Pysht River
Encyclopedia
The Pysht River is a stream in the U.S. state
of Washington. It originates near Ellis Mountain in the northern Olympic Mountains
on the Olympic Peninsula
and flows generally north, emptying into the Strait of Juan de Fuca
. The Pysht and nearby Hoko River
are the two largest streams flowing into the southwestern portion of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The watershed
of the Pysht River drains a region of industrial forest lands; 98% of the watershed is zoned commercial forestry and the remainder rural. Nearly all of the forests have been logged at least once and most trees are less than thirty years old. The upper portions of the watershed, which feature steep gradients, are owned by the United States Forest Service
. The lower reaches, with low gradients, are largely owned by two industrial forest owners.
The name of the Pysht River comes from the Clallam (Salishan) pəšc't, perhaps meaning "against the wind or current".
. It flows southeast a short distance before turning northeast and leaving the national forest and the mountainous country to enter more rolling and hilly terrain. It collects the tributaries Needham Creek and Green Creek less than a mile upriver from its confluence with the South Fork Pysht River. The South Fork originates in the northern Olympic Mountains and flows north and west to join the main stem
Pysht. Tributaries of the South Fork include the West Fork Pysht River, Middle Creek, and Salmonberry Creek. Downstream from the South Fork confluence the main stem Pysht River flows mainly east and slightly north to the small settlement of Pysht near the coast. The river makes a large bend north, then east, then south, then east before emptying into the Strait of Juan de Fuca
. Two additional tributaries, Reed Creek and Indian Creek, join in the last reach. The mouth of the Pysht River is just south of a headland
called Pillar Point and just north of the Pillar Point Recreation Area and campground. The mouth of the Pysht is a tidally influenced estuary
and supports a large complex of forested and tidal emergent wetlands.
s, and often carries tannin stained water, it is known as a "cedar creek". The river supports nine species of freshwater fish, five salmonid and four non-salmonid. The non-salmonids known to be found in the Pysht River include Pacific lamprey
(Lampetra tridentata), three-spined stickleback
(Gasterosteus aculeatus), and two freshwater sculpin
species: coastrange sculpin (Cottus aleuticus) and prickly sculpin (Cottus asper). Salmonid species include chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon
(Oncorhynchus kisutch), chum salmon
(Oncorhynchus keta), coastal sea-run cutthroat trout
(Oncorhynchus clarki clarki), and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Other fish species are likely to be present in the river's estuary, but which have not been formally sampled, include starry flounder
, surf perches
, and smelts.
Historically the anadromous salmonid fish runs were robust but all have declined, especially the main stem
-dependent chinook and chum salmon. Chinook salmon may no longer be viable in the Pysht watershed and the few that are still seen may be strays from nearby populations such as the Hoko River stock. The causes of habitat degradation are thought to have resulted from logging, highway and railroad construction, log transport, and channelization. Other causes of population decline include fishing and disease caused by hatchery suplementation of salmonides. The large estuary is an important salmon rearing habitat. It has recovered somewhat from past heavy impacts, but active restoration efforts may be required to prevent further population declines.
Before commercial logging the forests of the lower Pysht River watershed features large-diameter stands of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), Douglas-fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and western red cedar (Thuja plicata
). Deciduous trees such as red alder (Thuja plicata
) and big-leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) were present to a lesser degree. Today nearly the entire basin is industrial forest and subject to repeated logging. Most trees are less than thirty years old.
, and its aquatic habitat has been altered in various ways including road and railroad grade construction, road maintenance and protection (such as riprap
), channelization, channel relocation, logging
, in-channel wood removal, dredging, homesteading, agricultural development, wetland filling, and rural development.
Logging began in the early 20th century and eliminated the original old-growth forests. The Pysht River was channelized to facilitate the transport of logs along the lower river and estuary. Dredging was routinely carried out on the lower river and the dredge spoils were reportedly dumped into the estuary's tidal wetlands for the purpose of agricultural development. A network of logging railroads were built adjacent to the main stem Pysht and the South Fork Pysht. A wagon road that paralleled the Pysht River was converted into a the paved state highway Washington State Route 112 in the 1940s.
