Action 5: Improve Water Quality and Quantity in Forest Headwaters
The movement of water through the forest headwaters in WRIA 7 is a critical factor impacting salmon recovery as well as human communities. Salmon are dependent on having access to adequate cool, low flows in the summer, the timing and levels of peak flows in the spring and periodic flooding events that contribute to the creation of habitat. Rivers and streams in the forested headwaters have significant impacts on the provision of sufficient levels of cool, clean water throughout the basin.
Outcome 10: Conduct site evaluations on 48 miles of stream on DNR lands identified as High Suitability beaver habitat by the Beaver Intrinsic Potential model, using Tulalip Tribes’ site scorecard, by 2026.
Outcome 11: Decrease turbidity through implementing high priority road, stream and fish passage projects across at least 10 miles of federal forestlands by 2026.
Outcome 11: Decrease turbidity through implementing high priority road, stream and fish passage projects across at least 10 miles of federal forestlands by 2026.
Outcome 12: Increase Snohomish River summer low flows by 8.2 cubic feet per second by 2031.
0-3 Year Actions
Action 5.1 Beaver Site Feasibility
Train staff in Northwest and South Puget Sound region offices to evaluate beaver site suitability through Tulalip Tribes or other training opportunities.
Action 5.2 Living with Beavers
Develop new voluntary landowner program for living with beavers. DNR will develop and implement a program to work with willing landowners (e.g. small forest landowners) who want to participate in beaver reintroductions or management on their land. DNR will use Beaver Intrinsic Potential (BIP) mapping tool and seek input and collaboration from Tulalip Tribes Beaver Project.
Action 5.3 Beavers and Hyrdrologic Impacts
Support beavers and related hydrologic impacts on the landscape through research and analysis about water quality and quantity impacts of beavers. This should include evaluating water quality and quantity benefits of beaver dams and beaver dam analogues.
Action 5.4 State Trust Lands and Porest Practices Habitat Conservation Plans
Continue to implement State Trust Lands and Forest Practices Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs), which contribute to water quality protections including controlling turbidity.
Action 5.5 Road Maintenance and Abandonment
Assess extent of road maintenance and abandonment on USFS lands in WRIA 7. Include culvert inventory data from Action 4. Prioritize need based on salmon benefit in coordination with USFS. Collaborate with stakeholders to fund highest priority projects in the near term, while identifying future priority projects.
4-10 Year Actions
Action 5.6 Beavers Site Suitability II
Evaluate all stream segments on DNR lands that are considered High Suitability for beavers using Beaver Intrinsic Potential model, to add additional on the ground criteria using site scorecard. Use this information to inform consideration of beaver introduction on state lands where benefits for salmon are high and risks to property and infrastructure are low.
Action 5.7 Landscape Scale Restoration Projects
Develop and implement landscape-scale restoration projects across land ownerships. Projects should include multiple benefits including forest hydrology and streamflow, fish passage, riparian enhancements, wildlife, Tribal Treaty rights and resource protection and more. Funding and financing opportunities may include Forest Resilience Bonds (FRB) and Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) grants.
Action 5.8 KELRoad Maintenance and Abandonment II
Implement Road Maintenance and Abandonment Plans (RMAP) projects across Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest lands in WRIA 7 according to prioritization. Utilize Good Neighbor Authority, the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) and related opportunities to work in collaboration across land ownerships.
