Puyullup Tribe Salmon, Trout Char Report 2005-06 02 Boise Creek To Clear Creek

WRIA 10: PUYALLUP/WHITE RIVER WATERSHED
BOISE CREEK
WRIA: 10.0057 - WHITE RIVER 2005 - 2006
DESCRIPTION
River miles surveyed: 0.0 to 4.5
Dates surveyed: 8/22/05 to 6/16/06
Boise Creek is a significant tributary to the White River,
Species surveyed: Chinook, Coho, Pink converging with the White just downstream of the HWY.
Chum, Steelhead 410 bridge at RM 23.5. In contrast to most of the Puyallup/
Access White River watershed which falls within Pierce County,
Mile 4.5: Hwy 410 East of Enumclaw Boise Creek lies within King County and flows south along
golf course to Boise trail. the city of Enumclaw. Boise Creek is a highly productive
Mile 2.2: 268th St. (Blake St.) in
Enumclaw (halfway) crosses Boise
tributary, providing 4.5 linear miles of suitable habitat for
south of town. several anadromous and resident species including spring
and fall chinook, coho, pink, sockeye, steelhead and
cutthroat trout. Although rare, chum have been observed,
prior to 2002, in the lower 0.5 miles of the creek. In August of 2003, the city of Tacoma removed its
99 year old concrete pipeline crossing located at RM 23 on the White River. The concrete and
rebar structure had long been suspected of injuring salmon and limiting upstream migration of
weaker swimmers like chum salmon. The removal of the old concrete
A bedrock falls at structure may result in increased numbers of chum salmon being
RM 4.5 marks the able to access Boise Creek in the future.
upper extent of A bedrock falls at RM 4.5
adult salmon and
marks the upper extent of adult A flag-tailed female
s t e e l h e a d
migration. salmon and steelhead migration chinook salmon sitting on
a redd in Boise Creek.
(left). Cutthroat trout have been
observed above the falls;
although, no data is available
on the size or range of the
population. Below the falls,
Boise flows through a step-pool
channel within dense second
growth forest for approximately
0.2 miles, with numerous
PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 1

2005 - 2006 ANNUAL SALMON, STEELHEAD AND BULL TROUT REPORT.
tailouts and quality gravel, spawning densities are often high within
this section. Continuing downstream of the forested area is a lower
gradient reach flowing for approximately 0.5 miles within the county
golf course in the city of Enumclaw. The riparian zone here is very
sparse, the banks are merely rip raped and bordered by maintained
turf grass, blackberry and small deciduous trees. There is, however,
a short section located within the golf course below RM 4.0 with an
intact hardwood riparian zone. Spawning is noticeably reduced
throughout the entire reach of the creek flowing within the open range
of the golf course. Downstream from
the golf course Boise Creek begins
The riparian zone (above) along
to flow through residential and
Boise Creek throughout most of
the county golf course is very agricultural lands. This more
sparse. developed reach extends from
approximately RM 3.7 down to RM
0.3, much of the stream along this
stretch is incised to depths of 20 feet
or more (top left). Extensive tracts
of land bordering Boise Creek below
RM 3.5 are primarily used for
maintaining cattle and other livestock (top right, center left).
Although spawning activity for all species occurs throughout the
entire 4.5 miles, approximately 65 - 70% of chinook, coho, and pink
spawning occurs above RM 2.4. From 1999 to 2006, an average of
63.8% (range 53.5%-83.3%) of steelhead spawned above RM 2.4.
During the 2005 season, the first significant numbers of chum salmon were observed in Boise
Creek as high as RM 1.5. Boise has continued to supported a large number of chinook spawners
over the past several seasons (2000-2005). Carcass sampling data shows that a significant number
of chinook, as high as 58%, returning to Boise Creek are hatchery
origin fall chinook. This corresponds with DNA sampling studies
of chinook in the White River showing an approximately 60% fall
and 40% spring chinook component. The pink salmon returns to
Boise in 2005 were unprecedented. Estimate calculations put the
actual escapement at nearly 16,000 fish.
Spawning opportunities for all species is dramatically reduced
in the lower 0.3 miles of the creek. The
gradient throughout this short stretch
Steelhead poaching
is steeper, the banks are confined by Much of the stream from RM 3.7
high steep walls, and the substrate down to RM 0.3 is incised to
consists of mostly boulders and large depths of 20 feet or more.
cobble.
Chinook, coho and steelhead are especially vulnerable to poaching
and harassment in this urban stream (lower left). Surrounding
agricultural land use continues to impact channel conditions in Boise
Creek. Tremendous improvements to riparian conditions are
This poacher left in a hurry, leaving
behind over 10 pounds of skeined
possible but require willing land owners, technical expertise
coho eggs and 12 carcesses. and funding. Despite its many habitat related shortcomings,
Boise Creek continues
to support a healthy Pink salmon spawning in
Boise Creek .
and stable population of
wild steelhead, a
remarkable fact in light
of the basin-wide
declines.

