Remove the Dam on Canyon Creek!
Wild fish yearning to be free
To reach for the limits of their anadromy

The beauty of this project is that we are not talking about creating habitat or planting stocks. The habitat is there above the dam, the fish are there below--we just need to allow it all to come together.

Update: Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife is not supporting this project. As a result we have withdrawn it from funding consideration. WDFW wants a feasibility study of a wider (and much costlier--they're estimates being in the $2 - 3 million range) project. WDFW would consider moving the dikes back, which would help to heal damages to habitat and alleviate flooding pressure downstream, particularly on Kinkaid Island. In the interest of timely response, we would counter that if nothing else, at least the dam should be removed immediately.

"For 120 years we've been the willing supporters of a blind and devastating false doctrine: that hatcheries could substitute for overharvest and the destruction of natural habitat...We assumed we could control the biological productivity of salmon and improve upon natural processes that we didn't even try to understand. We assumed we could have salmon without rivers."

Scott Stouder--Corvallis Gazette Times, 11/28/1999, quoting Jim Lichatowich at a reading of his (Lichatowich's) book, Salmon Without Rivers in Corvallis Oregon.

For over 5 decades Canyon Creek, the largest tributary of the lower Dungeness River, has been totally blocked to anadromous fish. A dam was constructed 400 ft. upstream of Canyon Creek's present outlet to the river to provide supplemental water to the Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) Dungeness Fish Hatchery. Below the dam the channel was diverted from its original gentle angle along the river to enter the river at a right angle. Above the dam are two miles of forested habitat. Thus 2.3 to 2.5 miles of natural habitat have been denied to anadromous fish.

Above the dam habitat is enhanced by good forest canopy. The stream bed shows aquatic insects, spawning gravel, and supports resident fish. It is blocked by a falls 2 miles upstream from the dam (Dick Goin, Pat Neal--personal contact, Oct. 1999). At about a mile and a half above the dam, unstable areas along the west bank intermittently contribute sediments.

On 5/2, 6/4 and 6/6/98 wild steelhead 8 to 13 lb. were observed milling about, and literally beating their heads against the dam (Goin). Below the dam the old river bottom has been diked both parallel to the river and at an angle along the north bank of Canyon Creek. The dikes are failing, threatening a holding and a rearing pond built in the floodway. Expansion of the flood plain by removing the dikes may save the main hatchery buildings (which appear to sit at an elevation just above that of the margin of the truncated floodway). "Lower Canyon Creek...could easily be restored into spawning and rearing habitat of exceedingly high value" (WDFW Memo to Catie Mains, 3/26/99 by Rymer, Horn and R.Johnson).

This project in Step 1 would remove the blockage to fish passage at the dam. Water supply would be assured either by providing an alternate water supply, or by reducing the dam height and adding a fish ladder--depending on cost/benefit projections. Step 2 would consist of reconstruction of the creek channel at or close to its original location with meanders and spawning gravel. Step 2 includes elevation studies of the river flood plain and hatchery facilities, along with reevaluation of the scale of hatchery coho production in light of ESA concerns. This would allow WDFW to determine the feasibility of relocation of the two hatchery ponds, and pulling back or removing the existing dikes parallel to the river. This dike constricts the river floodway from 450 - 550 ft. to only 150 - 200 ft. Constriction of the Dungeness River is a recognized limiting factor for mainstem spawners, as well as a contributor to flood hazards downstream. Opening up the floodway could well lead to Step 3, but is not part of this proposal.

Photo at left and below show high quality habitat above Canyon Creek dam--presently unavailable to anadromous fish. Photos by Dick Goin.

Aerial photos of existing and proposed site conditions

This project is conceived in 2 steps. The first consists of removal of the dam, preferably totally, regrading the base above the dam with log controls to allow transit of fish between river and creek. Hatchery use of Creek water has been limited since the slides of 3 to 4 yrs. ago added sediment, but snow/slush conditions in the Dungeness clogging intakes, though rare (occurred once 2 or 3 years ago) are a concern, and may require a substitute water source such as a well system or retention of the Creek source from a lower-height dam compensated by a fish ladder (Rapleje, personal contact 10/28/99). Preliminary engineering for dam removal has been done by WDFW, and $180,000 in SHEAR money is allocated to offset the dam as a fish barrier. (WDFW, SHEAR Program, Sekulich, Oct. 18/99) Stabilization of the slide, which was aggravated by logging practices would be desirable, but is not part of this proposal.

