Fisheries and Environment Peches et Environnement I+ Canada Canada

REPORT ON SECOND ANNUAL BIOLOGICAL STAFF MEETING

Salmonid Enhancement Unit - West Coast Branch Field Services Directorate Department of Fisheries and Environment 1976 - 1977

P;1rk~villA ~ FAhruary 23, 24/77

Canada. Department of Fisheri RePort on second annual biolcs ical staff meetins, Salmonid En ha n cement Unit, Fraser River-We------st Coast Vancouver Island Branc h, Field Services Directorate, REPORT ON SECOND ANNUAL BIOLOGICAL STAFF MEETING

Salmonid Enhancement Unit Fraser River - West Coast Vancouver Island Branch Field Services Directorate Department of Fisheries and Environment 1976- 1977

Parksville: February 23, 24/77 THE FRASER RIVER - WEST COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND BRANCH 1977 BIOLOGICAL STAFF MEETING PARTICIPANTS

Top row (left to right) : Ian Todd, Fred Fraser, Bill Foye, Ed Carter, Larry Kahl, Eldon Stone, Dave Lightly, Leslie Salmon, George Nielsen, Jim Scott, Vicki Beck, Karl Peterson.

Front row (left to right): Joe Kambeitz, Paul Starr, Rob Smeal, Ted Perry, Paul Sprout, Dave Wilson, Chris Whyte, Doug Moir, Paul Ryan, Paul Preston, Marion Wood, Glen Dixon, Robin Harrison, Brian Mitchell, Carol Cross, Jan Koster, Mike Mad Dog Bailey, Terry Hartrick, Gerry Cook, Mayda Koop, Alice Federenko.

Horizontal : Randy Godin. Photographer: Don Bailey. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

I. Introduction - Fred Fraser ...... II. The Department of Fisheries and the Environment - Ian Todd (OR: FRWC Branch and Its Niche in the Bureaucracy) ...... Structure and Organization Internati on al Negotiations Ill. Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP) - Fred Fraser...... 2 Background Objectives Goals and Time Horizon Strate~iies Organization How F RWC SEP Proposals Develop (OR: Where Do We Fit In?) Financing SEP IV. 1976/77 Program Review...... 3 A. Facilities ...... 3 Capilano Salmon Hatchery - Eldon Stone Robertson Creek Salmon Hatchery - Karl Petersen. Ed Carter Blaney and Inches Creek Chum Incubation Box Facilities - Don Bailey Thornton Creek Pilot Chum Hatchery - Paul Ryan B. Field Activities...... 6 1. West Coast Vancouver Island...... 6 Nitinat Lake Studies - Alice Federenko Juvenile Marking and General Reconnaissance - Dave Lightly 2. Fraser River ...... ~ ...... ,...... 7 Upper Fraser Reconnaissance - Larry Kahl, Chris Whyte, Paul Preston Nicola River Reconnaissance - Paul Starr Vedder-Chilliwack Tributary Reconnaissance - Paul Sprout Chilliwack System Juvenile Coho Taggir'lg - Brian Mitchell Shuswap System Headwater Tagging Program - Don Buxton Marking Reconnaissance - Jan Koster Birkenhead River Salmon Enhancement Feasibility - Don Bailey C. Engineering Report - George Nielsen 10 Reconnaissance Feasibility Studies Design Construction Maintenance H.P.D. Activities Public Participation and Small Streams Engineers' Tour v. 1977/78 FRWC Branch Program Proposals...... 12 A. Biological Program - Fred Fraser...... 12 1. Reconnaissance, feasibility, tagging studies 2. Directed studies (IPSFC - Mike Bailey) 3. Lake enrichment 4. Ongoing projects B. Public Participation Program - Fred Fraser 13 C. Provincial Program - Fred Fraser ...... 13 D. Engineering Program - George Nielsen ...... - .... ·.·...... 13 VI. Financing and Implementing the 1977/78 FRWC Branch SEP Program - Fred Fraser ...... 13 LIST OF FIGURES PAGE

1. Biological unit organization Fraser River - West Coast Vancouver Island Branch ...... 14 2. Organization of the Department of Fisheries and the Environment as seen from the F RWC Branch ...... 15 3. Organization of SEP planning groups ...... 16 4. Fraser River System ...... 17 5. Proposed enhancement sites - West Coast Vancouver Island ...... 18 6. Nitinat Lake, Vancouver Island showing sample sites ...... 19

7. Depth profiles for salinity, temperature, oxygen and H2S in Nitinat Lake ...... _20 8. Stations monitored for H S in Nitinat Lake ...... 21 2 9. Isopleths of the percentage of new water that entered Nitinat Lake between July 1968 and August 1970 ...... 21 10. Fish kills in Nitinat Lake ...... 22 11. Density of benthic organisms in Nitinat Lake, June 1976 ...... 23 12. Zooplankton densities in Nitinat Lake by season and station in the 0 - 20 m water column ...... 24 13. Food composition of Nitinat Lake fish, 1976 ··········································:·····--··--············--····································· 25 14. Food interactions among Nitinat Lake fish ...... •...... 26 15. Seasonal changes in length and weight of chum and chinook in Nitinat lake, 1975 and 1976 ...... 27 16. North Thompson - Clearwater - Shuswap River systems ...... 28 17. Quesnel - Chilko - Taseko River systems ...... 29 18. Salmon - Stuart- systems ...... : ...... -...... 30

19. Bowron - Tarpy - McGregor River systems ·····"···········:······························································:·--························· 31 20. Tete Jaune Cache ...... 32 21. Nicola River salmon spawning distribution and timing ...... , ...... -..... 33

22. Chilliwack ·Vedder 1976 tributary reconnaissance ...... ~...... 34 23. The system study area...... 35 24. Chilcotin River 1976 sampling ...... :...... 36 25. Birkenhead River spawning distributions ...... , ...... 37

ii LIST OF TABLES PAGE

Proposed stock enhancement in the F RWC Branch area ....•...... •...... •..... 38 11 Capilano smolt releases 1976 ...... 38 111 Capilano adu It returns 1976 ...... 38 IV Planned smolt releases from Capilano Hatchery 1977 ...... 38 V Robertson Creek smolt releases 1976 ...... 39 VI Robertson Creek 1976 adult returns ...... 39 VII Anticipated smolt releases from Robertson Creek 1977 ...... 39 VIII Incubation box chum egg density experiments at Inches Creek ...... 6 IX Comparison .of Nitinat Lake zooplankton composition in 1975 and 1976 ...... 39 X Fraser River - West Coast salmonid enhancement biological and engineering pro- gram proposals 1977 /78 ...... 40

Appendices

A. Participants of the Fraser River - West Coast Vancouver Island Biological Staff Meeting held February 23 and 24, 1977 ...... 42 B. Agenda of the Fraser River - West Coast Vancouver Island Biological Staff . Meeting held February 23 and 24, 1977 ...... 43

Ill I. INTRODUCTION - FRED FRASER managerial and enliancerncnt tunctions. Present international involvement includes negotiations concerning the 200 The purpose of this report is to outline the present status of mile limit and the trawl and salmon troll fisheries. tile Salrnonid Enhancement Program (SEP), its goals and ob­ (iii) Branch Level jectives, and the role to be played by the Biological Staff of the The branch staff are responsible for management and en­ Fraser River - West Coast Vancouver Island (FRWC) Branch in hancement of all salmon stocks in the Fraser River, in its development and fulfillment. Work carried out by the biologi­ West Coast Vancouver Island streams and in streams flowing cal and engineering staff during 1976 is reviewed and proposals into . The Protection Districts constitute the for the next year are presented. The text of this report_ is drawn basic field staff of the branch and are responsible for enforce­ largely from the proceedings of the FRWC Biological Staff ment of the regulatory approach to fisheries management Meeting held in Parksvi'lle, February 23 and 24, 1977. A list of assumed by the Canadian government. participants and agenda comprises Appendix A and B. A noteworthy point is that agreement may be reached with in 11. THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRON­ one year for the dissolution of the International Pacific MENT - IAN TODD Salmon Fisheries Commission (IPSFC) and the end of U.S. (OR: FRWC BRANCH AND ITS NICHE IN THE involvement in management and development of Fraser BUREAUCRACY) River pink and sockeye salmon stocks. Responsibilityfor these stocks would then shift to the FRWC Branch. Structure· and Organization In the fall of 1976, the Department of the Environment was replaced by the Department of Fisheries and the Environ­ ment and Romeo Leblanc was installed as the Minister in charge. International Negotiations Th is raised the status of Fisheries, a change desired by most Canada and the U.S. are currently negotiating two major politicians (and Fisheries personnel). problem areas: A major reorganization took place at the local level in May (i) Interception Negotiations 1976. The old Pacific Region Fisheries Operations Branch was· replaced by six directorates. One .of these directorates, Field After 17 years of talks both countries realize that intercep­ Services, includes the four geographical branches of which FRWC tion of salmon by the non-producing country cannot be is one. eliminated, but that regulations minimizing and balancing interceptions must be established. With the rapid growth Figure 1 illustrates the position of the FRWC Branch in the of salmon enhancement programs, this problem assumes Departmental hierarchy. The branch is located at the seventh greater economic import. Agreement is expected with in level in this organization and vertical communication through one year. the system is correspondingly difficult. Figure 2 details proposed organization of the FRWC Branch. The main U.S. interceptions of Canadian fish are the Puget Sound catch of Fraser River stocks and the S.E. Alaska Responsibilities of the F RWC Branch staff are arranged at fishery. The Canadian troll fishery off the west coast of the regional, directorate or branch level. Some of these responsi­ Vancouver Island is the main Canadian interception. bilities are described below: Canadian economists estimate that the U.S. benefits by (i) Regional Level $2-5 million over Canada through interceptions annually. The manager and some biologists of the F RWC Branch are (ii) Extended Jurisdiction (200 Mile Limit) involved in business boards established by Dr. G. Geen the Director - General, to plan and integrate activities of the All major fishing countries operating off the Canadian Research and Development Directorate and the Field Service Coast, except Japan, have accepted the concept of the 200 Directorate. This is a unique situation since these two groups mile limit and they are expected to concede in the near have been amalgamated in the other regions of Canada. future. The Director - General has resisted pressure from senior In addition, reciprocal access agreements are being negotiated personnel to combine the two Pacific groups due to the between the U.S. and Canada. Talks started in May 1976 unique requirements for managing and enhancing salmonid and are still in progress. The main problems left to be re­ populations, but has attempted to increase inter-group solved are geographical boundary disputes. Boundaries in communication through the business boards. four regions (, , East Coast, and Beaufort Sea) remain to be established. A third There are at present five boards concerned specifically with party settlement may be necessary. Canada favours a median salmon, herring, shellfish, ground fish and habitat protection line between land masses as a reasonable approach. In any and F RWC Branch staff are represented. case, a short term agreement will have to be reached for 1977. (ii) Directorate Level (Editors note - interim agreement between Canada and FRWC Branch responsibilities at the directorate level include United States was reached late in February wh.ich will permit all areas of international interaction involving the Pacific continuation of Canadian fishing activity off the United Region in addition to the basic geographically oriented States coast and vice versa at least for 1977)_