2005 BOISE CREEK CHINOOK COUNTS

160
LIVE
DEAD
140 REDDS
120
100
NUMBER OBSERVED
80
60
40
20
0
8/22/05 8/31/05 9/9/05 9/19/05 9/28/05 10/6/05 10/13/05 10/24/05 11/9/05
DAT E SURVEYED
BOISE CREEK CHINOOK SEASON COMPARISONS

(1994 - 2005)
1000 AUC: ESCAPEMENT ESTIMATE
LIVE
903
900 DEAD
REDDS
800
700
617
NUMBER OBSERVED
600
500
440
397
400
351
344
318
315
300
229
221
215
170
200
155
160
153
150
147
100
100
89
89
81
75
100
70
67
63
58
44
46
41
35
30
27
28
24
10
11
0
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

BOISE CREEK CHINOOK RUN TIMING

(2000-2005)
500 2005
2004
450 2003
2002
400
2001
2000
NUMBER OF CHINOOK OBSERVED
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Aug 15-25 Aug 26-Sept 5 Sept 6-Sept 15 Sept 16-Sept 25 Sept 26-Oct 5 Oct 6-Oct 15 Oct 16-Oct 25 Oct 26-Nov 5
DAT E
BOISE CREEK CHINOOK CARCASS SAMPLING

(2002-2005)
600 CARCASSES SAM P L ED
551
CHIN OOK W ITH CODED W IRE TAG &
ADIP OSE CL IP (FAL L /HATCHERY ORIGIN )
500 CHIN OOK W ITH ADIP OSE CL IP ON L Y

(FAL L /HATCHERY ORIGIN )
W IL D UN M ARKED CHIN OOK
400
NUMBER OF CHINOOK
290
300
260
236
225
200
115 110 118

107
100
12 8 11
1 3 1
0
2002 2003 2004 2005
SAMP LIN G SEASON

2005 BOISE CREEK COHO COUNTS

1200 LIVE
DEAD
1000
800
NUMBER OBSERVED
600
400
200
0
9/9/05 9/19/05 9/28/05 10/6/05 10/13/05 10/24/05 11/9/05 11/18/05 11/28/05 12/8/05 12/19/05
DAT E SURVEY ED
BOISE CREEK COHO SEASON COMPARISONS

(1993 - 2005)
3,285
3,500 LIVE
DEAD
3,000 REDDS
2,500
2,155
NUMBER OBSERVED
2,000
1,513
1,500
1,083
1,000
697
608
558
483
394
366
500
347
335
327
282
270
263
251
230
233
222
208
174
158
152
112
108
99
97
90
59
51
43
40
30
20
21
12
0
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

2005 BOISE CREEK PINK COUNTS

14000 LIVE
DEAD
12000
10000
NUMBER OBSERVED
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
8/22/05 8/31/05 9/9/05 9/19/05 9/28/05 10/6/05 10/13/05 10/24/05 11/9/05 11/18/05
DAT E SURVEYED
BOISE CREEK PINK SEASON COMPARISONS

(2001 - 2005)
39,744
LIVE
40000
36,335
DEAD
35000
30000
NUMBER OBSERVED
25000
20000
15000
10000
6,519
4,392
5000
1,200
6
0
2001 2003 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

2006 BOISE CREEK STEELHEAD COUNTS

50 L IV E
48 DEAD
46
REDDS
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
NUMBER OBSERVED
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
3/16/06 3 /2 7/06 4/6/06 4/17/06 4/26/06 5/5/06 5/17 /0 6 6/12/05
D ATE SURVEYED
BOISE CREEK STEELHEAD REDDS SEASON COMPARISONS

(1995 - 2006)
100 STEELHEAD REDDS
90 88
79
80
74
70
63
NUMBER OBSERVED
60 56
50
44
40
32
30
30 27
20 18 18
16
10
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
YEAR SURVEYED

2005 BOISE CREEK CHUM COUNTS
12 LIVE
DEAD
10
8
NUMBER OBSERVED
0
11/18/05 11/28/05 12/8/05 12/19/05
DATE SURVEYED

BUCKLEY: USACE FISH TRAP U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’
WRIA: 10.0031 - USACE FISH TRAP -WHITE RIVER 2005 - 2006

DESCRIPTION
Salmon, steelhead and char migrating to the
upper White River and its headwaters, enter the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) fish trapping
facility located at RM 24.3 near Buckley (left photo).
The Corps’ trapping facility is uniquely integrated
into a diversion dam and flume intake that was, up
until January 2004, used to divert water from the
White River to generate power. Since PSE ceased
power production,
some measure of
water has continued
to be diverted from
the White River to maintain the water levels and water quality in
lake Tapps. The USACE facility offers unparalled access to
significant numbers of salmonids, which has been invaluable tool Chinook are examined for
for research, salmon recovery and escapement estimates. During fin clips and wanded for
cwt’s.
the months that salmon, steelhead and
char return to the upper White River, the
USACE empties the trap daily, the trap is hoisted to a tank truck and
fish are released from the trap into the truck (center left photo). Fish
are then transported above Mud Mountain Dam and released back into
the White River at RM 33.6, four miles above the dam and about one
mile below the confluence with the Clearwater River.
Species of salmonids captured in the trap include spring and fall
chinook, coho, pink, sockeye, chum, steelhead and char. Puyallup
Tribe Fisheries staff sample the contents of the trap once a week
throughout the entire year. Species sampled regularly include chinook,
steelhead, sockeye and char. During the spring chinook/sockeye/char
run (late May- early October) PTF staff sample the trap 1 to 5 days per week, which is
dependent on the number of fish captured throughout the entire run. Steelhead are sampled
regularly by PTF staff from late January through June. All fish sampled are dip-netted from the
trap and placed into a 30 gallon stainless steel bin and anesthetized with MS-222. All fish are
examined for fin–clips and chinook are wanded for coded-wire tags (cwt) with a metal detector.
Additioanl sampling includes measuring each fish for fork length and collection of DNA and
scale samples from chinook, sockeye and char. DNA sampling involves removing a small
amount of the anal fin and preserving it in 95% ethenol for later analysis. In addition to DNA
and scale samples, char are floy
Steelhead Bull Trout/Char
tagged and transported above Mud
Mountain dam. Wild steelhead are
also transported above Mud Mountain
dam, while hatchery steelhead are
returned back into the White River
below the USACE trap as per
agreement with the Muckleshoot
Indian Tribe and the State of
NUMBER OF COHO TRANSPORTED NUMBER OF CHINOOK
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
1941 1,101
1941 14 5,431
18 1943 4,603
1943 1,467 3,736
717 1945 2,584
1945 1,003 3,692
3,811 1947 1,470
1947 4,992 1,841
1,469 1,370
1949
1949 6,739 1,849
12,484
1951 719
1951 3,623 842
7,500 931
1953
1953 9,698 633
5,671
1955 1,893
1955 1,961 794
3,403 374
1957
1957 2,094
245
2,031
1959 261
1959 3,448
PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES

528
1,398
1961 505
1961 1,098
164
1,992
1963 447
1963 1,429
658
4,090
1965 969
1965 1,810
639
3,756
1967 684
1967 2,506
1,639
465
1969 534
1969 1,537
1,688
557
1,818 1971 393
1971
2,972 392
796 1973 137
1973
Y EA R
388
Y EAR
1,081
1975 546 1975 488
833 229
1977 1,090 1977 66
493 140
(1941 - 2005)
(1941 - 2005)
1979 320 1979 72
335 61
1981 1,237 1981 175
522 20
USACE Trap Counts:
1983 408 USACE Trap Counts: 1983 26

403 10
1985 1,349 1985 27
599 6
1987 1,746 1987 117
3,231 127
1989 820 1989 111
5,840 221
1991 4,558 1991 277
1,264 406
1993 1,379 1993 409
6,503 392
Jacks wild: 248
1995 2,733 1995 605

Adults wild: 1291
927 702
(See Appendix E).
1997 7,988 1997 422

Coho Transported Above Mud Mountain Dam
Jacks acclimation: 74
1,782 402
Adults acclimation: 466
Chinook Transported Above Mud Mountain Dam
1999 1,065 1999 1,292

21,591 1,546
2001 6,022 2001 2,002
Breakdown of 2005 chinook
6,370 803
2003 16,476 2003 1,551
passed above Mud Mountain Dam
14,341 2,372
2005 13,894 2005 2,079
10
NUMBER OF STEELHEAD
NUMBER OF ADULTS TRANSPORTED
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
1941 437
1902
1943 1155
1
10
100
1000
10000
100000
1021
1945 1662
1980 2166
1947 1031
1381
1949 1364
1298
1982 1951 1122
822
19 1304
1953
1211
1984 1955 205
535
378 1957 368
156
1959 162
5
PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES

1986 280
1961 203
59 458
1963 264
15 347
1988 1965 683
12 906
1967 828
447
1990 20 1969 476
482
114 1971 726
477
Sockeye
1973 228
63
1992 351
Y EAR
1975 260
39 192
YEAR
Pink
1977 220
(1980 - 2005)
(1941 - 2006)
13 381
1994 1979 249
9 279
223 1981 286
USACE Trap Counts:
326
Chum
21
USACE Trap Counts:
1996 1983 274
960

39 1985 912
691
16 1987 638
1998 1971
1989 1234
5 683
1991 624
39 896
2000 1993 460
16 433
1995 367
405
15 1997 373
2002
Steelhead Transported Above Mud Mountain Dam
328
21 1999 253
13,190 369
41 2001 435
2004 14 524
2003 162
28
An additional 27 steelhead
33,346 183
4 2005 152
broodstock in 2006, bringing
the total escapement to 163.
were captured and utilized for
Adult Sockeye, Pink And Chum Transported Above Mud Mountain Dam
136
11
USACE Trap Counts:

Bull Trout Captured and Transported above
Mud Mountain Dam
(1999 - 2006)
30
28
2006 Char counts are only 1999
through August 31. 2000
2001
25 2002
23 2003
2004
2005
21 21
20
20 2006
NUMBER OF CHAR
16
15 15
15 14
13
12
11
10
10 9 9
7
6 6
5 5 5
5 4 4
3 3 3
2 2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
0
M ARCH APRIL M AY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEM BER OCTOBER NOVEM BER
MONTH SAMPLED

CANYON CREEK
WRIA: 10.**** - PUYALLUP RIVER 2005 - 2006
Chum salmon spawning in Canyon Creek.
DESCRIPTION
Canyon Creek is a small tributary to Clear
Creek (10.0022). Little stream complexity exists
within Canyon Creek, and seasonal flows are
rarely adequate to allow access for chinook or
steelhead to spawn. However, it is highly likely that
River miles surveyed: 1.0 to 1.2 juveniles from adult spawners in Clear and Swan Creeks
Dates surveyed: 11/22/05 to 2/3/06
Species surveyed: Chum utilize Canyon Creek, especially for overwintering. Chum
are the only species observed spawning in significant
Access numbers from late November through January. Adult coho
Mile 0.5: Intersection of Canyon and are periodically seen in the same reach as chum, but no
Pioneer.
surveys are conducted for coho by the Puyallup Tribe. There
is approximately 160 yards of suitable spawning habitat in
Canyon Creek, this section flows along Canyon road
Chum carcasses upstream of Pioneer Way. The gradient increases above Pioneer,
in Canyon Creek, but there are several short stretches of gravel between Pioneer
looking up-
stream from
Way and the culvert crossing under Canyon Road. The culvert
Canyon Road. doesn’t appear to be an impediment to chum, since they are often
observed spawning on the fine gravel within the culvert. However,
the steep gradient above the culvert does impede chum, as no
fish are observed above the culvert during the peak of the run.
The main channel above the culvert has been engineered with
the placement of log weirs to retain gravel. They appear to be
only moderately effective because the amount of fines in the entire
reach is excessive. Downstream of Pioneer, the channel substrate
consists of fine sand and extremely compacted small gravel. Storm
and ground water run off along the East side of Canyon Road
flows into Canyon Creek next to the downstream end of the
culvert. Large numbers of chum are often drawn up this small
drainage channel during high water events, only to be stranded
in thick deep mud when the water recedes (left).
2005 CANYON CREEK CHUM COUNTS

