Fish and Fish Habitat Report

PATTULLO BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT EAC APPLICATION

Note to the Reader

This report was finalized before the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project was transferred from TransLink (South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority) to the BC

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI).

References to TransLink should be read as MoTI unless referring specifically to

TransLink policies or other TransLink-related aspects.

Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project: Fish and Fish Habitat Report

March 2018

Prepared for: South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) New Westminster, British Columbia

#200 - 850 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V7P 0A3 • Tel: 1.604.926.3261 • Fax: 1.604.926.5389 • www.hatﬁ eldgroup.com

PATTULLO BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT: FISH AND FISH HABITAT REPORT

Prepared for:

TRANSLINK 400 - 287 NELSON’S COURT NEW WESTMINSTER, BC CANADA V3L 0E7

Prepared by:

HATFIELD CONSULTANTS #200 - 850 HARBOURSIDE DRIVE NORTH VANCOUVER, BC CANADA V7P 0A3

MARCH 2018

TRANS7593 VERSION 4

#200 - 850 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver, BC, Canada V7P 0A3 • Tel: 1.604.926.3261 • Toll Free: 1.866.926.3261 • Fax: 1.604.926.5389 • www.hatfieldgroup.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES ...... ii LIST OF FIGURES ...... ii LIST OF APPENDICES ...... ii LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... v 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 2.0 OBJECTIVES ...... 1 3.0 STUDY AREA ...... 1 4.0 VALUED COMPONENT ...... 5 5.0 METHODOLOGY ...... 6 5.1 REVIEW OF EXISTING LITERATURE AND DATA ...... 9 5.2 DATA COMPILATION AND SYNTHESIS ...... 10 5.2.1 Mainstem Fraser River ...... 10 5.2.2 Upland Tributaries ...... 11 5.3 PROJECT-SPECIFIC FIELD SURVEYS (2016/2017) ...... 12 6.0 RESULTS ...... 17 6.1 HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE LOWER FRASER RIVER ...... 17 6.2 FISH HABITAT ...... 18 6.2.1 Mainstem Fraser River ...... 18 6.2.2 Upland Tributaries ...... 21 6.3 FISH SURVEYS ...... 24 6.3.1 Mainstem Fraser River ...... 24 6.3.2 Upland Tributaries ...... 28 6.4 FISH USE IN THE STUDY AREA ...... 37 6.4.1 Migratory Key Species ...... 37 6.4.2 Semi-resident Key Species ...... 41 6.4.3 Resident Key Species ...... 44 6.4.4 Temporal Trends and Climate Change ...... 45 6.4.5 Abundance Estimates ...... 47 6.5 BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE RESOURCES ...... 50 7.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ...... 51 8.0 REFERENCES ...... 53

Fish and Fish Habitat Report i Hatfield

LIST OF TABLES

Table 4.1 Conservation status of key species...... 5 Table 6.1 Lower Fraser River 2016/2017 riparian survey results...... 20 Table 6.2 Fish taxa captured in mainstem Fraser River near the Study Area...... 26 Table 6.3 Key Species habitat use of the Study Area...... 37 Table 6.4 Potential for habitat use by Chinook Salmon in Study Area...... 38 Table 6.5 Potential for habitat use by Chum Salmon in Study Area...... 39 Table 6.6 Potential for habitat use by Coho Salmon in Study Area...... 39 Table 6.7 Potential for habitat use by Pink salmon in Study Area...... 40 Table 6.8 Potential for habitat use by Sockeye Salmon in Study Area...... 40 Table 6.9 Potential for habitat use by Steelhead Trout in Study Area...... 40 Table 6.10 Potential for habitat use by Eulachon in Study Area...... 41 Table 6.11 Potential for habitat use by White Sturgeon in Study Area...... 42 Table 6.12 Potential for habitat use by Dolly Varden in Study Area...... 43 Table 6.13 Potential for habitat use by Bull Trout in Study Area...... 43 Table 6.14 Potential for habitat use by Rainbow Trout in Study Area...... 44 Table 6.15 Potential for habitat use by Coastal Cutthroat Trout in Study Area...... 44 Table 7.1 Summary of fish habitat use and abundance for Key Species...... 52

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 3.1 Overview of Fish and Fish Habitat Project Location ...... 3 Figure 5.1 Fish and Fish Habitat study area...... 7 Figure 5.2 2016/2017 Fish and Fish Habitat Sampling Locations ...... 13 Figure 6.1 Fish and Fish Habitat Survey Results ...... 31 Figure 6.2 Temporal use of Study Area by the migratory, semi-resident, and resident Key Species. Solid bar = very likely present, Hatched bar = possibly present...... 46

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix A1 Key Species Life History and Habitat Use Appendix A2 Previous Fish Sampling Appendix A3 Photos from 2016/2017 Surveys

Fish and Fish Habitat Report ii Hatfield

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

AIR Application Information Requirements BC British Columbia CNR Canadian National Railway COSEWIC Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada COSMOS City of Surrey Mapping Online System CRA fishery Commercial, recreational, or Aboriginal fishery EAC Environmental Assessment Certificate EIA Environmental Impact Assessment FIDQ Fisheries Inventory Data Queries FREMP Fraser River Estuary Management Program LSA Local study area FLNRORD Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development NHC Northwest Hydraulics Consultants PBRep Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project PSC Pacific Salmon Commission RSA Regional study area SAR Species at risk SARA Species at Risk Act SFPR South Fraser Perimeter Road SHIM Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping VC Valued components

Fish and Fish Habitat Report iii Hatfield

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This Fish and Fish Habitat Report was prepared for TransLink by Hatfield Consultants (North Vancouver). Cory Bettles (MSc, RPBio, FP-C) managed the 2017 report compilation for the Project. This report was authored by Sarah Thomasen (MSc, RPBio), Morgan Edwards (MSc, RPBio), Dominique de Groot (MEL), and Betty Rebellato (BNRS, RPBio.) and reviewed by Cory Bettles and Andrew Duthie (MSc, EP, RPBio). Field studies were conducted by Betty Rebellato, Jacob Joyce (BSc), and Tim Poulton (BA, DipIT, RPBio). Individuals who also contributed to this report include Aneeqa Syed (M.Sc.), Tatyana Kovyneva (MSc), and Tania Pye. Also acknowledged are important ongoing contributions through consultation and provision of traditional knowledge studies by Aboriginal Groups (Cowichan Nation Alliance, Kwantlen First Nation, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Lake Cowichan First Nation, Lyackson First Nation, Musqueam Indian Band, Tsawwassen First Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and provision of additional technical reports from Kwikwetlem First Nation.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report iv Hatfield

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report characterizes the existing conditions of fisheries resources in the Project area in support of the Environmental Assessment Certificate (EAC) Application for the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project. It is also intended to inform the development of appropriate mitigation, monitoring, management, and offsetting strategies, where applicable.

The information in this report is based primarily on an extensive review of literature available for the lower Fraser River and of project-specific studies provided by Aboriginal Groups. The review was supplemented by Project-specific field surveys in 2016 and 2017, focusing on upland tributaries, to fill notable data gaps and confirm present conditions. Information on biophysical characteristics (e.g., fish habitat values, riparian zone features), fish presence, fish use, and hydrology were compiled for select watercourses (i.e., mainstem Fraser River, upland tributaries) that may be adversely affected as a result of the Project. The mainstem Fraser River has been sampled in studies targeting specific fish species as well as general fish use of specific habitat types. Previous sampling on upland tributaries was completed primarily in response to other development projects.

Results generated from literature and field surveys illustrate that the Fraser River provides diverse habitat for many fish species, from its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to its delta in the Strait of Georgia. The current Study Area is located in the tidally influenced freshwater section of the Fraser River, several kilometres upstream of the salt wedge. The Fraser River is relatively deep and narrow in the Study Area, where the North and South arms conjoin into one channel. This creates a concentrated migratory corridor that is frequently used by a diverse array of fish species, either swimming to freshwater spawning habitat upstream or to marine rearing habitat downstream. This corridor was, and remains, an important fishing area for Aboriginal Groups and, more recently, non-Aboriginal fishers. A number of fish species also take advantage of the marine migrations, moving into the Study Area to prey on migrating fish.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report v Hatfield

1.0 INTRODUCTION The South Coast British Columbia (BC) Transportation Authority (TransLink) is proposing to replace the existing four-lane Pattullo Bridge connecting the Cities of Surrey and New Westminster with a new four- lane bridge spanning the Fraser River in the same general location. The Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project (the Project) will tie into the existing municipal and provincial road networks. Major components of the Project will include infrastructure upgrades, construction of a new bridge and approaches, and decommissioning and removal of the existing bridge.

This report characterizes existing fish and fish habitat conditions in the Project area to support the Project Environmental Assessment Certificate Application (EAC). It is also intended to inform the development of appropriate mitigation, monitoring, management, and offsetting strategies, where applicable.

2.0 OBJECTIVES The objectives of this report are to:

. Characterize fisheries resources that could potentially be affected by the Project.

. Compile and synthesize information on existing conditions necessary to support the Project EAC.

. Facilitate the design of any required mitigation, offsetting (i.e., compensation), and/or adaptive monitoring programs.

These objectives were achieved primarily through an extensive review of literature available for the lower Fraser River and of project-specific studies provided by Aboriginal Groups. The literature review was supplemented by further consultation with Aboriginal Groups and Project-specific field surveys conducted in 2016 and 2017 that focused on upland tributaries to fill notable data gaps and confirm present conditions. 3.0 STUDY AREA The Study Area for fish and fish habitat encompasses the section of the lower Fraser River and surrounding aquatic resources subject to potential direct interactions with the Project Boundary (delineated as the local study area, or LSA) and potential indirect effects (delineated as the regional study area, or RSA). In general, this report addresses the entire Study Area, except in cases where the distinction between the LSA and RSA is necessary for clarity. Delineations of the LSA and the RSA for fish and fish habitat are shown in Figure 3.1.

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Fish and Fish Habitat Report 2 Hatfield Burrard Inlet Coquitlam

Fraser River

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REFERENCE DRAWING DESIGNED ______Proposed Pattullo Bridge Contract No. 0906-14/SC001110CA Replacement Project DRAWN AS 18 - 03 - 09 NO. DESCRIPTION 1 Reference Concept, Parsons 2018. CHECKED ______Overview of Fish and Fish Habitat SCALE 1:50,000 FIGURE NO. REV NO. APPROVAL ______0 500 1000 Project Location m 3.1 4 K:\Data\Project\TRANS7593-NV\A_MXD\Report_Maps\Impact_Assessments\Fish_Habitat\Baseline_Report\TRANS7593_Fig3_1_Fisheries_Baseline_Overview_20180309_v4.mxd

4.0 VALUED COMPONENT As described in the Valued Components Selection and Rationale Document (TransLink 2017), fish and fish habitat was identified as a valued component (VC) for the Project in consultation with Aboriginal Groups, scientists and other technical specialists, government agencies, and the public. This technical report focuses on fish species documented to be present or potentially present in the Project area and that also form part of or support a commercial, recreational, or Aboriginal fishery (collectively termed “CRA” fisheries as defined in the federal Fisheries Act), or are classified as a species at risk, or have Aboriginal importance (herein referred to as Key Species; see Table 4.1). Key species include all five species of Pacific salmon, white sturgeon, green sturgeon, eulachon, mountain sucker, steelhead/rainbow trout, coastal cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden, and bull trout. Green sturgeon and mountain sucker are unlikely to be present in the Project area, but these species are included because they are listed as species of special concern under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Table 4.1 Conservation status of key species.

Common Name Scientific Name Aboriginal Name SAR Status* Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus st̓ θaqʷey̓ 3 None tshawytscha st̕ᶿaqʷəy̓2 Chum salmon O. keta kʷa� l̕əxʷ2 None kʷec3 Coho salmon O. kisutch kʷəxʷəθ2 Interior Fraser population designated as kʷəxʷə� θ3 Threatened by COSEWIC Pink salmon O. gorbuscha Haan’1 None hu:n̓2 hewn̓ 3 Sockeye salmon O. nerka Thuqi’1 Cultus Lake population designated as Endangered by COSEWIC sθəqəy̓2 sθəqəy3 Green sturgeon Acipenser medirostris - Listed as special concern on Schedule 1 of SARA, designated as special concern by COSEWIC, red-listed in BC, S1 provincial rank White sturgeon A. transmontanus Qw-taythun1 Lower Fraser population designated as 2 threatened by COSEWIC, red-listed in qʷta:yθən BC, S2 provincial rank qʷtá·yθən3 Eulachon Thaleichthys pacificus Sh-wi’wi1 Fraser River population designated as 2 endangered by COSEWIC, blue-listed in swiw̓ ə BC, S2/S3 provincial rank swíw̓ ə3 Mountain sucker Catostomus k̓ ʷəʔec3 Pacific population listed as special platyrhynchus concern on Schedule 1 of SARA, designated as special concern by COSEWIC, blue-listed in BC, S2/S3 provincial rank

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 5 Hatfield

Table 4.1 (Cont’d.)

Common Name Scientific Name Aboriginal Name SAR Status* Coastal cutthroat O. clarkii k̓ ʷsíc3 Blue-listed in BC, S3/S4 provincial rank trout k̓ ʷsic2

Rainbow/steelhead O. mykiss qiw̓ χ2 Thompson River and Chilcotin River trout populations designated as Endangered qíw̓ x̌ 3 by COSEWIC Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma sθχaʔs2 None Bull trout S. confluentus - South Coast BC population designated as special concern by COSEWIC, blue- listed in BC, S3/S4 provincial rank

* Government of Canada 2017, BC CDC 2017. Bold indicates Key Species that are identified of particular importance by Aboriginal Groups (Kwantlen 2017; Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017; Musqueam Indian Band 2017; Tsawwassen First Nation 2017; Tsleil-Waututh Nation 2017). 1 Cowichan Nation Alliance 2 Musqueam Nation 3 Tsawwassen First Nation

The general category termed “forage fish” is also included as a valued subcomponent. These fish are prey for the Key Species listed in Table 4.1. The food that fish predate upon is determined by a number of variables such as life-history stage of the fish, size of the individual fish, general feeding habits (related to morphology and evolution), and availability of prey. For example, as gape size increases, the diet of many fish shifts from plankton to invertebrates to fish. Fish have also been observed migrating in response to prey availability. Several types of salmonids (e.g., salmon, trout, char) leave their natal streams in search of increased feeding opportunities in marine and estuarine environments. White sturgeon have been observed following Pacific salmon and eulachon spawning migrations in the lower Fraser River for foraging opportunities (e.g., DFO 2014). Habitat that is primarily used for foraging is referred to as either juvenile/sub-adult rearing or adult foraging habitat in this assessment. The importance of and opportunity for foraging was considered as part of the characterization of the fish and fish habitat in the Study Area. 5.0 METHODOLOGY Current fish and fish habitat conditions in the Study Area were characterized using a combination of: (1) review of previous work completed by others, including Aboriginal Groups, and (2) Project-specific field surveys.

Information on biophysical conditions (e.g., fish habitat values, riparian zone features), fish presence, fish use, hydrology, and hydraulics was compiled for the mainstem Fraser River, upland tributaries, and sloughs within the Study Area. Fish studies on the mainstem lower Fraser River have targeted specific species (e.g., white sturgeon) as well as general fish use of specific habitat features such as Sapperton Bar. Previous sampling of upland tributaries in the vicinity of the Project were completed for other development projects in the area (e.g., South Fraser Perimeter Road). Project-specific fish and fish habitat surveys were completed in upland tributaries and riparian habitat of the mainstem Fraser River during 2016 and 2017 to address potential data gaps in areas where the Project is likely to interact with fish and fish habitat. Key watercourses and habitat features in the Study Area are shown in Figure 5.1

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Tannery Road Manson Canal New Queens- Westminster borough Manson Slough Surrey Island Main Map Robson Creek Colliers Canal

Scott Creek Richmond Surrey Annacis Island Delta 0 1 2 Km

Scott Creek DESIGNED ______REFERENCE DRAWING Proposed Pattullo Bridge Contract No. 0906-14/SC001110CA NO. DESCRIPTION DRAWN AS 18 - 03 - 09 Replacement Project 1 Reference Concept, Parsons 2018. CHECKED ______2 Watercourse, City of Surrey 2010. (Class C not shown). Fish and Fish Habitat Glenbrook Creek, Brunette River, and Como Creek have not been surveyed. SCALE 1:22,000 FIGURE NO. REV NO. APPROVAL ______Study Area 3 These watercourses are delineated based on visual interpretation of the 0 250 500 5.1 4 orthophoto. Hatfield 2017. m K:\Data\Project\TRANS7593-NV\A_MXD\Report_Maps\Impact_Assessments\Fish_Habitat\Baseline_Report\TRANS7593_Fig5_1_Fish_Habitat_StudyArea_20180309_v4.mxd

5.1 REVIEW OF EXISTING LITERATURE AND DATA A desktop review of existing published and grey literature was conducted to compile existing information specific to fish and fish habitat in the Study Area. Key sources included:

. Studies focusing on specific species, such as white sturgeon (Robichaud et al. 2017) and sockeye salmon (Cohen 2012)

. Publicly available online databases, including Fisheries Inventory Data Queries (FIDQ, Government of BC 2017a), HabitatWizard online mapping tool (Government of British Columbia 2017b), iMapBC (Government of BC 2017c), EcoCat Ecological Reports Catalogue (MOE 2017), BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer (BC CDC 2017), City of Surrey Online Mapping System (COSMOS, City of Surrey 2017), Port Dashboard (Port of Vancouver 2017), Burrard Inlet Environmental Action Program, and Fraser River Estuary Management Program Atlas (BIEAP and FREMP 2017)

. Various consultant reports, including South Fraser Perimeter Road Fish Habitat Impact Assessment (CRES 2006), George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project Fish and Fish Habitat Study, New Fraser River Crossing Project (GVTA 2003), and Port Mann/Highway 1 Project Fisheries and Aquatics Resources Impact Assessment (MOT 2007)

. Pattullo Bridge hydraulic assessments (Northwest Hydraulic Consultant documents)

. Information relating to fish and fish habitat in project-specific studies prepared by Aboriginal Groups (Cowichan Nation Alliance 2017; Kwantlen 2017; Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017; Lake Cowichan First Nation 2017; Lyackson First Nation 2017; Musqueam Indian Band 2017; Tsawwassen First Nation 2017; Tsleil-Waututh Nation 2016)

. COSEWIC status reports (COSEWIC 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012; Irvine 2002), Recovery Strategies (DFO 2014) and SARA Public Registry (Government of Canada 2017)

. Monitoring and assessment reports from Fraser Sturgeon Conservation Society, Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC), and Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP)

. Fisheries and Oceans Canada manuscripts and reports (WAVES catalogue)

. Published journal articles and theses, sourced through Google Scholar and ResearchGate

In addition to the literature review, valuable information was provided through consultation with the following groups:

. Aboriginal Groups with an interest in the Project, identified by Schedule B of the Section 11 Order for the Project

. Municipal, regional, provincial, and federal environmental staff who operate in the Study Area

. Local naturalist groups, streamkeeper groups, salmon enhancement volunteers, streamside residents, and fishers

. Parks staff and staff of other recreational organizations

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 9 Hatfield

The provincial Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) was contacted to request data recently collected as part of an ongoing lower Fraser River white sturgeon acoustic telemetry monitoring program; at the time of completing this report, no information has been formally made available for use.

5.2 DATA COMPILATION AND SYNTHESIS The data available from the various information sources was evaluated for applicability to the Project. Methodology used to collect the data from some of the key sources is described below. General information on life-history, habitat requirements, and habitat suitability of the Key Species (listed in Table 4.1) is described in Appendix A1.

The following classification scheme, based on City of Surrey protocol (COSMOS, City of Surrey 2017), was adopted to support the characterization of existing conditions for upland tributaries:

. Class A (red-coded) – year-round habitat for CRA or listed fish species

. Class A(O) (red-dashed) – seasonal (e.g., winter) habitat for CRA or listed fish species

. Class B (yellow-coded) – provides food and nutrient values to downstream CRA or listed fish species watercourses (Class A and A(O) watercourses) but does not support CRA or listed fish species; however, they are considered fish habitat and may provide habitat for coarse fish species

. Class C (green-coded) – typically ditches with insignificant food and nutrient input, and do not support fish. Designated for the conveyance of storm water and are typically dry 48-72 hours after a significant rainfall event

5.2.1 Mainstem Fraser River The existing literature and data on existing conditions (Section 5.1) demonstrates that the mainstem Fraser River has been well studied by others. To evaluate and define potential fish habitat use in the Study Area, this information was compared to known life-history, habitat preference, and habitat suitability information for Key Species (Appendix A1). The methodology for the key fish surveys relevant to the Study Area is summarized below. In the instance where a study spans a large area, the results were reported for the sites near the Study Area.

Taylor et al. (2004) conducted fish sampling at Sapperton Bar in 2002 and 2003 as part of a dredging impact study for Pacific Custom Log Sort Ltd. The methods of sampling included minnow traps (24 to 48 hour set); a trawl net (1 m x 1 m opening, mesh size 4.5 to 15 mm) towed for 200 m or 10 minutes, whichever occurred first; floating and sinking gillnets following provincial standards for experimental sampling (MELP 1997, six panels, 15.2 m long, different mesh sizes, set for 2 hours); and acoustic surveys for spawning eulachon. Fish were sampled at six sites dispersed around Sapperton Bar (see Figure 5.1). The total sampling effort was 287 sets and 7,331 hours for minnow traps, 97 sets and 7.6 hours for trawl nets, and 54 sets and 101.5 hours for gillnets.

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Nelson et al. (1994) executed a fish sampling program in the lower Fraser River in 1993 using beach seines and fyke nets at six locations from the estuary of the Fraser River up to Barnston Island. The study targeted starry flounder, although the by-catch was documented. The species caught from stations within the freshwater tidal portion of the lower Fraser River (Sites: 3 – [North Arm] Tree Island, 4 – Annacis Island, 5 – Sapperton Channel, 6 – Barnston Island) are summarized in Table 6.2 (see Section 6.0); this species composition likely represents fish using the Project Study Area. The total sampling effort was 131 beach seine sets and 576 hours for the fyke nets.

As part of the Environmental Management Strategy for Dredging in the Fraser River Estuary, FREMP (2006) provided a list of fish species likely present and their utilization of the main channel. The methodology for this characterization was not provided in the report.

In June 2005, Hoogendoorn et al. (pers. comm., 18 July 2005) sampled fish in the lower Fraser River near the PMH1/Gateway Program. A variety of sampling techniques were used to target various habitat conditions and fish species. Experimental gang gill nets (25 mm to 115 mm mesh), minnow traps (5 to 6 hour set), and seining (25 m length) were deployed. The sampling effort was 3 sets of gill nets for 8.5 hours total, 8 sets of minnow traps for a total of 186 hours, and 2 hauls from the beach seine.

