KO WHITE STUR NECHA GEON IN FRASER LAKE nechakowhitesturgeon.org Sturgeon Body FACTS! The Nechako White Sturgeon are found in the waters of the Sturgeon Recovery • they live to 100 years old and can The Federal Species at Risk Act grow over 3 m in length. watershed - including Fraser Lake! lists Nechako White Sturgeon • the 'heterocercal' shaped tail as an endangered species. (larger top than bottom) tells us The Nechako White Sturgeon they are strong swimmers that stay Recovery Initiative (NWSRI) close to the bottom. works toward sturgeon recovery. • their flat head and 4 barbels mean they are primarily bottom feeders. Ways to support sturgeon • their 5 rows of scutes are used for recovery: protection. • visit the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre

Legend Hwy 37 Approximate Nechako Watershed Legend Land Boundary Nechako River Watershed Recent 1:20,000,000 White Sturgeon Distribution • protect riparian zones

Fraser Lake Hwy 37 and Nechako Sturgeon Distribution Approximate Nechako Watershed B.C. Towns imagery SURFACE AREA: 54.6 km2 Major Highway • donate to the NWSRI! Hudson’s Hope Hwy 37 Bathymetry of Fraser Lake. Taken from "Assessment of the Fraser Lake Agricultural Belt Community Drinking Water Supply: Source Water Characteristics" Jacklin, 2004. Dam Hwy 29 shows a white MEAN DEPTH: 13.5 m Falls Tunnel Germansen Landing Elevation (metres) sturgeon at Hwy 97 S The Nechako River watershed 0 Chetwynd If you accidently 0 - 400 2 Hwy 97 400.1 - 800 a depth of is 52,000 km ! The Fraser 800.1 - 1,200 Takla Lake 1,200.1 - 1,600 2 New Aiyansh Fort Babine roughly 9m in 1,600.1 - 2,000 catch a sturgeon! Lake sub-basin is 2,261 km Hazelton New Hazelton Mackenzie 2,000.1 - 3,000 (includes Burns Lake). Fraser Fraser Lake; It is illegal to fish for, keep any part of, Tumbler Ridge Nisgaa Hwy Hwy 97 Old Fort Lake empties into the Nechako Hwy 16 or kill a Nechako White Sturgeon. Granisle this fish is Middle River Tachet Dzitline-Lee If you catch a sturgeon, take these River via the Nautley River Smithers Teeslee Fraser Lake Tachie River over 3m long. Te lk w a Grand Rapids - the shortest river in BC. Trembleur L. steps to safely release it: Tl’azt’en You are here! Yekooche Pinchi Lake Terrace 1. use gloves Binche Hwy 97 Sturgeon reside in Fraser Lake. Donald’s Landing Hwy 16 Houston Fort St. James Sowchea Nak’azdli During winter the lake is covered Wet’suwet’en 2. do not take sturgeon out of

Hart Hwy Burns Lake Ts’il Kaz Koh Stuart River Babine Nation Endako River the water in ice, and sturgeon move to deep

Francois Lake Stellat’en Fraser Lake Fort Fraser Nadina River Nadleh Whut’en Francois Lake Cheslatta areas and become inactive. Fraser Lake Vanderhoof RIVER Lheidli 3. remove hook if possible, cut Grassy Plains Skin Tyee Saik’uz Skins Lake Prince George Cluculz Lake McBride Highway 16 W Spillway Bednesti Hwy 16 Cluculz Lake FRASER Nee Tahi Buhn line if necessary When the water is warmer Ootsa Lake NECHAKO Tahtsa Lake

sturgeon start to feed on other Chesletta Falls 4. if safe for the fish, take a photo Whitesail Lake fish species including salmon. Kemano Tunnel () Hwy Cariboo Chilako River and estimate the length

Eutsuk Lake Chinook and sockeye salmon Natalkuz Lake Tetachuk Lake 5. email the NWSRI RIVER

Entiako River migrate through Fraser Lake Hwy 97

All water, town and highway layers supplied by BC LRDW.Wells All DEMs supplied by Geobase.ca. CONTACT NWSRI: in the late summer and fall. Projection: PC Albers Map Created by: C. S. Quesnel nechakowhitesturgeon.org 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 If there are any errors or omissions please contact: [email protected] 1:900,000 Kilometres [email protected] @NWSRI on Facebook • #nechakowhitesturgeon Information provided by the Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative with funding from the Ministry of NECHAKO WHITE STURGEON CONSERVATION CENTRE: Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development, and the Habitat Stewardship Program. THE NECHAKO WHITE STURGEONTours RECOVERY year-round. Call 250-567-6673.INITIATIVE