-1- 111. SALMON ID ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (SEP) ment and has responsibility for overall policy direction. Beneath - FRED FRASER this group, proposals are fed by four working groups to the Program Director. The director receives further input from a Background management advisory group, (Task Force) and an analytical and Salmonid populations in B.C. presently total approximately integrative group (Program Analysis and Development). The 25 million, only one-half the size of historical populations. responsibilities and interactions of these groups are described by Additionally, there is a general downward trend in these stocks the Steering Group in a memo dated July 20, 1976. of one percent per annum. These facts fueled the birth of the The Geographical Working Group is the organ of this body SEP concept around 1972. most closely associated with the F RWC Branch. In particular Objectives there are three geographic groups - Northcoast, Johnstone­ SEP objectives are to rehabilitate salmonid stocks back to Georgia Strait, and FRWC. Fred Fraser is co-chairman of the their historical levels. Rehabilitation is, however, much more F RWC working group. Responsibilities are to design the biologi­ complex than originally perceived. There are conflicting interests cal and engineering components of SEP. among different resource users such as logging and mining com­ Two other working groups have significant impact on the panies, hydro development and the fishing industry. There is FRWC Branch. The Public and Indian Participation (PIP) group a lack of understanding of the factors important in the develop­ has successfully stimulated public interest in SEP. The result has ment and survival of juvenile salmon and consequently it is not been an influx of proposals for local enhancement projects, generally recognized that simply hatching more eggs will not particularly from sports clubs. Conscientious, diplomatic handling result in more adul.t production. Further, salmon hatched and of these proposals is absolutely essential, and will be the responsi­ reared in B.C. waters may be captured by non-Canadians.Finally, bility of F RWC staff in many instances. Unfortunately, the under the B.N.A. Act the provincial government owns all the sheer volume of public response may exceed our available man­ streams and land within its borders, therefore it is highly desir­ power resources. able to coordinate interests with provincial agencies such as the Finally, the Economic Working Group is responsible for Fish and Wildlife Branch of the Department of Recreation and program assessment and evaluation. Based upon data supplied Conservation. by the Geographic Working Groups and several assumptions about the economy of the future, economists have calculated The goal of SEP is to produce an additional 25 million adult benefit-cost ratios for individual projects and groups of projects. salmon annually. Of this total, FRWC Branch is responsible for For facilities proposed by our branch, these ratios range from 10.08 million, or 40.3 percent of the provincial total (Table I). 0.3: 1 (for chi nook hatcheries such as that proposed for the It is hoped this goal will be achieved within 15 years but the Nechako River) to 3.0:1 for lake fertilization projects. However, problems of getting enough money fast enough (for example an benefit-cost analysis should not be the sole criterion for project annual budget of $50-60 million will be required during years of selection. Factors such as threatened extinction of a stock are not construction) to finance various steps of the plan, of training included in standard B-C analysis. Further, costing of projects sufficient personnel to obtain necessary reconnaissance and was estimated by applying a set of standards which may not be feasibility information, and to design, manage and operate realistic in many cases. enhancement facilities may make th is unreal is tic. How FRWC SEP Proposals Develop (Or: Where Do We Fit In?) Strategies SEP plans are not fixed; rather they are reshaped and refined It is recognized that it is impossible to reverse many environ­ according to new information which comes from branch staffs. mental changes which have occurred and are in the process of The FRWC Geographical Working Group depended on historical occurring. Such changes are irreversible primarily because of data as a starting point. Reconnaissance studies, designed to fill population increases. The strategy to be employed for salmon enhancement is, therefore, to rehabilitate rivers wherever possible. in many of the question marks inherent in the historical records, are to be of two years duration for each system and it is expected Otherwise structures such as spawning channels, hatcheries and that most potential enhancement sites will be completed to this incubation boxes will be built to attain production goals. stage by year five. Feasibility studies, expected to last a minimum Another important criterion for planning enhancement of three years in each system will offer advanced information on strategies is that increased production of one stock may adversely site suitability, stock enhancibility and manageability. Design of effect other stocks. Negative responses of this nature must be an enhancement facility will require liaison between the SEP minimized. working groups utilizing all the accumulated information. Con­ Finally Federal Fisheries personnel cannot make salmon struction, operation and assessment are the three final steps in enhancement work without the co-operation and good will of this process. (If a facility is required). the public and the provincial authorities. A major strategy is Studies by the F RWC staff during the past two years have therefore to integrate these components into the program. already been utilized in refining the Geographical Working Organization Group's plans. The plan as it stands now (March 15, 1977) is designed to produce 13.41 mill ion pieces per year, but th is will In order to develop a SEP plan several groups have been certainly change as our knowledge increases. These changes may organized (Fig. 3). The "grandfather group", the Steering Group, reflect relatively slight modifications within a project, complete has final executive authority in enhancement proposal develop- abandonment of some projects or addition of new ones.

-2- Financing SEP where warmer water initiates feeding and growth. The ten Burrows type ponds are utilized after this initial growth period Total cost of SEP is estimated at $300 million. A synopsis and when the river temperatures have increased to 5°C or 6°C. of the program forrnulatHd by the working groups, rnviewed and Maximum rearing capacity is 50,000 lbs of fish. Oregon Moist condensed during passagH through the Task Force, Program Pellet fish diet is used for all snecies. Rearing periods are: Director, and the Steering Group was scheduled to be submitted chinook-three months; coho-fifteen months; steelhead-ten to the Federal Cabinet for approval or disapproval on March 10, months. Consideration is being given to holding steelhead for an 1977, but this decision has been delayed. Minister of Fisheries, Romeo Leblanc will submit the formal proposal, but various extra year. political and administrative forces have been working in the 1976 Program The 1976 program was dominated by the catastrophic fish kill background for several years. (chlorine} in October 1975. Lost were all 1974 brood coho and Approval in principle for SEP was obtained from the cabinet chinook juveniles, all 1975 adult summer steelhead returns, and two years ago when the green light was given to a two year most 1975 adult coho and chi nook returns. In addition the 1974 enhancement feasibility study. (A four year preliminary period brood steelhead pre·smolts were destroyed in June 1975 to pre­ was requested by Fisheries}. We are now at the end of this two vent spread of furunculosis. year period and there are no guarantees that the long-term pro­ Late 1975 was a hectic period in which the few chi nook and gram will go. coho which immigrated after the kill were spawned. In addition Assuming the cabinet approves funding, all proposed spend­ eggs of both species were transplanted to Capilano from Big ing· must be justified by Fisheries Treasury Board Officers to the Oualicum. Capilano and Big Oualicum stocks were incubated and Treasury Board. The board may or may not permit funding for reared separately. various studies or projects depending on economic factors and to Chinook and steelhead releases were made in 1976 as de­ some degree, depending on the Fisheries' representatives powers tailed in Table II. The 1975 brood coho will emigrate in 1977. of persuasion, on other factors. Adult salmonids returning to the hatchery trap in 1976 are tabulated in Table 111. There are several notable features: IV. 1976/77 PROGRAM REVIEW i) The strong return of adult chinooks indicates the BOR - F RWC Branch staff presented reports of their activities dur­ Capilano transfer is showing signs of success. ing the past year at the Annual Meeting. The following sections ii} The paucity of chinook and coho jacks reflects destruction contain a summary of the proceedings divided into facility of the 1974 brood hatchery stocks. operations, biological field activities and engineering programs iii) Marine survival of coho smolts is continuing at a high level throughout the geographical area (Figs. 4, 5). In some instances, (approximately 15 percent}. the presentations contained extensive reviews of facility develop­ iv} Both summer and winter steelhead trout are near the point ment or data; in others lengthy system descriptions were made. of biological extinction. The first returns of hatchery-reared For the sake of brevity and consistency the quantity of th is steelhead are expected this year. material has been reduced and the activities and results obtained Plans for 1977 during the year have been emphasized. The 1976 brood chinook juveniles will be handled as two independent groups - early and late. The early group was pond­ A. FACILITIES ed during January and early February whereas the late group will remain in incubation until April. At the time of release Capilano Salmon Hatchery - Eldon Stone in June substantial size differences are expected between these Background groups and they will be differentially tagged to assess the effect Capilano Hatchery was built in 1971 to rehabilitate and en­ of this difference on m;irine survival. Steelhead of the 1976 brood will be released in June despite hance coho and steelhead stocks which were severely affected the fact that they will be undcrsize (smaller than 55 g). All will by the construction of the Cleveland Dam in 1954 for domestic be tagged. water supply. This obstacle blocked migration to the spawning grounds and was a serious source of mortality for migrant smolts The 1975 brood coho consist of 35,000 Capilano stock and originating from adults transported from below the dam to the 570,000 Big Oualicum River (BQR} stock. The BOR fish were upper river. Another objective was to propagate chinook salmon obtained to utilize facilities which would have been vacant after which were first introduced to the system as pre-smolts from Big the 1975 kill and to provide commercial and sport catches. Oualicum in 1969. Plans are to use only Capilano stock for spawning purposes in 1978. To facilitate identification of the adults, all the Capilano Facilities and Methods pre-smolts will be adipose + left ventral clipped and tagged. A fish ladder guides adults from a weir downstream of the BQR stock will be Ad + CWT marked. dam into a trap. Four .holding ponds accommodate fish until Projected releases and tagging programs for this year are they reach maturity. summarized in Table IV. Incubation is in Heath trays with a capacity for 2,000,000 The Capilano River and estuary will be closed to sport and chinook and 500,000 coho eggs. Indian food fishing this year to conserve returning adults for broodstock. Poor returns are predicted due to the fish kill in Swim-up fry are first held in twenty small fibreglass troughs 1975.

