Skagit and Sauk basin stream temperature report...

Skagit and Sauk River Basin Stream Temperature Monitoring:

2008-2009 Progress Report

Jeff Phillips, Mike Olis and Curt Veldhuisen, Skagit River System Cooperative Scott Morris, Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe

Doug Couvelier, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe

April, 2011

Acknowledgements We would like to thank the following organizations for their contributions to this project: Skagit River System Cooperative; Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe; Upper Skagit Indian Tribe; Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group; and the Washington State Department of Ecology. We would also like to thank the following landowners for providing access to monitoring sites: Goodyear Nelson Hardwood and Lumber Company; Grandy Lake Forest Associates; Longview Timberlands; and Sierra Pacific Industries. For further information, contact: Jeff Phillips Watershed Scientist, Skagit River System Cooperative 675 South Spruce Street Burlington, WA 98233 (360) 391-8538 This report is available online at: http://www.skagitcoop.org/index.php/documents/

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http://www.skagitcoop.org/index.php/documents/

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements............................................................................................................. 2 Table of Contents................................................................................................................ 3 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 3 1. Overview..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Objectives ............................................................................................................... 2 2. Study Area and Sampling Methods ............................................................................ 2 2.1. Sampling Locations ................................................................................................ 3 2.2. Data Collection ....................................................................................................... 5 2.3. Data Quality ............................................................................................................ 6 3. Data Summary and Discussion ................................................................................... 6 3.1. Comparison with State Water Quality Standards ................................................. 10 3.2. Air Temperatures .................................................................................................. 14 3.3. Groundwater Input ................................................................................................ 15 3.4. Longitudinal Temperature Patterns....................................................................... 16 3.5. Upstream Land Cover ........................................................................................... 20 4. Conclusions............................................................................................................... 22 5. References................................................................................................................. 24 Appendix A

List of Figures

Figure 1. Study area map showing the location of monitoring sites.................................. 3 Figure 2. Comparison of groundwater-influenced and surface flow dominated. ............ 16 Figure 3. Linear regression of drainage area and 7-DADM. ........................................... 17 Figure 4. Finney Creek sites 7-DADM temperatures in 2008 and 2009.. ....................... 18 Figure 5. Day Creek sites 7-DADM temperatures in 2009 ............................................. 18 Figure 6. Map showing 2008 7-DADM temperatures in Finney Creek and tribuatries .. 19 Figure 7. 7-DADM temperatures by river mile at Finney and Day Creek sites .............. 20 Figure 8. Box-plot of 7-DADM temperatures by land-cover category ........................... 21

List of Tables

Table 1. Thermally-induced mortality of cold-water fish species ..................................... 1 Table 2. Summary of site information for 2008 and 2009................................................. 4 Table 3. SMHT and season maximum 7-DADM Temperature for 2008. ......................... 7 Table 4. SMHT and season maximum 7-DADM Temperature for 2009. ......................... 9 Table 5. Differences in SMHT and seasonal maximum 7-DADM for 2008 and 2009 ... 10 Table 6. Comparison with state standards for 2008......................................................... 12 Table 7. Comparison with state standards for 2009......................................................... 13 Table 8. Air temperatures comparisons at regional stations for 2008 and 2009.............. 15

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Skagit and Sauk Basin Stream Temperature Monitoring Report 2008-09

1. Overview

The Skagit River basin, consisting of the mainstem Skagit (including tributaries, sloughs and estuaries) and four secondary river basins (Baker, Cascade, Sauk, and Suiattle) contains essential habitat for anadromous salmonids, including several species that are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (DOE, 2008). Five species of salmon (Chinook, coho, pink, chum and sockeye), two char species (Dolly Varden and bull trout) as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout exist in the basin (SRSC and WDFW, 2005). The Skagit has the largest run of Chinook and the second largest wild run of coho in the Puget Sound (DOE, 2008). Salmon and trout face limitations in Skagit River tributaries during mid-summer, when habitat availability is reduced by low flows and high stream temperatures. Previous research, summarized in several comprehensive reviews, indicates that stream temperature is a significant factor that affects distribution and health of salmonids (Bjornn and Reisner, 1991; McCullough, 1999; and Hicks 2001). The direct effect of high temperatures on physiological functions of salmon is reasonably well understood and has been documented in laboratory settings. Water temperature is also important for regulating biological and physiological processes in other parts of the aquatic system that may indirectly affect salmon through loss of food supply, spread of disease and other factors. High temperatures may alter migration rates for spawning and rearing and promote growth of competing species (Beschta et al., 1987). Potentially lethal temperature-related limitations including reduced metabolic energy, reduced food supply, and competition from warm water species, can indirectly lead to fish mortality (Pollock et al., 2009). In general, the preferred temperature range salmon is 12˚ C to 14˚ C with most at risk of mortality when temperatures exceed 20˚ C, although the exact lethal limit temperature depends on species, life-stage of development and the temperature that the fish is acclimated to (Hicks, 2001). Table 1 contains the approximate temperature ranges for modes of thermally-induced mortality.

Table 1. Temperature ranges for modes of thermally-induced mortality of cold-water fish species (adapted from DOE, 2004)

Modes of thermally-induced mortality for cold-water fish species

Temperature range (˚ C)

Time to mortality

Instantaneous Lethal Limit - leads to direct mortality

> 32

Instantaneous

Incipient Lethal Limit - breakdown of physiological regulation of vital bodily processes including respiration and circulation

21 - 25

hours to days

Sub-Lethal Limit - conditions that: 1) cause decreased metabolic energy for growth, feeding, or reproduction; and 2) encourage increased exposure to pathogens, decrease food supply and increase competition from warm-water species.

20 - 23

weeks to months

Data collected by the Skagit County stream temperature monitoring program indicates that some streams in the lower Skagit River Basin experience maximum summer temperatures high enough to stress or kill salmonids while others do not (Skagit County, 2008). The Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) includes several lower Skagit


tributaries on the 303(d) list (the state list of impaired waters) for not meeting state water quality standards for temperature in summer low flow periods (DOE, 2008). Summer maximum stream temperatures vary widely based on many site-specific factors including: air temperature; shade; groundwater influx; hyporheic exchange; flow volume; channel depth and gradient; elevation; and other factors (Adams and Sullivan, 1989). Land-use history and mass wasting events may influence temperatures when they alter these drivers (Beschta and Taylor, 1988). Due to high natural variability, it is difficult to predict streams that experience potentially harmful temperatures without actually collecting stream temperature measurements. Past temperature monitoring in the Skagit basin, particularly in forested tributary streams, is insufficient to evaluate the extent of anadromous habitat experiencing harmful maximum summer temperatures. Temperature data from tributary channels in the area are especially limited and not operated long enough to evaluate temporal patterns.

