Macoah Creek Bridge Re-Alignment Environmental Assessment

Bedwell River Habitat Status Report For Resource Restoration Unit Fisheries and Oceans Canada 1965 Island Diesel Way Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 5W8 July 2011 By D. R. Clough Consulting Fisheries Resource Consultants 6966 Leland Road Lantzville B.C. V0R 2H0 Ph/fax: 1-250-390-2901, email: [email protected] Executive Summary......................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction:..................................................................................................................................... 4 Survey Methods:.............................................................................................................................. 5 Table 1. Web Based Information Search Sites. ....................................................................... 5 Table 2: List of local interview contacts.................................................................................... 5 Watershed Information: ................................................................................................................... 6 Figure 1: Bedwell/Ursus River Watershed .............................................................................. 8 Figure 2. Bedwell River Study Area Land Ownership............................................................. 9 Results........................................................................................................................................... 10 Table 3. Summary of Habitat Knowledge............................................................................... 10 Figure 3: Riparian Age Distribution ........................................................................................ 12 Bedwell River Mainstem: ........................................................................................................... 13 Reach 1 (0-2.5km):................................................................................................................. 13 Table 1.) Bedwell River Reach 1 Habitat Data Summary of Results.................................... 13 Figure 4: Reach Break Locations........................................................................................... 15 Reach 2 (2.5-5.9km):.............................................................................................................. 16 Table 2.) Bedwell River Reach 2 Habitat Data Summary of Results.................................... 17 Reach 3 (5.9-8km):................................................................................................................. 17 Reaches 4, 5 & 6 (8-km): ....................................................................................................... 18 Ursus Creek Mainstem .............................................................................................................. 18 Reach 1 (0-3.1km).................................................................................................................. 18 Table 3.) Ursus Creek Reach 1 Habitat Data Summary of Results...................................... 19 Reach 2 (3.1-7.3km)............................................................................................................... 19 Table 4.) Ursus Creek Reach 2 Habitat Data Summary of Results...................................... 20 Reach 3 (7.3-11.1km)............................................................................................................. 20 Table 5.) Ursus Creek Reach 3 Habitat Data Summary of Results...................................... 21 Reach 4 (11.1-16.5km)...........................................................................................................21 Figure 5: Known High Value Habitats .................................................................................... 22 P Channel (Bedwell R1)............................................................................................................. 23 Reach 1 (0-2.1km).................................................................................................................. 23 Relic Channel (Bedwell R1)....................................................................................................... 23 Reach 1 (0-0.5km).................................................................................................................. 23 H Channel (Bedwell R1) ............................................................................................................ 23 Reach 1 (0-0.5km).................................................................................................................. 23 Penny Creek (Bedwell R2)......................................................................................................... 24 Reach 1 (0-0.5km).................................................................................................................. 24 Noble Creek (Bedwell R3) ......................................................................................................... 24 Other Tributaries: ....................................................................................................................... 25 Estuary....................................................................................................................................... 25 Current Stock Status ..................................................................................................................... 26 Table 6: Bedwell River Salmon Escapement ......................................................................... 26 Habitat Status Tables .................................................................................................................... 26 Pressure State Indicators .............................................................................................................. 26 Table 7: Application of Recommended Habitat Indicators ..................................................... 27 Potential Restoration Projects ....................................................................................................... 27 Bedwell River Restoration:..................................................................................................... 27 Reaches 1 and 2: ................................................................................................................... 27 Reaches 3-6: .......................................................................................................................... 28 Ursus Creek:........................................................................................................................... 28 Reaches 1-3: .......................................................................................................................... 28 Reach 4 and Tributaries: ........................................................................................................28 Off Channels (Relic, H, P, L Channels):................................................................................. 28 Estuary ................................................................................................................................... 28 Possible Measures to Maintain Productivity.................................................................................. 29 Reasonable Information Gaps....................................................................................................... 29 Discussion: .................................................................................................................................... 29 References .................................................................................................................................... 31 Appendix 1: Habitat Status Tables Chinook, Chum, Coho, Pink, Sockeye. (5pps).............. 33 Appendix 2: Transcripts of Personal Interviews..................................................................... 39 WSP BEDWELL RIVER HABITAT STATUS REPORT.DOCX 2 Executive Summary The Bedwell River was chosen by DFO as one of the priority watersheds for Strategy 2 implementation of the Wild Salmon Policy. Strategy 2 outlines steps for the assessment of habitats within the different conservation units. Within the Bedwell River five different conservation units were identified including; Southwest Vancouver Island Chinook, Southwest Vancouver Island Chum, Clayoquot Sound Coho, West Vancouver Island Pink and West Vancouver Island Sockeye. It was beyond the requirements of the project to analyze any raw or unpublished data but we were able to access and analyze existing data from online data bases and any existing habitat reports. It was determined that the most severe limiting factors in salmon production result from historic resource extraction practices and their associated lingering effects. From the late 1800’s to the mid 1970’s this watershed included 15 active mines as well as extensive river valley logging. The result of these practices have led to severe channel instability, which has led to an over widened channel within a vast floodplain. It has reduced the instream habitat complexity and water quality available to all life stages of salmon. Currently, the watershed is primarily held with 68% in Strathcona Provincial Park, 30% in Tree Farm License 57 with the remaining 2% held in private lands and Indian Reserves. Since 1974 all resource operations have been dormant and are unlikely to recommence in the near future. WSP BEDWELL RIVER HABITAT STATUS REPORT.DOCX 3 Introduction: Canada’s

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