VE:QDEH. - CHILLHJACK HIVEH ClIUi·1 SALl'·lON

REHABI~ITATION PROPOSAL

LIBRARY FISHERIES ANO OCEANS 200-401 B.URRARD ST. . VANCOUVER, 8.C. V6C 384 604-666-3851

' . : ;-

?.ESOURCE D:SVELQVi;.'.EI·JT BRAIJCH

i:r • ~\°"."'"'f\·r-;~:--·R p (' \i •.:._.vvu., __.;.., , .:._;. v. 'l'.1\ nLE Ul•' CC 1N'l'ENTS

·INTRODUCTION 1

DESCI\IPTlON OF W1\TERSHED 2 ' STATUS OF THE CHUH SALHON STOCKS 3 TIHIHG OF TEE VEDDEH. - CHILLI\'JACK 5 . CHUH SALHON SPAviNING MIGRATION ·l. Higratio:n through the Commercial Fishery 5 2. rhg1"'ation into the Vedder River . 6 3. Timing of S-pawning 6

SPA'.!NING DISTRIBUTION 7 POSSIBLE FAC'rCRS LIMITING FRESlfrlATER 8 PHODUCTION

1. Extremes of Discharge 8 2. Silt 9 3. Flood Control Measures 9

PHO?OSED :·T/.Tl!:R USE Ff:WGH..Al:IS \'Jl-IICH HOULD AFFECT FP.ESH11IATER PHODUCTION 10

SPA\:frTING GH.OUl·JD P..EHABILITATIOI~ PROPOSAL 11

BSTDINI'ED COST Oli' CONSTRUCJ:'ION 12

ANTICIPATED L\ICHEASE IN 12 PRODLJ"C'.i:ION 13

DISCUS8101'I 15 VEDDEH. -· CIIILLHlACK HIVEH. CHUM SALl-IOH

INTHODUCTION

Dl.1.I'ing the period 19Li-0-51-i- chum snlr.1on stocks which spaHned in strearn.s nd j a cent to Johnstone Strait, Strait of Georgia and in the system contributed to n r:w.,jor chum salmon fishery with annual landings in the range of 2 - Li- n:illion fish. A sharp decline occurred after 1954, however, and catches dropped steadily subsequent to that tiLlc to a low of 36,000 fish in 1965. Although some ;I: I degree of recovery has been recorded in .recent years, the stock has not yet.returned.to the former level of abundance.

4 S t ,.l·.... . D-u '"-' e."'··1 v• regul2tory ~oasures have been iuposed on the co:m:~eTcial fishery, 101' sGveral yon:-s but since the ratio of returning adults per spawner in the area has averaged : only 1.44:1 from the nine brood years, 1955-63, only limited rehabilitation has ~een achieved.

T-r__;,_...,l. ·,~-~L-~'1.•_,.'-..,!.L-l.J~.LJ. :.;,v_'.._..__~.1-~--.·~m·· .. .:J c.l~~~ l·,--~~~~v, +~J·.~.... .:J. ~ lu~\·T_ r~+e.:.!v 0-.1..~ proa"·uc+i·onv

···---J- .-~- _",-'.-r"~.1-:·.i·on· or~ ·.·-'~ ...- •;,_:....:,_u._-,,,J., u~·L; ·· .----•.!..... l·)~..:..· 1..- -·-o"v ~-i. c'. _ ._...... ;...... ,,-.... ._.. __, v _ -:·.n'..... e spawning

1 7 rc1•···· - ·:." "-~ ... ,.,.·ul"- 01"" -LO'·"(''l·-,..,.:, _, .... ;r-r·;·' C'·-·• ·rol I•le'-'"'U-.L"'G'" .:.:, -..-.. -_ ...... ~...Ju .1.v..J L .. 0 ,_:, ,.,_0 , .L_VI._\.. u .... v .. C.:4.:.:l .::>'

·--r~·,", .. -; ...... -:.wr.v,:,·; ,-·na' ~t·-.-..··· -;·~c-l'Or"" ...... -,,1··-~-~ ...,,,. to "'"·p··and1"11r: i"nd 1Ll"'try 0 ._... .. '-'·- ... \;...... £.V "-'-- 1-' U --L·-- _ G. ." .J ...._ l.,_:;.:_._1_i. v.l.J.J..:..> t;-'\. u ~

~nd :~~~bn ~o~~:~tion. This report deals wi~h the effects of f~ood cont~ol ~easures, g~?Vel re~oval and logging on the ch-...:.::. scil:-:-io::-.:. s~:iawning

~• :11~1.jor tr•ibut.:iry of the li'r<:1~cr Hivcr (Drawine No. 11-19-Clt-).

