Naches River FMO Habitat
Overview
The Naches River is the main tributary of the Yakima River entering just north of the city of Yakima. It begins approximately 45 miles upstream at the confluence of the Bumping and Little Naches rivers (the American River flows into the Bumping River about 3.5 miles above this point). Other major tributaries of the Naches River include the Tieton River and Rattlesnake Creek. With the exception of storage dams, which block upstream migration on the Bumping and Tieton rivers, bull trout are able to migrate freely within the system. Below these dams there are 16.5 miles of habitat available to fish on the Bumping River and 21 miles on the Tieton River. Numerous smaller tributary streams also flow into the Naches River.
Habitat Conditions
The shared FMO habitat for all of the Naches River fluvial bull trout populations is considered to be primarily located in the Naches River although there is some evidence that the Tieton River and mainstem Yakima River are used as well. It is difficult to summarize habitat conditions in the Naches River given the length of the river (45 miles). Generally, the upper 27 miles (above the Tieton River confluence) flows through forested lands of mixed ownership. Much of this is National Forest but there are also areas that are privately owned; residences and groups of residences are ubiquitous with a few small farms present lower in the reach. There is also considerable recreational access and use. State Route (SR) 410 runs adjacent to the river for the entire length of this segment and has impacted floodplain function. Below the Tieton River confluence land use along the Naches River converts to predominantly agricultural (orchards, irrigated pasture, and hay production) and there are numerous water diversions. U.S. Highway 12 runs adjacent to the river from the Tieton River confluence downstream to the mouth impairing floodplain function. Haring (2001) describes numerous positive habitat attributes such as good riparian condition (in the upper portion of the river), good pool frequency and depth, good LWD and substantial amounts of off-channel habitat. These positive attributes combined with the length of river available for bull trout habitation suggest that FMO habitat conditions in the mainstem Naches River are not limiting population productivity for Naches River fluvial bull trout populations.
Tieton River FMO Habitat
The significance of the Tieton River as FMO habitat for the Naches River fluvial populations is unknown. However, adult bull trout have been captured in the Tieton River (in the stilling basin directly below Tieton Dam) that genetically assigned to the Rattlesnake Creek and American River populations (Small et al. 2009). The Tieton River flows for just over 23 miles from the base of the dam to its confluence with the Naches River. U.S. Highway 12 parallels the river on the left bank for much of this length, which has altered the riparian corridor. However, this road has little effect on floodplain function as the river is naturally confined in this section. Other roads, structures, several developed campgrounds, and the Yakima-Tieton diversion dam contribute to the rivers disturbed condition. The channel is in poor condition due to structural restrictions and an almost complete absence of LWD (Haring 2001). The most significant negative impact on fish habitat in the Tieton River is the regulated flow regime, which also contributes to the lack of LWD and channel complexity. The timing and magnitude of stream discharge in the river is the most highly altered of any in the Yakima Basin. Winter flows are 60-80% less than would occur under unregulated conditions and flow variability is extremely low. At a time when overwintering bull trout would be seeking pool habitat with cover, relatively none exists. During the first week of September an extreme, managed hydrologic event (“flip-flop”) occurs when dam releases are rapidly increased and average river flows often exceed by an order of magnitude what would be a natural base flow, sometimes exceeding 2,000 cfs. This condition persists to varying degrees for over a month.
Threats - NEED GROUP INPUT
Connectivity
Fish Passage Barriers
Threat Severity: Unknown, likely insignificant
Bull trout populations using Naches River as FMO habitat are not limited by natural barriers within the FMO habitat. Tieton and Bumping dams reduce metapopulation dynamics and geneflow. Nelson dam, a fish passage barrier on the mainstem Naches River near the Yakima River confluence was removed in 2023.
Low flows in parts of the Naches River during late summer may impact connectivity, however, bull trout intending to spawn usually migrate to their spawning grounds in June and July when flows are more adequate.
