Accord commitments, Inslee recognized the importance of healthy riparian, or streamside, areas as critical to both our region’s salmon recovery efforts and climate change resiliency. In a bold move, he directed his state natural resources agencies to develop a consistent approach for uniform, science-based riparian management, and guidance to protect salmon and their habitat.
We know what needs to be done, so let’s stop debating and do it.
Riparian habitat is among the most important for salmon. Shade from trees and other vegetation help keep water temperatures low to aid salmon survival at all life stages. Riparian vegetation also filters harmful runoff and slows erosion to prevent eggs from being smothered. When trees fall into a stream, they help create diverse habitat such as pools where salmon can rest, and gravel spawning beds that are crucial to reproduction.
Stream temperatures near 70 degrees can be lethal to salmon. According to state data, more than 1,700 miles of streams and rivers in western Washington do not meet state or federal water quality standards for water temperatures.
The best way to protect salmon habitat is to establish streamside buffers.
An approach used for many years to establish buffer widths in state and national forests is called site potential tree height. That’s the maximum height of the tallest dominant species of trees – usually 200 years or older – in a streamside location. When converted to buffer widths, the distance ranges from about 100 to 300 feet depending on soil conditions, rainfall, and other factors.
Since 2004 tribes have documented the decline of salmon habitat throughout western Washington in the State of Our Watersheds Report. It details habitat conditions and limiting factors for salmon recovery. The updated 2020 report will be completed this summer.
We are also advancing solutions to support salmon recovery and treaty rights protection through gw∂dzadad, our strategy for protecting and rebuilding salmon habitat that takes its name from the Lushootseed word that means “Teachings of our Ancestors.”
The reports are available at: geo.nwifc.org/sow and nwtreatytribes.org/habitatstrategy.
We know the status quo isn’t working when it comes to salmon recovery. We know what the science says needs to be done, and we know that we must move forward together.
Gov. Inslee is coordinating state agencies to bring order and a scientific approach to habitat protection and salmon recovery in Washington. We applaud that effort and rise to meet him.
Lorraine Loomis is the chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
FIXING HABITAT IS THE KEY TO SALMON RECOVERY
Being Frank is a column written by Lorraine Loomis, chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. As a statement from the NWIFC chair, the column represents the natural resources management interests and concerns of the treaty Indian tribes in western Washington. Originally published at https://nwtreatytribes.org/fixing-habitat-is-the-key-to-salmon-recovery/
Until we take real action to protect and restore salmon habitat, we are looking toward a future with more tightly restricted fisheries for everyone.
That’s the lesson after treaty tribal and state fisheries managers reached an agreement last month through the North of Falcon process on a package of salmon fishing seasons for the 2020-21 season that provides greatly reduced harvest opportunity compared to recent years while still contributing to ongoing salmon recovery efforts.
The main reason for the decline of salmon throughout western Washington is that their habitat is being lost faster than it can be restored and protected, and the trend shows no signs of improvement.
We plan fisheries based on impacts to individual salmon stocks depending on their overall abundance and how many are needed to escape harvest and spawn. Treaty tribal and nontribal sport and commercial fisheries are structured to limit impacts on stocks of concern that are not expected to reach spawning goals.
Anticipated weak returns of chinook to the Stillaguamish River and mid-Hood Canal this year required extensive closures to protect dwindling populations. Coho returning to the Queets and Snohomish rivers also were stocks of concern.
We also are challenged by increasing predation by seals and sea lions, and the food needs of endangered southern resident orcas. Meanwhile, the ongoing effects of climate change threaten salmon and their habitat with drought, low streamflows and higher water temperatures.
The reductions we had to make this year are painful for both tribal and nontribal fishermen and fishing communities.
We already have steadily reduced tribal fisheries over time in response to declining salmon runs. Depressed chinook stocks mean there will be no tribal fishing on river systems in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, such as the Hoko, Elwha and Dungeness.
Unfortunately, the state had to substantially reduce its popular winter chinook recreational fishery in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, San Juan Islands and Hood Canal areas, to protect imperiled Stillaguamish chinook.
Stillaguamish chinook presented a management constraint greater than usual this year because only 990 total fish were forecast to return: 363 natural origin and 627 hatchery fish.
Under Endangered Species Act guidelines, the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that we need at least 400 returning Stillaguamish chinook to reach spawning grounds. That decision made the returning hatchery salmon especially important because they are produced for escapement, not harvest. They are key to an integrated recovery program that uses both hatchery and natural origin salmon to increase the abundance of adults returning to the spawning grounds.
Tribes rely on ceremonial and subsistence fisheries to feed our families and preserve our cultures. The Stillaguamish Tribe hopes to harvest just 30 chinook from the river this year for its annual First Salmon Ceremony and other traditions. Many tribal chinook fisheries have disappeared altogether. Tribal fishermen haven’t had a directed salmon harvest on chinook in the Nooksack River for more than 40 years.
We won’t be able to manage our way around the ongoing loss of salmon habitat much longer, but hope may be on the horizon.
A bright spot appeared this year when – for the first time – treaty tribal and state salmon co-managers included habitat recovery as part of fisheries management planning. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife director Kelly Susewind pledged to work with the tribes to address habitat issues in the watersheds that are limiting natural production of salmon. Part of that effort will include a science-based instream flow assessment from a salmon point of view.
This is cause for hope because habitat protection and restoration – and cooperation – are the keys to salmon recovery. Working together to address habitat is the most important thing we can do to help salmon. We know what the future holds if we don’t.
Lorraine Loomis is the chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.