Ba ckgrounder An introduction to the Fish & Wildlife Co mpensation Program – Colu mbia Basin

Contents Need ...... 1 Solution ...... 1 Mandate ...... 3 Results ...... 4 This Year’s Approved Projects 5 Funding Applications ...... 7 The Need – An Historical Overview

In 1962 the Provincial Government created a new In addition to these constructed under the Crown corporation – BC Hydro – to develop hydro - Treaty, BC Hydro operates other power facilities in electric projects in the Peace and the Columbia Basin – on behalf of the Provincial regions. In the following decades, BC Hydro acted Government – including: Aberfeldie, Elko, Kootenay on behalf of the Provincial Government to design, Canal, Revelstoke, Seven Mile, Spillimacheen, build and operate several ambitious hydroelectric Walter Hardman and Whatshan. projects. Some impacts from construction, including Construction of BC Hydro’s dams and generating flooding and the creation of reservoirs, were stations in the Canadian portion of the Columbia immediately evident, such as the River Basin began in the 1960s with the Columbia development that flooded white-tailed deer habitat River Treaty projects. Three Treaty dams were in the Pend d’Oreille Valley. Other impacts, such as developed to provide water storage (flood preven - the decline in lake productivity that occurred when tion) and power generation for the United States. nutrients became trapped upstream by dams, took several decades before becoming evident. By 1990, Dams built by BC Hydro : for example, kokanee stocks in the South Arm of • (water storage) were virtually non-existent. •Hugh Keenleyside Dam (water storage) •Mica Dam (powerhouse and water storage)

The Solution – Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program

Up until 1995 efforts to compensate for these fish projects aimed at species impacted by the “foot - and wildlife losses were being handled by a variety print” of BC Hydro dams in the Canadian po rtion of of locally-based compensation programs. In 1995 the Columbia Basin. (i.e., footprint means the initial the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program construction and impoundment impacts primarily (Columbia Basin) was created, amalgamating the associated with lost habitat). existing Mica, Revelstoke, Hugh Keenleyside, Duncan and Seven Mile compensation programs. In 1995 the newly created FWCP consolidated Compensation efforts around the smaller dams in efforts, resulting in a comprehensive and integrated the East Kootenay were also incorporated into this approach towards fish and wildlife conservation and new, consolidated regional entity. enhancement.

As part of its water license agreement, BC Hydro The FWCP is a joint initiative, separate from – but provides the FWCP with $3.2 million each year not independent of – BC Hydro, the Government of (indexed for inflation based on 1995 dollars) in (Ministry of Environment), and the perpetuity to deliver conservation and enhancement Federal Government (Fisheries and Oceans Canada).

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ƒ The Mandate

The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program’s (FWCP) mandate is to deliver projects to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife populations affected by BC Hydro dam “footprint’ impacts throughout the Columbia River Basin in Canada. Columbia River Basin

Annual FWCP funding is used to fund and support fish and wildlife projects. Applications for funding are reviewed annually. Visit the FWCP Mica Dam website for complete N information on project BC Revelstoke Dam funding criteria, as well Spillimacheen Dam Coursier Dam Generating Station as small- and large-proj - A South Slocan Dam Arrow Lakes Duncan Dam B Lower Bonnington Dam ect funding applications. Whatsham Dam C Upper Bonnington Dam CD D Corra Linn Dam AB www.fwcp.ca Kootenay Aberfeldie Dam VANCOUVER Keenleyside Dam Lake a Elko Dam Canad Seven Mile Dam . The work of the FWCP VICTORIA U.S is guided by Policy and Grand Coulee Hungry Horse Chief Joseph Albeni Falls Flathead Noxon Lake BC Hydro Dams Steering Committees Wells Pend Orielle Kent Columbia Power made up of Program Rocky Reach Lake SEATTLE Corporation/ Partners – BC Hydro, the Rock Island Lower Monumental Columbia Basin Little Goose MT Trust Dam B.C. Ministry of Wanapum Lower Grande Priest Rapids Dams owned by Environment (MoE), and Dworshak others in Canada Fisheries and Oceans Corps of Engineers WA Dams Canada. Public and Ice Harbour PORTLAND McNary Dams owned by First Nations John Day others in U.S Hells Canyon representatives The Dalles Bureau of Oxbow Reclamation Dams Bonneville participate on the Brownlee Steering Committee Jackson Lake and help ensure the Boise Projects FWCP is aware of, OR ID and responding to public concerns and input. Fisheries and Wildlife Technical Committees provide additional biological CA NV expertise and guidance to the FWCP.

