SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Big money.$$
Rock slide in Fraser River, B.C., may hinder salmon passage
- Thread starter wildmanyeah
- Start date
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Hope they can spawn successfully
“As of August 12, approximately 38,761 salmon have moved past the barrier. Preliminary data from the Churn Creek sonar station indicates that the majority of these fish are chinook”
“As of August 12, approximately 38,761 salmon have moved past the barrier. Preliminary data from the Churn Creek sonar station indicates that the majority of these fish are chinook”
Episode 2: Up The Creek Without A Salmon
https://www.thecutbanksconversations.ca/episodes/episode-2-up-the-creek-without-a-salmon
https://www.thecutbanksconversations.ca/episodes/episode-2-up-the-creek-without-a-salmon
B.C. Indigenous leaders call for closure of all Fraser River sockeye fisheries
https://www.timescolonist.com/b-c-i...all-fraser-river-sockeye-fisheries-1.24188529
https://www.timescolonist.com/b-c-i...all-fraser-river-sockeye-fisheries-1.24188529
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
lol WTF is this garbage, I guess fact checking journalisms is no longer a thing.
1. There has been no directed fraser sockeye fisheries this year.
2. There has been no fisheries period in the fraser river other then first nations.
3. The only ones that have retained any fraser sockeye this year are first nations.
4. The only ones fishing in the fraser river are first nations with gill nets.
5. Not sure how 15k WCVI offshore chinook have anything to do with fraser sockeye, Yesterday it was because DFO was racist today it seems they are sockeye.
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Just last month, the department estimated 941,000 sockeye would return, though it noted salmon forecasts were highly uncertain, in part because of a lack of understanding of the effects of warming ocean waters. Easy, peasey just blame it ALL "on warming ocean waters" as it is beyond anyones control so no accountability on other contributing factors.
https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/firstnations/PDFs/CommunalOpeningTimes_Previous.pdf
https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/firstnations/PDFs/CeremonialOpeningTimes_Previous.pdf
https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/.../EconomicOpportunityOpeningTimes_Previous.pdf
There is only ONE user group that is causing mortallity for our Fraser River sockeye.
Absolute joke. We have gillnet openings everyday day right now. The netting in the canyon is like shooting fishing in a barrel. Over 2000 Chinook in one opening in a 20km section of river. How many sockeye do you think got caught?
Once again a big shout out to the region 3 and upper Fraser bands who are choosing not to use gill nets and instead use traditional methods. These upriver bands seem to get the big picture and know of the destruction of fish stocks in the lower Fraser.
https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/firstnations/PDFs/CeremonialOpeningTimes_Previous.pdf
https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/.../EconomicOpportunityOpeningTimes_Previous.pdf
There is only ONE user group that is causing mortallity for our Fraser River sockeye.
Absolute joke. We have gillnet openings everyday day right now. The netting in the canyon is like shooting fishing in a barrel. Over 2000 Chinook in one opening in a 20km section of river. How many sockeye do you think got caught?
Once again a big shout out to the region 3 and upper Fraser bands who are choosing not to use gill nets and instead use traditional methods. These upriver bands seem to get the big picture and know of the destruction of fish stocks in the lower Fraser.
I saw this also and said WTF. Other than test fisheries what commercial fishing are they talking about? Not much of a leg to stand on with regards to this.
GLG
Well-Known Member
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
August 21 2020
Fish continue to migrate past Big Bar without assistance
Over the last week, most salmon arriving at the Big Bar landslide site moved past the barrier without assistance and are en route to their natal streams. Monitoring data also confirmed that some of the fish that were battling the high water conditions below the slide site in July have now successfully migrated upstream.
As water levels fall to seasonal averages, over 85,000 salmon have moved past the slide site to date. Preliminary data from the last week shows that the majority of new arrivals are sockeye. The rock removal conducted earlier this winter, the construction of a “nature-like" fishway, and other alternative fish passage systems implemented this spring and summer have been effective in assisting fish passage at Big Bar.
With more fish moving past the slide on their own, ‘truck and transport’ operations are temporarily suspended. Meanwhile, the Whooshh Passage Portal™ continues to move lower numbers of salmon.
Update on fish monitoring
As of August 18, the monitoring team has applied approximately 453 radio tags: 286 chinook and 167 sockeye. The team temporarily suspended tagging activity last week having met its weekly target of applying between 50 and 100 tags.
The monitoring program remains key to understanding fish movement at Big Bar. Data analysis is underway to determine the flow levels at w¬hich salmon can pass the slide site and associated mortality rates.
Enhancement program update
The Big Bar Emergency Conservation Enhancement Program has met its collection targets for chinook and sockeye salmon this season. Following the results of DNA testing, the last of the fish collected for emergency enhancement were transported from the French Bar Creek holding facility to the hatcheries on August 18. To date, the team has collected 118 chinook and 414 sockeye from the earliest migrating and most at-risk stocks.
