The Migratory and Reproductive Response of Spawning Lake Sturgeon to Controlled Flows Over Kakabeka Falls on the Kaministiquia River, on 2006

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The Migratory and Reproductive Response of Spawning Lake Sturgeon to Controlled Flows over Kakabeka Falls on the Kaministiquia River, ON 2006

Lake Superior

QUIK Report 06.02

M.J. Friday TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………………. ii

List of Figures …………………………………………………………………………… ii

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………... 1

Study Area ………………………………………………………………………………. 1

Materials and Methods ………………………………………………………………….. 3 Radio Tagging ………………………………………………………………….... 3 Tracking …………………………………………………………………………. 3 Drift Netting ……………………………………………………………………... 5 Water Temperature, Velocity and Depth ………………...………………………. 5

Results …………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Radio Tagging……………………………………………………………………. 6 Migration ……………………………………………………………………….... 6 Spawning Events ………………………………………………………………… 9 Drift Netting ……………………………………………………………………... 9

Summary ………………………………………………………………………………… 12

Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………… 12

References ……………………………………………………………………………….. 12

Glossary ………………………………………………………………………………….. 13 LIST OF TABLES

Table Pg.

1 Fish attribute information for 14 adult sturgeon radio tagged in 2006, four tagged in 2005 and six tagged in 2000 4

2 The history of spawning migrations to Kakabeka Falls among six lake sturgeon internally radio tagged in the fall of 2000 7

3 Migration dates and spill flows 2006 9

4 The drift netting incidental catches 10

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Pg.

1 The Kaministiquia River watershed and major reservoirs 2

2 The study area from Kakabeka Falls downstream to the OPG generating station 3

3 The Kaministiquia River from Kakabeka Falls downstream to Lake Superior 9

4 Water temperature and spill flow over Kakabeka Falls from May 1 to July 20, 2005 6

5 The migratory behaviour of spawning group 1 and 2 in relation to spill flows and water temperature 7

6 Spill flows at Kakabeka Falls in relation to tagging dates, approximate spawning dates, and catches of downstream drifting larvae 8

7 Water temperature at Kakabeka Falls in relation to tagging dates, approximate spawning dates, and catches of downstream drifting larvae 10

8 Mean total length distribution of lake sturgeon larvae collected below Kakabeka Falls during the first and second drift events in 2005 11

9 The daily minimum, maximum and average total length range of larval lake sturgeon collected below Kakabeka Falls in 2005 11

ii INTRODUCTION

In 2002, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) commenced water management planning for the Kaministiquia River watershed. The Water Management Plan that was developed included an agreement to study lake sturgeon in the Kaministiquia River (OPG 2005). One component of the agreement was to examine lake sturgeon spawning activity during different flow conditions over Kakabeka Falls. Access of adult sturgeon to the spawning site at the base of Kakabeka Falls may be impeded or delayed due to low flow conditions resulting from the operation of the generating station (GS) located downstream of the falls.

Studies conducted in 2004 and 2005 indicate that adult sturgeon reached the spawning site and spawned successfully during 23 m3∙s-1 flow over Kakabeka Falls. In 2006 we examined a lower flow condition (17 m3∙s-1) to determine if migration and successful spawning would occur. As was the case in 2004 and 2005, OPG attempted to control flow from May 15 to June 30. Within this timeframe a minimum flow of 17 3m ∙s-1 would spill over the falls until June 25. Starting on June 26 flow over the falls would be reduced by 3 m3∙s-1 and continue every 24 h until scenic flows were attained (June 30).

This report details the third year of research examining lake sturgeon spawning migrations and reproductive success during controlled flows over Kakabeka Falls.

