Biology and Status of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the Kakwa River Drainage, Alberta
A Fisheries Management Enhancement Project Alberta Conservation Association
Data Summary 1995 to 1997 Progress Report
Photo by P. Hvenegaard
by
Paul Hvenegaard and David Fairless
Northwest Boreal Region Peace River, Alberta March, 1998
Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study continued to be funded by Alberta’s anglers through the Fisheries Management Enhancement Program. We are especially thankful for support received from Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) - Managing Director - Dr. T. Neraasen, Mr. K. Zelt (Former Head, Fisheries Enhancement and Habitat Development Branch, Natural Resources Service), the ACA -N.W. Boreal Region Programs Manager Mr. T. Thera, and the Fisheries Advisory Committee. In addition, the following individuals and their affiliations are recognised for many in-kind and logistical support items and services:
! Alberta Conservation Association employees and former trust fund employees, Messrs., M. Bryski, M. Dahl, K. Gardiner, S. Grey, D. Jackson, B. Lucko, S. Nadeau, S.Olinger, L. Osokin, K. Potter, B. Redmond, T. Ripley, K. Shantz, T. Sundegaard, G. Todd, D. Unreiner, K. Wilcox, A. Wildeman, K. Wright.
! Alberta Environmental Protection, Natural Resources Service Fisheries Management Section, N.W. Boreal Region Messrs., D. Walty, K. Moller, D. Schroeder, and D. Hervieux.
! Alberta Environmental Protection, Land and Forest Service Messrs., E. Ritcey, B. Yates, D. Spears.
! Alberta Natural Gas Ltd. (Cutbank Plant Operations)
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 i Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... i TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... ii LIST OF FIGURES ...... ii LIST OF TABLES ...... iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... iv 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 2.0 STUDY AREA ...... 1 2.1 Fish Species Composition ...... 3 3.0 METHODS ...... 3 3.1 Enumeration Traps and Fences ...... 4 3.2 Mainstem Sampling ...... 4 3.2.1 Bull Trout Mark-Recapture Estimate ...... 7 3.3 Tributary Sampling ...... 7 3.4 Radio Telemetry ...... 7 3.5 Fish Sampling/Data Recording ...... 7 4.0 RESULTS ...... 8 4.1 Enumeration Traps and Fences ...... 8 4.2 Mainstem Sampling ...... 8 4.2.1 Bull Trout Mark-Recapture Estimate ...... 14 4.3 Tributaries ...... 14 4.3.1 General Inventory ...... 14 4.3.2 Production Modelling Inventory ...... 14 4.4 Radio Telemetry ...... 14 4.5 Fish Sampling ...... 18 5.0 DISCUSSION ...... 23 5.1 Timing of Spawning Movements ...... 23 5.2 Spawning Frequency ...... 23 5.3 Estimate of Abundance ...... 23 5.4 Critical Habitats ...... 24 5.5 Fish Sampling ...... 24 6.0 LITERATURE CITED ...... 25 7.0 INFORMATION SOURCES ...... 27 8.0 APPENDIX...... 28
LIST OF FIGURES
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 ii Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Figure 1. Kakwa River study area...... 2 Figure 2. Fork length distribution of bull trout captured at Lynx Creek (1995 to 1997)...... 12 Figure 3. Lynx Creek bull trout population estimate sites 1996 and 1997...... 17 Figure 4. Distribution of 56 radio tags in the Kakwa River drainage 1996 and 1997...... 20 Figure 5. Bull trout overwintering sites Kakwa River (1996/97)...... 21 Figure 6. Bull trout spawning areas determined by radio telemetry relocation data (1996/97)...... 22
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Fish assemblages in the Kakwa River drainage (1995 to 1997)...... 5 Table 2. Trap deployment in tributary creeks of the Kakwa River (1995 to 1997)...... 6 Table 3. Measured and recorded parameters for fish captures and trap inspections...... 9 Table 4. Bull trout capture summary for specific study locations and capture methods1, Kakwa River (1995 to 1997)...... 10 Table 5. Descriptive statistics of trap captured bull trout in tributary creeks of the Kakwa River (1995 to 1997)...... 11 Table 6. Descriptive statistics of float electrofishing on the Kakwa River (1995 to 1997)...... 13 Table 7. Descriptive statistics for stream inventory sites Kakwa River (1995 to 1997)...... 15 Table 8. Descriptive statistics for bull trout population estimate sites at Lynx Creek (1996/97)...... 16 Table 9. Observed growth rates of Kakwa River bull trout...... 19
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 iii Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Data on bull trout population biology and status in the Kakwa River were collected from July 1995 to November 1997. In total, 1087 bull trout were sampled during the study; the mean fork length was 333 mm with a range of 45 – 731 mm. Fish enumeration traps/fences were placed in Lynx, Copton, Chicken, Daniel, and Prairie creeks. Bull trout captures varied from a high of 77 at Lynx Creek in 1995 to a low of 3 at Daniel creek in 1995. Timing of spawning movements were gauged using radio telemetry and trap catch data. Bull trout from the Kakwa River drainage appear to enter their spawning tributaries earlier and remain longer than reported by other researchers. Specific bull trout spawning sites were identified in Lynx, Copton, and Prairie creeks using radio telemetry data. Presence of young-of-the-year bull trout in, Redrock, Little Redrock, and Route creeks also identified generalised spawning locations. Mainstem abundance of bull trout from late fall surveys was estimated at 7.3 bull trout per kilometre. This estimate occurred in a 32-kilometer section of the upper Kakwa River and will serve as a river monitoring index site for future measurements of bull trout management strategies. Estimates of juvenile bull trout densities at four (400 – 600 m) sites in Lynx Creek ranged from (4 – 75) bull trout per site. Increase in bull trout fork length was slight, 28 mm over a mean of 479 days between measuring events.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 iv Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The American Fisheries Society consider the bull (Salvelinus confluentus) a species "of special concern" (William et al. 1989). In Alberta, many populations may be at a definite risk of extirpation or continued decline (Berry 1994). In response to reduced distributions and abundance of bull trout in Alberta, Environmental Protection, Natural Resources Service (NRS) - Fisheries Management Division, implemented a province wide zero-bag limit (catch and release) in 1995. It is recognised however that overharvest is only one of many potential factors limiting bull trout production (Berry 1994). To achieve bull trout recovery, sound management should involve a sound understanding of bull trout biology and how it relates to limiting factors.