Early reports indicate that 110 female sockeye salmon and 16 female chinook, from multiple stocks, have spawned at Cultus Lake Research Lab and Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre respectively. These salmon are being used to support impacted populations. The fertilized eggs are currently being incubated and, once they hatch, the fry will be reared for varying lengths of time before being released to natal streams.
With collection at the slide site complete, DFO will now focus on collecting a small number of at-risk salmon from their natal streams in the coming weeks.
Ongoing onsite operations
This week, crews focused on further enhancements to the Whooshh™ system, including relocating the water intake pumps and lowering the discharge tubes to accommodate lower water levels, and installing anchors to extend one of the discharge tubes further upstream.
Work progressed in other areas onsite as well, including rock scaling along the West Beach slope, installing fencing along the road to protect garter and gopher snakes, and extending the boat ramp at Beach One.
With temperatures onsite staying in the high 30s this past week, ensuring crew safety remains a priority.
Salmon migrating pass the slide site without assistance / Credit: Whooshh Innovations Inc.
Technician extracting DNA from fish samples collected at the slide site for emergency enhancement efforts.
Installation of a canopy over the Whooshh Passage Portal™ accelerator component.
Installation of fencing along the road to the West Beach to minimize snake crossings.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
August 21 2020
Fish continue to migrate past Big Bar without assistance
Over the last week, most salmon arriving at the Big Bar landslide site moved past the barrier without assistance and are en route to their natal streams. Monitoring data also confirmed that some of the fish that were battling the high water conditions below the slide site in July have now successfully migrated upstream.
As water levels fall to seasonal averages, over 85,000 salmon have moved past the slide site to date. Preliminary data from the last week shows that the majority of new arrivals are sockeye. The rock removal conducted earlier this winter, the construction of a “nature-like" fishway, and other alternative fish passage systems implemented this spring and summer have been effective in assisting fish passage at Big Bar.
With more fish moving past the slide on their own, ‘truck and transport’ operations are temporarily suspended. Meanwhile, the Whooshh Passage Portal™ continues to move lower numbers of salmon.
Update on fish monitoring
As of August 18, the monitoring team has applied approximately 453 radio tags: 286 chinook and 167 sockeye. The team temporarily suspended tagging activity last week having met its weekly target of applying between 50 and 100 tags.
The monitoring program remains key to understanding fish movement at Big Bar. Data analysis is underway to determine the flow levels at w¬hich salmon can pass the slide site and associated mortality rates.
Enhancement program update
The Big Bar Emergency Conservation Enhancement Program has met its collection targets for chinook and sockeye salmon this season. Following the results of DNA testing, the last of the fish collected for emergency enhancement were transported from the French Bar Creek holding facility to the hatcheries on August 18. To date, the team has collected 118 chinook and 414 sockeye from the earliest migrating and most at-risk stocks.
Early reports indicate that 110 female sockeye salmon and 16 female chinook, from multiple stocks, have spawned at Cultus Lake Research Lab and Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre respectively. These salmon are being used to support impacted populations. The fertilized eggs are currently being incubated and, once they hatch, the fry will be reared for varying lengths of time before being released to natal streams.
With collection at the slide site complete, DFO will now focus on collecting a small number of at-risk salmon from their natal streams in the coming weeks.
Ongoing onsite operations
This week, crews focused on further enhancements to the Whooshh™ system, including relocating the water intake pumps and lowering the discharge tubes to accommodate lower water levels, and installing anchors to extend one of the discharge tubes further upstream.
Work progressed in other areas onsite as well, including rock scaling along the West Beach slope, installing fencing along the road to protect garter and gopher snakes, and extending the boat ramp at Beach One.
With temperatures onsite staying in the high 30s this past week, ensuring crew safety remains a priority.
Salmon migrating pass the slide site without assistance / Credit: Whooshh Innovations Inc.
Technician extracting DNA from fish samples collected at the slide site for emergency enhancement efforts.
Installation of a canopy over the Whooshh Passage Portal™ accelerator component.
Installation of fencing along the road to the West Beach to minimize snake crossings.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
abbyfireguy
Well-Known Member
Being a resident of Abbotsford for 28 years, an active fisher on the Fraser for 50 plus years, and having a son who is operations manager at a DFO hatchery near Merritt, I am feeling pretty depressed with the way the salmon stocks have slid into precariously low numbers. I know exactly how good salmon stocks used to be not too long ago.
And yet,certain special segments of the populous get special treatment and rights to harvest and over harvest ahead of the rest of Canadian society.
Canadian officials need to quit being nice,polite Canadians and start kicking some a$$ and manage the fishing of our salmon stocks so my granchildren and their children will know what a freaking salmon is!
I don’t care who you are, all Canadians own the fish stocks, Canada officials, get focused and remember,all Canadians matter!
And yet,certain special segments of the populous get special treatment and rights to harvest and over harvest ahead of the rest of Canadian society.
Canadian officials need to quit being nice,polite Canadians and start kicking some a$$ and manage the fishing of our salmon stocks so my granchildren and their children will know what a freaking salmon is!