„ The Results

Since its formation in 1995 the Fish & Wildlife Overview Compensation Program (FWCP) has worked diligently Since 1995 the FWCP has: to identify, fund and deliver over 700 projects that conserve and enhance impacted fish and wildlife •Worked diligently since its formation to identify, habitat/populations. The FWCP has invested close to fund and deliver over 700 projects that conserve and enhance impacted fish and wildlife $60 million in fish and wildlife projects within the habitat/populations; Columbia Basin. Almost one-third of those projects focused on species at risk. These projects have been •Invested close to $60 million in fish and wildlife delivered by Compensation Program staff and a wide projects in the Columbia Basin; range of partners including First Nations, industrial •Focused almost one-third of its efforts on species partners, local communities and environmental groups. at risk; Each year the FWCP funds a diverse range of projects, •Worked with a wide range of partners, including including the Fertilization Program in Kootenay Lake First Nations, industrial partners, local communities and the Arrow Lakes Reservoir – regarded as the and environmental groups to deliver projects; largest lake restoration project in the world. This •Funded a diverse range of projects, including the project has resulted in a dramatic increase in the Nutrient Restoration Program in Kootenay Lake and number of kokanee spawners -- approaching historical, the Arrow Lakes Reservoir. This is regarded as one pre-dam levels. Increasing the number of kokanee of the largest successful lake restoration projects in benefits other species such as the large Gerrard the world and has resulted in a dramatic increase rainbow trout, bull trout, Bald Eagles and grizzlies. in the number of kokanee spawners, approaching In addition, it brings economic benefits to local historical pre-dam levels; communities by improving fishing and tourism •Increased the number of kokanee which benefits opportunities. other species such as the large Gerrard rainbow trout, bull trout, bald eagles and grizzlies; The FWCP has also been involved in the acquisition and conservation of 70,000 hectares of critical •Improved fishing opportunities, boosting econom - habitat and funded recovery efforts for a range of ic benefits associated with enhanced tourism and species including the white sturgeon, badger and recreation; Northe rn leopard frog. It has also helped restore •Funded, and is currently involved in, recovery ecosystems in the East and West Kootenay through efforts for a range of endangered species including prescribed burns, selective logging, slashing and other white sturgeon, badger and Northern leopard frog; tactics so the habitat is better able to support species. •Been involved in the acquisition and conservation It has also funded numerous monitoring and inventory projects on a range of fish and wildlife species and by of more than 70,000 hectares of critical habitat in the East and West Kootenay; doing so has contributed significantly to the biological knowledge base in the region. •Helped restore ecosystems in the East and West Kootenay through prescribed burns, selective Use our online searchable database to review logging, slashing and other strategies so that the completed project reports and to learn more about habitat is better able to support the diverse species the FWCP’s work. www.fwcp.ca that live in the area; •Contributed significantly to the biological The FWCP is making a difference by funding and deliv - knowledge base in the region by funding numerous ering projects that will conserve and enhance fish and monitoring and inventory projects on a range of fish wildlife impacted by the construction of BC Hydro dams and wildlife species; and in Canada’s portion of the Columbia River Basin. •Made important biological discoveries that are helping conserve a range of species, including several that are at risk.