Little or incomplete information on the biology and movement patterns is available for fluvial bull trout populations in Alberta. Often a good understanding is difficult to achieve when studied populations are reduced in size and/or distributions or have suffered the consequences of negative habitat alterations.
The Kakwa River drainage presents a unique opportunity to study relatively unexploited fluvial and resident bull trout populations (Reiman and McIntyre 1993) inhabiting a pristine drainage basin. The value of this gained knowledge is two-fold:
1. Regionally, information on movement patterns and critical areas is required immediately in the face of industrial encroachment.
2. Biological attributes of a population in an "as is" state will aid managers in other jurisdictions in local bull trout recovery efforts.
Throughout 1995 - 1997, funded by the Fisheries Management Enhancement Program and administered by the Alberta Conservation Association, a multi-year investigation entitled "Biology and Status of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the Kakwa River Drainage” was initiated (Hvenegaard and Fairless 1996). A data summary of these findings (1995 to 1997) is presented in this report.
Objectives specific to the program were to:
1. determine seasonal movement patterns, critical habitats, and home range(s) of fluvial bull trout,
2. describe bull trout population structure and abundance plus contribute data towards development of a river indexing strategy, and
3. continue data provisions to Provincial research initiatives i.e., stock identification (University of Lethbridge) in 1995 and 1996, and production modeling (University of Calgary) in 1996 and 1997.
2.0 STUDY AREA
The Kakwa River, Alberta (540 N, 1180 W) originates in British Columbia at Kakwa Lake and flows approximately 210 km in a northeasterly direction to its confluence with the Smoky River (Figure 1). The Lower Kakwa and South Kakwa falls are barriers to fish passage and form the upper study area boundary while the lower is dictated by fish movements. With the exception of fish relocation flights, conducted on the portion of the Smoky River downstream of the Kakwa River mouth, all data collections were conducted within the Kakwa River drainage.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 1 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Population Estimate
→ Trap Grande Study Area Sites Prairie Grande Prairie Lynx Creek Hwy 40 Edmonton Population
Red Estimates Deer
Calgary River Medicine Hat
Lethbridge
Little
Cr Redrock
Redrock Kenny
Creek
Cr Kakwa Cr Route River
Cr
Chicken Ravine Porc upine Cr Flats Hat
# 1 Cr River â
# 2
Creek Creek # 3 Daniel Creek Copton Creek Lynx Mouse Adelade Prairie Cache Creek Cr Smoky
Cr Kakwa Cr Cr Grizzly Laforce Hwy Cr Lower Peak South Copton 40 Francis Kakwa Kakwa Beaverdam Falls R Falls Cr Kakwa Falls Caw Bank Creek Cr Grande 0 10 20 South Creek Cache
→ Kilometers Figure 1. Kakwa River study area.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 2 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Bull trout biology and population status were studied in the Kakwa River drainage during 1995 through 1997, inclusively. The study focused on the mainstem Kakwa River and selected creeks. Tributaries surveyed intensively included Lynx, Copton, Chicken, Daniel, and Prairie creeks (Figure 1). Data collections specific to production modelling were conducted in Lynx Creek, throughout the entire study period. Data for bull trout stock identifications (DNA study) were collected from the Upper Smoky drainage including the Kakwa and Simonette river drainages (Hvenegaard 1996). Bull trout abundance was estimated from a selected section of mainstem river. (Figure 1).
Current industrial activities in the drainage include hydrocarbon extraction, seismograph exploration, and timber harvesting. These activities are expected to intensify in the future with the addition of coal mining. Recreational activities include angling, hunting, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, camping, trail riding and off-highway vehicle use. It is essential that adequate inventory data be collected to ensure these pressures receive proper mitigative and management measures.
The drainage, although not free from industrial or recreational impacts, can still be described as "pristine" when compared with the remainder of the Province. No man-made barriers to fish passage or deleterious contributions to water quality occur within the drainage, i.e.: hydro-dams and pulp mills.
2.1 Fish Species Composition
Eleven fish species occur in the Kakwa River drainage (Table 1), five sport and six non-sport fish. Fluvial and stream resident life history patterns of bull trout (Rieman and McIntrye 1993) occur throughout the drainage (within Alberta) while a single adfluvial stock (Musreau Lake) is considered extirpated by Brewin (1994).
Rainbow trout have been introduced, inadvertently into the Kakwa River drainage through stocking initiatives in Musreau Lake, Long Lake (NRS files) and Kakwa Lake in B.C. (Ted Downe, pers. comm.). Comparisons between historic (Brilling and Lucko 1984) and current (Glenn Todd, pers. comm.) rainbow trout distributions show an appreciable range expansion.
3.0 METHODS
Bull trout were captured with traps, electrofishing (backpack and float) and angling. Catch-per-unit- effort (CPUE) was used to described abundance and densities of bull trout. Fish trap data were used to describe tributary usage (timing and magnitude) by fluvial spawning adults. Annual trap enumeration’s provided data on spawning frequency, natural variation in adult cohort size, and material for the development of a river monitoring program. A bull trout population estimate was determined in a 32 km section of the upper Kakwa River using a mark and recapture technique. Mainstem electrofishing and angling provided information on population structure, abundance (CPUE), seasonal distribution, and growth. Tributary electrofishing provided data on bull trout distribution, juvenile density and adult cohort relationships, and additional indications of spawning success determined by the presence of young-of-the-year fish (YOY).
Radio telemetry provided complimentary data on movement patterns and the timing of movements within study tributaries, but more importantly, allowed the identification of specific areas selected for spawning. On a broader scale, radio telemetry provided movement data within the mainstem Kakwa River and allowed areas used for overwintering to be defined. Documentation of mature bull trout movements throughout adult life cycles provided insight into home range. Shaw (1985) indicates biologists determine home range sizes by locating animals repeatedly through radio re-locations and plotting the locations on a map. Applying this method to radio tagged bull trout movements the maximum upstream location minus the maximum downstream location plus any tributary usage is defined as home range.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 3 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
3.1 Enumeration Traps and Fences
Enumeration traps and fences were constructed and placed near the mouth of each of the study tributaries in 1995 to 1997, inclusively (Figure 1). See Hvenegaard and Boag (1993) and Kristofferson et al. (1986) for a detailed description of the construction. The former was an exact duplication while the latter was modified (structurally) to be enclosed with the same material as that used on the fence to eliminate physical damage to captured individuals. Traps and fences were constructed of evenly spaced vertical 12.7 mm galvanised conduit pipe creating 12.7 mm gaps. Entrances to the traps were of a "V" notch design to permit entry to the trap throughout the entire water column. Traps were "fished" in a two-way fashion.