Richardson et al. (2000) sampled fish throughout the lower Fraser River to assess changes in the fish community between 1972-1973 and 1993-1994. The fish were surveyed during daylight hours using beach seining set from a small powerboat. The seine was 71.6 m long and 7.6 m wide, with mesh ranging from 3.2 mm to 12.7 mm. Usually two or more sets were made at a given site on a given date. In some instances, a smaller seine was required, in which case more than three sets were completed.

In addition to these surveys, a number of studies targeting white sturgeon have been completed in the lower Fraser River using radio telemetry, tangle netting, and trawling. The results of these surveys are detailed in Table 6.11 and Appendix A1 of this report.

5.2.2 Upland Tributaries The Government of BC HabitatWizard tool and the Government of BC EcoCat tool were the primary sources of information investigated for the upland tributaries in the Study Area. Additional information was gathered from published journal articles and theses as well as earlier consultant reports.

The desktop review identified a number of previous fish surveys conducted in the Study Area (Appendix A2) that contained the most recent publicly available data for the Study Area. Most fish surveys were executed on known salmon or trout bearing watercourses: Manson Canal, Robson Creek, Scott Creek, and the Pattullo Channel. Most of the fish presence information for the wetted ditches in the southwest and northeast of the study area is from a 2008 fish salvage conducted during construction of the South Fraser Perimeter Road and a sensitive habitat inventory mapping study conducted by MarLim Ecological Consulting Ltd. in 2009 (Appendix A2).

Fish surveys were typically from April to June or September to November and used minnow traps in single 24-hour soaks. Electrofishing was used for two fish salvages in 2008 and 2010 during the construction of the South Fraser Perimeter Road, and also by MarLim Ecological Consulting Ltd. during the 2009 sensitive habitat inventory mapping study (Appendix A2).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 11 Hatfield

5.3 PROJECT-SPECIFIC FIELD SURVEYS (2016/2017) To supplement the desktop review, Project-specific field surveys were carried out in October 2016, March 2017, and October 2017 at the sampling locations shown in Figure 5.2. Tributaries and ditches in the Study Area were examined visually to verify the fish-bearing classifications designated by COSMOS and HabitatWizard (where applicable). Red-coded streams were assessed according to Resources Inventory Standards Committee Reconnaissance (1:20,000) Fish and Fish Habitat Inventory standards for channel, cover, morphology, and other stream habitat features (BC Fisheries Information Services Branch 2001). In January 2017, a boat tour with Aboriginal Group representatives provided the opportunity to assess some of the riparian habitat in the mainstem Fraser River and to identify important traditional fishing locations.

In situ water quality samples were collected from watercourses (Figure 5.2) for measurement of pH, conductivity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. In the case of roadside ditches, in situ measurements were taken for any ditch found to contain water at the time of the field visit. An Oakton® PCS Testr 35 was used to measure pH, conductivity, and water temperature (calibrated in the morning prior to use) and a LaMotte 5860-01 dissolved oxygen test kit was used to measure dissolved oxygen.

Upland fish presence and distribution in tributaries was verified by a combination of electrofishing and minnow trapping from March 30 to 31, 2017 (Figure 5.2). Minnow traps were baited with mallow bait and left to soak overnight. In areas where dissolved oxygen levels were too low to leave minnow traps overnight (i.e., <5.0 mg/L), and areas where the probability of fish presence was deemed to be low due to fish passage obstructions, a two-pass electrofishing effort was carried out by a two-person crew. In addition, a one-pass electrofishing effort was carried out in one pond where minnow traps had been set the night before and yielded no fish.

Sampling locations (UTM coordinates) were recorded for each sampling site, and sampling effort (trapping hours or electrofishing minutes/seconds) were also recorded. All captured fish were temporarily held in dark buckets in ambient stream water; identified to species; measured using a measuring board; weighed in water on a portable electronic scale; and released back on site.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 12 Hatfield r e Legend iv Coquitlam R e t Project Boundary t Burnaby Fraser River e

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110 Ave Scott Road DESIGNED ______REFERENCE DRAWING Proposed Pattullo Bridge Contract No. 0906-14/SC001110CA NO. DESCRIPTION DRAWN AS 18 - 03 - 09 Replacement Project 1 Reference Concept, Parsons 2018.

CHECKED ______2 Fish Habitat Classification, City of Surrey 2010. (updated by Hatfield 2017). 2016/2017 Fish and Fish Habitat Glenbrook Creek and Brunette River have not been surveyed. These water- Sampling Locations SCALE 1:10,000 FIGURE NO. REV NO. APPROVAL ______3 courses are delineated based on visual interpretation of the orthophoto. (1 of 2) 0 50 100 200 300 5.2 4 Hatfield 2017. m K:\Data\Project\TRANS7593-NV\A_MXD\Report_Maps\Impact_Assessments\Fish_Habitat\Baseline_Report\TRANS7593_Fig5_2_FishHabitat_SamplingLocations_North_20180309_v4.mxd d 114 Ave Pa a Legend tt o ullo C R h r an e Project Boundary ne t l e

m 124 St Reference Concept i r St125A e LSA Boundary P r e s RSA Boundary a r Municipal Boundary F h P t 0 25 50 attu u VFPA Managed Lands m llo o C S ha nn VFPA Managed Waters el King George Blvd Fish Habitat Classification New Pattullo Channel Class A (Fish-Bearing) Brownsville Pattu Westminster llo Class AO (Seasonal [winter] Bar C

Old Yale Road Inlet h a

Fish Presence) n

n e

Class B (Food and l Nutrient Values)

Class C (Non-Fish-Bearing, 0 25 50 No Food or Nutrient Values) m 110 Ave Habitat Assessments

Fish Habitat Inventory Scott Road Fish Sampling Sites Surrey Water Quality Sampling Sites Riparian Vegetation Plots

r ve Ri r rase F Manson Canal

Coquitlam New Westminster Fraser River

Tannery Road Burnaby Manson Slough

Manson Canal Main Map Surrey

Colliers Canal Richmond Robson Creek Delta 0 1 2 Km

DESIGNED ______REFERENCE DRAWING Proposed Pattullo Bridge Contract No. 0906-14/SC001110CA NO. DESCRIPTION DRAWN AS 18 - 03 - 09 Replacement Project 1 Reference Concept, Parsons 2018.

Fish Habitat Classification, City of Surrey 2010. CHECKED ______2 2016/2017 Fish and Fish Habitat (updated by Hatfield 2017) Sampling Locations SCALE 1:10,000 FIGURE NO. REV NO. APPROVAL ______0 50 100 200 300 (2 of 2) m 5.2 4 K:\Data\Project\TRANS7593-NV\A_MXD\Report_Maps\Impact_Assessments\Fish_Habitat\Baseline_Report\TRANS7593_Fig5_2_FishHabitat_SamplingLocations_South_20180309_v4.mxd

6.0 RESULTS 6.1 HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE LOWER FRASER RIVER The Fraser River is the largest undammed river on the west coast of North America, draining 228,000 km2 of mountainous terrain in southern BC (WSC 2017). It provided food and recreation to early settlers and served as a transportation corridor for the logging and mining industries. Aboriginal peoples have lived off the ample resources available from the river for millennia, with Aboriginal Groups dispersed along its entire length. The Fraser is one of the most important salmon rivers in the world, and Canada’s most productive, supporting all five species of Pacific salmon (sockeye, coho, chum, chinook, and pink). Designated as a Canadian Heritage River, the Fraser flows through and contributes to a wide variety of ecosystems, supporting an incredible diversity of wildlife, including rare or endangered species such as the white sturgeon. The floodplain in the Lower Fraser region has rich soil and excellent growing conditions and has been used extensively by Aboriginal peoples for cultivating crops and gathering food plants. Now, the Fraser Valley supports world-renowned agriculture that supplies a large proportion of the local produce for British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.

Fish and fish habitat in the Fraser River are deeply intertwined with the history of settlement in the region. River hydrology and the timing of salmon runs dictated the locations of Aboriginal villages and summer fishing camps, and more recently the commercial fishing and processing industries along the lower Fraser River (Kwantlen 2017; Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017; Musqueam Indian Band 2017; Norton 2003). An early colonial settlement and the capital of BC between 1859 and 1868, New Westminster on the river’s north shore was once the site of a large Aboriginal village, sχәyәmәɬ1, and became a hub for trading among Aboriginal groups and between Aboriginal Groups and colonists (Kwantlen 2017; Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017; Musqueam Indian Band 2017; Norton 2003).

The Study Area is notable in that all migrating salmon pass through to spawn in their natal streams. For this reason, it has been an important fishing and cultural hub for many generations of Aboriginal peoples, its unique hydrology and low incidence of seals providing ideal conditions for fish harvesting. Migrating salmon from the North and South arms concentrate into the narrowest part of the mainstem and rest in sandbar-created back eddies; deep troughs on the river bottom provide habitat for feeding and rearing sturgeon; and historically large sandy bars created ideal habitat for harvesting spawning eulachon (Kwantlen 2017; Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017; Musqueam Indian Band 2017; Tsawwassen First Nation 2017; Tsleil-Waututh Nation 2016). The Cowichan tribes of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands traveled to the Lower Fraser River for trade, hunting, visiting, and fishing (sockeye salmon, humpback [pink] salmon, spring [chinook] salmon, [white] sturgeon) from June until early fall (Cowichan Nation Alliance 2017, Lake Cowichan First Nation 2017, Lyackson First Nation 2017). Some Cowichan people also fished the Lower Fraser River as early as late April, targeting [white] sturgeon and eulachon, and as late as November, likely targeting chum salmon and [white] sturgeon (Cowichan Nation Alliance 2017).

An important fishing camp, qeqǝyt2, was used by Aboriginal Groups to harvest summer sockeye salmon runs, sturgeon, and eulachon (Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017; Kwantlen First Nation 2017; Musqueam

1 Kwantlen (2017). Also sx̣ʷa’ayməɬ (Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017) and sχʷeyəməɬ (Musqueam Indian Band 2017) 2 Kwikwetlem First Nation (2017). Also referred to as “qiqéyt” (Musqueam Indian Band 2017), “qǝyqə́ yt” (Kwantlen 2017), and “Qiqá:yt” (Tsleil-Waututh Nation 2016).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 17 Hatfield

Indian Band 2017; Tsleil-Waututh Nation 2016; Tsawwassen First Nation 2017). The mouth of the Brunette River was the site of another Kwikwetlem summer sockeye salmon fishing camp, and all the small tributaries within the LSA had specific Kwikwetlem family net-spots (Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017). To this day, the Fraser River around the Pattullo Bridge is an important location for traditional experiential learning of fishing, gathering, and history for the Musqueam people (Musqueam Indian Band 2017).

As a result of industrialization and urbanization in the area, many tributaries within the LSA have been infilled, culverted, and rerouted, and an extensive diking system has been developed to mitigate flood damage. Pump stations installed at the mouths of many tributaries on the south (Surrey) shore are barriers to fish passage when operational (DFO 1999a). The construction of the original Pattullo Bridge and dredging of the river to accommodate larger ships had contrasting effects on the fish and fish habitat within the LSA (FREMP 2006). The bridge pilings created back eddies for resting, but also areas of increased flow where fish passage may require more energy. Dredging can create deep refuges but can also remove habitat due to infill. Aboriginal fishers note that they must adjust their fishing techniques regularly to adapt to alterations in stream hydrology that lead to changing patterns in fish migration and movement.

6.2 FISH HABITAT

6.2.1 Mainstem Fraser River

6.2.1.1 Sapperton Channel

The LSA is located in the freshwater tidal habitat zone of the Fraser River in a section called the Sapperton Channel. The tidal influence in the Fraser River extends about 90 km upriver to Mission (Dashtgard et al. 2012). The tidal saltwater wedge extends about 30 km upstream during low flow, but can be held downstream at the mouth of the Fraser River during periods of higher flow (Kostaschuk and Atwood 1990). Before 1919, the salt wedge intrusion only extended approximately 5 km from the mouth of the Fraser River but has since migrated farther inland due to channelization and dike protection works (Levings and Nelson 2003). The Study Area is near the confluence of the Fraser River with the Pitt River, and other rivers, effectively funnelling fish into one waterway before it divides again into the North and South arms (e.g., Musqueam Indian Band 2017). The combination of favourable hydrologic and river features (back eddies, sandbars) and a lack of predators (seals) makes the area especially productive fishing grounds for spawning and migratory species; however, the number of eddies has decreased over the years (Musqueam Indian Band 2017).

In the LSA, the channel is approximately 530 m wide and up to 22 m deep (Matt Gellis NHC, pers. comm., 21 September 2017). Based on bathymetric data collected by NHC in June 2017, the river is deepest at right bank (~20 m), and averages about 10 m at left bank (NHC, pers. comm., 14 October 2016). Kwikwetlem First Nation (2017) describes currents funneled on the south side (left bank) of the river (Pattullo Bridge area is the first point up the Fraser River where currents all push to the south side). Musqueam Indian Band (2017) has observed the Fraser River becoming deeper from year to year because of dredging practices.

Substrate in the LSA is dominated by sand, with minimal depositions of silt and clay, which are washed out annually during freshet (Dastgard et al. 2012). Kotaschuk et al. (1989) reported a median grain size of

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 18 Hatfield

0.3 mm and bed load transport of 0.35 Mt. The channel bed is highly dynamic, with periods of aggradation and degradation spanning many years in response to varying flow conditions (e.g., net aggradation in 1997 due to large freshet, net degradation from 1998-2001; NHC 2002).

The Fraser River has a mean annual discharge of 2,710 m3/s at Hope, BC (165 river km), with low flow occurring in the winter (~1,000 m3/s) and peak flows in late spring/early summer due to the snowmelt freshet (5,130 m3/s to 15,200 m3/s, averaging 8,642 m3/s; WSC 2017). During the winter, the river is subject to flow reversal when the river discharge is low and the tidal range is very large. Based on a study of Fraser River basin discharge between 1911 and 2010, the discharge in the Fraser River is trending toward larger annual fluctuations (Déry et al. 2012).

Sapperton Channel is confined by rock-armoured banks along both shorelines (FREMP 2006). The shorelines are highly industrialized and are occupied by mill sites, CN Rail Intermodal yards in Surrey, and log sorting/booming operations in Coquitlam and New Westminster. A V-shaped deflection dike installed in 1936 has created an artificial zone of deposition referred to as the Sapperton Bar which is used for log sorting and booming (FREMP 2006). The tail-end of this deposition zone lies within the LSA (see Figure 5.1).

6.2.1.2 Brownsville Bar

Brownville Bar is a shallow part of the Fraser River on the southern bank immediately downstream of the existing Pattullo Bridge (see Figure 5.1). Historically, Brownsville Bar provided spawning habitat for eulachon (Musqueam Indian Band 2017). On the mainland, Brownville Bar Park has a small pond and a low-elevation embayment adjacent to the Old Yale Road Inlet. During October 2016 surveys, the embayment was dry and contained plenty of large woody debris, thus creating an environment for potential fish stranding. The riparian zone in the park is about 15 m wide and has a large grassy field upland. Formerly an important source of food plants for Aboriginal Groups (Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017; Musqueam Indian Band 2017), it is now dominated by Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) with some canopy of cottonwood trees (Populus sp.).

Based on the turbulent conditions observed during surveys of the Fraser River, Brownsville Bar likely provides minimal refuge areas for migrating fish under typical conditions, although small back eddies near the Pattullo Channel and Old Yale Road Inlet may offer some staging habitat. The available habitat and fish use of this part of the bank are likely no different than for the rest of the lower Fraser River.

6.2.1.3 Lower Fraser River Riparian Vegetation

Both shores of the lower Fraser River in the LSA are heavily industrialized. Much of the remaining riparian habitat is less than 10 m wide and separated from the water by rip-rap. Hatfield completed riparian vegetation assessments in October 2016 and March 2017 at significant vegetated zones within the LSA, as summarized in Table 6.1; photos of the sites are provided in Appendix A3. The dominant species on both shores is the invasive Himalayan blackberry, typically representing the majority of understory vegetation, and in some cases the only riparian vegetation. When mature trees were present, they were typically alder (Alnus sp.) or cottonwood. Small stands of red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) can be found along New Westminster public walkways on the north shore.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 19 Hatfield

Table 6.1 Lower Fraser River 2016/2017 riparian survey results.

Plot Location Riparian Size Description SURREYVEG1 10U 508760 ~70 m long, ~5 m wide South shore at Sapperton Bar. Entirely black 5451179 cottonwood (P. trichocarpa) pole-sapling with some Himalayan blackberry in the understory. SURREYVEG2 10U 508748 ~45 m long, ~40 m wide South shore at Sapperton Bar, d/s of 5451139 SURREYVEG1. No trees; dominated by Himalayan blackberry and black cottonwood pole-saplings; understory is 50% grass and 20% tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea). SURREYVEG3 10U 508573 ~70 m long, <5 m wide South shore at Sapperton Bar, d/s of 5451070 SURREYVEG2. Dominated by Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and English holly (Ilex aquifolium). The small proportion of black cottonwood present is mostly dead or dying. SURREYVEG4 10U 507355 ~45 m wide intertidal South shore u/s of Manson Canal. The intertidal 5449726 vegetation vegetation is dominated by cattail (Typha sp.), <5 m wide upland willow (Salix sp.), with small amounts of Juncus sp. riparian and other rushes (Juncaceae). The upland riparian zone is dominated by both mature and young cottonwood and blackberry. Near the Manson Canal inlet, there is a narrow (<5 m) stand of alder and black cottonwood of various ages with an understory of Himalayan blackberry. SURREYVEG5 10U 507601 ~10 m buffer along South shore between Manson Canal and 5450005 shore, grass beyond Brownsville Bar. Narrow buffer is dominated by red alder (A. rubra) and Himalayan blackberry. Two dead Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) plants. SURREYVEG6 10U 507864 ~15 m buffer, grass Brownsville Bar Park u/s of the Old Yale Road Inlet. 5450264 beyond Canopy is dominated by cottonwood trees, but riparian area is primarily Himalayan blackberry with small amount of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). A 10 m wide stand of Red alder with an understory of Himalayan blackberry is present at the northeast end of the park, along the Pattullo Channel. NWESTVEG1 10U 507805 ~5 m wide North shore at Sapperton Bar. Narrow riparian area 5451616 on either side of boardwalk, dominated by Himalayan blackberry and Red alder. NWESTVEG2 10U 507649 ~2 m wide at shore, 7 m North shore d/s Sapperton Bar along the Brunette- 5451094 wide from boardwalk Fraser Regional Trail. Shoreline vegetation is dominated by red osier dogwood and Himalayan blackberry. On the north side of the trail, the canopy is dominated by western red cedar (Thuja plicata) with an understory of primarily Himalayan blackberry. NWESTVEG3 10U 507574 <5 m wide North shore u/s of the CNR bridge, at the start of the 5450967 Brunette-Fraser Regional Trail. The riparian vegetation is entirely Himalayan blackberry, with two mature black cottonwood trees. NWESTVEG4 10U 506813 ~140 m long, <5 m wide North shore across from Manson Canal outlet. The 5449968 narrow, long strip of riparian vegetation is primarily rose bushes (Rosa spp.) and red osier dogwood with some willow saplings.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 20 Hatfield

6.2.2 Upland Tributaries The City of New Westminster has reviewed the watercourses within the city boundaries and determined that the Fraser River, Brunette River, and ditches in the Queensborough area (between the Fraser River North Arm and Annacis Channel) are the only ones in the municipality with fish habitat values (Lowrie 2008); some sections of the Fraser River and Brunette River fall within the Project Study Area. The HabitatWizard map also shows a tributary near the Glenbrook neighborhood of New Westminster, between McBride Boulevard and Cumberland Street (Government of British Columbia 2017b). This area was investigated during a Project-specific field survey. Other areas within the LSA that could potentially support fish were ground-truthed to confirm that no watercourses were unaccounted for in the available literature and mapping sources.

The upland regions to the north and south of the mainstem Fraser River are heavily urbanized, and the Cities of New Westminster and Surrey are among the fastest growing in Canada. Historically, most upland tributaries drained into the Fraser River and were the locations of important Aboriginal family set net locations (Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017). Within the Study Area, most watercourses are now roadside ditches with very little flow and no connection to permanent sources. These ditches are almost all classified as non-fish-bearing, with no food or nutrient values, the exceptions being ditches that drain into Manson Canal and the Pattullo Channel.

Only six watercourses have any apparent connection to the mainstem Fraser River within the LSA: Glenbrook Creek on the north bank and five watercourses on the south bank. The largest south bank tributaries are Manson Canal and Pattullo Channel, both with direct outlets to the Fraser; the other three channels are outflows from ditches along Old Yale Road, 124 Street, and 126 Street that are either permanently or regularly blocked at the outlet to the mainstem Fraser River. All six watercourses and the ditches that connect to them have been extensively studied for fish and fish habitat, as they represent the LSA habitat most likely to support fish, aside from the Fraser River mainstem.

The RSA includes three tributaries to the Fraser River: Brunette River in New Westminster, and Colliers Canal and Robson Creek in Surrey. Because these watercourses are outside the LSA, Project-specific fish and fish habitat assessments were not conducted. Their characterization is based on historical data and previous studies.

6.2.2.1 Glenbrook Creek Glenbrook Creek is the only north bank tributary within the LSA. It is unclear whether Glenbrook Creek has an independent outlet to the Fraser River mainstem because the lower 200 m of the channel is covered with development. The first culvert was installed in 1913, and shortly after most of the creek was used as a major combined sewer (Norton 2003). Urbanization has since covered the majority of the historical Glenbrook Creek watershed, and its upper reaches are now lost (PIBC 1998).

A fish and fish habitat assessment was conducted on Glenbrook Creek in October 2016; photos are provided in Appendix A3. Glenbrook Creek is very narrow, with an average channel width of 1.27 m and only 0.79 m wetted width. It is very shallow, with an average depth of 10 cm. The creek flows at the bottom of a steep-banked ravine and has riffle-pool morphology dominated by riffle habitat. It is heavily urbanized, with gravel recreational trails running through the riparian zone and a large amount of small woody debris in the channel. Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) and bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) dominate the riparian vegetation.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 21 Hatfield

6.2.2.2 Pattullo Channel

The Pattullo Channel flows into the Fraser River mainstem between the Pattullo Bridge and CNR bridge at the northeast end of Brownsville Bar. It begins at the base of a forested slope between Old Yale Road and 110 Avenue and winds its way beside and beneath roads and parking lots for approximately 2.6 km. Running between two bridges, the channel has historically been altered by heavy development projects involving rerouting and the installation of large culverts, with minimal restoration or stewardship effort. Pattullo Channel has been identified by Aboriginal Groups as an area valued for restoration (Kwikwetlem First Nation 2017, Lake Cowichan First Nation 2017).