A chum salmon spawninB gro~nd rehabilitation proposal for

the Vedder ~ Chllliwock River is presented.

DESCTUPTIOH OF T;JAT:GH:3HED

The Vedder - Chilliwaclc River, which drains approximately I 500 square miles, is the largest tributary entering the

F~· ~~r River from the south between Hope and the sea. Tho

:::iver flo 1.!s fo1~ 37 miles between Lake and its

confluonce with the Fraser River. (Dr a Hing Ho. 11-19-Gl+). \.'Jith regard to nomenclature, the nine miles of river downstream from Vedder Crossing has been designated as the Vedder River and the river upstre::J.r:i fror.i. that point has been designated

as the Chill~wack River. In the first four miles below

Vedder Crossing the Vedder River flows on nn and drops 2.r: ave:·azG of four- foe"c per 1000 feet. This segment of the river ~~s formerly cha~actGrized by a broad streambed

1·rith E::·~12~c:·,,us side chari..n.els. 'll:o rivc:::· in. this area is now

1 .. 1 0 1 .J...OJ..tJ'-'-·~,, a,."'.- ...... r-v~·v1-J."'"-1•c·G._, .L.. _.. - 'oci-··1·1·:-.c.,,,v \.:.:v..1..i.. .-·.v:.-"'.-:·-..; ... l...Vw c.;.,,J.· 1-.0, a "'lA,..J...Jv•11, 1- ...... ,..~, of· s;de..J.. ch'-'1melsG\

;I I ./'-.. nui:ibor of "chese side c~1annels are illustrated in photographs 1 to 10. ttithin the dyked arens

0..L·""' :_,v.:.:.;.;;:; __. ~ ;;,\;:)<_;r-~-.t:~ ~v ..u., , +·1-;e.... • ·.1.·"i-·"~crv ...... ;s conf;nca'...... 1-.0.... ""..., rel~~-;vely~...... narro'·l\ c~rnnrwl c.nd as a rcsul t water· ·.Velocity has increased and the stre~~bed is less stable. For the last five niles the - 3 -

Vec1de::r lU.vcr :Ls confined bctuocn dyke:-..; und flows across the former flooa· plain of the Fraser River. This section

is characterized by low cradient and large deposits of debris

The lower two miles of the Chilliwack River are similar to the upper section of the VGddcr River·whercas the i-·enw.i::iing 26 ::n.iles of the river are confined to a narrow vblley and the gradie~t averages seven feet per thousand.

::.· ..Ls <:irea is chnr.Jc'Ge:..·l.zed "by canyon sections with a str·emnbed consisting of boulders and bedrock interspersed with broader sections of more moderate gradient with a streambed consisting of boulders and medium to large size gravel. The Chilli1..1ack

River is relatively .stable above Sl~sse Creek and the water ca~rie~ a relatively low silt load. Several major· tributaries flow into the Chilliwack River, however, only S-wel tze1"' Creel~, '.-lhich ·d1"'ains Cul tus Lake, suppo1.. ts a run of chum salmon. Swel tzer Creok;1 which is two miles lons,has an average gradient of 2.7.feet per 1000 and is char~cterized by a stable discharge, moderate velocities, a low silt loc. d and a st:cco.mbod of' fine to rriedium size gravel.

s'.r_'L~r·us o~:·' '.°f.'i? c:uu:< sxu.:mr s;:coc:Ks I l-l:::jo1"' popul2tions o:t chllJJ., pirJ~, coho and sockeye sLtlmo:-_ a:ce lndigonous to the if edde:r.' - Chilli\'Jac}~ P.iver system .. .:::nc1 J..:.:::c stocks contribute substantially to the cor:imercial fishery. lhis report, however, will be restricted t6 a

Jiscussi0~1 of the st&tus of tho cnur.1 salr~on stoclrn. - l1. -

~lth6~gh only limited informution is available regarding

ch\i1:1 salmon escGpernents to the Vedder - Chillhrnck River system prior to the decline of the chum salmon stocks of the Johnstone · St:::·a.:Lt to ·Fr·ascr Hive1· a:roa, reported c:tnnuol escapements

in the 1930's ranced from 45,000 to 125,000 and aver~god 78,500

fish. On the b~sis of recent studies it is concluded that, due to the physical nature of the system, the estimates

~asod on visual observations in the Vedder - Chilliwack River tend to be conservative. It is probable, therefore, that actual escaper;:.ents during the 1930 's exceeded the recorc:ea levels.