Enumeration fences and traps, similar to those used in 1995 (Hvenegaard and Fairless 1996), were placed in Lynx and Prairie creeks. Trap design was modified slightly from 1995 to allow vertical conduit pipes to pass through the base of the trap and conform to the contours of the streambed. Both trapping operations were conducted in a two-way fashion i.e., fences were angled towards the trap and funnelled fish into either the upstream or downstream trap compartment. Captured fish were released in their direction of movement.
In 1997, a fish trap of the same design as 1996 was used in Lynx Creek. This trap was fished in an upstream fashion, only. Fish traps were checked twice a week or as fish movements or maintenance requirements dictated throughout the study period. Table 2 gives a detailed description of trap deployment in tributary creeks of the Kakwa River 1995 to 1997.
3.2 Mainstem Sampling
The mainstem Kakwa River was sampled with float electrofishing and angling. The customised float electrofishing system consisted of a Smith-RootTM pulsator mounted in an inflatable river raft. A horizontal plastic conduit pipe containing 1 metre (m) long cathode array was attached to each gunwale of the raft. Likely fish holding water was probed with a 3 m fibreglass pole fixed to a 355 mm diameter stainless steel anode ring.
Immobilised bull trout were retrieved and placed in an aerated fish tub contained in the raft. The electrofishing system operated with direct current (DC) at 60 pulses per second (PPS).
Throughout 1995-96, the electrofishing system was powered by a 2.5 kWh generator which achieved a power output of 3.0 - 4.0 amperes. Immobilised fish were retrieved with a dipnet bag mounted on the anode pole. In 1997 a 5.0 kWh generator was used achieving a power output to (4.0 – 8.0) amperes. The dipnet bag was removed from the anode pole and an additional person was added to the crew to dipnet the immobilised fish.
Research angling equipment consisted primarily of spoons, which imitated prey, mainly mountain whitefish and Arctic grayling. Spoons were often baited with flesh from incidental whitefish mortalities. Angling was conducted mainly in deep pool areas of the river.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 4 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Table 1. Fish assemblages in the Kakwa River drainage (1995 to 1997).
Species Taxa Acronym1 Sport Fish Bull trout Salvelinus confluentus BLTR Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus ARGR Mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni MNWH Burbot Lota lota BURB Rainbow trout Oncorhychus mykiss RNTR Non Sport Fish Longnose sucker Catostomus catostomus LNSC White sucker C. commersoni WHSC Slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus SLSC Brassy minnow Hybognathus hankinsoni BRMN Pearl dace Margariscus margarita PRDC Longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae LNDC 1From Mackay et al. 1990.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 5 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Table 2. Trap deployment in tributary creeks of the Kakwa River (1995 to 1997).
River Distance Number of Study Date of Date of Year Kilometre1 Upstream from Days Tributary Installation Removal (at mouth) Mouth (m) Operational 1995 Lynx Ck. 141 33 Aug 15/95 Oct 01/95 48 1995 Copton Ck. 115 193 Aug 16/95 Oct 02/95 48 1995 Daniel Ck. 122 408 Aug 25/95 Oct 03/95 40 1995 Chicken Ck. 135 386 Aug 15/95 Oct 01/95 48 1996 Lynx Ck. 141 533 July 04/96 Oct 17/96 106 1996 Prairie Ck. 68 11545 July 09/96 Oct 08/96 92 1997 Lynx Ck. 141 533 Aug 23/97 Sep 22/97 2 31 1 Expressed in distance upstream of Kakwa River Mouth 2 Trap washed out due to high water
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 6 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
3.2.1 Bull Trout Mark-Recapture Estimate
Bull trout abundance was estimated in 1997 on a 32-kilometre section of the upper Kakwa River (Figure 1) using Peterson’s mark-recapture methodologies (Ricker 1975). The population estimate was conducted during late fall when radio telemetry and trapping data indicated that bull trout had exited their spawning tributaries and returned to the Kakwa River. This site will also be used to monitor this population in the future and measure the success of current management strategies.
3.3 Tributary Sampling
Fish inventory data on tributaries to the Kakwa River were collected under the Cooperative Fisheries Inventory Program (CFIP) (Hvenegaard 1995) and included in the Kakwa River bull trout program database. General fish inventory data and population estimate data were collected with a Smith RootTM XII backpack electrofisher (1995 to 1997). Representative sections, typically 300 - 400 m, of streams were electrofished in an upstream fashion with two person teams. Although a full suite of fish and fish habitat data were collected, only those pertaining to bull trout distribution and life stage representation were incorporated into the Kakwa River bull trout program database.
Estimates of population size were generated, at three sites in Lynx Creek in 1996 and at one duplicate site in Lynx Creek during 1997, with the depletion/removal method (Van Deventer and Platts 1989) as per guidelines provided from the University of Calgary (Andrew Paul, pers. comm.). Estimate sites were a minimum of 400 m long and received a four-pass removal effort.
3.4 Radio Telemetry
High frequency radio transmitters, or tags, (Lotek EngineeringTM) were implanted surgically in large (> 400 mm FL) bull trout using methods similar to those described by Bidgood (1980) and McKinley (1992). Radio transmitters (149.000 - 149.999 MHz) had a guaranteed operational life of 15 months.
Distribution of radio tags occurred over a wide temporal and spatial plane. All bull trout were released within 1 kilometre (km) of their capture sites. One reference transmitter, placed along the river, was used to check the relocation systems functionality.
Relocation flights were conducted every 7 -10 days during late summer and fall and every 6 weeks thereafter. Bull trout were located from the air using a four element “Yagi” directional antennae mounted on each side of the aircraft in conjunction with two LotekTM SRX_400 programmable scanning receivers. Fixed wing aircraft were used initially to minimise costs but were abandoned due to low accuracy of fish relocations and safety concerns. A rotary wing aircraft (Jet Ranger) was used exclusively thereafter. The point at which the signal strength was highest was deemed the location of each individual fish. Location data were recorded with a GARMINTM 12 XL field global position system (GPS) receiver.
