DESCRIPTION
Project Description:
1) Continue prior restoration, including addition of large woody debris and boulder placement on the approximately one-quarter mile of the stream that is directly south of Hwy. 101 and its fishway;
2) Fence off the access point on the east side of the Ennis Creek ravine where it is so easy for thieves to haul out maple to sell that they have already cut down 6 maples, 75- to 100-years old, causing significant destruction of the forest canopy and erosion from their foot traffic and camps, as well as destruction from fires that could spread beyond their camps, and stream contamination from latrines they have dug and waste materials they have discarded;
3) Decrease erosion from stormwater runoff created by new development along Del Guzzi Drive, on the west side of the Ennis Creek ravine, through enhancement of existing wetlands and better dispersal of water now flowing directly from City of PA outfall pipes and from land where native trees have been removed and impervious surfaces greatly increased;
4) Continue the property owners' efforts to plant trees for erosion control and eventual replacement of the trees thieves removed, reducing the forest canopy and eventual supply of natural LWD. The property has been designated as a sensitive area by the City of Port Angeles and the WRIA 18 salmon recovery plan describes Ennis Creek as the Port Angeles urban independent stream with the greatest potential, based on its variety of stocks, its snow-fed origins, and its relatively pristine conditions. Stocks include coho, winter steelhead and cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden have been documented there. Fall chum are believed to have been extirpated. Smolt counts by Bob Campbell, Feiro Marine Life Center Coordinator, indicate increasing numbers from 2004 to 2008, since LWD and boulder installations and improvements to the fishway under Hwy. 101, with coho increasing from 433 to 1,060; steelhead, 182 to 877; and cutthroat from 45 to 136.
Ennis Creek's importance was also noted in the WRIA 18 Watershed Plan because of its accessible location for public education and outreach. The property is part of a 47-acre conservation easement upheld by North Olympic Land Trust. An adjacent part of the property is the site for the Land Trust's annual StreamFest, which provides guided walks as well as booths hosted by businesses, agencies and organizations to provide information about environmental restoration and protection. Restoration and protection described above could add to the event's educational potential through photos documenting the impacts for salmon habitat before and after the improvements.