Nechako Watershed Health Report
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Nechako Watershed Health Report A report prepared by the Fraser Basin Council March 31, 2015 w Acknowledgements This report was prepared by the Fraser Basin Council with input and advice from several regional partners. The project was made possible with financial support from Environment Canada and the BC Wildlife Federation. In addition, in-kind contributions were provided by the Integrated Watershed Research Group (IWRG) at the University of Northern BC, the Nechako Environment and Water Stewardship Society, other members of the Nechako Watershed Alliance and other residents of this region. The FBC staff team of researchers and writers was led by Amy Greenwood and included Trisha Gustafson, Terry Robert, and Steve Litke. A special thanks to SFU graduate student Rebecca Seifert, who provided invaluable contributions to this initiative. This project was undertaken with the financial support of: Ce projet a été réalisé avec l’appui financier de: In addition to this watershed health report, an online atlas was developed to provide an interactive tool to select and view mapped information pertaining to the health of the watershed. A special thanks to Brad Mason, Rob Knight and Jackie Woodruff of the Community Mapping Network for developing the Nechako Watershed Health Atlas. Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 3 Highlights from the Nechako Watershed Health Report ................................................................... 3 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Geographic Context ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Environmental Context ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Demographic Characteristics ......................................................................................................................... 9 Economic Characteristics .............................................................................................................................. 12 1. Water Quantity and Quality .......................................................................................................................... 17 Water Quantity and Flow ............................................................................................................................... 17 Climate Change ................................................................................................................................................... 19 Water Quality Impacts from Forestry Activities .................................................................................. 20 Freshwater Temperature .............................................................................................................................. 22 Benthic invertebrate Community Status ................................................................................................. 25 2. Fish and Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................ 27 Species at Risk – Red and Blue Listed Species ...................................................................................... 27 Nechako River White Sturgeon ................................................................................................................... 29 Mountain Caribou Population Status ........................................................................................................ 30 Salmon Escapement ......................................................................................................................................... 31 Moose ..................................................................................................................................................................... 35 3. Ecosystems ........................................................................................................................................................... 36 Change in Forest Cover ................................................................................................................................... 36 Impact of Forestry Activities on Riparian Zones ................................................................................. 38 Stand-level Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................. 41 4. Resource Development and Use ................................................................................................................. 43 Resource Roads and Stream Crossings .................................................................................................... 43 Licensed Water Volume by Sector ............................................................................................................. 44 Forestry ................................................................................................................................................................. 46 Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................................... 47 Mining Activity ................................................................................................................................................... 50 5. Resource Conservation and Stewardship ............................................................................................... 52 Ecosections and Protected Areas ............................................................................................................... 52 Fisheries Project Registry .............................................................................................................................. 54 Nechako Watershed Stewardship Initiatives ........................................................................................ 55 Conclusions and Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 58 2 Executive Summary The Fraser Basin Council, in collaboration with the members of the Nechako Watershed Alliance and the Community Mapping Network have prepared this report and associated online atlas to provide an overview of the health of the Nechako River Watershed in north- central British Columbia. The overall goal of the project is to assess the health of the Nechako River watershed to inform actions and decisions that can improve the health of the watershed and the ecosystems, communities and economies that depend on it. Both the report and online atlas are based on the collection and analysis of best available and accessible data from a wide range of sources. Following an overview of the geographic, environmental, demographic and economic context of the watershed, the report is organized within the following five themes: 1. Water Quantity and Quality 2. Fish and Wildlife 3. Ecosystems 4. Resource Development and Use 5. Resource Conservation and Stewardship The report includes a mix of 20 primary indicators, text, charts, tables, maps and photos to characterize the state of the watershed. The online atlas - www.cmnmaps.ca/NECHAKO/ - includes approximately 20 primary map layers that users can select, zoom into, query, save and print, based on their interests. It is intended that the information presented can be used by decision-makers in government, in business and at home to share in the responsibility of looking after the land, water, fish, wildlife and other valued features of the watershed. The following are highlights of some of the results. Highlights from the Nechako Watershed Health Report Population – The population in the Nechako watershed is aging and also declining in most communities and in the Nechako watershed overall. The Aboriginal population is growing. Employment – In the Nechako-North Coast Region, the adult unemployment rate in 2014 was about 8%, the same as in 1995. Overall in the region, the Service Producing sector (trade, health care, education, public administration) tends to employ 2 adults to every 1 adult employed in the Goods Producing sector (forestry, construction, manufacturing). Water Quantity and Flow – The impoundment of water in the Nechako Reservoir and the resultant diversion and spillway releases have altered the hydrology of the Nechako River system since 1952, when the Kenney Dam was completed. Water Quality and Forestry – Between 2006 and 2013, Water Quality Effectiveness assessments were completed at 381 sites in the Nechako Watershed to assess fine sediment impacts to water quality. The majority (57%) of sites were classified as low or 3 very low impact to water quality. Nearly 1/3 of sites were classified as having a moderate impact. An additional 10.7% of sites were considered to have high impact to water quality. Freshwater Temperature – The Summer Temperature Management Program has only been partially successful