The (GIS) platform consisted of MapInfo 4.1TM coupled with a MapBasicTM program. The MapBasicTM program converted telemetry waypoints from Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) co-ordinates into river kilometres with, km 0 being the mouth of the Kakwa.
3.5 Fish Sampling/Data Recording
All captured bull trout were measured to the nearest millimetre (mm) at the fork (FL). In some cases bull trout were weighed with an electronic digital scale to the nearest gram (g). Bull trout >400 and <400 mm FL were classified as large or small respectively for comparison between other bull trout projects throughout the province (Stelfox 1995, Rhude and Rhem 1995, Fox et al 1996). Sex and or stage were recorded when discernible. Trap catches were reported as those individuals, which were
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 7 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
captured either in the trap proper or from electrofishing in the immediate vicinity upstream of the trap. Direction of movement was recorded in all years.
All bull trout >200 mm FL were fixed with an individually numbered FloyTM anchor tag and "adipose clipped" to identify them as fish previously captured. Bull trout < 200 mm FL were only adipose clipped. Five tag colours, blue, yellow, white, red and orange were used on the mainstem Kakwa River, Lynx, Daniel and Prairie, Chicken, and Copton creeks respectively. Recaptured FloyTM tagged fish were sampled as above; recaptured adipose clipped fish were enumerated. Specific measured and recorded parameters for bull trout captures and trap inspections are summarised in Table 3.
4.0 RESULTS
Data collections were conducted from July to late October 1995, and year round to include radio telemetry re-location flights in 1996 & 1997. To date, 1087 bull trout have been sampled (Table 4). Mean FL was 333 mm (range 45 - 731 mm) (Appendix A). Electrofishing (BP-ES and FL-ES) comprised 66% of the bull trout catch. Six hundred and fifty or (60%) of captured bull trout have been released with FloyTM tags. (Appendix A).
4.1 Enumeration Traps and Fences
Fish traps were operated in Lynx, Copton, Chicken, Daniel and Prairie creeks. For a detailed description of trap operation see Table 2. During 1997 the fish trap operating in Lynx Creek failed due to high water. Although, bull trout (n=23) were captured this can not be considered an absolute count of the spawning run. The earliest recorded out migration of adult bull trout from Lynx Creek occurred in mid August during 1995 and mid September during 1996 and 1997.
Comparative statistics from Lynx Creek trap indicate that the 1996 trap catch was 47% less than that of 1995 (Table 5). Although the total catch was significantly less, there was no difference in the mean FL (Student ttest, t=1.98, df=111, P<0.10). Figure 2 depicts the fork length distributions for bull trout captured at the Lynx Creek trap 1995 to 1997.
4.2 Mainstem Sampling
Bull trout were captured in the Kakwa River with electrofishing and angling. A population estimate was conducted in the upper 32-kilometres of the study area during the late fall of 1997. Distribution and abundance were determined in the remainder of the study area in 1995, 1996, and 1997. In addition, large bull trout were radio tagged in the mainstem during electrofishing and angling sampling events.
Electrofishing operations were conducted from June to October throughout the study period and along the entire length of the study area (130 km). Table 6 describes electrofishing effort and CPUE for float electrofishing in the Kakwa River 1995 to 1997.
The mean FL of bull trout captured by electrofishing was 355 mm (n=431), range 145 – 687mm. Seventy-one percent of the bull trout captured were <400mm FL with the remainder (29 %) >400mm FL. Angling in the mainstem Kakwa River produced 126 bull trout with a mean FL of 419 (range 221 - 675mm). Fifty-five percent of the bull trout which were captured by angling were >400 mm FL. Figure 3 compares FL distributions for Kakwa River bull trout captured by angling and electrofishing during 1996 and 1997.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 8 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Table 3. Measured and recorded parameters for fish captures and trap inspections.
Parameter Electrofishing Traps Angling Species ✔ ✔ ✔ FL ± 1mm ✔ ✔ ✔ WT ± 1g incidental Incidental incidental Maturity when discernible when discernible when discernible Tag Colour ✔ ✔ ✔ Tag Number ✔ ✔ ✔ Capture Date ✔ ✔ ✔ Capture Code ✔ ✔ ✔ Capture Method ✔ ✔ ✔ Location (UTM) ✔ ✔
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 9 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Table 4. Bull trout capture summary for specific study locations and capture methods1, Kakwa River (1995 to 1997).
Copton Daniel Chicken Prairie Drainage Study Lynx Trib Trib Kakwa Creek Creek Creek Creek Creek Angling Year BP-ES FL-ES FL-ES Total Trap Trap Trap Trap Trap AN
19952 77 73 3 4 n/a 79 35 66 n/a 337
1996 36 n/a n/a n/a 9 110 n/a 115 65 335
1997 23 n/a n/a n/a n/a 53 13 250 76 415
Total 136 73 3 4 9 242 48 431 141 1087
1See Appendix A for capture code legend 2From Hvenegaard and Fairless (1996)
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 10 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Table 5. Descriptive statistics of trap captured bull trout in tributary creeks of the Kakwa River (1995 to 1997).
Number Upstream Downstream FL FL FL n<400 n>400 Site/Year Captured Captures Captures Range Mean Median mm [%] mm [%]
Lynx ‘95 77 12 65 (8)1 185-731 490 498 09 [12] 68 [88] Lynx ‘96 36 30 06 (4) 1 154-691 488 512 04 [11] 32 [89] Lynx ‘97 23 01 22 (1) 1 225-667 496 505 02 [09] 21 [91] Copton ‘95 73 19 54 (6) 1 191-640 430 416 41[57] 32 [43] Chicken ‘95 04 0 04 (0) 1 480-592 532 527 04 [100] 0 Daniel ‘95 03 0 03 (0) 1 163-530 389 372 03 [75] 01 [25] Prairie ‘96 09 06 03 (0) 1 356-564 426 384 05 [56] 04 [44] TOTAL 225 68 157(19)1 1 () indicates recaptures
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 11 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
12 1995 (n=77) 10 1996 (n=36) 1997 (n=23) 8 6
4 2 Number of Bull Trout Bull of Number 0 150 210 270 330 390 450 510 570 630 690 Fork Length Mid-point (m m )
Figure 2. Fork length distribution of bull trout captured at Lynx Creek (1995 to 1997).
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 12 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Table 6. Descriptive statistics of float electrofishing on the Kakwa River (1995 to 1997).
Effort Effort n n CPUE CPUE Year (km) (s) Captured Observed (n/1000m) (n/100s) 1995 81 28476 66 41 1.32 0.38 1996 148 41556 115 31 0.99 0.35 1997 179 52854 250 69 1.78 0.60 Total 408 122886 431 141 1.40 0.46
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 13 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Analyses of comparative catch data between float electrofishing and angling (1996/1997) indicate that the latter is biased towards larger individuals while the former tended to capture a wider range of size classes. The mean fork length of bull trout captured by angling was significantly larger than those captured by float electrofishing 1996 and 1997, (Student ttest; t= 5.58, df=267, P<0.01).
4.2.1 Bull Trout Mark-Recapture Estimate
The Peterson mark and re-capture technique was used to estimate the number of bull trout in a 32- kilometre section of the upper Kakwa River during the late fall of 1997 (Figure 1). At a 95 % confidence interval it was estimated that there were 225.67 bull trout in the study section with a standard error of 55.86 or 7.28 bull trout / km (Appendix B).
4.3 Tributaries
Tributary sampling occurred in the Kakwa River drainage 1995 to 1997. Much of the stream inventory occurred under the Cooperative Fisheries Inventory Program (CFIP), Weyerhaeuser Forest Management Area. Three fish population abundance estimate sites were located in Lynx Creek. Depletion removal techniques were employed. During 1996 three estimates were generated in Lynx Creek and in 1997 one duplicate 1996 site was chosen.
4.3.1 General Inventory
To date, 84 stream inventory sites have been established on tributaries to the Kakwa River under the Cooperative Fisheries Inventory Program (CFIP) (Hvenegaard 1997) Table 7. Bull trout were present at most (77%) of tributaries sampled. In total, 115 bull trout have been captured (trap captures & Lynx Creek Production Modelling Inventory/ Estimates, excluded). Mean FL of tributary sampled (CFIP) bull trout was 149 mm (range 71 - 403).
4.3.2 Production Modelling Inventory
Estimates of juvenile bull trout densities were conducted at three locations within the Lynx Creek drainage in 1996 and at a single repeat site in 1997. Although results and interpretations of these data will be discussed under a separate cover (Andrew Paul, pers. comm.), catch and site data are summarised in Table 8 and Figure 3.
4.4 Radio Telemetry
Movements of radio tagged bull trout provided data on seasonal movement patterns, critical habitats and home range(s) of fluvial fish. Spatial and temporal distribution of radio tag deployment into Kakwa River bull trout are depicted in Figure 4.
Radio transmitters (n=56) were implanted into bull trout from July 19, 1996 to September 21, 1997. Thirty-four and 22 bull trout were radio tagged in 1996 and 1997, respectively. The mean FL of bull trout fitted with radio tags was 550 mm with a range of (465 – 691mm). Appendix C. gives a detailed description of tagging location, date and fish specifications. Radio tag re-locations comprise (n=457) individual data points. Two radio tags were expelled from bull trout in 1996 reducing the sample to 32.
Home range of bull trout was calculated from a sample (n=32) radio tagged individuals over a one year period. The mean home range size was 47 river kilometres. Telemetry re-location data indicates that bull trout move very little during the winter months (November – April). None of the radio tagged bull trout used tributary creeks for overwintering. Figure 5 depicts radio tagged bull trout locations during the winter of 1997. Critical bull trout habitat derived from telemetry movement data is depicted in (Figure 6).
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 14 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Table 7. Descriptive statistics for stream inventory sites Kakwa River (1995 to 1997).
Number Total Total Range in Range in Number CPUE CPUE Year of Effort Effort Number of BLTR FL of Sites n/100 sec n/1000 m BLTR Sec m BLTR/ site mm 1995 36 79 34711 9009 0 – 31 (71 – 304) 0.23 8.77
1996 23 19 12677 4655 0 – 05 (87 – 403) 0.15 4.08
1997 25 17 16978 4810 0 – 06 (71 – 253) 0.10 3.53
Total 84 115 64366 18474 0 – 31 (71 – 403) 0.18 6.22 Table derived from the CFIP database (Hvenegaard 1997)
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 15 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Table 8. Descriptive statistics for bull trout population estimate sites at Lynx Creek (1996/97).
Section Mean UTM Number Estimated # BLTR Pop. Date Site Length Width Easting Northing of BLTR per 100 m2 Estimate1 (m) (m)
Aug 26/96 1 328344 6011365 451 6.83 4 0.130 04"0.833 Aug 28/96 2 327643 6011369 634 6.21 74 1.879 75"7.724 Sep 13/96 3 332321 6012451 401 7.73 11 0.355 11"1.422 Oct 02/97 2 327643 6011369 634 7.24 36 0.784 37"1.653 195 % confidence intervals Site #2 – duplicate site in consecutive years
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 16 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Hat
Cr #1 #2 Creek Kakwa River #3
1996 bull trout estimate n=4
1996 bull trout estimate n=11
1996 bull trout estimate n=75 1997 bull trout estimate n=37
Lynx Kakwa
Figure 3. Lynx Creek bull trout population estimate sites 1996 and 1997.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 17
Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
4.5 Fish Sampling
Growth rates of bull trout (n=44) were determined from the recapture of FloyTM tagged fish with a minimum of 300 days between first and second capture. The mean growth rate determined from the sample was 30 mm / year Table 9.
Bull trout tissue samples (n=198) were collected and forwarded to the University of Lethbridge for analysis as a portion of the FMEP funded DNA Fingerprinting Project. Samples were removed from a broad range of size classes (59 - 646 mm) and over a vast geographical area with the expectation of including both resident and fluvial life history patterns of bull trout.
Eight bull trout mortalities occurred during the study period (1995 to 1997) or < 0.74 % of the fish handled. Trapping, backpack electrofishing and from float-electrofishing accounted for 2, 3 and 3 mortalities, respectively.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 18 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Table 9. Observed growth rates of Kakwa River bull trout.
Mean Distance Range in Mean Range in FL Range of Mean Days Moved from Recapture (n) Growth Days at (mm) Growth at Large Capture Points (mm) Large Point(km) (km) <400 14 33 (06 – 70) 405 (344 – 757) 13 (01 – 34) >400 30 28 (04 – 83) 479 (309 – 772) 12 (00 – 52) ALL 44 30 (04 – 83) 455 (309 – 772) 12 (00 – 52)
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 19 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
→
Grande Prairie
Distribution of radio tags into bull Hwy 40 trout in the Kakwa River drainage.