The Pattullo Channel crosses under rail lines, the South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR), and numerous other smaller roads. It is heavily diverted with extensive culverts but appears to be continuous throughout its length, and efforts have been made to allow fish passage (ECL 1998). Habitat characteristics were recorded at three locations during the October 2016 survey (see photos in Appendix A3). At its headwaters, the channel flows through a forested area approximately 200 m wide, with a riparian area dominated by red alder pole-saplings and native Pacific ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) shrubs. The understory is primarily Himalayan blackberry and salmonberry.

Streamflow is low, with most areas having pool or glide-pool morphology and sandy substrate with occasional scattered cobble. The channel is relatively narrow – 4 m to 6 m, or about 2 m to 4 m wetted – and generally shallow, less than 15 cm in flowing areas and up to 58 cm in some pools. Large and small woody debris is abundant. Beavers are active along 110 Avenue, and the channel has been dammed, creating deep depositional pools with some riffle habitat. Dissolved oxygen levels are highly variable, ranging from over 10 mg/L in a headwaters channel to 4.6 mg/L at the Scott Road SkyTrain Station.

Downstream of 110 Avenue, land use is more urban; the channel resembles a drainage ditch and alder pole-saplings and Himalayan blackberry dominate the riparian area. In some areas, the channel is partially infilled by reed canary grass. Near the pumpstation and outlet to the Fraser River, the channel widens to approximately 10 m, 5 m wetted, and deepens to over 2 m. The riparian area remains primarily Himalayan blackberry and alder pole-saplings. Turbidity is high in the lower Pattullo Channel, and the substrate is relatively fine sand and gravel. Dissolved oxygen levels fluctuate; measured in situ concentrations ranged from 4.8 mg/L to 8.6 mg/L.

Despite considerable channelization and development, Pattullo Channel does not appear to have barriers to fish passage and migration. The pumpstation was upgraded in 2010, including the installation of fish- friendly pumps (City of Surrey 2010), and although culverted, the channel is continuous and low-gradient. Based on its dimensions and morphology, parts of the Pattullo Channel likely provide rearing and overwintering habitat for fish.

6.2.2.3 Old Yale Road Inlet At the north end of Old Yale Road, a short inlet from the Fraser mainstem terminates at the Old Yale Pump Station. It is likely an occasional outlet for a number of ditches along Old Yale Road and the CNR tracks, although its flood gates appear permanently closed. To the northeast is Brownsville Bar and Brownsville Bar Park, a popular shore-fishing and boat-access area. The inlet itself is connected to the Fraser mainstem and therefore considered fish-bearing.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 22 Hatfield

Hatfield assessed ditches running parallel to the CNR tracks to the northeast and southwest of the Old Yale Pump Station for fish and fish habitat in October 2016 and March 2017 (see Appendix A3 for photos). To the southwest, the ditch appears to run dry by October. It may become wet during higher flows, but likely remains very shallow (<0.05 m) and narrow (<0.3 m). This part of the ditch was classified as non-fish bearing and of no habitat value (Class C) in 1998 and appears to remain as such. The ditch to the northeast is likely wetted year-round, with 0.2 to 0.3 m of water in October 2016, and eventually drains to the Pattullo Channel. Channel width and wetted width were similar, about 2 m, with very steep banks dominated by alder and Himalayan blackberry.

6.2.2.4 Roadside Ditches

Roadside drainage ditches are very common in the Study Area. The ditches run beside major roads and through a small residential area north of King George Boulevard in Surrey to manage the copious rainfall typical of the Lower Mainland region of BC. Though primarily Class C habitat, some ditches are connected to channels that flow into the Fraser River and are seasonal Class A0 habitat (see Appendix A3 for photos).

The drainage ditches are typically narrow channels with steep banks and riparian areas dominated by invasive Himalayan blackberry or grasses. Primarily designed to carry stormwater runoff, these ditches are subject to regular disturbance from construction works and other urban impacts. Like the channel itself, the riparian area is narrow, usually less than 5 m wide, with occasional stands of alder in some areas. Grasses are abundant on the banks and in some cases within the wetted channel. Some ditches appear to be mowed regularly and many of the ditches contain an excess of garbage. Water in the ditches is shallow and turbid, rarely exceeding 0.3 m deep, or nonexistent, with low or no flow for most of the year.

Ditches parallel to major roads or the CNR tracks, and those connected to a channel that drains to the Fraser River, are of higher habitat quality, in most cases Class A or Class A0. These channels are typically wider with flowing water and stands of alder and/or cottonwood trees in most riparian areas. Understory is similar to other ditches, dominated by invasive vegetation such as Himalayan blackberry or Scotch broom. Separated from the low-quality ditches by flap-gates or similar barriers, they are still occasionally subject to heavy pressures due to construction and an abundance of garbage.

6.2.2.5 Manson Canal

Manson Canal represents the southwest boundary of the LSA, flowing in a straight line for 1 km from its confluence with the Fraser River to Robson Creek at 120 Street. Fed by groundwater, the canal flows through an industrialized area with many tributary ditches and is partially separated from the Fraser River mainstem by the Manson Slough, about 1 km downstream of the existing Pattullo Bridge. Industrial use of the canal was prevalent in the late 20th century, and it was exposed to significant leachate from wood waste at a nearby lumber mill. Since then, Manson Canal has been heavily modified through development projects in the area, including channelization and habitat enhancement during construction of the Alex Fraser Bridge; and ongoing stewardship initiatives, such as restoration works associated with the SFPR involving Musqueam Indian Band and Tsawwassen First Nation participation (DFO 1999b; LGL and Musqueam Indian Band 2009).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 23 Hatfield

Manson Canal is highly channelized between the Fraser River and 120 Street, approximately 9 m wide throughout its length, wetted to between 6 m and 7 m (CRES 2006; SNC 2013). Pools in Manson Canal are deep, with an average residual depth of 0.7 m (SNC 2013). The pump station upstream of its outlet to the Fraser River impedes fish passage and would kill migrating fish when running; however, the pump station does not operate frequently (DFO 1999b; Seifert 2016). The riparian area is less than 15 m wide, is covered primarily with alder and willow saplings and Himalayan blackberry, and has an access road on the left (southwest) bank. Substrate is gravel, with cobble and sand subdominant (SNC 2013). Ditches with much narrower channels run parallel to the CNR line to the north and south (3 m and 1.5 m wide, respectively; CRES 2006). The ditch to the north was heavily culverted during construction of the SFPR, and the riparian vegetation along both has been reduced to primarily grasses (CRES 2006).

During construction of the SFPR, a part of Tannery Park at the mouth of Manson Canal was converted into a tidal wetland to create high-quality habitat for rearing fish. The work involved planting many native shrubs and trees in the riparian zone and cattails and native marsh plants in the wetland. Hatfield visited this feature in March 2017 as part of the riparian vegetation surveys; conditions are summarized in Table 6.1 (see photos in Appendix A3).

6.2.2.6 Tributaries in Delineated RSA

The sections of Robson Creek, Colliers Canal, and Brunette River within the RSA are heavily channelized. Robson Creek and Colliers Canal are sometimes not much more than a ditch. Each watercourse, however, has a continuous connection to the mainstem Fraser River, either directly (Brunette River) or through Manson Canal (Robson Creek, Colliers Canal). Approximately 2,400 m2 (200 m length, 12 m average width) of the Brunette River falls within the RSA, providing potential rearing habitat and a migratory corridor.

Robson Creek was historically an independent tributary to the Fraser, entering downstream of the current Manson Canal outlet (DFO 1999b). Like the other main tributaries to Manson Canal (i.e., Scott Creek, Colliers Canal), the Robson Creek outlet was filled in during development projects, and Robson Creek now flows into Manson Canal through roadside ditches (City of Surrey 2003). Approximately 312 m2 (125 m length, 2.5 m average width) of Colliers Canal and 700 m2 (140 m length, 5 m average width) of Robson Creek fall within the RSA, providing potential rearing habitat and a migratory corridor to upstream and downstream habitat. Upstream of the RSA, Robson Creek has headwater ravines with potential spawning habitat. The City of Surrey has created Robson Ravine Park, which protects the upper reaches of Robson Creek, and signage that recommends citizens view spawning salmon there.

6.3 FISH SURVEYS

6.3.1 Mainstem Fraser River Overall, 37 different taxa from 12 different families were observed in the mainstem Fraser River near the Study Area during five different studies (Table 6.2). Five of these taxa are not native to the Fraser River basin. During surveys of Sapperton Bar, Taylor et al. (2004) caught 3,693 fish from 18 different taxa, which are listed in Table 6.2 (see Figure 5.1 for location of Sapperton Bar). Nelson et al. (1994) captured fish from 19 different taxa, some of which were different from Taylor et al. (2004). FREMP (2006) documented 28 taxa that likely occur in Sapperton Channel. During surveys of the Tree Island area near the Port Mann

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 24 Hatfield

Bridge (see Figure 5.1 for location of Tree Island), Hoogendoorn et al. (pers. comm., 18 July 2005) captured 370 fish from 10 different taxa (Table 6.2). Richardson et al. (2000) captured 24 taxa from sites in a reach extending from downstream of the existing Pattullo Bridge up to Glen Valley (about 30 km).

Aboriginal and recreational fishing provide further information regarding the common fish species found in the Fraser River within the Study Area. Kwikwetlem First Nation (2017) describes fishing for spring (chinook) salmon and eulachon within the existing Study Area. Musqueam Indian Band (2017) describes fishing for eulachon, spring (chinook) salmon, sockeye salmon, pink salmon, and chum salmon on the south shore of the Fraser River near the present-day location of the Pattullo Bridge. Tsleil-Waututh Nation (2016) harvest sockeye salmon, eulachon, [white] sturgeon, chum salmon, pink salmon, [chinook] spring salmon, and steelhead trout from the Study Area. Additionally, Brownsville Bar is a popular shore-fishing location; recreational anglers have reported catching white sturgeon, Dolly Varden, coastal cutthroat trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, and sculpin from the bar (Fish’n BC 2017).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 25 Hatfield

Table 6.2 Fish taxa captured in mainstem Fraser River near the Study Area.

Study Hoogendoorn et Common Name Scientific Name Richardson et al. Taylor et al. 2004 Nelson et al. 1994 FREMP 2006 al. (pers. comm. 2000 18 July 2005) Catfish Brown bullhead* Ictaluridae Ameriurus - X X - - nebulosus Halibut and flounder Starry flounder Pleuronectoidei Platichthys stellatus X X - X X Herring American shad* Clupeidae Alosa sapidissima - X - - - Lamprey Lamprey spp. Petromyzontidae Lampetra spp. X - - - - Pacific lamprey L. tridentate - - X - - Western brook L. richardsoni - - X - - lamprey Minnow Brassy minnow Cyprinidae Hybognathus - X X - X hakinsoni Carp spp.* Cyprinus spp. - X X - X Leopard dace Rhinichthys - X - X X falcatus Longnose dace R. cataractae X - X - X Northern Ptychocheilus X X X X X pikeminnow oregonensis Peamouth chub Mylocheilus X - - X X caurinus Redside shiner Richardsonius X - X X X balteatus Salmon, trout, char Chinook salmon Salmonidae Oncorhynchus X - X X X and whitefish tshawytscha Chum salmon O. keta X X X - X Coho salmon O. kisutch X - X - X Cutthroat trout O. clarkii - X X - X Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma X X X - - Mountain whitefish Prosopium X - X X X williamsoni Pink salmon O. gorbuscha - - X - X Rainbow trout O. mykiss - X X - X Sockeye salmon O. nerka - - X X X

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 26 Hatfield

Table 6.2 (Cont’d.)

Study Hoogendoorn et Common Name Scientific Name Richardson et al. Taylor et al. 2004 Nelson et al. 1994 FREMP 2006 al. (pers. comm. 2000 18 July 2005) Sculpin Aleutian sculpin Cottidae Cottus aleuticus - - X - X Pacific staghorn Leptocottus - X - - X sculpin armatus Prickly sculpin C. asper X X X X X Smelt Eulachon Osmeridae Thaleichthys X X X - X pacificus Longfin smelt Spirinchus X X X - X thaleichthys Surf smelt Hypomesus - X - - - pretiosus Stickleback Three-spine Gasterosteoidei Gasterosteus X X X - X stickleback aculeatus Sturgeon White sturgeon Acipenseridae Acipenser X - X - X tranmontanus Sucker Bridgelip sucker Catostomidae Catostomus - - X - - columbianus Largescale sucker C. macrocheilus - X X X X Longnose sucker C. catostomus - - X - - Mountain sucker C. platyrhynchus - - X - - Sucker spp. Catostomus spp. X - - - - Sunfish Black crappie* Centrarchidae Pomoxis - X X - - nigromaculatus Largemouth bass* Micropterus X - - - - salmoides

Asterisk (*) indicates an introduced species.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 27 Hatfield

6.3.2 Upland Tributaries

6.3.2.1 Glenbrook Creek

No fish were caught during 2-pass electrofishing sampling on Glenbrook Creek conducted in March 2017. The outlet to the Fraser River appears to be a barrier to fish passage. This barrier, combined with historical pressures from urbanization and sewage, is likely the reason fish do not inhabit Glenbrook Creek, despite the potential suitable habitat observed in 2017. Historically, the channel drained into the Fraser River approximately 500 m downstream of the Brunette River and was a popular fishing stream for Aboriginal Groups (Kwantlen 2017; Norton 2003).

6.3.2.2 Pattullo Channel

The Pattullo Channel is accessible to all fish species found in the Fraser River, and there do not appear to be any significant barriers to migration. Coho and chinook salmon were reported in the SFPR Environmental Assessment Application along with peamouth chub, northern pikeminnow, carp, brown catfish, and threespine stickleback (CRES 2006). More recently in 2009, a pink salmon juvenile was captured in a tributary off Musqueam Drive (Appendix A2 lists survey details).

Fish presence was assessed in the Pattullo Channel in March 2017, just upstream of the pump station and in the headwaters south of 110 Avenue (see Figure 5.2 for location). Like all fish-bearing watercourses in the LSA, threespine stickleback were ubiquitous and were caught in both locations, confirming historical sampling events (surveys listed in Appendix A2). During 2017 surveys, only a single salmonid was observed: a juvenile coastal cutthroat trout in the channel running parallel to 110 Avenue. Coho salmon and coastal cutthroat trout were also captured in the same headwaters area during a fish salvage study by Envirowest Consultants Inc. in 2013 (Appendix A2).

6.3.2.3 Old Yale Road Inlet

The inlet at the north end of Old Yale Road is accessible to all fish species residing in the lower Fraser River; however, upstream fish passage appears to be blocked at the pump station. In March 2017, four minnow traps were set in a pond that may have occasional connectivity, but no fish were captured. Threespine stickleback were caught in ditches to the southeast along Old Yale Road and Timberland Road in 2009 (Appendix A2), but these ditches are probably not connected to the inlet. Aside from seeking refuge from the mainstem Fraser River, it is unlikely that the Old Yale Road Inlet or ditches support any significant fish population other than threespine stickleback.

6.3.2.4 Wetted Ditches

There is no historical evidence of fish presence in the residential drainage ditches between King George Boulevard and the SFPR. To the north, threespine stickleback were recovered in ditches connecting to the outlets to the Fraser River from 124 Street and 126 Street in May 1999 (CRES 2000) and September 2008 (Appendix A2) as part of the application and construction of the SFPR. The 2017 field surveys of 124 Street ditches on either side of the SFPR found ephemeral channels with dissolved oxygen levels of less than 4.5 mg/L, below established thresholds for fish development and survival (CCME 1999).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 28 Hatfield

Poor quality habitat documented during 2017 Hatfield field surveys indicates that no channels between King George Boulevard and the SFPR are likely to be fish bearing or to provide adequate limited food or nutrient value. This characterization is consistent with the historical assessment from the City of Surrey Watercourse Classification Map in 1998. The outlets of these ditches north of the SFPR and CNR connect directly with the Fraser River and are considered fish bearing.

Ditches running parallel to the CNR to the northeast and most major roads to the southwest of the Pattullo Bridge drain into the Pattullo Channel and Manson Canal. Most of these ditches were sampled for fish presence between 2007 and 2012 during various projects, with the most comprehensive sampling conducted in 2009 as part of the Surrey Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping (SHIM) project. Threespine stickleback, redside shiner, and fathead minnow were recovered from the ditches, plus a single juvenile pink salmon beside Musqueum Drive (Appendix A2) in a tributary to the Pattullo Channel. In March 2017, minnow traps were set in a ditch connecting the pond at the pump station above the Old Yale Road Inlet to the Pattullo Channel; threespine stickleback were captured. No fish were caught in CNR and SFPR ditches to the southwest of Manson Canal in 2009 (Appendix A2); however, coho, pink, and chinook salmon and coastal cutthroat trout were reported in a railway ditch in the SFPR Environmental Assessment Application (CRES 2006). Although these ditches appear to be used primarily by threespine stickleback, their connection with channels that flow into the Fraser River provides potential access for other fish species utilizing the mainstem channel.

6.3.2.5 Manson Canal

Manson Canal and its tributaries are wetted year-round, providing potential rearing habitat as well as a migration corridor to upstream tributaries (i.e., Scott Creek, Robson Creek). The canal has been sampled for fish presence relatively regularly since 1998, with coho salmon, coastal cutthroat, and steelhead trout reported (CRES 2006; DFO 1999b); however, recent fish sampling in Manson Canal itself caught only threespine stickleback, sculpin, and various minnow species (Seifert 2016; Appendix A2). Fish sampling in October 2012 captured juvenile coastal cutthroat trout in a ditched section of Robson Creek just upstream of its confluence with Manson Canal (Appendix A2; Figure 6.1). Threespine stickleback are common throughout the watershed, with carp, chub, sucker, and prickly sculpin also reported in the SFPR Environmental Assessment. Coho salmon and coastal cutthroat trout were reported in the railway ditches parallel to the SFPR that connect to Manson Canal (CRES 2006). Based on the studies listed in Appendix A2 (Figure 6.1), most ditches flowing into Manson Canal, are either non-fish bearing or dominated by threespine stickleback.

6.3.2.6 RSA Tributaries

Brunette River, which flows through Burnaby Lake, supports coho salmon, chum salmon, chinook salmon, and resident populations of rainbow and coastal cutthroat trout (BCIT 2001; GVRD 2001). Kwikwetlem First Nation (2017) also reports historical fishing for sockeye salmon in the Brunette River. The Brunette River upstream of the RSA is the only watershed outside the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford to support a population of the SARA-listed nooksack dace (Rhinichthys cataractae Chehalis lineage).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 29 Hatfield

The historical outlet from Robson Creek has been infilled, and it now drains into Manson Canal. Coastal cutthroat trout and coho salmon were captured in the part of Robson Creek within the RSA in 2006, 2008, and 2012 (Appendix A2). Coastal cutthroat, coho, chinook, and pink salmon were reported in a watercourse called “Collieries Creek” in the SFPR Environmental Assessment Application (CRES 2006), which is believed to be either the same channel or continuous with Colliers Canal. Thus, the sections of Colliers Canal and Robson Creek within the RSA likely provide corridors for salmonid migration to the higher quality habitat upstream of the Study Area—ravines in the headwaters of Robson Creek and Scott Creek. Upstream of the RSA, Robson Creek and Scott Creek appear to support populations of coastal cutthroat trout and coho salmon (2004, 2007, and 2009 surveys; Appendix A2). The upper reaches of Scott Creek have historically been dammed by beavers, but it is unclear whether the dams remain and whether they are current barriers to fish migration.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 30 Hatfield Coquitlam New New Westminster Fraser River Westminster Burnaby

Brunette River Main Map Surrey

G le n Sapperton b r Bar o o McBride Blvd k C Richmond reek Legend Delta 0 1 2 Project Boundary Km r Reference Concept ive r R LSA Boundary se ra RSA Boundary Columbia St F Municipal Boundary VFPA Managed Lands VFPA Managed Waters Barrier to Fish Passage 116 Ave (Pump Station) Fish Habitat Classification Class A (Fish-Bearing) Class AO (Seasonal [winter] Fish Presence)

d a Class B (Food and Nutrient o R 114 Ave Values) r e t e Class C (Non-Fish-Bearing, m i r No Food or Nutrient Values) e

P St 125A r

e St 124 Fish Presence s a r Other F h t P u 112A Ave at o None tu S llo Ch Brownsville ann el Fish Presence Source Royal Ave Bar King George Blvd Any points without sources indicated are based on a variety of fisheries reports and fish collection Pattullo permits obtained from the BC MOE EcoCat website, C

accessed September 2017. a

n n

Hatfield Old Yale Road Inlet e

l Coast River Environmental Services sampling for the South Fraser Perimeter Road proposal, 110 Ave 1999 Columbia St Surrey Fish collection permit SU08-48043

Scott Road

DESIGNED ______REFERENCE DRAWING Proposed Pattullo Bridge Contract No. 0906-14/SC001110CA NO. DESCRIPTION DRAWN AS 18 - 03 - 09 Replacement Project 1 Reference Concept, Parsons 2018.

CHECKED ______2 Fish Habitat Classification, City of Surrey 2010. (updated by Hatfield 2017). Fish and Fish Habitat Glenbrook Creek and Brunette River have not been surveyed. These water- Survey Results SCALE 1:12,000 FIGURE NO. REV NO. APPROVAL ______3 courses are delineated based on visual interpretation of the orthophoto. (1 of 3) 0 100 200 6.1 4 Hatfield 2017. m K:\Data\Project\TRANS7593-NV\A_MXD\Report_Maps\Impact_Assessments\Fish_Habitat\Baseline_Report\TRANS7593_Fig6_1_FishHabitat_SurveyResults_A_20180309_v4.mxd Coquitlam New

raser R 124 St Westminster F iver St125A Burnaby

Main Map Surrey Pattullo Channel 112A Ave

South Fraser Perimeter Road

Richmond King George Blvd Brownsville Bar Delta 0 1 2 Pattu ll

Km o

h a

l Old Yale Road Inlet r e iv R r se Legend ra F 110 Ave Pattullo Channel Project Boundary Reference Concept Surrey LSA Boundary

Scott Road RSA Boundary Municipal Boundary VFPA Managed Lands VFPA Managed Waters Barrier to Fish Passage (Pump Station) Fish Presence Source Fish Habitat Classification Any points without sources indicated are based on Class A (Fish-Bearing) a variety of fisheries reports and fish collection permits obtained from the BC MOE EcoCat website, Class AO (Seasonal [winter] accessed September 2017. Fish Presence) Hatfield Class B (Food and Nutrient Manson Coast River Environmental Values) Slough Services sampling for the South Fraser Perimeter Road proposal, Class C (Non-Fish-Bearing, 1999 No Food or Nutrient Values) Marlim Ecological Consulting Ltd Fish Presence sampling for the Surrey Sensitive Habitat Inventory Mapping (SHIM) Manson Canal project, 2009 Salmon and Trout South Fraser Perimeter Road EA Tannery Road Other document Fish collection permit SU10-64375 None and -64376

ColliersCanal DESIGNED ______REFERENCE DRAWING Proposed Pattullo Bridge Contract No. 0906-14/SC001110CA NO. DESCRIPTION DRAWN AS 18 - 03 - 09 Replacement Project 1 Reference Concept, Parsons 2018.