ANYTHING I MISSED???
Entrainment
Threat Severity: NEED INPUT
Several diversions exist along the Naches river. DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT NACHES RIVER ENTRAINMENT?
Dewatering due to flow management
Threat Severity: Insignificant?
Naches River FMO habitat is not known to dewater.
Land-use Issues
Forestry
Threat Severity: Unknown
There has been some timber harvest in the Naches River watershed over the past 35 years (Figure X). The harvest has primarily occurred upland of the river and away from known spawning tributaries, but there may be some impacts to FMO habitat, like increased sedimentation from erosion and roads, and reduced recruitment of large wood to the river. Those impacts are unquantified.
Agriculture and Grazing
Threat Severity: Unknown, likely insignificant
Livestock grazing occurs along the Naches River but habitat degradation significant at the reach scale is not believed to occur. About 50% of the grazing allotments in the Naches Watershed are for sheep, which are moved constantly by shepherds and should have minimal impact to the riparian areas.
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has been working on an updated environmental impact statement (2025) for grazing allotments in the Naches watershed, which has included input from members of the Yakima Bull Trout Working Group in an attempt to minimize any negative effects to bull trout.
Recreation
Threat Severity: Unknown, likely significant.
Recreational impacts to bull trout in Naches River FMO habitat are not quantified but are likely to be a threat. There has been riparian and aquatic habitat degradation due to recreation, including heavy use of established and dispersed camping sites and day use areas. When fires are allowed, campers remove and burn downed wood that may otherwise be recruited to the river. Rock dams are a persistent issue, but few are channel spanning. Pollution including trash, human waste, and road run-off may be impacting water quality.
There is heavy recreational use in the Little Naches drainage, including hundreds of miles of ORV trails, which may increase sedimentation and down-stream impacts in Naches FMO habitat.
There have been no reports of non-angling harassment of bull trout, but due to proximity of camp sites near river and bull trout large size and visibility fish may be harassed.
Roads and Development
Threat Severity: UNKNOWN??
Residential development is present in FMO habitat but is not thought to cause significant habitat degradation considering the large extent of FMO habitat. The Naches River is restricted from some floodplain access due to highway 410 and heavy development near the City of Naches and agricultural land flanking the river downstream of there. High road density in Little Naches and OHV use could be source of sedimentation. Overall road density in the Naches Ranger district is high, although impacts to FMO habitat are unknown.
Mining
Threat Severity: Insignificant
Mining is not a threat to Naches River FMO habitat.
Other
Ecological Interactions
Brook Trout
Threat Severity: Unknown
Brook trout are present in the Naches River but no hybrids have been identified through genetics analyses. Significance of the threat is unknown.
Other Invasive Species
Threat Severity: Insignificant
There have been no observations of other invasive species.
Diminished Prey Base
Threat Severity: Unknown, likely significant
Anadromous fish runs are severely depleted from historic levels. Juvenile anadromous salmonid prey is scarce or not available. Dearth of anadromous carcasses robs stream of marine-derived nutrients that likely drove invertebrate productivity. Impact is unknown but could be significant.
Disease
Threat Severity: Unknown
There have been no observations of disease in adult bull trout that utilize Naches FMO habitat. There is some concern about disease in Deep Creek after several bull trout juveniles have been observed with odd pigmentation patterns. No pathology has been completed. Deep Creek and Bumping Lake are headwaters to the Naches River.
Water Quantity and Quality
Flow issues/dewatering
Threat Severity: Unknown, likely insignificant
Altered flows in FMO habitat are result of reservoir releases from Bumping and Tieton Dams. Impacts associated with this mechanism are unknown but believed to be insignificant. There are high flows in lower Naches during flip-flop but pre-spawn bull trout are well upstream by the time they occur.
Low flows above the Tieton River confluence in the dry season may have an impact on temperature and water quality.
Current and modeled future temperature conditions
Threat Severity: Unknown, likely significant --- DOES ANYONE HAVE CURRENT MAINSTEM TEMP DATA?
The mean August temperatures in the Naches River range between 16-23 C according to the 2011 NorWest model. Many bull trout are known to skip spawning in some years (Fraley and Shepard 1989, Benjamin et al. 2020), so they likely stay in FMO habitat if it is suitable. Temperature in the mainstem Naches River is increasingly unsuitable during the summer and fall.
Other changes in hydrology
Fisheries Impacts
Angling Regulations/Fisheries Use/Poaching (Recreational)
Threat Severity: Unknown, likely significant
Legal angling for other species occurs in the American and Naches rivers. The Naches River is a popular fly fishing destination for people all around WA. Illegal angling for bull trout, or unintentional bull trout mortality may also occur. The impact from incidental or targeted takes is unknown but could be moderately significant. An angler was cited by WDFW enforcement in October 2024 for retaining a bull trout in the Naches River (WDFW Law Enforcement, Personal Comm.)
Management/Monitoring (Research)
Threat Severity: Insignificant
There is no ongoing research or fisheries sampling in the Naches river that might impact bull trout.
Other Threats
Low Population Resiliency
Climate Change
Wildfire impacts (sedimentation, increased water temperature)
Other
Summary of Primary Limiting Factors and Threats
The primary limiting factors and threats facing bull trout in the Naches River FMO habitat are likely recreation, diminished prey base, angling, and water temperature. The summer season brings heavy recreational use the the Naches Ranger District. Riverside camping and heavy day use contributes to riparian vegetation loss, rock dam construction, and pollution like trash and human bio-waste in the floodplain. Anadromous fish runs are depressed compared to the historical numbers, leading to reduced prey base for sub-adult and adult bull trout. Lack of marine derived nutrients may also contribute to reduced prey base. Finally, climate change effects like low-snowpack and hot, dry summers are contributing to unsuitable water temperatures and low flows in the mainstem Naches river, primarily during the months of August and September. Although spawning fish are likely in colder tributaries at this time, 30-50% of female bull trout are known to skip spawning in some years (Fraley and Shepard 1989) and may not migrate at all (Benjamin et al 2020). The impacts of angling on bull trout in Naches River FMO habitat are unquantified but it is very likely bull trout are caught incidentally or are targeted illegally. Illegal harvest of a bull trout in the Naches River was documented by WDFW law enforcement in October 2024.
Forestry, grazing, and roads are likely lower-level threats that should be quantified. Brook Trout are present in Naches FMO habitat but have not been observed in Rattlesnake or Crow Creek spawning areas. They have been observed spawning in the same area as bull trout on the American River which indicates potential hybridization is occurring.
Recovery Strategy
FMO Habitat Recovery Strategy
Naches River FMO habitat would benefit from riparian restoration and floodplain connection to increase shade and available habitat for all salmonids. Restoring salmon and steelhead habitat would increase anadromous fish runs to provide marine nutrients to the ecosystem and prey to bull trout. Education and outreach to recreationists and anglers should be a priority, emphasizing leave-no-trace principles, fishing regulations and fish identification. Managers should consider an angler survey to quantify bull trout catch. Impacts of grazing to the Naches River should be monitored in addition to water temperature and sediment monitoring. Studies should be done to investigate the distribution of brook trout and introgression with the Naches populations of bull trout.
Monitoring Needs/Key Questions
Brook Trout distribution in the watershed
Bull trout spawning outside regular indexes
Sedimentation due to roads, wildfire impacts
Actions
Future link/ iframe to PowerApp will go in this section.
Completed Bull Trout Recovery Actions
Recommended Actions
Relevant Multiple Population Actions (Naches River Fluvial Pops.)
Actions in the Yakima Steelhead Recovery Plan that benefit this habitat
Update Notes
2012 BTAP text copied into Yakipedia and edited to match new format in February 2025 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: