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PACIFIC COAST SALMON COALITION

Eagle Creek Springs

Click Here to see some graphs on the quality of our water.

(Click on an image to enlarge it)

Winter Run Coho 2008

Summer Run Coho 2002

Fall Run Coho 2001

Fall Coho 2002

Eagle Creek Springs is a tributary of the Sol Duc River  approximately 26 miles up stream from the  Pacific Coast. This crystal clear water comes from 19 underground springs at a year around temperature of 47 to 50 degrees F. The creek is 1000 feet in length and flows at a rate of 11 cubic feet/ second or 4937 gallons/minute. The creek is spawning ground to native runs of summer and fall Coho Salmon. The creek also supports a small run of Native Sockeye Salmon and wintering over of Chinook Salmon (King Salmon), Steelhead and Native Cutthroat Trout.

Before Culvert                                  After Culvert

Summer 2001

Fish Count

Before the new culvert we used to think it was a good year if 12 Coho spawned in the creek.

Wintering-Over Pond

Coho Salmon spend 18 months in fresh water before they go to sea.  In this time, they develop their survival skills and grow big enough to make the trip.  These salmon need a place that protects them from floods and predators and gives them a ample food supply.  This is why the small streams and wetland areas in a river are so important. If we can increase the survival rate during these 18 months . The returning runs of spawning salmon will increase .  An agreement was reached in 1998 between the family of Eagle Creek Ranch, Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition, and Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife . This agreement developed into enhancing all of the needs required for salmon survival. Everything that the fish biologists say is needed has been done on this creek. Over 1000 hours of volunteer time has been invested along with the professional help of Washington  State Dept of Fish & Wildlife .   

Here are some awesome underwater pictures taken with our donated underwater camera of fish that are wintering over in the Eagle Creek Springs. 

Culvert Replacement

An engineering crew from Washington State Dept of Fish & Wildlife installed a large baffled culvert in the summer of 1999. This style of culvert uses metal baffles that act as a fish ladder. This enabled the water level in the creek to rise to the high water line of the previous beaver dams that were abandoned. This is the 2nd time in Washington State that this baffled culvert was used and is the only one at this steep angle. This culvert services as a demonstration project for Washington State Dept of Fish & Wildlife.

Woody Debris

While the heavy construction equipment was on site it was used to place tree stumps and other woody debris in the creek. A work crew from Clearwater Correction Honor Camp placed the woody debris in the main channel and using large rope, secured the woody debris to the banks of the creek to prevent it from blocking the culvert. In the upper part of the creek, a new idea was implemented to bundle spruce tree branches together. A plastic ABS pipe was made into a triangle shaped float and spruce branches are tie wrapped to the legs. After 10 to 15 branches, the triangle forms an underwater barrier, a lot like a big tree root ball. These spruce triangles provide cover for small fish and are also used by larger spawning Coho to hide from predators. To date, 16 spruce triangles are providing cover in Eagle Creek Springs. The best part of this new cover is that a 2 person crew can place these anywhere in a stream without the use of heavy equipment.
Click here to see: Dave's Spruce Triangles

Spawning Gravel

Coho Salmon require small to medium sized rock to spawn in. Several areas in the creek were identified for improvement. Under the  supervision of Fish & Wildlife biologists these areas received over 135 cubic yards of "state approved " gravel. This gravel had to meet the size requirements and be cleaned of dirt. 135 cubic yards is 13 dump truck loads. The work crew from the Clearwater Correction Honor Camp hand carried 35 cubic yards of this gravel into the creek. The rest was done by volunteers. Over the last few  years an increase in the Coho Salmon run  has adapted to this new gravel. The winter of 2001 also saw cutthroat and steelhead trout spawning for the first time .

Tree Planting

At the end of the project the landscaping and tree planting were left for the local landowners to complete. The project leader organized volunteer work  party's from the employees of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. In a 3 year effort to plant native trees and wetland plants.

Tree Planting Pictures

Livestock Fencing

On Earth Day  weekend of 2001, a group from Americorps of Clallam Co., built fencing to protect the spawning area from livestock.

Click here to view Americorps "Earth Day" Pictures.

Salmon Nutrients

At the beginning of this project, this creek was barren  of vegetation in the water.  In 1998, the Salmon Coalition began placing surplus Coho Salmon Carcasses from the Sol Duc Salmon Hatchery in the creek.  Every winter, 200 to 600 salmon carcasses are laid over the entire length of the creek.  This enhances the food chain in the creek.  As an added benefit, these carcasses remain in the creek during high water in the Sol Duc River.  This keeps the flow of nutrients at a high level through the months of the spring.  This helps to enhance the Sol Duc River for several miles down stream from the creek.  The downside to this is Eagle Creek Springs smells like dead salmon for several months.  We would like to thank the landowner for putting up with this smell.