1.1. Objectives

This report presents stream temperature monitoring data collected in 2008 and 2009 by a number of state, non-profit and tribal organizations. The primary objectives are to: 1) Compile and present existing unpublished temperature data; 2) Improve overall knowledge of the extent of potentially harmful maximum summer temperatures in stream segments throughout the lower and central Skagit Basin and Sauk Prairie; 3) Identify tributary channels that may be important for providing thermal refugia during periods of high temperature; and 4) Describe observations of stream temperature patterns and discuss possible relevant factors. While the objective of this report is not to determine compliance with state water quality standards, comparisons are made for reference. Stream temperature trends over time will not be evaluated until there are several more years of data. Any future trend analysis will require careful consideration of confounding factors. 2. Study Area and Sampling Methods

The Skagit River is the second largest draining to the Salish Sea. It is located in the northwestern Cascade Mountains of Washington State. The climate is temperate with mild, dry summers and cool, wet winters and abundant precipitation the majority of which falls as rain at lower elevations. High stream temperatures typically occur in July and August when extended periods of hot, sunny days coincide with low summer flows. The uplands of the Skagit basin (aside from high elevation federal lands) have been managed for over a century for timber harvest. Historically, harvest has occurred in clearcuts; however, beginning in the 1970s and increasing in the 1990s, many riparian areas and unstable slopes have been left un-harvested as buffers in part to protect fish and fish habitat. The lowlands of the basin, where most of the anadromous habitat is located, are dominated by small farms and rural residential development. The land use is a mix of

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agriculture, urban, suburban, rural and forest land. Many of the waterbodies in the lowlands have been modified in the form of diking or channelization. Lower elevation forests, where monitoring sites are located, are in the Western Hemlock Climax Zone (Franklin and Dyrness, 1978). Western hemlock, Douglas-fir, western redcedar are the dominant conifer species and red alder, black cottonwood, and big leaf maple are the most common deciduous species.

2.1. Sampling Locations

Results from sixty monitoring sites, with basin areas ranging from 0.5 mi2 to 45 mi2, are included in this report. They are located throughout the central and lower Skagit and Sauk River basins in Water Resource Inventory Area 3 & 4 (Figure 1). In an effort to compliment the temperature monitoring being conducted by Skagit County1 in the lower Skagit, we have chosen to focus this report on available, currently unreported, data from the central Skagit and Sauk basin tributaries.

Figure 1. Study area map showing the location and site number of all stream temperature monitoring sites.

1 Skagit County monitoring data is summarized in annual reports (e.g. Skagit County, 2008) and is not included in this report.

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This report represents a collaborative effort utilizing data collected by several organizations including: the Skagit River System Cooperative (SRSC); Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe (SSIT); Upper Skagit Indian Tribe (USIT); Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group (SFEG); and the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE)(Table 2). The data from SFEG and DOE sites were downloaded from the Environmental Information Management (EIM) database which is maintained by DOE2. Monitoring sites were located in a variety of land-use settings and riparian conditions (Table 2). A coarse categorization of the upstream riparian land cover was identified for each site (See Section 3.5). The majority of sites were located in streams that have forested riparian buffers, largely on industrial and private forest lands regulated by the Washington Forest Practices Rules. Others, including a group of sites located on the Sauk Prairie and in the Dan Creek watershed, were on private residential and US Forest Service managed lands (Figure 1 and Table 2). Several sites were in lowland streams that are included on the Washington Department of Ecology 303(d) list (see Section 3.1.). These sites are on private residential and/or agricultural lands, with little or no forested riparian buffers and varying levels of channel modification (Figure 1 and Table 2).

Table 2. Summary of stream temperature monitoring site information for 2008 and 2009. See Section 3.5 for upstream riparian land cover definitions.

Site # Stream Name Location Upstream Category

Basin Area (mi2)

Source Organization

1 Alder Creek Cape Horn Rd Forest & Open Mix 11.9 SRSC 2 Alder Creek upstream of Hwy 20 Forested Buffer 11.7 SRSC 3 Anderson Creek upstream of South Skagit Hwy Forested Buffer 2.2 SRSC 4 Bob Lewis Creek upstream of Sauk Prairie Rd Forested Buffer 0.3 SSIT 5 Bulson Creek Bulson Rd Forested Buffer 5.2 USIT 6 Carpenter Creek upstream of Bacon Rd Forested Buffer 3.8 USIT 7 Carpenter Creek at Interstate 5 Open 16.7 USIT 8 Cold Spring Creek near tributary junction Forest & Open Mix 1.6 USIT 9 Conn Creek USFS 2430 Rd Forested Buffer 1.6 SSIT

10 Dan Creek upstream of Sauk Prairie Rd Forested Buffer 16.4 SSIT 11 Day Creek river mile 0.2 Forest & Open Mix 35.0 SFEG 12 Day Creek river mile 0.7 Forest & Open Mix 34.4 SFEG 13 Day Lower upstream of South Skagit Hwy (river Forest & Open Mix 33.8 SRSC 14 Day Creek river mile 2.5 Forested Buffer 32.6 SFEG 15 Day Creek near Rocky Creek Confluence (river Forested Buffer 26.0 SRSC 16 Day Creek Day Lake outlet (river mile 8.3) Lake 6.5 SRSC 17 Decline Creek USFS 2430 Rd Forested Buffer 3.2 SSIT 18 Finney Creek river mile 2.4 Forested Buffer 50.8 SFEG 19 Finney Creek at Quartz Creek (river mile 4.0) Forested Buffer 45.0 SFEG 20 Finney Creek river mile 13 Forested Buffer 30.1 SFEG 21 Finney Creek river mile 18 Forested Buffer 7.3 SFEG 22 Finney Creek river mile 21 Forested Buffer 3.1 SRSC 23 Fisher Creek Starbird Rd Forest & Open Mix 0.7 USIT 24 Fisher Creek Brandstrom Rd Forested Buffer 1.7 USIT 25 Fisher Creek Bosk Rd Open 2.1 USIT 26 Fisher Creek at fish ladder Forested Buffer 6.6 USIT 27 Grandy Creek downstream of East Fork trib Forested Buffer 9.9 SRSC 28 Grandy Creek Lake outlet tributary Lake 5.3 SRSC 29 Gravel Creek USFS 2140 Rd Forested Buffer 2.1 SSIT

2 The EIM database may be found at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/eim/

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http://www.ecy.wa.gov/eim/


Site # Stream Name Location Upstream Category

Basin Area (mi2)

Source Organization

30 Hansen Creek upstream of Hwy 20 (lower) Forest & Open Mix 7.0 DOE 31 Hansen Creek Northern State (upper) Forest & Open Mix 7.0 DOE 32 Hatchery Creek CP1400 Rd Forested Buffer 1.8 SRSC 33 Hobbit Creek upstream of Concrete-Sauk Valley Rd Forested Buffer 0.9 SRSC 34 Hooper Creek upstream of Concrete-Sauk Valley Rd Forested Buffer 0.5 SRSC 35 Jackman Creek upstream of Hwy 20 Forested Buffer 24.0 SRSC 36 Little Fisher Creek Franklin Rd Forest & Open Mix 1.6 USIT 37 Mannser Creek downstream of Hwy 20 Open 1.6 SRSC 38 Mannser Creek Hamilton Cemetery Rd Forest & Open Mix 1.4 SRSC 39 Morgan Creek upstream of South Skagit Hwy Forest & Open Mix 2.5 SRSC 40 Mouse Creek upstream of Sauk Prairie Rd Forested Buffer 0.5 SSIT 41 Mundt Creek near tributary junction Forested Buffer 4.3 USIT 42 North Fork Turner Creek near tributary junction Forested Buffer 1.8 USIT 43 Osterman Creek upstream of Concrete-Sauk Valley Rd Forest & Open Mix 1.1 SRSC 44 Quartz Creek downstream of Lower Finney Rd Forested Buffer 4.1 SRSC 45 Rocky Creek near Day Creek confluence Forested Buffer 8.2 SRSC 46 Ruxall Creek downstream of Lower Finney Rd Forested Buffer 1.8 SRSC 47 Sandy Creek at Bacon Rd Forested Buffer 1.5 USIT 48 Savage Creek CP4400 Rd Forested Buffer 1.8 SRSC 49 South Fork Bulson Creek at Sixteen Lake Rd Forested Buffer 0.6 USIT 50 South Fork Turner Creek near tributary junction Forested Buffer 0.8 USIT 51 Turner trib Beaver Lake outlet Lake 4.3 USIT 52 Unnamed Decline tributary USFS 2430 Rd Forested Buffer 0.7 SSIT 53 Unnamed Decline tributary USFS 2435 Rd Forested Buffer 0.3 SSIT 54 Unnamed Finney tributary

