1) The Nisqually Steelhead population plummeted in the early 1990s, with current smolt to adult survival around 1%. 2) Goals and objectives for steelhead recovery were developed based on co-manager discussions, including short and long term conservation, habitat, and harvest metrics. 3) Habitat restoration priorities identified through EDT modeling include the Mashel River, Muck Creek, and small prairie tributaries, while protection priorities include the Nisqually River mainstem.

1. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Planning
1
Annual Review
May 2014

2. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
The Problem: Nisqually Steelhead
abundance plummets in early 90’s
2

3. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
3
Smolt-to-adult survival rates for three Puget Sound populations (Elwha, Skagit, Puyallup), three coastal
Washington populations (Quillayute, Quinault, Humptulips, Chehalis), and Lower Columbia River
(Kalama and Washougal; summer and winter-run). Averages for some years do not include all
populations within a region because of the lack of SAR estimates in some populations in some years.
Data were compiled by Iris Kemp (LLTK).

4. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Early-Marine
Survival
4

5. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
5

6. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
6

7. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Plan Development
7
 Funding for Plan: $87,500 (thank you Recovery Council) +
NIT match
 Identify Goals and Objectives for all H’s
 Evaluate Steelhead Biological Information and Habitat
Conditions
 Assess Habitat Potential using EDT
 Identify Restoration, Protection, and Assessment Priorities
 Develop Implementation/Action Plan
 Integrate Steelhead Recovery into existing Nisqually
Chinook adaptive management process
 Develop an Open Standards nexus for integration with
regional plan

8. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Recovery Plan Goals and
Objectives
8
Goals and objectives developed based on co-manager
and Nisqually River Council discussions.
Include short and long term conservation, habitat, and
harvest metrics.
In-Review….

9. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
1st step: Review current and historic Nisqually Steelhead
Biological Information and Nisqually River Habitat
Conditions
9
Some takeaways:
• Hatchery influence has been minimal, with winter
steelhead supplementation ending in 1981
• Current smolt to adult survival is around 1%
• Current smolt production is around 65,000, with
over 250 smolts/adult estimated for one of the
brood years analyzed! –Freshwater survival is very
good.

10. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Steelhead Recruits per Spawner

11. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Nisqually Steelhead Habitat Potential
11

12. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
What can we do within the watershed
to help steelhead in the face of terrible
marine survival?
12

13. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
13
Nisqually River Watershed

14. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Primary steelhead habitat (EDT estimate)

15. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Habitat Potential – 1% SAR
Current Abundance about 62% of Historic

16. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Protection/Restoration Priorities
Degradation Restoration Degradation Restoration Degradation
Nisqually River Mainstem A 1 B 4
McAllister Creek E 7 E 7
Muck Creek C 4 A 3
Prairie Tributaries B 3 A 2
Toboton/Powell/Lackamas C 5 C 5
Ohop Creek C 6 C 6
Mashel River B 2 A 1
Percentage change Percentage change Percentage change
Category/rank Category/rank
Geographic Area
Change in Abundance with Change in Productivity with
Protection
benefit
Restoration
benefit
-35% 0% 35% -35% 0% 35%
Degradation Restoration
Percentage change
Change in Diversity Index with
-35% 0% 35%
• Mainstem protection priority similar to Chinook
• Mashel restoration of upper reaches emerging top priority
• Muck Creek and Prairie Tributaries are priorities unique to Steelhead

17. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Subbasin Priorities

18. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Steelhead habitat protection and restoration
action plan in review. Some highlights include:
18
• Continue to implement Chinook Recovery actions including
mainstem and Mashel habitat protection and restoration
• Implement Nisqually Community Forest in upper Mashel River
watershed and manage for watershed processes and
ecosystem services
• Remove all barriers on small streams
• Continue to work with JBLM to protect and restore Muck Cr.
• Assess small prairie streams for protection and restoration,
establish a prairie stream stronghold for life history diversity
• Integrate Nisqually plan with the regional effort

19. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Nisqually
Estuary
June
2009
Nisqually
Estuary
March
2010

20. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
20

21. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Lower Site – After

22. Nisqually Chinook
Annual Review
Steelhead recovery efforts in the
watershed can help prevent
extirpation but recovery is not possible
without a strong regional commitment
to address survival in Puget Sound.
22
-Support the Salish Sea Marine
Survival Project!