Shuswap River Fish/Aquatic Information Review
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V .. Ijr" - ,1 ( , V l l.y Shuswap River Fish/Aquatic Information Review Prepared for: Be Hydro Prepared by: ~ Environmental Ltd. 1326 McGill Rd Kamloops. BC V2C6N6 February 2, 2001 AKNOWLEDGEMENTS The work necessary to complete the Shuswap River Fish/Aquatic Infonnation Review required accessing numerous reports and docwnents from a number of different sources. Without the help of a number of individuals providing this material, it would not have been possible to provide a comprehensive review. In addition, many individuals supplied conunents and infonnation through reviews and e-mail. Thanks to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (FOC), Heather Stalberg, Roberta Cooke, Doug Lofthouse, Mike Flynn, John Ball and others, BCHydro (BCH). Bob Westcott Vic Lewynsky, Darren Sherbot and Kim Meidal et al. MoELP support came from Al Caverly, Brian Jantz Brian Chan and others. Szczepan Wolski from the Shuswap Hatchery provided helpful comments on hatchery operations and fish resources of the Shuswap River. Also thanks to the members of the Shuswap Water Use Plan Consultative Committee for their comments during a presentation of the draft report results. Finally thanks to the reviewers who provided conunents that helped to improve the fmal report. ARC Environm ental Lid ShUSH'OP River Fish /A quQ!iC Informal/on Revie .... Pro)eC/ No. J JISO Pagei TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introd uction............................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Background ....•....................................................................................................................... 3 3.0 Methods................................................................•............................................................... 15 3. I Collection of Information ................ ........................................................................... .......... 15 3.2 Documentation and Review of Information ..................... ................................................ ...... 16 4.0 Results ............•....................................................................................•...................................... 17 4.1 Mara Lake to the outlet of Mabel Lake ................................... ......................................... I 7 4.1.1 Aquatic Resources .................................................................................................... 17 4.1.1.1. Water Quality and Quantity ................................................................................ 17 4.1.1.2 Discharge ............................ .................................................................. .................. 18 4.1.2 Fish and Fish Habitat............................................................................................... l8 4. 1.2. I Fish Distribution ............................................................................ ......................... 18 4. I .2.2. Life Hi stoty ........................................ ................................................................. 19 4.1.2.3 Habitat Productivity ................................................ ................................................ 21 4.1.2.4 Escapement ............................................................................................................. 21 4.1.2.5 Stock Monitoring! Assessment .................................................................... ........... 2 4 4.1.2.6 Enhancement. ........ ...................................... .. ......................................................... 25 4.1.2.7 AnglerUse ........................................................................................ ...................... 25 4.1.3 Effect on Aquatic Resources.................................................................................... 28 4.1.3. I Flow Fluctuations ................................................................................................... 28 4. 1.3.2 Flow Management Strategies ................................................................................. 28 4.1.3.3 Habitat Productivity ............................................. ................................................... 28 4.1.4 Identified Interests and Concerns .......................................................................... 29 4.1.5 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 30 4.1.5.1 Aquatic Resource ................................................ .................................................... 30 4. 1.5.2 Fish and Fish Habitat .............................................................................................. 31 4.1.5.3 Hydro-Fish Interactions ................................................. ......................................... 31 4.1.6 Summary and Recommendations........................................................................... 3J 4.2 Mabel Lake from its outlet to Wilsey Dam ....................................................................... 32 4.2.1. Aquatic Resources .................................................................................................... 32 4.2.1.1 Water Quality and Quantity .......... ................................... ....................................... 32 4.2.1.2 Discharge ..................................... ........................................................................... 33 4.2.2 Fish and Fish Habitat............................................................................................... 33 4.2.2. 1 Fish Distribution ......................... .. ........... ,..................................................... 33 4.2.2.2 Life Histo!),....................... ................................................................................ 36 4.2.2.3 Habitat Productivitv ............................................................. ........... ...................... 42 4.2.2.4 Escapement .............................. .... .. .............. .............................. .. ........................ 43 4.2.2.5 Stock Monitoring!Assessment. .................................................. ............................ 46 4.2.2.6 Enhancement.. ............................................................................... .. .. ..... ............... 47 4.2.2.7 Angler Use ........................................ .............................................. .48 4.2.3 Effects on Aquatic Resources.................................................................................. 49 4.2.3. I Flow Fluctuations ................................................................................................ 49 4.2.3.2 Reservoir Drawdown ................................................................... ......................... 50 4.2.3.3 Flow Management Strategies .............................. .................................................. 50 4.2.4 Identified Interests and Concerns .......................................................................... 51 4.2.5 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 52 4.2.5. I Aquatic Resources .............................................. .................................................. 52 4.2.5.2 Fi sh and Fish Habita!. ............................................................................... .......... 53 4.2.5.3 Impacts of Flow Management .............................................................................. 56 ARC Enwonmenral Lid Shuswap River Fish/Aquatic In/ormalion Review ProjeCi No. IlIiO Page ii T ABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 4.2.6 Summary and Recommendations........................................................................... 57 4.3 Wilsey Dam to Sugar Lake Dam .................................... ................................................... 61 4.3.1. Aquatic Resources ......•......................................................................................._.... 61 4.3.1.1 Water Quality and Quantity ............................ ..... ................................................... 61 4.3.1.2 Discharge ............................................................. ................................................... 61 4.3.2 Fish and Fish Habitat...............•.•............................................................................. 61 4.3.2.1 Fish Distribution .......... .......................................................... ................................. 61 4.3.2 .2 Life Histoty .............................. .................... ........................................................... 62 4.3.2.3 Habitat Productivity ................................................................................................ 63 4.3.2.4 Escapement ............ ................................................................................................. 64 4.3.2.5 Stock Monitoring/Assessmenl.. .............................................................................. 64 4.3.2.6 Enhancement............................................. ... ........................................................... 64 4.3.2.7 Angler Use .............................................................................................................. 65 4.3.3 Effects on Aquatic Resources.................................................................................. 65 4.3.3.1 Flow Fluctuations ..................................................................................................