It is very encouraging to see community cohesion directed at a specific policy. Its not a cry in the wilderness anymore when a community speaks in numbers. Its a mandate from the general public. This is the best part of America's governing system.
You just had to know I was going to be long winded..so here goes.
The road's construction and it's longevity is never going to be safe from un unmanaged river. The dam was managing the river and protected the road. Their overall plan for the Elwha is flawed because it starts with the notion that salmon spawning happens at 8-20 percent grades. when you look at the picture used for this article you will see a little side channel off to the right. It was created because the main channel, when it is not baffled (strained) for logs and heavy debris , that pile of storm sediment raises the level of the river and makes it easy to jump its channel during storms. When the storm is over it leaves behind a shallow side channel that dries up in summer. All of this was played out in real time in 2003 -2010 at the Jimmycomelately restoration project. To protect the roads and infrastructure the tribe along with all 5 corners of government created Jimmycomelately science. That science calls for a separation of stormwater and the heavy sediment load that comes with it in order to create a perfect spawning incubator at 3-4 percent grade within 3 miles of the delta..
In Jimmycomelately science that little side channel in the picture, up at the 8-20 percent grades over 4- 10 miles up the river, was deemed useless for spawning, because the current was too strong for the spawning and the habitat for silvers and kings. Young Fry do not have the power to swim in that grade and the percentages of survival are next to zero. The next obstacle to the survival rate were the predator's in proximity to the delta's. They overcame that by making man made channels which were narrow and deep. They stayed narrow and deep because the creek was baffled. No hotel logs and heavy sediment to fill up the narrow channels. It was filtered and diverted to both sides. The only problem for this design was that the casino took up the location where the silvers and kings fry would live for a year before they head out to sea.
The Elwha conundrum is that the reservation, just like the 7 Cedars casino, sits in the 3-4 percent 3 mile zone. They will spend billions and never get wild salmon if they don't invest in the 3-4 percent at 3 mile locations, with that narrow and deep Jimmycomelately design. The Elwha has to be baffled in the area where the picture is and instead of it being a useless stream that dries out in the summer and takes away from the level of the main channel. That baffling with not only create the right sediment balance when it reaches the 3-4 percent 3 mile mark locations, it will remove the meandering dangers of the roads up to Old Olympic and those original gateways, which used to be 3 to 4 miles from Humes ranch and the hot springs trailhead.
Going natural without baffling and gouging the main channels, and with the tribes encroaching upon prime spawning grounds, not even the new proposed Elwha property is safe for development including their roads and buildings. The hybrid Jimmycomelately science is a must and it is not optional if they want a real consistent "wild" salmon population, that does not rely almost solely on hatchery fish.
Thank you Jake for standing up and encouraging others to do the same. Can’t wait to get this train turned around and headed in a better direction for all people! Thank you for protecting the land for ALL to recreate and enjoy 🤗
Jake thanks for the positive uplifting story on how good things happen when hard work is done. Sunday is a special day to share this CC story with CCWD. Now we have one more mission to complete ,Vote and we can accomplish much more.
It is very encouraging to see community cohesion directed at a specific policy. Its not a cry in the wilderness anymore when a community speaks in numbers. Its a mandate from the general public. This is the best part of America's governing system.
You just had to know I was going to be long winded..so here goes.
The road's construction and it's longevity is never going to be safe from un unmanaged river. The dam was managing the river and protected the road. Their overall plan for the Elwha is flawed because it starts with the notion that salmon spawning happens at 8-20 percent grades. when you look at the picture used for this article you will see a little side channel off to the right. It was created because the main channel, when it is not baffled (strained) for logs and heavy debris , that pile of storm sediment raises the level of the river and makes it easy to jump its channel during storms. When the storm is over it leaves behind a shallow side channel that dries up in summer. All of this was played out in real time in 2003 -2010 at the Jimmycomelately restoration project. To protect the roads and infrastructure the tribe along with all 5 corners of government created Jimmycomelately science. That science calls for a separation of stormwater and the heavy sediment load that comes with it in order to create a perfect spawning incubator at 3-4 percent grade within 3 miles of the delta..
In Jimmycomelately science that little side channel in the picture, up at the 8-20 percent grades over 4- 10 miles up the river, was deemed useless for spawning, because the current was too strong for the spawning and the habitat for silvers and kings. Young Fry do not have the power to swim in that grade and the percentages of survival are next to zero. The next obstacle to the survival rate were the predator's in proximity to the delta's. They overcame that by making man made channels which were narrow and deep. They stayed narrow and deep because the creek was baffled. No hotel logs and heavy sediment to fill up the narrow channels. It was filtered and diverted to both sides. The only problem for this design was that the casino took up the location where the silvers and kings fry would live for a year before they head out to sea.
The Elwha conundrum is that the reservation, just like the 7 Cedars casino, sits in the 3-4 percent 3 mile zone. They will spend billions and never get wild salmon if they don't invest in the 3-4 percent at 3 mile locations, with that narrow and deep Jimmycomelately design. The Elwha has to be baffled in the area where the picture is and instead of it being a useless stream that dries out in the summer and takes away from the level of the main channel. That baffling with not only create the right sediment balance when it reaches the 3-4 percent 3 mile mark locations, it will remove the meandering dangers of the roads up to Old Olympic and those original gateways, which used to be 3 to 4 miles from Humes ranch and the hot springs trailhead.
Going natural without baffling and gouging the main channels, and with the tribes encroaching upon prime spawning grounds, not even the new proposed Elwha property is safe for development including their roads and buildings. The hybrid Jimmycomelately science is a must and it is not optional if they want a real consistent "wild" salmon population, that does not rely almost solely on hatchery fish.
John, I was going to ask the question, "Who would fight against this and why?" You covered my question!
Thank you Jake for standing up and encouraging others to do the same. Can’t wait to get this train turned around and headed in a better direction for all people! Thank you for protecting the land for ALL to recreate and enjoy 🤗
Jake thanks for the positive uplifting story on how good things happen when hard work is done. Sunday is a special day to share this CC story with CCWD. Now we have one more mission to complete ,Vote and we can accomplish much more.