October 31, 2005

Jim Pacheco

Department of Ecology Water Resources Program

P.O. Box 47600

Olympia, WA 98504-7600

Dear Mr. Pacheco:

You requested my comments on Cascade Creek, Orcas Island (WRIA 2).

Cascade Creek, like many Washington streams, has a long history of flow modification and manipulation. It also has salmon and trout. Some of the salmon probably are the result of efforts to establish salmon runs in Cascade Creek, but we cannot rule out some level of natural production. Whether or not the runs are natural, they are public resources: “Wildlife, fish, and shellfish are the property of the state. The commission, director, and the department shall preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage the wildlife and food fish, game fish, and shellfish in state waters and offshore waters.” (RCW 77.04.012) Thus Cascade Creek is like many other Washington streams, having fish populations that have been influenced by fish propagation and flows modified by human engineering and use. In recent years the state has made many efforts to address both flow and fish through protection, enhancement, and restoration.

You recall from your recent investigations of small, unnamed streams on the Toandos Peninsula that most such streams had salmon and other fish. Most were no more hospitable to fish than Cascade Creek. I have considerable experience with Washington streams and their flows and fish, as does our colleague, Brad Caldwell (Ecology). We have both visited Cascade Creek and would have been surprised if it did not have salmonid fish. The extremes described for Cascade Creek are not unusual for small Puget Sound salmon streams.

One of the species that seems to be doing very well in Cascade Creek is chum salmon. Chum salmon are very well adapted to the hydrology described for Cascade Creek. Adults enter the stream in late fall to spawn during high flows. Eggs incubate during winter flows, then fry emerge and emigrate to salt water in spring before flows decline drastically. Chum salmon seldom penetrate far upstream, except in the Yukon; in Washington they usually spawn just above tidal influence and seldom go as far as other salmon. Coho salmon and cutthroat trout can also exploit this type of habitat in small numbers.

Sincerely,

Hal A. Beecher, Ph.D.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

600 Capitol Way N.

Olympia, WA 98501-1091