(small Fin) Finney Creek tributary (river mile 6.2) Forested Buffer 0.1 SRSC

55 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary 2.6 miles downstream of Lake McMurray

Forest & Open Mix 3.4 USIT






Forested Buffer 2.0 USIT

59 Walker Creek at East Fork confluence Forest & Open Mix 18.5 USIT 60 Winters Creek tributary to Morgan Creek Forest & Open Mix 0.3 SRSC

2.2. Data Collection

Temperature data were collected using submersible data loggers that document hourly stream temperatures throughout the summer season (dates of operation shown in Table 6 and Table 7). Although the authors of this report were not responsible for all the data collection contained within, all the organizations involved indicate that data collection followed protocols and procedures developed in the Timber Fish and Wildlife (TFW) Stream temperature Survey Manual (Schuett-Hames et al., 1999) and Department of Ecology standards (DOE, 2003).

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Monitoring protocols specify that sites are to be located in areas where there is a relatively homogeneous reach upstream in terms of stream and riparian conditions so that stream temperature is at equilibrium. The length of stream necessary to reach equilibrium varies but a rule-of-thumb is a distance of 2,000 feet (Schuett-Hames et al., 1999). Sites are also to be located in areas of sufficient mixing within the main channel (Schuett-Hames et al., 1999).

2.3. Data Quality

Data logger calibration was conducted in accordance with the procedures developed in the TFW Stream Temperature Survey Manual (Schuett-Hames et al., 1999). According to the protocol, the accuracy of the data are verified with pre- and post-deployment calibration checks which require that there is mean absolute value difference of less than 0.2 C˚ (Schuett-Hames et al., 1999). Data from sites that were identified as dry at any time during data collection were not included in this report because of uncertainty in the timing of flow and the potential for erroneous measurements. These sites were identified by field observations of a dry channel or data with unusually high temperature spikes and/or uncharacteristically large diel ranges.

In addition, data from several sites were not recovered due to equipment loss, vandalism or equipment malfunction.

3. Data Summary and Discussion

In this report, two widely-used metrics are reported to represent peak summer temperatures. The Seasonal Maximum Hourly Temperature (SMHT) corresponds to the single highest temperature that fish and biota must withstand whereas the 7-Day Average Daily Maximum (7-DADM) temperature is a moving average that is used because it reduces the effect of short periods of abnormally hot temperatures to evaluate biological effects. Figures showing the daily time-series of 7-DADM and SMHT for all of the sites are included in Appendix A. The magnitude and timing of peak for both 7-DADM and SMHT varied considerably by site and by year. Temperatures peaked in 2008 during the period between July 12th and August 18th. Seasonal maximum temperatures ranged from 12.8˚ C to 23.1˚ C and seasonal maximum 7-DADM temperatures ranged from 12.5˚ C to 22.3˚ C (Table 3).

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Table 3. Season Maximum Hourly Temperature (SMHT) and season maximum 7-Day Average Daily Maximum Temperature (7DADM) for 2008.

Season Maximum

Site # Stream Name SMHT

(˚C) 7DADM

(˚C) SMHT Date

1 Alder Creek @ Cape Horn Rd 15.5 14.7 08/16/08 2 Alder Creek upstream of Hwy 20 14.0 13.3 08/17/08 3 Anderson Creek 16.8 15.9 08/17/08 4 Bob Lewis Creek 17.3 16.4 08/15/08 5 Bulson Creek 16.7 16.1 08/16/08 6 Carpenter Creek 17.6 16.9 07/16/08 7 Carpenter Creek @ I-5 21.6 20.9 08/17/08 8 Cold Spring Creek 16.0 15.6 08/17/08 9 Conn Creek 15.3 14.1 08/17/08

10 Dan Creek 21.2 18.7 08/16/08 17 Decline Creek 15.2 14.2 08/17/08 18 Finney Creek (river mile 2.4) 23.9 22.3 08/16/08 19 Finney Creek @ Quartz Creek (river mile 4) 22.6 20.9 08/16/08 20 Finney Creek (river mile 13) 17.5 16.4 08/17/08 21 Finney Creek (river mile 18) 16.0 15.0 08/18/08 22 Finney Creek (river mile 21) 14.0 13.0 08/17/08 23 Fisher Creek @ Starbird Rd 18.9 17.8 08/15/08 24 Fisher Creek @ Brandstorm Rd 17.2 16.4 08/16/08 25 Fisher Creek @ Bosk Rd 21.3 20.1 07/12/08 26 Fisher Creek @ fish ladder 15.3 14.2 08/20/08 27 Grandy Creek 14.4 14.0 07/12/08 29 Gravel Creek 16.3 14.9 08/17/08 30 Hansen Creek (lower) 18.5 17.3 08/16/08 31 Hansen Creek (upper) 17.3 16.4 08/16/08 32 Hatchery Creek 17.4 15.5 08/16/08 34 Hooper Creek 16.1 15.3 08/16/08 35 Jackman Creek 17.2 15.9 08/16/08 37 Mannser Creek (lower) 13.4 13.1 08/18/08 38 Mannser Creek (upper) 12.8 12.7 08/17/08 39 Morgan Creek 16.9 16.5 08/17/08 40 Mouse Creek 17.0 16.2 08/17/08 44 Quartz Creek 18.5 17.2 08/16/08 46 Ruxall Creek 17.6 16.8 08/17/08 47 Sandy Creek 16.2 15.6 08/16/08 48 Savage Creek 13.5 13.2 08/16/08 49 South Fork Bulson Creek 14.1 13.7 08/16/08 50 South Fork Turner Creek 16.1 15.5 08/16/08 51 Turner tributary (lake outlet) 23.1 21.3 07/13/08 52 Unnamed Decline tributary @ USFS 2430 Rd 15.0 13.9 08/16/08 53 Unnamed Decline tributary @ USFS 2435 Rd 13.6 12.5 08/17/08 54 Unnamed Finney tributary (small Fin) 16.4 15.8 08/17/08 56 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary 18.1 17.4 08/15/08 59 Walker Creek 20.5 19.4 08/16/08

maximum 23.1 22.3 minimum 12.8 12.5 mean 16.9 16.1

In 2009, stream temperatures peaked during the period between July 3rd and August 11th. SMHT values ranged from 13.7˚ C to 30.3˚ C and 7-DADM temperatures ranged from 12.8˚ C to 29.0˚ C. Table 4 displays the temperature summary statistics (SMHT and 7-DADM) and the date of the highest temperature recorded (SMHT) for each of the 2009 sites.