The second step, to occur about a year later, has been outlined in the Memo of 3/26/99 cited above, consists of redirecting flow from the Creek to its former natural channel. The creek would be meandered, fitted with LWD at an average of 20 ft. intervals and spawning gravel added to cover selected areas totaling 1,000 sq. ft,. 2 ft. deep. Presently there is canopy protection already for most of this area. (See photo).

Step 1 Dam removal. Gain: Two miles of good habitat.

Step 2. Lower creek, meandered, to yield between 0.3 AND 0.5 miles of very high quality habitat, also quickly available.

TOTAL PROJECT RECLAMATION: 2.3 to 2.5 miles of habitat.

SPECIES BENEFITED: winter steelhead, coho, pinks, chums, sea run cut throat, dolly varden/bull trout. The Step 2 rehabilitation would benefit juvenile and adult Chinook for spawning and rearing, and refugia.

Information gained from this proposal will facilitate evaluation for a further recommendation BY WDFW with respect to movement of the rearing and holding ponds landward of the truncated floodway, and widening the flood plain by removing existing dikes which constrict the river to as little as 150 ft. Gain to flood plain from removing constriction would benefit river hydraulics, reduce pressure on Kincaid Island, protect road access to hatchery water intake, protect Hatchery Road downstream, and protect hatchery buildings. Salmon gain is related to reduction of scour and deposition of sediments downstream.

Cost estimates:

Step 1, Barrier Project

Design costs $20,000. (May have been partially done by WDFW engineers Bates, succeeded by Peek.)
Clallam Conservation District estimates if they did the work to regrade and place LWD for the creek above the dam the cost would be about $60,000 for materials and labor.
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Step 2, Non-barrier project

Typical construction costs run about $30,000 per /1/4 mile for LWD/pools, channel construction, labor and materials. This job includes working around existing vegetation and ponds, thus we an estimate a cost of $110,000 including spawning gravel placement. Monitoring for 5 years at $10,000/yr.= $50,000

Partial implementation and study to determine cost effective options:

a) Step 1 Removal of the dam as a barrier will require a choice of options on provision of alternative emergency back up water to the hatchery. Slush in Dungeness River occasionally clogs water intakes. Choices are .(i) construct Ranney well, or (ii) a production well or (iii) make arrangement with Sequim for emergency feed from their Ranney system. The direct line measurement from Sequim s well house on Kincaid Island to the main hatchery building is 727 feet (map scaling, direct line, Freudenthal), or (iv) reduce height of the dam to preserve creek water intake and combine with fish ladder

b)Step 2 Relocate and meander creek terminus near its former channel, avoiding existing ponds and preserving as much existing vegetation as possible. Logs would be added, pools created, and spawning gravel. placed. Location of features depends on measurements of elevations which task will be expanded to include height of hatchery buildings. The possibility of removal of the present dike along river and sugar dikes bordering the current water discharge from Canyon Creek will be determined in part by the size of the hatchery ponds which must be relocated, This in turn rests on projections of the rate of coho production which is desired in light of ESA constraints to protect threatened species. In light of an expanded floodway, a 350 ft. dike may or may not be needed along a new line of defense to protect hatchery buildings. The latter appear to sit higher than the former creek channels. The ponds are currently threatened as the river attempts to reenter its former channel. Funds allocated to maintain the current status might be better allocated to a comprehensive solution.

Contingency/overhead 20%

TOTAL $384,000

Note: $180,000 of SHEAR funding has been set aside and remains allocated to removal of the Canyon Creek dam. We request that these be treated as matching funds. Request $204,000 Salmon Recovery Funding.

Project Location: Clallam County, Sequim, WA 98382, WRIA 18, Dungeness River tributary at RM10.85 (10.85 miles upstream from the mouth of the Dungeness River). Canyon Creek discharges into the Dungeness River at the WDFW hatchery, 0.3 miles downstream of the Agnew Diversion out take. The dam lies 400 ft.from the river's edge under the bridge on Fish Hatchery Road south of the main hatchery buildings.

The eastern portion of WRIA 18 Watershed under bill 2496 is addressed by citizen/agency participating group known as the Dungeness River Management Team, which reports to the Initiating Governments Council.for WRIA 18.

