Gold River Steelhead - bccf.com Steelhead Presentation - Jan... · HCTF PROJECT – SOME KEY...
Transcript of Gold River Steelhead - bccf.com Steelhead Presentation - Jan... · HCTF PROJECT – SOME KEY...
AGENDA • Orientation
• Introduction – BCCF, FLNRORD, MOE
• The Issue – history
• Objectives of this session
• Presentation of recent work and historic context
• Opportunity for stakeholders to become informed
• Opportunity to remain connected via email distribution
• Opportunity to participate in some components
• Presentation
• Questions
GOLD RIVER STEELHEAD INVESTIGATIONS INTO CURRENT STOCK STATUS AND POTENTIAL REASONS FOR DECLINE
PRESENTATION FOR PUBLIC AND INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS, HOSTED BY CAMPBELL RIVER FISH
AND WILDLIFE
BY JERAMY DAMBORG (BCCF), MIKE MCCULLOCH AND BRENDAN ANDERSON (FLNRORD),
PAID FOR IN PART BY HABITAT CONSERVATION TRUST FOUNDATION
JAN 23RD, 2019
PROBLEM THE BIG QUESTION
• Winter run steelhead severe stock
decline over last decade (thousands to
dozens)
• Currently at near functional extinction
levels for winter runs
• Heber and upper gold summer run in
Routine Management Zone (RMZ), and
appear relatively stable
• Why this significant differential
between SR and WR stocks?
POSSIBLE REASONS FOR DECLINE
• Habitat
• Degraded rearing or spawning habitat
• Water
• Shifts in flow regime
• Flooding/extreme low flows
• Changes in temperatures due to climate
change or watershed impacts
• Poor Ocean survival
• Ocean conditions (warming)
• Changes in prey abundance
• Aquaculture, log booming or other near
shore influences
• Predators, either nearshore, offshore or
in river
Analysis of hydrologic
record shows some recent
very low flow years. 2015
is a stand out and
represents the drought of
record.
Droughts serve to:
• Reduce rearing area
and capacity to produce
parr/smolts
• Change distribution of
adult summer runs
• Can be warmer years
that produce larger fry
but limit parr habitats
HCTF PROJECT – SOME KEY FINDINGS TO DATE
• Peak WR snorkel count over 3 swims
in 2 years is 3 adults over 8km
• Heber SR in 2018 = 259 fish
• Upper Gold SR = 66 fish (with
suspected poor migration into swim
reach due to extreme low flows)
• Electrofishing Summary (2017 and
2018)
• Upper Gold and Heber 5-10x fry
densities vs Lower Gold
Heber summer steelhead VS Gold summer steelhead
High Heber count correlates to high Gold counts where they
were completed coincidentally
Upper gold has not been as intensively surveyed in the last
decade because there is more uncertainty due to:
Higher or lower water in some years that could shift adult
distribution,
Unable to survey portions of the anadromous section
2017 and 2018
Electrofishing
surveys for steelhead
fry
Predicted capacity based
on an alkalinity model which
estimates how productive a
system is
How fry and adult densities relate.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
Fishery Closure Monitoring
• Weekend and weekday AM
• RAPP line
• Collect info to report (lic #, vehicle
and angler descriptions)
• Posting closure notices
Seal monitoring in lower river
• Time lapse or motion trigger
Camera monitoring
• Active monitoring -Cover known fish
holding pools (i.e. ‘Lake Pool) and
estuary by Nootka Sound Watershed
Society
HCTF – 2019/20
• BCCF applied for Yr-2 - $41,030
• Ramping up predator (pinniped)
monitoring at HCTF request
• Continue Snorkel/EF stock
assessment
• Limiting factors analysis, expand
hydrological analysis,
SPORT FISHERY MANAGEMENT
• Gold River mainstem was varied closed in winter 2019 with closure reflected
in the synopsis in 2019-2021
• Spring / Summer closures are being considered but not currently
implemented based on monitored stock strength
• Current press release is somewhat vague around tributaries which will remain closed
(normal closures) during the winter period
• Duration is estimated at 5 years (one steelhead generation) BUT will be
varied open if positive abundance trends and minimum threshold are met
HELPING IDENTIFY THE ISSUES…. CONTACT INFORMATION
• (250) 751-3156
• Ministry of Forests , Lands and
Natural Resource Operations +RD
• (250) 390-2525
• BC Conservation Foundation
Questions