The quality of the spawning habitat provided by the Pysht, along with adequate temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels, and low level of recreational fishing don't account for the dwindling numbers of salmon and steelhead returning to the Pysht and other nearby rivers. The widespread use of monofilament gill nets by tribal fishermen in the actual river mouth, and the lack of enforcement or any level of accountability are the single biggest influence on the salmon and steelhead runs.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington. It originates near Ellis Mountain in the northern Olympic Mountains
Olympic Mountains
The Olympic Mountains is a mountain range on the Olympic Peninsula of western Washington in the United States. The mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are not especially high - Mount Olympus is the highest at - but the western slopes of the Olympics rise directly out of the Pacific...
on the Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state of the USA, that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Puget Sound. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous...
and flows generally north, emptying into the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a large body of water about long that is the Salish Sea outlet to the Pacific Ocean...
. The Pysht and nearby Hoko River
Hoko River
The Hoko River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. It originates in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains, and runs about to the Pacific Ocean through a rugged landscape that has been heavily logged. Its largest tributary is the Little Hoko River, which joins at river mile . The lower of...
are the two largest streams flowing into the southwestern portion of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Pysht River drains a region of industrial forest lands; 98% of the watershed is zoned commercial forestry and the remainder rural. Nearly all of the forests have been logged at least once and most trees are less than thirty years old. The upper portions of the watershed, which feature steep gradients, are owned by the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
. The lower reaches, with low gradients, are largely owned by two industrial forest owners.
The name of the Pysht River comes from the Clallam (Salishan) pəšc't, perhaps meaning "against the wind or current".
Course
The Pysht River originates near Ellis Mountain in the northwestern Olympic Mountains of Olympic National ForestOlympic National Forest
Olympic National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in Washington, USA. With an area of 633,677 acres , it nearly surrounds Olympic National Park and the Olympic Mountain range. Olympic National Forest contains parts of Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Mason counties...
. It flows southeast a short distance before turning northeast and leaving the national forest and the mountainous country to enter more rolling and hilly terrain. It collects the tributaries Needham Creek and Green Creek less than a mile upriver from its confluence with the South Fork Pysht River. The South Fork originates in the northern Olympic Mountains and flows north and west to join the main stem
Main Stem
"Main Stem" is 1942 instrumental by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra. Although recorded in 1942, the single would not be released until 1944 where it was Duke Ellington's last of four number one's on the Harlem Hit Parade. "Main Stem" would also peak at number twenty on the pop chart"Main...
Pysht. Tributaries of the South Fork include the West Fork Pysht River, Middle Creek, and Salmonberry Creek. Downstream from the South Fork confluence the main stem Pysht River flows mainly east and slightly north to the small settlement of Pysht near the coast. The river makes a large bend north, then east, then south, then east before emptying into the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a large body of water about long that is the Salish Sea outlet to the Pacific Ocean...
. Two additional tributaries, Reed Creek and Indian Creek, join in the last reach. The mouth of the Pysht River is just south of a headland
Headland
A headland is a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends out into a body of water.Headland can also refer to:*Headlands and bays*headLand, an Australian television series...
called Pillar Point and just north of the Pillar Point Recreation Area and campground. The mouth of the Pysht is a tidally influenced estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
and supports a large complex of forested and tidal emergent wetlands.
Biology
Because the Pysht River, like the Hoko River, is brushy, full of snagSnag
In forest ecology, a snag refers to a standing, partly or completely dead tree, often missing a top or most of the smaller branches. In freshwater ecology it refers to trees, branches, and other pieces of naturally occurring wood found sunken in rivers and streams; it is also known as coarse woody...
s, and often carries tannin stained water, it is known as a "cedar creek". The river supports nine species of freshwater fish, five salmonid and four non-salmonid. The non-salmonids known to be found in the Pysht River include Pacific lamprey
Pacific lamprey
The Pacific lamprey is an anadromous parasitic lamprey from the Pacific Coast of North America and Asia. It is also known as the three tooth lamprey and tridentate lamprey.-Biology:...
(Lampetra tridentata), three-spined stickleback
Three-spined stickleback
The three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, is a fish native to much of northern Europe, northern Asia and North America. It has been introduced into parts of southern and central Europe.-Distribution and morphological variation:...