The objectives of the studies were to:

1. Determine if spawning lake sturgeon can successfully migrate upstream from the generating station to the base of the Falls during spill flows of 17 3m ∙s-1; 2. Determine if spawning lake sturgeon can successfully migrate out of the study area during flow conditions of 17 m3∙s-1; 3. Determine the length of time spawning adults remain in the study area; 4. Determine the approximate date when spawning occurs; 5. Determine if the spawning process was successful at spill flow rates of 17 3m ∙s-1; 6. Confirm, through the collection of larval sturgeon, that there are sexually mature adult sturgeon spawning in the study area; 7. Confirm that previously documented upstream migrations into the study area are primarily spawning migrations and not exploratory movements; and 8. Determine the timing and duration of downstream movement of larval lake sturgeon

STUDY AREA

These studies focused on an 800 m stretch of the Kaministiquia River (Figures 1, 2 and 5) from the base of Kakabeka Falls where lake sturgeon spawning has been documented, downstream to the generating station (GS). The general habitat characteristics of this area are described in Friday (2004).

K ashabo w ie La ke

M a ta w in D o g La ke R iver

S hebando w an G re en w ate r La ke Lake L ake S tud y A re a S upe rior

K am in istiquia R iver

K ilo m e tr es

L a k e S u p e r io r

Figure 1. The Kaministiquia River watershed and major reservoirs.

K a kabe ka F a lls P lun ge P oo l

W est C h anne l E a st C ha nne l R ap id s P oo l

D rift N e ttin g S ite

R efe ren ce T ran sm itte r D a ta po ol Lo gge r

K a kabe ka F a lls G e ne ra tin g S ta tion R ap id s

Figure 2. The study area from Kakabeka Falls downstream to the OPG generating station.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Radio Tagging Radio telemetry equipment manufactured by Advanced Telemetry Systems (ATS) was used in this study1 . Each radio transmitter (n = 14) was identified by a unique frequency between 150.934 – 151.214 MHz. The 20 g transmitters (model F2060) pulsed 55 times per minute and had a battery life of approximately 10 months.

To catch sturgeon for tag attachment 45 m of 304 mm (12”) stretched mesh, multifilament gill net was set overnight at river kilometer (rkm)19 (Figure3). Netting was carried out from April 25 to May 4 during water temperatures that averaged 8.2°C. Of twenty one sturgeon captured, 14 individuals that had not been previously radio tagged during any other study were fitted with external transmitters (Table 1) following the procedures outlined in Friday (2004). All sturgeon were sampled for length (fork, total and legal), weight, girth, body depth and were tagged with a five digit orange floy tag applied along the left hand side of the dorsal fin. We attempted to determine fish gender by forcing eggs or milt from the genital opening.

Tracking A shoreline based data logger (model R4500) was installed upstream of the generating station (Figure 2) in mid April to track the movements of radio tagged sturgeon as they migrated into and out of the study area. A two antennae system was used to Figure 3. The Kaministiquia River from Kakabeka Falls downstream to Lake Superior 1Reference to trademark names does not imply endorsement by the Ontario government Table 1. Fish attribute information (from the original tagging date) for 14 adult sturgeon radio tagged in 2006, four tagged in 2005 and six tagged in 2000 (frequencies in bold italics denote fish that did not migrate into the study area during the 2006 spawning period; frequencies with an * denote fish that migrated during 17 m3∙s-1 spill).

Gill to dorsal Fork Total fin Length Length Girth Weight Body Length Tagging Location (mm) (mm) (mm) (kg) Depth (mm) Sex Freq Tagging Date (km number) 1505 1625 645 23.5 210 1020 F? * 953 25-Apr-06 Km 19 1180 1285 440 9.5 160 760 ? * 993 26-Apr-06 Km 19 1295 1425 585 19 195 845 ? * 973 26-Apr-06 Km 19 1340 1450 555 17.5 175 850 ? 1053 26-Apr-06 Km 19 1330 1450 555 17.5 185 835 ? 1113 26-Apr-06 Km 19 1285 1440 600 18.5 190 830 ? 1173 26-Apr-06 Km 19 1410 1540 590 20.5 190 920 ? 1032 27-Apr-06 Km 19 1375 1500 595 19 210 850 ? 1134 27-Apr-06 Km 19 1250 1380 785 13.5 160 785 ? 1093 27-Apr-06 Km 19 1325 1470 595 20 195 860 ? * 1193 02-May-06 Km 19 1530 1675 680 27 225 1065 F? 1012 02-May-06 Km 19 1300 1420 545 15.5 185 855 ? 1073 02-May-06 Km 19 1295 1420 560 17.6 180 820 ? 1214 02-May-06 Km 19 1230 1360 535 15.5 170 785 ? * 934 04-May-06 Km 19