-3- Special Projects Over 25,0_00 coho and 11,000 chinook salmon returned to the hatchery in 1976 (Table VI). In addition, 70 female chinooks Two special projects are in progress at Capilano Hatchery: were trucked from Stamp Falls. Marine survival of these two i) Hormone-stimulated juvenile growth. Five groups of 40,000 populations appears to be approximately 10 percent for coho coho each (all 1975 brood BOR stock) are involved in and 2-3 percent for chinook. This figure for chinook is exception­ hormone studies in cooperation with Fisheries research ally high and reflects a recent upward trend for this species in all personnel. The rationale for this experiement is that hor­ the B.C. chinook hatcheries. mones such as testosterone will stimulate growth during the hatchery rearing phase resulting in larger smolts and higher Plans for 1977 survivals in the ocean. Two of the groups (one test and one Th is year the hatchery is expected to receive its full potential control) will be selected for tagging (20,000 tags per group) of chinook eggs for the first time. Expected chinook and coho prior to release. returns, exclusive of jacks, are 7 ,550 and 6,250 respectively, ii) Rearing density studies. The remaining BOR coho are rearing while jack returns are expected to be 4,900 chinook and 19,700 coho. in Burrows ponds with loadings of 60,000, 80,000, 100,000, or 120,000 per pond_ Again a substantial size difference Special Projects is hypothesized_ Tagging each group differentially may In conjunction with the Great Central Lake fertilization reveal that fewer numbers of larger smolts are a better in­ project, Robertson Creek personnel are carrying out enumera­ vestment than larger numbers of smaller smolts. tion of adult and juvenile sockeye salmon. Robertson Creek Salmon Hatchery - Karl Petersen, Ed Carter An upwelling incubation box has been designed and is Background presently being tested at the hatchery site. Robertson Creek was developed as a spawning channel in 1959 to introduce pink salmon to the Somass system and to supplement existing coho and chinook stocks. This project failed to meet objectives. In 1971 a pilot hatchery project was Blaney and Inches Creek Chum Incubation Box Facilities carried out followed by full hatchery operation in 1972_ Aims - Don Bailey were to enhance ch inook stocks and to test the feasibility of steelhead and coho propagation. Background Chinook salmon were introduced to Robertson Creek in Incubation boxes are a relatively new technological tool in 1971 from Stamp Falls and Sproat River. These two donor the scheme of salmon enhancement. Salmon eggs are layer­ stocks have quite distinct characteristics and for the past few planted in gravel in boxes supplied with clean, well oxygenated, years only Stamp Falls fish have been trucked to the facility. upwelling water. Incubation boxes are relatively inexpensive, If expected chinook returns materialize, trucking will no longer mobile, easy to operate, and use only minor amounts of water be necessary. and small areas of land. This is especially useful in the Fraser Valley where land costs are high and competition for the water Facilities and Methods resource is intense. A spawning channel such as that at the Big Adults returning to Robertson Creek are trapped, then held Oualicum Project covers a land area of over 16,700 m2 and in two concrete raceways. Incubation in Heath trays is designed requires a water flow of 2300 I/sec. A comparable incubation for 6,000,000 chinook and 500,000 coho eggs. box site utilizes a land area of only about 1,700 m 2 and a flow Rearing facilities include four earthen raceways, two con­ of 280 I/sec. Originally used to incubate chum and pink eggs, crete raceways (.double as holding ponds) and a test flume race­ incubation boxes have now been used successfully with coho, way. Total capacity is about 6,000,000 chinook juveniles. Steel­ sockeye, and ch inook eggs. head are raised in circular tubs. Feeding is with OMP for all Two variations of the incubation box were developed inde­ initially ponded fry but coho and steelhead are switched to pendently - by Robert Barns of the Pacific Biological Station a dry diet after three months. and by George Wilson of Fisheries. The "Barns" box is 2.4 x 1.2 Water temperatures - too cold in winter and too hot in x 0.8m with upwelling water supplied through a grid system of summer - pose the biggest challenge to successful operations at pipes located in the bottom of the box. Pink eggs were incubated Robertson Creek. Scheduling growth and release dates are diffi­ in Heath trays to the eyed stage; then planted in eight layers of 3 cult under these conditions. In addition, some diseases may be 25,000 eggs each (87,000 eggs/m ) in 1.9 cm crushed gravel more likely to erupt at Robertson Creek than at a facility with a and a flow of 200 I/sec. per box ( 1 1/1000 eggs). Green egg-to­ more moderate temperature regime. However, some other fry survivals averaged 72% in two years of operation. The diseases may be absent due to the widely fluctuating temperatures. "Wilson" box is 2.7 x 1.5 x 0.9 m with an upwelling flow from a head box through a false bottom and out. Green water-harden­ ed chum eggs are planted in 17-20 layers of smooth drain rock 1976 Program (131,000 eggs/m3) with a flow of 284 I/sec. (0.6 l/sec./1000 Smolt releases were made for all three species in 1976 eggs). Survivals have averaged 90% in 5 years of production at (Table V). Three differentially tagged groups of chinook were Blaney Creek and 81% in 7 years at Inches Creek. The first released on different dates in an attempt to relate marine sur­ incubators were of plywood, timber construction but fiberglass vival to migration timing. and concrete are now being used.

-4- Facilities from tagging to dead recovery was 6 days. Age composition was 51% age 3, 47% age 4, and 2% age 5. The Blaney Creek facility, located in the U.B.C. Research Forest near Haney, was designed to increase a small race of chum A total of 1.4 million eggs were planted in the incubation solmon to an economically significant size of 50,000 by incubat­ boxes. The egg density experiment was continued and also two ing 6.0 million eggs. The water supply consists of a coarse filter experimental incubation boxes were planted. In one, soft fertil­ stream intake and a 20 cm gravity fed pipeline feeding a 42 m3 ized eggs were planted and a nylon screen instead of pea gravel settling basin modified for sand filtration. At present the facility was used as a fry barrier; in the other, soft fertilized eggs were has three incubation boxes with a capacity of 1.5 million eggs. planted in a nylon screen tray about 2 inches above the gravel. A trailer houses an office and fry marking facilities and power is At hatching, fry dropped through the screen into the gravel and supplied via a generator. Adults are trapped at a removeable the remaining dead eggs were removed. For the first time, all fence downstream and trucked to fiberglass holding tubs at the incubation boxes were treated with malachite green to control site. fungus. The Inches Creek facility is located on Inches Creek, a Plans for 1977 tributary of Suicide Creek about 25 km east of Mission. The A portion of Inches Creek incubation box fry will be fin­ project consists of two incubation boxes with a capacity of clipped with the adipose-left ventral fin clip prior to downstream 1.0 million chum eggs and an electrically pumped groundwater migration in April. supply backed up by propane pumps. A fence and holding Plans are underway for construction of a 6.5 million chum facilities are located on Inches Creek just upstream of the and coho incubation and rearing facility on upper Inches Creek junction with Suicide Creek. in 1977-78. The project will use pumped ground water, incu­ 1976 Program bation boxes, and a rearing channel. Expansion of the Blaney In the 1976/77 fiscal year Blaney and Inches creeks under­ Creek facility to a 6.0 million egg capacity is planned to begin went a number of changes. Removeable fence panels were con­ in 1979. structed to raise the height of the fence to prevent the loss of migrating fish during high water. At Inches Creek a 22 x 11 m Thornton Creek Pilot Chum Hatchery - Paul Ryan building was constructed to house the pumps at one end and combination lab, office, and sleeping facilities at the other. Background Two experimental 50,000 egg incubation boxes were construct­ In 1976 a new pilot chum hatchery was constructed at ed and installed at Inches Creek. Thornton Creek on Ucluelet Inlet near Ucluelet on the west At Blaney Creek total of 140,000 1975 brood chum fry coast of Vancouver Island. This facility was constructed to test were enumerated and adipose-left ventral fin clipped. Egg-to­ a modified method of the successful Japanese-style chum hatchery. fry survival was 85.5%. Since 1972, 840,000 fry have been fin­ If successful its present capacity of 1.1 million eggs producing clipped and released. In the fall of 1976 175 chum adults 33,000 adults will be expanded to 6.0 million in 1984 producing (34% marked AdlV) returned, of which 22 spawned naturally. 180,000 adults in 1988, assuming 3 percent marine survival. The remainder supplied 174,000 eggs for planting in an in­ Eggs are planted in cells in four upwelling troughs until near cubation box. Marked returns were much below expectations. hatching. Near hatching eggs are placed on screen trays or directly Adult age composition was 33% age 3 and 67% age 4. in four covered incubation channels containing one layer of gravel At Inches Creek 808,500 1975 brood incubation box fry and supplied with laminar flow. The alevins remain in the channel were enumerated for an egg-to-fry survival of 66. 7%, the lowest until the yolk sac is absorbed and the fry are ready to migrate. in six years. Table V 111 shows the results of the 1974 and 1975 The fry migrate directly into two 36 x 18 x 4 ft. rearing ponds. brood incubation box density experiments. The results indicate These rearing ponds are plastic lined swimming pools with race­ that increased egg density beyond the normal 131,000 eggs/m3 way flows. The fry are fed Oregon Moist Pellet for approximately is possible with minor differences in survival and no difference 30 days and released. A plankton watch program will be carried in the size of migrating fry. out to aid in determining ideal release times. Table VI 11. Incubation box chum egg density experiments at 1976 Program Inches Creek. Because Thornton Creek has only very small chum popula­ 1974 brood 1975 brood tion a trap was placed in Salmon Creek just north of Thornton Normal Density 75% 96% Creek below a culvert on October 18. A total of 468 females 25% Density Increase 64% 51% were spawned between Oct. 25-27 and 1,013,000 eggs were Normal Density 85% 6G% planted in the 12 incubation cells. Age composition of chum 50% Density Increase 81% 61% adults was 0.4 percent Age 2, 78.7 percent Age 3, 20.5 percent Age 4 and 0.4 percent Age 5. This is a very high Age 3 com­ A total of 5400 adult chum returned to Inches Creek in ponent in comparison to other west coast Vancouver Island 1976. The 1974-76 returns averaged 6700 (5400-8000) compared age composition data and probably accounts for the low fecun­ to the 1964-73 pre-incubation box average of 2100 (750-3500). dity of 2,345 eggs per female. Eggs were also planted in two Dead pitches and, for the first time, adult tagging were used to 50,000 egg capacity experimental incubation boxes. One box estimate escapement. Recovery rates were 81.2% and the period with a filtered w;iter supply contains 49,500 eggs, the other with

-5- an unfiltered water supply contains 48,200 eggs. Survivals, fry are most probable in the fall when lake surface salinities are greatest and when winds and tides are likely to drive new water size and timing of these boxes will be compared to each other and into the lake basin. Three documented fish kills have been attri­ to the hatchery. These fry will be reared in two 10 ft. diameter buted to these processes (Fig. 10). fiberglass tubs. 1976 Program Eggs were picked between Nov. 23-30 and on Dec. 22. Total fertilized egg-to-eyed egg mortality in the cells averaged 4. 7 per­ Four biological investigations were carried out in 1976. cent (range 2.8 - 8.9 percent). On Dec. 22 eggs were transferred Zooplankton abundance studies, fish stomach analysis, and directly to the gravel. Hatching commenced on Jan. 5. Hatching juvenile chum and chinook growth rate studies were continued occurred faster on the gravel than on the screens and faster on the from 1975 whereas benthos sampling was initiated in 197G. i) Benthos - semi - quantitative. methods were used to assess downstream ends of the ponds. Oxygen levels in all cases have benthos populations. All sample sites contained a similar remained close to 100 percent saturation. Some premature species composition of which annelids and amphipods com­ migration of fry has occurred probably the result of high pond flows and extraneous Iight penetration promoting some fry prised 85 percent of the total. activity in the lower ends of the ponds. These fry are actively Abundance of invertebrates (Fig. 11) was related to a num­ feeding in the rearing ponds. ber of factors: substrate - gravel, sites 1-7 supported more organisms than sand site 10; salinity - higher numbers Plans for 1977 A portion of the incubation box and hatchery migrating occurred at the lake head (low salinity) compared to the fry will be fin-clipped with a left ventral or right ventral fin clip mouth (high salinity); temperature - higher nos. are ex­ to determine survival and timing to adult return. Temperature pected in summer (16° C) than in winter (7°C). and fry monitoring will take place in Salmon Creek to compare ii) Zooplankton - Nitinat lake zooplankton was sampled at timing and fry size with the hatchery. A plankton watch and fry two week intervals during May, June and July. Comparison sampling program in the estuary will help determine ideal reared with the 1975 data reveal significant fluctuations between fry release times as well as fry growth. This fall adults will again years (Table IX) which were not readily attributed to physi­ be trapped in Salmon Cr. and planted at the hatchery. cal - chemical factors. Seasonal and interstation variations were also evident (Fig. 12). Comparison of zooplankton B. FIELD ACTIVITIES biomass in Nitinat lake (3.5 - 108 mg/m3) to that in other lakes places it in an oligotrophic to slightly mesotro- 1. West Coast Vancouver Island phic category. · Nitinat Lake Studies - Alice Federenko Considering the vital importance of zooplankton to young Background salmonids, a better understanding of factors controlling The Nitinat lake system supports chum, coho, chinook, plankton production and therefore of the lake's carrying sockeye and steelhead. Chum populations traditionally contri­ capacity for rearing juveniles, is essential. iii) Fish diet - stomach contents of young chum, chinook, buted significant numbers to the commercial fishery but this sculpins, herring and stickleback of comparable body size has been closed since 1960 except in 1972 and 1973. Chum (5 - 9 cm) were assigned to planktonic, benthic, surface or production levels prior to 1960 and by the 1968 brood ( 1,600,000) indicate that N itinat lake can support juvenile fish prey categories. In 1975 1,000 fish were examined com­ populations in excess of those now found and that the fry output pared to 400 in 1976. The results of the 1976 study are from tributaries is the limiting factor. summarized in Fig. 13. In general, chums were found to be largely planktonic feeders The objective of this study was to assess the rearing potential with significant utilization of fish prey. Chinooks were more of Nitinat lake and the interactions between different salmonid versatile with a much greater dependence on benthic species. species. Proposed enhancement goals are to increase and stabilize Competition between chum and chinook fry and among chum fry input to the lake and produce 300,000 chum salmon salmon and other species is evident from considerable overlap· anrtually. between the various diets. The intensity of these interactions Lake Morphometry and chemistry is suggested in Fig. 14. Nitinat is a long deep, fiord-like lake {Fig.5) with four iv) Fish growth rates - growth rates of chum and chinook juven­ major tributaries and a drainage area of 800 km 2. Key features iles rearing in Nitinat lake were compared during May are gradients of salinity, temperature, oxygen and hydrogen through July in 1975 and 1976. Generally chums outgrew sulfide (Fig. 7). Anoxia typically exists below 30 m depth and ch inook by 0.5 - 2.0 percent per day, and chum growth rate only the upper 5 m are well oxygenated. Compounds such as was higher in 1976 than in 1975 (Fig. 15). This may be rela­ phosphate, silicate, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and methane demon­ ted to the differences in zooplankton density between the strate concentration profiles typical of meromictic lakes. two years. Conclusions Deepwater renewal and fish kills Nitinat lake appears to be a moderately productive lake It has been shown that "new" sea water may enter the lake where the H2S chemocline governs the depth of the biotic zone. over the sill and settle below the chemocl ine since it is more The effect of apparently large non-salmonid fish populations in dense than the upper water layers (Figs. 8, 9). This renewal the lake and their substantial diet overlap with salmonid fish process may initiate mixing of water layers with and without stocks could negatively affect salmonid growth rates. Further oxygen and introduce hydrogen sulfide into the upper zone work is planned to augment the biological information on Nitinat which supports salmonids and their prey. Renewal and mixing Lake and to clarify its sa!monid rearing pptential.