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In 2008, 12% of the sites recorded seasonal peak 7-DADM temperatures above 20˚ C, which is stressful to salmonids and may lead to mortality (DOE, 2004). One of the sites, Turner tributary (Site 51), was located at a lake outlet where high temperatures are expected and the remaining warm sites were located on: Carpenter Creek (Site 7); Finney Creek (Sites 18 and 19); and Fisher Creek (Site 25) (Table 3). In 2009, 31% of the sites recorded peak 7-DADM temperatures above 20˚ C. Of these, three of the sites were located at lake outlets: Day Creek (Site 16); Grandy Creek (Site 28); and a tributary to Turner Creek (Site 51). The remaining sites were located on: Carpenter Creek (Site 7); Dan Creek (Site 10); Day Creek (Sites 11-15); Finney Creek (Sites 18 and 19); Fisher Creek (Site 25); Hansen Creek (Site 30); Quartz Creek (Site 44); and Walker Creek (Site 59) (Table 4). Data were collected at some sites in both 2008 and 2009, allowing comparison. At those sites where two years of sampling occurred, stream temperatures were generally warmer in 2009 than in 2008. The 7-DADM was greater at all sites in 2009 than in 2008 with an average of 2.3˚ C warmer (Table 5). The SMHT was greater at most sites in 2009 than in 2008 with an average of 2.0˚ C warmer. Table 5 displays the difference in SMHT and 7-DADM for all sites where data were collected both years.

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Table 4. Season Maximum Hourly Temperature (SMHT) and season maximum 7-Day Average Daily Maximum Temperature (7DADM) for 2009.

Seasonal Maximum SMHT 7DADM

Site # Stream Name (˚C) (˚C)SMHT Date

2 Alder Creek 15.1 14.9 07/28/09 3 Anderson Creek 19.8 18.8 07/30/09 4 Bob Lewis Creek 19.3 18.7 07/29/09 5 Bulson Creek 19.1 17.9 08/01/09 6 Carpenter Creek 20.5 19.1 07/31/09 7 Carpenter Creek @ I-5 28.3 26.8 08/03/09 8 Cold Spring Creek 18.4 17.4 08/02/09 9 Conn Creek 16.5 16.1 07/28/09

10 Dan Creek 20.6 20.3 07/29/09 11 Day Creek (river mile 0.02) 24.1 23.6 07/30/09 12 Day Creek (river mile 0.07) 24.1 23.5 07/29/09 13 Day Creek – lower (river mile 1.1) 23.3 22.7 07/29/09 14 Day Creek (river mile 2.5) 24.4 23.6 07/30/09 15 Day Creek – mid (river mile 5.1) 20.8 20.0 07/30/09 16 Day Creek – lake outlet (river mile 8.3) 25.3 24.5 07/30/09 17 Decline Creek 16.7 16.4 07/30/09 18 Finney Creek (river mile 2.4) 26.4 25.4 07/30/09 19 Finney Creek @ Quartz Creek (river mile 4) 25.2 24.2 07/29/09 21 Finney Creek (river mile 18) 17.3 16.9 07/29/09 22 Finney Creek (river mile 21) 16.2 16.0 07/29/09 23 Fisher Creek @ Starbird Rd 21.6 20.1 08/01/09 24 Fisher Creek @ Brandstorm Rd 20.8 19.3 08/03/09 25 Fisher Creek @ Bosk Rd 20.8 20.1 08/04/09 26 Fisher Creek @ fish ladder 15.5 14.8 08/01/09 27 Grandy Creek 15.2 14.5 07/03/09 28 Grandy Creek (Lake outlet) 30.3 29.0 07/29/09 29 Gravel Creek 17.2 16.7 07/28/09 30 Hansen Creek 21.4 20.3 07/30/09 32 Hatchery Creek 19.7 19.0 07/29/09 33 Hobbit Creek 13.7 12.8 08/11/09 34 Hooper Creek 18.3 17.4 07/29/09 35 Jackman Creek 19.4 18.9 07/29/09 36 Little Fisher Creek 18.0 17.1 08/01/09 40 Mouse Creek 18.8 18.4 07/29/09 41 Mundt Creek 17.0 16.4 08/03/09 42 North Fork Turner Creek 19.0 18.0 08/03/09 43 Osterman Creek 18.7 18.0 07/29/09 44 Quartz Creek 21.7 20.9 07/29/09 45 Rocky Creek 20.6 19.8 07/30/09 46 Ruxall Creek 19.7 19.0 07/29/09 47 Sandy Creek 18.9 17.7 08/02/09 48 Savage Creek 14.3 14.2 07/29/09 49 South Fork Bulson Creek 16.4 15.1 07/29/09 50 South Fork Turner Creek 19.2 18.2 08/02/09 51 Turner tributary (lake outlet) 21.8 21.5 08/04/09 52 Unnamed Decline tributary @ USFS 2430 Rd 17.0 16.8 07/31/09 53 Unnamed Decline tributary @ USFS 2435 Rd 14.8 14.6 07/31/09 54 Unnamed Finney tributary (Small Fin) 19.0 18.2 07/29/09 55 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary (@ 2.6 miles) 16.6 16.5 08/05/09 56 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary (@ 2.2 miles) 21.3 20.3 08/02/09 57 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary (@ 2.0 miles) 14.7 14.3 08/02/09 58 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary (@ 1.5 miles) 19.9 17.8 08/01/09 59 Walker Creek 23.0 22.0 07/31/09 60 Winters Creek 19.1 18.1 07/29/09

maximum 30.3 29.0 minimum 13.7 12.8 mean 19.4 18.9

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Table 5. Differences in SMHT and 7-DADM for 2008 and 2009

Site # Stream Name

SMHT 2008

SMHT 2009

SMHT diff

7DADM 2008

7DADM 2009

7DADM diff

2 Alder Creek upstream of Hwy 20 14.0 15.1 +1.1 13.3 14.9 +1.6 3 Anderson Creek 16.8 19.8 +3.0 15.9 18.8 +2.9 4 Bob Lewis Creek 17.3 19.3 +2.0 16.4 18.7 +2.3 5 Bulson Creek 16.7 19.1 +2.4 16.1 17.9 +1.8 6 Carpenter Creek 17.6 20.5 +2.9 16.9 19.1 +2.2 7 Carpenter Creek @ I-5 21.6 28.3 +6.7 20.9 26.8 +5.9 8 Cold Spring Creek 16.0 18.4 +2.4 15.6 17.4 +1.8 9 Conn Creek 15.3 16.5 +1.2 14.1 16.1 +2.0

