EPA Region 10 Dive Unit

Elwha Dam Removal Survey in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, near Port Angeles, WA

What: The Region 10 dive team was asked to conduct a survey of algae, invertebrates, and fish present
near the mouth of the Elwha River to baseline the species present prior to removal of the Elwha River
dams, and the associated sediment deposition that will ensue. This USGS led study is a repeat of the
1994 survey conducted by the team with US Fish and Wildlife Service due to the time that has elapsed
between authorization and funding for dam removal.

Why: The EPA Region 10 dive unit was asked to characterize the existing benthic community near the
mouth of the Elwha River in partnership with USGS and the Elwha Tribe. A baseline study of the
conditions will allow future monitoring to determine the level of success in the manner in which the
Elwha dams are removed. Monitoring of sediment stakes placed at the site will also give information on
the rate of accretion at sites nearby the Elwha mouth.

Where: The survey was conducted around the mouth of the Elwha River, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca
(see photo below).

When: The original baseline survey was conducted in 1994. Due to the time that had elapsed between
authorization for dam removal and funding of their removal by Congress, the USGS needed to do
another survey. Starting in 2008, the USGS is used a study plan with updated methods and that does not
replicate the 1994 study design.

How: Divers used surface supplied diving equipment and drysuits to place the permanent sampling
stations in July of 2011. Surveys were conducted with buddy teams using SCUBA during August of
2011. USGS led the surveys which included uniform point counts (PISCO method) conducted every V2
meter along 30 meters of a 50 meter transect (from the 10 meter mark to the 40 meter mark). Algal
surveys were conducted along a 1 meter swath to one side of the transect, while invertebrate counts were
conducted on the other side. Each location had two transects, one heading east and one heading west
(magnetic).

Equipment: EPA vessel Monitor was used as the dive platform. The USGS utilized a separate platform
during the survey for their divers as well as the Elwha Tribe.

Results: Photos, video, data sheets, and narrative descriptions were conveyed to the project team,
including USGS and the Lower Elwha Tribe.


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More details:

1994 survey:

Seavev. F. and G. Gina. 1995. Marine resources of the Elwha River Estuary. Clallam County.
Washington. Rep, for Nat. Park Ser., prepared by U.S. Fish Wildlife Ser., W. WA Office, N. Pac. Cst.
Ecoreaion. 29 pp. + 3 Fias.. 10 Maps. 1 App. June 1995 (47 pp, 8 MB pdf)

General USGS led survey information:
www.usqs.gov
http://www.usgs.gov/elwha
http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5120/seaLife/
http://www.facebook.com/EPADivers

Video coverage of 2011 survey:

King 5: http://www.king5.com/news/local/ln-The-Mouth-Of-The-Elwha-127278693.html

2012 Survey News Coverage:

•	A River Newly Wild and Seriously Muddv - The New York Times - August 2, 2012

•	The underwater world of the Elwha: a new ecosystem takes shape - July 31, 2012

•	Divers literally look into silt coming out of mouth of freed Elwha River - July 28, 2012

•	Silt from Elwha River dam removal doesn't hang around, sav scientists - King 5 News - July

26, 2012

Contact information: Rob Pedersen, (206) 553-1646, pedersen.rob@epa.gov


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Photos:

Photo documentation was used to corroborate species identification, such as for tube worms
hydroids, anemones, and algae.


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EPA diver reeling out the tape from the center monument to the end pier block to begin
conducting counts



Example UPC (Uniform Point Contact) form

Site: Date: Dive: Surveyor:
Vis at Bottom: Start time: Heading: Buddy:

Note Direction (degrees) Current Flows FROM
Current at Bottom m/s @ Time: At 15ft: m/s @ Time:





10.5-20.0 m

20.5 - 30.0 m

30.5 - 40.
m

0)

2

In

•Q

3

w

Bedrock







Boulder (>25 cm = 10 in)







Cobble (6-25 cm = 2 -10 in)







Gravel (0.2 - 6 cm = 1/8 - 2 in)







Sand (< 0.2 cm = 1/8 in)







0)

DC

0-10 cm







10 cm-1 m







1-2 m







>2m







Super- 1
Layer |

Drift algae (Unattached)







Brown Algae







Green Algae








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Red Algae







Other: (B/G, B/R, etc.)







Inanimate |

Bare rock







Bare sand







Fine Sediment/Mud







Shell debris







Dead Kelp Holdfast







Red Algae

Crustose Coraline Algae







Articulated Coralline Algae







BRANCH -branching flat blade







LEAF-rounded blade >2cm







BUSHY-cylindrical branches







LACY-filamentous/dense







ENCRUSTING RED (i.e Tar)







TURF - reds <2 cm high















Comments:

Presence/Absence Fish Lis

10.5-20.0m

20.5- 30.0m

30.5-40.0m

Pint

Live Kelp Holdfast







Eelgrass







Animal

Sponge







Anemone







Coral (zoanthids, cup, soft)







Hydroids (Fan or Other)







Tubeworm, calcareous tube







Tubeworm, "soft" tube







Colonial Tubeworm







Solitary Tunicate







Social Tunicate







Colonial Tunicate







Byrozoan (Staghorn or Other)







Barnacle







Bivalve







Other

Write-in







Write-in







Write-in







Write-in








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Example invertebrate form

Site:	Date:	Dive:	Heading:	Surveyor:	Buddy:

Time Start:	Transect width: 	Depth@40m:	 Depth@10m:

Group

40 - 30 m

30 - 20 m

20-10 m

40-30m

Status

JELLY: Haliclystus







Tunicate: Styela







Sponge: Solitary







Orange social tunicate



Barnacle: Giant







Compound Tunicate



TUBE WORMS:







