Waiparous Creek Summary Report

Southern Alberta Fisheries Habitat Enhancement and Sustainability Program WAIPAROUS CREEK SUMMARY REPORT

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e v Ghost su e e r Æ Banff National ur Creek Ä " Park of Canada PLUZ 40 Ghost Lake NP River Minnewanka Ghost Lakes Waiparous Project Area Green Area 1 Lane Undivided Road O ld man 3 R Parks and Protected 2 Lane Gravel Road i ver Waiparous Creek f tle R r Video Starting Point as iv r e Areas C e iv ver R Ri rton 2 ale at e r 1 Lane Gravel Road nd W e Habitat Mitigation bo 6 iv Motorized Trail ar R Public Land Use Zones C ly Bel Unimproved Road Non-motorized Trail Base Map Data provided by the Government of Alberta under 0 2 4 Truck-Trail the Alberta Open Government Licence. November, 2014 2 Lane Undivided Road The information as depicted is subject to change, therefore Kilometers the Government of Alberta assumes no responsibility for ´ Westslope Cutthroat discrepancies at time of use. © 2016 Government of Alberta 1:300,000 Trout Critical Habitat

WAIPAROUS CREEK PROJECT PROJECT UPDATES Waiparous Creek, a tributary to the Ghost River, is located in the Ghost • Overview Fish Habitat Assessment including Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ), Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8. The entire an initial field reconnaissance aerial survey Waiparous Creek sub-basin was identified as a potential candidate for the was completed on May 29, 2015. Fisheries Habitat Enhancement and Sustainability (FISHES) Program by • Preliminary Assessment and aerial regional Fisheries Management staff. Widespread habitat degradation and videography of the watershed was completed increased sediment inputs, exacerbated by the 2013 flood, are significant on June 8, 2015. issues for fish in this creek. • Detailed Field Surveys were completed A portion of Waiparous Creek is designated as critical habitat and supports between October 7 and 16, 2015. an isolated population of Westslope Cutthroat Trout. Westslope Cutthroat • Contract awarded to Lotic Environmental Trout are listed as threatened under Alberta’s Wildlife Act and the federal LTD. Species at Risk Act, due to their small distribution, fragmented population • Project is currently at the final design phase. and the continuing decline of habitat quality within their limited range. For more information about threats to this species please see the Alberta NEXT STEPS Westslope Cutthroat Trout Recovery Plan. • Project construction is planned for 2018. Waiparous Creek also provides habitat for resident Bull Trout. Bull Trout, the provincial fish of Alberta, are listed as Threatened under Alberta’s Wildlife Act, due to overexploitation, habitat degradation and competition with non-native species like Brook Trout, which also occur in Waiparous Creek.

The FISHES program aims to mitigate the effects on fish and fish habitat as a result of the flood and re-establish a healthy aquatic environment.

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Helicopter Flight Path PROJECT GOALS AND BENEFITS Project goals for Waiparous Creek include the following: PROJECT RATIONALE • reduction or elimination of sources contributing sediment The Waiparous Creek project was ranked as a number five to the waterbody; priority project for the FISHES Program, tied with Lynx Creek, restoration/creation of spawning habitat for Westslope by a technical working group of fisheries habitat experts. This • Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout and other sportfish species; ranking is based on a number of biological, social, economic and project specific criteria. As part of the Ghost PLUZ, the • restoration/creation of overwintering habitat for Westslope Waiparous Creek drainage basin is heavily used by outdoor Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout and other sportfish species; enthusiasts among others. Multiple land use activities occur • initiate successional advancement where excessive gravel within the PLUZ including recreational off-highway vehicle use, is causing stream instability; forestry, agriculture,and oil and gas activities. • rehabilitation of flood-eroded stream banks and Initial FISHES investigations identified a significant number re-establishment of healthy riparian zone; and of sediment sources and widespread habitat degradation creation of cover for various fish life stages including resulting from the network of roads, trails, cutlines and pipelines • the introduction of large woody debris. connected to the drainage. The effects of these activities on the landscape have been further compounded by the flooding In the long term, it is hoped that these habitat improvements that occurred in 2013. Additionally, stream instability, a will help conserve and protect Westslope Cutthroat Trout, result of natural alluvial processes, has contributed to habitat Bull Trout and other populations of sportfish species in degradation within the watershed. Detailed field surveys and Waiparous Creek. sophisticated computer modeling were used to confirm key threats which are limiting the productivity of the Waiparous Creek fishery. Habitat restoration projects have been developed WEBSITE INFORMATION and will be constructed to mitigate these threats. Further information on the FISHES Program can be found by visiting our website at: www.fishes.alberta.ca

For a more detailed assessment of the Waiparous Creek Project, please see the FISHES Project Selection and Priority Ranking Tool on the FISHES website.

This website is updated regularly to reflect current activities.

For further inquiries regarding the FISHES program please email: [email protected]

Proect Status

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