The 2004 Adult Coho Assessment of Tributaries of Quesnel Lake WSC 160 Waterbody I.D

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The 2004 Adult Coho Assessment of Tributaries of Quesnel Lake WSC 160 Waterbody I.D The 2004 Adult Coho Assessment Of Tributaries of Quesnel Lake WSC 160 Waterbody I.D. 00431QUES Prepared By: Guy Smith MSc. RPBio. Richard Holmes MSc. RPBio. PO Box 174, Likely, BC V0L 1N0 Prepared For: John Stace-Smith RPF. Riverside Forest Products Ltd. RR #3 5000 Soda Creek Road Williams Lake, BC V2G 1M3 November 26, 2004 November 26, 2004 Disclaimer The following report has been written based on current available information and includes field assessments. The data provided in this report is based on a one-time site visit for each stream and should not be used as a final tally for coho escapements. The intent is to provide habitat assessment for adult coho and to visually count spawners who have returned to their natal stream. Acknowledgments Cariboo Envirotech Ltd would like to thank John Stace-Smith of Riverside Forest Products Ltd. of Williams Lake for his support on this project. Additionally, we would like to thank Richard Bailey and Adrian Wall of Fisheries and Oceans Canada of Kamloops for their guidance on streams to assess, and we would also like to thank fisheries biologist Peter Nicklin of Williams Lake for his comments on coho activity in the Horsefly River and McKinley Creek drainages during the fall of 2004. The 2004 Adult Coho Assessment of Tributaries of Quesnel Lake 2 November 26, 2004 Table of Contents Disclaimer 2 Acknowledgements 2 Project Reference Information 5 Watershed Information 5 Sampling Design Summary 5 Contractor Information 6 1.0 Introduction 7 2.0 Methodology 8 3.0 Results 8 4.0 Summary 9 5.0 Observation 11 6.0 Recommendation 11 List of Tables Table 1: Assessment Summary 9 List of Appendices (Photos, site cards, stream reports) Tab 1 Abbott Creek Tab 2 Bill Miner Creek Tab 3 Blue Lead Creek Tab 4 Bouldery Creek Tab 5 Cedar Creek Tab 6 Grain Creek The 2004 Adult Coho Assessment of Tributaries of Quesnel Lake 3 November 26, 2004 Tab 7 Killdog Creek Tab 8 Lynx Creek Tab 9 Mitchell River Tab 10 Penfold Creek Tab 11 Summitt Creek Tab 12 Tasse Creek Tab 13 Unnamed Creek Tab 14 Wasko Creek Tab 15 Winkley Creek Tab 16 Quesnel Lake Summary Information Tab 17 Williams lake Community Dialogue Meeting on Coho Tab 18 Project Area Map The 2004 Adult Coho Assessment of Tributaries of Quesnel Lake 4 November 26, 2004 Project Reference Information Region Cariboo District Williams Lake FW Management Unit 5-15 Fisheries Planning Unit Cariboo DFO Sub-District Williams Lake Forest Region Southern Interior Forest Region Forest District Central Cariboo District Forest Licensee Sponsor Riverside Forest Products Ltd. First Nations Claim Area Red Bluff, Soda Creek, Williams Lake Bands Watershed Information Watershed Group QUES Watershed Name Quesnel Watershed Code 160 UTM at Mouth 121º 32’50”W 52º36’6” N TRIM Map 93A.043, 93A.053, 93A054, 93A.055, 93A.056, 93A.057, 93A.058, 93A.065, 93A.077 BEC Zone SBPS, ESSF, MS, AT Sampling Design Summary Total Number of Streams 15 Total Number of Reaches 19 Field Sampling Dates October 25 – November 2, 2004 The 2004 Adult Coho Assessment of Tributaries of Quesnel Lake 5 November 26, 2004 Contractor Information Project Manager: Name: Rick Holmes, Cariboo Envirotech Ltd. Address: Box 174, Likely BC. V0L 1N0 Phone: (250) 790-2456 Field crew: Names: Richard Rujanschi, Guy “Paddy” Smith Data Entry by: Name: Richard Rujanschi Report prepared Name Rick Holmes, Guy “Paddy” Smith, by: Report edited by: Name Rick Holmes Mapping: Company: Riverside Forest Products Ltd. Tech: Chris Ertel Address: RR #3, 5000 Soda Creek Road Williams Lake, BC. Phone: (250) 398-3600 The 2004 Adult Coho Assessment of Tributaries of Quesnel Lake 6 November 26, 2004 1.0 Introduction During the latter part of October 2004, John Stace-Smith of Riverside Forest Products Ltd. of Williams Lake’s Soda Creek Division contacted Cariboo Envirotech Ltd with an opportunity to conduct watershed related assessments within their general operating area. It was decided that due to the timing of the request, and the lack of current information on suspected coho spawning streams, that an adult coho salmon habitat and escapement survey should be conducted on tributaries of Quesnel Lake. Quesnel Lake is located in the east Cariboo region of the Interior of British Columbia. It has a surface area of 27,012.717 hectares, a perimeter of 323.801 kilometres, and a known depth of 610 metres. Fish species known to inhabit Quesnel Lake are as follows: ¾ Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus ¾ Burbot Lota lota ¾ Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ¾ Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch ¾ Kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka ¾ Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush ¾ Longnose Dace Rhinichthys cataractae ¾ Minnow (general) all cyprinids ¾ Mountain Whitefish Prosopium williamsoni ¾ Northern Pike Minnow Ptychocheilus oregonensis ¾ Peamouth Chub Mylocheilius caurinus ¾ Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss ¾ Redside Shiner Richardsonius balteatus ¾ Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka ¾ Sucker (general) Catostomus sp. (FishWizard) Interior Fraser River coho salmon, which includes Quesnel Lake stocks are now protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Additionally, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) “has concluded that there is a serious risk of extinction due to several factors. These include: concern that reductions in fishing pressure may be insufficient or not maintained, that marine survivorship may not improve, that habitat loss or deterioration in the watershed continues, and that use of hatcheries threatens recovery” (COSEWIC). Public forums have recently been held to discuss this issue, including one held in Williams Lake on November 17th, 2004. The minutes of this stakeholder session have been included in this report under Tab 17. Additionally, a National Recovery Strategy for Coho Salmon has recently been developed and can be reviewed through the Internet (Recovery Strategy). Quesnel Lake tributaries have historically been known to provide spawning opportunities for adult coho (FishWizard). The Quesnel River Hatchery located in Likely, British The 2004 Adult Coho Assessment of Tributaries of Quesnel Lake 7 November 26, 2004 Columbia, in operation by Fisheries and Oceans Canada from 1981 to 1995 conducted coho salmon assessments on McKinley Creek, a tributary of the Horsefly River, and Summit Creek, a tributary of Quesnel Lake located in the East arm. Enhancement of these two tributaries also occurred through a gamete collection in the fall with the resultant fry being released the following spring. Continuation of the McKinley Creek project as a stock assessment tool is ongoing through the efforts of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Cariboo Tribal Council of Williams Lake. 2.0 Methodology Two experienced freshwater fisheries biologists from Cariboo Envirotech Ltd conducted the field portion of the project. The survey involved the use of an 18 foot Gregor jetboat powered by 125 hp jet motor. The crew assessed Quesnel Lake tributaries on a daily basis from October 25th to November 2nd. Access to the stream mouths was primarily by boat and reconnaissance was conducted in the first and second reaches on foot. Although the project was based out of the community of Likely located at the lake outlet, the field crew set up base camps at the ends of both the North and East arms to facilitate ease of access to streams located in these areas. This also alleviated some safety concerns as the field crew traveled in an open boat during some severe weather conditions. Additionally, for reasons of safety, the field crew was provided with a satellite telephone and followed daily check in procedures. During the assessments, standard stream cards were filled out with relevant data and photos were taken in an effort to show habitat conditions. These items can be reviewed in the appendices of this report. It should be noted that although the Federal/Provincial government FDIS program was used to provide the field data, the information has not been transferred to their database program, and is only utilized in this report for ease of data compilation. Discussions were held with Fisheries and Oceans staff Richard Bailey and Adrian Wall from the Coho Recovery Team regarding the project and streams were identified for assessment. It was also felt that the field assessment data would provide some opportunity for comparison with aerial flight counts on the same streams. 