Gold Creek Bull Trout Population

Overview

Gold Creek is one of several tributaries of Keechelus Reservoir Lake, the uppermost storage reservoir in the Yakima Basin. Keechelus was a natural lake prior to the construction of Keechelus Dam on its outlet in 1917. The dam is the upstream terminus of the Yakima River, which continues 214 river miles downstream to the Columbia River. At full pool, the reservoir holds 158,000 acre-feet of water with a surface area of 2562 acres. The dam is a complete barrier to migration isolating the only population of bull trout residing in Keechelus Reservoir Lake, which spawns in Gold Creek. As is the case for the other adfluvial populations in the Yakima Basin the potential exists for individuals to be entrained through the unscreened outlet works of the dam and permanently displaced downstream. Individuals from this population are regularly entrained through the unscreened outlet works of the dam; see the threat related to entrainment below.

Gold Creek originates in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and flows into Keechelus Reservoir Lake at its northern end. About 6.8 miles of Gold Creek is accessible to migratory fish up to a barrier waterfall. A bedrock cascade about a half-mile below this barrier may also impede upstream migration (Craig 1997). A little less than half of the stream’s length below the waterfall is in the wilderness. Once Gold Creek exits the wilderness land use is a mix of National Forest, State and private. In this reach the channel typically dewaters intermittently during August and September channel dewaters annually between July and October, with the timing and extent largely dependent on snowpack and summer rainfall. in a section beginning just above the outlet of Gold Creek Pond at RM 0.6. The length of stream which dewaters varies, but the affected reach begins just above the outlet of Golf Creek Pond near RM 0.6 and has been observed to extend for up to two miles <---update?? upstream (Craig 1997).

Population Information

Population Distribution and Life History

The Gold Creek population displays an adfluvial life history type. It is possible that a resident component exists as well although this has not been confirmed. The spawning area extends from the barrier waterfall downstream to the lake. A major avalanche occurred sometime during the early spring of 2008 completely covering about a quarter-mile section of Gold Creek with large wood and rock debris, earth, snow, and ice. The affected reach did not turn out to be a passage barrier. was in the wilderness 3.75 miles above Keechelus Lake. It was feared that passage would be blocked to spawning habitat above it. This has fortunately not proven true as redds were found in and above the avalanche zone the following fall and in the two years following that. Rearing juveniles are present throughout the length of the stream. Keechelus Lake Reservoir provides FMO habitat for subadult and adult fish (Figure X - MAP). Timing of migration into Gold Creek is dependent on continuous stream flows during the late summer period. Early studies on this population showed some adult fish begin to move into the stream in late July to mid-August; but in years when dewatering occurred, there was a subset of adults that migrated after the stream rewatered with fall rains (James 2002a). In recent years, dewatering is an annual event and it appears to be disconnecting earlier in the season. While there are still some individuals that migrate early, the majority of spawners migrate into the stream once fall rains reconnect the creek.

Natural Barriers limiting distribution

There is a partial fish passage barrier (bedrock cascade) around RM 6.5 (LAT LON), and a full passage barrier at RM 6.8 (LAT,LON) (PIC).

Population Genetics

Results of genetic analyses show the Gold Creek population is genetically distinct from all other populations in the Yakima Basin (Reiss 2003; Small et al. 2009). Initial genetic samples for the baseline were collected from juvenile bull trout during a snorkel surveys conducted in 2001 (Reiss 2003). Additional samples were collected in 2010 by the USFWS.Upstream connectivity was eliminated by the construction of Keechelus Dam in 1917. Genetic exchange with other Yakima populations of bull trout may occur downstream of the dam due to entrainment, but it is undocumented.

ANY GENETIC UPDATES?

Population Monitoring

The first official documentation of the presence of bull trout in Keechelus Lake comes from 1982 when WDFW captured five adults in gill nets (Mongillo 1982). As noted above, spawning surveys in Gold Creek were initiated two years later and consistent monitoring of the Gold Creek bull trout population began. Other than these spawning surveys, Gold Creek did not receive much attention until 1996 when CWU graduate student Scott Craig investigated habitat conditions affecting bull trout spawning areas in the creek (Craig 1997). To do so he used the redd count data collected during the annual spawning surveys.

