NICOLA RIVER Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NICOLA RIVER Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping and Aquatic Habitat Index Prepared By: Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd. Prepared for: Fraser Basin Council on Behalf of Habitat Stewardship Program Thompson-Nicola Regional District City of Merritt Lower Nicola Indian Band Nooaitch Indian Band Teck – Highland Valley Copper April 2017 NICOLA RIVER Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping and Aquatic Habitat Index Prepared For: FRASER BASIN COUNCIL On Behalf of: Habitat stewardship program, Thompson-Nicola Regional District, City of Merritt, Lower Nicola Indian Band, Nooaitch Indian Band, and Teck Highland Valley Copper Prepared By: ECOSCAPE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS LTD. # 102 - 450 Neave Court Kelowna, BC V1V 2M2 April 2017 Ecoscape File: 16-1897 102 – 450 Neave Ct. Kelowna BC V1V 2M2 Tel: 250.491.7337 Fax: 250.491.7772 www.ecoscapeltd.com 16-1897 April 2017 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would not have been realized without the assistance and contribution from the following individuals and organizations: Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada – for their support and expertise in development of the RIM methodology and Aquatic Habitat Index as it was first developed for the Lower Shuswap River project and carried forward to the Nicola River project. Support for this project was provided by: Fraser Basin Council The Habitat Stewardship Program The Nooaitch Indian Band The Thomson-Nicola Regional District The Lower Nicola Indian Band The City of Merritt Teck – Highland Valley Copper Field Inventory Crew: Kyle Hawes, Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd Renee Lemmond, Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd Crystal Wallace, Lower Nicola Indian Band Tina Deenik, Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd The following parties contributed to the development of the Aquatic Habitat Index: Kyle Hawes, Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd Jason Schleppe, Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd Bob Harding, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Bruce Runciman, Fisheries and Oceans Canada The principle author of this report was: Renee Lemmond, B.Sc., Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd Contributing authors included: Kyle Hawes, B.Sc. R.P.Bio, Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping and analysis was prepared by: Robert Wagner, Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd Rachel Plewes, Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd Recommended Citation: Lemmond, R. K. Hawes, R. Wagner, and R. Plewes. 2017. Nicola River Inventory, Mapping, and Aquatic Habitat Index. Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd. Project File: 16-1897. 68pp + appendices. 102 – 450 Neave Ct. Kelowna BC V1V 2M2 Tel: 250.491.7337 Fax: 250.491.7772 www.ecoscapeltd.com 16-1897 ii April 2017 INFORMATION DISCLAIMER The results contained in this report are based upon data collected during a single season inventory. Biological systems respond differently both in space and time. For this reason, the assumptions contained within the text are based upon field results, previously published material on the subject, and airphoto interpretation. The material in this report attempts to account for some of the variability between years and in space by using safe assumptions and a conservative approach. Data in this assessment was not analyzed statistically and no inferences about statistical significance are made if the word significant is used. Use of or reliance upon biological conclusions made in this report is the responsibility of the party using the information. Neither Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd., nor the authors of this report or Fraser Basin Council is liable for accidental mistakes, omissions, or errors made in preparation of this report because best attempts were made to verify the accuracy and completeness of data collected, analyzed, and presented. This is intended as a “Living Document”. In so being, it may be continually edited and updated and may evolve and be expanded as needed, and serve a different purpose over time. #102 – 450 Neave Ct. Kelowna, BC V1V 2M2 tel: 250.491.7337 fax: 250.491.7772 web: www.ecoscapeltd.com 16-1897 iii April 2017 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A comprehensive inventory was completed for the Nicola River (NRIV) in November 2016 from Nicola Lake downstream to the Thompson River confluence to subsequently complete an Aquatic Habitat Index (AHI). This Large River Inventory and Mapping approach (RIM) adapts the data collection methods and standards of Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping (SHIM) (Mason and Knight, 2001) and Foreshore Inventory and Mapping. The resultant AHI uses many different criteria, such as biophysical, fisheries values, and anthropogenic characteristics to estimate the relative habitat value of river reaches and bank segments that were defined during the inventory. The habitat index classifies this information in a 5-class system from Very High to Very Low. The NRIV flows a distance of