FISHERIES RESOURCES AND FOOD WEB COMPONENTS OF THE FRASER RIVER ESTUARY AND AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THESE RESOURCES PREPARED BY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT FISHERIES AND MARINE SERVICE - Fisheries Operations, Vancouver, B.C. - Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C. - Pacifi nv· onment Institute, West Vancouver, B.C. Fisheries and f1 of the and an assessment o· of of EBRUARY, 1975 FISHERIES RESOURCES ANDFOOD WEB COMPONENTS) OF THE FRASER RIVER ESTUARY AND AN ASSESSMENT ) 0 OF THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THESE RESOURCES PREPARED BY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT FISHERIES AND MARINE SERVICE - Fisheries Operations, Vancouver, B.C. - Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, B.C. - Pacific Environment Institute, West Vancouver, B.C. FEBRUARY, 1975 SECTION I RECOMMENDATIONS SECTION II A SYNTHESIS OF THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE FISHERIES RESOURCES OF THE FRASER RIVER ESTUARY SECTION III I FOOD WEBB COMPONENTS OF THE FRASER RIVER ESTUARY SECTION IV ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Recommendations The following recommendations are presented on the basis of existing information concerning the productivity of the Fraser River estuary, its utilization by Pacific salmon, and marine, species, the commercial, recreational and preservation values of these resources, and the extent to which past developments have reduced the estuarine zone. They are presented also in full recognition of the critical limitations in our knowledge of the physical and biological factors and interactions which must be clarified before it will be possible to accurately quantify the impact of presently proposed developments on these renewable resources. However, it should be recognized that a loss of estuarine productivity will result from any development in the estuary and that because present knowledge· does not permit the replacement of same by compensatory techniques, the losses are irreversible. Accordingly, the following recommendations are dedicated to minimizing the loss or degradation of estuarine habitato 1.1. Vancouver International Airport Expansion It is strongly recommended that no development which eliminates or significantly degrades a portion of the inter­ tidal estuarine environment of Sturgeon Bank be permitted. Further: 1.1.1. The utilization of Sturgeon Bank for the purpose of enlarging or improving the existing Vancouver International Airport facility be con­ fined to the placing of pilings or similar struc­ tures to facilitate navigation. The timing and methods of such construction to be subject to conditions prescribed by the Fisheries and Marine Service in concert with other appropriate resource agencies. 1.1. 2. That part of Sturgeon Bank· located between the mean high water mark and the existing dyke shall remain undeveloped. 1.1.3. In the event that social, economic or other environmental constraints unacceptable to the people of the Lower Mainland British Columbia, and Canada prescribe the construction of an addi­ tional runway or ancillary facility, a portion of which occupies the intertidal area of Sturgeon Bank, such construction shall result in the elim­ ination or degradation of not more than 70 acres (M.O.T. Vancouver International Airport Expansion - Concept 1). Further: 1.1.3.1. The construction of this runway, and any ancillary facilities within or adjacent to the estuary shall be subject to conditions prescribed by the Fisheries and Marine Service in concert with other appropriate resource agencies. 1.1.3.2. The material required for landfill on estuarine or upland areas shall not originate from any portion of Sturgeon Bank or from the lower Middle Arm of the Fraser River. The location, volume, timing and method of removal of material from any other loca­ tion in the lower Fraser River and estuary shall be subject to conditions prescribed by the Fisheries and Marine Service in concert with other appropriate resource agencies. 1.1.3.3. An assessment of the influence of the proposed intertidal landfill on the dispersal of the present and projected effluent volume originating from the Iona sewerage treatment facility and the probable impact of same on the aquatic productivity of Sturgeon Bank must be undertaken and mitigative measures identified and applied if necessary. 1.2 Ferry Terminal Location I That location of Ferry terminals on Sturgeon Bank be limited to the seaward extremity of the Iona or North Arm jetties. The timing, location of borrow areas, and method of construction shall be subject to conditions prescribed by the Fisheries and Marine Service in concert with other appropriate resource agencies. 