10 Dan Creek 21.2 20.6 -0.6 18.7 20.3 +1.6 17 Decline Creek 15.2 16.7 +1.5 14.2 16.4 +2.2 18 Finney Creek (river mile 2.4) 23.9 26.4 +2.5 22.3 25.4 +3.1 19 Finney Creek @ Quartz Creek (river mile 4) 22.6 25.2 +2.6 20.9 24.2 +3.3 20 Finney Creek (river mile 13) 17.5 19.6 +2.1 16.4 19.4 +3.0 21 Finney Creek (river mile 18) 16.0 17.3 +1.3 15.0 16.9 +1.9 22 Finney Creek (river mile 21) 14.0 16.2 +2.2 13.0 16.0 +3.0 23 Fisher Creek @ Starbird Rd 18.9 21.6 +2.7 17.8 20.1 +2.3 24 Fisher Creek @ Brandstorm Rd 17.2 20.8 +3.6 16.4 19.3 +2.9 25 Fisher Creek @ Bosk Rd 21.3 20.8 -0.5 20.1 20.1 0.0 26 Fisher Creek @ fish ladder 15.3 15.5 +0.2 14.2 14.8 +0.6 27 Grandy Creek 14.4 15.2 +0.8 14.0 14.5 +0.5 29 Gravel Creek 16.3 17.2 +0.9 14.9 16.7 +1.8 30 Hansen Creek (lower) 18.5 21.4 +2.9 17.3 20.3 +3.0 32 Hatchery Creek 17.4 19.7 +2.3 15.5 19.0 +3.5 34 Hooper Creek 16.1 18.3 +2.2 15.3 17.4 +2.1 35 Jackman Creek 17.2 19.4 +2.2 15.9 18.9 +3.0 40 Mouse Creek 17.0 18.8 +1.8 16.2 18.4 +2.2 44 Quartz Creek 18.5 21.7 +3.2 17.2 20.9 +3.7 46 Ruxall Creek 17.6 19.7 +2.1 16.8 19.0 +2.2 47 Sandy Creek 16.2 18.9 +2.7 15.6 17.7 +2.1 48 Savage Creek 13.5 14.3 +0.8 13.2 14.2 +1.0 49 South Fork Bulson Creek 14.1 16.4 +2.3 13.7 15.1 +1.4 50 South Fork Turner Creek 16.1 19.2 +3.1 15.5 18.2 +2.7 51 Turner tributary (lake outlet) 23.1 21.8 -1.3 21.3 21.5 +0.2 52 Unnamed Decline tributary @ USFS 2430 Rd 15.0 17.0 +2.0 13.9 16.8 +2.9 53 Unnamed Decline tributary @ USFS 2435 Rd 13.6 14.8 +1.2 12.5 14.6 +2.1 54 Unnamed Finney tributary (small Fin) 16.4 19.0 +2.6 15.8 18.2 +2.4 56 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary 18.1 21.3 +3.2 17.4 20.3 +2.9 59 Walker Creek 20.5 23.0 +2.5 19.4 22.0 +2.6

max. +3.6 +5.9 min. -1.3 0.0 mean +2.0 +2.3

3.1. Comparison with State Water Quality Standards

Washington State water quality standards are defined in Chapter 173-201A of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC)3. In 2006, Washington adopted 16 C˚ as the 7-DADM standard for waters designated as “Core Summer Salmonid Habitat” (DOE, 2008). This criterion was lowered from a previous value of 18 C˚ and is identical to the criterion that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended in its temperature

3 Chapter 173-201A of the WAC may be found at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/wac173201a.html

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http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/wac173201a.html


guidance for salmon and trout core juvenile rearing. In addition to the core summer salmonid standard, some locations (specified in Table 6) have an additional requirement of 13˚ C during specific time periods based on supplemental spawning and incubation criteria that are required to ensure protection for the incubation of salmon, trout, and char4. All of the streams monitored, except those sites located at lake outlets (Day Creek – Site 16; Grandy Creek – Site 28; and a tributary to Turner Creek – Site 51), are subject to the core summer salmonid habitat standard of 16˚ C as defined in the state water quality standards for temperature (Chapter 173-201A Washington Administrative Code). Many of the sites in 2008 and most in 2009 recorded 7-DADM stream temperatures above state standards at some point during the summer season. In 2008, 48% of the sites recorded temperatures above state standards as compared to 87% in 2009 (Table 6 and Table 7). The number of days that temperatures were above standards varied considerably but was greatest at Carpenter Creek (Site 7) which recorded 71 days above the 16˚ C standard in 2008 and 76 days in 2009. In 2008, Carpenter Creek (Site 7), Finney Creek (Site 18), Fisher Creek (Site 25), and Walker Creek (Site 59) all recorded more than 40 days above the 16˚ C standard (Table 6). In 2009, Carpenter Creek (Site 7), Day Creek (Sites 11-14), Finney Creek (Sites 18 and 19), Hansen Creek (Site 30), and Walker Creek (Site 59) all recorded more than 40 days above the 16˚ C standard (Table 7).

Several of the sites including: Alder Creek (Sites 1 and 2); Dan Creek (Site 10); Day Creek (Site 11-15); Finney Creek (Site 18 and 19); Hansen Creek (Site 30); and Jackman Creek (Site 35), are also subject to a 13˚ C supplemental spawning/incubation criteria. The seasonal maximum 7-DADM temperatures exceeded the 13˚ C standard at 3 of the 7 sites in 2008: Dan Creek (Site 10); and Finney Creek (Sites 18 and 19) (Table 6). In 2009, the seasonal maximum 7-DADM temperatures exceeded the 13˚ C standard on all applicable sites at some point during the summer (Table 7). The start and end dates vary by site and the total number of days over the 13˚ C or 16˚ C standard may not be complete at all sites, particularly those where temperatures were over standards nearly the entire duration.

4 A map of the supplemental spawning and incubation criteria for the Lower Skagit (WRIA 3) may be found at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0610038/spawning3.pdf and for the Upper Skagit (WRIA 4) at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0610038/spawning4.pdf

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Table 6. Summary of period of installation and comparison with state standards for monitoring sites in 2008.

Number of Days Over

Total % of Days

Site # Stream Name Start Date End Date

# Days Installed

13˚C* Standard

16˚C Standard

Over Standards

1 Alder Creek @ Cape Horn Rd 07/08/08 10/05/08 90 0 0 0 2 Alder Creek upstream of Hwy 20 07/07/08 10/05/08 91 0 0 0 3 Anderson Creek 07/08/08 10/05/08 90 N/A 0 0 4 Bob Lewis Creek 07/10/08 10/13/08 96 N/A 5 5 5 Bulson Creek 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 3 3 6 Carpenter Creek 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 7 8 7 Carpenter Creek @ I-5 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 71 78 8 Cold Spring Creek 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 0 0 9 Conn Creek 07/08/08 10/14/08 99 N/A 0 0

10 Dan Creek 06/30/08 10/13/08 106 19 15 32 17 Decline Creek 07/08/08 10/14/08 99 N/A 0 0 18 Finney Creek (river mile 2.4) 07/17/08 09/16/08 62 16 41 93 19 Finney Creek @ Quartz Creek (river mile 4) 06/26/08 10/05/08 102 30 36 65 20 Finney Creek (river mile 13) 07/16/08 09/16/08 63 N/A 4 6 21 Finney Creek (river mile 18) 07/16/08 09/16/08 63 N/A 0 0 22 Finney Creek (river mile 21) 07/16/08 09/16/08 63 N/A 0 0 23 Fisher Creek @ Starbird Rd 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 37 41 24 Fisher Creek @ Brandstorm Rd 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 5 5 25 Fisher Creek @ Bosk Rd 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 49 54 26 Fisher Creek @ fish ladder 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 0 0 27 Grandy Creek 06/17/08 10/05/08 111 N/A 0 0 29 Gravel Creek 07/11/08 10/13/08 95 N/A 0 0 30 Hansen Creek (lower) 06/25/08 10/06/08 104 0 12 12 31 Hansen Creek (upper) 06/26/08 10/25/08 122 0 5 4 32 Hatchery Creek 06/26/08 10/05/08 102 N/A 4 4 34 Hooper Creek 06/17/08 09/29/08 105 N/A 0 0 35 Jackman Creek 06/30/08 09/29/08 92 N/A 0 0 37 Mannser Creek (lower) 07/08/08 10/05/08 90 N/A 0 0 38 Mannser Creek (upper) 07/08/08 10/05/08 90 N/A 0 0 39 Morgan Creek 07/07/08 10/15/08 101 N/A 17 17 40 Mouse Creek 07/11/08 10/13/08 95 N/A 3 3 44 Quartz Creek 06/30/08 10/05/08 98 N/A 6 6 46 Ruxall Creek 06/30/08 10/05/08 98 N/A 5 5 47 Sandy Creek 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 0 0 48 Savage Creek 07/02/08 10/05/08 92 N/A 0 0 49 South Fork Bulson Creek 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 0 0 50 South Fork Turner Creek 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 0 0 51 Turner tributary (lake outlet) 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A N/A N/A 52 Unnamed Decline tributary @ USFS 2430 Rd 07/09/08 10/13/08 97 N/A 0 0 53 Unnamed Decline tributary @ USFS 2435 Rd 07/09/08 10/13/08 97 N/A 0 0 54 Unnamed Finney tributary (small Fin) 07/02/08 10/02/08 93 N/A 0 0 56 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 16 18 59 Walker Creek 07/01/08 09/30/08 92 N/A 48 53