1015 1130 470 10.2 155 610 ? 777 29-Apr-05 Km 19 1090 1215 450 10.7 165 700 ? 884 27-Apr-05 Km 19 1270 1390 515 15.9 160 840 ? * 812 03-May-05 Km 19 1240 1355 520 14.8 180 765 ? * 826 28-Apr-05 Km 19

1324 1417 19.3 867 ? * 74 14-Sep-00 Km 19 1420 1494 24.7 915 ? * 132 15-Sep-00 Km 11 1239 1345 13.4 781 ? * 254 06-Sep-00 Km 14 1230 1285 15.6 776 ? 214 02-Oct-00 Km 14 1355 1490 19.9 875 ? * 293 02-Oct-00 Km 14 1240 1343 16.9 787 ? * 311 02-Oct-00 Km 14 interpret the direction of fish movement as one antenna was facing upstream (toward the falls) and the other was facing downstream (toward the GS).

A reference transmitter (150.894 MHz) was placed in the river above the GS (Figure 2) to provide a known signal strength from a fixed position. Radio tagged fish were determined to be in the study area when the signal strength of their transmitter matched, or was close to, the reference tag signal strength.

Manual tracking in the study area was conducted using a portable receiver and hand held antenna. This was done to validate data being collected by the stationary logger and as a backup in case of logger malfunction or vandalism. A number of road accessible sections of the river were monitored to track the upstream and downstream progression of radio tagged fish.

Drift Netting Drift netting took place on the east shore of the river approximately 400 m downstream of Kakabeka Falls (Figure 2). Stainless steel, D-frame drift nets were used that measured 0.76 m across the base, 0.53 m high and had a 3.6 m tapered mesh bag that terminated at collection container with filtering holes covered by 1000 µm mesh. Drift nets were held in place by attaching a 4.5 kg fishing anchor to the bridle of each frame. To sample, the cod end was lifted from the water and the collection container was detached and rinsed in a shallow white pan for examination. All sturgeon were removed, counted and measured. Live sturgeon were released downstream. Dead specimens were placed in glass vials, preserved in 70% ethanol and shipped to Genomic Variation Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, University of California at Davis, for microsatellite genotyping and family reconstruction. Other larval fish species captured were also preserved and later identified in the laboratory. Drift netting was carried out from June 1 to June 20.

Twelve drift nets were deployed during each sampling event and were set at dusk and lifted the following day.

Water Temperature, Velocity and Depth Water temperature in the study area was recorded using a Vemco Minilog- T data logger. The logger was located on the east side of the river, approximately 500 m upstream of the GS in 0.5 m of water (Figure 2). Temperature was recorded hourly from April 24 to October 13 (excluding May 6 to 8). Water velocity (m∙s-1) was measured (Marsh McBirney Flo-Mate) at one site (June 1 to 7) and then at the opening of every net (June 8 to 20) during drift net deployment. Water depth (cm) was measured at the opening of each drift net during deployment.

Study Flows Study flows were initiated nine days earlier than scheduled due to early upstream migration of radio tagged sturgeon that congregated in the tailrace of the generating station. The study period was, therefore adjusted to run from May 6 to June 16 with a 3 m3∙s-1 flow reduction every 24 h until scenic flows were attained on June 22.

In an attempt to induce upstream migration of radio tagged sturgeon from the tailrace into the study area, water flowing over Kakabeka Falls was increased from dam leakage (1 3m ∙s-1) to14 m3∙s-1 on May 6th and was maintained for 46 hrs. Flow was then increased to 17 m3∙s-1 and was maintained until heavy spring rainfall increased flow over the falls to a maximum of 89.3 3m ∙s-1 on May 13. Flow was not controlled at 17 m3∙s-1 until May 18 and was maintained until June 16 (Figure 4).