(Gasterosteus aculeatus), and two freshwater sculpin
Cottus (genus)
Cottus is a genus of the sculpin family Cottidae. It is often referred to as the "freshwater sculpins", as the principal genus of sculpins to be found in fresh water.They are mostly small fish, rarely reaching more than 15 cm in length.-Species:...
species: coastrange sculpin (Cottus aleuticus) and prickly sculpin (Cottus asper). Salmonid species include chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
(Oncorhynchus kisutch), chum salmon
Chum salmon
The chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is a Pacific salmon, and may also be known as dog salmon or Keta salmon, and is often marketed under the name Silverbrite salmon...
(Oncorhynchus keta), coastal sea-run cutthroat trout
Cutthroat trout
The cutthroat trout is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is one of the many fish species colloquially known as trout...
(Oncorhynchus clarki clarki), and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Other fish species are likely to be present in the river's estuary, but which have not been formally sampled, include starry flounder
Starry flounder
The starry flounder is a common flatfish found around the margins of the North Pacific.The distinctive features of the starry flounder include the combination of black and white-to-orange bar on the dorsal and anal fins, as well as the skin covered with scales modified into tiny star-shaped plates...
, surf perches
Embiotocidae
The surfperches are a family, Embiotocidae, of perciform fishes. They are found in coastal waters of the northern Pacific and grow up to 45 cm long....
, and smelts.
Historically the anadromous salmonid fish runs were robust but all have declined, especially the main stem
Main Stem
"Main Stem" is 1942 instrumental by Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra. Although recorded in 1942, the single would not be released until 1944 where it was Duke Ellington's last of four number one's on the Harlem Hit Parade. "Main Stem" would also peak at number twenty on the pop chart"Main...
-dependent chinook and chum salmon. Chinook salmon may no longer be viable in the Pysht watershed and the few that are still seen may be strays from nearby populations such as the Hoko River stock. The causes of habitat degradation are thought to have resulted from logging, highway and railroad construction, log transport, and channelization. Other causes of population decline include fishing and disease caused by hatchery suplementation of salmonides. The large estuary is an important salmon rearing habitat. It has recovered somewhat from past heavy impacts, but active restoration efforts may be required to prevent further population declines.
Before commercial logging the forests of the lower Pysht River watershed features large-diameter stands of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
(Pseudotsuga menziesii), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and western red cedar (Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata, commonly called Western or pacific red cedar, giant or western arborvitae, giant cedar, or shinglewood, is a species of Thuja, an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family Cupressaceae native to western North America...
). Deciduous trees such as red alder (Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata, commonly called Western or pacific red cedar, giant or western arborvitae, giant cedar, or shinglewood, is a species of Thuja, an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family Cupressaceae native to western North America...
) and big-leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) were present to a lesser degree. Today nearly the entire basin is industrial forest and subject to repeated logging. Most trees are less than thirty years old.
River modifications
The Pysht River, its floodplainFloodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
, and its aquatic habitat has been altered in various ways including road and railroad grade construction, road maintenance and protection (such as riprap
Riprap
Riprap — also known as rip rap, rubble, shot rock or rock armour or "Rip-rap" — is rock or other material used to armor shorelines, streambeds, bridge abutments, pilings and other shoreline structures against scour, water or ice erosion.It is made from a variety of rock types, commonly granite or...
), channelization, channel relocation, logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
, in-channel wood removal, dredging, homesteading, agricultural development, wetland filling, and rural development.
Logging began in the early 20th century and eliminated the original old-growth forests. The Pysht River was channelized to facilitate the transport of logs along the lower river and estuary. Dredging was routinely carried out on the lower river and the dredge spoils were reportedly dumped into the estuary's tidal wetlands for the purpose of agricultural development. A network of logging railroads were built adjacent to the main stem Pysht and the South Fork Pysht. A wagon road that paralleled the Pysht River was converted into a the paved state highway Washington State Route 112 in the 1940s.
The quality of the spawning habitat provided by the Pysht, along with adequate temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels, and low level of recreational fishing don't account for the dwindling numbers of salmon and steelhead returning to the Pysht and other nearby rivers. The widespread use of monofilament gill nets by tribal fishermen in the actual river mouth, and the lack of enforcement or any level of accountability are the single biggest influence on the salmon and steelhead runs.