300 LIVE
DEAD
250
200
NUMBER OBSERVED
150
100
50
0
11/22/05 12/1/05 12/12/05 12/22/05 1/3/05 1/13/06 1/23/06 2/3/06
DATE SURVEYED
CANYON CREEK CHUM SEASON COMPARISONS

(2001 - 2005)
600 LIVE
DEAD
488
500
393
400
NUMBER OBSERVED
343
292
300 280
200 172
100
66
43 46
21
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEY ED

CANYONFALLS CREEK
WRIA: 10.0410 - PUYALLUP RIVER 2005 - 2006
Short reach along

McCutcheon road
providing excellent
spawning opportunities.
DESCRIPTION
Canyonfalls Creek is a small tributary
entering the Puyallup River at approximately
RM 16.2. Canyonfalls is primarily a spring
fed stream that flows with relative clarity
and consistency, even in late summer. Above
the culvert on McCutcheon Rd. at RM 0.5
River miles surveyed: 0.3 to 0.6 the gradient quickly increases but there are several
Dates surveyed: 8/25/05 to 5/17/06 pockets of usable spawning gravel. In 2003, a large
Species surveyed: Chinook (N/O) Coho,
cement box culvert replaced the old culvert under
Chum, Steelhead
Pink McCutcheon Road. Downstream of the road, the
Access substrate is a combination of sand and gravel within a
Mile 0.5: Follow Highway 162 into McMillin low gradient pool-rifle channel. The riparian area is
and turn east onto 128th Street. The first primarily alder and salmonberry. The vegetation along
stream crossing after the Puyallup River
the right bank is limited due to the extremely close
bridge is Canyon falls.
proximity of McCutcheon Rd. However, the reach
directly below the road does contain a large amount of
sand and fine sediment. In the summer of 2002, 220
cubic yards of 1 to 3 inch spawning quality drain rock
was deposited directly downstream of the McCutcheon
road culvert. The rock was distributed along an
approximately 0.2 mile stretch of the creek. The rock
was deposited as a result of a settlement agreement
In 2003, a large cement between the PuyallupTribe and Fennel Resources which
box culvert replaced the has a gravel mining operation located on Fennel Creek.
old culvert under Chinook, coho and chum are the most prevalent species
McCutcheon Road. observed spawning in the creek. In addition to these key
species, pink salmon were also observed in strong
numbers in 2003 and 2005. In the past, steelhead have been documented spawning in the
creek, yet as with many streams within the Puyallup watershed, none have been observed for
the past several years. In 2004, a beaver dam below the survey reach prevented chinook from
accessing the upper section of Canyonfalls.

CANYONFALLS CREEK CHINOOK SEASON COMPARISONS

(1997 - 2005)
10 LIVE
DEAD
9
REDDS
7
7
6 6
NUMBER OBSERVED
4 4
4
3 3
3
2 2 2 2
2
1 1 1
1
0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

2005 CANYONFALLS CREEK PINK COUNTS

25
L IV E
DEAD
20
15
NUMBER OBSERVED
10
0
9/16/05 9/27 /05 10/6/05 1 0/14/05 10/24/0 5
D ATE SU R VEYED
CANYONFALLS CREEK PINK SEASON COMPARISONS

(2001 - 2005)
70
AUC: ESCAPEMENT ESTIMATE
65
LIVE
DEAD
60
50
NUMBER OBSERVED
40
30
30 28
27
20
10
0
2001 2003 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

2005 CANYONFALLS CREEK COHO COUNTS

25 LIVE
DEAD
20
NUMBER OBSERVED
15
10
0
9/27/05 10/6/05 10/14/05 10/24/05 11/3/05 11/10/05 11/29/05 12/8/05 12/19/05 12/29/05
DAT E SURVEYED
CANYONFALLS CREEK COHO SEASON COMPARISONS

(1999 - 2005)
70 LIVE
DEAD
REDDS
60
50
46
44
NUMBER OBSERVED
39
40
35
30 28 28
24
22
20
10
9 9
10 7
6
5
4
1
0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

2005 CANYONFALLS CREEK CHUM COUNTS

160
L IV E
2004 Canyonfalls Creek chum graphs were
DEAD
generated using survey data collected by
140 WDFW.
120
100
NUMBER OBSERVED
80
60
40
20
0
11/10/05 11/29/05 12/8/05 12/19/05 12/29/05 1/4/06 1/12/06 1/19/06
DATE SURVEYED
CANYONFALLS CREEK CHUM SEASONAL COMPARISONS

(2001 - 2005)
1200
LIVE
DEAD
981
1000
800
NUMBER OBSERVED
600
407 398
400
289
246 232
178
200
96 108
69
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