Sinc0 1960, tag and recapture enurneration studies have. been conducted on the Vedder - Chilliwack River and calculated

a~1.nuo.l escapcr:wnts of chum salmon have r&nged bet~·1oen 32, 000 and 96,000 and have averaged 61,500. Although the available information docs not illustrate a sharp decline in stocks

sip.Ce the period of high abundance, it must be err.phasized that recent escapement levels have been maintained only at the

cxpen~e of.l~ndings in the co~nercial fishery. _Since 1960

cor::..r::srcial fis:;.ir:.~;, l:.oth in Johnstone Strait and the Fraser

RivGr;.has bee~ sha~p:y curtail2J t~roughout the period of the

Vedder 3.ivc.1· chw-:1 :~:.::lmon migrci.tion.

~he current proble~ with regard to the Vedder River may

be il!~str~teC by t~e r&te of return from the brood years 1960 During tr,.e yoc:rs \·!hen those stocks returt1ed, 1967 inclusive, exploitation rates in the study area

. i r' - ) ·-

~ '"&.,) . ~vcr~cod only 13 percent and did not exceed 22 percent.

D.ctu:cn (~scapcmonts, thorofor:'o, may be con::;idorcd a valid indicator of tho production rate from the brood years 1960 to 1963. Du1·ing that period, the return per spawner averaged

i.4:1 for the total Fra~er River system but averaged only 1.1:1.for the Vedder - Chilliwack River. Escapement levels to the Vodder - Chilliwack River were, therefo0e, barely

r:1aintainod d ospi te very stringent coJ:J.~11ercial fishing closures~ Durir.lg the same period, the return per spmmer to the

Ha1~rison River system including the Chehalis River, Squakum

Creek and Weaver Creek, av~raged 1.7~1. Since major segments

of the. churn. salmon 1~uns to the two systems enter the commercial fishery nt the sm-;ie time, any effort to fully harvest the Harrison River stocks will result in p further decline in escapements to the Vedder - Chilliwack River system. The

~rmnedio.te p~:·coler;1 is~ ther·E:i'oTe, CL0 of increasing the rate of

p~oductic2 of the Vedder - Chilliwack River to that of the

-c \ . ( .l. I 2·5 ,--:-;: t:l.on th:rouf.l:h thP. C..un1mex·c:Lal Ft sherv

C!'il:m sc:l;non destined. for the Vedder - Chilliwack River a:·e p:_·.:: ssl1-c in the com!nercial fishing area of Johnstone Strait

·;:,c.:twc::.:::~ r:::;..d-Septc.::·,·.::.:r end mid-Novcnber and in the commercial

~~sh~.~~ ~~ec of the Fraser Rive~ batween late September and

..... ·~· - ' .. l -

r::id--Dcc0~:1ber. this timing encompusscs alr.10st the entirG

poI'iod oS: c.:lllm s:::\l1:1on mii;r.:ition within these nrco.s. 'l'ho

E1icration of V coder River churn salmon into the Fraser Ri vc1· is.. chnr.:letcrizccJ by a b:r.·oa d period of a hm1dnnce with

no consistent p~nk period. One or more peaks raay occur a::iy titne between mid-October c:ind early December. On the basis of tagging studies, a similar migration pattern is indicated in Johnstone Strait.

7he seasonal migration timing into the Vedder River

corresponds with that previously described for the Fraser River except t:iat the travel time for Silverdale, which is located.near the upstream fishing boundary, to the Vedder River· nverages c::pp:::·oximately five days. Significant nmnbers of chwn salmon arrive in the Vedde1· River throughout the pe1·iod October 1 to December 20 and peak periods of entry v~ry considerably from year to year . . -

In gener2:, ~pawning takes 9lace two to three weeks

~· , ' .1-1 ,., , ., - .. '.'! .J ~ """ .. • ...... • :..::r..s.:::. crrcer L.l1e veccer inver· ut~c, cnererore, signu.icant. nw:1be:cc o.:: sp~nr:-_ers 2~12.y be c:-:1Jected from mid-October through early J:_,_~iu.::i:i:-y. Or.:. the basis of the available data, there is

locatio::i. 'i.'he chwn solr.1on demo'ns·cr·ate sir:iilar :L~:l.ming patterns fc._:· sp.::: 1.:ning L-1 all areas oi" the Vedder - Chilliwack Hiver system. - 7

