DESCRIPTION
Historical land use caused constriction of mainstem Tahuya and disrupted access to historical floodplain between RM 3 and RM 4. Altered flow and sediment regime results in impacts to Hood Canal Summer Chum spawning reach. Project would remove bank armoring and reconnect Tahuya River to its entire floodplain between RM 3 and RM 4, reconnect side channel habitat and promote natural wetland habitat, and enhance instream and floodplain habitat to benefit Hood Canal Summer Chum and other salmonids in the Tahuya watershed.
The Tahuya Preserve is located between RM 3 and RM 4 on the mainstem Tahuya River, and encompasses the majority of the historical floodplain within that reach. The large preserve (185 acres) was acquired by Great Peninsula Conservancy land trust in 2023. Historical development of the property included the construction of levees around the floodplain. This led to constriction of the mainstem, and disruption of natural channel migration and sediment distribution. The resulting altered flow pattern and sediment regime impacts Hood Canal Summer Chum, and other salmonids, in a key spawning reach. Restoration of the floodplain will include removal of bank armoring to reconnect the Tahuya River to its entire floodplain between RM 3 and RM 4. The project will also reconnect side channel habitat and enhance instream and floodplain habitat to benefit Hood Canal Summer Chum and other salmonids in the Tahuya watershed. Initial restoration design planning is underway. This project will fund design development through Final Design, and prepare necessary permits for project construction.