CHECKED ______2 Fish Habitat Classification, City of Surrey 2010. (updated by Hatfield 2017). Fish and Fish Habitat Survey Results SCALE 1:8,000 FIGURE NO. REV NO. APPROVAL ______0 50 100 200 (2 of 3) m 6.1 4 K:\Data\Project\TRANS7593-NV\A_MXD\Report_Maps\Impact_Assessments\Fish_Habitat\Baseline_Report\TRANS7593_Fig6_1_FishHabitat_SurveyResults_B_20180309_v4.mxd Legend

Project Boundary er c iv Reference Concept R er d LSA Boundary s ra F RSA Boundary Municipal Boundary c Manson Canal VFPA Managed Lands

VFPA Managed Waters j Scott Road Occasional Barrier to Fish c Passage (Pump Station) c c Manson Slough e Fish Habitat Classification c d Tannery Road Class A (Fish-Bearing) c Class AO (Seasonal [winter] f Fish Presence) Manson Canal Class B (Food and Nutrient d Values) Class C (Non-Fish-Bearing, No Food or Nutrient Values) Fish Presence Surrey

Colliers Canal Robson Creek Salmon and Trout

c Other Manson Canal None c c c S co tt C Fish Presence Source re c ek Any points without sources indicated are based on a variety of fisheries reports and fish collection c permits obtained from the BC MOE EcoCat website, c accessed September 2017. c Marlim Ecological Consulting Ltd 0 20 40 sampling for the Surrey Sensitive m Coquitlam Habitat Inventory Mapping (SHIM) c New project, 2009 Westminster Fraser River South Fraser Perimeter Road EA document Burnaby Fish collection permit SU08-48043 Surrey Fish collection permit SU10-64375 and -64376 Main Map Fish collection permit SU12-76087

Richmond S c o t t C Delta r 0 1 2 e Km e k

DESIGNED ______REFERENCE DRAWING Proposed Pattullo Bridge Contract No. 0906-14/SC001110CA NO. DESCRIPTION DRAWN AS 18 - 03 - 09 Replacement Project 1 Reference Concept, Parsons 2018.

CHECKED ______2 Fish Habitat Classification, City of Surrey 2010. (updated by Hatfield 2017). Fish and Fish Habitat Survey Results SCALE 1:8,000 FIGURE NO. REV NO. APPROVAL ______0 50 100 200 (3 of 3) m 6.1 4 K:\Data\Project\TRANS7593-NV\A_MXD\Report_Maps\Impact_Assessments\Fish_Habitat\Baseline_Report\TRANS7593_Fig6_1_FishHabitat_SurveyResults_C_20180309_v4.mxd

6.4 FISH USE IN THE STUDY AREA Life-history, habitat preference, habitat suitability, Aboriginal traditional use knowledge, and findings from fish and fish habitat surveys were used to evaluate potential fish habitat use in the Study Area. The Key Species are classified as migratory (present in the Fraser River mainstem for only relatively short-periods during some stages of their life cycle), semi-resident (periodically move along the length of the lower Fraser River or even out of it temporarily), and resident (usually complete their life cycle entirely within the mainstem Fraser River or its tributaries without extensive movements along its length) (Table 6.3). This classification is similar to the work completed by FREMP (1999) with some modifications to consider fish habitat use in identified upland tributaries.

Based on the evaluation of available habitat in the Study Area and known life-history requirements from literature (described in Appendix A1), green sturgeon and mountain sucker (both SARA and COSEWIC listed species; Table 4.1) are highly unlikely to use the Study Area. Green sturgeon are extremely rare in the Fraser River (COSEWIC 2004) and are most likely to occasionally use the estuary portion of the river downstream of the Study Area for rearing (Moser and Lindley 2007). Mountain sucker tend to use smaller streams and have only rarely been detected in the Fraser River far upstream of the Study Area (COSEWIC 2010; Froese and Pauly 2017).

Table 6.3 Key Species habitat use of the Study Area.

Migratory Semi-Resident Resident Chinook salmon White sturgeon Coastal cutthroat trout1 Chum salmon Dolly Varden Coho salmon Bull trout Pink salmon Rainbow trout Sockeye salmon Steelhead (Rainbow) trout Eulachon

1 Some coastal cutthroat trout may follow a semi-resident life history, such as anadromous forms.

A more detailed evaluation of potential use of the Study Area by migratory, semi-resident, and resident Key Species is provided below, considering the preferred habitat characteristics of the individual fish and their swimming abilities (Appendix A1) compared to the habitat available. The locations of the tributaries and habitat features are shown in Figure 5.1.

6.4.1 Migratory Key Species Seven of the Key Species are classified as migratory, which means they are present in the mainstem Fraser River for relatively short periods during select stages of their life cycle. These migratory species are all five Pacific salmon, steelhead trout and eulachon. They migrate upstream through the mainstem Fraser River to spawning grounds and then downstream as juveniles to rear in the ocean; or, in the case of iteroparous steelhead trout, adults may also migrate downstream (Table 6.4 to Table 6.9). Adult eulachon use the LSA as a migration corridor to access upstream spawning grounds, and as larval fish that drift downstream with the current; some eulachon may also use a portion of the RSA downstream of New Westminster as spawning grounds.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 37 Hatfield

Pacific Salmon and Steelhead Trout Based on swimming speeds and predicted velocities of existing conditions (Appendix A1), chinook salmon, coho salmon, sockeye salmon and steelhead trout are expected to navigate upstream through the LSA without any difficulty. Chum and pink salmon will also likely be relatively unimpeded during upstream movement, however they may occasionally seek refuge in lower velocity areas; during the typical freshet scenario predicted velocities in the LSA exceed their prolonged swimming speeds (see Appendix A1). Lower velocity areas in the LSA are on the south shore of the Fraser River, at the mouth of Pattullo Channel, extending along the margins upstream and downstream, as well as downstream of Pier 5 of the existing Pattullo Bridge. On the New Westminster side of the Fraser River, potential low- velocity holding/rearing habitat is found along the margins.

The juvenile life stage of the five Pacific salmon and steelhead trout will almost exclusively be navigating the LSA in a downstream direction, as they out-migrate to marine rearing habitat. Based on the swimming speeds and predicted velocities of existing conditions (Appendix A1), juvenile Pacific salmon and steelhead trout can easily pass through the LSA with the current, as these fish can escape any low- velocity eddies that may impede passage.

Brunette River supports spawning populations of chinook, chum, and coho salmon; thus, the section of the river within the RSA boundary functions as a migratory corridor. Based on fish habitat surveys, Pattullo Channel provides rearing habitat for juvenile chinook and coho salmon (Table 6.4, Table 6.6). Coho salmon also rear in Manson Canal and Robson Creek (Table 6.6). These salmon likely spawn in higher quality habitat upstream of the Study Area.

Table 6.4 Potential for habitat use by Chinook Salmon in Study Area.

Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Potential Habitat Use in Study Area Spawning/Incubation Head of riffles, upstream side of gravel Upstream migration through the bars, pools below log jams (Scott and LSA/RSA Crossman 1973), intra-gravel flow (Healey 1991) Stream-type fry and fingerling rearing <1 m deep (Wydoski and Whitney 2003), LSA tributary: Pattullo Channel and its boulder and cobble substrate (Healey tributaries (ditches) 1991), velocity <0.4 m/s (Wydoski and Whitney 2003) Stream-type smolt rearing Freshwater (DFO 2011), gravel-cobble LSA tributary: Pattullo Channel and its substrate (Rempel et al. 2012), tributaries (ditches) overhead cover unless water is turbid (Rempel et al. 2012) Ocean-type fry migration Migrate downstream along river margins Downstream migration through the in large rivers, near surface where depths LSA/RSA >3 m (Healey 1991), typically spend <3 months in gravel/cobble substrate before migrating to ocean (Rempel et al. 2012) Ocean-type fingerling migration Migrate downstream near the centre of Downstream migration through the the lower Fraser River (Healey 1991) LSA/RSA Harrison River juvenile rearing Fraser River estuary (DFO 2011) Downstream migration through the LSA/RSA Sub-adult rearing and adult foraging Marine environment (DFO 2011), None primarily Salish Sea, the West Coast of Vancouver Island, and coastal Washington (PSC 2016a)

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 38 Hatfield

Table 6.5 Potential for habitat use by Chum Salmon in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area Spawning/Incubation Medium-sized gravel to boulders Upstream migration through the (Scott and Crossman 1973), 0.1 to LSA/RSA, likely along the Fraser 0.5 m deep (Salo 1991), 0.2 to 0.8 River margins m/s velocity (Salo 1991) Fry migration Distributed throughout the river Downstream migration through the (Rempel et al. 2012) LSA/RSA Juvenile rearing Range of salinities (Salo 1991), None nearshore estuary (Rempel et al. 2012; Salo 1991) Adult foraging Marine environments (Scott and None Crossman 1973)

Table 6.6 Potential for habitat use by Coho Salmon in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area Spawning/Incubation Head of riffles in small streams or Upstream migration through the side channels of larger rivers (Irvine LSA/RSA 2002), <0.3 m deep (Irvine 2002), gravel <0.15 m diameter (Irvine 2002), well-oxygenated water (Sandercock 1991) Fry (age-0) rearing Pools downstream of spawning LSA tributaries: Pattullo Channel sites (Irvine 2002), low velocity and its tributaries (ditches), Manson (Fausch 1993) Canal RSA tributaries: Robson Creek, Colliers Canal Fingerling rearing Gradient <3% (Irvine 2002), LSA tributaries: Pattullo Channel structurally complex habitat (Irvine and its tributaries (ditches), Manson 2002; Sandercock 1991), streams, Canal and less frequently the littoral region RSA tributary: Robson Creek of lakes (Irvine 2002; Scott and Crossman 1973) Freshwater overwintering Slow velocity (Fausch 1993; Irvine LSA tributaries: Pattullo Channel, 2002), >0.45 m deep (Sandercock Manson Canal 1991), groundwater upwelling RSA tributaries: Robson Creek, (Sandercock 1991), beaver ponds Colliers Canal or seasonally wetted side channels (Sandercock 1991), overhead cover and visual isolation (Fausch 1993) Smolt rearing Estuary of the Fraser River (Irvine Downstream migration through the 2002), complex structures that LSA/RSA provide overhead cover, velocity refuge, and visual isolation (Fausch 1993) Adult foraging Marine environment, generally close None to the coast (Irvine 2002)

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 39 Hatfield

Table 6.7 Potential for habitat use by Pink salmon in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area

Spawning/Incubation Coarse gravel (Heard 1991), riffles, Upstream migration through the or along margins between pools and LSA/RSA, likely along the Fraser riffles (Heard 1991), 0.3-1.0 m deep River margins (Heard 1991), 0.3-1.4 m/s (Heard 1991)

Fry migration Throughout water column (McPhail Downstream migration through the 2007) LSA/RSA Sub-adult rearing and adult foraging Marine environment None

Table 6.8 Potential for habitat use by Sockeye Salmon in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area

Spawning/Incubation Tributaries, side channels, and littoral zone Upstream migration through the of lakes (Burgner 1991), gravel substrate LSA/RSA (Burgner 1991; Rempel et al. 2012)

Lake-type juvenile rearing Lakes (Burgner 1991; Rempel et al. 2012; None Scott and Crossman 1973) River-type juvenile rearing Side channels and sloughs of rivers and None streams (Rempel et al. 2012) Sea-type juvenile rearing Estuaries (Rempel et al. 2012) Downstream migration through the LSA/RSA Sub-adult rearing and adult Ocean (Scott and Crossman 1973) Downstream migration through the foraging LSA/RSA

Table 6.9 Potential for habitat use by Steelhead Trout in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area

Spawning/Incubation Gravel substrate, < 2m deep (MELP and Upstream migration through the DFO 1998) LSA/RSA

Juvenile rearing Overhead cover (Fausch 1993), pools None adjacent to riffles (Wydoski and Whitney 2003) Sub-adult rearing and adult Marine environments (MELP and DFO 1998) Downstream migration through the foraging LSA/RSA

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 40 Hatfield

Table 6.10 Potential for habitat use by Eulachon in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area

Spawning/Incubation Commonly sand but also silt, gravel, RSA, downstream of New cobble, and organics (Levesque and Westminster (Hay et al. 2002; Therriault 2011; LFFA 2015; Moody Pickard and Marmorek 2007) 2008; Stables et al. 2005; Willson et Upstream migration through the al. 2006), 0.03-7.6 m deep (Hay et LSA/RSA al. 2002; Levesque and Therriault 2011; Stables et al. 2005), 4-10°C (Willson et al. 2006), <0.7 m/s current velocities (Plate 2009)

Fry migration Drift downstream in the current to Downstream migration through the estuary and marine waters (Willson LSA/RSA et al. 2006) Juvenile rearing and adult foraging Estuary and marine waters None (COSEWIC 2011; Hay and McCarter 2000; Scott and Crossman 1973), variety of depths (Willson et al. 2006)

Eulachon Eulachon spawning in the Fraser River is largely confined to the reach of river extending from Chilliwack to Mission (COSEWIC 2011; Levesque and Therriault 2011; Moody 2008; Scott and Crossman 1973), although spawning has been documented upstream near the Port Mann bridge (Plate 2009) and downstream of New Westminster at the trifurcation and as far downstream as Deas Island (Hay et al. 2002; Pickard and Marmorek 2007). Substrate and flow conditions (velocity and depth) in the LSA are unsuitable for eulachon spawning (see Appendix A1), thus, it is most likely that adult eulachon will be migrating upstream through the LSA. Limited spawning is documented in the downstream RSA near the trifurcation. Based on their swimming ability (Table 6.10; Appendix A1), eulachon may have difficulty maneuvering upstream through the LSA during a typical freshest which coincides with their typical spawning migration (Section A1.8). To overcome main channel velocities, weaker swimmers like eulachon likely use the margins where river velocities tend to be lower or move between back eddies near the bottom (Plate 2009). From spawning sites upstream of the Study Area, the hatched larval eulachon drift through the Study Area with the Fraser River current (Table 6.10; Willson et al. 2006), ultimately ending up in the Fraser River estuary and Strait of Georgia. Due to their relatively weak swimming ability, larvae drift downstream to the estuary immediately after hatching in a relatively short period of time (COSEWIC 2001; Scott and Crossman 1973).

6.4.2 Semi-resident Key Species Four of the Key Species are classified as semi-resident fish, using the Study Area periodically. White sturgeon primarily use the Study Area for rearing or foraging, migrating in response to feeding opportunities. Dolly Varden and bull trout may use the Study Area for migration and occasional foraging. Rainbow trout rear and spawn in the Brunette River, and may use the near-by Fraser mainstem for migration and foraging.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 41 Hatfield

White Sturgeon The lower Fraser River white sturgeon population disperses widely, especially when food sources are abundant, such as during smelt and eulachon spawning, and during sockeye, chinook, pink, and chum salmon migration and spawning (DFO 2014). During these periods, sturgeon move extensively between prey spawning and carcass depositional areas (DFO 2014). Robichaud et al. (2017) conducted a three- year telemetry study on 105 white sturgeon and observed frequent movement both upstream and downstream through the Study Area. In general, fish tended to move towards the mouth of the Fraser River (downstream) in the summer and towards Pitt River (upstream) in the winter; there was some evidence of overwintering in the Port Mann Bridge area (Robichaud et al. 2017).

White sturgeon swimming speeds are relatively low compared to Fraser River velocities in the LSA (Appendix A1), therefore they likely use lower velocity areas as refuge or for holding. White sturgeon can anchor to the bottom of waterbodies using their pectoral fins while navigating higher-velocity water (Geist et al. 2005). Low-velocity back-eddies behind bridge piers are often characterized by a downstream depositional zone (Laursen and Toch 1956), delivering drifting material to the river bottom. White sturgeon are bottom feeders, and thus may also take advantage of depositional zones behind the existing Pattullo Bridge piers that deliver food items to the river bottom. Aboriginal Groups have confirmed these low-velocity areas and observed their use by white sturgeon. Adult and sub-adult white sturgeon that are strong enough to hold in the faster water likely exploit the habitat in the LSA when food resources are abundant (e.g., following spawning runs of migratory species such as eulachon).

Table 6.11 Potential for habitat use by White Sturgeon in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area

Spawning/Incubation Optimal temperature 14°C (Perrins et al. 2003), None swift water (>1.5 m/s) (Levings and Nelson 2003; Perrins et al. 2003), depth 1-5 m (Levings and Nelson 2003), various substrate (Perrins et al. 2003)

Early juvenile (Age 0) Depth <5 m (Glova et al. 2010), non-vegetated None rearing fine substrate (Glova et al. 2010; Levings and Nelson 2003) low velocity (Glova et al. 2010)

Juvenile/sub-adult Depth 3-15 m (Glova et al. 2009), multidirectional LSA/RSA, particularly Sapperton (Age 0+) rearing current (Glova et al. 2009; Lane and Rosenau Bar, Annacis Island, and 1993), turbid (Lane and Rosenau 1993), non- nearshore Fraser River (Glova et vegetated level fine substrates (Glova et al. al. 2008, 2009; Taylor et al. 2009; Levings and Nelson 2003), low velocity 2004) (0.1 to 0.5 m/s near bottom) (Glova et al. 2009) water temperature > 7°C (Glova et al. 2008) Adult foraging Freshwater tidal channel habitat (Levings and LSA/RSA, particularly for feeding Nelson 2003) migration Overwintering Deep (DFO 2014), low velocity (DFO 2014) Unlikely

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 42 Hatfield

Dolly Varden and Bull Trout

Dolly Varden rear in the Fraser River estuary and may swim to spawning sites upstream of the mainstem Fraser River Study Area and back downstream toward the estuary after spawning has completed (Table 6.12). Similar to Dolly Varden, anadromous forms of bull trout may migrate upstream through the mainstem Fraser River to spawning sites above the Study Area and back downstream once spawning has concluded (Table 6.13). Adult resident bull trout may opportunistically use the Study Area for foraging. Adult bull trout have a fairly low swimming ability (critical velocity < 1 m/s, Appendix A1), therefore they are likely selective in the timing (i.e., avoid freshet) and areas for rearing/foraging use in the Study Area. When moving through the Study Area, these fish may temporarily seek velocity refuge areas such as Sapperton Bar, tributary inlets, or eddies.

Table 6.12 Potential for habitat use by Dolly Varden in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area

Spawning/Incubation Gravel substrate (Hagen and Taylor Upstream migration through the 2001), shallow water (<10 cm, LSA/RSA Hagen and Taylor 2001), slow- moving (~0.2 m/s, Hagen and Taylor 2001)

Juvenile Rearing Freshwater, slow-moving None runs/pools/off-channel habitat with plenty of cover (McPhail 2007) Adult foraging Estuary or freshwater (McPhail Downstream migration through the 2007) LSA/RSA

Table 6.13 Potential for habitat use by Bull Trout in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area

Spawning/Incubation Gravel/cobble substrate (Roberge et Upstream migration through the al. 2002), 0.3-0.6 m deep (Roberge LSA/RSA by anadromous forms et al. 2002)

Juvenile rearing Low-velocity side channels, pools Downstream migration to the ocean (Roberge et al. 2002), deeper and by anadromous forms faster moving runs as they age (Roberge et al. 2002) Adult foraging Freshwater, estuaries, marine Temporary, in response to feeding (Roberge et al. 2002; Brenkman et opportunities in the LSA/RSA al. 2007) Downstream migration to the ocean by anadromous forms

Fish and Fish Habitat Report 43 Hatfield

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout spawn and rear in the Brunette River upstream of the Study Area (Table 6.14) and are common throughout the Fraser River watershed. Adult rainbow trout are adept swimmers (Appendix A1) and may opportunistically forage in the mainstem Fraser River (Table 6.14).

Table 6.14 Potential for habitat use by Rainbow Trout in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area

Spawning/Incubation Gravel substrate (Scott and Migration to spawning sites Crossman 1973), riffle above a pool upstream of RSA part of Brunette (Scott and Crossman 1973) River

Juvenile rearing Overhead cover (Fausch 1993), None pools adjacent to riffles (Wydoski and Whitney 2003) Adult foraging Lakes, large and small rivers (Scott Temporary, in response to feeding and Crossman 1973) opportunities in the LSA/RSA

6.4.3 Resident Key Species Coastal cutthroat trout is classified as a resident fish species, since it usually completes its life cycle entirely within the mainstem Fraser River or its tributaries without extensive movements along its length. Coastal cutthroat potentially forage or rear in the upland tributaries, likely spawning in higher quality habitat upstream of the Study Area (Table 6.15). Coastal cutthroat has not been captured in the RSA segment of Robson Creek; however, given its presence upstream and downstream in the upland tributaries, it has conservatively been assumed that the area provides potential rearing habitat (Table 6.15). The sea-run form of coastal cutthroat trout may also migrate through the mainstem Fraser River Study Area, to the estuary and marine environments for a few months of the year.

Table 6.15 Potential for habitat use by Coastal Cutthroat Trout in Study Area.

Potential Habitat Use in Study Life Stage Preferred Habitat Characteristics Area

Spawning/Incubation Small gravel (Roberge et al. 2002), Upstream migration through the 0.15-0.45 m deep (McPhail 2007) LSA/RSA

Juvenile rearing and resident adult Pools (McPhail 2007; Wydoski and LSA tributaries: Pattullo Channel foraging Whitney 2003) and its tributaries (ditches), Manson Canal RSA tributaries: Robson Creek, Colliers Canal Sea-run adult foraging Marine bays and inlets, freshwater Migration through the LSA/RSA (Behnke and Tomelleri 2002)

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6.4.4 Temporal Trends and Climate Change Based on life-history information and fish surveys, a general representation of movement and habitat use by the Key Species in the Study Area is presented in Figure 6.2. Most movement within the Study Area is related to spawning migrations, with many of the species moving upstream through the Study Area to access spawning habitat. Upon hatching, the juvenile fish then move back downstream through the Study Area to access marine and estuary rearing habitat. Spawning movement tends to be within a short period of time, compared to downstream juvenile migration. Given the tremendous amount of intraspecific and interspecific diversity in migration strategy, preferred habitat, and swimming performance (Melnychuk et al. 2010), movement through the Study Area is varied. Fish may also move through the Study Area for foraging opportunities; for example, white sturgeon may move into the Study Area in response to smelt, eulachon, and Pacific salmon spawning migrations (DFO 2014).