SPJ\1.-JJUHC DL.'i'H1 !llJ'J'JOH

( 'i'hc loc.:1tion of the n;njor chum salmon sp:nmj.ng areas i" the Vedder - Chilliwack River system is illustrated in Figure 1. The three major areas are described below:

l~ ·The Lower River - This area includes the.six miles .....·­ of stream between Vedder canal and Liumchon Creek. Chum

-~almon spGwning within this area is lGrgely restricted to

· si6e ch21i:nels of the ffiain river many of wi1ich have been

blacked by dykes at the upstream ends. As a consequence, the water supply to those channels is now limited to seepage through the dykes and to lc>cal runoff, resulting in considerable reduction in available spawnin& area. This section of river \\fas historically, -Che rr.ajor area utilized by ch.u."11 snlmon in the Vedder - Chilli1·icick River and the area is still utilized

by a large seg~~nt of the spawning population.

2. The Uooer ~iver - This area includes a seven mile

soction of the Chilliwacl~ Hiver· located between Chipmun1-;:

Cree>~ 2~1d 8i1il2.i1.-r2ck L3ke. ~1i thin this section, chum salm.on thG river although a fow

fish -c:tilize n rn1mb0r of small side chann.els located. in the ·area. 'l'l1e uppcI' river has r0:nai1:.ed relativ.::ly stable anq ·in

'\ T ":l ..- ••• ... ''°' •. ·1 J \,:;'-~--- o.J' ' L-.. -..1. increasing propo~tion of the V6dder - Chilliwack •\ - l,1 -

c~1.::m10J.s of the'! Voddo1· 1\ivo1· ;..ro innccossiblc to fish • . 3. · J•:rel"t.zcr Creel'.: - .1\lthough chum sc.llmon Ql.~e distributed

throu:;~10ut the t.1w raile length of· Sweltzer Creek, spuwning is lc:.r;;ely concentrated :ln the ·area iinme.diately do'.·mstrearn of Cultus Lake and in the lower half mile of the creek.

POSSIBLE FACTORS LlMI'Tii1TG FHESHWATER

}JRODUCTION

( ....1 ) ' Extre~es of Discharge The Vedder River, like many coastal rainforest , ·is subject to wide extremes of discharge •. The average discharge

o~ the Vedder River over a period of 26 years was 2350 cfs. and

00 -:-~;·:,V--1,,:; V-i..V-,,,..,-"-···.-:,·...... ,. .... ~ ...... ;"'':· .:> i'-:.CoT·dr.:.rl- t.:: .... \_,\.A ..,.'i·nce _. ___ • ,.,. ·1911- _.. ·,~~·Tr:e- u-J.(.J r"r·om.. 201"\0· c·..L s o ' J.\~iover1ber L.L..i. 30 '

Dcce~ber 29, 19l7. Logging operations,

~·c:~' l::c_r_y yo;;.1·.: but which reached a peak and numerous forest.

f:..i·e.s :-_.o:v::: la:rr;cly denuC:ocJ -;~he \'ic.tersi1cd and have served only

:~sch8~ges dari~g spawning and emergence normally

:::·::.::-1g;G ;~;;-C1.·J3(:':G 1000 and 3000· cfs. Very lO'i:l flo\'ls at spm·ming

...... -'-·'-'.ll....---V --, "i'' -...... ~.:.-'~,~·-·''\·rn·,,·c·c .,....,\:..:-~ f'~.l'O'':l_... ,U utili""' ~-.1..10~,-i.,.,.1.r-· some of thG more stable side

GL2ril:c:::.s c.::d if 101:1. flows occur nt emergence, fry cannot escape

tkc gr~vel cveu if they survive the incubntion period. Very

::~::..~)1 flous during the spawning pe~"'iod force fish on to mnrginal a:..'cc-s ;::nd 1:rhcn :flous rot.urn to norm~..ll c1lffins incubation

tl1c cg:-_';s \·rill ovcntunlly die as ci rosu.lt of dc;:;.sicntion or

reduced intor~ravel flow. V.ery high flows durine incubation rtay result in shifting of gr3vcl, scouring of ccgs, the

c~e8tion of now channels and the elimination of the water supply to older cham1e1s·. Hl1.ile much of this activity must be considered normal, resulting in low survivals in some .. bI"ood yea1"::>, some _serious and i:i,"reversible situations do

occur. J.'·G'o.... J. e-·--1n,- J\..t;:J; ~ -'- ~" ' a· 1:···1"' a J. or· spawning area at the mouth of .