CWU researcher Paul James studied the population status and life history characteristics of the Gold Creek population (James 2002a). To determine outmigration timing he attempted to trap post-spawn bull trout in the channel adjacent to Gold Creek Pond in 1999 without success. They did manage to trap three adults (and one juvenile) in 2000. That same year his crew conducted four daytime snorkel surveys to determine migration timing, observing 16 adults in the creek by the end of July. The stream became intermittently dewatered in late August, and he documented a few adults unable to migrate upstream of the Gold Creek Pond. Also in 2000, William Meyer conducted nine nighttime snorkel surveys in Gold Creek between 19 July and 9 November. He observed both adults and juvenile bull trout and reported juvenile densities lower than those observed in the upper Kachess River by 25-50% (Meyer 2002).

In 2001, snorkel surveys were conducted in Gold Creek by Yuki Reiss to capture juvenile bull trout and obtain genetic samples. Twenty samples were obtained, less than the number generally desired (30) to establish a genetic baseline Reiss (2003). The USFWS and WDFW returned to the creek in 2010 to collect additional genetic samples to supplement this baseline (See genetics baseline).

WDFW day and night snorkeled and electroshocked Gold Creek in 2003 as part of a project to develop a bull trout presence/absence sampling protocol (Hoffman et al. 2005). Larsen et al. (2003) examined these data in more detail with Peterson et al. (2005) providing final analysis.

In 2010, the USBR conducted an entrainment study directly below Keechelus dam. A screw trap was deployed in the river channel to capture fish entrained through the outlet works of the dam and passed to the river below. The sampling was done over a range of flow releases from mid-May through August. A total of 526 fish were captured during the course of the study, representing at least 11 species but no bull trout were collected (USBR 2010).

Add:

WDFW fish rescue

La Salle rearing & release

Entrainment / trap and haul

USFWS snorkel surveys?

Redd Surveys

Figure X. Gold Creek redds over time

The historic spawning period for the Gold Creek population began in early September and extended through mid-October. However, since 2009, the majority of redds have been observed in October or November. Complete bull trout redd surveys have been conducted since 1984 and cover the entire spawning area from the FS Road 4832 bridge up to the barrier waterfall. Redd counts have been highly variable (Figure X - REDD GRAPH). This probably reflects, at least in part, the migration difficulties that spawners frequently encounter as a result of the near now annual dewatering of the channel.

Population Status and Trend

The USFWS (USFWS 1998) considers the Keechelus subpopulation (i.e., Gold Creek) to be depressed, decreasing, and at risk of stochastic extirpation. WDFW rates the status of the Keechelus Lake stock as critical (WDFW 2004). The Gold Creek population is small and vulnerable given such variable redd counts and increasingly unsuitable habitat for adult migration and juvenile rearing.

Habitat

Habitat Overview

Elevations on Gold Creek range from 2,530 feet at its mouth to around 3,500 feet at the barrier waterfall. Approximately 3.2 miles of the stream is in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness; the remainder flows mostly through National Forest lands with some State (former Plum Creek Timber Company) and private ownership in the lower 1.5 miles. Gold mining occurred in the upper part of the watershed in the late 1800s and early 1900s (prior to wilderness designation). It is unknown what impact these operations may have had on Gold Creek. From 1968 thru the mid-1980s extensive commercial logging of old growth occurred adjacent to the creek in the lower mile. Some of the logged lands were subsequently sold by Plum Creek and subdivided; a large number of seasonal-use private cabins are now present on the east side of Gold Creek between RM 1.5 and 1.8. The lower mile of the creek sustained a major impact in the late-1970s when gravel was mined from the floodplain for the construction of Interstate 90. The major current land use activity in the watershed is recreation. No campgrounds are present in the watershed, and dispersed campsites are not an issue.

The upper portion of Gold Creek from the barrier waterfall to about two miles below the wilderness boundary contains excellent habitat conditions for bull trout. For about a quarter-mile mile below this point several of the cabins mentioned above are located close to the stream’s banks; mature riparian vegetation has been removed and the banks have become unstable. As a result property owners have made efforts to stabilize them to the detriment of instream habitat quality. Heavy equipment has operated in the channel, fine sediment has been mobilized, LWD has been removed, and the channel has been redirected in places. Downstream of the development the stream channel becomes progressively wider and more braided. Riffle habitat containing coarse substrate materials (cobbles and boulders) is predominant, and LWD is less prevalent; what is present is often isolated on cobble bars. The active base-flow channel is primarily located a significant distance from any riparian influence and intermittent dewatering frequently occurs in the reach.