1.3 Port Expansion Provided that the findings of a comprehensive "Pacific Coast Port Requirements Study" identifies ex­ panded port capacity at Roberts Bank as an urgent obli­ gatory component, such expansion shall be limited to not more than 200 acres of land fill. The accreted area shall be placed adjacent to the north-westerly face of the existing bulk loading site, include no separate cause­ way construction, and a minimum increase in the width of the existing causeway. Details of the confirmation of fill and berth sites must be based on detailed studies of the immediate area. The proposed B.C. Railway barge terminal, involving approximately 45 acres of dredge and fill, should also be located northerly of the existin8 development. Further: 1. 3 .1. The material required for land fill shall be obtained from the area immediately adjacent, north­ ward and seaward of the creted areas. The timing and method of construction shall be subject to conditions prescribed by the Fisheries and Marine Service in concert with other resource agencies. In the event that the volume of material resul­ ting from the dredging required to accommodate berths and access channels exceeds that necessary to provide the proposed land fill areas, the excess dredgeate shall be disposed at a marine or landfill site approved by the Fisheries and Marine Service in concert with other appropriate resource agencies. ' , 1.3.2. Pollution abatement facilities and operational procedures shall be such that the activities assoc­ iated with the expanded Roberts Bank port complex shall prevent the introduction of deleterious sub­ stances into the aquatic environment. 1.4. Future Developments No further development on or adjacent to the estuary should be undertaken until further intensive studies clarify the impaet of existing and current developments and demonstrate the feasibility of providing compensation for losses of estuarine habitat. A SYNTHESIS OF THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE FISHERIES RESOURCES OF THE FRASER RIVER ESTUARY VOLUME I OF II FEBRUARY, .1975 D. Goodman Habitat Protection Unit Fisheries and Marine Service Department of Environment Vancouver, B. C. PREFACE: VOLUME II OF II CONTAINS APPENDICES l - 5, IS PRINTED UNDER SEPARATE COVER, AND IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. APPENDIX l Codes used to identify gear types, sample areas, sample sub-areas, fish species and food organisms APPENDIX 2 Inventory of species, numbers caught, stations and sample dates for Fraser Upper, Fraser Lower, Sturgeon Bank and Roberts Bank APPENDIX 3 Catch analysis for Fraser Upper, Fraser Lower, Sturgeon Bank and Roberts Bank APPENDIX 4 Length weight analysis for Fraser Upper, Fraser Lower, Sturgeon Bank and Roberts Bank APPENDIX 5 Stomach content analysis for Fraser Upper, Fraser Lower, Sturgeon Bank and Roberts Bank i TABLE OF CONTENTS . i LIST OF FIGURES vi LIST OF TABLES .. X ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . xii 1. INTRODUCTION • . 1 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE WATERSI$D AND DELTA 2 2.1 Drainage 2 2.2 Weather . 4 2.3 Flow . 4 2. 4 Tidal Flats 8 2.5 Alienation of Habitat Types 8 3. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS . 10 3.1 Airport Development . 10 3.1.1 Concept 1 .. 10 3.1.2 Concept 2 . 10 3.1. 3 Concept 3. 14 3.1.4 Potential Borrow Locations 14 3.2 Ferry Terminals. • . 14 3.2.1 Steves ton. 17 3.2.2 Middle Arm . 17 3.2.3 Iona . 17 3.2.4 North Arm. 17 3.3 Port Facili ties . 21 ii Page 4 . FISHERIES RESOURCE • 24 4.1 General • • • • • • • . 24 4.2 Salmon . 2 4 4.2.1 Life Cycle • . 25 4.2.2 Spawning Escapements and Catch • • • • • • • . 27 4.2.3 Juvenile Downstrean Migrations 0 2 8 4.3 Herring • • 2 9 4.4 Crabs 29 5. METHODS . 30 5.1 Samp 1 ing Techniques . 30 5.1.1 Beach Seine 0 • 30 5 .1. 2 Tow Net . , . 30 5.1.3 Pole Net 0 . .. 31 5 .1. 4 Purse Seine . 31 5.1. 5 Table Seine . 31 5.2 Fraser River . • . 32 5.2.1 Main Arm Tow Net Stations (Location) . 32 5.2.2 North Arm Tow Net Stations (Location) . 32 5. 2 0 3 South Arm Beach Seine Stations (Location). 41 5.2.4 North Arm Beach Seine Stations (Location). 41 5. 2. 5 Middle A:rm Beach Seine Stations • . 0 . 41 5. 2. 6 Pole Net Stations, . 41 5. 3 Sturgeon and Roberts Banks . 41 5.4 Sample Analysis. 43 iii Page 6. RESULTS . 44 6.1 Catch Analysis. 44 6.1.1 Fraser River Above Port Mann. 45 6 .1. 2 Fraser River Below Port Mann. 48 6.1.2.1 Coho. 48 6.1.2.2 Chinook . 51 6.1.2.3 Chum . 53 6.1.2.4 Sockeye . 53 6 1. 3 Sturgeon & Roberts Banks. 56 6.1.3.1 Coho. 56 6.1.3.2 Chinool{ . 66 6.1.3.3 Chum. 67 6.1.3.4 Sockeye . 70 6.1.3.5 Pink. 70 6.1.3.6 Herring . 70 6.2 Length - Weight Analysis. 74 6,2.1 The Fraser River. 74 6.2.1.1 Coho. 74 6.2.1.2 Chinook . Bo 6.2.1.3 Chum.