Assessment of Sport Fish Distribution and Relative Abundance in the Lower Red Deer River, Alberta, Phase II
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Assessment of Sport Fish Distribution and Relative Abundance in the Lower Red Deer River, Alberta, Phase II CONSERVATION REPORT SERIES The Alberta Conservation Association is a Delegated Administrative Organization under Alberta’s Wildlife Act. CONSERVATION REPORT SERIES 25% Post Consumer Fibre When separated, both the binding and paper in this document are recyclable Assessment of Sport Fish Distribution and Relative Abundance in the Lower Red Deer River, Alberta, Phase II Jason Blackburn and Jason Cooper Alberta Conservation Association 2nd Floor, YPM Place 530‐8 Street S. Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 2J8 Report Series Co‐editors PETER AKU KELLEY KISSNER Alberta Conservation Association 50 Tuscany Meadows Crescent NW #101, 9 Chippewa Rd Calgary, Alberta T3L 2T9 Sherwood Park AB T8A 6J7 Conservation Report Series Type Data, Technical ISBN printed: 978‐0‐7785‐7707‐2 ISBN online: 978‐0‐7785‐7708‐9 Publication No.: T/195 Disclaimer: This document is an independent report prepared by the Alberta Conservation Association. The authors are solely responsible for the interpretations of data and statements made within this report. Reproduction and Availability: This report and its contents may be reproduced in whole, or in part, provided that this title page is included with such reproduction and/or appropriate acknowledgements are provided to the authors and sponsors of this project. Suggested citation: Blackburn, J., and J. Cooper. 2006. Assessment of sport fish distribution and relative abundance in the Lower Red Deer River, Alberta, Phase II. Technical report, T‐ 2006‐003 produced by Alberta Conservation Association, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. 56 pp + App. Cover photo credit: David Fairless Digital copies of conservation reports can be obtained from: Alberta Conservation Association #101, 9 Chippewa Rd Sherwood Park AB T8A 6J7 Toll Free: 1‐877‐969‐9091 Tel: (780) 410‐1998 Fax: (780) 464‐0990 Email: info@ab‐conservation.com Website: www.ab‐conservation.com i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Fish species distribution and abundance was assessed on 450 km of the Lower Red Deer River (LRDR) using electrofishing. A total of 90 1‐km reaches were sampled of a predetermined 95 sample reaches. Species distribution and abundance, and total abundance by section, were determined from capture totals, visual counts, and catch‐ per‐unit‐effort (CPUE). Goldeye and shorthead redhorse displayed the broadest distributions, as well as the greatest abundance throughout the study area. Sauger was the next most abundant and widely distributed sport fish species, followed by walleye, burbot, mooneye, and northern pike. Sections with the highest total abundance of fish were section 1 near Joffre, downstream of the Highway 11 bridge crossing, and sections 12 to 13 near Buffalo and Bindloss, toward the confluence with the South Saskatchewan River near the Alberta ‐ Saskatchewan border. The total number of fish observed during sampling differed substantially from the total number captured, with 1,116 fish observed compared with only 429 captured. Capture success was low (inefficient) and possibly linked to water turbidity, with reduced success in clear water. Overall sample efficiency was highest via visual counts in clear water, with 58% of all tallied fish made by visual counts in three resampled sections. Comparison of abundance data collected in 2004 with that collected between 1990 ‐ 1991 revealed a statistically significant decline in total relative fish abundance from an average of 25.5 fish/km in 1990 – 1991 to 5.3 fish/km in 2004. In particular, significant decreases in abundance were observed for goldeye, sauger, walleye, white sucker, shorthead redhorse, longnose sucker, and quillback sucker. There was no significant change in relative abundance of burbot, mountain whitefish, northern pike, lake whitefish or lake sturgeon. Declines in abundance were attributed to sampling inefficiency in 2004 and/or the effects of consecutive drought years prior to the assessment. Species composition between assessments was similar; however, species distribution patterns were typically smaller and more fragmented in 2004. Species richness was greater in 2004 than the previous survey and was probably the result of a larger study area and greater sampling effort. In comparison to the assessment in 1990 ‐ 1991, aging structures collected in 2004 indicated slower growth rates in goldeye and mooneye, but faster rates for walleye and sauger. Use of a broader variety of sampling methods is recommended to increase capture success, and an angler creel survey could be used to verify anecdotal reports of increased sauger catches in recent years. A comprehensive habitat assessment of the ii LRDR should be conducted to assist future conservation measures to ensure sustainability of the fishery. Additional focused sampling of the data deficient species quillback and sauger should be undertaken, encompassing other southern Alberta river systems to ensure sufficient data capture. Long‐term monitoring of declining sauger and goldeye populations should also be initiated. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was funded by the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA). Thanks to Kevin Wingert and Vance Buchwald (ASRD, Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Biologists, Red Deer) and Cam Wallman (ASRD, Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Biologist, Brooks) for their time and expertise piloting the boat and sampling during the field portion of the assessment. Special thanks to Byron Jensen (ASRD, Fish and Wildlife, District Conservation Officer, Drumheller) for offering his knowledge of the LRDR and for filling in and working long hours on the river on a Sunday when we were shorthanded. Additional thanks to Chad Tourand for providing accommodations and entertainment during equipment down‐time and repair. This report benefited from constructive comments offered by Cam Wallman, Glen Clements (ASRD, Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Biologist, Lethbridge), Vance Buchwald and Trevor Council (ACA, Fisheries Biologist). iv TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...........................................................................................................ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..........................................................................................................iv TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES......................................................................................................................vi LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF APPENDICES .......................................................................................................... viii 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................1 1.1 Phase II objectives ........................................................................................................2 2.0 STUDY AREA...................................................................................................................2 3.0. MATERIALS AND METHODS .....................................................................................5 3.1 Phase I ............................................................................................................................5 3.2 Phase II...........................................................................................................................7 4.0 RESULTS .........................................................................................................................11 4.1 Species composition and relative abundance.........................................................11 4.2 Species distributions ..................................................................................................15 4.3 Fish catchability ..........................................................................................................23 4.4 Sport fish species distribution and habitat observations......................................24 4.5 Non‐sport fish species distributions........................................................................26 4.6 Comparison of 2004 and 1990 ‐ 1991 data...............................................................28 5.0 DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................................40 5.1 Capture success in the 2004 assessment..................................................................40 5.2 Methodology...............................................................................................................41 5.3 Measuring total fish abundance and distribution .................................................43 5.4 Comparing relative abundances ..............................................................................44 5.5 Comparing species distributions .............................................................................48 5.6 Potential effects of angling........................................................................................50 5.7 Future considerations and recommendations........................................................50 6.0 LITERATURE CITED ....................................................................................................53 7.0 APPENDICES .................................................................................................................57