A total of 546 miles of streams and tributaries make up the Dungeness watershed.
Matriotti Creek is the largest low elevation tributary to the Dungeness River. It is one of the streams that is more extensively linked to, and affected by, the irrigation network. Fish access to the upper 0.25 to 0.5 mi. of Matriotti Creek itself is blocked by a 3-foot drop where it flows across the Agnew Ditch. The inaccessible area includes some good habitat, including a large wetland. The character and location of Matriotti Creek is altered significantly from its historic condition. Pool presence within the unrestored sections of Matriotti Creek is characterized as poor. Streamside vegetation is generally destroyed due to animal access and agricultural practices, with significant impacts through the Olympic Game Farm. There is a lack of woody vegetation in most areas. Matriotti Creek is listed on the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies, based on elevated fecal coliform counts (Ecology 1998).
Hurd Creek is a relatively small, low elevation tributary to the lower Dungeness River. It is a short, low gradient stream, providing significant, high quality tributary rearing and refuge habitat. The PSCRBT (1991) indicated the stream is heavily impacted by unrestricted animal access to the channel, with trampled stream banks.
Bear Creek is a medium-sized low elevation tributary to the lower Dungeness River. A low dam used for irrigation pumping had formed a barrier to upstream fish passage. The downstream end of Bear Creek has some mature riparian alder, but only an estimated 25% of the stream has what could be characterized as fair riparian condition (TAG), with the remainder rating as poor. Stormwater flows and high fine sediment loads are conveyed to Bear Creek through the Agnew Irrigation Company delivery system. The stormwater conveyance may include some Dungeness River stormwater flows early in the storm season, with later flows representing stormwater runoff into the main irrigation canals after the outtakes from the Dungeness River have been shut off (Mike Jeldness, personal communication).
Canyon Creek is the uppermost tributary draining to the lower Dungeness River. It is mid-elevation, draining the Dungeness foothills. A hatchery water intake dam at CM 0.08 is a complete barrier to upstream fish passage. There is approximately 1.5-2.0 miles of potential habitat upstream of the dam, although only the upper 1/3 of the additional habitat is currently considered to be in good condition. That barrier is in the process of being removed. Canyon Creek, downstream of Fish Hatchery Road, is altered significantly from historic condition. From Fish Hatchery Road to the mouth, there is little LWD present, and limited riparian vegetation to provide future LWD. Upstream of the dam, Canyon Creek has abundant LWD, with additional LWD contribution potential, as the canyon has not yet been logged.
The Gray Wolf River is the largest tributary to the Dungeness River, draining the mountainous portions of the upper watershed. A series of natural falls/cascades at RM 9.0, and just upstream of the "Three Forks" confluence (Gray Wolf River, Cameron Creek, and Grand Creek), impairs or prevents upstream anadromous salmonid access. Riparian condition was reported to not be of concern in the Gray Wolf River (TAG), although the importance of retaining intact riparian vegetation in the canyon was identified as a high priority.
Gold Creek is a medium-sized tributary to the upper Dungeness River. Upriver pink, coho, and steelhead spawning is reported to have historically occurred to CM 1.5, but slides in lower Gold Creek have limited anadromous salmonid access in recent years to only the lower 0.1 mile. Gold Creek is located in a confined canyon, which has been significantly affected by large mass wasting events. Riparian condition in the Gold Cre