A Biological Study of the Influence of the Bridge River Rapids on the Sockoye Runs of the Upper Fraser Watersheds
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1/S3 S7 A Biological Study of the Influence of the Bridge River Rapids on the Sockoye Runs of the Upper Fraser Watersheds by Stanley Reginald Killiok A Thesis submitted in Partial Fulfilment of The Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE in the Department of ZOOLOGY The University of British Columbia APRIL* 1948 A Biological Study of the Influence of the Bridge River Rapids on the Sockeye Huns of the Upper Fraser Watershed. by Stanley Reginald Killick. •ABSTRACT The significance of obstructed passage of sockeye up the Fraser river was not realized fully until, the very dlsast- erous effect^of Hell's Gate were revealed by the international -Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission in 1941; After the import• ance of the Hell's Gate obstruction was established, evidence on the conditions at the Bridge River Rapids were reviewed and a study commenced in 1942. These Rapids are located on the Fraser river, 76 miles north of Hell's Gate and must be passed by all the sockeye races destined for the upper Fraser water• shed. The Rapids consist of two separate falls, and have been reported to have caused difficult and block passage to salmon as early as 19IS. The study, commenced by the Commission in 1942, was outlined to determine the direct influence of the Rapids on the current sockeye populations and to make such adjustments in the contour of the itapids as to allow unobstructed passage of salmon at all water levels, should blockade conditions be revealed. The problem involved four separate tagging experi• ments from 1942 to 1946. No tagging was done in 1943. The results of the various experiments revealed that Or the sockeye ?*ere delayed art seriously blocked m some years during low water levels occurring in September and October. The late-running Chllko and Stellako sockeye were the only races that were effected as the other runs to the Stuart, Bow- ron and Horsefly districts pas.sed through the Rapids early in the summer when the water levels were high. After the completion of the analysis of the tagging experiments up to 1945, a recommendation, that two fishways be constructed at the Kapids, was submitted for the considera• tion of the Commission. The installation of fishways was ap• proved and their construction completed for the salmon runs of 1946. The efficiency of the fishways w^e tested in that year and a complete change in the pattern of tagsrecoveries was recorded. Whereas, block conditions were previously shown by sudden increases in the number of tags recovered below the Rapids; practically no tags were recovered below during low water periods after the fishways were built. The same methods of analysis that were used to determine block conditions were . repeated in 1946 to test the fishways and in each case a noticeable improvement in passage was recorded; Therefore, it was concluded that the fishways built at the Bridge Hjver Kap• ids were successful in passing sockeye salmon, through the previously known block periods that were revealed by tagging in 1942j 1944 and 1945. Frontpiece General view of the lower and upper falls at the Bridge River Rapids looking upstream. September 6, 1944. .Vater level RI gauge - 655 feet. CONTENTS I INTRODUCTION 1 II REVIEW OF LITERATURE ......................... v.. 3 Reports of J. P. Babcock ............................ 3 (1) Condition of sockeye salmon in Seton Creek in 1912. ........ 3 (2) Observations at the Rapids 1912 and 1925 ...... 4 Dominion Fisheries report .............. i. 5 (1) No cohoe salmon present in the Upper Fraser watershed .......... 5 (2) Fluctuations in the Seton Creek populations ... 5 Investigations-of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission 7 (1) Reports of H. S. Tremper . *................... 7 (2) Bulletin #1 - W. F. Thompson ................... 8 III METHODS 10 Method and location of tagging ...................... 10 Water levels ....•* 11 Theory of conducting a tagging experiment to. evaluate blockades ................ » 11 IV RESULTS ........................... • 13 Number of Sockeye tagged 1942 - 1946 13 Section'A - Evidence of obstruction from the analysis of tagging 1942 - 1945 14 (a) Fishing intensity and races of sockeye ........ 14 CI) 1942 .... *......... i ......... 16 (2) 1944 .... ; . 18 " (3) 1945 18 (b) Percentage recovery of tags below and above the Rapids 20 (1) 1942 ....... r.21 (2) 1944 23 (3) 1945 25 (c) Time out before recovery of tags below ........ 27 (1) 1942 .................. ............... 28 (2) 1944 30 (3) 1945 .. 30 (d) influence of water levels on percentage recovery below.......................................... 33 (1) 1942 ............35 (2) 1944 . 35 (3) 1945 i. 37 The effect of Hell's Gate 39 Summation of the evidence of difficult and block conditions 45 Recommendations for f1shways 47 Section B - The. analysis of the 1946 tagging experi• ment to test the efficiency of the fishways. 