-6- West Coast Vancouver Island Juvenile Marking and General Discussion Roconnaissance - Dave lightly The general reconnaissance studies will be followed by Objectives more detailed feasibility studies on those systems found suit­ able. Reconnaissance surveys were carried out on a number of westcoast streams to gain basic information on the streams and The numbers marked in 1976 are too small to estimate their salmon stocks in order that their suitability for enhance­ fisheries' contribution but will show distribution and timing. ment may be assessed. Adequate escapements and ideal incubation conditions in the Nitinat lake chinook salmon were marked to determine Nitinat River make it likely that greatly increased numbers can timing and distribution and, if possible, to determine their be marked in the spring of 1977. contribution to various sport and commercial fisheries, both 2. Fraser River Canadian and American. This will allow enhancement of the Upper Fraser Reconnaissance stock to proceed in a manner which will maximize benefits to - Larry Kahl, Paul Preston, Chris Whyte Canada. Objectives Methods and Results To identify potential chinook coho and steelhead enhance­ ment opportunities in the upper Fraser River watershed and seek Six streams in and near and six streams in additional information on those systems surveyed in the 1975 were examined in detail during the fall of 1976 fall reconnaissance program. Both juvenile and adult populations to gain specific information of the salmon stocks present and on will be studied with some river systems being examined to as­ physical conditions in the streams and their watersheds. A review certain the feasibility of nose-tagging programs for chinook of all existing information on the streams was done and a report juveniles. prepared. Methods The streams were surveyed on foot, by boat, and by swim­ ming at approximately two week intervals beginning in mid­ Systems were surveyed by means of aircraft, boat, foot, September and ending in early December. Numbers of each and swimming. Biological and physical parameters of spawning species present were estimated and their distribution in the and rearing areas were described on stream survey forms. Adult stream noted. Dead sampling was done to determine age com­ numbers, timing, and spawning distribution were recorded. position and length of the returning adults. A photographic Adult carcasses were sampled on the spawning ground for sex, inventory of the accessible portion of each stream was prepared age and length. Juvenile rearing areas were determined by seining and maps prepared showing the distribution of fish and the and minnow trapping. All fish captured were recorded as to substrate types. From these maps, the chum spawning capacity method, species, numbers and location. Representative samples of each system was estimated. of catches were anesthetized and measured for length before release. Scale smears were taken from chinook juveniles. On the The streams involved in the Barkley Sound area are the McGregor system samples of the resident fish population were Nitinat, Sarita, Nahmint and Toquart Rivers and in the Nootka collected for parasitological and microbial examination at the Sound are, the Gold,. Burman, Tlupana, Conuma, Canton and Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo. Sucowa Rivers (Fig. 5). As well as these streams, the Tahsis, Leiner, Kennedy and San Juan Rivers were examined in much Results Iess deta iI. Reconnaissance began on August 12th and extended until A total of 13,471 juvenile chinook from Nitinat Lake were October 19th with one three-man crew working a total of fifty­ marked with an adipose clip and a coded wire nose tag. Approxi­ two field days. Due to the limited manpower and time con­ mately half of these fish were seined from areas near the head straints, surveys had to be restricted mainly to chinook salmon of the lake and reared on OMP in net pens. The remainder of the spawning areas. The McGregor, Torpy, upper Fraser mainstem fish were marked immediately after capture from the rearing (Tete Jaune), Bowron, Willow, Stuart, Nechako, Quesnel, North areas in the lake. The average length of the released fish was Thompson, South Thompson, Clearwater, Middle Shuswap, 70 mm. Tag retention tests of three days' duration showed a Lower Shuswap, Adams, Chilko and Salmon River systems 0.5 percent tag loss. Examination of fish prior to any marked were surveyed to varying degrees. releases showed naturally missing adipose fins occuring at a rate Unusually high water levels made adult enumeration and of 0.08 percent. adult and juvenile chinook sampling difficult. Visibility was poor An attempt was made to mark juvenile chinook and coho and adult carcasses and juvenile seining sites were scarce on most from Gold River system in the spring of 1976, but swim surveys, systems. In general, chinook escapements appeared normal to trapping and estuary seining showed a very low abundance of low on those systems surveyed. A total of 345 chinook carcasses both species and the project was abandoned. This lack of juvenile were sampled on the spawning grounds (Figs. 16-20). Sex compo­ fish (particularly chinook) was attributed to the extreme floods sition of adult chinook salmon sampled was approximately 30 of the preceedin~ fall and winter (66,700 c.f.s. on November 13). percent male. Ninety-four percent of the fish sampled produced Reconnaissance for possible future marking programs was readable scales. Eighty percent of adult chinook sampled were carried out on the Marble, Kennedy and San Juan rivers and labelled sub . Age 4 (40 percent) predominated with age 3 1 1 1 preparations made for an expanded effort in Nitinat during the (28 percent) also common. Post orbital-hypural lengths ranged spring of 1977. from 28 to 84 centimeters for males and 44 to 81 centimeters for

-1- females. Juvenile chinook salmon were found to be rearing in Vedder - Chilliwack Tributary Reconnaissance - Paul Sprout the McGregor, Torpy, Fraser mainstem (Tete Jaime). Bowron, Objectives Nechako, and North . No large numbers of The purpose of the reconnaissance was to determine the juveniles were captured 011 ;my given system. All chi nook juveniles extent of coho utiliwtion of the Vedder-Chilliwack tributaries sampled for age were fish of the year. Lengths of juveniles sampled and to evaluate the coho producing capacity of these systems. ranged from 50 to 98 millimeters (nose-fork). Due to the size of adult escapements, numbers of juvenile chinook captured on some systems, physical characteristics of Methods and Results the rivers and access, the Fraser (Tete Jaune). Nechako, Chilko, During the period October 15, 1976 to January 5, 1977, North Thompson, South Thompson and Lower Shuswap Rivers stream surveys of Vedder-Chilliwack tributaries were undertaken are felt to have potential for chinook nose-tagging programs. (Fig. 22). Tributaries were monitored on a bi-weekly basis and Initial pathological investigation on the McGregor indicated coho escapement, timing and distribution noted. Coho carcasses that the resident fish sampied were disease free. were sampled for scales and postorbital- hypural lengths recorded. The low gradient side channels and spring-fed systems had Nicola River Reconnaissance - Paul Starr extensive rearing areas and appeared to have high coho producing capacity. The high gradient tributaries had limited rearing areas Objective and were less productive for coho. Coho arrival in tributaries To determine if sufficient number of juvenile Nicola R. varied from November 13 to December 30, while peak spawning chinook and steelhead could be captured for identification of occurred roughly in the same period, December 25 to January 5. the stock in the commercial fishery; to measure and describe 68 coho were sampled from a total oi 11 tributaries. All fish were the physical parameters of the system, including important age 32. The mean female length was 46.2 cm + 3.9 cm and the tributaries; and to determine timing, distribution and size of adult mean male length was 46.4 cm + 5.5 cm. chinook spawning stocks. Discussion A number of streams not previously recorded as supporting Methods and Results coho spawners were found to support substantial numbers and to offer good rearing areas. These tributaries are noted as follows: 3796 juvenile chinook were captured and nose-tagged with Big Hopedale, Barrett Creek, Mile 15 Creek and Post Creek. binary-coded wire between September 9 and October 21, 1976 on the Nicola River (Fig. 21 ). 383 juvenile rainbow trout and 73 A dyking program undertaken on the lower Vedder system larger ( > 120 inm fork length) rainbow trout were also nose­ during the summer of 1976 has resulted in a reduction of flow tagged. Estimates made from mark-recapture data on tagged into a number of important coho producing side channels. Big juvenile chinook indicate that approximately 3 to 5 percent of Hopedale Creek and Barrett Creek in particular have been affected the total available population was captured and tagged. by this activity. At present, several logging shows in the head­ water areas of the upstream tributaries (eg. Paleface Creek, Relatively complete physical descriptions were made of the Middle Creek, Centre Creek) continue to aggravate water quality Nicola River from Douglas Lake to its confluence with the and flows in these tributaries. Thompson River at Spences Bridge (approximately 110 km in length). The lowest 37 km and 10 km of the Coldwater River and Spius Creek respectively (Fig. 21; the two major tributaries) Chilliwack System Juvenile Coho Tagging - Brian Mitchell were also described. Objectives Approximate estimates of 3500 adult chinook spawners in the Nicola, 500 in the Coldwater River, and 200 in Spius Creek To determine distribution and timing of Chilliwack River were made on the basis of live counts and dead recoveries on system coho stocks, and to indicate their fishery contribution those rivers between September 9 and September 23. and marine survival. Methods and Results Two juvenile coho tagging programs were conducted on the Chilliwack system in 1976; one in the spring and one in the fall. Discussion In the spring program, a total of 19,771 coho juveniles were The results suggest that the capture of enough juveniles to tagged and released between April 27 and June 25, with a post-tag justify a tagging program may be difficult. However, unusually mortality of 0.34 percent. The fish were obtained using converg­ high water levels this year hampered field operations and it is ing throat weir traps on four tributary streams; Hopedale, Littl-e expected capture success would be higher under normal flow Hopedale, Ryder Creek and Salwein Creek (Fig. 22). Hopedale regimes. and Salwein Creek were the most productive sites with catches of 9,852 and 7,420 respectively. The tag code used was Agency 2, Better knowledge of the system was obtained and fisheries 15/13 and tag rejection was 0.75 percent. problems were identified for consideration in future enhancement proposals. Coho for the fall program were caught in Chilliwack Lake