26 90 24 80 22 20 70 18 60 16 14 50

12 40

10 Spill flows 30 8

Water temperature °C 6 20 4 10 2

0 25-Apr-06 28-Apr-06 1-May-06 4-May-06 7-May-06 10-May-06 13-May-06 16-May-06 19-May-06 22-May-06 25-May-06 28-May-06 31-May-06 3-Jun-06 6-Jun-06 9-Jun-06 12-Jun-06 15-Jun-06 18-Jun-06 21-Jun-06 24-Jun-06 27-Jun-06 30-Jun-06 3-Jul-06 6-Jul-06 9-Jul-06 12-Jul-06 15-Jul-06 18-Jul-06 0

water temperature spill flow

Figure 4. Water temperature and spill flow over Kakabeka Falls from May 1 to July 19, 2006.

RESULTS

Radio Tagging Fourteen lake sturgeon were fitted with external transmitters. These fish ranged from 109 to 167.5 cm in total length and weighed 8 to 27 kg (Table 1). All fish survived the tag attachment procedure but only eight fish migrated upstream to Kakabeka Falls. The six fish that did not migrate to Kakabeka moved downstream to the lower river and remained there throughout the summer.

Migration Radio tagged sturgeon began their upstream spawning migration during the last week of April, as water temperature in the lower river increased from 6.5°C to a maximum of 10°C. Eighteen radio tagged sturgeon moved into the study area. Eight were individuals radio tagged in the present study; four were radio tagged during a similar study in 2005 and six were internally radio tagged in the fall of 2000. Four of the six fish tagged in 2000 have a history of spawning migrations to Kakabeka Falls (Table 2). Five sturgeon radio tagged during previous studies (074, 777, 884, 132, 254) arrived at Kakabeka between April 26 (9.7°C) and May 5 (11.4°C) and were located in the tailrace of the generating station. Three of these fish (777, 884, and 132) migrated into the study area during the 46 h period when 14.1 m3∙s-1 was being spilled (Figure 5) but only one fish (777) reached the base of Kakabeka Falls. The upstream migration of these fish, during the period of 14.1 3m ∙s-1 spill is described below:

Frequency 150.777 This fish was first detected in the tailrace of the generating station onApril 30. It remained there for 7 d and began to migrate into the study area approximately 13 h after 14.1 m3∙s-1

began to spill. This fish navigated the entire length of the study area and reached the base of Kakabeka Falls on May 7 (Figure 5).

Frequency 150.884 This fish was first detected in the tailrace of the generating station on April 26. It remained there for 12 d and began to migrate into the study area approximately 13 h after 14.1 m3∙s-1 began to spill. This fish migrated beyond the first set of rapids to the reference transmitter pool but moved back downstream to the tailrace on May 8 where it remained for 6 d. On May 14 it migrated to the base of Kakabeka Falls when spill flows were uncontrolled at 59.9 m3∙s-1 (Figure 5).

Frequency 150.132 This fish was first detected in the tailrace of the generating station on May 5. It remained there for 26 h and began to migrate into the study area approximately 10 h Figure 5. The furthest point of upstream migration three radio after 14.1 m3∙s-1 began to spill. It tagged sturgeon (frequency #’s 777, 132, 884) reached during migrated beyond the first set of the period of 14 m3∙s-1 spill. rapids but only moved as far as the reference transmitter pool (Figure 5). It remained there for two days and migrated to the base of Kakabeka Falls when flow was increased to 17 3m ∙s-1.

Table 2. The history of migrations to Kakabeka Falls among six lake sturgeon internally radio tagged in the fall of 2000.