The most serious effects of past land use practices on Gold Creek are in the lower mile of the creek. As a result of past old-growth harvest, almost no key pieces of LWD (i.e., large and immobile) are present to stabilize the channel and stream banks (Haring 2001). The creek has essentially “mined” those banks, increasing bed load and creating a channel that is extensively braided with widths frequently exceeding 200 feet (Meyer 2002). The channel dewatering prevents migrating adult bull trout from reaching spawning habitat upstream and can strand adult and juveniles present in the reach. Wissmar and Craig (1997) documented stranding mortality in Gold Creek in 1993 and 1994, estimating that 63% and 24%, respectively, of adult post-spawn bull trout died in these years. The loss of continuous surface flow is practically an annual event, which typically occurs in parts of August and September (Thomas 2001b; Meyer 2002). A dry streambed is usually first encountered just above RM 0.6 where the outlet of Gold Creek Pond enters the creek. The affected reach extends upstream a variable distance, which has been observed to be as much as two miles (Craig 1997). It characteristically has very short sections of flowing water and isolated pools indicating the stream is flowing not far below the surface of its bed. The causal mechanisms for this phenomenon have not been formally investigated but it is suspected that, in addition to channel condition, excavation of the 22-acre gravel pit (Gold Creek Pond) as well as other anthropomorphic hydrologic disturbances have occurred on the lower east side of the Gold Creek valley and are contributing factors. Often overlooked because of the problems upstream are potential passage problems on the reservoir bed. By late summer Keechelus Lake is depleted, and Gold Creek flows for a considerable distance (0.50-0.75 mile) across the exposed reservoir bed. The channel becomes extensively braided, and the main channel is poorly defined.

FMO habitat for the Gold Creek bull trout population is in Keechelus Lake. There is no shoreline development and water sports activities on the lake are believed to influence habitat quality. While the active pool of reservoir is significantly depleted over the course of the irrigation season (up to 94%), a conservation pool of over 156,000 acre-feet remains which cannot be accessed.

Habitat Monitoring

Field Habitat Surveys

The Forest Service constructed a spawning channel between Gold Creek Pond and Gold Creek in 1972 and 1992. Goetz (1997) monitored the relationship between habitat and bull trout juvenile rearing. Mongillo (1982) measured water quality parameters and zooplankton densities for Keechelus Reservoir. USBR examined Keechelus Lake limnology from 1998-2001, and data are reported in Ackerman et al. (2002).

Sediment samples were collected in 1990. Fine sediment levels averaged 4.7-13.2% across the three reaches that were sampled (Mayo 1998). The Forest Service completed a stream survey of seven 100 meter sections of Gold Creek in 1998, using Timber, Fish and Wildlife protocol (USFS 1998b). Channel type, LWD, flow, temperature, bankfull width, and pool/riffle ratios were measured during this survey. In 2004, a Federal Roads Analysis was completed for the Gold Creek watershed, including an aquatic rating.

Craig (1997) monitored habitat conditions that affect bull trout spawning in several Yakima Basin spawning tributaries including Gold Creek. Dewatering often prevents upstream and downstream migration of adult bull trout in Gold Creek. Thomas (Thomas 2001b) summarized dates, years, flows, and reservoir elevations when Gold Creek was not passable to upstream migrating adult bull trout. Similar data for Coal, Cold, and Meadow creeks, and Keechelus Lake tributaries was summarized.

Willey (2007) collected 2005-2007 temperature data in Gold Creek. Gold Creek was monitored for temperature via thermographs deployed during the summer low flow period at three sites in 2007 and two other sites in 2010 (USFS 2011b). Consistent temperature data are a monitoring gap.

Threats from 2012 BTAP -

One of the highest severity threats to this population is the frequent channel dewatering within the spawning reach that results in direct mortality and limits access to spawning habitat upstream. Other high severity threats include low population abundance and the passage barrier at Keechelus Dam. Other threats include illegal angling in Keechelus Lake, development in the lower reaches of Gold Creek, entrainment at Keechelus Dam, lack of marine derived nutrients, and documented introgression with brook trout.

