Skokomish River: Difference between revisions

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The Skokomish River system includes the South Fork Skokomish River where extensive forest harvest and resulted in large sediment inputs, which flows into the Upper Skokomish Floodplain where it is joined by the Vance Creek Watershed. The North Fork Skokomish River has been controlled and diverted by the Cushman Dam since the 1920s flows into the floodplain over an alluvial fan. After the north fork confluence, the channel becomes more stable in the Lower Skokomish Floodplain, where it is joined by Purdy Creek before flowing into the Skokomish Delta and Anna's Bay at the crook of Hood Canal. The watershed lies within Mason County with tracts of wetlands around the delta within the Skokomish Indian Nation reservation.

Sediment and flow of the North Fork is regulated by the Two Cushman Dams managed by Tacoma Public Utilities. A settlement in 2009 between TPU and the Skokomish Indian Nation resulted in a 2010 amendment to the FERC licensing agreement. This resulted in reassertion of tribal sovereignty, including restoration of channel maintaining flows, and potential for restoration of salmon populations on the north fork severely affected by dam operations.

Prior to recent reliscencing negotiations the vast majority of the North Folk flow was diverted to the Cushman penstock and powerhouse, resulting reduction of river flood flow.
Sediment input following reckless forest practices have resulted in sediment accumulation in Upper Skokomish Floodplain such that fish passage is blocked by gravel bars and sub-surface flow in summer.
The combination of modified flow regime and sediment loading, and an aggrading geomorphology are such that any substantial release of North Fork flows (to restore channel forming processes) results in flooding of the valley and the arterial Skokomish Valley Road.
File:WDFW 2010 skokomish chinook recovery plan.pdf
Ecology Fecal Coliform TMDL page
USACE, Skokomish Indian Nation and Mason County are working on a General Investigation for ecosystem restoration. This project has published a Tentatively Selected Plan.
- The GI conducted an independent external peer review report
Arcos 2012 describes the geomorphic history of the Skokomish Delta.

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 {{Place}}[[category:hood canal]]  [[category:basin]]
 '''The Skokomish River system includes the [[South Fork Skokomish River]] where extensive forest harvest and resulted in large sediment inputs, which flows into the [[Upper Skokomish Floodplain]] where it is joined by the [[Vance Creek Watershed]].  The [[North Fork Skokomish River]] has been controlled and diverted by the Cushman Dam since the 1920s flows into the floodplain over an alluvial fan.  After the north fork confluence, the channel becomes more stable in the [[Lower Skokomish Floodplain]], where it is joined by Purdy Creek before flowing into the [[Skokomish Delta]] and Anna's Bay at the crook of [[Hood Canal]].  The watershed lies within [[Mason County]] with tracts of wetlands around the delta within the [[Skokomish Indian Nation]] reservation.'''
+==Big Picture==
+*Sediment and flow of the North Fork is regulated by the [[Two Cushman Damshttps://www.mytpu.org/about-tpu/services/power/about-tacoma-power/dams-power-sources/cushman-hydro-project/|Two Cushman Dams]] managed by Tacoma Public Utilities.  A settlement in 2009 between TPU and the [[Skokomish Indian Nation]] resulted in a 2010 amendment to the [[FERC]] licensing agreement.  This resulted in reassertion of tribal sovereignty, including restoration of channel maintaining flows, and potential for restoration of salmon populations on the north fork severely affected by dam operations.
 ==Notes==