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Watershed Management Plan - Mason County

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Chapter<br />

2 WRIA 16 – State of the <strong>Watershed</strong><br />

Roads and highways are just<br />

one of the factors that have<br />

impaired WRIA 16’s salmon<br />

habitat. This photo shows an<br />

early highway (perhaps an<br />

early Highway 101) along<br />

Hood Canal. Photo courtesy<br />

of the Washington State<br />

Department of Transportation<br />

Development and human<br />

activity have altered<br />

WRIA 16’s fish and<br />

wildlife habitat in several<br />

ways<br />

Finally, the impacts of invasive species and abandoned fishing gear and<br />

boats can alter habitat for fish and other wildlife. Invasive species are<br />

plants, animals, or other organisms that are non-native to an area and<br />

whose introduction causes economic, environmental, or human harm.<br />

Some invasive species (such as knotweed) can directly affect fish habitat by<br />

invading streams. A particular local focus is on invasive species that have<br />

been designated as noxious weeds (such as knotweed, tansy ragwort, and<br />

many others). <strong>Mason</strong> and Jefferson counties both maintain Noxious Weed<br />

Control Boards to assist landowners with weed identification and control.<br />

Invasive marine animals can also cause problems. For example, a highly<br />

invasive species of tunicate (sea squirt) has recently been found in Puget<br />

Sound. This tunicate grows in large colonies, spreads across shellfish beds,<br />

and chokes off the habitat and food supplies of fish and shellfish.<br />

Derelict (abandoned) fishing gear and boats affect wildlife and people. Lost<br />

or abandoned nets, lines, traps, boats, unused dock pilings, anchors, floats,<br />

and other equipment can: (1) trap and wound fish, shellfish, seabirds, and<br />

marine mammals; (2) entangle swimmers or divers; (3) damage recreational<br />

boats or commercial vessels; (4) degrade marine eelgrass beds or other<br />

important habitats; and (5) create unpleasant sights.<br />

To address the factors and impacts discussed above, several efforts are<br />

underway in WRIA 16 to plan for salmon recovery and implement habitat<br />

restoration activities. For example, the Hood Canal Coordinating Council<br />

(HCCC) is the Lead Entity for salmon recovery in the Hood Canal region<br />

and has drafted a Salmon Habitat Recovery Strategy to guide recovery efforts in<br />

the region (HCCC, 2004). The HCCC has also drafted a Summer Chum<br />

Recovery <strong>Plan</strong> (HCCC, 2005) which includes several recommended recovery<br />

actions. In addition, Shared Strategy is a collaborative Puget Sound-wide<br />

effort to engage local citizens, governments, tribes, technical experts and<br />

policymakers to take action to protect and restore salmon runs in the Puget<br />

Sound region. The efforts of Shared Strategy in Hood Canal are focused<br />

primarily on assisting with the recovery of threatened summer chum in<br />

Hood Canal (Shared Strategy, 2005a).<br />

SUMMARY AND KEY ISSUES: HABITAT<br />

Based on review of the existing habitat assessments conducted in WRIA 16,<br />

the <strong>Plan</strong>ning Unit has identified the following key issues to be addressed by<br />

this watershed plan. Note that elevated stream temperatures are an<br />

additional issue that affects habitat; this issue is discussed in the Water<br />

Quality section, which begins on page 20.<br />

• Floodplain connectivity, channel complexity, and riparian<br />

conditions have all been degraded by development. In<br />

particular, diking, bank armoring, and highway construction have<br />

removed streamside habitat and blocked access to side channels.<br />

Riparian areas have been developed for residential or agricultural use,<br />

thereby removing vegetation that helped control runoff and<br />

page 30 Final <strong>Plan</strong> for <strong>County</strong> Adoption – May 11, 2006

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