Olympic Coast Rivers and Streams

The wild rivers and streams of the Olympic Coast attract fishermen and other adventurers from throughout the world. These cold glacial fed rivers and streams are shaded by dense rainforest vegetation. Crystal clear emerald green waters flow directly from the mountains into the sea. They provide ideal aquatic habitat for multiple species of salmon and trout, treasured icons of the Pacific Northwest. River otters, amphibians, blue herons, and other birds are abundant along these wild rivers.

There are four major rivers along the Olympic Coast. They include the Quillayute, Hoh, Queets, and Quinault. During the summer, the Hoh and Queets Rivers are fed by glacial melt water from Mount Olympus. Numerous smaller rivers include the Twin, Pysht, Hoko, Sekiu, Ozette, Dickey, Sol Duc, Calawah, Bogachiel, Clearwater, Raft, and Copalis. Most of these rivers drain directly into the ocean. These beautiful rivers are fed by innumerable streams, nearly all of which flow year round from snowmelt and/or groundwater. Click here to view a map of the Olympic Coast.

Water quality is good to excellent in many Olympic Coast rivers and streams. Special characteristics of these rivers and streams include cold water temperatures, large downed woody debris in streams, and excellent pool/riffle sequences for fish spawning and protection.

The high quality streams and rivers along the Olympic Coast serve as important nurseries for steelhead, salmon, and other fish populations. Endangered salmon and bulltrout are found is many of these rivers and streams. Olympic Coast rivers attract recreational fisherman from all over the world. They also support important tribal and other commercial fisheries.

The pristine sections of Olympic Coast rivers are very popular with hikers and backpackers. The rugged Olympic Mountain landscape with steep sided valleys forces most trails to follow along the rivers. These wild rivers also provide exciting opportunities for world class kayaking and canoeing.

Logging continues to be the biggest threat to Olympic Coast rivers. Upland clearcuts can dramatically increase stream flows leading to stream blowouts (removal of large woody debris), stream back collapse, and sediment deposition. Poor construction and maintenance of logging roads can result in erosion and sediment deposition in streambeds, destroying spawning areas. Upland clearcuts and heavy thinning of stream side forests can lead to severe water temperature increases that are lethal to fish populations. Heavy streamside logging in the past has removed the large trees that are desperately needed as large woody debris in streams.

Other threats to Olympic Coast rivers include the channeling, diking, and hardening (large rocks and/or concrete walls) of lower reaches. These man-made changes are a major threat to estuaries that serve as feeding grounds for juvenile salmon and other fish. To some extent, this limits the number of birds that feed on these fish.

Upland and streamside logging, as well as flood control in the lower reaches of Olympic Coast rivers, have substantially impacted salmon and other fish populations, with major declines in multiple species and wild runs over the past decade (e.g., ozette sockeye, chinook, western straits fall chum, summer steelhead, and bulltrout). Without action, several of the species and wild runs will continue to slide toward extirpation in Olympic Coast rivers and streams.

A concerted effort is needed to protect and restore Olympic Coast rivers and streams, along with their associated fish and wildlife populations. The primary focus should be on rainforest restoration on federal and state forestlands. Advocates can work to influence the federal and state policies that guide forest restoration activities along Olympic Coast rivers and streams. There is also a need for stronger regulations and enforcement that will lead to adoption of more environmentally sensitive management on private forestlands.