Incorporating Puget Sound Lowland Streams in Marine Shoreline Prioritization
Presentation Abstract
Here we present our methodology for incorporating the almost 300 lowland streams present in South Sound into a marine nearshore prioritization model. Our approach utilized a coarse depiction of current habitat conditions that were considered in context of restoration strategies for- Creation, Enhancement, Restoration, Conservation and Preservation. The analysis unit chosen for this project was the watershed catchment unit as defined by the Salmon and Steelhead Habitat Inventory and Assessment Program (SSHIAP, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission). These are reach scale units that represent the drainage areas based upon channel gradient and confinement. Analysis units were further refined into three geographic strata. 1.Upland Catchments (UC) - units adjacent to catchments on a marine shoreline. 2.Nearshore Catchments (NC), defined as units on the shoreline that include the interface between the terrestrial and marine nearshore environments. 3.Nearshore Zones (NZ), strata units encompassing up to 200 meters of the shoreline as designated by the SSHIAP analysis. The primary attributes for determining the degree of human impacts was derived from NOAA C-CAP land cover data (2010). This allowed us to quantitatively define the amount of development impairing natural ecosystem functions. Additional negative impacts associated with stream mouths included: 303D impaired water, toxic sites, fill, armoring, docks, and freshwater point sources. A focus for juvenile salmon was applied by using attributes from the Nearshore Project Selection Tool (2009). The main habitat attribute is the location of freshwater stream inputs in catchments of interest. Stream location was obtained from SSHIAP and a rudimentary ranking scheme was applied that incorporated salmonid usage. The presence of a stream was perceived as a ‘positive’ ecosystem processes / function for juvenile salmon. Attribute data was considered according to varying scoring schemes to evaluate ecosystem conditions. In most instances attribute data was considered in terms of a presence/absence tally according to perceived positive (+) ecosystem attributes versus negative (-) ecosystem stressors. Catchment scores were used to evaluate site versus landscape scale relationships. At the site level scores for individual catchments were calculated. At the landscape level comparisons were done using proximity of catchments to each other. Adjacent catchments sharing a common border were considered “neighbors”. The two approaches detailed above were used to provide some inference to site versus landscape scale relationships in terms of the degree of ecosystem integrity/impairment. Results can be used to translate quantitative scores into general restoration and conservation strategies at the site and landscape level for discrete areas.
Session Title
Session S-10D: Cross-Habitat Linkages and Landscape Scale Approaches to Ecosystem Management
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2-5-2014 1:30 PM
End Date
2-5-2014 3:00 PM
Location
Room 611-612
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Ecosystem management--Washington (State)--Puget Sound Watershed
Geographic Coverage
Puget Sound Watershed (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Incorporating Puget Sound Lowland Streams in Marine Shoreline Prioritization
Room 611-612
Here we present our methodology for incorporating the almost 300 lowland streams present in South Sound into a marine nearshore prioritization model. Our approach utilized a coarse depiction of current habitat conditions that were considered in context of restoration strategies for- Creation, Enhancement, Restoration, Conservation and Preservation. The analysis unit chosen for this project was the watershed catchment unit as defined by the Salmon and Steelhead Habitat Inventory and Assessment Program (SSHIAP, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission). These are reach scale units that represent the drainage areas based upon channel gradient and confinement. Analysis units were further refined into three geographic strata. 1.Upland Catchments (UC) - units adjacent to catchments on a marine shoreline. 2.Nearshore Catchments (NC), defined as units on the shoreline that include the interface between the terrestrial and marine nearshore environments. 3.Nearshore Zones (NZ), strata units encompassing up to 200 meters of the shoreline as designated by the SSHIAP analysis. The primary attributes for determining the degree of human impacts was derived from NOAA C-CAP land cover data (2010). This allowed us to quantitatively define the amount of development impairing natural ecosystem functions. Additional negative impacts associated with stream mouths included: 303D impaired water, toxic sites, fill, armoring, docks, and freshwater point sources. A focus for juvenile salmon was applied by using attributes from the Nearshore Project Selection Tool (2009). The main habitat attribute is the location of freshwater stream inputs in catchments of interest. Stream location was obtained from SSHIAP and a rudimentary ranking scheme was applied that incorporated salmonid usage. The presence of a stream was perceived as a ‘positive’ ecosystem processes / function for juvenile salmon. Attribute data was considered according to varying scoring schemes to evaluate ecosystem conditions. In most instances attribute data was considered in terms of a presence/absence tally according to perceived positive (+) ecosystem attributes versus negative (-) ecosystem stressors. Catchment scores were used to evaluate site versus landscape scale relationships. At the site level scores for individual catchments were calculated. At the landscape level comparisons were done using proximity of catchments to each other. Adjacent catchments sharing a common border were considered “neighbors”. The two approaches detailed above were used to provide some inference to site versus landscape scale relationships in terms of the degree of ecosystem integrity/impairment. Results can be used to translate quantitative scores into general restoration and conservation strategies at the site and landscape level for discrete areas.