Movement of spawning salmon through the Study Area can be affected by maturity/condition, tides, flow, and water temperature (Cohen 2012). Salmon are known to interrupt their migration by remaining in cooler-temperature lakes, sometimes for over a week, if the mainstem river is too warm. The importance of migration timing to spawning success for specific runs is evident in late-run sockeye; those migrating atypically, before mid-August, have a very low probability of survival and spawning compared to fish migrating after mid-September (Cohen 2012). Lyackson First Nation (2017) reports that salmon tend to swim in the cooler depths of the Fraser River water column during the summer, until the upper portion cools off around the end of August.

Warming waters can influence anadromous fish as they rear, by affecting their food and growth (NOAA 2017), and by affecting metabolism, energy expenditure, disease prevalence, and overall stress once they enter the river (Cohen 2012). Environment and Climate Change Canada records indicate that eight of the ten warmest Fraser River temperatures were reported in the past 15 years, which may contribute to increased overlap in spawning run timing (Cohen 2012). A recent phenomenon that has affected observed Pacific Salmon stocks in the United States is “the Blob,” a large mass of atypically warm water that occupied the northeast Pacific Ocean from 2013 through 2016 (NOAA 2017). The warm water brought lipid-low tropical prey items north, affecting the feeding of salmon juveniles and resulting in low- condition adult salmon. Although water temperatures appear to have rebounded since “the Blob” dissipated, effects may still be observed in salmon runs through 2018 (NOAA 2017).

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Figure 6.2 Temporal use of Study Area by the migratory, semi-resident, and resident Key Species. Solid bar = very likely present, Hatched bar = possibly present.

Chinook salmon Upstream migration

Chum salmon Upstream migration Upstream migration

Coho salmon Upstream migration

Pink salmon Downstream migration Upstream migration

Sockeye salmon Downstream migration Upstream migration

Steelhead trout Upstream migration Upstream migration Upstream migration

White sturgeon Upstream migration

Eulachon Upstream/downstream migration

Dolly Varden Downstream migration Upstream migration

Bull trout Upstream migration

Semi-resident rainbow trout Upstream migration

Sea-run coastal cutthroat trout Upstream migration Upstream migration Resident coastal cutthroat trout (upland tribs)

Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

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6.4.5 Abundance Estimates The Fraser River is the largest river in BC and produces more salmon than any other river in the world (Northcote and Larkin 1989). Salmon productivity is closely monitored because of its cultural and economic important to Aboriginal Groups and the region. The following is a summary of the abundance for the five species of Pacific salmon that use the Study Area. Estimates of the abundance of white sturgeon, eulachon, steelhead, bull trout, and coastal cutthroat trout are also provided to the best ability, given the limited data collected on these species. Where possible, abundance estimates target populations that use the Study Area.

6.4.5.1 Chinook Salmon

The Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC) Joint Chinook Technical Committee monitors the chinook salmon fisheries managed under the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the governments of Canada and the US, including the stocks using the Fraser River. Currently, chinook salmon using the Fraser River are assessed as five stock groups (PSC 2016a). Estimates are based on spawner escapement data collected from visual surveys (PSC 2016a). The most recent estimate for all five Fraser River stock groups is 334,502 fish in 2015 (PSC 2016a). All of the chinook salmon using the Fraser River pass through the Study Area during their upstream spawning migration, and pass downstream through the Study Area as juveniles for rearing in the ocean. The exception is a relatively small portion of the Fraser River chinook stocks that may use tributaries downstream of the Study Area for spawning; however, given the heavily urbanized land use in this area, the proportion of chinook this includes is likely minimal.

Escapements to the three stock groups with stream-type chinook (Fraser spring run 1.2, Fraser spring run 1.3, Fraser summer run 1.3) have been monitored since 1975. The overall trend is a steep decrease in escapements between 2003 and 2009, with recent evidence of low but modest rebuilding (PSC 2016a). Since 1975, Fraser spring run 1.2 stock escapements have ranged from less than 1,000 in 2009 to a maximum of about 21,000 in 1996 (PSC 2016a); the most recent available estimate is about 5,800 fish in 2015. Fraser spring run 1.3 stock ranged from less than 10,000 fish in 1975 to a maximum of about 50,000 in 1994 (PSC 2016a); in 2015, stock was estimated at 23,505 fish. Since 1975, Fraser summer run 1.3 escapements ranged from less than 10,000 in 2012 to about 44,000 in 2003 (PSC 2016a); in 2015, stock was estimated at about 30,469 fish.

In contrast to the stream-type stocks, ocean-type chinook (Fraser summer run 0.3) increased during the 1990s and remained abundant until 2012, when stock levels were very low compared to the previous decade (PSC 2016a). Escapements since increased between 2013 and 2015. From 1975 to 2015 escapement has ranged from a minimum of about 5,000 in 1976 to a maximum of 173,212 in 2015 (PSC 2016a)

The Harrison River chinook (Fraser Late stock) are one of the largest naturally spawning chinook salmon populations in the world and make an important contribution to the fisheries in southern British Columbia and Washington State (PSC 2016a). Escapements have fluctuated substantially since monitoring began in 1984, following no apparent trend, ranging from about 25,000 in 1995 to over 250,000 in 2003 (PSC 2016a). More recently the Harrison River chinook had low escapements (less than 50,000) from 2012 to 2014, and a slightly higher escapement of 101,516 in 2015 (PSC 2016a).

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6.4.5.2 Chum Salmon

The PSC Joint Chum Technical Committee monitors the chum salmon fisheries in southern BC and Washington to address the provisions of the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the governments of Canada and the US. Fraser River chum salmon are one of four major management units (PSC 2016b). In the Fraser River, the fall chum run was estimated at 1,634,000 on October 21, 2013, based on CPUE information from the DFO Albion Chum salmon test fishery (PSC 2016b). Similar to chinook salmon, most chum salmon pass through the Study Area during their upstream migration, and juveniles pass downstream through the Study Area for their marine rearing migration; the exception is any chum that spawn in Fraser River tributaries downstream of the Study Area.

6.4.5.3 Coho Salmon

The PSC Joint Coho Technical Committee monitors the coho salmon fisheries in southern BC and Washington to address the provisions of the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the governments of Canada and the US. Fraser River coho salmon are managed under the Lower Fraser Management Unit and the Interior Fraser (including Thompson) Management Unit, which encompass 12 Conservation Units classified by Canada’s Wild Salmon Policy (Lower Fraser A, Lower Fraser B, Lillooet, Boundary Bay, Fraser Canyon, Middle Fraser, Lower Thompson, South Thompson, North Thompson; PSC 2013). Similar to chinook and chum salmon, most Fraser River coho salmon pass through the Study Area during their upstream migration, and juveniles pass downstream through the Study Area for their marine rearing migration; the exception is any coho that spawn in Fraser River tributaries downstream of the Study Area. In addition, a small proportion of coho have been observed using upland tributaries within the Study Area (i.e., Pattullo Channel and Manson Canal).

Fisheries estimates are evaluated using a model called “Backwards Coho FRAM,” which is applied to pre- season fishery planning and post-season estimates of escapements and exploitation rates (PSC 2013). This model was used to estimate the abundance of ocean-living naturally-spawning age-3 cohort coho in each Management Unit. Between 2004 and 2010, the post-season abundance estimate for the Lower Fraser Management Unit ranged from a minimum of 3,471 in 2008 to a maximum of 74,840 in 2007 (PSC 2013); the most recent estimate was 26,647 in 2010. Within the same time period, the Interior Fraser Management Unit was higher overall, ranging from a minimum of 8,799 in 2006 to a maximum of 66,045 in 2007; the most recent estimate was 31,341 in 2010.

Overall, since records began in 1986, the abundance of Canadian coho stocks has decreased (PSC 2013), particularly the Interior Fraser Management Unit, which was classified as threatened by COSEWIC in 2002 but has not been listed under SARA (Government of Canada 2017). Crude estimates of this stock from the 1920s and 1930s are 200,000 and 400,000, respectively (Irvine 2002). Reliable estimates of interior Fraser coho spawners begin in 1975 (Irvine 2002). Estimates peaked in the mid-1980s at about 100,000 escapements and 300,000 abundance before declining rapidly until about 1996 (Irvine 2002).

6.4.5.4 Pink Salmon

The Fraser River supports the largest pink salmon population in the northeast Pacific basin south of Alaska (FRAP 1995), with total escapement averaging 5.8 million between 1959 and 2007 (Grant and Pestal 2009). The Fraser River pink salmon spawn in odd years, hence most species production is in the odd year cycle. An estimate of spawning capacity developed in 1959 by the PSC for the Fraser River

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watershed ranged from 3.1 million to 7.5 million spawners (FRAP 1995). The returns of Fraser pink salmon vary widely, ranging from the lowest return since 1965 in 1999 (3.6 million fish) followed four years later by the highest return (26 million) since records began in 1959 (PSC 2016c). The 2015 pink salmon run was lower than expected (5.8 million) and was the smallest return since 1999 (PSC 2016c). The pre-season run size for Fraser River pink salmon in 2017 is forecast to be 8.7 million (DFO 2017).

6.4.5.5 Sockeye Salmon The Fraser River Panel monitors the sockeye salmon fisheries to address the provisions of the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the governments of Canada and the US. In many stocks, cyclic dominance in production has been observed over four-year cycles, probably due to the prevalence of sockeye spending two years in freshwater and two years at sea. In general, sockeye tend to have one very abundant return year followed by one less abundant year and then two years of very low abundance (Labelle 2009). Despite this overall cyclical trend, there has been an overall decline in abundance (escapement and total catch) since 1993 (Labelle 2009). The returns of Fraser sockeye salmon range widely since records began in 1954, from the lowest return in 2007 (1.5 million) to the highest return (24 million) in 1994 (Labelle 2009). In 2015, the sockeye salmon return (escapement and total catch) was 2 million fish, which is the fourth smallest return in the past 50 years (PSC 2016c). Low numbers of Fraser sockeye salmon are expected to return in 2017 (4.4 million median forecast) compared to the cyclic average (8.4 million) and the all-year average (7.9 million) (DFO 2017). Kwikwetlem First Nation (2017) has observed decreases in the run of Həǹqəmiǹəm, an early return sockeye salmon species that use Coquitlam River, a tributary of the Fraser River upstream of the Study Area.

6.4.5.6 White Sturgeon The lower Fraser River population of white sturgeon is relatively productive, since they have access to marine-derived nutrients (e.g., salmon, eulachon) and estuarine habitats not available to other Canadian populations (DFO 2014). Using mark-recapture studies, abundance in the lower Fraser River is estimated at 47,166 (95% confidence level, +/- 8.8%) for individuals between 40 cm and 279 cm in 2015 (Nelson et al. 2016). It is estimated that 14,575 white sturgeon (size 40 to 220 cm) live between Annacis Island and Mission (FRSCS 2002, as cited in Levings and Nelson 2003). The number of mature fish (>160 cm) in the lower Fraser River is estimated to be 8,460 (DFO 2014). While assumptions for the methodology used to estimate abundance may have been violated (Robichaud et al. 2017), these estimates are the best information available at this time. Since white sturgeon are a highly mobile species, the abundance estimate for fish potentially using the Study Area will conservatively include the entire population of the lower Fraser River.

6.4.5.7 Eulachon Based on assessments of eulachon spawning stock biomass in the lower Fraser River, Hay et al. (2002) estimated that spawning biomass between the years 1995 and 2002 varied from a minimum of 100 tonnes (in 1997) to a maximum of 1,600 tonnes (in 1996). Spawning biomass reached a historic low of only 10 tonnes (220,000 mature fish) in 2008 (COSEWIC 2011) and the eulachon population in the Fraser River is estimated to have has declined by 98% over the past two decades (COSEWIC 2011). The most recent population estimate is 600,000 mature individuals in 2011 (COSEWIC 2011). Kwikwetlem First Nation (2017) has highlighted historical bountiful spring eulachon runs in the vicinity of the present- day Pattullo Bridge. Tsleil-Waututh Nation (2016) has also described a hyper-abundance of eulachon during pre-contact times, in sharp contrast to what is observed at present day.

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6.4.5.8 Steelhead trout

Steelhead trout populations appear to be declining and are locally extinct in some of their former ranges of southern BC (MWLAP 2002). They remain a highly valued sport fish in BC due to their size and nature (MELP and DFO 1998). Three stocks of steelhead occupy the Fraser River—coastal winter, coastal summer, and interior summer—all of which are at risk of interception as by-catch in commercial and First Nation net salmon fisheries in the region (MELP and DFO 1998). In fact, there is concern about the Fraser winter steelhead stocks becoming extinct (MELP and DFO 1998). The Thompson River and Chilcotin River populations were recently designated as endangered by COSEWIC, during an emergency assessment (Government of Canada 2018).

6.4.5.9 Bull Trout

Although fishing regulations are in place for bull trout in BC, few records have been collected on population trends (MWLAP 2002). Long-term data sets quantifying their abundance are rare; thus current knowledge of population trends relies heavily on qualitative expert opinion (COSEWIC 2012). The South Coast BC population of bull trout is most likely to be using the Study Area, and is composed of three Ecological Drainage Units (EDUs): Lower Fraser, Puget Sound, and South Coastal (COSEWIC 2012). It is estimated that this population contains 1,000 to 2,500 or more spawners (Hagen and Decker 2011, in COSEWIC 2012).

6.4.5.10 Coastal Cutthroat Trout

Sufficient trend data on coastal cutthroat trout populations are not available for the region, and smolt trend data are only available from a single stream in the Lower Mainland of BC (Slaney and Roberts 2005). Current juvenile population estimates and migration monitoring data are lacking for Lower Mainland coastal cutthroat trout populations; without this information little is known about the health of stream stocks (Staney and Roberts 2005). Of the Lower Mainland populations of coastal cutthroat, five are extinct, four are at high risk of extinction, and the rest (accounting for 80% of these populations) are of unknown status (Staney et al. 1997).

6.5 BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE RESOURCES The invertebrate community in the lower Fraser River is very homogenous and reflects the relatively poor- quality mud-sand substrate conditions typical of the region. Variations in the invertebrate community tend to reflect either variations in substrate—an increase in gravels and cobbles in the eastern Fraser Valley from Chilliwack to Hope—or variations in salinity with increased proximity to the Fraser Estuary. Recent benthic invertebrate studies on the Fraser mainstem are rare, and many researchers still use data from the Northcote et al. (1976) book, Benthic, epibenthic, and drift fauna of the Lower Fraser River.

In the LSA and RSA, the benthic invertebrate community is dominated by annelid worms (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae and Naididae) and chironomid midges (Diptera: Chironomidae), with some small crustaceans (Chapman and Brinkhurst 1981; Swain et al. 1998; Taylor et al. 2004). Although other invertebrate species are present, their numbers are extremely low, typically less than 0.5% of individuals in a sample (Taylor et al. 2004). Near the upstream end of the RSA, dominance shifts towards chironomids, and less- tolerant organisms such as Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) occur in higher abundance (Swain et al. 1998). Downstream of the LSA, the benthic invertebrate community becomes increasingly influenced by the

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brackish waters of the Fraser Estuary, and dominance shifts towards oligochaetes with increasing abundances of marine invertebrates such as polychaete worms (Annelida: Polychaeta) and some crustaceans (Chapman and Brinkhurst 1981; Levings and Nishimura 1997; Swain et al. 1998).

7.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The Fraser River is the longest river in BC, providing diverse habitat for many fish species from its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to its delta in the Strait of Georgia. The Study Area is located in the tidally influenced freshwater section of the Fraser River, several kilometres upstream of the salt wedge intrusion limit. The Fraser River is relatively deep and narrow in the Study Area, where all species using the river are funneled into one channel. Based on the available information, the Study Area is used primarily as a migration corridor by the majority of Key Species, either swimming to freshwater spawning habitat upstream or to marine and/or estuarine rearing habitat downstream. Some predators take advantage of these marine migrations, moving into the Study Area to prey on the migrating fish.

The Study Area is used primarily as a migratory corridor by the five species of Pacific salmon. Based on most recent available estimates, about 335,000 chinook, 1.6 million chum, 60,000 coho, 5.8 million pink, and 2 million sockeye salmon migrate upstream through the Study Area to spawn in their natal streams (Table 7.1). Upon completion of their freshwater rearing stage (duration varies according to species and life-history form), the juveniles migrate downstream through the Study Area to rear in marine habitat. A limited proportion of chinook, chum, and coho salmon may spawn in upland tributaries upstream of the Study Area (Table 7.1). Chinook and coho salmon potentially rear in the upland tributaries within the Study Area before migrating to the sea (Table 7.1).

White sturgeon, eulachon, anadromous (steelhead) and non-anadromous (resident) rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, bull trout, and sea-run coastal cutthroat trout also migrate upstream through the Study Area for spawning (Table 7.1). Adult and juvenile life-history stages of these species may migrate through the Study Area for rearing and foraging in the Pacific Ocean, the estuary, or the Study Area, depending on the availability of food sources and life-history characteristics. The exception to this generalization is adult eulachon, which are believed to be semelparous. Estimates from the most recent abundance surveys for populations that use the Study Area are about 47,000 white sturgeon (fork length 40 to 279 cm), 600,000 eulachon, and 2,500 bull trout (Table 7.1). Resident populations of coastal cutthroat trout potentially rear or forage in some of the upland tributaries in the Study Area (Table 7.1).

Based on the evaluation of available habitat in the Study Area and known life-history requirements from literature, it is highly unlikely that the green sturgeon or mountain sucker is present in the Study Area. Green sturgeon are extremely rare in the Fraser River (COSEWIC 2004) and are most likely to use the estuary portion of the Fraser River downstream of the Study Area occasionally for rearing (Moser and Lindley 2007). Mountain sucker tend to use smaller streams and have only rarely been detected in the Fraser River, far upstream of the Study Area (COSEWIC 2010; Froese and Pauly 2017).

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Table 7.1 Summary of fish habitat use and abundance for Key Species.

Life History Key Species Classification for Summary of Use in Study Area Abundance Estimate lower Fraser River

Chinook salmon Migratory . Upstream/downstream migration through the mainstem Fraser River, Brunette 334,502 in 2015 (PSC 2016) River . Rearing in Pattullo Channel (LSA)

Chum salmon Migratory . Upstream/downstream migration through the mainstem Fraser River, Brunette 1,634,000 in 2013 (PSC 2016b) River

Coho salmon Migratory . Upstream/downstream migration through the mainstem Fraser River, Brunette 57,988 in 2010 (PSC 2013) River . Rearing in LSA tributaries Pattullo Channel, Manson Canal, and RSA tributaries Brunette River, Robson Creek

Pink salmon Migratory . Upstream/downstream migration through the mainstem Fraser River 5,800,000 in 2015 (PSC 2106c)

Sockeye salmon Migratory . Upstream/downstream migration through the mainstem Fraser River 2,000,000 in 2015 (PSC 2016c)

Steelhead (rainbow) trout Migratory . Upstream/downstream migration through the mainstem Fraser River Unavailable

Eulachon, Fraser River Migratory . Upstream/downstream migration through the mainstem Fraser River 600,000 in 2011 (COSEWIC 2011) population . Spawning in RSA downstream of LSA near New Westminster

White sturgeon, lower Fraser Semi-resident . Rearing, foraging, and spawning migration through the mainstem Fraser River 47,166 in 2015, fork length 40 - 279 cm (Nelson et population al. 2016)

Dolly Varden Semi-resident . Upstream/downstream migration through the mainstem Fraser River Unavailable

Bull trout, South Coast BC Semi-resident . Upstream/downstream migration through the mainstem Fraser River ≥ 1,000-2,500 spawners Population . Rearing and foraging in mainstem Fraser River (Hagen and Decker 2011, as cited in COSEWIC 2012)

Rainbow trout Semi-resident . Rearing and foraging in mainstem Fraser River Unavailable . Migration to spawning sites in Brunette River, upstream of RSA

Coastal cutthroat trout Resident . Rearing in LSA tributaries Pattullo Channel, Manson Canal, and RSA tributaries Unavailable Brunette River, Robson Creek . Sea-run migration through mainstem Fraser River

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[MELP and DFO] Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 1998. Review of Fraser River steel head trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

[MOT] Ministry of Transportation. 2007. Port Mann/Highway 1: Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Impact Assessment – Environmental Assessment Certificate Application. Prepared for British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office.

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Musqueam Indian Band 2017. Musqueam Indian Band Knowledge and Use Study for TransLink's Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project, July 11, 2017. Prepared by Jordan Tam, Gillian Gregory, Rachel Olson, and Firelight Research Inc., with the Musqueam Indian Band.

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Nelson TC, Robichaud D, Mochizuki T, Rissling J, English K, Gazey W. 2016. Status of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River – Report on the findings of the lower Fraser River white sturgeon monitoring and assessment program 2015. Prepared for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society. Prepared by TCNelson Consulting, LGL Limited Environmental Research Associates and W.J. Gazey Research.

[NHC] Northwest Hydraulic Consultants. 2002. Review of lower Fraser River sediment budget. Prepared for Dredge Management Advisory Committee Fraser River Estuary Management Program.

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[PSC] Pacific Salmon Commission. 2013. Report TCCOHO (13)-1. Prepared by Joint Coho Technical Committee. 1-174 pp.

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[PSC] Pacific Salmon Commission. 2016b. 2013 Post season summary report. Prepared by Joint Chum Technical Committee. 1-66pp.

[PSC] Pacific Salmon Commission. 2016c. 2015 Fraser River Sockeye and Pink Salmon Fishing Season. Prepared by the Fraser River Panel. 1-77 pp.

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Sandercock FK. 1991. Life history of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). pp. 397-445 in C. Groot and L. Margolis, (eds.) Pacific Salmon Life Histories. UBC Press, Vancouver, Canada.

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Taylor J, Perrin C, Stables T. 2004. Effects of Dredging on the Aquatic Community in the Lower Fraser River at Sapperton Bar. Prepared for Fraser River Port Authority. Prepared by Limnotek Research and Development Inc.