Sw~ltzer Creek '•JaS destroyed during .the very heavy floods

"-' i ·9hO _h9 O _L .J.o I U • •

( 2) S:i..lt_

':Che Vedder River is relatively silt free under low to n:.edium disch2.rg2s but considerable silt noveraent does occur

a·t higher oischar·ge~. The existinr; seepage flow side cham1.els

~re silt free under all discharge conditions.

·c .... \ ::; ) !:!'::cod Control 1-ieasu_.i"':'P.S ;I I Flood control measures employed to date consist of

dyLin~~ ~ . :;:·:!..:9-1'app~ng cmd r;ravel reDoval to deGpGn ai1.d confine

th2 chc:.rm.ols o The oper::i. tior:s, for the most po.rt, .have consisted

2ssoci.:.::c:::J fi.sheries probl:::.:i·,1s •. Dyl:~.. :<; and rip-rapping h~ve c2.ose:,.:: o:::: ~..:::10 upstrea1:1 c:.1cs of iupor'\~c;nt chU:-.1 sab10n spm·ming

- .. 1 - . . ... n P. . "'l h u , 1 R Cl h :::_:::ie c.1a::-ir..c.Ls suc~1 c:i.s ..urown ..oa:' a u~oug ... , ..... opeaa ...... e J. oa a u""'"ougi dnci L~·:~:.::~c.n Hoo.a Slough (Photographs 1 to 10). - 10 ·-

il~instom cravol removal to strDighton and deepen und0rt.:ikon in is1GS off HonccJu le . . . Brown Ro~ds, and the narr~wirig of th0 flood channels by dvkcs h&s incre2sed velocities, caused additional bedload . "

~novcmcnt and go:aornlly r:wde tho main.stem unsu.:i.ta ble for spc::.wning.

PHOPOSED WATEH USE PHOGRAl'!·S. ':!HICE ~10ULD

f:F:F'~CT FRESI-I'.1J.i\TErt PRODUCTION

':Che ProvL"lce of British. Colrnnbia ::'..'orecasts a doubling

of the louer nm inland population to 2, 000, 000 in the next .

thirty years. The demand on space for agriculture, industry and domestic use will be tremendous. The multiple water use

concept ior water resources will bocooe increasingly ~ore • im.pm.."tant. The folloHing·programs have been proposed for the Vedder -

. Chilliwacl: system as n result ,of' surveys conducted by the Department of Lands and Forests, Water Resources Branch of

(~) ~~j0~ WG~~~ Jivcrsio~ for domestic ;urjoses to serve

the c::~~: ::-:.J:i..113 i:10tropolis o: the lowc:2 r:1ciinlana. The Vedde1~

Cl1illi\ .. ~,cl<: system is the only mGjor unutlli.zcd river cn1')able of servidinz the south side of·the .

( 3) Flood cc~l.t:col anci hydro-electric: power. This proposal

0 0 --.:~ ···:/•·:.c··::-.-,-'·e--~ l 10'~7 0 "1"' 7 l C'!"'lr'0° "l'v v,"';1·1s+"'v:l d·~·-11 "" a~ ·..,,.,,: __.... _:_•._.,.l.!. · ···-•. ·.. ~ ....J,. .··- \,.;o...>v,._ ... , ;u .n /.,,, ' · v .J." ...Jc..~ 0 u 0 ..u .. .LJ. .. c.:.o;_.. v~1. u .. .i...:>' tvo., sys. Ji:,e:-n. - 11 -

( ~:·) Irrig2t:~o11 diversion to the ChLi.lhmck oistr·ict

( 1968) •. Si:-:ty-five cfs. would bG drmm from the Vedder Hive:- durin.; st;;::r:ie.r low flows.

While ~ost of the programs described above have

1:ot ye;~~ been imple:·;1cntcd, all would have ''a sc;rious ci'fect

on salmon pr·oduction in the Vedder - Chillhrnck River system.