-8- using Gee·s minnow traps baited with chinook or chum roe. Juvenile chinook presence was determined by minnow­ At the peak of oµet at ion, 175 traps were set throughout the trapping, electro-shocking and beach seining. The greatest concen· lake. A total of 28,630 fish were tagged and released between tration was found on the Chilcotin River between Alexis Creek October 26 and December 6 using Agency 2, 15/11 coded tags. and Redstone; none were found upstream of the latter locations Sampling of fish showed the majority to be ane 0+(87 .69 percent) (Fig. 24). Beach-seining yielded 348 chinook juveniles in the or age 1+(12.31 percent) with corresponding average lengths of former section - other capture methods had minimal results. 67.48 mm and 76.28 mm. Post tag mortalities were 123 and tag The mean size of 52 sampled was 63.5 mm (45-88 mm) and all rejection was 0.37 percent. were aged at O+. Discussion Seventeen chi nook juveniles were seined in the Chilko River­ a II within five miles of Chilko Lake (Fig. 24). The low numbers Good numbers of coho were tagged in both the spring and captured probably were a consequence of the extremely high fall programs and adult recaptures should be adequate to meet water level at the time. objectives. Spawning adult chinook on the Chilcotin River were Shuswap System Headwater Tagging Program - Don Buxton observed from Redstone to about five miles downstream and Objectives were reported about 50 miles upstream and at the outlet of Chilcotin Lake (Fig. 24). Spawner population in the Chilcotin The purpose of the project was to tag a sufficient quantity was estimated at 500. Of 23 dead recovered, scale samples of chinooks to determine distribution and timing, as well as to showed the majority were aged 3 (35 percent) and 4 (40 1 2 give some indication of fishery contribution and total survival. percent). Methods and Results Discussion A total of 30,074 juvenile chinooks were tagged and released The chinook spawner population of 1500 females in the between June 15 and August 31, 1976. Fish were obtained by Chilko and Chilcotin Rivers should produce enough juveniles beach seining in Little Shuswap Lake during the first part of the to permit a worthwhile tagging program. Rough estimates suggest project and from the South Thompson River after August 10 that about 10 percent of the downstream migrants should be (Fig. 23). Tags were implanted with a Jeffert's nose tag machine captured in order to ensure a marked release of 50,000 fish. and coded as Agency 2, code 15/6. The beach seine nets used were 110 feet long and set from Birkenhead River Salmon Enhancement Feasibility - Don Bailey 16 foot Smokercraft riverboats. Fish were transported from fish­ ing sites in a 20 foot boat equipped with a circulating water trans· Background port tank. Tagging of lake fish took place on a floating platform, The Lillooet River has its source approximately 160 km some 350 feet offshore at the northeast-end of the lake. Chinooks north of Vancouver at the Lillooet Ice Cap. It flows southeast caught in the South Thompson River were tagged on platforms for 90 km through Lillooet Lake then into 55 km on the beach near the fishing area. Lengths and scale samples to the southeast. The Birkenhead River is a major tributary of were taken throughout the project and all fish sampled were this system flowing from Birkenhead Lake and Birkenhead age O; i.e., they were all oceantype. Pre-tag and post-tag mortality Canyon for 40 km into the upper end of Lillooet Lake (Fig. 25). amounted to almost 15 percent but no specific causative agent This glacial stream's peak flow occurs in June and low flow in could be determined. The most likely explanation is that the fish February. Water temperatures range from 1.6 . 11.2°c. The were stressed during handling and transport. Lillooet River is extremely turbid all year and the heavy silt load makes the visibility of Lillooet Lake very poor. In con­ Discussion trast, the Birkenhead River is clear for most of the year. It is expected that tagged returns will be sufficient to reveal The major activities in the water shed are farming and timing and distribution of the Shuswap chinooks, but not to logging. The area is particularly noted for its disease free seed indicate marine survival and exploitation rate. An attempt will be potatoes. Logging is carried on in all parts of the watershed and made in .future tagging at this site to reduce mortality by mini· is still increasing. mizing transport and handling through on-site tagging operations. The Lillooet River system supports populations of chinook, coho and sockeye salmon, steelhead and sea run cutthroat trout, Chilcotin River Marking Reconnaissance - Jan Koster dolly varden, whitefish, kokanee and sturgeon. Lillooet River averages 3200 coho and 250 sockeye. Birkenhead River sockeye Objectives and coho have maintained stable populations of 94,000 and The chinook salmon populations in Chilcotin River were 3,200 respectively; however, chi nook escapements have shown a studied to determine adult characteristics, timing and spawning substantial dee Iine in recent years from an average of 1000 distribution; and to determine the feasibility of a juvenile tagging to 2-400 since 1971. program for next year. The Birkenhead and Lillooet River salmon populations Methods and Results support a substantial Indian fishery at the mouth of the Field investigations, made difficult by unusually high water Birkenhead River amounting to 6000 sockeye, 2000 coho, and levels, lasted from August 14 to September 28, 1976 and were 100 ch.inook. The common method of drying is still used to carried out by truck, boat and on foot. preserve much of the fish.

-9- Because of rapidly declining chinook population and because lleconrrnissance surveys were undertaken in the following the Birkenhead represents a unique opportunity to enhance a areas: stock important to the commercial, Indian, and salt and fresh­ i) Upper Fraser System water sports fishery, an investigation was carried out in 1975 ii) System and 1976 to determine numbers, distribution, and timing of adult and juvenile coho and chinook to provide an information base iii) Clearwater River System for a salmon enhancement proposal. It is planned to build a iv) W.C.V.I. mitigation hatchery in 1979 which will produce 9000 chinook 2. Feasibility Studies and 15,000 coho. It is proposed to increase this hatchery in 1987 Th is activity includes topographical surveys and hydrological to produce 18,000 chinook and 30,000 coho. studies undertaken on those river systems that have been identi­ fied for enhancement work from the reconnaissance surveys. 1976 Program This information is used to compile a report in which re­ commendations are made on proposed enhancement projects The adult chinook population in 1975 was estimated by dead and preliminary layouts and cost estimates are prepared. sampling and visual estimates to be 200 fish. Because of the low numbers a closure of the early Fraser River commercial fishery The following feasibility studies were undertaken in 1976- and sports fishery and a reduction in the Indian catch were 77: instituted. In spite of these measures the 1976 population was i) Nitinat River estimated at only 200 adults. Topographical and hydrological surveys including prelimin­ Dead sampling yielded information on numbers, ages, and ary groundwater studies were undertaken on the Nitinat sizes of chinook and coho adults. Age composition averages 1 River. A water level recorder was also installed on this percent Age 2, 30 percent Age 3, 55 percent Age 4 and 14 system. percent Age 5. Approximately 65 percent migrate as fingerlings, ii) Sarita River the rest as year old smolts. The 1967-76 escapements averages 94,000 sockeye, 3,200 coho, and 500 chinook. The primary Topographical and preliminary groundwater studies were spawning areas are shown in Figure 25. carried out. In an effort to increase fry production in the river, a 50,000 iii) Tlupana Inlet egg incubation box was installed near the Fisheries cabin near Topographical surveys were undertaken on the Tlupana and Mt. Currie in 1976. Sport fishing was used to capture adults. Canuma Rivers. Preliminary groundwater investigations However, alt adults captured had already spawned. Spawning were undertaken on Tlupana, Canuma, Canton and Sucowa occurs very quickly and adult capture next year will have to take River Systems. place before the fish appear on the spawning grounds. iv) Squakum Creek Juvenile sampling was carried out in September 1976 and Topographical surveys were undertaken on Squakum Creek. January 1977, using Gee's minnow traps at various locations in the Birkenhead River. Species captured included coho, chinook, v) Stave River trout, whitefish, dolly varden, and sculpin juveniles. Only 3 Topographical surveys were undertaken on the Stave River. chinook were captured in September. Fork lengths of two were vi) Indian R jver 81 mm and 94 mm which is very large for such a cold system. Water level recorders were installed on the Indian River and Plans for 1977 its tributary Hixon Creek. Plans for 1977 include trapping of juvenile chinook and coho in the lower Birkenhead River and the lower Lillooet River below 3. Design Lillooet Lake to determine migration timing and size. Eggs will A design of the salmon enhancement facility at Inches Creek also be planted in the 50,000 egg incubation box. was 90% completed. The project which is estimated to cost $500,000.00 including $25,000,00 for property acquisition, will consist of:

C. Engineering Report - George Nielsen i) Incubation facilities having a capacity for incubating up to 1. Reconnaissance Surveys 6.5 million eggs. The main objective of this activity is to collect basic engin­ ii) Rearing facilities having a capacity for rearing up to 4.33 eering information on potential enhancement sites by investi­ million chum juveniles; 170,000 coho smolts; and 4,000 gating topographical and hydrological features of various river steelhead juveniles. systems. In addition, 200,000 fry will be released in Nicomen Slough In addition, the surveys are beneficial in that they provide where they will rear in natural conditions. valuable information on the existing status of the various water­ iii) Groundwater supply including wells, pumphouse, pumps and sheds including logging and land clearing activity, potential aeration tad Iities. pollution problems, etc. iv) Pollution abatement facilities.

-10- v) Warehouse, workshop, office residence, counting area and supµly inFiltration nallery. The construction methods were laboratory. quite difficult as some new concepts were incorrorated into vi) Public display area. the design. The intake system was, therefore, largely experi­ mental and would have to be thoroughly evaluated before 4. Design and Construction being incorporated into a salmon enhancement facility. The following projects were designed and constr1Jcted; A sketch of the intake system is as follows: ,j ThattH611 Cre!#k flifut Chum Hatt:hftry The facility was constructed to test Japanese incubation and rearing techniques at Thornton Creek which is typical of streams on the west coast of Vancouver Island, i.e. flow fluctuates with each rainfall, warm water (2-10° C.) (air temperature seldom below o° C.). tea coloured water flowing '\ from cedar swamp often has high level of suspended organic \ material. \ The hatchery complex consists of:

a) A 3' x 7' slotted screen intake installed horizontally into . I an existing timber crib weir. It is 99% self-cleaning and 3,0 provides a gravity flow of 2 cfs. bl A 300' long 8" dia. plastic sclair pipe which connects to the incubation building and ponds Water entering the system must flow down around the first c) A 40' x 66' steel building on a concrete pad which poly membrane, then up and over the second poly membrane, houses the incubation facilities. pass through a filter system, and then into the perforated pipe. The pipe is part of a collection system which dis­ d) Two 18' x 35' x 4' above ground swimming pools which charges into a sump. A 2" dia. polyethylene pipe I ine was provide the feeding ponds. constructed from the sump to service an incubation box in e) Two 10' dia. fiber glass ponds 4' deep are available for feed­ which it is proposed to incubate 50,000 salmon eggs in the ing experiments. fall of 1977.

f) A 16' x 18' wood extension to the metal building con­ The project, which cost approximately $6,000.00, commen­ tains a laboratory, office and washroom. ced on August 27 /76 and was completed on September 24/76. g) A wood frame shed encloses a 4 k.w. diesel generator A failure occurred, however, in the water supply system dur­ and workshop. ing December 1976 as a result of a diversion of the flow which resulted in the stream bed above the infiltration gal· h) Domestic water is tapped from the main line for a port­ lery going dry. In order to alleviate this problem, it was able trailer and the lab washroom. Sewage is held for necessary to channelize the river in order to maintain a mini­ disposal in a 1,200 gal. underground tank. mum water level over the gallery during low flow condi­ i) The area is enclosed by a 6' high chain link fence 510' tions. long. It would appear that this type of water supply intake offers j) A pilot project to ascertain filtering requirements of a certain advantages for relatively small installations. but may typical W.C. V. I. stream. not be practical at this site for installations requiring relat­ A breakdown of capital costs is as follows- ively large water usage. Clearing and filling $24,000.00 5. Maintenance Building $25,000.00 The following maintenance work was undertaken in 1976· Weir, intake and pipeline $ 7,000.00 77: Chain link fence $ 4,000.00 Plumbing and wiring $11,000.00 i) Chilliwack River Dyke and Settling Basin Pools $ 4,000.00 Maintenance work was undertaken at a dyke and a settling Incubation boxes (PVC), stands, head tank $ 3,000.00 basin that was constructed in 1975 at the base of a poten­ Trapping facilities $ 2,000.00 tial massive slide area on the Chilliwack River to prevent erosion of the toe of the slide and to settle out sand, silt $80,000.00 and clay that was being continuously discharged into the Chilliwack River. ii) Birkenhead River The maintenance work involved the removal of approximately The work done on the Birkenhead River represents part of 1,000 cu. yds. of material from the settling basin and the an on-going engineering study to evaluate sites and water placement of an additional 300 cu. yds. of rock rip-rap at the top end of the dyke. supply for a salmon enhancement facility on this system. This specific project involved the construction of a water The total cost of the project was approximately $4,500.00.