River
Little
Cr Redrock
Redrock Kenny
Creek
Cr Kakwa Cr River Route
Cr
Chicken Ravine Porc upin e Cr Flats Hat
Cr River
Creek Creek
Daniel Creek Copton Creek Lynx Mouse Adelade Prairie Cache Creek Cr Smoky
Cr Kakwa Cr Cr Grizzly Laforce Hwy Cr Lowe r Peak South Copton 40 Francis Kakwa Kakwa Beaverdam Falls R Falls Cr Kakwa Falls Caw Bank Creek Cr Grande Kilometers South Creek Cache
→ 0 10 20
Figure 4. Distribution of 56 radio tags in the Kakwa River drainage 1996 and 1997.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 20 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
→
Grande Prairie
Bull trout winter re-location sites 1996/97 Hwy 40
River
Little
Cr Redrock
Redrock Kenny
Creek
Cr Kakwa Cr River Route
Cr
Chicken Ravine Porc upine Cr Flats Hat
Cr River â
Creek Creek
Daniel Creek Copton Creek Lynx Mouse Adelade Prairie Cache Creek Cr Smoky
Cr Kakwa Cr Cr Grizzly Laforce Hwy Cr Lower Peak South Copton 40 Francis Kakwa Kakwa Beaverdam Falls R Falls Cr Kakwa Falls Caw Bank Creek Cr Grande Kilometers South Creek Cache
→ 0 10 20
Figure 5. Bull trout overwintering sites Kakwa River (1996/97).
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 21 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Figure 6. Bull trout spawning areas determined by radio telemetry relocation data (1996/97).
→
Grande Bull trout spawning areas determined Prairie
from radio telemetry data 1996/97 Hwy 40
River
Little
Cr Redrock
Redrock Kenny
Creek
Cr Kakwa Cr Route River
Cr
Chicken Ravine Porc upine Cr Flats Hat
Cr River â
Creek Creek
Daniel Creek Copton Creek Lynx Mouse Adelade Prairie Cache Creek Cr Smoky
Cr Kakwa Cr Cr Grizzly Laforce Hwy Cr Lower Peak South Copton 40 Francis Kakwa Kakwa Beaverdam 0 10 Falls R 20 Falls Cr Kakwa Falls Caw Bank Creek Cr Grande
South Creek Cache Kilometers →
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 22 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
5.0 Discussion 5.1 Timing of Spawning Movements
Movements of bull trout into tributary creeks of the Kakwa River were gauged using fish traps/fences, and radio telemetry. Twenty-two radio tagged bull trout were reported using tributary streams of the Kakwa River, presumably for spawning. Timing of these upstream movements varied from (July 25 – September 02) with the majority of the fish (82 %) entering these tributaries prior to August 15.
In 1995 bull trout were captured moving upstream into Copton and Lynx creeks immediately after traps were in place on 16 and 15 August respectively. These data, coupled with the high number of unmarked individuals captured upstream of the trap would suggest that bull trout move into their spawning tributaries earlier than anticipated or suggested in the literature (mid August) (Rhude and Rhem 1995). Also, only 32% (n=6) and 66% (n=8) of individuals captured moving upstream through the traps in Copton and Lynx creek respectively were later recaptured moving down by study end. This would suggest that bull trout might utilise the spawning tributaries for longer than expected.
During 1996 large adult bull trout began to ascend Lynx Creek on July 25. In early July however, two individuals (154 and 189 mm FL) were captured moving downstream and presumably leaving Lynx Creek. Upstream movements peaked in the first week of August. Bull trout began to exit Lynx Creek during mid September. Bull trout in Prairie Creek although few in numbers, showed similar upstream and downstream movement patterns. Comparisons of catch data (i.e., individuals >400 mm FL) between duplicated sample sections and methods during late July (22%) and late September (39%) also support this movement pattern. The timing of these spawning movements coincide with other research ventures on northern fluvial bull trout populations (Baxter 1996).
Installation of the trap / fence into Lynx Creek in 1997 occurred on August 23, to allow adult bull trout to enter Lynx Creek without being captured. The objective was to capture the bulk of the fish as they made an out migration, but still allow for upstream captures. One bull trout was captured entering Lynx Creek, a ripe male on September 12. High water provided bull trout staging above the trap, the opportunity to by-pass the trap/fence without being captured, as confirmed by the movement of a radio tagged fish.
5.2 Spawning Frequency
Only a single bull trout tagged at the Lynx Creek trap in 1995 was recaptured at the trap in 1996. Similarly, a single bull trout captured at Lynx Creek in 1996 was recaptured at the trap in 1997, radio tagged fish (149.110). These data suggest that although consecutive year spawning occurs in the Kakwa River drainage, it may be minimal. Little data on spawning frequency for fluvial bull trout populations in Alberta are available although Allan (1980) and Baxter (1996) report 27 and 25% repeat spawning in tributaries to the Clearwater and upper Peace River respectively. Stelfox (1997) reports adfluvial bull trout from Lower Kananaskis Lake spawn yearly.
Radio telemetry data also, supports the evidence suggesting consecutive year spawning is minimal. Only, one fish radio tag (149.110) was relocated in a spawning tributary (Lynx Creek) in consecutive years. No other radio tagged fish exhibited characteristic spawning movements in consecutive years.
The presence of large and presumably sexually mature bull trout, in non-spawning condition, throughout the mainstem Kakwa River in late August also supports the evidence suggesting non- consecutive year spawning to be typical (Appendix A).
5.3 Estimate of Abundance
The estimated number of bull trout in a 32-kilometre reach of the upper Kakwa River is 225.67 or 7.28 per river kilometre determined from a mark-and-recapture technique. The CPUE for the Kakwa River
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 23 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
described in table 6 indicate 1.4 bull trout per river kilometre, determined from 408 river kilometres of sampling and 122886 seconds of electrofishing over a three year period. A 42 kilometre reach of the Clearwater River near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta was electrofished producing 0.29 bull trout over 400 mm / km and 1.31 bull trout /km under 400 mm.