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Fish and Fish Habitat Report 60 Hatfield

APPENDICES

Appendix A1

Key Species Life History and Habitat Use

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES ...... A1-ii LIST OF FIGURES ...... A1-ii

A1.0 KEY SPECIES LIFE HISTORY AND HABITAT USE ...... A1-1 A1.1 LIFE HISTORY AND HABITAT PREFERENCE ...... A1-1 A1.1.1 Chinook Salmon ...... A1-1 A1.1.2 Chum Salmon ...... A1-2 A1.1.3 Coho Salmon ...... A1-2 A1.1.4 Pink Salmon ...... A1-3 A1.1.5 Sockeye Salmon ...... A1-4 A1.1.6 Green Sturgeon ...... A1-4 A1.1.7 White Sturgeon, Lower Fraser Population ...... A1-5 A1.1.8 Eulachon, Fraser River Population ...... A1-6 A1.1.9 Mountain Sucker, Pacific Population ...... A1-6 A1.1.10 Coastal Cutthroat Trout ...... A1-7 A1.1.11 Rainbow/Steelhead Trout ...... A1-8 A1.1.12 Dolly Varden ...... A1-9 A1.1.13 Bull Trout, South Coast Population ...... A1-9 A1.2 HABITAT SUITABILITY...... A1-10 A1.3 REFERENCES ...... A1-20

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-i Hatfield Appendix A1

LIST OF TABLES

Table A1.1 Critical (prolonged) and maximum (burst) velocities for the Key Species...... A1-13

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure A1.1 Swimming velocities of Key Species, separated into "sustained", "prolonged", and "burst" velocities...... A1-11

Figure A1.2 Swimming velocities of juvenile Key Species, separated into "sustained", "prolonged", and "burst" velocities. Hashed lines represent missing but assumed data...... A1-12

Figure A1.3 Swimming velocities for adult Key Species compared to velocity ranges predicted in the LSA during typical freshet and the 1894 flood of record (presented in NHC in prep.)...... A1-17

Figure A1.4 Swimming velocities for adult Key Species compared to velocity ranges predicted in the LSA during winter flow reversal (presented in NHC in prep.)...... A1-18

Figure A1.5 Swimming velocities for juvenile Key Species compared to velocity ranges predicted in the LSA (presented in NHC in prep.)...... A1-19

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-ii Hatfield Appendix A1

A1.0 KEY SPECIES LIFE HISTORY AND HABITAT USE

A1.1 LIFE HISTORY AND HABITAT PREFERENCE

The general life history and habitat preference for the valued subcomponent Key Species is described below in context of the Project using results from the literature review and consultation with Aboriginal Groups.

A1.1.1 Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon is known by many names including spring, king, and blackmouth. The Fraser River supports three runs. In July, early run salmon move upstream into the Fraser River, traveling nearly 1,000 km to reach natal streams to spawn. Late run salmon arrive at the mouth of the Fraser River later in the year, with peak migrations occurring in August and September. A smaller run occurs in August (Healey 1991). Late run salmon spawn as far downstream as the limit of tidal influence, near Chilliwack, BC (Hart and Clemens 1988, Healey 1991). Although peak migrations occur in summer and early fall, adult chinook may arrive at any time of the year, with early run fish arriving at the mouth of the Fraser as early as January, and late run spawners occasionally arriving in December (Healey 1991). The Harrison River is home to one of the largest Fraser stocks, producing up to 30% of the total returns for the Fraser River (PSC 2016a).

Adult chinook from the Fraser River will typically spawn at age 4 or 5 but will occasionally return from the ocean as early as age 3 and as late as age 8 (Hart and Clemens 1998, Healey 1991). Spawning occurs from June through December in the Fraser River, depending on the spawning location and timing of the run (Healey 1991). Chinook are the largest of the five Pacific salmon and tend to spawn in deeper, faster water, over larger substrates (Scott and Crossman 1973). Lower Fraser chinook salmon spawn in the larger tributaries such as the Pitt River or Harrison River (DFO 1999). Preferred spawning habitat includes the heads of riffles, upstream sides of gravel bars, and pools below log jams (Scott and Crossman 1973). The presence of intra-gravel flow appears to be an important characteristic in determining redd site location (Healey 1991).

Juvenile chinook can exhibit one of two life history characteristics. Ocean-type juveniles emerge from the gravel and travel quickly to the estuary to feed and grow; whereas, stream-type chinook will spend a minimum of one year in freshwater, traveling slowly to the estuary (Hart and Clemens 1988, Healey 1991, Wydoski and Whitney 2003), sometimes rearing in small non-natal streams (DFO 1999). Stream-type chinook tend to arise from early run stocks, while ocean-type juveniles are more characteristic of late run stocks (Healey 1991, Wydoski and Whitney 2003). Currently, Fraser River chinook are assessed as five stock groups for management by the Pacific Salmon Commission: three stream-type stocks (Fraser spring run 1.2, Fraser spring run 1.3, Fraser summer run 1.3) and two ocean-type stocks (Fraser summer run 0.3, Fraser late, PSC 2016).

Juvenile fry and fingerlings tend to be territorial, typically occupying habitats less than 1 m deep (Healey 1991, Wydoski and Whitney 2003). In addition, they appear to prefer boulder and cobble habitats in mainstem rivers, in areas with velocities up to 0.3 m/s (Healey 1991, Wydoski and Whitney 2003). Ocean- type juveniles may migrate downstream as either fry or fingerlings (Healey 1991). Fry appear to prefer river margins in larger river systems, and will tend to congregate near the surface when depths are greater than 3 m (Healey 1991). In contrast, fingerlings appear to prefer the deeper, faster water near the center of the

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-1 Hatfield Appendix A1

river (Healey 1991). Peak juvenile migrations occur in June, with fry migrations extending from March to June in the Fraser River, while fingerlings will migrate into August. Many juveniles will remain in the river arms downstream of New Westminster in June but tend to empty into the delta by July. Stream-type smolts tend to migrate to the estuary in early spring (Healey 1991).

A1.1.2 Chum Salmon

In the Fraser River, chum salmon are divided into two conservation units. The first unit encompasses those fish which spawn in tributaries and off-channel habitat downstream of Hope, while the second encompasses those areas upstream of Hope. The Stave, Harrison and Chilliwack rivers account for roughly half of the total Fraser River spawning stock (Davlin Pacific 2011).

Chum salmon spawn in the mainstem Fraser, Chilliwack, Vedder and Harrison Rivers from November to January, while in the Chehalis system, spawning typically occurs in October. Males typically enter the river earlier than females. Mature fish have been recorded moving upstream at paces ranging from 14 to 50 km per day (Salo 1991) and often spend only one week or less in freshwater (Scott and Crossman 1973). Chum are strong swimmers but are not adept at jumping and will therefore usually spawn below vertical obstructions (Salo 1991, Scott and Crossman 1973). Chum spawn over a variety of substrates ranging from medium-sized gravel to boulders (Scott and Crossman 1973). Unless spawning over boulders, females will dig a nest for the eggs to be deposited and buried in (Salo 1991, Scott and Crossman 1973). Water depths of spawning sites range from 0.1 m to 0.5 m deep, with typical velocities ranging from 0.2 to 8 m/s (Salo 1991).

Fry emerge from the gravel in spring and travel quickly downstream to the estuary. Chum smolts are typically small (< 55 mm) upon leaving their natal stream (DFO 1999). In the Fraser River, chum migrate downstream either in schools or distributed throughout the water column (Rempel et al. 2012), from February to June, with peak outmigration occurring in March and April (Salo 1991). When located close to the ocean, outmigration may be completed over the course of one day (Scott and Crossman 1973) but can take upwards of 30 days in some river systems (Salo 1991, Scott and Crossman 1973).

Chum fry are unique in that they can tolerate a wide range of salinities, which allows them to make use of a large portion of the estuary (Salo 1991). Chum form schools in estuarine environments, remaining there until late summer before entering the ocean (Rempel et al. 2012, Salo 1991). Adult chum most commonly return to spawn at ages 3, 4 or 5 in the Fraser River system (Scott and Crossman 1973).

A1.1.3 Coho Salmon

Fraser River coho are divided into lower Fraser and interior Fraser stocks. Lower Fraser stocks occur downstream of Hope, while interior Fraser Coho spawn primarily in the Thompson River system. Due to their spatial separation, the two stocks have evolved as genetically distinct populations from one another (Irvine 2002).

Coho salmon spawn in shallow water, typically 0.3 m or less, over gravel substrates (Irvine 2002, Scott and Crossman 1973). Coho typically spawn at the head of riffles and tend to choose areas with groundwater upwelling (Sandercock 1991). Both stocks enter the Fraser River in the fall (typically September/October) (Sandercock 1991) and spawn in the fall and early winter, with fry emerging the following spring (Irvine 2002). Juvenile fry tend to hide under cobbles and along stream banks (Sandercock 1991) before moving away from spawning riffles to pool habitats in spring (Irvine 2002).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-2 Hatfield Appendix A1

Fraser coho overwinter for one year in freshwater (Sandercock 1991, Scott and Crossman 1973), in side channels, tributaries or occasionally lakes before migrating to the estuary as smolts the following spring (Irvine 2002, Scott and Crossman 1973). Coho smolts typically measure 100 mm fork length upon leaving rearing waters. Rearing coho will migrate up and down stream corridors seeking the best habitat for the season (DFO 1999). They generally require deep (> 0.45 m), low velocity habitats with complex cover for overwintering (Irvine 2002, Sandercock 1991) and have been observed migrating up to 35 km downstream to locate tributaries with favourable habitats (Sandercock 1991). Typically coho appear to overwinter most successfully in areas with groundwater upwelling, beaver ponds, and low velocity, seasonally wetted side channels (Sandercock 1991). In urban areas, coho tend to migrate from areas where poor water quality and high temperatures inhibit their growth, to more suitable areas, such as deeper pools with adequate overhead cover (DFO 1999).

In the following spring, coho smolts migrate downstream towards the ocean, tending to exhibit schooling behavior and travelling at night (Sandercock 1991, Scott and Crossman 1973). It is unknown how long smolts reside in the estuary before migrating to the open ocean (Irvine 2002). The marine phase of the coho life cycle is typically 18 months, with adult fish returning to spawn at age 3. Some fish return after only 6 months as 2-year “jacks” or (rarely) “jills.” These precocious fish tend to be much smaller in size (Irvine 2002, Sandercock 1991). In the Cultus Lake system, some coho remain as resident fish for their entire life cycle and do not use the lower Fraser River at all (Sandercock 1991, Scott and Crossman 1973).

A1.1.4 Pink Salmon

Pink salmon are the smallest species of the five Pacific salmon and have the shortest lifespan (Heard 1991). Adult fish return to the Fraser River in late summer to early fall, with peak spawning occurring in October (FRAP 1995). There are two distinct runs, an early run to the lower Fraser River (gravel reach between Hope and Chilliwack) and both the mainstem and tributaries upstream of the Fraser Canyon, and a late run to the tributaries downstream of Hope (Davlin Pacific 2011, FRAP 1995). The early run comprises about 85% of the total return and includes mainly stocks from the lower Fraser River mainstem, the Thompson River and the Seton Creek areas.

Pink salmon have a distinct two-year life cycle from egg to spawner, resulting in even and odd year runs. In the Fraser River, the odd year is the most abundant run, with even year runs being close to non-existent (Heard 1991). Pink salmon spawn in redds or nests created in clean, coarse gravel substrates (Heard 1991). Spawning tends to occur in riffles or along the margins between pools and riffles, at depths of 0.3 to 1.0 m and velocities of 0.3 to 1.4 m/s (Heard 1991).

Upon hatching, alevins remain within the gravel until their yolk sac is largely absorbed (Heard 1991). Fry emerge beginning in February and migrate immediately downstream to the estuary from February through June, with peak migration occurring in early May (FRAP 1995, Grant and Pestal 2009). Fry tend to school together and can be found throughout the water column in the Fraser River when the water is turbid, with fry concentrating near the surface of the water during periods of time when water is clear (Heard 1991). Fry feed very little in freshwater, primarily concentrating their diet on chironomids. Mayflies, stoneflies, hemipterans and sand particles having also been documented in their stomachs (Heard 1991).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-3 Hatfield Appendix A1

A1.1.5 Sockeye Salmon

There are about 151 sockeye spawning stocks in the Fraser River basin (Labelle 2009). They generally mature at four years of age before returning to their natal streams, in the vicinity of their nursery lake (where applicable), to spawn (DFO 2016). These populations can be classified into three runs; early runs commence in July, summer runs in August, and late runs occur in September or October (Hinch et al. 2012). The populations that spawn further north tend to arrive earlier than those spawning further south (Labelle 2009). Late-run sockeye hold in the mouth of the Fraser River for three to six weeks before moving upstream however this hold time was much shorter than typical from 1998-2005 (Labelle 2009). In addition, there is an overall temporal trend to earlier migrations for all stocks (Labelle 2009).

Sockeye salmon spawn in tributaries, side channels, and occasionally lake beaches. Spawning occurs over gravel substrates in riffles of varying depths (Rempel et al. 2012). Females dig several redds, covering fertilized eggs in one nest while digging the next nest adjacent to the first (Burgner 1991). Juvenile sockeye salmon generally rear and overwinter in lakes for one to five years before migrating to the ocean in spring (Burgner 1991, Scott and Crossman 1973). Lake-type sockeye are the most common, rearing in lakes for 1 to 2 years before migrating downstream to the ocean (Rempel et al. 2012). River-type sockeye are less common, rearing in rivers and stream for 1 to 2 years before migrating downstream to the ocean (Rempel et al. 2012). Sea-type sockeye are the least common, with the fry (Age 0) migrating to the estuary in April/May (Rempel et al. 2012).

In the Fraser River system, nursery lakes include Pitt, Birkenhead, Cultus, Harrison, Adams, Shuswap, Chilko, Quesnel, Bowron, Fraser, Stellako, Stuart and Francois lakes (Burgner 1991, DFO 2016), while some river- type populations also occur in the Harrison and Widgeon Rivers (DFO 2016). Smolts travel in schools towards the ocean. Migrations of up to 40 km/day have been measured in the Columbia River system (Burgner 1991), indicating that movement of smolts to the ocean occurs relatively quickly once initiated. A1.1.6 Green Sturgeon Green sturgeon are anadromous fish that spend the majority of their lives in marine environments, typically using freshwater for spawning, incubation, and early rearing (Benson et al. 2007). Green sturgeon migrate along the west coast of North America from northern Mexico to southern Alaska but are known to spawn in only three river systems: the Rogue and Klamath in Oregon, and the Sacramento in California (COSEWIC 2004). Small numbers of green sturgeon have been captured in late summer and early fall in coastal rivers, including the Fraser River (COSEWIC 2004, Wydoski and Whitney 2003). They have been observed up to 90 km upstream in the Fraser River, though recordings of their capture in the lower Fraser River are infrequent (COSEWIC 2004). In Washington, subadult and adult green sturgeon were found to use estuarine environments on a regular basis, especially when the estuaries were much warmer than the coastal ocean (Moser and Lindley 2007). Green sturgeon likely enter the estuaries to feed in the warmer water, maximizing growth potential (Moser and Lindley 2007).

Green sturgeon return to their natal streams to spawn at about age 15, with spawning occurring in the spring and adults spending up to 6 months in freshwater afterwards (Benson et al. 2007, Erickson et al. 2002, Erickson and Webb 2007). They are broadcast spawners and most often spawn in deep pools over cobble substrates but have also been known to utilize clean sand and bedrock areas. Juveniles typically spend only one to two years in freshwater before building up their tolerance to saline waters and migrating to sea (Huff et al. 2011, Moser and Lindley 2007). No spawning is known to occur in the Fraser River;

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-4 Hatfield Appendix A1

however, their small numbers make definitive exclusion of spawning in the Fraser River difficult. Green sturgeon eggs are the largest of all sturgeon species and are less adhesive. It has been hypothesized that high turbidity may interfere with adhesion of the eggs, thereby rendering the Fraser River less appealing as a spawning area for these fish (COSEWIC 2004). A1.1.7 White Sturgeon, Lower Fraser Population White sturgeon are the largest species of freshwater fish in Canada, with an average size of 2.2 m in the lower Fraser River, reaching up to 6 m and 860 kg (Hatfield et al. 2004, Scott and Crossman 1973). There are four genetically distinct populations of white sturgeon in the Fraser River (DFO 2014). The lower Fraser River population occurs between the mouth of the Fraser River and Hells Canyon (DFO 2014) and is the only population expected to interact with the Project.

White sturgeon are a long-lived species, living up to 100 years (Hatfield et al. 2004). Females reach sexual maturity between 26 and 34 years and males sexual mature between 11 and 22 years (DFO 2014, Levings and Nelson 2003). Females spawn infrequently, about once every 4 to 11 years (DFO 2014, Scott and Crossman 1973). In the lower Fraser River, spawning is most prevalent in the gravel reach between Mission and Hope, and less frequently in Pitt River and Harrison Lake (DFO 2014). Spawning occurs during the peak freshet of May and June (DFO 2014, Hatfield et al. 2004, Scott and Crossman 1973) in side channels and river confluences within a variety of substrates (Perrin et al. 2003). White sturgeon are broadcast spawners and adhesive eggs attach to the stream bottom or to vegetation, hatching 5 to 10 days following fertilization (Hatfield et al. 2004). Upon emergence from the substrate, juvenile white sturgeon initiate nocturnal drift downstream about 8 to 40 days after hatching and up to 180 km from their point of origin (DFO 2014).

White sturgeon exhibit benthic feeding habits (DFO 2014, Levings and Nelson 2003, Scott and Crossman 1973), with young feeding on chironomids and other invertebrates, as well as molluscs and fish eggs (DFO 2014, Scott and Crossman 1973). Adults feed on both invertebrates and fish, including but not limited to sculpins, lamprey, stickleback, eulachon and salmon (DFO 2014, Scott and Crossman 1973). White sturgeon often target the deeper pockets on the river bottom, feeding on any fish that have taken refuge there (Musqueam Indian Band 2017). The lower Fraser River population disperses widely, especially when food sources are abundant, such as during smelt and eulachon spawning, and during sockeye, chinook, pink and chum salmon migration and spawning (DFO 2014). During these periods, sturgeon move extensively between holding, prey spawning and carcass depositional areas (DFO 2014). Studies of juvenile movements in 26 sloughs between Delta and Hope observed daily movement between sloughs and backwaters to the mainstem Fraser River (Bennett et al. 2005, Lane and Rosenau 1993). Juvenile sturgeon have a low tolerance to salinity, with tolerance increasing with age (Glova et al. 2008, Levings and Nelson 2003, McKenzie 2000). Juvenile white sturgeon tend to rear in shallow, low velocity habitat.

Based on fishery capture data, adult white sturgeon appear to most commonly use the freshwater tidal portion of the Fraser River between Annacis Island and Mission (Levings and Nelson 2003). Robichaud et al. (2017) conducted a three-year telemetry study on 105 white sturgeon and observed frequent movement through the Study Area in both the upstream and downstream directions. In general, fish tended to move towards the mouth of the Fraser River (downstream) in the summer and towards Pitt River (upstream) in the winter, however there was evidence of some overwintering in the Port Mann Bridge area (Robichaud et al. 2017). Between 2009 and 2011, 1-5% of the tagged fish were detected between Annacis Island and the Port Mann bridge throughout the year.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-5 Hatfield Appendix A1

A1.1.8 Eulachon, Fraser River Population

Eulachon are an anadromous species of fish in the herring family (Osmeridae), which spawn in rivers associated with snowmelt runoff, from California to Alaska (Scott and Crossman 1973). In BC, 14 spawning rivers receive regular runs, including the Fraser River (COSEWIC 2011). Eulachon enter the Fraser River in preparation for spawning from late March to mid-May (COSEWIC 2011, Hay et al. 2002, Levesque and Therriault 2011, Willson et al. 2006). Aboriginal traditional knowledge suggests that Fraser River spawning eulachon are a wave of three separate runs, with the first run of smaller fish occurring from late February through early March and the latest more abundant run occurring between end of April through mid-May (LFFA 2015). Male eulachon enter the Fraser River earlier than females, and eulachon tend to group in sexually dimorphic assemblages (LFFA 2015, Scott and Crossman 1973, Stables et al. 2005). Generally, eulachon spawn only once in their lifetime; although it was previously thought that some may survive and spawn a second time (COSEWIC 2011, Hay and McCarter 2000, Scott and Crossman 1973, Willson et al. 2006).

Eulachon are known to spawn over a variety of substrates, including silt, sand, gravel and cobble, and organics, with sand being the most common substrate (Levesque and Therriault 2011, Plate 2009, Stables et al. 2005, Willson et al. 2006), and may show preference for areas downstream of tributary inlets (Hay et al. 2002, Levesque and Therriault 2011). Eulachon generally spawn in waters up to 7.6 m in depth (Levesque and Therriault 2011, Stables et al. 2005, Willson et al. 2006) but appear to prefer shallower waters, as little as 3 cm (Hay et al. 2002, Plate 2009). In the Fraser River, spawning is largely confined to the reach of river extending from Chilliwack to Mission (COSEWIC 2011, Moody 2008, Scott and Crossman, Levesque and Therriault 2011), although evidence of spawning has been documented downstream of New Westminster as far as Deas Island (Hay et al. 2002, Pickard and Marmorek 2007). Musqueam Indian Band (2017) describes eulachon spawning in the beaches of the Fraser River near the present-day Pattullo Bridge, however this has not been observed recently.

Eulachon eggs contain a double membrane and following fertilization, the outer membrane inverts to form a sticky stalk which attaches to substrates (Hart and Clemens 1998, Scott and Crossman 1973, Willson et al. 2006). Eggs may travel a long way from where they are laid via broadcast spawning, and evidence indicates that development may occur while eggs are in transit (COSEWIC 2011, LFFA 2015, Willson et al. 2006). Survival of eggs tends to be higher in transit than in areas where eggs accumulate in large numbers over low velocity areas (Willson et al. 2006). High salinity waters are deleterious to developing eggs, particularly above 16 ppt (Willson et al. 2006, Moody 2008). Due to their relatively weak swimming ability, larvae drift downstream to the estuary immediately after hatching, in a relatively short period of time (COSEWIC 2011, Scott and Crossman 1973). Juveniles and adult fish spend the majority of their lives in estuarine and marine waters (COSEWIC 2011, Scott and Crossman 1973).