maximum 122 30 71 93 minimum 62 0 0 0 mean 93 8 9 12

N/A indicates that the state standard does not apply. * Spawning/incubation standard applies only during portions of the year

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Table 7. Summary of period of installation and comparison with state standards for monitoring sites in 2009.

Number of Days Over

Total % of Days

Site # Stream Name Start Date End Date

# Days Installed

13˚C* Standard

16˚C Standard

Over Standards

2 Alder Creek 06/04/09 10/07/09 126 3 0 23 Anderson Creek 06/09/09 10/01/09 115 N/A 13 11 4 Bob Lewis Creek 06/08/09 11/24/09 170 N/A 16 9 5 Bulson Creek 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 12 16 6 Carpenter Creek 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 20 26 7 Carpenter Creek @ I-5 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 76 100 8 Cold Spring Creek 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 9 12 9 Conn Creek 06/11/09 11/03/09 146 N/A 1 1

10 Dan Creek 06/09/09 12/03/09 177 42 36 44 11 Day Creek (river mile 0.02) 07/01/09 09/26/09 88 26 62 100 12 Day Creek (river mile 0.07) 07/01/09 09/26/09 88 26 62 100 13 Day Creek – lower (river mile 1.1) 06/10/09 10/01/09 114 29 74 90 14 Day Creek (river mile 2.5) 07/01/09 09/26/09 88 26 62 100 15 Day Creek – mid (river mile 5.1) 06/10/09 10/05/09 118 6 23 25 16 Day Creek – lake outlet (river mile 8.3) 06/09/09 10/05/09 119 N/A N/A N/A 17 Decline Creek 06/11/09 11/03/09 146 N/A 4 3 18 Finney Creek (river mile 2.4) 06/30/09 09/26/09 89 26 63 100 19 Finney Creek @ Quartz Creek (river mile 4) 06/03/09 10/01/09 121 43 66 90 20 Finney Creek (river mile 13) 06/30/09 10/04/09 97 N/A 21 22 21 Finney Creek (river mile 18) 06/30/09 10/04/09 97 N/A 8 8 22 Finney Creek (river mile 21) 06/30/09 10/04/09 97 N/A 0 0 23 Fisher Creek @ Starbird Rd 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 28 37 24 Fisher Creek @ Brandstorm Rd 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 14 18 25 Fisher Creek @ Bosk Rd 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 38 50 26 Fisher Creek @ fish ladder 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 0 0 27 Grandy Creek 06/18/09 10/05/09 110 N/A 0 0 28 Grandy Creek (Lake outlet) 06/18/09 10/05/09 110 N/A N/A N/A 29 Gravel Creek 06/22/09 12/08/09 170 N/A 5 3 30 Hansen Creek 06/13/09 12/31/09 202 3 48 25 32 Hatchery Creek 06/03/09 10/01/09 121 N/A 24 20 33 Hobbit Creek 06/29/09 10/08/09 102 N/A 0 0 34 Hooper Creek 06/03/09 10/08/09 128 N/A 9 7 35 Jackman Creek 06/10/09 10/05/09 118 23 19 36 36 Little Fisher Creek 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 9 12 40 Mouse Creek 06/09/09 12/22/09 197 N/A 13 7 41 Mundt Creek 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 5 7 42 North Fork Turner Creek 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 11 14 43 Osterman Creek 06/29/09 10/08/09 102 N/A 11 11 44 Quartz Creek 06/03/09 10/01/09 121 N/A 33 27 45 Rocky Creek 06/10/09 10/05/09 118 N/A 21 18 46 Ruxall Creek 06/04/09 10/01/09 120 N/A 20 17 47 Sandy Creek 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 11 14 48 Savage Creek 06/04/09 10/05/09 124 N/A 0 0 49 South Fork Bulson Creek 07/17/09 09/30/09 106 N/A 0 0 50 South Fork Turner Creek 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 12 16 51 Turner tributary (lake outlet) 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A N/A N/A 52 Unnamed Decline tributary @ USFS 2430 Rd 06/15/09 10/06/09 114 N/A 6 5 53 Unnamed Decline tributary @ USFS 2435 Rd 06/16/09 10/06/09 114 N/A 0 0 54 Unnamed Finney tributary (Small Fin) 06/04/09 10/05/09 124 N/A 12 10 55 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary (@ 2.6 miles) 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 7 9 56 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary (@ 2.2 miles) 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 45 59 57 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary (@ 2.0 miles) 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 0 0 58 Unnamed Lake Creek tributary (@ 1.5 miles) 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 11 14 59 Walker Creek 07/17/09 09/30/09 76 N/A 60 79 60 Winters Creek 06/29/09 10/05/09 99 N/A 10 10

maximum 202 43 76 100 minimum 76 5 0 0 mean 106 26 21 27

N/A indicates that the state standard does not apply. * Spawning/incubation standard applies only during portions of the year

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Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act requires Washington State to periodically prepare a list of streams that are known to fall short of water quality standards and are not expected to improve within the next two years. This effort was most recently completed for the lower Skagit River basin in 2004. Several of the sites, including: Carpenter Creek; Fisher Creek; and Hansen Creek, were located in streams that are listed as impaired according to Ecology’s 1998 assessment. In 2001, Ecology confirmed these sites do not meet state water quality standards by collecting detailed temperature and flow measurements (DOE, 2008). Our data agree with those findings. Carpenter Creek at the I-5 intersection (Site 7), which is a low-gradient man-made channel, had the highest number of days over standards in both 2008 (71 days) and 2009 (76 days). Fisher Creek at the Bosk Road intersection and Hansen Creek had 38 days and 48 days over standards respectively in 2009 (Table 7) and Fisher Creek at Bosk Road had 49 days over standards in 2008 (Table 6).

3.2. Air Temperatures

Daily fluctuations in stream temperature are strongly influenced by incoming solar radiation which is highly correlated with air temperature. Monthly average air temperatures were compared with long term averages at sites in the study area to determine if air temperatures were warmer or cooler than average in 2008 and 2009.

In general, results indicated that mid-summer air temperatures were much warmer in 2009, than in 2008, during the hottest part of the summer. Table 8 contains 2008 and 2009 air temperatures during the summer months of June to August compared with long-term averages for three stations located in Sedro Woolley, Concrete and Darrington.

