Assessment of the Distribution and Relative Abundance of Sport Fish in the Lower Red Deer River (Phase I) CCONSERVATIONO NSE R VAT IO N RREPORTE P O R T SSERIESE R IE S CCONSERVATIONONSERVATION RREPORTEPORT SSERIESERIES 25% Post Consumer Fibre When separated, both the binding and paper in this document are recyclable Assessment of the Distribution and Relative Abundance of Sport Fish in the Lower Red Deer River (Phase I) Jason Cooper and Trevor Council Alberta Conservation Association 2nd Floor, YPM Place 530-8 Street S. Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 2J8 Report Series Co-editors GARRY J. SCRIMGEOUR STEPHANIE R. GROSSMAN Alberta Conservation Association Alberta Conservation Association P.O. Box 40027 P.O. Box 40027 Baker Centre Postal Outlet Baker Centre Postal Outlet Edmonton, AB, T5J 4M9 Edmonton, AB, T5J 4M9 Conservation Report Series Types: Interim, Activity, Data, Technical ISBN printed: 0-7785-3660-2 ISBN online: 0-7785-3661-0 ISSN printed: 1712-2821 ISSN online: 1712-283X Publication Number: I/202 Disclaimer: This document is an independent report prepared by the Alberta Conservation Association. The authors are solely responsible for the interpretations of data and statements made within this report. Reproduction and Availability: This report and its contents may be reproduced in whole, or in part, provided that this title page is included with such reproduction and/or appropriate acknowledgements are provided to the authors and sponsors of this project. Suggested citation: Cooper, J. and T. Council. 2004. Assessment of the distribution and relative abundance of sport fish in the lower Red Deer River (Phase I). Data report (D-2004-004) produced by Alberta Conservation Association, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. 22 pp + app. Cover photo credit: David Fairless Digital copies of conservation reports can be obtained from: Alberta Conservation Association P.O. Box 40027 Baker Centre Postal Outlet Edmonton, AB, T5J 4M9 Toll Free: 1-877-969-9091 Tel: (780) 427-5192 Fax: (780) 422-6441 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ab-conservation.com i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purposes of Phase I of the Lower Red Deer River study were to: i) assess accessibility, ii) determine study logistics, and iii) identify potential study reaches within the 473 km study area that could be surveyed to quantify the distribution and abundance of sport fish in the Lower Red Deer River. Initial reconnaissance was conducted to identify boat launch sites from 23 to 25 June, 2003, from the City of Drumheller to the Estuary Ferry crossing in Saskatchewan. Logistically, the 473 km length of river was divided into 13 smaller sections based on access sites and overall length of river. In 1990 and 1991, 80 1-km sample sites of 95 were sampled (one site every 5 km) along the entire study section. Review of water flows from 1990 to 2003 indicated that the most suitable time to quantify fish communities using electrofishing by jet boat occurs mainly between late May and the end of June. Our review also indicated that, in the past few years flows have drastically diminished by late July, and do not increase again until the following year’s snow melt. Lastly, we identify a sampling methodology and key considerations for the implementation of Phase II and overall project success. This report contains preliminary information and interpretations that may be subject to future revisions. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was made possible by funding from the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA). Thanks go to Jason Blackburn, who assisted with the field reconnaissance and mapping of river sections. This report benefited from constructive comments offered by both Cam Wallman (ASRD, Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Biologist, Brooks) and Glen Clements (ASRD, Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Biologist, Lethbridge). The authors thank Byron Jensen (ASRD, District Conservation Officer, Drumheller) for offering his knowledge of the lower Red Deer River. Thanks also goes to Vance Buchwald (ASRD, Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Biologist, Red Deer) for his time and commitment in supplying knowledge and maps from the 1990 to 1991 study conducted on the lower Red Deer River. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iii LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. v 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................1 1.1 Phase I study objectives ..............................................................................................2 2.0 STUDY AREA............................................................................................................2 3.0 PHASE I ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................4 3.1 Review of sport fish populations in the Lower Red Deer River ...........................4 3.2 Presence of sport fish and current fishing regulations...........................................5 3.3 Identifying river access points and study reaches ..................................................7 3.4 Review of river flow....................................................................................................7 3.5 A proposed sampling design to quantify sport fish populations in the Lower Red Deer River.................................................................................................9 3.6 Phase II sampling methods ......................................................................................16 3.7 Timing and equipment needs ..................................................................................18 4.0 FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHASE II PROJECT PLANNING.........................................................19 5.0 LITERATURE CITED ...........................................................................................21 6.0 APPENDICES ..........................................................................................................23 6.1 Appendix 1. Locations of proposed sample sites on the Lower Red Deer River. ...........................................................................................................................23 6.2 Appendix 2. Select photographs of launch sites in the Lower Red Deer River. ...........................................................................................................................27 6.3 Appendix 3. 2003 water discharge graphs from Alberta Environment stations on the Lower Red Deer River....................................................................30 6.4 Appendix 4. Historic patterns in the water discharge in the Lower Red Deer River. ..................................................................................................................32 6.5 Appendix 5. Locations of major river sections in the Lower Red Deer River. ...........................................................................................................................41 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of the Red Deer River watershed and study section (taken from Longmore and Stenton 1981). ...............................................................................3 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Assessments of the Lower Red Deer River crossings and access sites. .......... 8 Table 2. Summary of the Lower Red Deer River study sections. ................................. 11 v 1.0 INTRODUCTION Effective strategies to manage sport fish populations depend, in part, on the presence of current information on their distribution and abundance. The Lower Red Deer River (LRDR) represents a 473 km river reach that supports a multitude of sport and non- sport fish. The status (i.e. distribution and abundance) of these species in the LRDR is poorly known and quantitative information about these species was most recently collected by the Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fish and Wildlife Division (ASRD) in 1990 and 1991 (ASRD, Red Deer, File data). Provincial-scale revisions of the status of many populations of Alberta’s sport fish suggests that population densities can change relatively rapidly and that up-to-date information on sport fish in the LRDR is required to support responsible and proactive changes in management. For example, the status of sauger (Stizostedion canadense) in the Red Deer River is presently unknown; however, anecdotal evidence from angler reports suggests that populations have increased over the last ten years. As well, the status of quillback (Carpiodes cyprinus) in the province is currently undetermined and is considered data deficient (Alberta Sustainable Resource Development 2001). The overall objective of the LRDR sport fish project is to quantify the distribution and abundance of select sport fish in a 473 km reach of the LRDR. This objective will be achieved by completing two separate, yet complimentary study phases. Phase I (i.e. the planning phase) of the project represents preliminary work to: i) identify a rigorous study design (i.e. capable of quantifying stream fish communities) including identifying the number and location of study sites throughout the 473 km study area, ii) identify operational