SP P}JlJING C~.CUHD REHABILITA'I'IOI'i PIWP03AL

Althou~h ::::. study currently_in progress to determine

foasibility ein.d examihe the Vcilue of o program of

rehnbj_lito.tion ar:.d expm-1sion of chum snl1:i.on spawning a1~eas

_._ h \J • .o.J..···ou:::- 9 ho·'.!-.u.. v the entire louer Fraser Hiver systcr.i, the spauning

(:;•Y•OiJ.""1d'" of the Vedder· River :1av.... e L1eterj_ora Jccd to .iChG e:{tent •• o·- -- .J 9 ·n to. -'-1'1::.u ..... t::;: I""'"··-i.:.·~·.--.6·~- ... :'"l..iv ... .1.(~.\ ...-r·'·~' .;.\;t o.(.'.1. .t.'"c-·L•lJ.v c'~·ill·'i..1...:. • .,J'-"''"'"l•·.--·on A·" po_·0ul~t·:o1.. '-\ - ...~J. of +hatv

tribu-~;:;.r-yo It :_;3 }'H·obnble thai"c,. as a result of the general

:reha-~il2. tation of chu.m salmon stoclrn, exploitation by the

co:::_·;:c;:;.~e;isl f'ish.017 uill bo in.creased substantially within tl1e

.,,... - _.,. ·- .f''" 'T - ... • ..... "";-~ ... "' ··""\ _, .: •. - -· 'T ~ _,... t., ...... J- d . -~ ,...,, "11 .. -t.: ~ 1 .. - ;:.<=;.·~'G .:.81': :/8G,.J..-.:... ..-: • .i ... u, . ..L.!1 \i.l8 .. I 01 110 CUrr1::.!.l.v l.L181C.i.1 ...Lu~ l.l.1

production r3tos ~etween the Vedder ~ Chilli~ack River artd

.:cl1e :ces.t qf t:r·1e 1;i1-")~ ser Riv0r system, Cl decline in abundance

of cl'1wns in t:i.e Vedder - Chilli1:18 cl~ system CD.11. be expected

unless st~e2m r2habilitation neas~rcs ~~e undertaken.

As indicntod )reviously i). r!c.jor loss of spawning o.rea

in the Veddor Rive~ h8s occ~~red as a result of dyke construction

,.. ~ ·,_ .. - l:l. -

j_r:ipo:r ta::-'.. t

sicic cll::rn. .ncls huvc boon closed ui'f <.n1cl as a rc::>ul t the .. \·.':.lter supply hos been cr~ntly reduced .::ind many areas forme:rly

utilized by chm:t sCJ.lrnon :::ire no longer accessible to fish.

Addition=:lly, the dl'y channels hc:ve bean.invaded by vegetation, beaver dams have restricted access to the few remaining wetted channels CJ.nd the area has become a dur:1ping ground fo:r

w~ste debris. T!le p:roposal outlined belm·I involves the I'Ghabilitc;.tioy;_ of side channels on the left·' bank of the Vedder

River in the vicinity of B::i.... o,.. m and Hopecfale H.oaa s. ( Drai:.·1inr; No. 11-19-GJ) and Photographs 1 - 10) . .As illustr·ated in Dre.uing No. 11-19-G 3 the side channel improvemer...t p1·oposnl in.eludes installation of intake works

to proviaG ~ 60 c.f.s. controlled flow water supply; • constructio~'1 of' a de-silJcinr; basin; 1·et;rading and con.necti.ng of side char~"'!els ;:ind i:raprovmncnt of the spawning· gravel. It is

I c,e.lculat.ed that tl-~e nvailable spaHning area will be increased

sau·~ "1T'1 "('rJ '·" '['"·"i" lliG· b v:v 20 ' Ov'"O . - o.--.-· v"' J o...... \..I..,) of'...... /- ""

( •i)r::i·•.r~ ...... •" ...;...i...._(.) .. .,,,. 11-'...- 0/·'-0,...1-1- )

. . . ~::.. ~:...... ~~ . ... .::.s

~?200 '000

'.I'l10 cc:.l.:;u.lnted inc1... ease in s~l1non proch.ictio:1 is based

i:. - J.,'\ -

J-.1v.r,:;:::;,;,:: :.:;.i.dc cl:::nncl •-: .::p~1city - ;20,000 chu1:1 saJ.r.10l::. El, ...:::: ::·~~:1 t;i.o - 1: l E~cs/fcmalc - 3,QOO :tGt:;g tu L:y surviv~.1 2'}:~»1' Fry to adult survival i~ • ..

flow control \·ms achieved 2t Dig Qualicum

River in 1963 egg to fry survival in tho ~ain river has u.vGI'aged cpp1·oximately 33 percent arid. has not been less thc:n

24 . Pc.. ~-J. ....\,; e·"'·"'. .!.J. v Q For the purpose.of this analysis a conservative value of 25 percent has been employod.