In 1998 and 1999 the Washington State Legislature passed HB2496 and ESSB 5595 Salmon Recovery Planning and Funding, to address the decline of salmon. These legislative efforts require that local Lead Entities, including the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity Group, submit prioritized lists of Salmon Habitat Recovery Projects to the State Salmon Recovery Funding Board for funding review and approval. PPF has submitted this proposal to the Evaluation and Prioritization Process in the fall of 1999.

Canyon Creek has been totally blocked to anadromous fish for decades just 400 ft. upstream of its present discharge to the Dungeness River at RM 10.85. A dam provided supplemental water to Dungeness fish Hatchery. Below the dam the channel, 0.3 to 0.5 miles long, was diverted from its original gentle angle along the river to a right angle. Above the dam are two miles of forested habitat . Thus 2.3 to 2.5 miles of natural habitat have been denied to anadromous fish. This project in Step 1 would remove the blockage to fish passage at the dam. Water supply would be assured either by providing alternate water supply or by reducing the dam height and adding a fish ladder, depending on cost/benefit projections. Step 2 would consist of reconstruction of the creek channel at or close to its original location with meanders and spawning gravel. Step 2 includes elevation studies of the river flood plain and hatchery facilities along with reevaluation of the scale of hatchery coho production in light of ESA concerns. This would allow WDFW to determine the feasibility of relocation of the two hatchery ponds and pulling back or removing the existing dikes parallel to the river. This dike constricts the river floodway from its reach-typical 450 to 550 ft to only 150-200 ft. Constriction of the Dungeness River is a recognized limiting factor for mainstem spawners as well as a contributor to flood hazards downstream. Opening up the floodway could well lead to a Step 3 but is not part of the present proposal.

Current condition of habitat: The pool/riffle ratio is about one to eight; many of the riffles have spawning gravel. Large organic debris is very plentiful both instream and along the side. In the lower reaches of the creek there has been large sediment recruitment with higher than normal fines, sediment with gray clay or glacial flour. Spawning gravels are not heavily compacted. A number of salmonids from 3 to 9 inches long were observed in June, 98. Rocks rolled over revealed fairly good numbers of nymphs and other aquatic insect larvae. Minor hatches of midges, small caddis were noted. Ouzels and one green heron were present, evidence of adequate insect and fish feed material. Water quality at convergence of Pats Creek with Canyon creek was very clear for both streams. Water quality in the 0.5 miles above the slide was very clear, little fines in gravel, pool rifle better ratio than in lower end, plenty of LOD, most of canyon unlogged. Observed a number of resident salmonids and several redds (Ref. Dick Goin, Tim Rymer).

Geographic Scale: This is a sub basin of the Dungeness River watershed and a portion of WRIA 18. Step 1 opens 2 miles of immediately usable habitat to anadromy. Step 2 complements the goal of reducing river constriction and increasing its flood plain. Kincaid Island is immediately downstream and will benefit from relief of pressure in high event flows. Scour in the immediate downstream reach will be reduced and bedload transmitted downstream will be reduced with attendant reduction in downstream aggradation and flood hazard, as well as stabilization of sediments for redd protection.

Time scale: The outcome will be functional to the indefinite future. Even if there is no maintenance, relief from the blockage of the dam will confer a permanent benefit, restoring historic spawning grounds to the fish adapted genetically to use this. All cycles of the life history will be facilitated, over multiple brood years. This project in Step 1 would remove the blockage to fish passage at the dam. Water supply would be assured either by providing alternate water supply or by reducing the dam height and adding a fish ladder, depending on cost/benefit projections. Step 2 would consist of reconstruction of the creek channel at or close to its original location with meanders and spawning gravel. Step 2 includes elevation studies of the river flood plain and hatchery facilities along with reevaluation of the scale of hatchery coho production in light of ESA concerns. This would allow WDFW to determine the feasibility of relocation of the two hatchery ponds and pulling back or removing the existing dikes parallel to the river. This dike constricts the river floodway from 450 to 550 ft to only 150-200 ft. Constriction of the Dungeness River is a recognized limiting factor for mainstem spawners as well as a contributor to flood hazards downstream. Opening up the floodway could well lead to Step 3 but is not part of this proposal.