Yakama Nation Monitoring Summary
Area covered:
Yakama Nation Reservation, Ceded Lands, and other Treaty Trust Natural Resource Use Areas.
Summary:
 Currently, the most comprehensive habitat monitoring work by the YN is occurring in the Klickitat
subbasin (implementation, status and trend, and effectiveness including BACI, food web study).
 The on-reservation (Yakima) program has conducted some project specific monitoring (e.g. vegetation,
morphology, reach assessment) and has conducted other non-project specific monitoring for a number
of years (e.g. temperature, sediment, flow).
 There is also some in-depth project-specific monitoring (e.g. Hancock Springs) and general
implementation monitoring (Klickitat, Yakima, Wenatchee/Entiat-UCSRB, Methow-MSRF).
 There is significant monitoring related to salmonid population status and trends, VSP, reintroductions,
recovery, etc., and research into the distribution & limiting factors of lamprey & sturgeon.
 Extensive TFW monitoring (e.g. sediment, gravels, presence/absence, temperature, morphology, etc.)
 Habitats were characterized for EDT/ intrinsic potential analysis/ TFW (region-wide)/ Rapid Aquatic
Habitat Assessment Protocol (Klickitat).
Yakama Nation Fisheries Monitoring Projects
Study Site
Type
Study
Type*
Objectives
Habitat Variables
Biotic
Variables
Time Scale
Spatial
Scale
1.94 miles (109
acres) of Nason
Creek offchannel
created
2 sites
Gaps?
Wenatchee
Nason Creek
(Lower White
Pine)
Floodplain
Reconnection
Nason Cr.&
White R.
Wenatchee
Subbasin
Smolt Traps
Reconnection of offchannel/ floodplain to
increase complexity and
rearing/ refuge habitat.
Wetland plants, flow,
groundwater levels
Fish presence
(juveniles
abundance?)
Pre-survey 2012-13;
Implementation
2014
S&T
Productivity estimates
Habitat use
Spawner survey
M&E
Coho reintroduction
success
Habitat use
2004 – Present
Mar-Nov.
2002 - Present
Oct.-Dec.
Lake Wenatchee
to Mouth, Nason,
Chiwawa
Lower Peshastin
Remote PIT tag
survey
M&E
Coho reintroductionhabitat use
Habitat use
juvenile abundance,
survival, production
Spawner
distribution, density
& origin
Adult returns
Oct.-Dec.
Subbasin
2010
Subwatershed
Implementation
Hydrology, geology,
morphology (habitat),
substrate, disturbance
Varies by design
specification
Riparian vegetation
Wenatchee
Subbasin- by
project
Wells Dam
Evaluate/ID strategies to
restore/ preserve salmonid
habitat & river processes
Implementation of habitat
restoration project
objectives
Investigations into sockeye
limiting factors
As needed
(UCSRB 2013)
Project site
2009-present
Project site
As needed
(UCSRB 2013)
Project site
2005-present
Project site
(tributary)
Tributary and Reach
Assessment
Sockeye sampling
Effectiven
ess
Evaluation
I
S&T
Abundance, origin
Subbasin
Longer term
function
Entiat
Entiat Subbasinby project
Implementation
I
Implementation of habitat
restoration project
objectives
Varies by design
specification
Restoration
effectiveness
(snorkel surveys,
water quality,
photopoints, etc.)
Nutrients study
E
Determine effectiveness of
Hancock Springs
restoration
Water quality, riparian
restoration
BMI, fish
abundance,
spawners
R, M & E
Evaluate nutrient
availability/ status
Water quality
Redd surveys
E, S & T
Coho reintroduction
PIT tagging, kelt
reconditioning
R, M & E
Methods to increase kelt
survival
1o & 2o productivity,
BMI, various fish
metrics
Spawner
distribution,
abundance
Abundance
(returns)
Methow
Hancock Springs
Twisp River
Methow
subbasin-wide
(Twisp)
Methow
Subbasin (&
Lower Bridge Cr.)
