Salmon productivity in the steep and hydrologically flashy Dungeness River is greatly influenced by the degree to which the river is connected to healthy floodplains. Floodplain loss and low levels of stable, in-channel large wood are the most serious anthropogenic stressors currently affecting Dungeness River salmon productivity. This portfolio project will restore and permanently conserve floodplain habitat within the affected reach, which extends from the river mouth upstream to Canyon Creek (RM 10.7). Restoration will occur through a number of measures including the removal and relocation of levees, roads, bulkheads, and other infrastructure, side channel excavations, large wood placements, and floodplain reforestation. These actions will provide the river with areas to meander, store sediment, create stable anabranches and side channels, and spread out and slow down during floods. The reforested floodplains will serve as permanent, natural sources of long-term large wood recruitment to create stable, complex habitat. Permanent conservation of restored floodplains will generally be accomplished through fee simple acquisitions and will be provided with Salmon Deed of Rights. Due to the length of the affected river reach, complexity of the natural system, and the large amount of privately owned lost floodplains, we must phase the project over numerous years.
Project phases include: Rivers End acquisition and restoration (RM 0.3-0.8), Army Corps levee removal, realignment and channel reconstruction (RM 0.2-0.9), lengthening of Schoolhouse Bridge, Ward Bridge, Burlingame Bridge, and Hwy 101 Bridge, Beebe Dike setback (RM 1.5 to 2.7), Hurd Creek Floodplain restoration (RM 2.4-3.1), Ward Road reconfiguration (RM 3.0-3.3), Dungeness Meadows dike reconfiguration (RM 7.5 to 8.3), Wildwood Oxbow restoration (RM 7.5-8.5), Kinkade Island Reach restoration(RM 9.5-10.5), Robinson Floodplain side channel (RM 9 to 9.4), Haller dike reconfiguration (RM 8.8-9.8) and Dungeness Salmon Hatchery facilities relocation(RM 10.5).
Completed floodplain projects include Dungeness estuarine marsh reconnection, 3 Crabs estuarine restoration, middle Army Corps levee setback (RM 0.9-2.8) with floodplain and side channel ELJs, Rivers Edge floodplain property acquisitions (RM1.9-2.8), Rivers Edge floodplain reforestation (underway 2022-24) Hurd Creek Hatchery relocation (underway in 2023-24), RR Trestle removal (east and west sides) and Nature Center dike removal (RM 5.8), Robinson Floodplain restoration, upper Haller Dike removal and Caldero side channel construction (RM 9.8).