approximately 212 km from its headwaters within the Douglas Plateau through Douglas Lake, Nicola Lake and the Nicola Valley towards its confluence with the Thompson River at Spences Bridge. The NRIV and several of its large tributaries downstream of Nicola Lake (Coldwater River, Spius Creek, Guichon Creek and Clapperton Creek) have historically been significant contributors of early-run Chinook, Coho, and Steelhead to the Thompson and Fraser river systems (Nelson et al. 2001). Recent salmonid escapement assessments have shown a significant decline, and Nicola wild stock populations are currently below what is needed to maintain stock populations. The NRIV is one of the main tributaries for the renowned Thompson Steelhead run, regarded as a conservation issue in the Thompson-Nicola. The current state of NRIV salmonid escapements can be attributed to excessive marine exploitation rates and bycatch, climate change and associated low flows. Record low flows in the NRIV can be attributed to excessive water withdrawal for crop irrigation in arid summer climates. Low flows in the Nicola mainstem and Coldwater River have led to above lethal water temperatures for salmonid production. The NRIV was broken into a total of 27 reaches. The left bank (facing downstream) was divided into 47 segments and the right bank was broken into 85 segments. The NRIV forms a tortuously meandering channel through glaciolacustrine sediments from Nicola Lake into Merritt. This results in the predominance of benched river banks composed primarily of fine textured substrates (i.e. sand/silt) in reaches upstream of Merritt. The NRIV then merges with the Coldwater River and follows a meandering to sinuous channel through coarser substrates of the Nicola floodplain and the terraced Nicola Valley towards its confluence at the Thompson River. The hydraulic character of the river is predominantly riffle- pool, with a marked increase in channel complexity and habitat quality between the Coldwater River and Spius Creek fan, where there is substantial rearing backwater habitats, holding pools and spawning habitat. Deep pools, important for cover and general living as well as holding areas for anadromous migrations, amount to 2.5 ha (0.4%) of the river (by channel area). Important spawning areas were noted in reaches just below Nicola Lake, in floodplain gravel fans between the Coldwater River and Spius Creek, and in the lower reaches adjacent to the Thompson River confluence. Over 32% of the left bank and greater than 55% of the right bank of the NRIV have been altered by human activities. 68% percent of the left bank is natural area, of which the majority occurs downstream of the Coldwater River confluence. The historical Nicola Valley Railway #102 – 450 Neave Ct. Kelowna, BC V1V 2M2 tel: 250.491.7337 fax: 250.491.7772 web: www.ecoscapeltd.com 16-1897 iv April 2017 (infrastructure), associated with a steep and eroding slope and occasional armouring, is persistent mostly along the left bank from Clapperton downstream to the Thompson confluence. Rail encroachment and disturbance along the left bank amounts to approximately 8.8 km (9%). The right bank meanders adjacent to the Nicola Highway (BC highway 8) for approximately 13.5 km (13%) of the NRIV. Almost 20 km (20%) of the right bank (mostly downstream of Merritt) and 23.5 km (23%) of the left bank (mostly upstream of Merritt) have been altered by agricultural activities. The right bank of the river had a greater cumulative distance where impacts to the bank and riparian area exceeded 40% of the segment due to extensive farming and highway disturbance in the Nicola valley. Segments with a high level of impact (>40%) combined to over 66.5 km (65%) of the right bank. Much of the right bank had some level of impact while only 4 km were completely natural. Conversely, approximately 54 km (53%) of the left bank showed no impact or a low level of impact (<10%). The combined length of highly impacted segments along the left bank totaled close to 31.5 km (31%) of the river from Nicola Lake to Spences Bridge. In total, there were 28 water withdrawals (intakes) and 31 bridges. Livestock access was recorded to occur on over 1.9 km of the river bank with close to 61% along the right bank. Bank armouring (rip rap) and retaining walls were recorded on over 3.1 km (3%) of the left bank and 3.7 km (4%) of the right bank. Bank instability along much of the river is largely a function of the steep silt banks that have naturally eroded over time through the glaciolacustrine silts. However, this instability is exacerbated by riparian vegetation removal and encroachment associated with agricultural, urban, and rural development. High to extreme severity bank erosion was documented on approximately 5.9 k m (6%) of the left bank and 7.1 km (7%) of the right bank. The centerline AHI analysis resulted in about 2% of the river being ranked as Very High, 51% of the river being ranked as High, and 36% of the river ranked as Moderate. High scoring reaches included 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 14, 17, 19, and 21. Reaches 6, 26, and 27 received a Very High AHI score. Reaches 10, 14, 16 and 26 represent the confluences of Spius creek, Guichon creek, the Coldwater River and Clapperton creek, respectively.