:·~1e estimated in.crease in an.:'1.ual production, therefore, <::ould. -Cot cl:

20 ~. 000 --r ..)..... 000 2~ Ql -• I :-: O ) :;.: O - 75,000 fish 2

Less

o s ccpcr:1cr1t = ~)(; C:OO fish • yiald to f is~e~y = ·;5~~c"(5 fish 1cr:.deC \.-~::i..u.e = (11 lb.

the p:r-oposcd side channel improvement

p:cojcct u:.11 cost G200,000 a::id. thG cnlcl:lnted .::m;,uc:l landed

v•:.:lus .of th,:.; i::.:..(!::.'enscd. chm:1 salmon pl"Oduction \·Jill toto.l On the bo.sis of an assumed equiv2lc11t arn.J.ual cost

incl~ding interest, oporatin3 and m2intenance costs of 12 percent

of the ·(:-J·~c:.l ca pi t2l ex,:::io1:di tur-e: and o.n nnnual return of ~no2, 850 • - J.l+ -

to tho ·cc:mnercinl fi~hery the benefit/cost ratio is c::tlculatcCi at • ...

DI8C"G83IOE.

Although the proposed reh~bilitation project will not er:.tirely rqJlace spmmil':.g areas lost in recent year·s, it is

<::nticipated the: t tho c1 eve:lop;,,}e::.1t of 20, 000 sq_u;n·e yards of

high qu<:~lity sp::.wning area •..rill result in a mo.jo:- increo.se

in cb:u:m. sal:rrlon fj:·y pJ:·oduction in the Vedder - Chilliwacl::

River. The anticipated ~v~rage adult return from fry produced

· ir.:. the cleve:::..c~::.~:d li::C'2a has 1:2en cstiri1::.ted at ·75 7000 chmn salrnon.

'l1r1·-:. 5::; 000 •f·i -:::·, IJ;•oa',,coa' i···1 '"-,,,.... ~,c··~ J.. ... \...:: / J v -- ...;.. '-"'-- .i.. \.,..., t -- '-'-"'-'"" - ,_; o.J o-::.· the escaporaent require- • mer.:.t of -.:;;_c; developed arc·. '.:ill t8 <::V<::Ll.a clc to the cornrnercial f'1· .:_-·,,c·r•~r - t-1 ...... -J o:::·' in yesrs of poor survival of river produced fry

year o~ ~Gturn. ~he developed area will in effect serve as

a safety f2c~o~ on the Vedder - Chilliwack River in years

c. :.-:..-i1abor· o:i.' flood cont::col

· Chillj_\·12clc Ri v0r· sys·c01:1 211cl ·it is o.:nticipatccJ that such.

ci'Ioct on chum so.l:mon lJroductio:n. If the ci1u.m salni.on population • of that sy~tc~ is to be sustained is r.i.o.ndc:.tory th:rt spawning - 15 -

Preliminary surveys have been undertaken in other areas of the Vedder - Chilliwack River and additional spawning

area rehabilitation project~, similar io the one currently I proposed, appear feasible. Future development measures will be considered in the formulation of an overall chum salmon . rehabilitation and development plan for the Fraser ll-iver system. The magnitude and design of future facilities will ·be contingent on the results of assessment studies of completed projects. .

SU1"1NARY.

(1) The Vedd~r - Chilliwack River, a tributary of the Fraser River, is one of the most important chum salmon spawning areas in . Conservative estimates of escapement during the 1930's indicated a spawning population of 4-5,000 to 125,000 fish., Since 1960 annual escapements have averaged

61,500 fish, however, recent1 escapement levels have been maintained at the expense of landings in the commercial fishery.

(2) Since 1960 the rate of return per spawner to the Vedder - • Chilliwack River has averaged only 1.1:1 compared to a rate of return to the total Fraser River system of l.l+:·1. During the same.period, the return per spawner to the Harrison River, a tributary of the Fraser River with a similar timing pattern of chum .salmon migration, has averoged 1.7:1. Due to the similar migration pattern any effort to harvest the stocks . of the more productive Harrison River system will result in a further decline in escapements to the Vedder - Chilliwack. - 16 -

River system. The iminediate problem is one of bringine the production of the Vedder - Chilliwack River in line with that of the Harrison Rivei.