48 (a) Fishing intensity and the races of sockeye.48 (b) Percentage recovery of tags below ahdabove.52 (c) Period of delay of tags below the Rapids .... 52 (d) Cummulative percentage of tags recovered below the Rapi ds........................... 54 V SUMMARY AND' CONCLUSIONS 56 Before the fishways were constructed 57 After the fishways were constructed ................. 59 VI ACKNO'ffLSDG'EMENTS ................................ ... 60 VII LITERATURE CITED 61 % Biological Study of the Influence of the Bridge River Raplda on the Sockeye Runs of the Upper Fraser 'Watershed. 1 by Stanley Reginald Killick INTRODUCTION The biological and engineering study of the Bridge River Rapids, and subsequent remedial measures taken by the International Pacific Salmon Commission represents the sec• ond major program for the removal of serious obstructions to the migration of sockeye salmon within the Fraser River water• shed. The first task was the discovery and definition of the block at Hell's Gate and the construction of fishways designed to pass salmon through a wide range of water levels. The significance of obstructed passage of sockeye up the Fraser River was not realized fully until the very dis- asterous effects of Hell's Gate were revealed in 1941. In that year it became apparent that water levels acted as a major control of the numbers of salmon reaching the various spawning grounds. After the importance of the Hell's Gate block was established, evidence on the conditions at Bridge River Rapids was reviewed more thoroughly and it became evldr ent that a study should be atarted at this point immediately. In the summer of 1943, the writer was stationed at the Rapids, and an extensive tagging program was commenced below and,above the Rapids. This study was designed to obtain information on the following phases of the problem: (1) Dates of the arrival, peak, and end of the various runs through the Rapids. (2) Evidence as to whether sockeye dropped downstream and entered Seton Creek upon being blocked at the Rapids. (3) Dates and.durations of blockades. (4) Precise water levels causing blocks.; ; (5) Influence of Hell's Gate on the movements of sock• eye and its relationship to the Bridge River Rapids. The problem as defined by the Commission was to det• ermine the direct influence of the Rapids on the current sock• eye populations and to make such adjustments in the contour of the Rapids as to allow unobstructed passage of salmon to the Upper Fraser, should blockade conditions be revealed as a re• sult of their study. It is the purpose of this paper to pre• sent accumulated'evidence of blockade conditions at the Bridge River Rapids together with the results obtained after the installation of the fishways in 1946. Referring to the map, the critical position of the Bridge River Rapids is readily noted with respect to all the Fraser River runs that, spawn above the confluence of the Thom• pson River at Lytton. Apart from the three runs into the Thompson River watershed (Adams-Little River, Raft and Seymour) all the sockeye populations of the Fraser above Hell's Gate must pass through the Bridge River Rapids except for the small 3 Seton-Anders on run. To ssvoid confusion-, it must be noted that the Rapids are not on Bridge River despite the name but are on the Fraser proper, one-half mile upstream from the mouth of Bridge River and six miles north of the town of Lillooet. The Rapids consist of two separate falls approximately 900 feet apart. These have been designated as the "lower" and "upper" falls, both of which appear to become difficult or impossible for salmon to ascend during certain years when the water level of the Fraser River becomes low in. September and October. Details on the height of the drop through the two falls and -a3L other required data pertaining to profiles and rise and fall, of water levels have been studied by the engineering division of the Commission and are Included In an unpublished manuscri• pt by Milo Bell (1945). Plates I and II illustrate the turb• ulence and drop through the lower and upper falls. REVIEW OF LITERATURE A review of the literature and historical background of the Bridge River Rapids has aided materially in determining the method of study and defining the objectives to be achieved. Unfortunately, no precise studies of the Rapids had been under• taken prior to the work of the Commission but the sum of the accumulated evidence left little doubt that some factor or factors had influenced the passage of salmon at this location for many years. Reports of J. P. Baboock (1) Condition of sockeye salmon in Seton Creek in 1912. 4 In the report of the Commissioner of Fisheries for British Columbia for 1913, Babcock made the following state• ments : "The first sockeye entered our hatchery weirs at the outlet of Seton Lake on July 35. Between that date and August 17, when this run ended, 3,000 unusually large prime fish had entered the weirs.