3.0 Results Table 1 provides a summary of the streams assessed and relevant information associated with each stream. A total of 15 streams were assessed during the project and adult coho were found in 4 of these streams. One unnamed stream, WSC 160-635400-05400, was added to the survey based on personal communication with a Horsefly resident who had historically trapped an adult coho during his trapping season in this stream (pers. comm.). Aside from Penfold Creek, all the creeks drain directly into Quesnel Lake. The 2004 Adult Coho Assessment of Tributaries of Quesnel Lake 8 November 26, 2004 Table 1: Assessment summary. Stream Watershed Code Survey Reach Survey Water Coho Name Date Number Length Temp. Count Abbott 160-706800 Oct 26/04 1 400 m 1º 0 Abbott 160-706800 Oct 26/04 2 300 m 1º 0 Bill Miner 160-924900 Oct 28/04 1 150 m 2º 0 Blue Lead 160-989300 Oct 27/04 1 500 m 2º 0 Blue Lead 160-989300 Oct 27/04 2 Bouldery 160-860800 Oct 28/04 1 100 m 1º 0 Cedar 160-544100 Oct 25/04 1 300 m 3º 0 Grain 160-732700 Oct 30/04 1 1200 m 3º 0 Killdog 160-975500 Oct 27/04 1 200 m 2º 0 Lynx 160-898200 Oct 28/04 1 500 m 3º 0 Mitchell 160-738500 Oct 31/04 1&2 2000 m 5º 26 Penfold 160-738500-02300 Oct 31/04 1&2 4000 m 2º 1 Summit 160-999100 Oct 27/04 1 1500 m 4º 38 Tasse 160-716900 Oct 26/04 1 200 m 4º 0 Unnamed 160-635400-05400 Nov 2/04 1 1000 m 5º 0 Wasko 160-745100 Oct 28/04 1 1000 m 4º 21 Winkley 160-620700 Oct 25/04 1 100 m 3º 0 4.0 Summary During the latter part of October and the early part of November a total of 15 streams and rivers connected to Quesnel Lake were assessed for suitable coho habitat, and for the presence of adult coho salmon spawners.
Recommended publications
  • Calibration of Visual Assessment Methods for Fraser River Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus Nerka) - Year 10
    Calibration of Visual Assessment Methods for Fraser River Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) - Year 10 May 2019 Paul Welch and Brian Leaf Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fraser River Stock Assessment 985 McGill Place Kamloops, BC V2C 6X6 Report Prepared For: Pacific Salmon Commission Southern Boundary Restoration and Enhancement Fund 600-1155 Robson Street Vancouver, BC. Canada V6E 1B5 i TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................... iii INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 4 METHODS ........................................................................................................................................ 4 RESULTS........................................................................................................................................... 5 2018 CALIBRATION ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................... 5 Early Summer Runs ................................................................................................................. 5 Nadina River ........................................................................................................................ 5 Scotch Creek.......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Eocene Paleo-Physiography and Drainage Directions, Southern Interior Plateau, British Columbia1
    215 Eocene paleo-physiography and drainage directions, southern Interior Plateau, British Columbia1 Selina Tribe Abstract: A map of reconstructed Eocene physiography and drainage directions is presented for the southern Interior Plateau region, British Columbia south of 53°N. Eocene landforms are inferred from the distribution and depositional paleoenvironment of Eocene rocks and from crosscutting relationships between regional-scale geomorphology and bedrock geology of known age. Eocene drainage directions are inferred from physiography, relief, and base level elevations of the sub-Eocene unconformity and the documented distribution, provenance, and paleocurrents of early Cenozoic fluvial sediments. The Eocene landscape of the southern Interior Plateau resembled its modern counterpart, with highlands, plains, and deeply incised drainages, except regional drainage was to the north. An anabranching valley system trending west and northwest from Quesnel and Shuswap Highlands, across the Cariboo Plateau to the Fraser River valley, contained north-flowing streams from Eocene to early Quaternary time. Other valleys dating back at least to Middle Eocene time include the North Thompson valley south of Clearwater, Thompson valley from Kamloops to Spences Bridge, the valley containing Nicola Lake, Bridge River valley, and Okanagan Lake valley. During the early Cenozoic, highlands existed where the Coast Mountains are today. Southward drainage along the modern Fraser, Chilcotin, and Thompson River valleys was established after the Late Miocene. Résumé : Cet article présente une carte reconstituée de la géographie physique et des directions de drainage, à l’Éocène, pour la région du plateau intérieur de la Colombie-Britannique, au sud du 53e parallèle Nord. Les formes de terrain à l’Éocène sont déduites de la distribution et du paléoenvironnement de déposition des roches de l’Éocène et à partir de relations de recoupement entre la géomorphologie à l’échelle régionale et la géologie du socle, d’âge connu.