A1.1.9 Mountain Sucker, Pacific Population

Mountain sucker has a spotty distribution, typically occurring in higher-elevation inland streams, and is absent from the coasts of Washington and Oregon (Belica and Nibbelink 2006). Mountain sucker has been found in two areas of the lower Fraser River between Agassiz and Hope (COSEWIC 2010), and in the Thompson and Columbia rivers.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-6 Hatfield Appendix A1

The life history of mountain sucker in the lower Fraser River is unknown, with only two distinct collection records: one in 1959 at the Vedder River mouth, and one in 2000 near Herrling Island (Froese and Pauly 2017). Inland populations are more heavily researched, where the fish are generally associated with transitional areas between pools and runs, or in deep pools, in cool-water mountain streams (Belica and Nibbelink 2006, COSEWIC 2010, Hauser 1969). Spawning occurs in riffles adjacent to or below pools for a short period in late spring to early summer (Hauser 1969, Scott and Crossman 1973). Relatively long- lived, mountain suckers mature earlier and spawn later in the year than most other suckers found in BC (Hauser 1969). Mountain suckers appear to make use of a variety of substrates, with cobble being most common (COSEWIC 2010) but also may utilize sand, gravel and boulders (Wydoski and Whitney 2003).

A1.1.10 Coastal Cutthroat Trout

Coastal cutthroat trout occur in the lower Fraser River as far upstream as Hope (Hart and Clemens 1988, McPhail 2007). Key cutthroat trout streams in the lower Fraser River include the Salmon River, Nathan Creek, Nicomen Slough, Hatzic Slough, Alouette River, DeBoville Slough, and Coquitlam River. Populations are also documented in the Brunette, Como, and Coquitlam rivers (Page and Millar 1997).

Coastal cutthroat trout may exhibit one of four life history characteristics (Behnke and Tomelleri 2002, Wydoski and Whitney 2003). Firstly, sea-run cutthroat trout migrate to the ocean for short periods of time but overwinter in fresh water. Secondly, in some river systems, coastal cutthroat trout may migrate to larger rivers for feeding and rearing purposes. This life history trait is often associated with rivers in which there are barriers blocking migration to and from the open ocean (Behnke and Tomelleri 2002). Thirdly, stream resident cutthroat trout spend the entirety of their lives in small tributary streams, and lastly adfluvial populations rear in lakes and spawn in small tributary streams (Behnke and Tomelleri 2002, Wydoski and Whitney 2003).

Sea-run cutthroat trout do not generally venture far from the ocean’s shore, inhabiting bays and inlets (Behnke and Tomelleri 2002). They generally will spend only two to three months at sea before returning to freshwater environments (Behnke and Tomelleri 2002, Wydoski and Whitney 2003). Sea-run cutthroat trout overwinter in streams other than where they were hatched but will migrate back to their natal streams to spawn (Wydoski and Whitney 2003). Early sea-run populations of coastal cutthroat trout enter the Fraser River in August/September while late winter runs enter from February/April, with peak spawning occurring in February and fish returning to the ocean in March (McPhail 2007). Spawning takes place over small gravels (McPhail 2007, Roberge et al. 2002), generally at the tail-out of pools in water ranging from 15 to 45 cm in depth (McPhail 2007). Spawning occurs in small, low-gradient tributary streams, often less than 1 m in width (McPhail 2007, Wydoski and Whitney 2003). In the lower Fraser River gravel reach, spawning may occur in side channels (McPhail 2007).

Young of the year coastal cutthroat trout occupy stream margins in low velocity habitat. Both juveniles and adults show a preference for pool habitat but are displaced to glides and riffles in streams where they coexist with coho salmon and/or steelhead trout (McPhail et al. 2007, Wydoski and Whitney 2003). Sea- run juveniles show a preference for streams with < 5 m bankfull width (McPhail 2007). In the lower Fraser River, adults will occupy backwater areas and sloughs (McPhail 2007). Fish may stay 2 to 5 years in fresh water before migrating to the ocean (McPhail 2007, Wydoski and Whitney 2003). Downstream migration of parr to the estuary or into the mainstem usually begins in February and peaks in late May (DFO 1999).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-7 Hatfield Appendix A1

Many of these fish will spend the summer in the estuary and mainstem, before migrating back to the small tributaries before the autumn rains (DFO 1999). In the lower Fraser River, smolting most commonly occurs at 2 years of age. Resident cutthroat trout will generally live up to 3 years of age, while sea-run trout typically survive 7 to 9 years (Behnke and Tomelleri 2002), with spawning occurring in their fourth year or later for females (Behnke and Tomelleri 2002, McPhail 2007) and third year or later for males (Behnke and Tomelleri 2002).

Stream residents generally forage on invertebrates, while sea-run populations will feed on fish, amphipods, and isopods. Coastal cutthroat trout may hybridize with rainbow trout, particularly in ecosystems altered by human activity (McPhail 2007) and in areas isolated by waterfalls or areas that have been stocked with hatchery rainbow trout (Behnke and Tomelleri 2002).

A1.1.11 Rainbow/Steelhead Trout

Rainbow trout are native to BC but have been extensively introduced into watercourses for recreational purposes throughout the province. As a result, their origin and natural distribution in BC is difficult to determine (McPhail 2007). Rainbow trout habitat requirements are similar to that of steelhead, with the exception that they do not migrate to the ocean as adults. Rainbow trout may occupy lakes and spawn in tributary streams or remain in streams and rivers for their entire life cycle (McPhail 2007, Roberge et al. 2002). Adults spawn in similar habitat to that of steelhead; however, they tend to be smaller in size and therefore tend to spawn in shallower water with smaller substrates and at lower velocities than their anadromous counterparts (McPhail 2007). In general, rainbow trout spawn over gravel substrates from March to June (Roberge et al. 2002). Rainbow trout may be found throughout the lower Fraser River, in the mainstem river, sloughs and backwaters (Rempel et al. 2012).

Steelhead trout are an anadromous form of rainbow trout (Scott and Crossman 1973). Steelhead can be divided into winter and summer runs, depending on their time of entry into the Fraser River (Hart and Clemens 1988, Withler 1966). Winter run steelhead enter the Fraser River between November and April. Summer run steelhead may be divided further into coastal and interior stocks (MELP and DFO 1998), with coastal summer stocks entering the river between mid-April and July, and interior summer stocks entering freshwater from September to November (MELP and DFO 1998). Winter run steelhead are at or near maturity when they enter freshwater, while summer run stocks have poorly developed gonads, which mature while in freshwater prior to spawning the following spring (MELP and DFO 1998, Withler 1966). Unlike anadromous salmon, both winter and summer run steelhead may survive to reproduce two or three times (rarely four) in their lifetime. Female spawners have a higher tendency to survive and spawn multiple times (Withler 1966).

Coastal winter stocks are most common in the lower Fraser River, with only three drainages (Coquihalla, Chehalis, Silverhope) supporting coastal summer stocks. Interior summer stocks can be found in tributaries of the Thompson River, middle Fraser, and Chilcotin river systems (MELP and DFO 1998). Drainages supporting coastal steelhead stocks in the lower Fraser River include the Brunette, Coquitlam, and Pitt Rivers (MELP and DFO 1998).

Adults spawn in gravel substrates at depths of up to 2 m, typically in run habitat or at the base of pools. Eggs and alevin remain in the gravel until spring before emerging as fry (MELP and DFO 1998). Juveniles appear to prefer habitats with overhead cover, in velocity voids of riffles adjacent to swift moving water (Fausch 1993, Wydoski and Whitney 2003), where they feed primarily on drift organisms (Wydoski and Whitney 2003).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-8 Hatfield Appendix A1

Juveniles most commonly remain in freshwater for 2 or 3 years before migrating to the ocean, with a small proportion of juveniles in the Alouette River documented to have outmigrated at 1 year of age (Withler 1966).

A1.1.12 Dolly Varden

Dolly Varden char are morphologically similar to bull trout, although they are a genetically distinct species (Haas and McPhail 1991). Dolly Varden have been known to hybridize with bull trout in some river systems (Haas and McPhail 1991, Taylor and Costello 2006). Similar to bull trout, Dolly Varden may be anadromous; resident in rivers and small streams; or migrate from lakes to streams to spawn. In contrast to bull trout, anadromous Dolly Varden do not usually venture into the ocean beyond the estuary, and both juveniles and adults may exhibit seasonal movements between the estuary in spring and freshwater habitats in fall (McPhail 2007). Dolly Varden presence has been documented for Silverhope Creek, Pitt River, Chilliwack River, Greyell Slough, and other tributaries in the upper portions of the Fraser Valley.

Dolly Varden spawn in September to October, generally over gravel substrates, in shallow water with low stream velocities (Hagen and Taylor 2001). Anadromous forms of adult Dolly Varden overwinter in lakes before migrating back to the sea in spring (McPhail 2007). Fry emerge in April and May and make use of substrates in shallow, slow water along stream margins or in off-channel habitat. Juveniles rear for 3 to 4 years in freshwater, making use of cover and slow moving water of runs, pools and off-channel habitat (McPhail 2007). In systems where Dolly Varden and bull trout both occur, Dolly Varden may be found in deeper, faster moving water than bull trout, and activities may also be segregated temporally between the species (Hagen and Taylor 2001).

A1.1.13 Bull Trout, South Coast Population

Bull trout are a species of char that display a variety of life history forms. They may be resident in lakes and spawn in tributary streams; resident in rivers and spawn in tributary streams; resident in streams year-round, or they may display anadromous or amphidromous behavior, meaning that they either spend their adult life in the ocean in the case of anadromy, or may venture to the ocean for short periods of time in the case of amphidromy (Brenkman and Corbett 2005, Post et al. 2012, Roberge et al. 2002, Taylor and Costello 2006). For the sake of simplicity, we refer to both amphidromous and anadromous stocks as anadromous in this document. Coastal populations of bull trout have also been shown to travel between estuaries and river systems along the Pacific coastline (Brenkman and Corbett 2005). Bull trout may spawn several times in their lifetime but generally will not spawn in consecutive years (Roberge et al. 2002, Post et al. 2012).

DNA analysis of 30 bull trout captured in the lower Fraser River between New Westminster and Vancouver demonstrated that the majority of fish (90%) captured originated from the Pitt River system, with smaller proportions originating from the Chilliwack-Vedder River and the upper Lillooet River system. In addition, one fish appears to have originated from the Squamish River (Taylor and Costello 2006), indicating that the lower Fraser River is used by both locally-produced stocks and anadromous stocks from other coastal streams.

Bull trout are habitat specialists that are able to occupy a very narrow range of specific habitats for much of their life stages. Based on studies in coastal streams of Washington, anadromous bull trout appear to spend several months in freshwater prior to spawning, entering the mainstem river in June/July and reaching their spawning grounds in the fall (Brenkman and Corbett 2005). Adults spawn between

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-9 Hatfield Appendix A1

mid-August and October over gravel or cobble substrates located at the heads of riffles or pool tail-outs, in slow-moving water located close to cover (Roberge et al. 2002; Post et al. 2012). Water depths for spawning may be up to 1 m (Post et al. 2012) but are commonly between 30 and 60 cm in depth (Roberge et al. 2002). The presence of groundwater appears to be an important requirement for spawning habitat suitability (Baxter and McPhail 1999, Post et al. 2012, Roberge et al. 2002). Following spawning, these fish return to the ocean to overwinter (Brenkman and Corbett 2005).

Fry emerge from the gravel in spring (April to June) and remain close to the river bottom for several weeks before migrating to shallow, low-velocity areas of side channels, pools, and stream banks. Juveniles remain in low velocity areas with ample cover for 1 to 5 years, moving to deeper and faster pool and run habitats as they age. Migratory juveniles may make use of larger rivers and estuaries for feeding and overwintering, with anadromous forms entering the ocean between 3 and 6 years of age (Brenkman et al. 2007). Adults mature at 5 to 7 years of age (Post et al. 2012).

A1.2 HABITAT SUITABILITY

Potential fish use in the Study Area was evaluated based on the existing hydraulic conditions, using published swimming performance (speed) for the valued subcomponent Key Species. Flow-based barriers can restrict fish passage depending on the individual’s swimming ability, the nature of the barrier (e.g., velocity, length, physical obstructions), and individual size. Swimming speeds and endurance vary with species and body morphology, fish length, water temperature, and other variables (Katopodis and Gervais 2016). Existing conditions in the LSA were characterized to identify habitat quantity and suitability for each of the Key Species and applicable life stage(s).

Fish swimming speeds are generally classified as either burst, sustained, or prolonged. Burst speeds are the highest fish can attain over very short times (a few seconds) and are used to capture prey, avoid predators, or negotiate high water velocities (Farlinger and Beamish 1977, Tierney 2011). Sustained swimming represents velocities that can be maintained indefinitely (Farlinger and Beamish 1977), sometimes characterized experimentally as those velocities maintained for longer than 200 minutes (Tierney 2011). Prolonged swimming represents the range of velocities that require some degree of effort to maintain (Farlinger and Beamish 1977), often defined experimentally as critical velocity and measured as a maximum maintainable velocity over a specific time interval, generally between 30 and 200 minutes (Hammer 1995, Tierney 2011). Prolonged swimming is often used for passage through difficult areas having higher velocities or navigational barriers.

Swimming performance for Key Species is illustrated in Figure A1.1 and Figure A1.2, based on critical (prolonged) velocities and maximum (burst) velocities from available literature; these data are provided in Table A1.1. Critical velocities from the literature were assumed to represent prolonged velocity ranges, the lower bounds of which were used to represent the upper bounds of sustained velocities. Maximum velocity ranges represent velocities reported as both “burst” and “maximum” in the literature, the lower bounds of which were assumed to represent the upper bounds of prolonged velocity ranges.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-10 Hatfield Appendix A1

Figure A1.1 Swimming velocities of Key Species, separated into "sustained", "prolonged", and "burst" velocities.

Velocity (m/s) 0123456789

Chinook Salmon

Chum Salmon

Coho Salmon

Pink Salmon

Sockeye Salmon

Green Sturgeon

White Sturgeon

Eulachon

Mountain Sucker

Coastal Cutthroat Trout

Steelhead

Rainbow

Dolly Varden

Bull Trout

Sustained Swimming Prolonged Swimming Burst Swimming

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-11 Hatfield Appendix A1

Figure A1.2 Swimming velocities of juvenile Key Species, separated into "sustained", "prolonged", and "burst" velocities. Hashed lines represent missing but assumed data.

Velocity (m/s) 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4

Chinook Salmon (1.6-16.8 cm FL)

Coho Salmon (4.9-8.9 cm FL)

Chum Salmon (<10 cm FL)

Pink Salmon

Sockeye Salmon (7.4-12.3 cm FL)

White Sturgeon (20-150 cm FL)

Steelhead Trout (9-11 cm FL)

Coastal Cutthroat Trout (3.9-10.2 cm FL)

Bull Trout (11-15 cm FL)

Sustained Swimming Prolonged Swimming Burst Swimming

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-12 Hatfield Appendix A1

Table A1.1 Critical (prolonged) and maximum (burst) velocities for the Key Species.

Species Critical Velocity Maximum Velocity Notes and Reference Chinook Salmon 0.68 m/s - (Juveniles; 31-33 cm FL) Gallaugher et al. 2001 in Downie & Kieffer 2017 - 5.34-6.57 m/s (50.8-96.5 cm FL) Weaver 1963 in Wightman & Taylor 1976 1.02-3.24 m/s 3.24-6.72 m/s Ruggerone 2006 1.2-3.3 m/s 3.3-6.6 m/s Bell 1990 - 0.55-1.0 m/s (Fry, 1.6-3.4 cm FL) Hale 1996 - 0.61-0.68 m/s (Juveniles, 13.4-16.8 cm FL) Litz et al. 2017 Chum Salmon 0.78-2.31 m/s 2.31-4.8 m/s Ruggerone 2006 0.28 m/s 0.5 m/s (Juvenile, <10 cm FL) Ohkuma 2007 Coho Salmon - 2.82-5.25 m/s (35.6-61 cm FL) Weaver 1963 in Wightman & Taylor 1976 0.95-1.0 m/s - (56.3-62 cm FL) Lee et al. 2003 in Downie & Kieffer 2017 1.02-3.18 m/s 3.18-6.45 m/s Ruggerone 2006 0.34-0.36 m/s 1.02-1.05 m/s (Juvenile, 4.9-5.5 cm FL) Taylor & McPhail 1985 1.2-3.3 m/s 3.3-6.3 m/s Bell 1990 Pink Salmon 1.03-1.18 m/s - (44.4-53.1 cm FL) Williams & Brett 1987 in Downie & Kieffer 2017 0.78-2.31 m/s 2.31-4.8 m/s Ruggerone 2006 Sockeye Salmon 0.88-1.43 m/s - (53.2-64.9 cm FL) Lee et al. 2003 and Brett 1965 in Downie & Kieffer 2017 0.32-1.08 m/s - (Avg speed, 60.6-73.1 cm FL) Quinn 1988 0.96-3.06 m/s 3.06-6.18 m/s Ruggerone 2006 1.0-1.8 m/s - (Avg speed, Early Stuart run) Hinch & Rand 2000 0.4-0.6 m/s - (Avg speed, Chilko run) Hinch & Rand 2000 0.5-2.2 m/s - (Avg speed, Horsefly run) Hinch & Rand 2000 1.2-3.3 m/s 3.3-6.3 m/s Bell 1990 Green Sturgeon 0.45-0.79 m/s - (Saltwater tolerant sizes, < 70 cm FL) Verhille et al. 2014 0.25-0.55 m/s - (Saltwater tolerant sizes, < 50 cm FL) Allen et al. 2006

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-13 Hatfield Appendix A1

Table A1.1 (Cont’d.)

Species Critical Velocity Maximum Velocity Notes and Reference White Sturgeon - 2.52 m/s Webber et al. 2007 0.96 m/s 1.8 m/s (Lake Sturgeon) Peake et al. 1997 0.92-1.23 m/s - (Shovelnose Sturgeon) White & Mefford 2002 0.42-0.72 m/s - (Juveniles) Boysen & Hoover 2009 0.56 m/s - (34 cm FL) Counihan & Frost 1999 1.15 m/s - (95 cm FL) Verhille et al. 2014 0.4 m/s - (Juveniles, <14 cm FL) Glova et al. 2009 Eulachon - 0.49-0.56 m/s (European smelt) Sprengel & Lüchtenberg 1991 0.17-0.74 m/s - (Rainbow smelt) Woytanowski & Coghlin 2013 0.3-0.36 m/s - (Delta smelt) Young et al. 2004 - 0.4 m/s (May limit upstream movement) AFSC 2006 Mountain Sucker 0.63 m/s 1.48 m/s (4.3-15 cm FL) Aedo 2008 0.6-1.5 m/s 1.5-3 m/s (“Suckers”) Bell 1990 Coastal Cutthroat Trout 0.42-0.67 m/s - (Juvenile, 7.8-10.2 cm FL) Hawkins & Quinn 1996 0.39 m/s 1.21 m/s (Bonneville CT, 3.9-7 cm FL) Aedo 2008 0.6-1.8 m/s 1.8-4.2 m/s (“Cutthroat”) Bell 1990 Rainbow Trout / steelhead - 4.2-8.04 m/s (Steelhead, 50.8-81.3 cm FL) Weaver 1963 in Wightman & Taylor 1976 0.63-0.7 m/s - (Rainbow, 32.8-43 cm FL) Jain et al. 1997 in Downie & Kieffer 2017 0.43-0.54 m/s - (Juvenile rainbow, 10 cm FL) Peake et al. 1997b in Downie & Kieffer 2017 1.38-4.11 m/s 4.11-7.95 m/s (Steelhead) Ruggerone 2006 0.68-0.86 m/s - (Juvenile steelhead, 9-11 cm FL) Hawkins & Quinn 1996 0.58-0.98 m/s - (Rainbow) Farrell 2008 1.5-4.5 m/s 4.5-8.1 m/s (Steelhead, 60-81 cm FL) Bell 1990 0.77-1.2 m/s 1.4-2.65 m/s (Rainbow, 15-50 cm FL, calc.) Hunter & Mayor 1986 in Boubée et al. 1999

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-14 Hatfield Appendix A1

Table A1.1 (Cont’d.)

Species Critical Velocity Maximum Velocity Notes and Reference Dolly Varden - - * see Bull Trout and Other Char, below Bull Trout 0.25-0.5 m/s - (11-15 cm FL) Mesa et al. 2004 0.48-0.6 m/s - (15-23 cm FL) Mesa et al. 2004 0.65-0.8 m/s - (32-42 cm FL) Mesa et al. 2004 * also see Other Char, below *Other Char - - *Arctic char 0.97-1.03 m/s - (34.3-36.7 cm FL) Jones et al. 1974 in Downie & Kieffer 2017 *Brook trout 0.57-0.69 m/s - Hunter 1982 0.5 m/s - (Fry, 4-5 cm FL) Heggenes & Traaen 1988

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-15 Hatfield Appendix A1

NHC (in prep.) modelled existing water velocity as both depth-averaged velocity and as a vertical velocity profile for three discharge scenarios:

. Typical freshet

. 1894 flood of record, representing the highest recorded discharge

. Winter tidal flow reversal

The modelled average velocities in the mainstem Fraser River were cross-referenced with key species swimming speeds.

During typical freshet or the 1894 flood of record scenarios, chinook salmon, coho salmon, sockeye salmon, and steelhead trout can navigate upstream through the LSA, as the maximum predicted velocities do not exceed their prolonged swimming speeds (Figure A1.3). Chum salmon, pink salmon, white sturgeon, coastal cutthroat trout, and resident rainbow trout also appear to be relatively unimpeded during upstream movement/migration in the LSA during a typical freshet scenario, but, because predicted velocities through the LSA exceed their prolonged swimming speeds, they may occasionally seek refuge in lower velocity areas (Figure A1.3). White sturgeon have been observed anchoring to the bottom using their pectoral fins while navigating higher-velocity water that exceeds their prolonged swimming speed (Geist et al. 2005). Green sturgeon, eulachon, mountain sucker, Dolly Varden, and bull trout all have lower swimming speeds (Figure A1.3) and may have difficulty manoeuvring upstream through the LSA during typical freshet. River velocities tend to be lower along the margins (river edges), which are likely to be utilized by weaker swimmers.

During the winter low flow period, tidal influence in the lower Fraser River can result in a flow reversal phenomenon in the Study Area. Average river velocities during this period are relatively low and are likely navigated by some key species. Given their prolonged swimming speeds, white sturgeon and resident rainbow trout moving through the Study Area are capable of navigating all but the highest velocities (Figure A1.4). Similar to the typical freshet scenario, weaker swimmers such as Dolly Varden and bull trout will likely leverage river margins or find areas of lower velocity for refuge if they are navigating the Study Area.