-11- 6. Public Participation and Small Streams 1975. This resulted in the flow being diverted from the main Assistance was provided in the following public participa· channel. tion projects: The stream was re-channeled anc:I the banks were protected i) Ryder Creek Spawning Channel Proposal (Chilliwack Rod with rock filled gabions. & Gun Club) The total cost of the project was $7 ,000.00 and th is was ii) Hastings Creek Fishway Proposal (Square Tailers Rod & Gun shared on a 50·50 c.ost sharing basis with the Provincial Parks Club) Branch. iii) De Mamie! Creek Dam Storage Proposal (Amalgamated Con· 7. Miscellaneous servation Society) The services of the Engineering Division were engaged in the The following were the small stream projects undertaken in following two H.P.D. projects: 1976-77: i) The construction of an impervious berm by the C.N.R. i) N'ithi River on Lion Creek. In May 1976, a breakout occurred on the Nithi River as a ii) The proposed construction of a settling basin by Kamad result of gravel and forest debris being deposited in a rela· Silver on Homestake Creek, a tributary of Sinmax Creek. tively low gradient area of the stream. Several members of the Engineering Division assisted in making The river was subsequently re-channelized at a total cost of arrangements and participated in the Pacific Coast Fisheries En· approximately $5,000.00 (Fish & Wildlife Branch and Water gineers Tour of fisheries enhancement projects in B. C. Resources Branch each contributed $1,500.00 towards this project). V. 1977/78 FRWC BRANCH PROGRAM PROPOSALS

ii) Nahatlatch River The proposed 1977/78 biological, engineering, public partici· A log jam 1,000 ft. long x 150 ft. wide, that was considered pation and provincial programs are summarized in Table X. to be an almost impenetrable barrier to migrating salmon, Budgetary considerations are included in this table. existed in an area Y, mile above Nahatlatch Lake. A. Biological Program - Fred Fraser An attempt was made in January 1977 to excavate a bypass i) Proposed reconnaissance, feasibility and tagging studies are channel around the jam by utilizing a D7 and a D8 dozer. generally extensions or expansions of investigations initiated However, the ground was found to be too soft to support one or two years ago. System specifics are available in the the machines and the project was terminated. "Fraser River-West Coast Vancouver Island, Salmonid It is proposed, however, to complete the project in the sum· Enhancement Proposals" formulated by the Geographical mer of 1977 after the area has had an opportunity to dry out. Working Group. A perspective on the stage of development of studies in each system may be obtained by comparing iii) Lorenzetti Creek the proposals cited in Table X to work carried out in 1976. Large. accumulations of gravel which were deposited in the ii) Directed studies refer specifically to the International Pacific stream bed as a result of heavy rains in November and Dec­ Salmon Fisheries Commission (IPSFC). At the Annual ember 1975 resulted in the breakout of this system. Meeting, Mike Bailey presented a description of the IPSFC The creek was re-channelized and rock rip·rap was placed and its relation to the FRWC Branch. This is summarized along the right bank at a bend on the lower end of the chan· below. nel ized area to prevent another breakout of the system. The IPSFC was organized by the U.S. and Canadian govern­ The total cost of the project was $2,200.00. ments to manage Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon iv) Inches Creek stocks and apportion the commercial catches equally between the two countries. It is anticipated that Canada will pay for Rock rip·rap Was placed along the banks and spawning gravel all enhancement of these two species and consequently will was replaced in the upper 150 ft. section of the stream. reap 100 percent of the benefits. The rip· rap was necessary to prevent spawning salmon from In 1972, the IPSFC published a plan to enhance Fraser River digging into the banks to spawn in upwelling flows that have pink and sockeye stocks. Preliminary analysis of these pro· resulted in widening and extensive silting of this system. posals revealed two major discrepancies. First, the com· In addition, existing holding pools were cleaned out; stream mission's estimate of required investment, $14 million, is improvement work was undertaken in Barnes Creek, a tri· substantially lower than estimates of $50 million determined butary of Inches Creek; and two experimental 50,000 egg by F RWC staff. Second, there is considerable disagreement capacity incubation boxes were constructed. concerning survival rates. The total cost of the project was $6,500.00. Because it is anticipated that DOFE will undertake the en· v) Goldstream River hancement, the IPSFC plan will have to be carefully studied by our staff. Some funds have been requested for this (Table Large accumulations of gravel were deposited in the stream X). bed as a result of heavy rains in November and December

-12- iii) Lake enrichment has been very successful as a sockeye attempt to improve upon the punchcard system. enh;inccment tool in Great Central Lake. The three pro­ Marine steelhc!ad - a comprehensive study of interception posed sites for the. 1977 /78 program are all on the West rates in commercial fisheries. Coast, but the technique may be most valuable in future Fraser River system enhancement. It is possible that many D. Engineering Program - George Nielsen of the costly IPSFC sockeye spawning channel proposals i) Reconnaissance - some funds will be used for a variety of can be replaced by lake fertilization. The implication is that studies. rearing rather than spawning opportunities limit present sockeye stocks. ii) Feasibility studies - Vedder River chum salmon channel. - Ankwill Creek sockeye spawning channel The Research and Development Directorate developed the fertilization technique. The present trend is away from ' iii) Feasibility and design - Birkenhead River coho and chinook research to production scale projects but the Pacific Biologi­ hatchery cal Station will be involved in some as yet undefined role. - Deadman Creek chinook, coho and steelhead incubation and rearing There will be detailed assessment of the effects of fertiliza­ tion to ensure there will be no long-term deleterious changes. iv) Construction - Inches Creek ($400,000) In this vein, it is interesting that fertilization may well be a v) ·Public participation and small streams reversible process and that the optimum approach may be a cyclic on/off fertilization procedure in which several years VI. FINANCING AND IMPLEMENTING THE 1977/78 FRWC of fertilization are followed by a non-fertilization period. BRANCH SEP PROGRAM iv ) Ongoing projects refer specifically to. those financed under The SEP budget for the FRWC Branch lastyearwas $781,000 SEP. Th is excludes Capilano and Robertson Creek Hatcheries. with 9 man years. This year $2.5 million and 24 man years have The 1977 /78 program proposals for Blaney Creek, Inches been requested. Creek and Thornton Creek are mentioned briefly in the 1976 reports. In effect the dollar requirement has already been approved although the long-term SEP budget has not received Cabinet B. Public Participation Program consent. The money is part of a total SEP requirement of $9.0 Many very keen public groups are expressing their interest million for the coming year which has been met internally by in local SEP projects. Operation and success of the Victoria shuffles within DOFE. Treasury Board approval of the actual Amalgamated Conservation Society project near Victoria serves use of this money is still required but should not be difficult to as a standard for the interaction between the public and Fisheries obtain since "new" money is not at stake (as it will be in future personnel. In general these projects will be low cost and labour years). intensive with Fisheries' role essentially to assess proposals, The man year commitment is less concrete. Again, internal supply the cash and offer technical support. The beneficiaries shifts within the Department are underway to circulate positions of these programs (the number of which is expected to level to the West from other parts of the body but resistance (particu­ off in about five years) will be both Fisheries and the public. larly from the East) is retarding this process. C. Provincial Program At the present time, plans are to continue operations into Several joint federal-provincial projects are included in the new year with no major changes. That is, most or all term SEP. The rationale for this is that the provincial authorities are employees will be retained. It is anticipated that contract-type responsible for management of steelhead trout and large-scale employment will continue in those areas where adequate term increases in the numbers of commercially captured salmon might positions are not forthcoming. increase the incidental loss of steelhead. To alleviate this po~5i­ bility, steelhead investigations and enhancement projects are to be included in the overall scheme. Anadromous cutthroat trout are also included in SEP proposals. A brief description of the provincial activities follows: Serpentine-Nicomekl - cutthroat earthen rearing ponds Somass - sockeye enhancement may adversely effect steel­ head Thompson - a juvenile tagging program (perhaps in Dead­ man Creek, will give information on distribution and timing of Thompson River steelhead which is essential since this species appears to be in the Lower Fraser during the August/September salmon fisheries. Adult behaviour patterns once in the river will be monitored by radiotagging. Sport catches will be censused in an

-13- Manager Fraser River - West Coast 1.S. Todd PM· 7 (Proposed)

Senior Ent1ancement Biologist F.J. Fraser Bi·3 Technical Support 480·5261 J. Kambeitz GT-4 480·9234 M.D. Bailey CS-2 480-9121

Salmon Enh. Bio. Salmon Enh. Bio Salmon Enh, Bio. Salmon Enh. Bio. Lower Central Fraser Valley Burrard Inlet - Western Lower West Coast Vancouver Island Upper Fraser D.D. Bailey Fraser Valley New Position Bi-2 Bi-2 Bi-2 Bi-2 New Position 480·52Bfi New Position 480·5373

Senior Bio, Tech. Capilano A. Senior Bio. Tech, Robertson Ck. Thornton Ck. Senior Bio. Tech. Senior Bio. Tech. Senior Bio. Tech. EG·ESS-7 Hatchery Super. EG-ESS·7 Hatchery Super. Hatchery EG-ESS-7 EG·ESS·7 EG·ESS·7 (Prop) W.T. Foye E. Stone J. Scott K. Petersen Superintendant "Jew Position J,D, Buxton L. Kahl 480-5346 GT-4 480-5347 GT-4 GT-3 480-5384 480-4385 .... 480-5908 480-5945 New Position .i:.. I Bio. Tech, Bio. Tech. Asst. Super. Bio. Tech. Asst, Super. Bio,-Field Assist. Bio. Tech. 610. Tech. Bio. 'fech. Bio. Tech. Bio. Tech. Bio. Tech. EG·ESS-5 Birkenhead G. Logan EG-ESS-5 E. Carter GL-ELE·5 EG-ESS-5 EG·ESS-5 EG-ESS·5 EG-ESS-6 EG·ESS·5 EG-ESS·5 G. Dixon EG-ESS·5 GT·3 New Position GT·3 New Position D.T. Lightly New Position B. Mitchell P. Sprout J. Koster C. Whyte 480-9391 K. Simpson 480-5909 480·6023 480-5950 480-9410 480-9392 480-9393 480-9412 480·9411

Bio. Tech. Fish Culturist EG-ESS-3 Bio. Field Assist. Contract EG-ESS-3 EG-ESS·3 EG-ESS·3 EG-ESS-3 Bio. Tech, Bio. Tech. EG·ESS-5 1 Man Year L.A. Salmon 2 Term P. Ryan Man Power 2 Term 2 Term 2 Term 2 Term EG·ESS-3 EG-ESS-5 New Position Contract GT-2 Man Years GL·ELE·5 1:2 Man Years Man Years Man Years Man Years Man Years New Position P. Preston 480-3909 480-9367 480-9413

