Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe Natural Resources Department Report to General Council September 11, 2010

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1 Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe Natural Resources Department Report to General Council September 11, 2010 Director: Scott Chitwood It is again my pleasure to report to you the Citizens of the Jamestown S Klallam Tribe on your Natural Resources Department. This past year has been another busy one for the Department. I think you will find that our work is interesting, valuable and supportive of the Tribe s role in management of natural resources within the Tribe s area of interest. If you have any questions about any of the work we do please contact me or one of our staff. Habitat Management Research Dungeness spit: We are researching the rate of bluff erosion from Morse Creek to the base of Dungeness spit. The reason is the gradual erosion of these bluffs is what feeds the spit with sand and gravel keeping it whole. If landowners build too close to the edge and begin to armor the bluff with riprap, the spit could eventually wash away. This photo is the bluffs at Monterra subdivision, 1 mile west of McDonald Creek. The first step is examining the rates of bluff erosion, and then engaging and educating bluff landowners on their relationship and responsibility to Dungeness spit. Some landowners who are at risk and cannot move their house may need purchase help from a public agency.

2 Natural Resources Department Report to General Council, 9/11/10 page 2 Planning Dungeness Corps dike setback: For a distance of 2.6 miles, a Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and a private dike confine the lower Dungeness River to a narrow riparian corridor and prevent the river s access to a once expansive floodplain. The loss of floodplain has severely impacted salmon habitat in this reach, which is utilized by all Dungeness salmon and char. This project is a companion to the setback the Army Corps of Engineers dike from river mile (RM) 0.9 to 1.8. The primary purpose for the dike setback and channel restoration is to recover ESA-listed salmon and char. The Tribe will direct the planning for the channel restoration portion of the project. Habitat Restoration: Last year we highlighted restoration work completed on McDonald Creek. It s almost guaranteed following stream restoration that a major flood tests the project. A flood of record hit McDonald Creek in November 2009, reshuffling many of the logjams. In August 2010 we rebuilt several structures making them stronger by cabling pieces together. Phase I, covering about ¼ mile of creek, is completed. For next summer Phase II will begin immediately downstream of Phase I. We secured two grants to pay for this work. In this instance, salmon habitat recovery benefits from strong landowner encouragement and participation

3 Natural Resources Department Report to General Council, 9/11/10 page 3 Habitat Restoration Design - Washington Harbor: Washington Harbor is an important rearing area for salmon from Jimmycomelately Creek and the Dungeness River. Salmon cannot easily reach the northern part of the Harbor due to a roadway built across the estuary in the 1960's. The Tribe and our consultants are designing a bridge to replace the existing substandard culverts and allow easy access into this excellent habitat by salmon. Environmental Planning Brownfields: The Jamestown Tribe has participated in the EPA Brownfields Tribal Response Program since FY All Tribal properties have been inventoried to determine if any fit the definition of a brownfield, real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which is complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance or pollutant. Currently there are an estimated 40 properties on the Tribe s

4 Natural Resources Department Report to General Council, 9/11/10 page 4 Brownfields inventory. A Public Record of environmental assessments conducted on Tribal property has been established in the Tribe s Library. The EPA Brownfields Tribal Response Program assists the Tribe in the conversion of property from fee to trust, allowing for Tribal development. Water Quality: Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe's water quality program routinely monitors several streams and ditches in the Dungeness and Sequim Bay watersheds. We are most interested in fecal coliform bacteria, nutrient levels and stream temperature. Elevated bacteria in the streams that reach marine waters can lead to shellfish harvest restrictions. In 2009 we confirmed that failing septic systems contribute to the problem in Dungeness Bay through a Microbial Source Tracking study which identified the host species of bacteria sampled in the Bay. We are working with Environmental Health to assure that impacts to shellfish from septic systems are minimized. Clallam County is continuing their Septic 101 class and offering a new inspection class. We are also working with Clallam County to perform stormwater monitoring in the Dungeness/ Sequim area. After a rain event we sample to assess levels of turbidity (sediment in the water), petroleum byproducts and metals reaching our streams and marine waters from housing, parking lots and roads. We have partnered with Clallam County to develop a Stormwater Technical Advisory Group that is responsible for drafting a comprehensive stormwater strategy. The County intends to develop two new ordinances, clearing and grading, and stormwater management. Please contact Hansi Hals ( ) if you are interested in reading any of our recent water quality reports. We do not have any serious water quality problems at this time, but our results show chronic compromised conditions. River Center: Railroad Bridge Park is a 28 acre park that is owned by Jamestown S Klallam Tribe. The Dungeness River Audubon Center is located at the park and the Tribe partners with Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society and the River Center Board to manage the facility and its programs. This year the Natural Resources staff worked with the River Center to provide field trips to over 300 students, emphasizing river processes

5 Natural Resources Department Report to General Council, 9/11/10 page 5 and habitat restoration. We also hosted adult field trips as part of a new class offered at the River Center: The Ecology of the Dungeness. Please join us at the park for the Dungeness River Festival September 24 and 25 between 10 am and 4pm. Fish and Shellfish Management Finfish Fisheries: Our salmon and marine fish fisheries were quite active this past year. We had a very productive salmon fishery in 2009 with large coho catches in the Quilcene River and in Dungeness Bay. For the first time in many years a Jamestown fisher participated in the Strait sockeye fishery and did quite well. Our 2010 halibut fishery was again very active and although we had a difficult time preserving adequate fishing time for our fleet they did a fine job with the time they had. Finfish commercial harvest data for the past year: Species Number Pounds Chinook Chum 890 8,070 Coho 4,374 32,459 Sockeye 4,306 25,325 Herring 35 Halibut 346 9,595 Skate Shellfish Fisheries: Our shellfish fishers had a productive year. The geoduck fishery is operating as expected. Increased PSP levels closed the Strait of Juan de Fuca fishery in June so the fleet has been harvesting in Hood Canal. Clam fisheries on tribal tidelands in Sequim Bay have provided quite a bit of harvest opportunity for tribal diggers. Shellfish harvest data by Jamestown fishers in commercial fisheries for the past year is shown below: Species Pounds Geoduck 160,291 Littleneck Clams 10,170 Manila Clams 25,276 Dungeness Crab 76,764 Spot Shrimp 12,048 Habitat Protection: The Mystery Bay Management plan was developed to help prevent shellfish closures in Mystery Bay due to increased boat traffic. Several permitting agencies (DNR, Army Corp, Jefferson County) have made

6 Natural Resources Department Report to General Council, 9/11/10 page 6 policy modifications when issuing buoy permits in Mystery Bay. Components of the plan include monitoring and public outreach. Research: Through funding provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Tribe is in its second year of conducting research on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in an effort to provide a better understanding of the dynamics between HAB development and toxin levels in shellfish. Natural Resource Department biologists collect shellfish and seawater bi-weekly for the presence of toxins, specifically those responsible for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning and Amnesiac Shellfish Poisoning, from four sites throughout Sequim Bay. Through this research, the Tribe seeks to provide valuable data for colleagues working toward the prevention of HABs and to facilitate NOAA Fisheries early warning system for HABs. Resource Protection: Illegal shellfish (clams & oysters) harvest on private tidelands has become a problem in many areas of Puget Sound. Before any non-indian shellfish is commercially harvested and sold, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife requires either an Aquatic Farms registration or Emerging Commercial fisheries license. Both licenses require tribal notification prior to any harvest. Without proper notification, the shellfish resource is harvested and tribal staff cannot determine the tribes share. The Tribes and State have been working together to ensure that notification is given to the tribes prior to any issuing of licenses. Treaty Rights: Under the settlement agreement with the Shellfish Growers, the Tribes would forgo harvest on tidelands owned or leased by commercial growers as of August 28 th, 1995 in exchange for 33 million dollars. Many shellfish growers have requested additional tideland parcels to be included under the settlement agreement. Tribal staff and attorneys have reviewed the required documentation to determine the legitimacy of the requests and recommendations are being developed for Tribal Council. Oyster Aquaculture: If you look out the window onto Sequim Bay you will see what looks like a raft of orange buoys. This is our oyster aquaculture operation. At the March General Council meeting we reported on a small oyster aquaculture project we were working on. The marketing name we gave this new product is StƏstílƏm Kúl (phonetic spelling Stasteelum Cool) or Jamestown Gold Oyster. This

7 Natural Resources Department Report to General Council, 9/11/10 page 7 new oyster has turned out to be a marketing success. Oysters produced from last year s pilot project were sold this spring and summer to several Seattle restaurants and the Alderwood Bistro in Sequim. What was their reaction? All they could say was these are really good - how can we get more? The tumbling method we use produces a deep-cupped oyster, the type of oyster that is in high demand for the half-shell market. Chefs have commented that these oysters are comparable to other high quality oysters they serve on their menu. The oysters have been described as savory, medium brininess with a sweet cucumber finish. This year staff planted an additional 100,000 oyster seed on the Tribe s Sequim Bay tidelands including seed for subsistence harvest purposes. Geoduck Aquaculture: The S Klallam Tribes have been working with the Navy to establish a small-scale commercial geoduck plot on Indian Island. The last 2 years efforts have been focused on the permitting process and required monitoring. Permits are expected to be issued by the end of the year. A Navy mitigation project has provided funds for a joint clam enhancement project on Indian Island to benefit the Jamestown, Port Gamble, Lower Elwha and Suquamish Tribes. Tribal staff planted 3.5 million clam seed this summer. Clam seed is expected to be a harvestable size in 3 to 4 years.