Habitat use
Tributary- 6
sites
Subbasin
Subbasin
Longer term
function
Yakama Nation Fisheries Monitoring Projects
Methow
Subbasin- by
project
Methow (TwispLewisia Rd.)
Implementation
I
Implementation of habitat
restoration project
objectives
Varies by design
specification
Hydrology, geology,
morphology (habitat),
substrate, disturbance
“ “
Project
Opportunities
Assessment
Reach Assessment
Evaluation
Reach Assessment
Evaluation
Evaluate/ID strategies to
restore/ preserve salmonid
habitat & river processes
“ “
Reach Assessment
Evaluation
“ “
Roza, Prosser
Dams
Dam count, adult
sampling
S, T & E
Management and tracking
of runs (spring/fall Chinook,
coho, steelhead)
Yakima Subbasin
Spawning ground
surveys
S, T & E
Management and tracking
of runs (all species)
Prosser/ Chandler
juvenile
monitoring
facility
Yakima Subbasin
Juvenile sampling
S, T & E
Determine population
fractions, outmigrants
Screw traps
S, T & E
Yakima Subbasin
(on reservation)
Yakima Subbasin
Snorkel survey
S, T & E
Predation study
S, T & E
Determine population
fractions, outmigrants,
productivity
Juvenile salmonid densities
and habitat use
Determine major sources
of juvenile predation
Yakima Subbasin
DNA,
radiotelemetry, PIT
tagging,
entrainment
evaluation
Lamprey
radiotelemetry,
passage,
entrainment surveys
R, M, E
VSP parameters estimates
for steelhead populations
R, M, E
Track adult passage, survey
sources of mortality,
reduce juvenile
entrainment
Juv. Lamprey
surveys
S, T, E
Track status and trend,
outmigration numbers,
Chewuch River
Lower Twisp
River
Libby Creek
Evaluation
“ “
As needed
(MSRF 6/20136/2015)
2011
Project site
Riparian vegetation
2010
Subwatershed
(reach)
“ “
2010
“ “
2012
Subwatershed
(reach)
Subwatershed
(reach)
Longer term
function
Yakima
Lower Yakima
Subbasin
(Starting with
lower Yakima
four dams)
Yakima Subbasin
Abundance, VSP
parameters, wild
fraction, fitness,
age, sex ratio, etc.
Distribution, redd
count, VSP
parameters, etc.
Population scale
productivity
1982-present
Subbasin (2
sites)
1982-present
Subbasin
~20 yr.
Subbasin
(1 site)
Watershed scale
productivity, timing,
survival
Densities, preferred
habitat
Impact of various
sources of
predation
Abundance,
productivity, spatial
structure, diversity
2005- present
Seasonally (NovJune)
2005-present, JulyOct
present
4 (+) sites
(watershed
scale)
reach
2010-present
Subbasin
Passage, entrainment
design
Adult passage,
juvenile passage,
2012-2013 (year
round)
Lower Yakima
Fate of
lamprey in
the ocean
Habitat use, limiting
factors
Status and trend,
outmigration
2012 (summer)
Region wide
Lamprey
distribution/
Habitat use
Habitat use
Subbasin
Yakama Nation Fisheries Monitoring Projects
pre-treatment
Lower Yakima
Subbasin,
supplementation
sites
Yakama
Reservation/
lower river
Water quality,
contaminants
S, T, E
Temperature
loggers
S, T, E
Yakama
Reservation
Flow gages, water
table wells
Yakama
Reservation
TFW surveys
Taneum
Temperature,
photopoints
Yakima Subbasinby project
numbers
Research water quality/
temperature/ contaminant
conditions in lower river
and impacts on lamprey
Temperature monitoring,
tracking improvements in
limiting temperatures
Temperature,
chemistry,
contaminants
S, T, E
Hydrologic monitoring,
tracking improvements in
flow regime, limiting flows
Unnatural flow regime,
limiting flows
S, T, E
Instream fish habitat type
delineation/ tracking
conditions
Numerous (cover,
substrate, sediment,
habitat types,
morphology, etc.)