While forest management and recreation issues are present, they are not thought to be significant. Interstate-90 crosses Gold Creek at its mouth (when the reservoir is at full pool) significantly impacting floodplain function; however effects on bull trout are unknown. Agriculture, altered flows, grazing, limited habitat, and mining are not present in this population area.

Threats

Connectivity

Fish Passage Barriers

Threat Severity:

Entrainment

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Dewatering due to flow management

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Land-use Issues

Forestry

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Agriculture and Grazing

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Recreation

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Roads and Development

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Mining

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Ecological Interactions

Brook Trout

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Other Invasive Species

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Diminished Prey Base

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Disease

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Water Quantity and Quality

Flow issues/dewatering

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Current and modeled future temperature conditions

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Fisheries Impacts

Angling Regulations/Fisheries Use/Poaching (Recreational)

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Management/Monitoring (Research)

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Other Threats

Low Population Resiliency

Climate Change

Recovery Strategy

Population-level Recovery Strategy

This population has been identified as a high priority “Action” population (see Prioritization of Actions). The highest priority action for this population is a hydrologic assessment and subsequent restoration project to connect dewatered sections in the stream, which strand fish and prevent access to spawning grounds. Other high priority actions include passage at Keechelus Dam and an evaluation of supplementation to address low abundance. Other actions to address threats include outreach, protection from future development and carcass analog placement if a pilot study conducted elsewhere in the basin is successful. There have been documented hybrids in the system, and introgression with brook trout should continue to be monitored, although no large-scale removal actions are recommended at this time.

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Actions

Future link/ iframe to PowerApp will go in this section.

Completed Bull Trout Recovery Actions

• WSDOT purchased 550 acres on west side of lower Gold Creek around 2008 (ownership has since been transferred to the Forest Service).
• The Cascade Land Conservancy has purchased a total of 221 acres on the east side of lower Gold Creek since 2008.
• Length expansion of the Interstate-90 bridge over lower Gold Creek, a WSDOT project benefitting the lower Gold Creek floodplain, is scheduled to be completed in 2012.
• Fishing regulations have been implemented to protect bull trout in Gold Creek (see Appendix F).

Actions in the Yakima Steelhead Recovery Plan that benefit this population

Population Scale

• Gold Creek #1: Conduct comprehensive hydrogeomorphic evaluation in lower Gold Creek to determine the causal mechanisms (and possible solutions) for annual dewatering. Implement solutions if determined to be feasible.

• Gold Creek #2: Gold Creek Floodplain Restoration would include the removal of legacy dikes and road fill from the gravel pit operation, relocation of an ADA-accessible trail away from Gold Creek, relocation of the footbridge out of the floodplain, restoration of hydraulic connectivity through the parking area, and installation of an engineered logjam in Gold Creek (USFS).
• Multiple Populations #4: Evaluate supplementation (see Appendix D).
• Multiple Populations #1: Provide outreach on bull trout conservation issues (landowners, recreationists, anglers, school groups, and others).
• Multiple Populations #5: Carcass analog placement if pilot studies demonstrate success.

• Gold Creek #4: Floodplain acquisition/easements in lower creek corridor.
• Gold Creek #5: Monitor, document, and fix (where possible) passage problems due to dewatering on the reservoir bed on an annual basis.
• Multiple Populations #9: Periodic entrainment studies at dams.

Population Monitoring

• Multiple Populations #2: Continue redd surveys within established index areas to monitor long-term trends in abundance.

Baseline Habitat Monitoring

• Multiple Populations #3: Continue temperature monitoring.

Implementation Monitoring of Completed and Recommended Actions

• If instream work is completed to address the dewatering issues, monitoring of flows post-treatment will be critical.

Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation

• Gold Creek #3: Monitor all bank stabilization projects that include instream work.
• Multiple Populations #7: Continue to screen all collected genetic samples for evidence of genetic introgression with brook trout.

Actions Identified in YSRP that would benefit bull trout

(Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board 2009)

None

Update Notes

2012 BTAP text copied into Yakipedia and edited to match new format inXXXXXX by Aimee Taylor. ADD LINK TO 2012 BTAP pdf placemark

Additional edits proposed by Alex Conley, Aimee Taylor and XXXXXXX small group. Reviewed, and updated and approved by BTWG in XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Specific detail on out of cycle updates: