Strait of Juan De Fuca Intensively Monitored Watershed: Results from First 10 Years and Future Direction

The Strait of Juan de Fuca Intensively Monitored Watershed was initiated in 2004 to test the watershed scale response of Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Coho salmon (O. kisutch) to watershed restoration. The "Straits" IMW includes two treatment watersheds (East Twin River and Deep Creek) and one control watershed (West Twin River). Restoration treatments completed include LWD placement, road removal, culvert removal, off-channel habitat creation, and riparian planting. Monitoring of physical habitat and Coho and Steelhead parr densities began in 2004 using the EPAs EMAP site selection and sampling protocols. Smolt and adult monitoring predates the IMW program, and began as early as 1998 in some watersheds. Preliminary results suggest some improvements in pool habitat and adult and smolt surveys indicate small increases in steelhead adults and smolts in East Twin and Coho adults in Deep Creek relative to control stream (West Twin). While these initial results are encouraging, most of the habitat restoration was only recently completed and it may take additional years for habitat and fish to respond fully to restoration completed to date. Moreover, results from long term PIT tagging of Coho and Steelhead parr suggest that overwinter habitat or food are still primary factors limiting salmonid production.