Brittle Star



Unknown soft







Mysids



Myxicola | Bispira













Fan Hydroids



E. van | E. poly













White ukn tubes



Schizobranch | Chone













Bryozoans: Staghorn



Spagetti | Dioptera













Encrusting Sponge



Spiochaetop | Pista













30 - 20m

Status

Ukn orange | Ukn Hard













ANEMONE:







Stubby | Sand-rose













Orange social tunicate



White-spot | Fish Eating













Compound Tunicate



Stomphia | Epiactis













Brittle Star



Halicampa 10-T | 12-T













Mysids



SNAILS:







Fan Hydroids



Hairy Triton | Moon













White ukn tubes



Leafy Hornmouth | Top













Bryozoans: Staghorn



Amphissa | Lrg snail













Encrusting Sponge



LIMPET:







20-10m

Status

Keyhole | Whitecap

I
I

I
I

I
I

CHITON: Gumboot







Lined | Mossy

I
I

I
I

I
I

Orange social tunicate



CLAMS:







Compound Tunicate



Geoduck | False Geod.













Brittle Star



Horse | Butter













Mysids



Mya | H. kennerley













Fan Hydroids



Cockle | Piddock













White ukn tubes



Scallop: Pink | Rock













Bryozoans: Staghorn



NUDIBRANCH:







Encrusting Sponge



Frosted Dironaj Lemon

I
I

I
I

I
I

Status: Present = V

Absent = —
Abundant = A

Leopard | Clown

I
I

I
I

I
I

CRAB-







Dungeness | Rd Rock













Notes:

Fish (Presence/Absence):

C. graceful | C. oregon













Helmet | Northern kelp













P. gracilis! Ukn kelp













Decorator | O. gracilis













Ukn Hermit-sm | lrg













P. armatus | kennerly













Sponge | Wide claw













SHRIMP:








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Pandalus | Crangon

I
1

I
1

I
1



STARS:









Pycno | Cushion

I
1

I
1

I
1



Blood | Fat Blood

I
1

I
1

I
1



Rainbow | Vermillion

I
1

I
1

I
1



CUCUMBERS: Giant









Red | White

I
1

I
1

I
1



URCHINS: Red









Green | Purple

I
1

I
1

I
1











P = photo documented


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Example algae form

Date : Dive: Surveyor:

Site: Strttime: Heading: Buddy: Dpth@40m: Dpth(5)10m: Algae tra

Flatfish

Gunnel

Rockfish

Surfpercl

C-O sole

Crescent

Black

Pile

Starry flounder

Longfin

Copper

Striped

Right eyed unk sp

Penpoint

Rockfish juv unk sp

Surf perch

Left eyed unk
sp

Saddleback

Rockfish unk sp

Other

Flatfish unk sp

Gunnel unk sp

Sculpin

Blackeye

Greenling

Prickleback

Buffalo

Pacific co

Kelp

Mosshead warbonnet

Longfin

Pacific sa

Whitespotted

Prickleback unk sp

Manacled

Spotted r£

Lingcod juv

Write-in

Red Irish Lord

Write-in

Lingcod adult

Write-in

Scalyhead

Write-in

Greenling unk
sp

Write-in

Silverspotted

Write-in

Algae taxa (tally if >24 cm TL)

40-30 m

30-20 m



Agarum fimbriatum







Alaria marginata







Costaria
costata







Cymathere triplicate







Desmarestia aculeate







Desmarestia spp. (flat blade)







Laminaria setchelli







Nereocystis luetkeana (bull k.)







Pleurophycus gardneri







Pterygophora californica







Saccharina spp. (latis/subsim)







Sargassum muticum







Red - Branch (enter 1 if presnt)

40-35m

35-30m

30-25m

25-20m

20-15m

Red - Leaf (enter 1 if presnt)

40-35m

35-30m

30-25m

25-20m

20-15m

Red - Bushy (enter 1 if presnt)

40-35m

35-30m

30-25m

25-20m

20-15m

Red - Lacy (enter 1 if presnt)

40-35m

35-30m

30-25m

25-20m

20-15m

Green - Tissue (enter 1 if
presnt)

40-35m

35-30m

30-25m

25-20m

20-15m

Eelgrass
shoots







Write-in







Write-in







Write-in








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* D *JH



Various tubeworms at site C2; 90 degree transect. Mya clam also visible.

C2 90 degree transect still frame grab from video. Several tubeworms are visible.


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Rob Pedersen beginning his algal survey transect

Example of flagging added to make the end pier block more visible to place the survey transect


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Photos of Steve Rubin, USGS conducting a high definition video survey of the transects.


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•	f

0

Sean Sheldrake taking invertebrate data at C2 site on 8/21/12. Photo by Rob Pedersen


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Sean Sheldrake at site C2; photo by Rob Pedersen


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Frosted diorona surrounded by tubeworms, Photo by Sean Sheldrake


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Photo of mya clam surrounded by Schizobranchia tubeworms; Photo by Sean Sheldrake.


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Photo of Longfin gunnel by Scott Grossman, ERT


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Moonsnail; Photo by Alan Humphrey.


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H

Photo of HOBO light meter after installation by Alan Humphrey. Photo by Scott Grossman.


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Vancouveri tubeworm; photo by Scott Grossman, ERT.


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The August Elwha crew; Pedersen, Sheldrake, Grossman, Humphrey, and Thompson.

More photos are posted at:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190443777755711.47753.1305057
40416182&type=3

Return to EPA Region 10 Dive Unit homepage.


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