Mean air temperatures in 2008 were near (+/- 1.0 C˚) ‘average’ for the month of July and ‘warmer than average’ (warmer than mean plus 1.0 C˚) for the month of August in Sedro Woolley. In Concrete, mean air temperatures in 2008 were ‘warmer than average’ for the month of July and near ‘average’ and for the month of August. Darrington recorded mean air temperatures that were ‘warmer than average’ in July and ‘much warmer than average’ (warmer than mean plus one standard deviation) in August.

Air temperatures were ‘much warmer than average’ at all three stations in July of 2009. July 29th 2009 was the peak of a heat wave that broke all-time record highs at many locations in the Northwest, including Seattle and Bellingham. In August of 2009, air temperatures were still ‘much warmer than average’ in Sedro Woolley and Darrington and ‘warmer than average’ in Concrete.

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Table 8. Comparisons of monthly average daily mean (average of daily average temperatures) and max (average of daily maximum temperatures) air temperatures to long-term averages at selected regional monitoring stations in the Skagit basin for 2008 and 2009.

Air Temperature category: Symbol much cooler than average (<mean - standard deviation) -- -- cooler than average (between 0 and -- -- category) -- near (within +/- 1.0 C˚) average 0 warmer than average (between 0 and + + category) + much warmer than average (>mean + standard deviation) + + 2008 June July August September Sedro Woolley mean -- -- 0 + -- (represents western part of study area) max -- -- -- -- -- -- Concrete mean -- -- -- 0 -- (represents central part of study area) max -- -- -- -- -- Darrington* mean -- + + + + + (represents eastern part of study area) max 0 + + + + + 2009 June July August September Sedro Woolley mean + + + + + + + + max + + + 0 + + Concrete mean ND + + + + max ND + + 0 0 Darrington* mean ND + + + + -- -- max ND + + + + -- --

* indicates missing data. 2008 Darrington data missing days: June=12, July=8, Aug=12, Sept=12 2009 Darrington data missing days: June=all, July=10, Aug=10

ND = no data Source: Western Regional Climate Center web site http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/climsmwa.html

3.3. Groundwater Input

Groundwater input during low flow summer months can have a significant cooling effect on stream temperature. The amount of cooling depends on the volume of groundwater input and the temperature difference between the in-channel and groundwater flows. In this study, several streams including Hobbit Creek (Site 33), Mannser Creek (Sites 37 and 38) and Savage Creek (Site 48) have temperature time-series that indicate some level of groundwater influence. Figure 2 demonstrates the smoothing effect of groundwater on seasonal and diurnal temperature peaks in Mannser Creek (Site 38) when compared with a typical surface-flow dominated stream such as Ruxall Creek (Site 46).

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http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/climsmwa.html


Figure 2. Comparison of groundwater-influenced stream temperature time-series (Mannser Creek) with typical surface-flow dominated stream temperature time-series (Ruxall Creek) for 2008.

3.4. Longitudinal Temperature Patterns

In the absence of insulating or cooling influences (e.g., groundwater, hyporheic, or cool tributary inputs), stream temperatures are primarily controlled by heat exchanges with the atmosphere (Bogan et al., 2003). In general, stream temperatures, particularly in larger streams, tend to increase in the downstream direction. However, studies have shown variability in the longitudinal pattern of small stream temperatures at the reach scale (Dent et al., 2008). Cool tributary channel inputs can act to buffer temperature increases and, in some cases, mixing zones at tributary junctions are believed to be important thermal refugia during periods of high temperatures in mainstem channels (Berman and Quinn, 1991; Torgersen et al., 1999).

In general, 7DADM temperatures exhibit an increasing trend with drainage area. Figure 3 shows the linear regression of basin area (drainage area upstream of monitoring site) and 7-DADM temperature for 2008 and 2009. Sites at lake outlets and Carpenter Creek at the I-5 intersection (Site 7), which is a low-gradient man-made channel appear to be outliers (Figure 3). The sites are not evenly distributed in terms of basin area with most sites less than 10 square miles but a few that are much larger.

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Figure 3. Linear regression of drainage area and 7-DADM and for 2008 (R2=0.30) and 2009 (R2=0.33).

Two of the streams (Finney Creek and Day Creek) had sites at several locations in the basin to evaluate downstream changes. Data from Finney Creek was collected at 5 sites distributed over19 miles of stream channel. Figure 4 displays the 7-DADM temperature time series for the Finney Creek sites (Site 18-22) in 2008 and 2009. Temperatures increase systematically with distance in the downstream direction although the lower sites (river mile 2.4 and 4) appear to have slightly more seasonal variability.

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Figure 4. Time-series of 7-DADM stream temperatures in 2008 and 2009 for sites located along Finney Creek. River mile is the distance upstream from the confluence with the Skagit River. Note that the most downstream sites (RM 2.4 and 4) were the warmest, as expected.

In Day Creek, there were 5 sites distributed over 8.3 miles of stream channel. Figure 5 displays the 7-DADM temperature time series for the Day Creek sites (Site 11-16) in 2009.

Figure 5. Time-series of 7-DADM stream temperatures for sites located along Day Creek. River mile is a centerline distance increasing from zero at the confluence with the Skagit River.

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Finney Creek temperatures exhibit a strong linear increasing trend in 7-DADM with distance from the headwaters (Figure 7). Although temperatures at all sites were warmer in 2009 than 2008, the downstream rate of increase, as indicated by the slope of the lines, is very similar. This downstream warming of Finney Creek is strong despite the influence of several cooler tributaries in the lower (and warmer) reach. The three Finney Creek tributaries monitored (Quartz Creek – Site 44; Hatchery Creek – Site 32; and Ruxall Creek – Site 46) had seasonal maximum 7-DADM temperatures that were much cooler (up to 5.4˚ C) than Finney Creek (Figure 6) in both 2008 and 2009. Apparently, the flow contribution from these tributaries is not sufficient to produce much overall cooling of Finney Creek but they likely provide refuge habitat.

Figure 6. Map of selected temperature monitoring sites from 2008 in Finney Creek drainage showing cooler 7-DADM temperatures in tributary channels (˚C).

Day Creek temperatures exhibit a markedly different pattern. The uppermost site, at river mile 8.3, is located near the outlet of Day Lake and consequently has the highest temperatures. The site at river mile 5.1 is located directly downstream of the junction with Rocky Creek. Rocky Creek is similar in size to Day Creek at the confluence and appears to have a significant cooling effect. There are also several other moderately sized tributaries between this site and the Day Lake outlet. The sites from river mile 0.02 to river mile 2.5 recorded temperatures similar to one another with some fluctuation.

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Figure 7. Seasonal maximum 7-DADM temperatures by river mile at monitoring location for Finney Creek and Day Creek sites. Flow direction is from upstream sites on the right to downstream sites on the left.

3.5. Upstream Land Cover

The heat input from direct solar radiation on the water surface is a highly significant factor influencing stream temperature (Beschta et al., 1987). Land use may directly influence the amount of incoming solar radiation by altering the amount of shade provided by riparian vegetation. As stated previously, sites were located in a variety of land-cover conditions.