Tag Frequency 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 74 X X 132 X X 214 X X X X 254 X X X X 293 X 311 X

During the period when flow rates were controlled at 17 3m ∙s-1; twelve radio tagged sturgeon migrated to the base of Kakabeka Falls. The remaining five fish moving up under mean daily flow rates from 20.1 to 59.9 m3∙s-1 (Figure 6, Table 3). Individual fish moved out of the study area between May 21 and June 23 (Figure 5) during spill flows that ranged from 5.8 to 17.2 3m ∙s-1.

Figure 6. The migratory behaviour of spawning Group 1 and 2 in relation to spill flows and water temperature. Paired symbols ( blue triangle = tagged in 2000, orange circle = tagged in 2005, yellow diamond = tagged in 2006) joined by a dotted line represent the date that individual fish moved into and left the study area. Symbols with a frequency (eg. 214 Δ) represent the first day the fish was detected in the GS tailwater. Table 3. Migration dates and spill flows 2006.

Date of first Date of Date of Spill flow (m3∙s-1 ) Tagging Tag detection by migration to migration to during movement to Year Freq. data logger ref tag pool plunge pool plunge pool

2005 777 Apr-30 May-07 May-07 14 + dam leakage 2000 74 Apr-28 May-11 May-11 17 + dam leakage 2000 132 May-05 May-08 May-08 17 + dam leakage 2000 254 Apr-29 May-09 May-09 17 + dam leakage 2000 311 May-11 May-11 May-11 17 + dam leakage 2005 812 May-11 May-11 May-11 17 + dam leakage 2006 973 May-11 May-11 May-21 17 + dam leakage 2005 826 May-17 May-17 May-18 17.1 + dam leakage 2006 934 May-18 May-18 May-26 17.1 + dam leakage 2000 293 May-19 May-20 May-21 17.2 + dam leakage 2006 1193 May-22 May-23 May-23 17.2 + dam leakage 2006 953 May-19 May-19 May-21 17.2 + dam leakage 2006 993 May-19 May-20 May-21 17.2 + dam leakage 2006 1012 May-16 May-17 May-17 20.1 + dam leakage 2006 1053 May-17 May-17 May-19 20.1 + dam leakage 2006 1093 May-09 May-15 May-15 44.5 + dam leakage 2000 214 May-06 May-15 May-15 44.5 + dam leakage 2005 884 Apr-26 May-14 May-15 59.9 + dam leakage

Spawning Events Based on the short duration of two fish in the study area (3 days) it is likely that the first spawning event occurred between May 19 and May 22 when water temperatures averaged 13.6°C (Figure 6).

Based on similar departure dates of eight fish, the second spawning event likely occurred some time between May 22 and May 26 when water temperature averaged 15.2°C (Figure 6).

Drift Netting During 20 sampling events in June (3586 sample hrs), 943 larval lake sturgeon were captured. The catch per unit effort was 0.26 larvae/hour. The incidental catch was 4483 larval fish, of which 369 were identified to the species level and 4114 specimens were grouped by family (Table 4). There was one period (drift event) when larvae were captured as they drifted downstream from the spawning site (Figure 7, 8).

The first larval sturgeon (15 mm) was captured on June 1; approximately 11 d after the first suspected spawning date. The duration of the downstream movement of larvae from the spawning site was

Table 4. The drift netting incidental catch. approximately 16 d (June 1 to 16) (Figure Common name Scientific name Catch 7, 8). Larval sturgeons ranging in length Blacknose dace Rhinichthys atratulus 1 from 11 to 30 mm were captured (Figure 9). During the drift event the mean daily Sucker family Catostomidae 3874 spill flows ranged from 15 to 17.7 3m ∙s- Central mudminnow Umbra limi 35 1, water velocity ranged from 0.15 to Sculpin family Cottidae 229 -1 0.67 m∙s and water depth at the drift net Minnow family Cyprinidae 11 site ranged from 27 to 67 cm. The mean daily water temperature from the first Johnny darter Etheostoma nigrum 1 suspected spawning date (May 21) to the Lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis 11 date when the first larva was collected Longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae 9 was 16.7 °C (Figure 8). The mean daily Ninespine stickleback Pungitius pungitius 1 water temperature during the drift event was 19.4 °C. Northern pike Esox lucius 58 Minnow family Phoxinus sp 39 Pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha 121 Rock bass Ambloplites rupestris 2 Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus 2 Silver redhorse Moxostoma anisurum 2 Slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus 3 Spottail shiner Notropis hudsonuis 2 Trout perch Percopsis omiscomaycus 4 Walleye Sander vitreus 75

