Peekaboo Falls Fish Passage Discussion

Overview

Peekaboo Falls is a natural waterfall that currently acts as a total barrier to upstream passage of bull trout in Box Canyon Creek. It is located ?? miles above POINT. COORDINATES? Bull Trout in Box Canyon Creek are a genetically distinct population (CITE) that migrate between habitat in Box Canyon Creek and Kachess Lake. Limited stream capacity for spawning and rearing has been identified as a primary limiting factor for the population. Spawning and juvenile rearing is currently limited to ?? miles of Box Canyon Creek below Peekaboo Falls, and was significantly reduced in 19?? when Kachess Dam was built, seasonally inundating what would have once been complex fluvial habitat in old growth forest in the lowest ? miles of the creek. This reach is now unvegetated and seasonally inundated by the reservoir, with little to no vegetation and unstable channels that shift from year to year. It provides no significant rearing habitat for juvenile bull trout. Peekaboo Falls is almost passable (adult fish have been observed jumping up the falls, but not making it all the way over) and there is some evidence that bull trout may have occupied the stream upstream of the Falls in the recent past. The Yakima Bull Trout Working Group has long discussed whether providing fish passage at the falls and/or transporting fish past the Falls would be an effective strategy to expand productive rearing and spawning habitat for the Box Canyon Bull Trout population. This page has been set up as a record of these discussions and sources of information.

Link to Scott memo- Box Canyon reintroduction Fact sheet on desktop

Description of Peekaboo Falls

Peekaboo Falls is a natural barrier on Box Canyon Creek formed by bedrock and boulders. It is 5.5 meters (18 ft) total height over a 13-meter lateral distance; however, the first 2 meters (6 ft) is the steepest and the likely cause of lack of fish passage.

Habitat Conditions upstream of Peekaboo Falls

Hab survey results

stream temps

Recreation and other impacts

Fish usage upstream of Peekaboo Falls

- cuts- any brooks?

Scott demographic survey links

Options for providing access to Habitat Above Peekaboo Falls

Describe work to date to assess the falls- surveys, Bruce concepts, etc Interfluv assessment

Modification of the Falls

Initial discussion focused on the idea that modifications could be made to the falls to make them more passable, including the construction of cement walls, excavation of portions of the bedrock, and use of large wood at the downstream outlet of the pool below the falls to raise the base pool elevation.

Fish Transport

pros and cons of transporting adults

past discussion of options to catch fry and juveniles at the mount of the creek- for transport (possibly after rearing) to above falls- pros: local genetics, second chance for fish almost certain to perish in reservoir

Questions that have been raised:

Have bull trout been present above Peekaboo Falls in the past?

details on past reports from Plum Creek (?) surveys

Mitch Long notes old-timers have told him that they used to fish at the falls and move the bull trout upstream over the falls Question of whether past projects- or natural log jams- raised the level of the pool below the falls in the past, allowing for volitional passage

Are there any unique characteristics of the habitat upstream of the falls that might be impacted?

Ref cutthroat studies but note sympatry in past and in other parts of the basin

Are there threats to the persistence of Bull Trout in the habitat above the falls that are significant enough that we would want to avoid establishing bull trout there until threats are reduced?

Discuss different stances on recreation issues and response needed.

Next Steps:

Funding for surveys and alternatives assessment?

Fish transport- adults? YN juveniles?