Gig Harbor Peninsula Water Type Assessment

In cities and counties throughout Puget Sound, western Washington State, water type classification (such as “fish bearing” or “non-fish bearing”) directly affects the amount of protection that streamside buffers receive through local governance.

Too often, however, these streams do not receive the protection they should for a surprisingly simple reason: policy makers are relying on inaccurate maps.

Errors in Washington State water type maps result in the under-protection of 40-60% of the fish-bearing stream network. Over the 90 miles of streams in this study area, WFC found that 1.8 miles of those WDNR mapped channels did not exist, but that an additional 18.5 miles of stream channels did exist that were not on the official WDNR water type maps.

Using visual and electrofishing surveys by state-established protocols, Wild Fish Conservancy documented and corrected water type classifications using established state protocols in approximately 90 mi of streams that drain the Gig Harbor Peninsula – including four with Critical Habitat for Puget Sound Steelhead

Working with the West Sound Lead Entity Technical Advisory Group, WFC prioritized the five highest priority habitat restoration and protection projects encountered during the assessment.

Using GPS and GIS, WFC accurately mapped previously unmapped/incorrectly mapped water courses to ensure informed and responsible watershed management. The assessment results were submited to WDNR and uploaded into a web-based interactive GIS available to planners, landowners, and resource managers.

Using eDNA and field observations, WFC filled critical data gaps on ESA-listed fish species composition and distribution. In Garr Creek, one of the reaches within the study area, eDNA confirmed the presence of Chinook salmon bellow a barrier culvert. Replacing this culvert would extend habitat an additional 5.72 miles for these Chinook.