    [Show full text]
  • Quesnel /Horsefly Lakes Residential Land Assessment
    Quesnel /Horsefly Lakes Residential Land Assessment Prepared for: Cariboo Regional District In partnership with Department of Fisheries and Oceans & The Real Estate Foundation of BC August 2009 Head Office: 2144 Kinglet Road Williams Lake BC V2G 5M3 T: (250) 267 2445 F: (250) 305 2445 E: [email protected] Quesnel / Horsefly Lakes Residential Land Assessment 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...............................................................................3 1.1 PUBLIC CONSULTATION SURVEYS ................................................................................................................................3 1.2 PUBLIC INFORMATION...............................................................................................................................................4 1.3 ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS (ESAS)................................................................................................................4 1.4 RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................................................................5 2. LOCAL GEOGRAPHY...................................................................................6 2.2 TOPOGRAPHY ..........................................................................................................................................................7 2.3 BIOGEOCLIMATIC ECOSYSTEM CLASSIFICATION (BECS)....................................................................................................7
    [Show full text]
  • Canada I Ensuring a Sustainable School Well Above the Fisheries and One That Gets Uneven Bottom
    Vol. 7 No. 1 1994 Fishing operations reflect market for live fish more as the demand peopled settled." for high quality, live The result is a fishing fish spreads beyond operation that is adapting the Asian market to to new market realities; other consumer there is no doubt that groups. More and fisheries management and more people are the industry are meeting discovering the the demands of that reality delicate flavour of head on. these fish. Rockfish for the live The closest one market are primarily can get to fresh is quillback and copper. alive, and that's These are harvested by what consumers are handlines - a rod, reel asking for. Many and one fishing line, believe the texture sometimes with up to four and nutritional hooks. Yelloweye rockfish quality of a live fish (commonly, but incorrectly is superior to that of called red snapper), among a "fresh" (recently other species, are sold killed) fish. "fresh" and harvested by "It makes sense longlining - a main Handline fisher, Bob when you look at it fishing line which has a Bainas holds rockfish historically,'' says Jerry series of shorter lines catches in a saltwater Lang, of Majestic Seafood attached to it; a baited tank on the boat deck. Products in Vancouver. hook is fastened to each of "Traditionally, in Asia, ~ose large-eyed there was no way to keep a fish swimming languidly in fish fresh. Refrigeration INSIDE the tanks ofVancouver's was virtually non-existent. Chinatown food markets Only if the fish was are having a big influence moving, could freshness be More women on the way the west coast assured.