A coarse categorization of the riparian land cover for 0.5 mile (2640 feet) upstream of each site was identified using the 2009 National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) aerial photography. The categories were: 1) forested buffer – if there was a typical DNR Forest Practices riparian buffer or equivalent; 2) open – if there was no visible riparian buffer; 3) mixed – if there was a mix of forested buffer and open; and 4) lake – if there was a lake upstream regardless of whether or not there was a buffer around it. Figure 8 displays the distribution of 7-DADM temperatures by upstream land-cover category. As expected, the lake category had the highest temperatures. Temperatures generally increased with land-cover category as follows: Forested Buffer; Mixed; Open; and, Lake.

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Figure 8. Box-plot of 7-DADM temperatures for 2008 and 2009 by land-cover category as identified from aerial photography for 0.5 miles upstream of monitoring sites.

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These data may be confounded by other site-scale factors that were not evaluated. For example, the Mixed and Open sites were typically at lower elevations. Other systematic differences in hydrology or other factors may also exist. This analysis was not designed to isolate differences in stream temperature solely based on riparian land-cover categories; and therefore, no statistical tests were conducted and no statistical inferences can be made. The data are presented in Figure 8 simply to graphically present the distribution of 7-DADM by riparian land-cover category.

4. Conclusions

Stream temperatures were collected at 60 monitoring sites throughout the Skagit River basin in 2008 and/or 2009. Temperatures varied substantially by site and by year. Site-scale factors that appear to be related to this variability were drainage area, groundwater or lake water input, and upstream riparian cover. Certainly, there are additional site-scale factors (e.g. channel form; hydrology; and others) that influence stream temperatures but they were not evaluated. A basic evaluation of upstream riparian land cover supports the widely accepted belief that streams with forested riparian zones tend to have cooler maximum temperatures than those with limited or no mature riparian vegetation to provide shade. However, these results may be confounded by other site-scale factors that were not evaluated. On average, 7-DADM temperatures were 2.3˚ C warmer in 2009 than in 2008. Year-to-year variability is assumed to be primarily due to increased solar radiation associated with differences in weather. Air temperatures recorded at regional climate stations were much warmer in 2009 than in 2008, during the hottest part of the summer when sunny periods heat up the streams. Many streams exceeded the Washington State water quality standards for temperature as defined in Chapter 173-201A of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) indicating that temperatures were above the preferred range for salmon. In 2008, 48% of the sites exceeded standards at some point in the summer. In 2009, when air temperatures were generally much warmer, 87% of sites exceeded standards; many for a significant period of time. In particular, peak stream temperatures (7-DADM) in several streams reached or exceeded a potentially lethal level (20˚ C) in 2009: Carpenter Creek; Fisher Creek; Dan Creek; Day Creek; Finney Creek; Hansen Creek; Quartz Creek; and Walker Creek. Although many of these sites are in the lower and more developed part of the study area, several are in forested lands in the middle Skagit (e.g., Finney Creek, Quartz Creek) and Sauk (Dan Creek) basins. Despite these general patterns, it is clear that there is significant variability in the temperature responsiveness exists among Skagit River tributaries. These differences should not be overlooked in assessments of fisheries impacts or watershed monitoring, protection and restoration priorities. The Washington Department of Ecology has identified that meeting water temperature standards will require the conservation of existing riparian forests and implementation of vegetation restoration projects that increase shade and improve the health of riparian forests (DOE, 2008). Similar efforts on tributary channels may be important for

22


ameliorating temperature increases and potentially providing thermal refugia for fish during periods of high temperature in the mainstem channel. Throughout the study area, forested buffers are required on all fish-bearing streams by Washington Forest Practices Rules and county Critical Areas Ordinances. In addition, continuing efforts should focus on reducing landslide potential on hillslopes that deliver sediment to streams that experience potentially lethal temperatures since sediment from landslides can cause channel widening and destroy riparian vegetation which can exacerbate temperature problems. On forest lands, these efforts include buffering of potentially unstable slopes and riparian areas and prioritizing road upgrades to current Road Maintenance and Abandonment Plan (RMAP) standards particularly upslope from streams with warm temperatures identified above.

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5. References

Adams, T.N. and K. Sullivan, 1989. The physics of forest stream heating: a simple model. Timber Fish and Wildlife Report No. TFW-WQ3-90-007. Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.

Berman, C. H. and T. P. Quinn, 1991. Behavioral thermoregulation and homing by spring Chinook Salmon, Oncorhyncgus tshawytscha, in the Yakima River. Journal of Fish Biology 39: 301-312.

Beschta, R.L., R. E. Bilby, G. W. Brown, L. B. Holtby and T. D. Hofstra. 1987. Stream Temperature and Aquatic Habitat: Fisheries and Forestry Interaction. Streamside Management: Forestry and Fishery Interactions. University of Washington Contribution # 57. Seattle, WA.

Beschta, R.L., and R.L. Taylor, 1988. Stream temperature increase and land use in a forested Oregon watershed. Water Resources Bulletin 24:19-25.

Bjornn, T.C., and D.W. Reiser, 1991. Habitat requirements of salmonids in streams. Influences of Forest and Rangeland Management on Salmonid Fishes and Their Habitats. pp. 83-138. American Fisheries Society Special Publication [Am. Fish. Soc. Special Pub.]. no. 19.

Bogan, T., O. Mohseni, and H.G. Stefan, 2003. The stream temperature-equilibrium temperature relationship. Water Resources Research vol. 39:1245-1257. Dent, L., D. Vick, K. Abrahams, S. Schoenholtz and S. Johnson, 2008. Summer temperature patterns in headwater streams of the Oregon Coast Range. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 44(4):803-813. Hicks, M., 2001. Evaluating standards for protecting aquatic life in Washington’s surface water quality standards. Temperature criteria. Wash. State Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. McCullough, D., 1999. A Review and Synthesis of Effects of Alterations to the Water Temperature Regime on Freshwater Life Stages of Salmonids, with Special Reference to Chinook Salmon. Columbia Intertribal Fisheries Commission, Portland, OR. Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10. Published as EPA 910-R-99-010. Pollock, M.M., T.J. Beechie, M. Liermann, and R.E. Bigley, 2009. Stream temperature relationship to forest harvest in western Washington. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 45(1): 141-156 Schuett-Hames, D., A. E. Pleus, E. Rashin, and J. Mathews, 1999. TFW Monitoring Program method Manual for the Stream Temperature Survey. Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA. TFW-AM9-999005.

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Skagit County, 2008. Skagit County Monitoring Program Annual Report, 2007 Water Year. Skagit County Public Works, Mount Vernon, WA. Skagit River System Cooperative and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2005. Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan. Skagit River System Cooperative, LaConner, WA. pp. 296 http://www.skagitcoop.org/documents/SkagitChinookPlan13.pdf Torgersen, C. E., D. M. Price, H. W. Li, and B. A. McIntosh, 1999. Multiscale thermal refugia and stream habitat associations of Chinook Salmon in northeastern Oregon. Ecological Applications, 9(1): 301-319. Washington Department of Ecology, 2003. Continuous Temperature Sampling Protocols for the Environmental Monitoring and Trends Section. Washington Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. Publication No. 03-03-052. Washington Department of Ecology, 2004. Lower Skagit River Tributaries Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load Study. Washington Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. Publication No. 04-03-001. Washington Department of Ecology, 2006. Waters Requiring Supplemental Spawning and Incubation Protection For Salmonid Species. Washington Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA.Publication No. 06-10-038. Washington Department of Ecology, 2008. Lower Skagit River Tributaries Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load Water Quality Improvement Report. Washington Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. Publication No. 08-10-20.

http://www.skagitcoop.org/documents/SkagitChinookPlan13.pdf

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