Depletion removal estimates at four sites in Lynx Creek produced a range in bull trout abundance of (0.130, 0.355, 0.784, 1.879 / 100 m2 respectively). The fork length size of bull trout captured at the estimate sites indicates sampling was conducted in fry and juvenile rearing areas. Fielden et al. 1991 describe bull trout densities from tributaries of the Halfway River (tributary of the Peace River), B.C. to range from (0.04, 1.19, 0.31, 0.03) / 100 m2, respectively. Sterling (1978) reported a range in population abundance estimates of (6.75 to 0.97) bull trout / km from the same site in Tri-Creeks, Alberta over a seven year period beginning in 1971 and ending in 1977.
5.4 Critical Habitats
Threats to bull trout in the Kakwa River drainage come from altered or lost habitat by industrial activity and potential illegal harvest. To define critical habitats we must look at the times and places when bull trout are most vulnerable.
Generalised spawning sites of fluvial bull trout have been identified in three tributaries of the Kakwa River (Lynx, Copton, and Prairie creeks) using radio telemetry. Within these tributaries specific spawning locations have been documented. The characteristic groundwater-input as described by (Shepard 1985, Boag and Hvenegaard 1997, Allan 1980, and Fairless et al. 1994) appears to play an important role in the selection of spawning sites chosen by Kakwa River bull trout.
The capture of YOY bull trout with electrofishing also indicates sites which are conducive to spawning, although, perhaps not as spatially defined as radio telemetry data they still provide generalised areas for habitat protection measures. The capture of YOY bull trout with electrofishing does not reveal the life-history form of the adults that produced them. This may be important considering fluvial and resident bull trout spawning sites can overlap (James and Sexauer, 1997). Bull trout management strategies should consider the existence of different life-history forms.
Hydrocarbon exploration and extraction generally occurs more vigorously in the winter months (November – March). Unregulated water withdrawal and industrial activity could seriously encroach on over-wintering habitat of bull trout. The preliminary winter telemetry re-location data suggest bull trout overwinter in clusters in sections of the river, which must provide suitable habitat. If you consider the radio tagged fish to be representative of the population, there is a strong argument for little or no instream industrial activity within reaches or upstream of reaches which posses overwintering habitat. Open water winter survey’s coupled with telemetry re-location data show a link between overwintering sites and groundwater input sites. Non of the radio tagged bull trout used tributary creeks for overwintering.
5.5 Fish Sampling
Bull trout in the Kakwa River are at the northern extent of their range in Alberta. A fork length sample of 44 bull trout with a minimum of 300 days at large was analysed for growth rates. The results indicate that bull trout from the Kakwa River are much slower growing than there counterparts from Lower Kananaskis Lake (30 mm /year) to (46 mm/ year) (Stelfox, 1997). These data indicate that Kakwa River bull trout are much slower growing than the Lower Kananaskis Lake population. The difference in growth rates can probably be attributed to the productivity between water bodies and life history forms.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 24 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
6.0 LITERATURE CITED
Allan, J.H. 1980. Life history notes on the dolly varden char (Salvelinus malma) in the upper Clearwater River, Alberta. Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division. Red Deer. 56 pp.
Baxter, J.S. 1995. Chowade River bull trout studies 1995: habitat and population assessment. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia. 30 pp. + APP.
Berry, D.K. 1994. Alberta's bull trout management and recovery plan. Alberta Environmental Protection, Fisheries Management Division Pub. No. T/289, 22 pp.
Bidgood, B. 1980. Field surgical procedure for implantation of radio tags in fish. Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division. Fisheries Research Report No. 20. Edmonton, Alberta. 9 pp.
Brilling, M. and B. Lucko. 1984. Preliminary inventory of the Kakwa River drainage. Unpub. Rep. AB. Fish and Wild. Div. Peace River. 61 pp.
Fielden, R.J., T.L. Slaney and J.A. Bruce. 1991. Peace River Site C development: fisheries habitat and tributary surveys. Aquatic Resources Limited Vancouver, B.C. for B.C. Hydro Environmental Resources. 81 pp + APP.
Fairless , D., S. Herman, P. Rhem. 1994. Characteristics of bull trout spawning sites in five tributaries of the upper Clearwater River, Alberta. Alberta Environmental Protection, Fisheries Management Division. 37 pp + App.
Fox, E.N., T.B. Clayton, K.J. Van Tighem. 1995. 1995 bull trout investigations in the Belly and Waterhen River drainages. Waterton Lakes National Parks and Alberta Environmental Protection, Fisheries Management Division. 42 pp. + App.
Hvenegaard, P.J. and T.D. Boag. 1993. A spawning survey of rainbow trout in Jumpingpound Creek. Prep. for Trout Unlimited Canada by D.A. Westworth and Associates. 19 pp. + App
Hvenegaard, P.J. 1995. Cooperative fisheries inventory program phase II 1994/95. Present project status and future inventory priorities. Alberta Environmental Protection, Fisheries Management Division. 16 pp. + App.
Hvenegaard, P.J. 1996. Cooperative fisheries inventory program phase III 1995/96. Present project status and future inventory priorities. Alberta Environmental Protection, Fisheries Management Division. 21 pp. + App.
Hvenegaard, P.J., and D. Fairless .1996. Biology and status of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the Kakwa River drainage.1995/96. Alberta Environmental Protection, Fisheries Management Division. 24 pp. + App.
James, P.W., and H.M. Sexauer.1997. Spawning behavior, spawning habitat and alternative mating strategies in an adfluvial population of bull trout. Department of Biological Sciences, Central Washington University from Mackay, W.C., M.K. Brewin, and M. Monita. 1997. Friends of the bull trout conference proceedings. 325 – 329 pp.
Kristofferson, W.C., D.K. McGowan, and W.J. Ward. 1986. Fish weirs for the commercial harvest of searun Arctic charr. Can. Ind. Rep. Aquat. Sci. 174. 31 pp.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 25 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
Mackay, W.C., G.R. Ash, and H.J. Norris. 1990. Fish ageing methods for Alberta. Prep. by R.L.&L. Environmental Services Ltd. in assoc. with Alberta Fish and Wild. Div. and Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton. 113 pp.
McKinley, R.S., G. Power, and H.E. Kowalyk. 1992. Transmitter attachment/implant – labrortory manual. Ontario Hydro Research and University of Waterloo, Biology Department..
Rhude, L.A., and P.J. Rhem. 1995. Bull trout population status in the Upper Clearwater River, Alberta. Alberta Environmental Protection, Fisheries Management Division. 47 pp + App.
Ricker, W.E. 1975. Computation and interpretation of biological statistics of fish populations. Bulletin of Fisheries Research Board of Canada. No 191. 382 pp.
