Elwha Watershed Information Resource
Shoreline Monitoring
Shoreline monitoring--that is, collecting and recording information about the nearshore area--provides an important baseline for assessing the future impacts of dam removal on the Elwha.
Shoreline monitoring is an essential part of assessing the health of the nearshore area and recognizing changes in the environment (for example, declining fish populations) when they occur. As part of the monitoring process, researchers will collect information about physical characteristics (such as sediment and nutrient composition) and biological characteristics (such as numbers and condition of fish, shellfish, and kelp).
 |
| Peninsula college students examing seining specimens in west estuary. Anne Shaffer, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife |
In removing the two dams on the Elwha River, shoreline monitoring before and after the removals is critical to understanding how the nearshore environment will respond. In particular, there are some physical processes related to dam removal that will have a significant impact on the nearshore. For instance, a little over 17 million cubic yards of large and fine grained sediment has built up behind the two dams. A significant amount of this sediment will be released into the river after dam removal, which initially may harm marine life (including kelp, crabs, clams, and rockfish) and will change the habitat from a rocky substrate to a mixture of sediment.
The pre-dam removal shoreline monitoring serves two purposes. First, it gives planners information about the current state of the nearshore environment. Second, it provides an initial set of critical shoreline information. After the dams are removed, researchers can use that baseline set of information to assess how the nearshore community structure is responding. Researchers will compare pre-dam removal baseline research to post-removal data in order to understand the immediate and long term effects dam removal will have on the Elwha River ecosystem.
Researchers are currently working to establish baseline information before dam removal. Below are brief summaries of some of the initial shoreline monitoring projects listed in the October 2006 Nearshore Consortium Newsletter.
To find out more information about ongoing and new research projects please see the current Nearshore Consortium Newsletter.
Physical Processes
Habitat modification due to marine sediment dispersal
Researchers at the University of Washington are monitoring pathways of sediments to the sea floor by characterizing and sampling the seabed and profiling the water-column.
Contact: University of Washington, Andrea Ogston or Chuck Nittouer
Beach profile monitoring of the Elwha River Delta Coast
Surveys are being used to map beach substrate type, elevation, and profile.
Contact: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Matt Beirne and Larry Ward
Landslide Hazard Zonation (LHZ) of the Lower Elwha Watershed
An inventory of landslides from aerial photographs and field mapping are being used to estimate contributions of sediment into the lower Elwha River and nearshore area.
Contact: Washington Department of Natural Resources, Dave Parks
Effects of Elwha Dam removal on nearshore habitats
United States Geological Survey researchers are collecting data on sediment grain sizes, and measuring waves and currents to monitor sediment transfer and its effect on the nearshore sediment budget. Sediment budget is the balance between how much sediment is added and removed from a coastal area
Contact: United States Geological Survey, Guy Gelfenbaum or Jon Warrick
Monitoring sediment and channel topography in the lower Elwha River
Researchers at the United States Geological Survey are monitoring sediment grain size and channel geometry in the lower Elwha River using field surveys and remote sensing.
Contact: United States Geological Survey, Amy Draut
Elwha sediment management and monitoring plan
The objective of the monitoring plan is to identify and monitor impacts from sediment erosion pre, during, and post dam removal. Sediment concentrations will be monitored to prevent water quality problems with wells and water treatment facilities, disruption of migrating salmon, landslides, and flooding.
Contact: Bureau of Reclamation, Tim Randle
Habitat
An integrated approach to restoration of anadromous salmonids and their habitat in the Elwha River following dam removal
Researchers from the University of Idaho and Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe are monitoring movements of juvenile salmon and steelhead using radio telemetry to determine patterns of estuary and nearshore habitat use and residence time in the Elwha River.
Contact: University of Idaho, Chris Peery
Historical changes to estuaries, spits, and associated tidal wetland habitats in the Hood Canal and Strait of Juan de Fuca regions of Washington State
The Point No Point Treaty Council analyzed historical and contemporary photographs to identify changes in physical features (estuary, wetlands, amd so forth) of the Elwha.
Contact: Point No Point Treaty Council, Steve Todd
Juvenile salmonids in the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Researchers from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe are studying the distribution and abundance of juvenile salmonids in the nearshore environment using beach seines and surface trawls.
Contact: NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Kurt Fresh or Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Larry Ward
Nearshore Central Strait of Juan de Fuca: an ecosystem assessment of salmonid use and priority restoration actions
A group of researchers from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, and Peninsula College will study how fish use the lower river and nearshore habitats.
Contact: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Anne Shaffer
Eelgrass mapping along the Elwha nearshore
Marine Resource consultants funded by the Clallam County Marine Resources Committee are mapping the eelgrass along the Elwha nearshore using underwater video techniques.
Contact: Marine Resource consultants, Jim Norris
Elwha nearshore habitat monitoring
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Dive Team and the Jamestown S’Klallam Dive Team are mapping habitats important to shellfish by creating baseline data through photos, underwater video, and diver observations.
Contact: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Don Rothaus; Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Doug Morrill; or Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Kelly Toy
Consequences of the Elwha River dam removal on nearshore habitats and ecosystems--USGS Coastal Habitats in Puget Sound (CHIPS) program
This is an interdisciplinary research project that integrates researchers from the United States Geological Survey water, biology, geography, and mapping divisions. The objectives of this project are to link the physical, chemical, and biological processes in the lover Elwha River, estuary, and nearshore.
Contact: USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center, Jeff Duda
Biological Communities
Comprehensive assessment of the wetland complex at the mouth of the Elwha River
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is collecting baseline data on the biological, chemical, and physical conditions in the estuary. Sampling has included fisheries, water quality, macroinvertebrates, and small mammals.
Contact: Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Matt Beirne
Fisheries
Shellfish harvest activities associated with Elwha Dam removals
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Fish Program--Shellfish
Management (Bob Sizemore and Don Rothaus) has developed a field monitoring plan for Pinto abalone, red and green urchins, and geoduck clams.
Contact: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Michael Ulrich; Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Doug Morrill; or Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Kelly Toy
Additional Information
National Park Service. 1996. Elwha River Ecosystem Restoration, Draft Environmental Impact Statement. National Park Service, Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Washington.
Shaffer J.A. and others. 2005. "Elwha and Glines Canyon dam removals: nearshore restoration and salmon recovery of the central Strait of Juan de Fuca." Proceedings, Puget Sound Research Conference 2005, Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, Olympia, Washington. Download.