Arrow Lakes Reservoir Fertilization Experiment, Year 8 (2006) Report
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ARROW LAKES RESERVOIR FERTILIZATION EXPERIMENT, YEAR 8 (2006) REPORT by E. U. Schindler, D. Sebastian, L. Vidmanic, H. Andrusak, J. Stockner, M. Bassett and K. I. Ashley Fisheries Project Report No. RD 125 2009 Fish and Wildlife Science and Allocation Ministry of Environment Province of British Columbia Major Funding by Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program - Columbia Basin Fisheries Project Reports frequently contain preliminary data, and conclusions based on these may be subject to change. Reports may be cited in publications but their manuscript status (MS) must be noted. Please note that the presentation summaries in the report are as provided by the authors, and have received minimal editing. Please obtain the individual author's permission before citing their work. ARROW LAKES RESERVOIR FERTILIZATION EXPERIMENT YEAR 8 (2006) REPORT by E. U. Schindler1, D. Sebastian2, L. Vidmanic3, H. Andrusak4, J. Stockner5, M. Bassett1 and K. I. Ashley6 1 Fish and Wildlife Science and Allocation Section, Ministry of Environment, Province of BC, 401-333 Victoria St., Nelson, BC, V1L 4K3 2 Aquatic Ecosystem Science Section, Biodiversity Branch Ministry of Environment, Province of BC PO Box 9338 STN PROV GOVT, Victoria, BC, V8W 9M2 3 Limno-Lab Ltd., 506-2260 W.10th Ave., Vancouver, BC V6K 2H8 4 Redfish Consulting Ltd., 5244 Hwy 3A, Nelson, BC, V1L 6N6 5 Eco-Logic Ltd., 2614 Mathers Avenue, West Vancouver, BC, V7V 2J4 6 Department of Civil Engineering, 2324 Main Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1W5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Funding for the eight year (2006) of the Arrow Lakes Reservoir Fertilization Experiment was provided by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program – Columbia Basin and Columbia Power Corporation. The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program – Columbia Basin is a joint initiative between BC Hydro, BC Ministry of Environment and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The program was established to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife compensation populations affected by BC Hydro dams in the Canadian portion of the Columbia River Basin. The ministry’s vision is a clean, healthy and naturally diverse environment that enriches people’s lives, now and in the future. Funding is provided by Arrow Lakes Power Corporation (ALPC) which owns the Arrow Lakes Generating Station. ALPC is jointly owned by Columbia Power Corporation and Columbia Basin Trust. Columbia Power Corporation manages the operations of the ALPC on behalf of the joint venture. The funding is being provided as a compensatory benefit for the operations of the Arrow Lakes Generating Station on the Lower Arrow Lake. Arrow Lakes Reservoir Fertilization Experiment, Year 8 (2006) Report i ABSTRACT This report presents the eight year (2006) of monitoring results of an ongoing fertilization experiment on the Arrow Lakes Reservoir, in southeastern BC. The reservoir’s food web has been negatively influenced by several anthropogenic stressors which include the introduction of mysid shrimp (Mysis relicta) in 1968 and 1974 and the construction of large upstream and downstream hydroelectric impoundments in 1969, 1973 and 1983. Construction of Hugh Keenleyside Dam (1969) at the lake outlet resulted in flooding that eliminated an estimated 30% of the available kokanee spawning habitat in Lower Arrow tributaries, at least 20% elimination of the Upper Arrow tributaries as well as extensive littoral productivity from the former Arrow Lakes. The Mica Dam (1973), built on the Upper Columbia River, blocked upstream migration of all fish species and influenced Arrow Lakes Reservoir water level fluctuations. The Revelstoke Dam (1983) flooded 150 km of the mainstem Columbia River, blocked 80 km of tributary streams which were used by Arrow Lakes Reservoir kokanee, bull trout, rainbow trout and other species. Formation of the two upstream reservoirs also resulted in nutrient retention which ultimately reduced Arrow Lakes Reservoir productivity to an ultra-oligotrophic state. Kokanee are typically the first species to respond to oligotrophication. To address the ultra-oligotrophic status, an experimental bottom-up strategy was adopted with seasonal addition of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus in the form of liquid fertilizer) that commenced in 1999. The objectives of the experiment were to (1) replace lost nutrients as a result of upstream impoundments and (2) to restore productivity in the Upper Arrow basin that would in turn rebuild kokanee and other sport fish populations. During 1999 to 2003, the seasonally adjusted blend of fertilizer was modeled on the successful Kootenay Lake fertilization experiment. Results from 2003 onward suggested that a closer examination of monthly phytoplankton