Rieman, B.E. and J.D. McIntrye. 1993. Demographic and habitat requirements for conservation of bull trout. United States Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Services Report INT-302. 37pp.
Shaw, J.H. 1985. Introduction to wildlife management. Mcgraw-Hill, Inc. Toronto, Ontario. 316 pp.
Stelfox, J.D. 1997. Seasonal movements, growth, survival and population status of the adfluvial bull trout population in lower Kananaskis Lake, Alberta. Alberta Environmental Protection, Fisheries Management Division from Mackay, W.C., M.K. Brewin, and M. Monita. 1997. Friends of the bull trout conference proceedings. 309 – 316 pp.
Sterling, G. L. 1978. Population dynamics, age and growth of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) and dolly varden (Salvelinus malma) in the Tri-creek watershed, 1971 to 1977. Report Number Two. Alberta Recreation, Parks and Wildlife. Fish and Wildlife Division. 53 pp. + APP.
Van Deventer, J .S, and W.S. Platts. 1989. Sampling and estimating fish populations from streams. Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. 48: 349 – 354 pp.
Williams, J.E., J.E. Johnson, D.A. Hendrickson, S. Contreeras-Balderas, and others. 1989. Fishes of North America endangered, threatened, or of special concern: 1989. Fisheries (Bethesda). Vol 14:6. 2-20 pp.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 26 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
7.0 INFORMATION SOURCES
1. Mr. G. Todd, Former CFIP Crew Leader in the Weyerhaeuser FMA. Calgary, AB.
2. Mr. A. Paul, Department of Biological Science. University of Calgary.
3. Mr. T. Downe, fisheries biologist, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Fort St. John, BC.
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 27 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
8.0 APPENDIX A
FISH CAPTURE LIST
Legend:
Capture Codes: 0=first capture released 1=first capture sacrificed 2=re-capture released 3=re-capture sacrificed 4=radio telemetry re-location
FL=fork length (mm) TL=natural total length (mm)
DNA: yes denotes tissue sample retained
Capture Method: TR-Up: fish captured in trap moving upstream TR-Down: fish captured in trap moving downstream FL-ES: float electrofishing BP-ES: backpack electrofishing U/S: upstream TEL: denotes a re-location by radio telemetry AN: fish captured by angling
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 28 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
8.0 APPENDIX B
Bull Trout Population Estimate – Input File and Analysis
Bull Trout Capture by Reach
Reach Marks Upper Middle Lower Unseen
Upper 20.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 15.00 Middle 26.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 24.00 Lower 21.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 20.00
Unmarked 5.00 8.00 8.00 Recovered 10.00 10.00 9.00
Kakwa River Bull Trout Population Estimate - Chi-square Test Statistics
Complete Mixing 4.72 (2 df) Significance 0.09 Equal Proportions 4.03 (2 df) Significance 0.13 End of Pooling Tests
Pooled Petersen Estimate
Estimate (std. err) 225.67 (55.86) 95 % normal C I (116.18, 335.15) 95 % transform C I (143.93, 383.10)
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 29 Alberta Conservation Association Kakwa River Bull Trout Project
8.0 APPENDIX C
Date and Location of Bull Trout Fitted with Radio Tags (n=56) in the Kakwa Drainage 1996 and 1997.
Implant Date Implant Site Frequency FL WT Capture Method 19-Jul-96 Kakwa 149.080 507 FL-ES 25-Jul-96 Lynx 149.069 528 1513 TR-Up 26-Jul-96 Lynx 149.261 606 2529 TR-Up 26-Jul-96 Lynx 149.380 626 2523 TR-Up 27-Jul-96 Kakwa 149.120 561 2155 FL-ES 03-Aug-96 Lynx 149.110 491 1351 TR-Up 03-Aug-96 Lynx 149.371 519 1435 TR-Up 04-Aug-96 Lynx 149.092 516 1554 TR-Up 05-Aug-96 Prairie 149.172 564 1693 TR-Up 07-Aug-96 Lynx 149.182 691 2297 TR-Up 08-Aug-96 Lynx 149.130 568 1959 TR-Up 24-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.330 486 1275 AL 24-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.251 522 FL-ES 24-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.270 586 FL-ES 24-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.221 687 2868 FL-ES 25-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.212 465 FL-ES 25-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.280 472 FL-ES 25-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.232 489 FL-ES 25-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.290 573 FL-ES 25-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.300 617 AL 26-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.241 523 AL 26-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.020 645 AL 27-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.099 533 FL-ES 27-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.322 586 FL-ES 27-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.060 587 FL-ES 27-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.310 606 1767 FL-ES 27-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.039 615 FL-ES 27-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.050 675 3321 AL 28-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.341 528 1404 AL 28-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.161 535 1436 AL 28-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.191 555 1735 AL 28-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.349 570 1851 AL 28-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.200 585 1986 AL 29-Sep-96 Kakwa 149.360 500 1217 AL 26-Jul-97 Kakwa 149.500 509 FL-ES 27-Jul-97 Kakwa 149.551 570 FL-ES 11-Aug-97 Copton 149.440 549 AL 11-Aug-97 Copton 149.471 552 AL 12-Aug-97 Copton 149.521 466 FL-ES 28-Aug-97 Kakwa 149.491 483 FL-ES 28-Aug-97 Kakwa 149.512 507 FL-ES 28-Aug-97 Kakwa 149.461 556 FL-ES 29-Aug-97 Kakwa 149.481 533 FL-ES 04-Sep-97 Kakwa 149.422 476 FL-ES 04-Sep-97 Kakwa 149.617 515 FL-ES 06-Sep-97 Kakwa 149.531 478 FL-ES 06-Sep-97 Kakwa 149.450 479 FL-ES 06-Sep-97 Kakwa 149.401 530 FL-ES 06-Sep-97 Kakwa 149.410 569 FL-ES 08-Sep-97 Kakwa 149.718 490 FL-ES 08-Sep-97 Kakwa 149.540 545 FL-ES 08-Sep-97 Kakwa 149.570 555 FL-ES 09-Sep-97 Kakwa 149.597 577 FL-ES 21-Sep-97 Lynx 149.432 532 BP-ES 21-Sep-97 Lynx 149.560 546 BP-ES 21-Sep-97 Lynx 149.392 667 BP-ES
See appendix A for a description of abbreviations
Progress Report 1995 - 1997 30