Effectiveness
Evaluation of hydrologic
(thermal refuge) impact of
large wood habitat project
temperature
Photopoints,
topographic survey
points
I
Varies by design
specification, (e.g.
topographic,
morphology changes,
sediment movement)
Yakama
Reservation
Vegetation
monitoring
E
Implementation of habitat
restoration project
objectives. Landscape
changes due to restoration
actions.
Response to restoration
actions. Response to water
table change.
Yakama
Reservation
Vegetation
monitoring
E
Re-vegetation survival after
ground disturbance in
restoration.
Vegetation survival
Klickitat/ S. Ceded
Effect of water
quality/
contaminants on
lamprey
composition
in mainstem
Columbia/
Snake
2012 (summer)
Lower Yakima
~20 years
(50 loggers- Satus,
Ahtanum,
Toppenish)
Seasonally (mid
Apr-mid Oct)
20 years (some)
seasonally
(WT wells, mostly
last 6 years)
Watershed
20 years
Some revisited after
10 years (Satus
watershed, 10
sites).
Watershed
2012
Project site
Revegetation
success
2008-present, As
needed
(2012-present for
topographic survey)
Project site
Species
composition,
density, survival
2008 baselinepresent, In 2015
after restoration,
Annual
Starting 2012,
annual
Project site
Limiting temperatures
Fish presence/
absence
Watershed
Every project
site
Updated,
real time
equipment,
peak flow
measureme
nt
Funds
Earlier
projects
Yakama Nation Fisheries Monitoring Projects
Castille Falls Fish
Enumeration
Facility (Upper)
and Lower
Klickitat River
(Lower)
Smolt Screw Trap
S&T
Outmigration estimates
Klickitat Subbasin
Redd Surveys
S&T
Population estimates,
escapement estimates
Lyle Falls Fish
Trap, Klickitat
Fish Hatchery,
Castille Falls Fish
Enumeration
Facility
Adult traps and
Video Monitoring
S&T
Population estimates,
escapement estimates,
hatchery fraction
Klickitat Subbasin
Genetic Sampling
S&T
Sampling location
spatially reference to
delineated habitat
Fish length, weight,
PIT code, and VSP
parameters
Klickitat Subbasin
Fish Presence and
Absence Surveys;
Distribution
Surveys, PIT
Tagging; Radio
Tracking
S & T, E
O. mykiss population
structure, comparison of
life history displayed versus
genetic grouping; hatchery
versus wild interactions
Anadromous fish
distribution survey, habitat
use; Smolt outmigrant
estimates and timing;
Steelhead chinook, and
coho adult spawn timing
and location
Habitat-fish
relationships (fish
capture location
spatially referenced to
delineated habitat
VSP parameters
Klickitat Subbasin
Gravel/ Sediment
Sampling
S&T
Quantifying substrate
particle distribution
through time
Substrate
Klickitat Subbasin
Stream gauges
S&T
Hydrology, timing and
duration of sediment
Stage, temperature,
and turbidity
Potential indices of
secondary
production and
spawning gravel
habitat quality
(literature derived)
Quantification of
salmonid water
Habitat use (spatially
geo-referenced)
Length frequency &
age, outmigration
timing
1996-present @
Castille Fallls
(Seasonal); 2006present @ Lower
Mainstem Site
(Continuous)
3 Fixed
Locations
Flow, water
quality, and
hatchery fish
releases
VSP parameters
1992-present
(Intra-Annual)
Flow/water
clarity
limitations
VSP parameters
2004-present @
Lyle Falls Fish Trap
(Continuous); 2004present @ Klickitat
Fish Hatchery
(Seasonal); 2011present @ Castille
Falls Fish
Enumeration
Facility
(Continuous)
2008-present
(Seasonal)
Continuous
Survey( in
known
anadromous
distribution
areas)
3 Fixed
Locations
White Creek
Basin + 4 lower
Klickitat
Tributaries
Funding
Fish Presence
Present Surveys
1990-present
(Seasonal);
Distribution Surveys
2009-present
(Seasonal); Radio
Tracking and PIT
Tagging 2008present
1999-present
(Seasonal)
Fish bearing
portions in
Klickitat
Subbasin
Spatial
Discontinuit
y; Funding
25 Fixed
Locations in
Klickitat
Subbasin
Site limited
inferences
Stage = 2006present
13 sites
throughout
Spatial
coverage
Flow/water
clarity
limitations
Yakama Nation Fisheries Monitoring Projects
pulses
Tepee Creek
Shallow
groundwater
Klickitat Subbasin
Aquatic Habitat
Inventory
Haul Road (lower
mainstem
Klickitat)
Klickitat Subbasin
Repeat topographic
surveys (LiDAR)
Klickitat Subbasin
Photo Monitoring
Klickitat Subbasin
Water quality
Tepee Creek
Food Web Study
(BACI)
E
Klickitat
Subbasin- by
project
Implementation
(Grade Checks,
planting oversight,
LWD placement,
Erosion Control,
etc.)