    [Show full text]
  • Geology and Mineral Deposits
    Energiand Mink& Division Geological Survey Branch GEOLOGY AND MINERAL DEPOSITS OF THE QUESNEL RIVER- HORSEFLY MAP AREA, CENTRAL QUESNEL TROUGH, BRITISH COLUMBIA NTS MAP SHEETS 93A/5,6,7, 11,12,13; 93B/9,16; 93G/1; 93W4 By A. Panteleyev, P.Eng., D.G. Bailey, P.Geo. M.A. Bloodgood, P.Geo. and K.D. Hancock, P.Geo. BULLETIN 97 Canadian Cataloguingin Publication Data Main entry under title: Geology and mineral deposits of Ule Quesnel Riva~ Horsefly mal area, central Qnesnel Trough, British Columbia NIS map sheets 93A15,6.7.11,12,13: 93BR. 16: 93W1; 93W4 (Bulletin ; 97) Issued bv Gecloeical- Survev Branch. Includes bibliographical references: p. VICTORIA ISBN 0-7726-2973-0 BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA 1. Geology - British Columbia - Quesrvel Riva Region August 1996 2. Geochemistry - British Columbia - Qnesnel River Region. 3. Geology, Economic - British Columbia - Qwsnel River Region. 4. Mines and mined resources - British Columbia - Quesnel River Region. I. Panteleyev, Andrejs, 1942 U. British Columbia. Ministryof Employment and Investment m.Bhh Cohnnbia. Ceorogical Survey Branch. N.Title. V. Series: Bulletin (British Columbia. Ministryof Employmentandlnvesunent) ; 97. QE187.G46 1996 557.11'75 w-9-9 Frontispiece. Quesnel River, viewlooking east (upstream)from the QR deposit towards Quesnel Forks British Columbia iv Geological Survey Branch Ministry of Employment and lnvesnnent The Quesnel and Horsefly rivers traverse the north- the easternmostpart of the map area. Metamorph,c gradein westerly trending axis of the central Qnesnel belt, also the volcanic rocksis subgreenschist, consistent with burial known as the 'Quesnel Trough'. Since 1859 the region has metamorphism. Commonlythere is extensive chl'xitization been thesite of significantplacer gold prcductiou including of mafic minerals; zeolite and calcite fill arnyf;dules and some very large-scale mining operations.The identification occur in fractures in rocks throughout the regi.on.
    [Show full text]
  • Spawning Site Selection and the Influence of Incubation Environment on Larval Success in Interior Fraser Coho
    Spawning Site Selection and the Influence of Incubation Environment on Larval Success in Interior Fraser Coho Crystal Jane McRae B.Sc. Trent University, 2004 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (Biology) The University of Northern British Columbia July, 2009 © Crystal Jane McRae, 2009 ABSTRACT Habitat features have been shown to influence salmonid spawning site selection as well as the survival and growth of larval fish throughout incubation. Most studies have been conducted in coastal watersheds, however, and little is known regarding habitat features associated with spawning sites for interior populations of salmon. My study examined factors affecting spawning site selection and incubation success for a population of interior Fraser coho salmon (IFC) ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ), in McKinley Creek watershed, British Columbia. Ground surveys coupled with radio telemetry were used to identify spawning site locations. An information theoretic approach was used to examine the probability of spawning site use based on habitat features. Incubation of larval fish within in-stream artificial redds allowed for the assessment of survival and growth in different incubation environments. The spawning habitat use of IFC throughout the McKinley Creek watershed was more extensive than previously realized. Hyporheic conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature and specific discharge were the best indicators of spawning site selection. Despite significant differences in habitat variables between used and unused spawning sites, survival and growth of larval IFC did not differ between sites; maternal effects were greater than incubation habitat features. This study has provided critical information about spawning site selection and the incubation environment of IFC, and has contributed to the understanding of the influence of habitat features on salmonids in interior watersheds.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Past and Present Mining on Fine Sediment Geochemistry of Floodplain Soils, Horsefly River, BC, Canada
    Effects of past and present mining on fine sediment geochemistry of floodplain soils, Horsefly River, BC, Canada Master thesis Marjolein Vogels 3345971 Supervisor: Dr. M. Van Der Perk Utrecht University Faculty of Geosciences Department of Physical Geography April, 2013 1 Cover: Quesnel River, Likely, British Columbia, Canada (2012) 2 Abstract Active and abandoned mine sites are known to be a dominant source of metal contamination in fluvial systems worldwide. Small-scale mining of minerals like gold, copper and zinc has been prevalent in interior British Columbia, Canada since the 19 th century. The region is also characterized to provide an important habitat for wildlife of which the river gravel beds for several salmon species are a prime example. This thesis investigated the impact of past and present mining on floodplain soils of the Horsefly River, BC, Canada. The abandoned Black Creek placer mine was specifically studied. Floodplain cores were analysed for metal distributions of arsenic, cadmium, zinc, lead, selenium and copper, elements often associated with gold placer mining. The anthropogenic part (residual part) of these metal concentrations was determined by subtracting that part stemming from local geology from the total concentration measured. The concentrations representing local geology were determined using a normalization procedure combined with regression analysis. The cores were also analysed for 210 Pb abundance from which age-depth profiles were established. Three floodplain cores were analysed this way: (1) upstream of the Black Creek inlet into the Horsefly River, (2) downstream of the Black Creek inlet, (3) at the Horsefly delta (55 kilometers downstream). It was concluded that there were no present effects of the Black Creek mine on the fine sediment geochemistry of the Horsefly floodplain.
