The goal of the FY06 phase of the project is to determine the level at which one of a series of Grays River (WA) tidal wetland restoration projects (completed by Columbia Land Trust and it partners) meet specific goals and objectives.  Th FY06 phase shifts effort from the nearby Chinook River, WA where baseline monitoring has been completed and restoration planning is still underway - to the Grays River where restoration work has been completed.  The sampling approach will be similar and comparable to work completed on the Chinook River as well as research by NOAA Fisheries and University of Washington in the mainstem Columbia River.  The primary impetus of these restoration actions is to contribute to the recovery of "at risk" stocks of salmon, therefore, monitoring has focused on these species.

Monitoring seeks to measure and characterize salmon utilization and habitat function of the restoring estuarine habitat at the Devil's Elbow site on the Grays River, WA.  The primary monitoring questions are:  1.  When (what times of the year) do juvenile salmon occupy restoration project site and and the mainstem Grays River?  2.  What is the relative abundance and species composition of juvenile salmon occupying the restoration site and mainstem Grays River?  3.  What are the origin and age classes of juvenile salmon occupying the restoration project site and mainstem Grays River?  4.  Do restoring habitats produce adequate prey resources for salmon occupying the restoration site?  5.  What prey items are consumed by juvenile salmonids in the restoration site and mainstem Grays River?  6.  Are water quality conditions maintained at a level that is sufficient to support salmon?