Summary of Aquatic Resource Information for Gwaii Haanas A Compilation and Synthesis of Aquatic Inventories for Lakes and Streams Prepared for: Parks Canada Gwaii Haanas / South Moresby National Park Reserve Prepared by: Brian Krishka, Aquatics Consultant Queen Charlotte City, B. C. March 27, 1997 ABSTRACT A review of available inventory and assessment information pertaining to streams and lakes within Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve was completed. The status of aquatic biophysical information was summarized, data gaps were identified and recommendations for future monitoring and research are made. Gwaii Haanas encompasses 147,271 ha of land along the southern portion of Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, including much of Moresby Island plus many smaller islands. This region consists of rugged terrain associated with the San Christoval Mountain Range along the length of Gwaii Haanas. Of the 779 watersheds found in the Protected Area, almost half are 50-100 ha in size. Over 1,400 streams exist, the majority being small, 1st order streams without lakes in the watershed. Nine fish species have been recorded from streams along both coasts. Three species of adult Pacific salmon (chum, pink, sockeye) are only found in streams during the fall spawning migrations, and their young return to the ocean soon after hatching each spring. Coho salmon fry and juveniles remain within streams and lakes for longer periods. There are 118 lakes ranging in size from 1-228 ha, plus hundreds of open-water areas under 1 ha. Eight fish species are known to reside within Gwaii Haanas lakes, mainly at lower elevations of 50 m or less above sea level. Threespine stickleback occur within low elevation lakes and stream reaches. Dolly Varden is the most common salmonid in these lakes, and is frequently the only fish species found at higher elevations or above major obstructions such as water falls. Rainbow trout are known to live year-round within several lakes, but migratory steelhead trout are also present at certain times of the year. Salmon abundance estimates from spawning streams supports the general decline in salmon numbers observed for west coast fisheries. Chum salmon use the vast majority of Gwaii Haanas streams for fall spawning, while coho and pink salmon use less than one-third of these streams. Within the last five years, chum salmon numbers have dropped to 10% of their abundance from the late 1940s. The number of spawning pink salmon increased by the late 1960s and remained relatively high until a steady decline began in 1988. The overall productivity of Gwaii Haanas lakes and streams is quite low. The biomass input to these freshwater systems via migratory salmon may be vital to continued survival of fish, invertebrates, certain birds and mammals, as well as overall productivity in riparian areas. Currently, only three of 118 lakes have been surveyed, and another 32 lakes have limited information available. Recent surveys also exist for 22 of over 1,400 streams and similar information is available for another 166 streams, but has not been summarized for comparison with recent surveys. In either case, a very small number of lakes and streams have appropriate information to properly compare and summarize the aquatic SUMMARY OF AQUATIC RESOURCE INFORMATION FOR GWAII HAANAS - MARCH 27, 1997 I resources of Gwaii Haanas. Future inventory and monitoring is needed on a seasonal basis to understand temporal biophysical dynamics for these waters. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...............................................................................................................I LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................. IV LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................... VI LIST OF APPENDICES ......................................................................................... VIII ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................ IX 1.0 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................1 2.0 METHODS..........................................................................................................6 2.1 GENERAL APPROACH..........................................................................................6 2.1.1 Lake Surveys..............................................................................................6 2.1.2 Stream Surveys ..........................................................................................8 2.1.3 Salmon Escapement..................................................................................11 3.0 RESULTS .........................................................................................................13 3.1 LAKES............................................................................................................13 3.1.1 General....................................................................................................13 3.1.2 Physical....................................................................................................15 3.1.3 Chemical ..................................................................................................17 3.1.4 Fauna.......................................................................................................19 3.1.4.1 Fish....................................................................................................19 3.1.4.2 Mammals............................................................................................25 3.1.4.3 Avifauna..............................................................................................26 3.1.4.4 Aquatic Macro-invertebrates.................................................................28 3.1.4.5 Zooplankton........................................................................................29 3.1.4.6 Amphibians .........................................................................................30 3.1.5 Flora ........................................................................................................30 3.1.5.1 Aquatic Macrophytes ...........................................................................30 3.1.5.2 Terrestrial Plants.................................................................................31 3.2 STREAMS ........................................................................................................32 3.2.1 General....................................................................................................32 3.2.2 Physical....................................................................................................35 3.2.3 Chemical ..................................................................................................39 3.2.4 Fauna.......................................................................................................40 3.3.4.1 Fish....................................................................................................40 3.2.4.2 Mammals............................................................................................52 SUMMARY OF AQUATIC RESOURCE INFORMATION FOR GWAII HAANAS - MARCH 27, 1997 II 3.2.4.3 Avifauna..............................................................................................52 3.2.4.4 Aquatic Macro-invertebrates.................................................................53 3.2.4.5 Amphibians .........................................................................................56 3.2.5 Flora ........................................................................................................56 3.3 SALMON ESCAPEMENT ......................................................................................60 4.0 DISCUSSION....................................................................................................66 4.1 LAKES............................................................................................................66 4.1.1 Comparative Results .................................................................................66 4.1.2 Data Gaps................................................................................................67 4.2 STREAMS ........................................................................................................69 4.2.1 Comparative Results .................................................................................69 4.2.2 Data Gaps................................................................................................70 4.3 ECOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS ....................................................................................72 5.0 RESEARCH AND MONITORING ISSUES AND PRIORITIES................................75 6.0 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................77 7.0 REFERENCES..................................................................................................81 8.0 APPENDICES ...................................................................................................85 SUMMARY OF AQUATIC RESOURCE INFORMATION FOR GWAII HAANAS - MARCH 27, 1997 III LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Locations and boundaries of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve/Haida Heritage Site in relation to Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands and mainland British Columbia. ........................................................................................2