CARBON RIVER
River miles surveyed:

0.0 to 8.5
Dates surveyed:
11/20/05 to 6/23/06
Species surveyed:
Chinook, Coho, Pink,
Chum, Steelhead
Access
R.M. 8.5: Take Hwy.
162 through Orting.
Turn on 177th St,
follow approximately 2
miles to end. Put-in
suitable for raft only.
R.M. 0.0: Take Hwy.
162 and turn East on
128th Street. Turn
South on McCutcheon
road and then West at
the first driveway,
Known as the “Dollar
launch”.
DESCRIPTION
The Carbon River is a major tributary of the
Puyallup River, entering the Puyallup at RM 17.9.
The Carbon River provides excellent spawning and
rearing opportunities for salmon and steelhead. In
the past, steelhead have been documented as high
as the Mt. Rainier National Park boundary.
However, the majority of the spawning for all
species occurs in the lower 11 miles. The lower 3
miles of the Carbon River are constrained by
earthen dikes. The channel varies considerably in
width, but averages approximately 300 ft. The
resulting channel is only moderately diverse with a
pool riffle character. Spawning gravel exists in
limited quantities and is utilized by all species of
salmonids present, although not in the numbers
observed in the upper reaches.
From the mouth of South Prairie Creek at RM
6.0, downstream to RM 3.0, the river is only leveed
along the South Side. There are large natural
bluffs to the north and the river is able to migrate
over a channel of up to 0.5 miles wide. This reach
contains multiple channels and many woody debris
jams throughout its length. The spawning and
rearing habitat is excellent here and
the highest spawning densities of all
species are observed along this
stretch of river.
The reach above South Prairie
Creek from RM 6.0 to 8.5 is again
constrained by both dikes and bluffs
on the North side. This reach has a
slightly higher gradient than the
lower river and as a result contains
less spawning habitat. There are
portions that are utilized by chinook
and steelhead but, not in the
densities observed in the reach above
Voights Creek.
Above RM 8.5 the Carbon River
flows through a narrow canyon for
several miles before becoming
unconstrained below the Mt. Rainier Upper Carbon river near the boarder of Mt. Rainier National Park
National Park boundary. This canyon RM 23 (right of bridge). This picture shows the large active, and
reach supports both chinook and braided channel of the upper river.
steelhead spawning. Chum and pink
salmon have not been observed above RM 8.0
The Mt. Rainier National Park boundary is located at RM 23. Up to approximately RM 26
the gradient remains low enough to provide some spawning opportunities in channel margins
and pool tailouts. Several small and moderate debris jams occur throughout this reach.
Above this, the gradient gradually increases to the terminus of the Carbon glacier. There is
less braiding in this section and the substrate is considerably larger providing few if any
spawning opportunities.
Winter steelhead stocks have been in serious decline for the past several years. Tribal and
state fisheries managers are currently working on a recovery plan to improve future steelhead
returns and hope to implement this plan in early 2006. Continuing efforts are being made by
the tribe and WDFW to increase and expand the survey coverage area in order to improve
escapement estimates. During the 2005
steelhead survey season, WDFW and Puyallup From the mouth of South Prairie Creek at RM 6.0,
downstream to RM 3.0, the river is only leveed along
Tribe fisheries staff increased the survey the South Side (below). There are large natural bluffs
coverage along the Carbon by making regular to the north and the river is able to migrate over a
helicopter surveys of the river from the NPS channel of up to 0.5 miles wide.
boundary at RM 23, to its confluence with the
Puyallup River.
A number of
side chan-
nels are
utilized
heavily by
chum
salmon along
the carbon
river. Most
of the chum
spawning
occurs below
South Prairie
Creek.

2005 CARBON RIVER CHUM COUNTS

400
LIV E
D EA D
350
300
250
NUMBER OBSERVED
200
150
100
50
0
11/20/05 1 2/9/05 12/20/05 1/4 /05
D A TE SU RV EYED
CARBON RIVER CHUM SEASON COMPARISONS

(1991 - 2005)
3,289
3,500 AUC: ESCAPEMENT ESTIMATE

3,225
LIVE
DEAD
2,865
3,000
2,707
2,625
2,513
2,509
2,498
2,500
2,226
2,149
2,123
NUMBER OBSERVED
1,868
2,000
1,503
1,500
1,234
1,124
1,091
1,083
1,044
944
899
1,000
849
855
811
660
647
624
599
565
541
500
260
217
0
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEY ED

CARBON RIVER STEELHEAD SEASON COMPARISONS

(1995 - 2006)
60 STEELHEAD REDDS
54
49
50
40
NUMBER OBSERVED
30 29
21
20
12
10 8 8
7
6
5
4
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
SEASON SURVEYED