    [Show full text]
  • Watershed Profile
    The Horsefly River Watershed Code WSC 160-635400 Watershed-Based Fish Sustainability Plan Stage 2 - Watershed Profile Prepared For: Horsefly and District Board of Trade PO Box 83 Horsefly, BC V0L 1L0 Report Prepared By: Richard Holmes MSc. RPBio. QEP PO Box 174, Likely, BC, V0L 1N0 March 31, 2008 Horsefly River Watershed Based Fish Sustainability Plan-Watershed Profile March 31, 2008 Acknowledgements Cariboo Envirotech Ltd. would like to thank Linda Bartsch and the Horsefly and District Board of Trade for initiating the Horsefly River Roundtable process and for the provision of funding for this project. Additionally we would like to thank the Fraser Basin Council and staff members Mike Simpson and Maureen LeBourdias for their participation and contributions that have enabled this process to move forward. We would also like to thank the members of the Horsefly River Roundtable who volunteer their time and are engaged in this process to ensure the health of the Horsefly River Watershed. No one looks after a watershed better than the people who live in it and who are reliant on its sustainability. A special thank you goes out to Fisheries and Oceans Canada biologists Don Lawrence whose thesis for his Royal Roads University Master of Science degree provided the genesis for the Horsefly River Roundtable, and Judy Hillaby who contributed salmon life history reports for this document found in Appendix E . We would also like to thank Fisheries and Oceans Canada biologists Judy Hillaby and Don Lawrence, Stewardship Coordinator and ecologist Sue Hemphill, Barry Booth of the Land Conservancy of BC, Ecosystems Specialist Geoff Price and Biologist Rob Dolighan of the BC Ministry of Environment, Mike Simpson of the Fraser Basin Council and riparian specialist and biologist Richard Case for their advice and participation in the Watershed Technical Committee.
    [Show full text]
  • STUDIES of JUVENILE CHINOOK SALMON (Oncorhynchus Tsha Wytscha) and OTHER SALMONIDS in the QUESNEL RIVER DRAINAGE DURING 1980
    STUDIES OF JUVENILE CHINOOK SALMON (Oncorhynchus tsha wytscha) AND OTHER SALMONIDS IN THE QUESNEL RIVER DRAINAGE DURING 1980 Prepared For Department of Fisheries and Oceans Fisheries Operations Prepared By M. A. Whelen, W. R. Olmsted and R.W.J. Stewart E. V.S. Consultants Ltd. 195 Pemberton Avenue North Vancouver, B. C. V7P 2R4 PROJECT 658 055 CONTRACT NO. 07SB.FP501-9-1287 March, 1981 T ABLE OF CONTENTS List of Appendices v Acknow ledgements vi Summary vii 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Purpose . ..,. 3 1.2 Descr iption of the Study Area 3 1.3 Historic Review of the Quesnel River Watershed 4 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 11 2.1 Field Methods . 11 2.1.1 Physical studies 11 2.1.2 Biological studies. 11 2.1.2.1 Fyke net trapping. 14 2.1.2.2 Inclined plane trapping 14 2.1.2.3 Minnow trapping 16 2.1.2.4 Seining . 16 2.1.2.5 Fish collections 17 2.1.2.6 Fry rearing 17 2.1.2.7 Fry tagging 20 2.1.2.8 Fry mark and recapture • 20 2.2 Laboratory Methods. 20 2.2.1 Age determination . 20 2.2.2 Disease diagnosis . • 21 2.2.3 Population estir:nates 21 3.0 BIOPHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT . 22 3.1 Water Temperature and Discharge 22 3.2 Water Quality . • . 25 li I \ TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd) I ) Page I 3.3 Habitat Description. 25 I 3.~ Species Composition 25 ~.O CHINOOK SALMON ., ...... 27 ~.l Chinook Under yearlings . 27 I ! ~.l.l Fyke net trapping.