2 Man Years Maintenance Maintenance Contract Contract Contract Contract Contract 1 Term Contract R. Smeal W. Glover Man Power Manpower Manpower Manpower Manpower Man Year GL·ELE·4 GL·MOC·6 2 Man Years 2 Man Years 3 Man Years 2 Man Years 1 Man Year 480·9118 480-9247 Contract Manpower Indian Trainee 11h Man Year G. Cook

Figure 1

BIOLOGICAL UNIT ORGANIZATION FRASER RIVER - WEST COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND BRANCH

March 1, 1977 Dept. of Fisheries & Environment Minister Romeo Leblanc Figure 2. Deputy Minister Seaboum

Organization of the Department of S.A.D.M. S.A.D.M. Fisheries and the Environment as seen Fisheries & Marine Environmental Services from FRWC Branch Lucas A.D.M. A.D.M. International Fisheries Ocean and Aquatic Fisheries Management and Marine Directorate Affairs McEachran Roberts Collin

Fishing Industry Resource Services Services Services

Ontario Quebec Newfoundland Maritimes

Planning (McKinnon) Salmon Enhancement Intergovernmental Program Affairs (Hourston) Mcleod

Technology & Inspection Research & Development Economics & Field Services Support Services Licensing Razzel Johnson Crouter Boyd Palmer Newton Administration and Support Services Regulation and Domes Enforcement Hawley Regional Marine Service Gay

Johnstone St. - Northern & Yukon F.R.W.C.V.I. Georgia St. Jones Todd Gibson

New Westminster Kamloops Victoria W.C.V.1. Sr. Enhancement Senior Management Protection District Protection District Protection District Protection District Biologist Biologist Freeman Goodman Duke McCulloch Fraser Pitre

The F .R.W.C. Collection of perms, terms worms & germs Figure 3. Organization of SEP Planning Groups

Task PAD Force ~

Senior Coordinators Research Economic PIP Geographic Working Working Working Working Groups Group Group Group

STEERING GROUP RESEARCH WORKING GROUP

Executive direction Bio-engineering research needs & priorities

PROGRAM DIRECTOR ECONOMIC WORKING GROUP

Program development Program assessment and evaluation Program implementation Technical analysis & program support

TASK FORCE PUBLIC AND INDIAN PARTICIPATION WORKING GROUP Program & administrative review Advisory to Pi P consultant

PAD GEOGRAPHIC WORKING GROUPS

Program Assessment and Develop program proposals. Composed Development of Federal and Provincial employees.

-16- FIG UR E 4. FRASER RIVER SYS 'I" EM

0 40 L= ··:::j Miles

l So Imo n v

\ Chilcotin

Chilko R ) Clearwater R Tose ko R ) ~

snuswap R Upper Shuswop R Birkenhead•~

-facilities underlined R

-17- FIGURE 5 PROPOSED ENHANCEMENT SITES - WEST VANCOUVER ISLAND

.: : : : ~: y:-:·.-...... :·\··~\·\·: .. ~......

...... LEGEND ··-·.· ... ·.·.· .. focilities underlined limit to salmon passage

-18- FI GU RE 6. N IT IN AT LAKE, VAN C 0 UV E R ISL AND

SHOWING SAMPLE SITES

Longitudinal Profile m

Sampling Stations

0-Zooplankton and water supply x- beach seine sites

N

Cr.

-19- FIGURE 7: Depth profiles for salinity, temperature, oxygen and H s in Nitinat Lake. 2

Salinity

0 10 .2..0 ~o - steepest gradient at 0-5 m depth - salinity is steady below 10 m - there is a seasonal salinity change at surface of over 10 parts per thousand (900) from May to June 5 depending on precipitation and run off - salinity is lowest in Dec - Jan (4-8%, 1965) and highest in 10 September (22-29%, 1965)

T <3C lO l5 0 Temperature 5 - sharpest temperature gradient at 0-5 m depth LO - temperature is steady at 10°c below 10 m - there is a seasonal temgerature change at surface eg. 9 C - 15°c from May to July

o~y.;~ (~/e) 5 \0 Oxygen - at stations 1-3 only 0-5 m depth zone is well oxygenated (above 5 mg s Oxygen/l) - at stations 4-6 oxygen levels are abov• 5 mg/l below 10 m due to tidal mixing

Hydrogen Sulfide (H .§l 2 - since H s and oxygen are mutually 2 exclusive, their chemoclines are related -H s chemocline descends from 15-20 m 2 depth (St. 1 and 2) to 30-55 m depth (St. 6) - depending on year sampled.

-20- FIGURE 8 STATIONS MONITORED FOR H~S IN NITINAT LAKE

Nitinot R

F l G U R E 9. I S 0 P L ET HS 0 F T H E P E R C E N TA G E 0 F N E W W AT E R T H AT E NT E R E D

NITINAT LAKE BETWEEN JULY 1968 AND AUGUST 1970

STATION NUMBER

4 3 2 0

50 E :c ~ I 00 a. w 0 15 0

-21 - FIGURE 10 FISH KILLS IN NITINAT LAKE

CASE 1 CASE 2 CASE 3 July 20, 1970 October 13, 1970 October 13, 1972

STORM ABRUPT WIND V. LOW AUG -

SHIFT OCT PPT'N I UP~LING l + STEADY TIDAL SEAWARD WIND HIGH\E I INTRUSION INFLOW OF LARGE . l DENSE WATER MASS OF HIGH p NON-TIDAL

(SEA :±: FJORD) UPWELLED OCEAN SEICHES IN FJORD

BELOW S-0 WATER 2 INTERFACE INTO FJORD l l INTRA FJORD TOXIC H S UPWELLING 2

WATER PUSHED

UP

CASE l CASE 3

STORM wind hip ocean water enters ~ - dry - very dense - surface water () \\ind H S - dry - dry summer 2 low Fraser outflor - top layer unstable

-22- STATIONS 4 5 7 10 17 18

-23- 2 3 4 5 6

-24- R

• . L •·· . .• • ...... "'l' ·~~ -~... ., ... ~ .. ''"I '"I "l'' I"" '"'' •······· ···•·K:· ·:.._:.· ...1 ····'~iii.? ...... ,1 .•.• dll•dt" ··+~j•i' ..... :ttti! tf11•f•• Llt•HtH ::·:: :-;-.f:··· :· ·N ··: :· .·· j •.•:..:· ~: -~a:"!r ·/·:: -~ :: i~:t: :;di :1.~ "··• j~:•: -- 1 Hui ifll1 trtn 1!1.: p:;t ;,:,:.:_:_ :.'' :: . · -.t.: \.·.··.: .... I" .& .. • •'· .... ·"!·"'"·.I··· · . , : t'ttr ::ri: :::t: :::1: ::!:: '- :: : -.1-': :'.::...~ ::: ·~:~;._-: :: !;;;; !!::: !: : : : 1i:~ :; d11: 1~r:: ;:;:! :;!:'. :~!:1

FIGURE 13 FOOD COMPOSITION OF NITlNAT LAKE FISH, 1976. A-% BY NUMBER 6-% BY VOLUME. NOS IN PARENT H ES I S GI VE SAMPLE SIZE

-25- fJGURE 14. FOOD INTERACTIONS AMONG NITINAT LAKE FISH

CHUMS

SCULPINS CHINOOKS

STICKLEBACKS

HERRING

-26- F I G U R E I 5. S E A S 0 N A L C H A N G E S I N L E N G T H A N D W E I G H T 0 F N

Clearwater 20

Mi I es

LEGEND m- A.du It Coho Spawning Area

11

I I 111111 - Adult Chinook N Thompson R S p o w n i n g A r e··a s , I

Wa p Cr I

Lawer

Enderby

Trinity V

Upper Shuswop

FIGURE !6. NORTH THOMPSON-CLEARWATER- SHUSWAP RIVER SYSTEM

-28------· ------;

FIGURE 17 QUESNEL-CHILKO-TASEKO RIVER SYSTEMS

Cori boo

Quesnel Lake-'"

N

Willioms Lake Chilco!in Lake

Fraser

R

11 Toseko R 0 20 Lingfield Mi I es Cr

Riv e r LEGEND

Adult Chinook 111111111 - Spawning Areas

-29- FIGURE 18 SALMON-STUART-NECHAKO RIVER SYSTEMS

0 20 Miles

For I SI Jomes ~;;;~,;:·;:·::' '.~:· k •

.... :. S o l m on R ·;.:-: N

Fort Ff'oser

Dom LEGEND Fraser R

- Diffuse Chinook Spawning Area

1111111 - Adu It Chi nook Spawning Areas

-30- F' I G U R £ I 9. B 0 W R 0 N - T 0 R P Y - M C G R E G 0 R R I V E R SY S T E M S

James Fonloniko Cr

George

R Bowron

R

LEGEND

{{{ - D i f f u s e C h i n o o k Spawning Area

11\\1\11- Adult Chinook Spawning Area 0 20 Mi I es

-31- F I G U R E ~ 0. T ET E J AU N E C AC H E

' \ ' ' ' ' \ :.. " '- \ "- LEGEND \ '-.... \ '-.... I I "- "' \ 11111111 - Adu It Chinook Tete ". Spowning Areos Jaune '-.. Cache w N I Fraser R

I I Tete Joune Coche \..\ \ \ I \ ...... __ \ ..... \ \

I ...... ___ -- - -.... ', \ \ 0 1 2 \ km

\ \ \I I FIGURE 21 NICOLA RIVER SALMON SPAWNING DISTRIBUTION AND TIMING Chinook ond Coho Pink .. ,; .. tight 1111111 light medium heavy ~1111111111 -··--·

Thompson 111111111111111. heavy ARRIVAL START PEAK END

CHI NOOK July EA~~-< A~ ~Nd Aug. M•o. Sept.

Guichon Cr COHO Sept. end Sept. lo1e Oct. early Nov.

Pl NK Sept. late Sept. early Oct. late Oct.

w w I Lok e Lake

s pi us

I 0 2 3

km

·I Paleface

p 0 st Cr

FIGURE 22 CHILL! WACK-VE DOER Cr I 9 7 6 T R I .B U T A R Y R E C 0 N N A I S S A N C E

Ryder Cr Cr

Cr

Barret Ct 'to Cutlus Salwe1n_.., Lake Cr Hopedale

0 4

Mi le s Fros er R

-34- Adams River

North West Beach (Point)

little Shuswap lake

I Fishing Sites

Tagging Site

South Thompson River

0 2

Miles

Fig. 23. The Shuswap Lake system study area.

Tagging Site Pritchard

-35- ~ Williams Lo'ke 30 mi • Fl.GURE 24. CHILCOTIN RLVER 1976 SAMPLING (AUG.- SEPT) Riske Cr. I"= c. 9.5 mi.

CHINOOK- JUVE NI.LES (--->

CAPTURE METHOD Chi I cot in S - seine E - electro sho eking M - minnow trapping

SUCCESS 0 - zero Hanceville • I - fair 2 - good River

CHINOOK - AD ULIS <-)

R - Reported Spawning Alexis ' \-E- I 0 - Observed Spawning Cr. I I 1 J M-0 D - Dead Recoveries , I Ir CODE (NO OF Fl'SHl • M-l)i"' .A - 0 - 50 E-1 I I e- 50-200 I

c-200-500 0-A-~--vi D - s.oo• R-C/.,,. I I I / ,' _, ,LM-0

R, 0- A -'-M - 0 E-Q R - D 0 - c D - B Chilcotin Lake

S - I M-1

Chilko LGke

-36- v~·

FIGURE 25

Lookout point

BIRKENHEAD RIVER

SPAWNING DISTRIBUTIONS

iii medium CHINOOK • heavy COHO

~light CHINOOK Gnimedium COHO

mi] heavy SOCKEY£ mlight COHO

- medium SOCKEY£

[\)d light SOCKE YE

0 2 3

Scale in Kilometres

-37- Table 1. Proposed stock enhancement in the FRWC Branch area.

