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 23 RD , 2019
PROBLEM THE BIG QUESTION • Winter run steelhead severe stock • Why this significant differential decline over last decade (thousands to between SR and WR stocks? 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
POSSIBLE REASONS FOR DECLINE • Habitat • Poor Ocean survival • Degraded rearing or spawning habitat • Ocean conditions (warming) • Changes in prey abundance • Water • Aquaculture, log booming or other near • Shifts in flow regime shore influences • Flooding/extreme low flows • Predators, either nearshore, offshore or • Changes in temperatures due to climate in river change or watershed impacts
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 • Electrofishing Summary (2017 and in 2 years is 3 adults over 8km 2018) • Heber SR in 2018 = 259 fish • Upper Gold and Heber 5-10x fry densities vs Lower Gold • Upper Gold SR = 66 fish (with suspected poor migration into swim reach due to extreme low flows)
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 intens ive ly 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 Seal monitoring in lower river • Time lapse or motion trigger • Weekend and weekday AM Camera monitoring • RAPP line • Active monitoring -Cover known fish • Collect info to report (lic #, vehicle holding pools (i.e. ‘Lake Pool) and and angler descriptions) estuary by Nootka Sound Watershed • Posting closure notices 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 • Jdamborg@BCCF.com • Mike.McCulloch@gov.bc.ca • (250) 390-2525 • (250) 751-3156 • BC Conservation Foundation • Ministry of Forests , Lands and Natural Resource Operations +RD
Questions
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