(3) Chum salmon destined. for the Vedder - Chilliwack River are present in the commercial _fishing areas of Johnstone Strait and the Fraser River throughout virtually the entire period·· of the chum salmon r.iigration and are, therefore, present in the commercial fishery along with nearly every other stock indigenous to the Johnstone Strait to Fraser River area. . (4) Flood control measures, gravel removal _and logging operations have had a detrimental effect on the chum salmon ~- spawning areas of the Vedder - Chilliwacl\: River system and it is anticipated that future flood control measures and water use projects ·will further reduce the quantity and quality of the spawning areas.

;I, I (5) A spawning ground rehabilitation project estimated to

cost $200i000 h~s been proposed for the Vedder - Chilliwack River. The proposed project, which includes construction of a water supply .-:..ntnke and rehabilitation of several side chan..."lels,

·will resuj_·::, i:n an increase of 20, 000 square yards of high quality The landed value of the increased chwn salmon production has been estimated ·nt $102,850 and the bcnefit/c6st ratio has been placed at 4.3:1. VEDDER RIVER

...

No. 1 April 15, 1967 !Flood control dyke constructed ion the left bank of the 1Vedder River showing a portion tor Brown Channel on the left ~and the Vedder River on the right. Adult salmon are attracted to several major ;side channels, that have been ! :blocked off at the upstream !ends by the dykes, by water I 'originating. from seepage I through the dykes or from I l1 local run-off. I I ~

No. 2 April 15, 1967 Seepage water from the Vedder River into Brown Channel VEDDER RIVER

JNo. 3 April 15J 1967 i · lltive chum salmon fry in Brown · Channel in the sub-surface -!flow zone 10 to 12 inches !below·the dry streambed. 1Lack of discharge·s during early spring results in high losses to emerging fry. 1I . . I .

I I a I ~} I ! ,No. 4 November 15, 1967 :Heavy spawning occurs in :upwelling seepage flows in ;Hopedale Slough I

...~?.;9'

No. 5 April 15, 1967 Hopedale Slough prior to and during fry emergence. Extensive spawning areas are exposed. VEDDER RIVER

No. 6 April .15, 1967 Hopedale Channel immediately below Hopedale Road. Discharges in this area are seriously reduced during the fry emergence period·. 1

i ~: No. 7 April 15, 1967 .Typical seepage channel containing good quality gravel and sub-surface flows. Lack of discharges in the spring results in high losses to emerging fry.

i ~.

No. 8 April 15, 1967 Chum fry stranded in numerous isolated pools in the side channels of the Vedder River.

I I .I ' VEDDER RIVER

; . j '

Ho. 9 April 1,5, 1967 •j.' ·i I Disposal are~ in Brown Ctiannel.

No. 10 April 15, 1967 Spreading vegetation results 'in a serious deterioration . 6!''t~~ of spawning areas.

0 KEY PLAN REPRINT FROM DEPT. OF MINfS 6 TECHNICAL SURVEYS

...... n .. · t-~..,,..,.,.__. 4 0 4 I ~i SCALE IN. THOUSANC ,_-

- 't.;

;; ------_____1~.~R_!IATI0 NA L ------~

Figure I. The Vedder River chum salmon spawning areas.

------fl'.J .. v_,... ."c" -1 Henry Hepti~-(~i·t~· 3-~1533 El ! l lncludin

i -

Mountain p·ipe Line R/W

1000 500 It ~....,....,....,.;::~....,...,.:::~o~,,,...,.,...... ,.,.,.....,,.,,.,..,.,...... ,.~~'ooo l Scale of feet L j; j,. LICKMAN CREEK

'"o 0 er0 c 0 E .~""' ...J ! : j 1 VEDDER IVER j. 1' I , Dyke

i i ----~~~-~,...... ,J~,,;..;.,.._=-;;==-..;;;:_;;;:;;;::::::::=::::::::-----:c:::::='=-­ I : I ''---1ntake_ -Desiltin

------HOPEDALE CHANNEL BROWNE CHANNEL

® Grade and improve existing channel, improve spawning grovel and connect ® Grade and improve existing channel, improve spawning gravel CHANNEL- lo Browne Channel, - and connect to Hopedale Channel. FORD Construct bridge. ® ® Install additional culvert. @ Construct Intake Bdesilting pool. @ Extend· Dyke @ Construct secondary intake

SLOUGH

© Lower elev. of grovel bar lo increase available spawning area. @ Remove lo9s, debris, improve spawning 9ravel. IOOO 500 0 1000

Scale in feet

I ,______------! i r--i- I --~!------·---~-~--- DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES. CAN. VEDDER RIVER 71