Species Fraser River West.Coast Total

Sockeye 4.0 0.5 4.5 Chum 1.1 1.1 2.2 Pink 1.1 0 1. 1 Coho 1.0 0.6 1.6 Chinook 0.3 0.38 0.68 Total 7.5 2.58 10.08

Table II. Capilano smolt releases 1976.

No. CWT No. Ad No. Mark Size at Species Brood Source Released Code +Ad only Unmarked Mort.(%) Release (no.fib)

Sthd 75 Cap. 30,945 3/2/ 6 27,945 3,000 0.20 29.7 Chin 75 Cap. 47,908 15/2/ 6 39,105 2,408 6,395 0.27 86.4 Chin 75 BQR 435,412 15/2/10 55,684 3,429 376,299 0.58 77.1

Table Ill. Capilano adult returns 1976.

Spawned Holding Species Return (Female only) Indians Sold Trucked Research Mortality On hand Released

Sthd. - winter 14 7 3 11 Sthd. - summer 11 6 5 Coho - adults 25,255 978 1,234 16,424 1,850 249 3,716* Coho - jacks 1 1 Chinook - adults 1, 103 260 822* Chinook - jacks 0 Sockeye 2

* Including spawned males.

Table IV. Planned smolt releases from Capilano Hatchery 1977.

Fin Species Brood Group Total Release No. Tagged Clip

Chinook 76 Early 750,000 80,000 Ad Chinook 76 Late 400,000 80,000 Ad Coho 75 Capilano 35,000 35,000 AdLV Coho* 75 BOR 550,000 130,000 Ad Steelhead 76 12,500 12,500 Ad

• Including special projects groups

-38- Table V. Robertson Creek smolt releases 1976

Total Marking Release ' No. No.CWT No.AD No. Mortality Size Release Species Brood Released Tag Code +Ad Only Unmarked (%) (no/lb) Date

Chinook 1975 487,145 04/02/08 50,731 1,354 435,060 0.51 87.9 June 7 Chinook 1975 462,985 04/02/09 47,724 2,102 413,159 2.37 87.4 June 15 Chinook 1975 10,829 13/02/05 10,702 127 0 1.09 83.6 May 26 960,959 109, 157 3,583 884,222 Coho 1974 251,228 11/02/06 52,785 801 197,443 0.59 15.7 April 21 Steel head 1975 692 11/02/01 692 13.6- May7-27 73

Table VI. Robertson Creek 1976 adult returns

Total Returns to Brailer Holding Pounds Adult Adult Adult-Sex Females Mortality of fish Species Mark Jacks Male Female Undetermined Total Spawned Male Female sold

Chinook unmarked 8~969 1,133 996 11,098 marked 369 60 34 463 total 9,338 1,193 1,030 11,561 1,039 1, 157 44 7,770 (jacks) Coho unmarked 5,741 2,250 7,991 marked 1,050 1,109 2,159 total 6,791 3,359 10,150 640 653 244 9,993 (adults Sockeye 27 27 and jacks)

Early Sthd 24* 9 2 Late Sthd 38 4

• Includes 7 steelhead sports caught in the Stamp River

Table VII. Anticipated smolt releases from Robertson Creek 1977

Species Brood Group Number Tagged Date

Coho 75 800,000 52,000 mid-April Chinook 76 early 1,200,000 70,000 early May mid 2,000,000 70,000 mid-May late 500,000 70,000 late-May Steelhead 76 large 1,600 1,600 early-April medium 2,100 2,100 mid-April small 6,000 6,000 early-May

Table VIII: See Page 6.

Table IX. Comparison of Nitinat lake zooplankton composition in 1975 and 1976.

1975 1976

Composition - copepods 80% 60% - annelids negligible 22%

Abundance - maximum 38,000/m 2 270,000/m2 - seasonal variation steady 20 fold - spatial variation steady 50 fold

-39- Table X. Fraser River -West Coast salmonid enhancem1!nt biological and engineering program proposals 1977/78.

A. Reconnaissance & General Feasibility MY G&S CAPITAL TOTAL Engineering Reconn. 1.0 47,500 12,500 60,000 Upper Fraser Biological Reconn. 2.0 75,000 5,000 80,000 W.C.V.1. Biological Reconn. 1.5 52,500 7,500 60,000

Provincial Programs

Serpentine - Nicomekl 18,000 18,000 Somass Steel head 40,000 40,000 Thompson Steelhead 28,000 4,000 32,000 Marine Steclhead 97,000 97,000

Headwater Tagging

Vedder-Chilliwack R. 0.5 42,000 8,000 50,000 Nechako Riv er 0.5 50,000 8,000 58,000 Chilko River 0.5 40,000 5,500 45,500 Nitinat River 0.5 45,000 5,500 50,500 TOTALS 6.5 535,000 ---56 000 591 000

B. Small Stream Projects and Public - Indian Involvement

-2.0 97,500 52,500 150,000

c. lake Enrichment

Kennedy 0.5 83,000 20,000 103,000 Hobiton 0.5 57,000 10,000 67,000 Henderson 0.5 65,000 15,000 80,000 TOTALS -1.5 205,000 45,000 250,000

D. Project Feasibility, Design and Construction

Inches Creek 1.5 50,000 400,000 450,000 Birkenhead River 1.5 80,000 40,000 120,000 Middle Shuswap River 15,000 3,000 18,000 Vedder-Chilliwack 3.0 160,000 G0,000 220,000 Deadman Creek 2.5 142,000 68,000 210,000 Chilko-Chilcotin 1.0 42,500 4,000 46,500

-40- D. (Continued) MY G&S CAPITAL TOTAL

Ankwil 0.5 G0,000 20,000 80,000 Tlup

TOTALS 12.0 662,500 695,000 1,357,500

E. Operation of Facilities

Blaney Creek 0.5 32,500 5,000 37,500 Inches Creek 0.5 34,500 5,000 39,500 Thornton Creek 1.0 78,000 16,000 94,000 TOTALS =2.0 145,000 26,000 171 000

Program Administration

30,000 30,000

OVERALL TOTALS 24.0 1,675,000 874,500 2,549,500

February 4, 1977

-41- Appendix A. Participants of the Fraser River • West Coast Vancouver Island Biological Staff Meeting held February 23 and 24, 1977.

*Don Bailey Biologist Vancouver *Mike Bailey Technical Support Vancouver Vicki Beck Secretary Vancouver Ed Carter Assist. Manager Robertson Creek Gerry Cook Technician Robertson Creek Carol Cross Technician Vancouver Glen Dixon Technician Vancouver Alice Federenko Biologist Vancouver Bill Foye Technician Vancouver Fred Fraser Senior Biologist Vancouver Randy Godin Technician Vancouver Robin Harrison Biologist Vancouver Terry Hartrick Technician Vancouver Larry Kahl Technician Vancouver Joe Kambeitz Technical Support Vancouver Mayda Koop Secretary Vancouver Jan Koster Technician Vancouver Dave Lightly Technician Vancouver Brian Mitchell Technician Van_couver Doug Moir Technician Vancouver George Nielsen Senior Engineer Vancouver "*Ted Perry Biologist Vancouver Karl Petersen Manager Robertson Creek Paul Preston Technician Vancouver Paul Ryan Technician Thornton Creek Leslie Salmon Fish Culturist Capilano Jim Scott Technician Vancouver Rob Smeal Technician Capilano Paul Sprout Technician Vancouver Paul Starr Technician Vancouver Eldon Stone Manager Capilano Ian Todd Branch Manager Vancouver Ray Volk Technician Robertson Creek Chris Whyte Technician Vancouver Dave Wilson Biologist Vancouver * Marion Wood Biologist Vancouver

*Reporters * * Editor of report

-42- Appendix B. Agenda of the Fraser River - West Coast Vancouver Island Biological Staff Meeting held February 23 & 24, 1977.

Fraser River - West Coast Branch Biological Staff Meeting Salmon Enhancement Unit Island Hall Hotel · Parksville, B.C. February 23 & 24, 1977

AGENDA February 23, 1977

I. OPENING REMARKS 0900 - Conscription of recording secretaries - Aim and Objectives - General Program Outline

II. DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES & THE ENVIRONMENT 0930 - Recent reallignments - Structure & organization - Where we fit in

Ill. SALMONID ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM 1000 - Background - Federal - Provincial endeavour - International involvements - Objectives -Goals - Time horizon - Organization - Geographical working groups - Other working groups

COFFEE BREAK - 10:30

IV. 1976/77 PROGRAM REVIEW 10:45

A. Facilities 1. Capilano Salmon Hatchery Eldon Stone 10:45 2. Robertson Creek Salmon Hatchery Karl Peterson 11:15 3. Blaney - Inches Chum Salmon Development Program Don Bailey 11:45

LUNCH BREAK 12:15-13:15

-43- 4. Thornton Creek Chum Salmon Rearing Project Paul Ryan 13:15

B. Field Activities 1. Westcoast Vancouver Island i) Nitinat Lake Studies Alice Fedorenko 13:45 ii) Juvenile Marking & General Reconnaissance Program Dave Lightly 14:15

2. Fraser River i) Upper Fraser Reconnaissance Larry Kahl 14:45 Paul Preston 14:55 Chris Whyte 15:05

COFFEE BREAK - 15:15

ii) Nicola River Reconnaissance Paul Starr 15:30 iii) Vedder/Chilliwack Reconnaissance Paul Sprout 15:50 iv) Juvenile Marking Program - Vedder/Chilliwack River Brian Mitchell 16:10 - Shuswap River Don Buxton 16:30 - Chilko Marking Reconnaissance Jan Koster 16:50 v) Birkenhead River Hatchery Feasibility Study Don Bailey 17:10

ADJOURN - 17:15

V. HAPPY HOURS - 17:30 - ?

VI. TRIPLEX PORNOGRAPHIC MOVIE Narration by Joe Kambeitz, demonstration by Mad Dog Bailey 21:00 (this will be a sexually explicit film actually showing naked salmon in the act of spawning- parental guidance advised).

February 24, 1977

VI I. 1977ns PROGRAM PROPOSALS 09:00

A. Biological Programs - Fred Fraser 1. Reconnaissance Programs ·2. Feasibility Studies 3. Headwater Tagging Programs 4. Directed Studies 5. Lake Enrichment

-44- A. Biological Programs (cont.) 6. Ongoing Operations

B. Public Participation Programs

C. Provincial Programs

D. Enjuneerun Programs - George Nielson 10:15 1. Reconnaissance Programs 2. Feasibility & Design 3. Construction Projects

COFFEE BREAK - 11 :00

VIII. GENERAL DISCUSSION - Questions 11:15

LUNCH - CHECK-OUT - 12:00

VIII. GENERAL DISCUSSION (cont.) 13:15

IX. TOPICS OF CONCERN 14:00 1. Administration and red-tape 2. Job possibilities 3. Classification problems 4. Hiring procedures and pay rates - Perms, terms & worms - Discussion by D. Bailey 5. Communication

X. OTHER BUSINESS 15:00 Feedback Etc.

XI. ADJOURN TO THE BAR 15:02

HOMEWARD MIGRATION - 16:30 +

F.J. Fraser February 21, 1977

-45-