This Year’s Approved Projects

The decisions have been made, the budgets have FWCP wildlife projects slated for this fiscal year been set and the rubber is already starting to hit the include: northern leopard recovery (with the focus road. FWCP fish and wildlife projects approved for remaining on monitoring existing populations); 2009–10 are already underway or scheduled to assessing Vaux’s swift nesting habitat; undertaking begin soon. an inventory of amphibians in the Basin (including testing for chytrid fungus); monitoring transplanted The projects will be managed and delivered by FWCP bighorn sheep; reducing forest in-growth and biologists on behalf of its program partners BC Hydro, recovering open forest and grasslands (through slash - the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Fisheries and ing, thinning and prescribed burning), large mammal Oceans Canada. Each of the projects funded this year monitoring, predator surveys and population monitor - will help the FWCP achieve its mandate which is to ing for caribou recovery, participating in the B.C. conserve and enhance fish & wildlife impacted by the Breeding Bird Atlas; roosting ecology of long-eared construction of BC Hydro dams in the Columbia Basin. bats, western screech-owl telemetry, grizzly bear The single, largest project funded by FWCP is the habitat assessment in the South Selkirks; and Nutrient Restoration Program in Kootenay Lake and undertaking a harlequin duck population inventory Arrow Lakes Reservoir (previously the Fertilization and and stewardship project in the Salmo River. Monitoring Program). Viewed as one of the largest, Efforts will also continue into developing the successful lake restoration programs in the world, it Biodiversity Atlas more fully so that this online rebuilds the food web in the respective water-bodies mapping tool can really contribute to improved impacted by upstream dams that trap nutrients. decision-making and conservation planning. This project, together with the operation and manage - For a full list of activities for 2009-2010, visit ment of the Hill Creek and Meadow Creek spawning www.fwcp.ca and follow the links to FWCP channels, accounts for a significant portion of the Fish/Wildlife Projects. FWCP fisheries budget. Other fisheries activities include designing a creel survey for Kootenay Lake, assessing bull trout in the Kaslo River, and continuing aqua-culture program for white sturgeon of the upper Columbia River. A variety of smaller fisheries projects will also be implemented and some funds will be set aside to purchase property with high fisheries values as part of the FWCP’s ongoing commitment to conserving critical habitats.

† Fish & Wildlife Projects 2009 – 10 visit www.fwcp.ca for more information

N M Fish G orkill R Wildlife iver 1 Arrow Lakes Reservoir Nutrient Restoration Program 1 West Kootenay Enhancement r e iv 2 Upper Columbia Sturgeon Hatchery R 2 East Kootenay Enhancement t oa 3 Hill Creek Spawning Channel G 3 Non-game Enhancement olm 4 Meadow Creek Spawning Channel 4 Land Management Operations G H es McBride R iver 5 Kootenay Lake Nutrient Restoration Program 5 Large Mammal Monitoring F ra 6 Kaslo River Bull Trout Assessment R s 6 Small Wildlife Projects a er u s Ri 7 Kootenay Lake Creel Survey Design 7 Mountain Caribou h ver 8 Small Projects - Boulder Creek Kokanee Enhancement 8 Bighorn Sheep Augmentation 9 Small Projects - Gerrard Rainbow Trout Escapement Estimates 9 Northern Leopard Frog Recovery

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K 0 20 40 60 80 100 o r o e Seven t iv e R n Mile a a kilometres i y b Dam P m e R Koocanusa lu n i o d v Reservoir C Washington Idaho e Montana D r G 'O r e Bonners Ferry i ‡ Funding Applications If you have a fish or wildlife project that you feel Contact Us merits funding, consider applying for project funding. The deadline for Large Project funding applications If you have any questions about the work of the (more than $10,000) is October 1st of every year. Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program please Funding applications for Small Projects (less than contact us directly. $10,000) may be submitted throughout the year. However, all funding applications received by Get on our mailing list! Receive your free October 1st will be reviewed on a priority basis. subscription to the Program Update Newsletter, Applications for Small Projects received after and e-letter WildBytes, to learn more about local October 1st will be considered throughout the efforts to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife. year, subject to remaining available funding

Funding applications from groups and individuals go through a two-step review and decision-making Fish & Wildlife process to determine which projects will receive Compensation Program funding. 103-333 Victoria St Nelson, BC V1L 4K3 Program biologists and respective Fish or Wildlife Technical Committees evaluate proposed projects Tel (250) 352-6874 based on established acceptability and ranking Fax (250) 352-6178 criteria. Project selection recommendations are then Email [email protected] made to the FWCP Steering Committee for financial www.fwcp.ca approval.

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