CLARKS CREEK
Chum salmon spawning

in the upper extent of
Clarks Creek.
DESCRIPTION
Clarks Creek is a tributary to the Puyallup
River, entering the Puyallup at RM 5.8. Clarks
has two small tributaries; Diru and Rody
Creeks. Clarks is a low gradient spring-fed
stream with a pool-riffle character.
Salmonberry, maple and alder dominate the
riparian zone. The upper extent of the Clarks
River miles surveyed: 3.4 to 3.7
Creek (RM 3.4 to 3.7) provides abundant spawning
Dates surveyed: 8/22/05 to 4/26/06 opportunities for all species. The remaining stream
Species surveyed: Chinook, Coho, Chum, below the survey reach contains little gravel and the
Steelhead (N/O)
substrate consists of fine sand and mud. Little or no
Access spawning has been observed below RM 3.4. Upstream
Mile 3.4: From W. Pioneer Avenue, turn south fish migration is blocked by a dam at RM 3.7. The
on 14th St. S.W. Drive to a sharp right turn in Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
the road and there is a WDFW hatchery on
your right. Turn right on 15th Avenue just past operates a fish hatchery near the barrior dam on
the hatchery and park at the gate. Be sure to Clarks. The state hatchery raises trout for stocking
let the hatchery staff know you intend to walk local lakes. Gravel was introduced into the channel
the creek.
from RM 3.5 to 3.7 in the fall of 1997 and again in the
summer of 1999. This greatly enhances the spawning
Chum carcasses litter the survey reach opportunities for chinook, coho and chum salmon.
during late December and January. The However, increased spawning densities have resulted
gravel deposited in 1997 and 1999 supports in a high amount of redd superimposition throughout
a large number of chinook and chum
spawners.
this short reach. Several log weirs have been placed
above the interpretive bridge to aid in gravel retention.
The Puyallup tribe completed construction of a
chinook salmon hatchery on Clarks Creek (RM 1.0) in
the spring of 2004. The hatchery was constructed in
order to address several fish management issues, one
of which includes minimizing the straying of adult fall
chinook reared by the tribe and released from Diru
Creek. Extremely low summer flows in Diru Creek
prevent adult chinook from returning to the hatchery.
2005 CLARKS CREEK CHINOOK COUNTS

1 00 L IV E
DEAD
90 RED D S
80
70
60
NUMBER OBSERVED
50
40
30
20
10
0
8/ 17 / 0 5 8 / 2 6/ 0 5 9/ 6/ 05 9 / 1 6/ 0 5 9/ 22 / 0 5 9 / 2 9/ 0 5 10 / 7 / 0 5 10 / 1 7/ 05 1 0/ 26 / 0 5
D AT E SUR VE Y ED
CLARKS CREEK CHINOOK SEASON COMPARISONS

(1994 - 2005)
350 LIVE
319
DEAD
REDDS
289
300
250
NUMBER OBSERVED
191
200
145
150
131
116
103
103
101
100
96
93
100
87
78
78
74
63
59
58
50
50
46
50
42
38
35
34
30
27
22
18
16
12
11
10
10
10
0
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

CLARKS CREEK CHINOOK RUN TIMING

(2000-2005)
180 2005
2004
160 2003
2002
2001
140
2000
120
NUMBER OF CHINOOK
100
80
60
40
20
0
DAT E
CLARKS CREEK CHINOOK CARCASS SAMPLING

(2003-2005)
160 CARCASSES SAMPLED
CHINOOK W ITH CODED W IRE TAG &

ADIPOSE CLIP (FALL/HATCHERY ORIGIN)
140
CHINOOK W ITH ADIPOSE CLIP ONLY
(FALL/HATCHERY ORIGIN)
120 W ILD UNMARKED
101
NUMBER OF CHINOOK
100
80
70
60
50
40
40
31 32
26
20 15
11
3 3
0
2003 2004 2005
SEASON SAMP LED

2005 CLARKS CREEK COHO COUNTS

10
LIVE
DEAD
9
7
NUMBER OBSERVED
0
10/6/05 10/14/05 10/2405 11/3/05 11/14/05 11/22/05 12/1/05 12/12/05
DATE SURVEYED
CLARKS CREEK COHO SEASON COMPARISONS

(1993 - 2005)
120
LIVE
107
DEAD
100 REDDS
82
80
NUMBER OBSERVED
60
46
43
39
40
27
27
26
24
24
22
19
20
16
15
14
11
9
9
8
8
7
5
4
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
0
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

2005 CLARKS CREEK CHUM COUNTS

1600 L IV E
DEAD
1400
1200
1000
NUMBER OBSERVED
800
600
400
200
0
1 1/3/05 11/14/05 11/22/05 12 /1/05 12/12/05 12/22/05 1/3/05 1/13/06 1/23 /06 2 /3/06
D ATE SURVEYED
CLARKS CREEK CHUMCLASEASON COMPARISONS

(1991 - 2005)
3,000 AUC: ESCAPEMENT ESTIMATE
LIVE
2,686
DEAD
2,433
2,500
2,067
2,000
NUMBER OBSERVED
1,552
1,500
1,207
1,174
936
1,000
866
794
675
628
633
531
528
479
411
403
390
500
374
352
352
311
255
254
246
237
215
198
163
136
97
0
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

CLARKS CREEK STEELHEAD SEASON COMPARISONS

(1995 - 2006)
7
STEELHEAD REDDS
6
6
5
NUMBER OBSERVED
2
2
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
SEASON SURVEYED

PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS

CLARKS CREEK SALMON HATCHERY
Puyallup Tribe Fish Hatchery Facility

River mile: 1.0
Species: Fall And Spring Chinook
DESCRIPTION
The Puyallup Tribe of
Indians Clarks Creek
Salmon Hatchery is
located at RM 1 on Clarks
Creek (10.0027), a
tributary to the Puyallup
River. The Clarks Creek
hatchery was constructed
in order to address several fish management, and water supply issues including; minimizing
the straying of adult fall chinook reared by the tribe; providing space for rearing and
acclimating White River spring chinook; creating an independent and self sustaining fall and
spring chinook program for the tribe, and providing a reliable water supply to rear and expand
fish production.
Water is supplied from five vertical turbine pumps, each 20-horsepower. Each pump has a
flow capacity of 1,600 gpm. Each pump is capable of supplying one of four ponds with
approximately 3.6 cfs. Each of the four ponds has approximately 12,000+ cubic feet of water
volume, two ponds are concrete lined and designed to hold adult and juveniles , while the other
two are natural acclimation ponds (bottom).
In addition, the Puyallup Tribe operates seven acclimation ponds in the Puyallup
Watershed. Three of the acclimation ponds are used for reintroducing fall chinook and coho
into a 30-mile reach in the Upper Puyallup River above Electron Dam. The Electron Diversion
Dam had been an anadromous barrier for 97 years. A fish ladder was constructed and
completed in fall of 2000. Four other acclimation ponds are located in the Upper White River
drainage. These ponds are used for reintroducing White River spring chinook back into their
endemic range. All ponds have approximately 10,000 cubic feet of rearing space and between 1
to 3 cubic feet per second flow.
The Puyallup Tribe’s restoration goal is to rebuild depressed chinook stocks and remove
them from ESA listing. Using acclimation ponds, limiting harvest, and making substantial
gains in habitat restoration, the tribe will be able to
One of the two 10,000
accomplish this task. Levee setbacks, oxbow reconnections
cubic foot cement lined
holding ponds. both inter tidal and upland, Commencement Bay cleanup,
and harvest cutbacks have already been initiated. Only the
jump-starting of chinook in habitat areas devoid of fish has
remained one of our biggest challenges. Acclimation ponds
are a proven method in increasing fish numbers on the
spawning grounds. Hatchery rearing 200,000 fall chinook
for release on station and 200,000 for acclimation ponds in
the upper Puyallup River for a combined 6,857 pounds of
fish. Historically, fall chinook have been reared since 1980

with a variety of stocks, goals,
and objectives.
Spring Chinook Hatchery
Production
The four-acclimation ponds
the Puyallup Tribe operates
are satellite facilities to the
White River and Minter Creek
Hatcheries. The acclimation
ponds are located in the upper
The incubation building White River watershed on the
houses 32 incubator stack,
Clearwater River, Cripple and
each capable of holding up to
77,000 chinook eggs, for a Huckleberry Creeks.
Once fish are ready to be moved from
total capacity of Production levels hover the incubators, they can be place in one
approximately 2.5 million around 400,000+ smolts; of the 16 aluminum raceway-troughs
eggs. however, numbers fluctuates and hand feeding can begin. The
based on available brood stock. They have a rearing troughs are 16 feet in length with a flow
capacity of approximately 837,000 zero age smolts. rate of up to 25 gpm.
Current Fall Chinook Hatchery Production
In 2004, the Puyallup Tribal Fisheries Department began acclimating and releasing fall
chinook from the Clarks Creek facility, discontinuing all chinook releases from the Diru Creek
hatchery. In early 2005, construction of a new incubation building was completed at Clarks
Creek. The incubation 2005 Clarks Creek Chinook Rack Return Timing
60
building houses 32
incubator stack, each Male
51
capable of holding up to 50 Female
77,000 chinook eggs, for a Jacks

total capacity of 40
approximately 2.5 million

Number of Chinook
eggs. Once fish are ready to 30
be moved from the 25
incubators, they can be 21 21

20
20 18
place in one of the 16
aluminum raceway-troughs 12
13
and hand feeding can begin.

9
10
7
6
The troughs are 16 feet in 4 4

2 2 2
length with a flow rate of up 0

0 0
to 25 gpm. When the fish 9-Sep-05 21-Sep-05 28-Sep-05
Date
5-Oct-05 12-Oct-05 19-Oct-05
are approximately 500/lbs.,

they are transferred to one of CLARKS CREEK HATCHERY FALL CHINOOK RELEASES
600,000 Fall Chinook
the cement lined ponds.
Holding the chinook in the 523,000
cement pond is only

500,000
temporary until they are up

to a large enough size,
400,000
Number of fish released
usually in late April, to be

massed marked with an 300,000
240,680
automated tagger. Once
tagged, the fish are planted 200,000
163,880
in one of the two natural

acclimation ponds until they 100,000
are released in late May or

early June. 0
2004 2005 2006
Year Released

CLEAR CREEK
Anadromous
blockage in the
form of a cement
dam at RM 1.9
that ensures
pathogen free
water for the
trout farm.
DESCRIPTION
Clear Creek is a tributary to the lower Puyallup
River, converging with the Puyallup at RM 2.9.
Clear Creek has three main tributaries which
include; Swan Creek (10.0023) entering at RM 0.2
River miles surveyed: 1.7 to 1.9 on the left bank, Squally Creek (10.0024) entering at RM
Dates surveyed: 8/22/05 to 1/27/06 1.4 on the left bank, and an unnamed tributary (10.0026)
Species surveyed: Chinook, Coho N/O
entering at RM 3.05 on the right bank. Only Swan and
Chum
Access Squally Creeks are accessible to salmon. Clear Creek flows
Mile 1.7: Clear Creek crosses Pioneer as a moderate gradient pool-riffle stream above Pioneer Way
Way at theTroutlodge facility, a private before paralleling the road
trout farm . The survey begins where the for several hundred feet.
stream curves to the North away from the The upper reach has good
road and ends at an artificial dam. Ed spawning gravel from RM
Mcleary, of Trout lodge, has requested
that surveyors remain in the stream
1.7 to 1.9. Although the
channel and contact him prior to riparian area is not intact,
surveying the site. He can be reached there are undercut banks
at 253-922-0667. and moderate amounts of
in-stream cover. A high
density of canary reed grass
and other vegetation chokes approximately 100 meters of
the channel every summer, trapping a lot of fine sediment
which covers the available spawning gravel by several inches.
The vegetative growth and the lack of water though this
reach, often prevent chinook from accessing and spawning
successfully. There is an anadromous blockage in the form
of a cement dam at RM 1.9 that ensures pathogen free water
for hatchery raised rainbow trout at the Troutlodge facility,
a private trout farm. The reach above the dam has not been
surveyed. Large numbers of chum spawn (center left) each
year in the 0.2 miles of available habitat below the man made
dam at RM 1.9. Relatively few, if any coho or steelhead are
observed in this segment of the creek.
2005 CLEAR CREEK CHINOOK COUNTS

