DESCRIPTION
The Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) requests $25,000 in state funding to develop restoration alternatives for Finley Creek. Finley Creek is located in the upper Quinault River watershed in Olympic National Park - Grays Harbor County, Washington. The purpose of the project is to complete planning, conceptual designs, and development of restoration alternatives for the Finley Creek drainage. Primary habitat types restored by this project include in-stream, riparian, and floodplain. Salmonid species that will benefit include sockeye, coho, fall and spring chinook, winter and summer steelhead, native char, and coastal cutthroat trout.
Sustainably managing habitat, infrastructure, and public access in the Finley Creek drainage has been a chronic issue for the Olympic National Park for decades. An abundant sediment supply combined with channelization of Finley Creek has adversely affected essential salmon habitat, channel migration in the Quinault River, private property, and infrastructure. This project complements multiple goals associated with upper Quinault River restoration, ONP management plan objectives, and needs of local stakeholders. The local community supports this project. Benefits of the project include reduced impacts to landowner property, improved fish habitat, and improvements in quality of life associated with reduced erosion and channel migration risks.
The Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) used $24,817 in SRFB grant funding to develop restoration alternatives for Finley Creek. Finley Creek is located in the upper Quinault River watershed in Olympic National Park - Grays Harbor County, Washington. Work for this planning project resulted in the development and implementation of a feasibility study, identification of restoration alternatives and conceptual designs. Primary habitat types addressed in this work include in-stream, riparian, and floodplain habitats. Salmonid species that will benefit from implementation are sockeye, coho, fall and spring chinook, winter and summer steelhead, native char, and coastal cutthroat trout.
Sustainably managing habitat, infrastructure, and public access in the Finley Creek drainage has been a chronic issue for the Olympic National Park for decades. Salmon habitat has been chronically affected by an abundant sediment supply combined with channelization. This has also influenced channel migration processes in the Quinault River, and impacted private property and road infrastructure. This project complements multiple goals associated with upper Quinault River restoration efforts, the Olympic National Park management plan objectives, and needs of local stakeholders. The local community supports this feasibility study. Benefits of the project, following selection and implementation of a preferred alternative by Olympic National Park, are expected to include improved fish habitat and channel conditions in Finley Creek, and reduced risks from erosion and channel migration to road infrastructure, private property, and local residences in the vicinity of the Finley Creek alluvial fan.