biomass, species composition and water chemistry parameters was required to adaptively manage the weekly nutrient loading schedule to optimize food web transfer of ‘new’ carbon. From 2004 to 2006 less phosphorus and more nitrogen was added than the 1999 to 2003 period to ensure an adequate nitrogen to phosphorus (N:P) ratio for optimal phytoplankton growth. In 2006, 41.6 tonnes of phosphorus and 244.9 tonnes of nitrogen were added to the reservoir. Adaptively managing the 2006 weekly nutrient loading rates resulted in sufficient nitrogen to phosphorus ratios suitable for phytoplankton growth. Monthly monitoring indicated Arrow Lakes Reservoir remained oligotrophic according to nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations taken from 0-20 m integrated epilimnetic samples. Additional discrete-depth photic zone sampling at two stations in 2006 indicated that the reservoir was not nitrogen limited, an occurrence observed during 2001 to 2003. Overall phytoplankton abundance and biomass was lower in 2006 at all stations than in previous years. The trend in large diatom populations as in previous years was minimized, indicating carbon was being transferred through the pelagic food web instead of sinking into the reservoir hypolimnion. Zooplankton density and biomass was higher Arrow Lakes Reservoir Fertilization Experiment, Year 8 (2006) Report ii in 2006 compared to the previous two years. Lower Arrow had higher zooplankton biomass than Upper Arrow, a trend that followed previous years. Compared to 2005, density of all zooplankton in 2006 increased in Upper Arrow while in Lower Arrow only copepods and Daphnia increased. In 2006, Daphnia in Upper Arrow and Lower Arrow comprised of 70% of the zooplankton biomass, the highest contribution to total zooplankton since 2000. This increase in Daphnia biomass was likely responsible for the observed decrease in phytoplankton biomass as a result of herbivorous grazing. The overall trend of mysid density and biomass in 2006 was similar to the 2004 and 2005 results. Mysid density and biomass was higher in the fertilization period relative to the two year period prior to nutrient additions. The number of kokanee spawners in tributaries to Arrow Lakes Reservoir declined in 2006 relative to the 2004 and 2005 escapements. Escapements have been increasing since the commencement of fertilization in 1999, with the peak occurring in 2004. Mean size-at-maturity and fecundity of Hill Creek kokanee spawners increased in 2006 from previous years, indicating a density-dependent growth response since reservoir abundance declined in 2004 and 2005. The age and size of the kokanee have been variable during the fertilization period (1999 to 2006) with a temporary shift in age of maturity to age 2+ during 2000 to 2002. Since 2002, kokanee are maturing at age 3+. A kokanee hydroacoustic survey estimate in the fall of 2006 indicated a higher pelgic kokanee density relative to 2005. The total of all age classes in the reservoir was 9 million kokanee, compared to only 5 million in 2005. Transect densities in 2006 ranged from 218- 638 fish·ha-1 compared to 160-693 fish·ha-1 in 2004 and 77-497 fish·ha-1in 2005. The mean kokanee biomass in 2006 was 11.5 kg/ha. During the pre-fertilization ‘control’ period (1993-1998), biomass was estimated at ~3 kg/ha. The average kokanee biomass throughout the entire fertilization period (1999 to 2006) has been 10.7 kg/ha. An overall assessment of the eight years of nutrient additions to Arrow Lakes Reservoir indicates that the bottom up approach to restoring kokanee was successful in 2006. The adaptive management approach of applying nutrients to Arrow needs to be continuously applied to ensure favourable water quality and pelagic food resources for kokanee and higher trophic level insectivorous and piscivorous fish. Arrow Lakes Reservoir Fertilization Experiment, Year 8 (2006) Report iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………….ii Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………….iv List of Figures …………………………………………………………………………...vi List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………. xiii Chapter 1 – Introduction ………………………………………………………………..1 Chapter 2 – Fertilizer Loading in Arrow Lakes Reservoir Year 8 (2006) .................13 Chapter 3 – Response of Physical and Chemical Limnology of Arrow Lakes Reservoir to Experimental Fertilization, Year 8 (2006) ……………………………..21 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………...22 Materials and Methods ………………...………………………………………………...22 Results and Discussion ………………………………………………………………….23 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………....33 Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………...33 References …………………………………………………………………………….....33 Chapter 4 –Phytoplankton Population in Arrow Lakes Reservoir – 2006 …………65 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………...66 Methods ……………………………………………………………………………….....67 Results …………………………………………………………………………………...67