gee creek watershed restoration - WSU Clark County Extension ...

Watershed] streams [including Gee Creek] will be in poor health.” 14 Much of Gee Creekhas not been recently assessed for stream health, water quality, and watershedconditions. 141951- Washington Department of Fisheries (WDF) reports that “fair to good spawningareas occur throughout the remainder of the stream [above the lower 2 miles]. 491973- WDF reports minor or lacking salmonid runs due to: 60• Low summer flows• Water pollution• Obstructions1985- USFWS reports no temperature or water quality data for Gee Creek within theRNWR, and that WDF sampling indicates salmon production is probably limited by: 7• Low flows• Warm summer temperatures• Water quality1994 – CCD water quality baseline data is collected at 11 sites and a Jan 1995 storm11, 23,24event identifies concerns throughout the watershed:• High fecal coliform counts• Excessive sediment loads1996 – Inter-Fluve report identifies conditions needing restoration [paraphrased here]: 30• Stream grade and erosion• Stormwater runoff• Riparian vegetation• Riparian buffer areas• Landowner management practices• Sediment deposition on RNWR Carty Unit1997 – Washington Trout report identifies conditions on a tributary [Tee Ck?] atBertsinger Rd: 64• Slide on left bank 500 feet below Bertsinger Rd.• Livestock eroding bank upstream of Bertsinger Rd.1998 – July - USFWS CRFPO study 1993-1997 reports cutthroat trout present and a fewsteelhead, Coho, and Chinook smolts. The report is followed by a 1998 -August lettersummary to Clark County Water Resources Program. Salmon and trout populations inGee Creek are limited by: 23,24• Summer low flows and high temperatures• “Flashy” flow regime –(low summer and flood winter)• Summer water quality• Stream channel alteration and degradation• Stream bank erosion33