I
Temperature
quality thresholds
Subbasin
TFW= 1989-2009
RAHAP= 2009present
Klickitat
Subbasin
(TFW ~ 50
sites, RAHAP27+ sites)
2010-present
13 miles pre
1.25 miles post
Spatial, $$
E
Groundwater response to
physical alterations of the
stream channel
Distribution of
perennial habitat
(RAHAP method)
VSP parameters
S & T, E
Quantitative information
on stream habitat and fish
distribution
TFW- Fish
presence/absence
RAHAP- fish
abundance
E, I
Calculate fill removal, pre
and as-built elevations
Numerous (delineation
and quantification of
geomorphic habitat
units, spawn patches,
bedrock features, large
wood pieces, and large
wood jams)
Floodplain elevations
S & T, E
Track temperature trend,
limiting factor
Temperature
1996-prresent
35 locations on
23 streams
Periodic
data gaps
Document (visually) project
progression thru time
Track Water Quality
parameters thru time,
various
Quantify biotic & abiotic
conditions pre and post
treatment
Visual depiction
Quantification of
salmonid water
quality thresholds
Visual depiction
2002-present
Qualitative
2005-present
(multiple times a
year)
2009-2015
4 treatment
sites in Tepee
Creek and 4
control sites in
White Creek
Temporal
and Spatial?
Document whether or not
management practices
were applied as designed
Varies by design
specification
Quantification of
salmonid water
quality thresholds
Riparian conditions;
prey availability
(macroinvert
abundance,
biomass, and
composition);
O. mykiss diet and
population
estimates
Varies by design
specification
13+ Project
Sites
35 sites
Project site
specific
Personnel
availability
limited
E, I
S & T, E
DO, conductivity,
turbidity, and pH
Air and water
temperature., stage
and discharge,
groundwater, habitat
* implementation, effectiveness, status and trend, validation, (monitoring) (research)
Future Projects:
Turbidity = 2010present
(Continuous)
2005-present
As needed
Tepee Creek
(19 wells)
Seasonal
limitations
to site
access
Funding/
Personnel
Grab
samples
Yakama Nation Fisheries Monitoring Projects




Yakima Lamprey: Restoring natural deposition of sediment/ FPOM, in channel/ side channel, and riparian/floodplain restoration in the lower Yakima
watershed and effectiveness monitoring (also supplementation) (pilot- 2013). Research methods to ameliorate flip-flop hydrograph and natural
hydrologic processes in the Upper Yakima (2013 summer).
UC: Methow: MSRF implementation monitoring. Wenatchee/ Entiat: UCSRB implementation monitoring (2013).
YRWP: are including morphological/ topographic resurvey into future project proposals, vegetation survival on all re-veg.
Klickitat: would like to expand RAHAP to other subbasins.