The juvenile life stage of key species will almost exclusively be navigating the Study Area in a downstream direction as they out-migrate to the Fraser estuary and sea. The swimming ability of select juvenile key species is presented in Figure A1.5. All five Pacific salmon, steelhead, and bull trout probably pass through the Study Area easily with the current, as these fish are able to escape low-velocity back-eddies that may impede passage. White sturgeon sub-adults (<150 cm FL, occasionally <100 cm FL, COSEWIC 2012) have been known to use the LSA for holding and rearing, likely finding lower-velocity areas for occasional refuge or using pectoral anchoring in high-velocity areas. Larval-stage eulachon are generally passive drifters and may be at higher risk of getting caught in a low-velocity back-eddy. Recent research on another member of the Atherinidae family, sand smelt (Atherina presbyter), found that larvae up to 2.1 cm in length are capable of prolonged swimming up to 0.187 m/s (Faria et al. 2014); this suggests that eulachon larvae, if capable of similar swimming speeds, could escape some low-velocity gyres.

The three hydraulic scenarios modelled (1894 flood of record, typical freshet, winter flow reversal) by NHC (in prep.) represent the more extreme flow scenarios in the LSA; the majority of velocities throughout the year will be lower. River velocities in the LSA are not predicted to meet the 1894 flood of record within the

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-16 Hatfield Appendix A1

next two centuries (NHC 2008), and typical daily velocities in the LSA are expected to be lower than those represented by typical freshet. Velocities during the winter flow reversal are also low (mostly < 1.0 m/s). Thus, it is anticipated that before and after spring freshet, migratory habitat conditions can accommodate all Key Species using the Study Area. It is also likely that most fish, especially weaker swimmers such as eulachon and white sturgeon, will pass through the Study Area when conditions are more favourable, exploiting available low-velocity areas along the margins and river bottom. Eulachon typically spawn in late April and early May (Plate 2009), shortly before peak freshet.

Overall, given the high average river velocities through much of the channel, the LSA likely does not provide high quality or quantity of rearing habitat. Adult and sub-adult white sturgeon that are strong enough to hold in the faster water likely exploit the habitat in the LSA when food resources are abundant (e.g., following spawning runs of migratory species such as eulachon).

Figure A1.3 Swimming velocities for adult Key Species compared to velocity ranges predicted in the LSA during typical freshet and the 1894 flood of record (presented in NHC in prep.).

Velocity (m/s) 0123456789

Chinook Salmon Chum Salmon Coho Salmon Pink Salmon Sockeye Salmon Green Sturgeon White Sturgeon Eulachon Mountain Sucker Coastal Cutthroat Trout Steelhead Rainbow Dolly Varden Bull Trout

Sustained Swimming Prolonged Swimming Burst Swimming

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-17 Hatfield Appendix A1

Figure A1.4 Swimming velocities for adult Key Species compared to velocity ranges predicted in the LSA during winter flow reversal (presented in NHC in prep.).

Velocity (m/s) 0123456789

Chinook Salmon Chum Salmon Coho Salmon Pink Salmon Sockeye Salmon Green Sturgeon White Sturgeon Eulachon Mountain Sucker Coastal Cutthroat Trout Steelhead Rainbow Dolly Varden Bull Trout

Sustained Swimming Prolonged Swimming Burst Swimming

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-18 Hatfield Appendix A1

Figure A1.5 Swimming velocities for juvenile Key Species compared to velocity ranges predicted in the LSA (presented in NHC in prep.).

Velocity (m/s) 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4

Chinook Salmon (1.6-16.8 cm FL) Coho Salmon (4.9-8.9 cm FL) Chum Salmon (<10 cm FL)

Pink Salmon

Sockeye Salmon (7.4-12.3 cm FL) White Sturgeon (20-150 cm FL) Steelhead Trout (9-11 cm FL) Coastal Cutthroat Trout (3.9-10.2 cm FL) Bull Trout (11-15 cm FL)

Sustained Swimming Prolonged Swimming Burst Swimming

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-19 Hatfield Appendix A1

A1.3 REFERENCES

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COSEWIC. 2012. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the White Sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xxvi + 75p.

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Erickson D, North J, Hightower J, Weber J, Lauck L. 2002. Movement and habitat use of green sturgeon Acipenser medirostris in the Rogue River, Oregon, USA. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 18: 565-569.

Erickson D, Webb M. 2007. Spawning periodicity, spawning migration and size at maturity of green sturgeon Acipenser medirostris in the Rogue River, Oregon. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 79:255- 268.

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[FRAP] Fraser River Action Plan. 1995. Fraser River Pink. Prepared by Fishery Management Group.

Geist DR, Brown RS, Cullinan V, Brink SR, Lepla K, Bates P, Chandler JA. 2005. Movement, swimming speed, and oxygen consumption of juvenile white sturgeon in response to changing flow, water temperature, and light level in the Snake River, Idaho. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 134: 803-816

Glova G, Nelson T, English K, Mochizuki T. 2009. A further report on juvenile white sturgeon habitat use in the Lower Fraser River, 2008-2009. Prepared for the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society.

Haas G, McPhail J. 1991. Systematics and distributions of Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) and bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in North America. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 48(11): 2191-2211.

Hale ME. 1996. The development of fast-start performance in fishes: escape kinematics of the Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). American Zoologist. 36: 695-709

Hammer C. 1995. Fatigue and exercise tests with fish. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology. 112(1): 1-20

Hart J, Clemens WA. 1988. Pacific fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada: Ottawa, ON.

Hatfield T, McAdam S, Nelson T. 2004. Impacts to abundance and distribution of Fraser River white sturgeon. Prepared for Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society and Fraser River White Sturgeon Working Group.

Hauser WJ. 1969. Life history of the mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus) in Montana. MSc Thesis. Montana State University.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-22 Hatfield Appendix A1

Hawkins DK, Quinn TP. 1996. Critical swimming velocity and associated morphology of juvenile coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki), steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and their hybrids. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 53(7): 1487-1496

Hay D, McCarter P. 2000. Status of eulachon Thaleichthys pacificus in Canada. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat. 2000/145. Prepared by Science Branch, DFO. Nanaimo, BC.

Healey MC. 1991. The life history of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Pp 311-393 in C. Groot and L. Margolis, editors. Pacific salmon life histories. UBC Press, Vancouver.

Heggenes J, Traaen T. 1988. Downstream migration and critical water velocities in stream channels for fry of four salmonid species. Journal of Fish Biology. 32(5): 717-727

Heard RL. 1991. Life history of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). In C. Groot and L. Margolis (eds.). Pacific Salmon. UBC Press.

Hinch SG, Rand PS. 2000. Optimal swimming speeds and forward-assisted propulsion: energy-conserving behaviours of upriver-migrating adult salmon. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 57(12): 2470-2478

Hinch S, Cooke S, Farrell A, Miller K, Lapointe M, Patterson D. 2012. Dead fish swimming: a review of research on the early migration and high premature mortality in adult Fraser River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). Journal of Fish Biology 81:576-599.

Huff D, Lindley S, Rankin P, Mora E. 2011. Green sturgeon physical habitat use in the coastal Pacific Ocean. PLoS One. 6:1-12.

Hunter LA. 1982. The effects of an organophosphorus insecticide (Sumithion-Fenithrothion) on swimming performance and respiration in Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill). University of Manitoba, Department of Zoology, Winnipeg, Manitoba. xviii + 216p

Katopodis C, Gervais R. 2016. Fish swimming performance database and analyses. DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2016/002. vi + 550p.

Labelle M. 2009. Status of Pacific salmon resources in southern British Columbia and the Fraser River Basin. Prepared for Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council. 1-98 pp.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-23 Hatfield Appendix A1

Levesque C, Therriault T. 2011. Information in support of a recovery potential assessment of eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) in Canada. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat 2011/101.

Levings C, Nelson W. 2003. Review of potential critical habitats for white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the Fraser River estuary. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat.

Litz MNC, Miller JA, Copeman LA, Hurst TP. 2017. Effects of dietary fatty acids on juvenile salmon growth, biochemistry, and aerobic performance: A laboratory rearing experiment. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 494: 20-31

McKenzie S. 2000. Fraser River White Sturgeon Monitoring Program Comprehensive Report 1995-1999. Prepared for BC Fisheries. Prepared by RL & L Environmental Services.

McPhail J. 2007. The freshwater fishes of British Columbia. University of Alberta Press: Alberta, Canada.

[MELP and DFO] Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 1998. Review of Fraser River steel head trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Mesa MG, Weiland LK, Zyglewski GB. 2004. Critical swimming speeds of wild Bull Trout. Northwest Science. 78(1): 59-65

Moody M. 2008. Eulachon past and present [thesis]. [Vancouver]: University of British Columbia.

Moser M, Lindley S. 2007. Use of Washington estuaries by subadult and adult green sturgeon. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 79: 243-253.

Musqueam Indian Band. 2017. Musqueam Indian Band Knowledge and Use Study. Prepared by Musqueam Indian Band for TransLink's Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project. July 11, 2017.

Ohkuma K. 2007. Coastal migration and survival of juvenile chum salmon estimated from laboratory analysis of their maximum sustainable swimming speed. North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission Technical Report No. 7. 64-65

[NHC] Northwest Hydraulics Consultants Ltd. [in prep]. River Hydraulics and Morphology Technical Report. Prepared for Hatfield Consultants on behalf of TransLink.

[PSC] Pacific Salmon Commission. 2016. Annual report of catch and escapement for 2015. Prepared by Joint Chinook Technical Committee. 1-225 pp.

Page N, Millar J. 1997. Overview fisheries assessment of the Como Creek watershed. Prepared by Coast River Environmental Serices Ltd.

Peake S, Beamish FWH, McKinley RS, Scruton DA, Katopodis C. 1997. Relating swimming performance of lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, to fishway design. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 54(6): 1361-1366

Perrin C, Rempel L, Rosenau M. 2003. White sturgeon spawning habitat in an unregulated river: Fraser River, Canada. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 132:1 154-165.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-24 Hatfield Appendix A1

Plate EM. 2009. Fraser River, Port Mann Bridge – Douglas Island Eulachon Study, 2009. Prepared for Kwikwetlem First Nation and Watershed Watch Salmon Society. 29 pp.

Post J, Sullivan M, Cox S, Lester N, Walters C, Parkinson E, Paul A, Jackson L, Shuter B. 2012. Canada’s recreational fisheries: the invisible collapse? Fisheries 27(1): 6-17.

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Ruggerone GT. 2006. Evaluation of Salmon and steelhead migration through the upper Sultan River canyon prior to dam construction. Prepared for: City of Everett. vi + 42p

Salo E.O. 1991. Life history of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). pp. 233-309 in C. Groot and L. Margolis, (eds.) Pacific Salmon Life Histories. UBC Press, Vancouver, Canada.

Sandercock FK. 1991. Life history of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). pp. 397-445 in C. Groot and L. Margolis, (eds.) Pacific Salmon Life Histories. UBC Press, Vancouver, Canada.

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Tierney KB. 2011. Swimming performance assessment in fishes. Journal of Visualized Experiments [Internet]. [cited 2017 Dec 18]; (51). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3197426/pdf/jove-51-2572.pdf doi:10.3791/2572

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Webber JD, Chun SN, MacColl TR, Mirise LT, Kawabata A, Anderson EK, Cheong TS, Kavvas L, Rotondo MM, Hochgraf KL, et al. 2007. Upstream swimming performance of adult White Sturgeon: effects of partial baffles and a ramp. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 136: 402-408

White RG, Mefford B. 2002. Assessment of behavior and swimming ability of Yellowstone River sturgeon for design of fish passage devices. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Water Resources Research Laboratory, PAP-957, Denver, CO.

Wightman JC, Taylor GD. 1976. Salmonid swimming performance in relation to passage through culverts. Prepared for: Fish Habitat Improvement Section, Fish and Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Recreation and Conservation. Victoria, BC. vi + 36p.

Withler I. 1966. Variability in life history characteristics of steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri) along the Pacific coast of North America. Journal of Fisheries Research Board of Canada. 23(3): 365-393.

Woytanowski JR, Coughlin DJ. 2013. Thermal acclimation in rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax, leads to faster myotomal muscle contractile properties and improved swimming performance. Biology Open. 2: 343-350

Wydoski R, Whitney R. 2003. Inland fishes of Washington. American Fisheries Society and University of Washington Press: Bethesda, Maryland.

Young PS, Swanson C, Cech Jr JJ. 2004. Photophase and illumination effects on the swimming performance and behavior of five California estuarine fishes. Copeia. 2004(3): 479-487

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A1-26 Hatfield Appendix A1

Appendix A2

Previous Fish Sampling

Permit Year Author Study Methods (Effort if avail.) Fish (Fork Length if avail.)

VISU04-1301 2004 Envirowest ECL Envirowest undertook a large number of Scott Creek: Minnow traps Scott Ck: 1 CCT (56mm) Consultants Ltd. projects in 2004. Projects undertaken under this Robson Creek: Minnow traps Robson Ck: 1 CO (65mm), permit number include pre- and post-construction 5 CCT (65-80mm) monitoring and fish salvages. Projects were undertaken on the following streams: Cub Creek, Still Creek, Brown Creek, Spencer Creek, Tributary to the Little Campbell, Katzie Slough, Serpentine River (off-channel habitat), Unnamed tributary to Marshall Creek, Mahood tributary, Morgan Creek, storm detention pond adjacent to Nicomekl River, Archibald Creek, Hyland Creek, Latimer Creek, Hunt Brook, Knudson Creek, Fry's Corner (North Creek), Bolivar Creek, Delta Creek, Fleetwood Creek, Scott Creek, Armstrong Creek, Robson Creek, Bear Creek, and First, Second Swanson Brook.

SU06-21421 2006 Peter Willows, Peter Willows, Cara Luxton, Amber Daniels Britta Scott Creek: Minnow traps Scott Ck: NFC Cara Luxton, Bentz, Rob Cochrane, and Rolf Sickmuller Robson Creek: Minnow Traps Robson Ck: 4 CCT (50-80mm) Amber Daniels undertook a series of projects on the lower mainland. Projects were: Bothwell Park Off- channel habitat, Bothwell Park, Cougar Creek, East Hoy Creek, Fraser Valley Trout Hatchery, Eugene Creek, Long Term Monitoring - City of Surrey, Daylighting Nelson Creek, Delta Industrial Lands.

SU07-32125 2007 Envirowest ECL Envirowest Consultants Limited undertook Scott Creek: Minnow traps Scott Ck: 1 CCT (134mm) Consultants Ltd. fish salvages and instream monitoring projects Robson Creek: Minnow traps Robson Ck: 18 CO (45- on Campbell River, Little Campbell River, 74mm), 10 CCT (51-168mm) Serpentine River, Marshall Creek, Barker Creek, SU08-42080 2008 Eugene Creek, Schoolhouse Creek, Dallas Robson Creek: Minnow traps 3 CCT (125-185mm) Creek, Ottley Creek, Stoney Creek, Jameson (24h) 7 CO (45-110mm)

Creek, Hoy Creek, Robson Creek (RSA portion),

and the Fraser River in 2007 and 2008.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A2-1 Hatfield Appendix A2

Permit Year Author Study Methods (Effort if avail.) Fish (Fork Length if avail.)

SU08-48043 2008 Hajdu, R. Fish Salvage – South Fraser Perimeter Road – Tributary ditch to Manson Tributary ditch: 6 TSB Tannery Section. Canal: Minnow traps + NE Wetted ditches: 13 TSB Electrofishing NE Wetted ditches: Electrofishing

SU09-53394 2009 Hemmera Hemmera sampled three unnamed ditches along Wetted ditches: Minnow traps 1 PK (40mm) 112 Ave/ Musqueum Drive in Surrey, BC (near (24h) 144 TSB (10-50mm) the Patullo Bridge) in 2009.

SU09-54042 2009 MarLim MarLim Ecological Consulting Ltd. undertook a Robson Creek: Minnow traps Robson Ck: 2 salmonids Ecological SHIM project to confirm fish presence or (24h) SW Wetted ditches: 175 TSB, Consulting Ltd. absence in numerous streams and ditches. Fish SW Wetted ditches: Minnow 1 FM, 3 RSC presence/absence sampling for a sensitive SU09-59257 2009 traps (21-96h) + habitat inventory mapping of the Manson Electrofishing (1500s) in one watershed. ditch.

SU10-64376 2010 Ross, T. Fish Salvage – South Fraser Perimeter Road. Manson Canal: Electrofishing Manson Cl: 300 TSB (1397s), dip-netting (18-55mm) Pattullo Channel: Pattullo Ch: 123 TSB Electrofishing (265s, 884s), (15-50mm) Minnow traps (18h)

SU12-76866 2012 Envirowest Envirowest Field Notes SU12-76866; Fish Robson Creek: Minnow traps 160 TSB, 1 CCT (93mm) Consultants Ltd. Salvage in Robson Creek portion of RSA. (24h)

SU13-85827 2013 Envirowest Envirowest 2013 Fish Salvage/Sampling. Tributary to Pattullo Channel: 1 CO (75mm), 4 CCT Consultants Ltd. Minnow traps (24h) (100-190mm), 305 TSB

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A2-2 Hatfield Appendix A2

Appendix A3

Photos from 2016/2017 Surveys

A. Glenbrook Creek, October 2016. Typical Glenbrook Creek channel in Glenbrook Ravine. L: Upstream view. R: Downstream view.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-1 Hatfield Appendix A3

B. 124 St. Channel, October 2016 (a-c) and March 2017 (d). Photos: Downstream view of inlet from pump station at Musqueam Drive (a); Upstream view of inlet from Fraser River confluence (b); East (upstream) view of channel outlet and Fraser left bank (c); Upstream view of inlet from Fraser River, March 2017 (d).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-2 Hatfield Appendix A3

C. Brownsville Bar, October 2016 (a) and March 2017 (b-d). Southwest (downstream) view of Brownsville Bar beneath Skytrain bridge (a, b); View north across Fraser River (c); Old Yale Road Channel inlet at low tide (d). Fisherman on beach (a) confirmed to have caught sculpin and adult salmonid.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-3 Hatfield Appendix A3

D. Standing water in CNR channel north of the South Fraser Perimeter Road, October 2016. Hatfield collected water quality data at this site. Left to right: a. Southwest toward culvert under Segal Disposal property. b. North to flapgate under CNR toward 124 St. channel. c. Northeast toward culvert under Musqueam Dr.

E. Standing water and riparian, CNR channel, October 2016. Looking northeast from Musqueam Dr. towards CNR access behind Georgia Pacific Canada property.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-4 Hatfield Appendix A3

F. Channel along south edge of Tannery Park, October 2016. Photos: a. Looking northeast to culvert under Tannery Rd. b. Looking southwest along park boundary. c. blocked culvert at northeast end of small pond in Tannery Park. d. Culvert with flap-gate drains small pond to Manson Canal; flap-gate is left open permanently.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-5 Hatfield Appendix A3

G. View of Manson Canal outlet from access road at pump station, October 2016. Tidal wetland area at right, treed Manson Slough in background.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-6 Hatfield Appendix A3

H. Manson Canal, October 2016. At left, the box culverts at the pump station intake. At right, the outflow gates from the pump station.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-7 Hatfield Appendix A3

I. Manson Canal, October 2016. Looking north from Timberland Rd. towards the Manson Pump Station (obscured by trees). Custom Coatings property on the right.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-8 Hatfield Appendix A3

J. Manson Canal, October 2016. Looking south towards Timberland Rd. from the Manson Pump Station.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-9 Hatfield Appendix A3

K. Wetted Ditches, northeast LSA, October 2016. Typical conditions encountered in the small wetted ditches between King George Boulevard and the SFPR. No fish were captured or observed during Hatfield surveys.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-10 Hatfield Appendix A3

L. Old Yale Road Channel, October 2016. Inlet from the Fraser River at the north end of Old Yale Road.

M. Old Yale Road Channel, October 2016. Dry embayment east of the Old Yale Road inlet with flood evidence and likely a high stranding potential for fish.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-11 Hatfield Appendix A3

N. Pattullo Channel, October 2016; from outlet to Fraser River (a) to downstream of SFPR crossing (f).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-12 Hatfield Appendix A3

O. Pattullo Channel, October 2016; continuing upstream from the culverts under the SFPR (a), along 111A Ave (c), to the culverts under 111A Ave/BC Parkway at Pattullo Pl (f).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-13 Hatfield Appendix A3

P. Pattullo Channel, October 2016; typical channel continuing upstream through the Scott Rd Transit Exchange from 111A Ave/BC Parkway (a) to along 126A St (f). Note the infilling by Reed Canary Grass upstream of 120 St (e).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-14 Hatfield Appendix A3

Q. Pattullo Channel, October 2016; continuing upstream from 126A St (a) to along 110 Ave / BC Parkway (b-d).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-15 Hatfield Appendix A3

R. Pattullo Channel, October 2016; continuing upstream from 110 Ave at 128 St (a) to the headwaters in a ravine south of 110 Ave (c, d).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-16 Hatfield Appendix A3

S. Pattullo Channel, March 2017; outlet to Fraser River (a), upstream of pump station (b-d), headwaters south of 110 Ave (e, f).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-17 Hatfield Appendix A3

T. Fraser River Riparian (New Westminster), March 2017. Reconstructed riparian zones on the north (right) bank of the Fraser River, downstream of the Brunette River outlet (a, b, “NWESTVEG1”); upstream of the Pattullo Bridge (c, d, “NWESTVEG2”; e, “NWESTVEG3”); downstream of the Pattullo Bridge at Quayside (f, “NWESTVEG4”).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-18 Hatfield Appendix A3

U. Fraser River Riparian (New Westminster), March 2017. Typical riparian appearance within the LSA on the north (right) bank of the Fraser River.

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-19 Hatfield Appendix A3

V. Fraser River Riparian (Surrey), March 2017. Typical riparian areas on the south (left) bank of the Fraser River, upstream of the Pattullo Bridge. Photos: just downstream of the 124 St. inlet (“SURREYVEG2”), looking upstream (b) and downstream (a); at the Schnitzer Recycling Centre (c, d, “SURREYVEG3”).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-20 Hatfield Appendix A3

W. Fraser River Riparian (Surrey), March 2017. Typical riparian areas on the south (left) bank of the Fraser River. Photos: downstream of the Schnitzer Recycling Centre, looking downstream (a); at the mouth of the Pattullo Channel, looking upstream (b); the downstream end of Brownsville Bar park, behind Brownsville RV Park, looking upstream (c, “SURREYVEG5”); behind Panabode International Ltd property, looking upstream (d); mud flat area upstream of Manson Canal (“SURREYVEG4”), looking downstream into Manson Slough (e), looking downstream from behind Apex Terminals Ltd property (f).

Fish and Fish Habitat Report A3-21 Hatfield Appendix A3