    [Show full text]
  • River Guardian Program Horsefly, Quesnel, Mitchell, and Chilko Rivers Summary Report 2008 by Allan Moreau
    River Guardian Program Horsefly, Quesnel, Mitchell, and Chilko Rivers Summary Report 2008 By Allan Moreau British Columbia Conservation Foundation Cariboo Region Williams Lake, BC December 2008 Funded by the Quality Waters Strategy Habitat Conservation Trust Fund ii Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................... v Introduction .....................................................................................................................vi Methods .......................................................................................................................... 1 Surveys ........................................................................................................................ 1 Horsefly River .............................................................................................................. 1 Quesnel River .............................................................................................................. 2 Chilko River .................................................................................................................. 2 Mitchell River ............................................................................................................... 3 Angler Interviews ......................................................................................................... 3 Freshwater Fishing Regulatory Compliance ...............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ecotours – BC “Grizzly Bears, Wildlife and Nature” BC’S Premier Bear Watching Specialists!
    Ecotours – BC “Grizzly Bears, Wildlife and Nature” BC’s Premier Bear Watching Specialists! “The Bear Whisperer™”- Grizzlies and salmon – “The Cycle of Life” Bears Through The Seasons “The Bear Whisperer™” Spring/Summer Grizzly Bears, Wildlife and Alpine Hiking – May 1st – August 24th. Spring Grizzly Bear viewing is nothing short of wondrous and amazing with new life springing forth and fresh crisp air in the mountains fragrant with the scents of new growth. In early spring the bears emerge from their dens hungry and in search of food for themselves and their young offspring. We find the grizzlies on the mountain slides, in the mountain valleys where it greens up first and on the estuaries of the rivers. The early spring grasses and sedges sprouting in the lowlands and along the river banks and lakeshores draws the bears to the lower elevations where feed is plentiful after the long winter hibernation period. Watch the entertaining antics of the grizzly cubs with their mothers and the courtship of the mating pairs. Access is by 4x4, multi-passenger ATV, hiking and jetboat on rivers. In July and August as the summer temperatures climb the grizzlies move to higher elevations into the boreal forest and the high alpine basins and valleys in the Cariboo Mountains. Viewing, at this time involves amazing hiking through mountain meadows, boreal forest and into the alpine. Some bears stay on the rivers as they await the early summer Chinook salmon run. We explore the river ecosystems by jetboat as we watch the bears, moose, deer, beaver, and other wildlife and birds and perhaps a wolf, or otter.
    [Show full text]
  • Temperature Preference, Aerobic Scope and Upper Thermal Tolerance in Sympatric Juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) and Coho Salmon (O
    TEMPERATURE PREFERENCE, AEROBIC SCOPE AND UPPER THERMAL TOLERANCE IN SYMPATRIC JUVENILE CHINOOK SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS TSHAWYTSCHA) AND COHO SALMON (O. KISUTCH) by Hannah Sungaila B.Sc., University of British Columbia, 2009 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (BIOLOGY) UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA November 2018 © Hannah Sungaila, 2018 ABSTRACT Populations of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) are locally adapted to environmental conditions, with temperature being the most important abiotic factor. Wild Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) and coho salmon (O. kisutch) from the Horsefly River system in central British Columbia (BC) vary in adult migration timing, but often rear sympatrically as juveniles. These species provide an interesting opportunity to investigate adaptations to the environment in the juvenile life-history stage, which may differ from adaptations at the adult stage. I conducted three laboratory studies with wild-caught Horsefly River juvenile Chinook salmon and coho salmon to compare thermal preference, performance and tolerance between species. Temperature preference did not differ significantly between Chinook salmon and coho salmon. Aerobic scope (difference between maximum and routine metabolic rates) was also similar between the two species, and neither showed a distinct temperature optimum for peak physiological performance within the range of temperatures tested. Coho salmon had a significantly higher upper thermal limit compared to Chinook salmon, although the differences were small (0.26 ºC) and may not be biologically meaningful. Thus, these two populations appear to be well adapted for their current environmental conditions rather than show any tendencies to be differentially suited to selective pressures they will experience as adults.
    [Show full text]