Figure 7. Kakabeka Falls spill flow in relation to tagging dates, approximate spawning dates, and catches of downstream drifting larvae. 10 Figure 8. Water temperature at Kakabeka Falls in relation to tagging dates, approximate spawning dates, and catch of downstream drifting larvae.

Figure 9. The daily minimum, maximum and average total length range of larval lake sturgeon collected below Kakabeka Falls in 2006.

11 SUMMARY TELEMETRY

1. Ten fish migrated to Kakabeka prior to the intended study start date (May 15) during mean daily water temperatures that ranged from 9.1 to 11.6 °C 2. Five fish that arrived from April 26 to May 5 were located in the tailrace of the generating station. 3. One sturgeon moved to the base of Kakabeka Falls during spill flows of approximately 14 3m ∙s-1. 4. Twelve fish moved to the base of Kakabeka Falls during spill flows of approximately 173 m ∙s-1. 5. There appeared to be two spawning events approximately 4 d apart. 6. Two signals were still being recorded from the plunge pool at the base of Kakabeka Falls in December 2006. One was an external tag (1093) that may have fallen off; the other was an internal tag that was surgically implanted into the body cavity of fish 214 in the fall of 2000.

DRIFT NETTING

1. Sturgeon spawned successfully in the study area. 2. Due to the temporal proximity of the two spawning events there was one period when larvae drifted from the spawning site. In 2004 and 2005 there were two separate drift events. 3. Larval sturgeon drifted from the spawning site over a 16 d period, during flow conditions that ranged from 15 to 17.7 m3∙s-1.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was made possible through funding provided by the Canada Ontario Agreement respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem and the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund. The contributions of OMNR staff including Karen Schmidt, Jon Chicoine and Tim Leblanc for their technical expertise, Kim Ahola for data entry, Kim Armstrong for report review and the assistance of summer field staff are greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank Ontario Power Generation for monitoring spill flows, providing spill reports and assisting with logistical aspects of the project. Thanks to Ontario Parks for allowing us to carry out this research in the park.

REFERENCES

Friday, M. 2004. The Migratory and Reproductive Response of Spawning Lake Sturgeon to Controlled Flows over Kakabeka Falls on the Kaministiquia River, 2004. Min. Nat. Res. Upper Great Lakes Management Unit – Lake Superior Technical Report 06.01. 27 p.

Ontario Power Generation, 2005. Kaministiquia River System. Water Management Plan. August 2004. Appendix H, p. 299-301.

12 GLOSSARY

Dam Leakage - Water that seeps through the gaps between dam stop logs. During the overnight hours of the tourism season (i.e., Victoria Day weekend in May to Thanksgiving Day weekend in October) leakage through the stop logs (~1 m3∙s-1) provides the only flow over the falls. Outside of the tourism season stop log leakage also accounts for flow over the falls.

Drift event – The period of time (days) during which larval sturgeon drift downstream from the spawning site.

Scenic Flows - Flow over the falls that is provided (for Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park) during day- light hours of the tourist season (i.e., Victoria Day weekend in May to Thanksgiving Day weekend in October) at flow rates of 4.25 3m ∙s-1 on weekdays and 8.5 m3∙s-1 on weekends and statutory holidays.

Spill Flow – Any flow over Kakabeka Falls that is in excess of scenic flows or dam leakage.

Tailrace – Water immediately downstream of the generating station.

Uncontrolled Flow – When flow over Kakabeka Falls is in excess of the study flows (173 m ∙s-1).