10 LIVE
DEAD
9 REDDS
7
NUMBER OBSERVED
0
8/22/05 8/30/05 9/16/05 9/28/05 10/6/05 10/14/05 10/24/05 11/3/05
DATE SURVEYED
CLEAR CREEK CHINOOK SEASON COMPARISONS

(1999 - 2005)
30 LIVE
DEAD
26 REDDS
25
22
21
20
NUMBER OBSERVED
17
15 14
10
10 9
8 8 8 8
7
5
5
3
1 1
0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEYED

CLEAR CREEK CHINOOK RUN TIMING

(2002-2005)
2005
2004
14
2003
2002
12
NUMBER OF FISH OBSERVED
10
0
DATE
CLEAR CREEK CHINOOK CARCASS SAMPLING

(2002-2005)
16
CARCASSES SAM PLED
CHINOOK W ITH COD ED W IRE TAG &

14 ADIPOSE CLIP (FALL/HATCHERY ORIGIN)
CHINOOK W ITH ADIPOSE CLIP ONLY
(FALL/HATCHERY ORIGIN)
12 W ILD UNM ARKED
NUMBER OF CHINOOK
10
8
8
6
5 5
4
4
3
2
1
0
2003 2004 2005
SAMP LIN G SEASON

2005 CLEAR CREEK CHUM COUNTS

250 L IV E
DEAD
200
150
NUMBER OBSERVED
100
50
0
11 /22/05 12/1/05 12 /12 /05 12 /22 /05 1/3 /06 1 /20 /06 2/3/06
D ATE SU RV EYED
CLEAR CREEK CHUM SEASON COMPARISONS

(1994 - 2005)
1088
LIVE
DEAD
1000
788
800
NUMBER OBSERVED
680
642
566
600
478
460
426
400
340
303
276
260
233
201
196
163
200
131
122
114
110
83
50
29
4
0
0
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
SEASON SURVEYED


Puyullup Tribe Salmon, Trout Char Report 2005-06 02 Boise Creek To Clear Creek

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Puyullup Tribe Salmon, Trout Char Report 2005-06 02 Boise Creek To Clear Creek

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WRIA 10: PUYALLUP/WHITE RIVER WATERSHED

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 1

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 2

2005 BOISE CREEK CHINOOK COUNTS

BOISE CREEK CHINOOK SEASON COMPARISONS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 3

BOISE CREEK CHINOOK RUN TIMING

BOISE CREEK CHINOOK CARCASS SAMPLING

500 CHIN OOK W ITH ADIP OSE CL IP ON L Y

115 110 118

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 4

2005 BOISE CREEK COHO COUNTS

BOISE CREEK COHO SEASON COMPARISONS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 5

2005 BOISE CREEK PINK COUNTS

BOISE CREEK PINK SEASON COMPARISONS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 6

2006 BOISE CREEK STEELHEAD COUNTS

BOISE CREEK STEELHEAD REDDS SEASON COMPARISONS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 7

2005 BOISE CREEK CHUM COUNTS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 8

BUCKLEY: USACE FISH TRAP U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’

WRIA: 10.0031 - USACE FISH TRAP -WHITE RIVER 2005 - 2006

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES

1983 408 USACE Trap Counts: 1983 26

2005 - 2006 ANNUAL SALMON, STEELHEAD AND BULL TROUT REPORT.

1995 2,733 1995 605

1997 7,988 1997 422

1999 1,065 1999 1,292

NUMBER OF ADULTS TRANSPORTED

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES

2005 - 2006 ANNUAL SALMON, STEELHEAD AND BULL TROUT REPORT.

USACE Trap Counts:

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 12

Chum salmon spawning in Canyon Creek.

2005 CANYON CREEK CHUM COUNTS

CANYON CREEK CHUM SEASON COMPARISONS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 14

Short reach along

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 15

CANYONFALLS CREEK CHINOOK SEASON COMPARISONS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 16

2005 CANYONFALLS CREEK PINK COUNTS

CANYONFALLS CREEK PINK SEASON COMPARISONS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 17

2005 CANYONFALLS CREEK COHO COUNTS

CANYONFALLS CREEK COHO SEASON COMPARISONS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 18

2005 CANYONFALLS CREEK CHUM COUNTS

CANYONFALLS CREEK CHUM SEASONAL COMPARISONS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 19

River miles surveyed:

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 21

2005 CARBON RIVER CHUM COUNTS

CARBON RIVER CHUM SEASON COMPARISONS

3,500 AUC: ESCAPEMENT ESTIMATE

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 22

CARBON RIVER STEELHEAD SEASON COMPARISONS

PUYALLUP TRIBAL FISHERIES 23

Chum salmon spawning

2005 CLARKS CREEK CHINOOK COUNTS