I don’t care who you are, all Canadians own the fish stocks, Canada officials, get focused and remember,all Canadians matter!
GLG
Well-Known Member
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
August 28 2020
Sockeye arriving in greater numbers
The majority of fish arriving at Big Bar this week are sockeye, with the occasional chinook still being observed. Fish continue to migrate past the slide site naturally and to date, over 117,000 salmon have been detected via the ARIS SONAR upstream of the slide at Churn Creek. With natural passage being the primary mode of movement past the slide, Whooshh™ operations are slowing down.
As of August 27, the monitoring team has applied approximately 523 radio tags: 292 chinook and 231 sockeye.
Enhancement program update
This past week, the enhancement team completed most of the egg takes at the hatcheries. At the Cultus Lake Research Lab, technicians collected more than 400,000 eggs from Early Stuart sockeye and approximately 20,000 from Bowron sockeye. Over 160,000 eggs were also collected from chinook being held at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre. These eggs have now been moved to recently installed incubation facilities at the Quesnel River Research Station, operated by the University of Northern BC.
With adult fish collection at the slide site concluded, the team is working to demobilise and winterize the operations at the French Bar Creek Fish Holding Facility. However, work is now underway with the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance on the next phase of the emergency conservation enhancement efforts for this season – the natal stream collection of Fraser River sockeye and chinook.
Ongoing onsite operations
An additional tube for the Whooshh Passage Portal™ arrived onsite this week. Once in place, this tube will release fish about 120 metres further upstream of the slide site than the others. Preparations for this extension included the installation of new anchor points, mounting of over 400 metres of tension cables, modifications to the termination beam, creation of a new release system, grouting, and strength testing.
Crews continue routine maintenance on the Whooshh™ system, including the water misters and sensors, and ongoing upgrades to the water filtration system.
Ensuring site safety remains a high priority throughout the operating season. This week was no exception, with work continuing on the West Beach slope stabilization curtain. Here, crews hung additional mesh and checked the scaling above the access platform to the Whooshh™ tubes.
Enhancement efforts at French Bar Creek Fish Holding Facility.
Installation of decking at the location of the new north anchors, which will support the high tension cables for the tubing.
Crews drill anchors for the new high tension cable that will support the additional Whooshh Passage Portal™ tubing.
An aerial of the Whooshh Passage Portal™ tubes, the hanger, and the “nature-like” fishway.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
August 28 2020
Sockeye arriving in greater numbers
The majority of fish arriving at Big Bar this week are sockeye, with the occasional chinook still being observed. Fish continue to migrate past the slide site naturally and to date, over 117,000 salmon have been detected via the ARIS SONAR upstream of the slide at Churn Creek. With natural passage being the primary mode of movement past the slide, Whooshh™ operations are slowing down.
As of August 27, the monitoring team has applied approximately 523 radio tags: 292 chinook and 231 sockeye.
Enhancement program update
This past week, the enhancement team completed most of the egg takes at the hatcheries. At the Cultus Lake Research Lab, technicians collected more than 400,000 eggs from Early Stuart sockeye and approximately 20,000 from Bowron sockeye. Over 160,000 eggs were also collected from chinook being held at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre. These eggs have now been moved to recently installed incubation facilities at the Quesnel River Research Station, operated by the University of Northern BC.
With adult fish collection at the slide site concluded, the team is working to demobilise and winterize the operations at the French Bar Creek Fish Holding Facility. However, work is now underway with the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance on the next phase of the emergency conservation enhancement efforts for this season – the natal stream collection of Fraser River sockeye and chinook.
Ongoing onsite operations
An additional tube for the Whooshh Passage Portal™ arrived onsite this week. Once in place, this tube will release fish about 120 metres further upstream of the slide site than the others. Preparations for this extension included the installation of new anchor points, mounting of over 400 metres of tension cables, modifications to the termination beam, creation of a new release system, grouting, and strength testing.
Crews continue routine maintenance on the Whooshh™ system, including the water misters and sensors, and ongoing upgrades to the water filtration system.
Ensuring site safety remains a high priority throughout the operating season. This week was no exception, with work continuing on the West Beach slope stabilization curtain. Here, crews hung additional mesh and checked the scaling above the access platform to the Whooshh™ tubes.
Enhancement efforts at French Bar Creek Fish Holding Facility.
Installation of decking at the location of the new north anchors, which will support the high tension cables for the tubing.
Crews drill anchors for the new high tension cable that will support the additional Whooshh Passage Portal™ tubing.
An aerial of the Whooshh Passage Portal™ tubes, the hanger, and the “nature-like” fishway.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
GLG
Well-Known Member
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
September 4 2020
Dropping water levels and natural fish passage
Sockeye and chinook continue to naturally migrate past the slide site. To date, over 127,424 salmon have been detected via the ARIS SONAR upstream of the slide at Churn Creek. As of September 3, the monitoring team has applied approximately 549 radio tags.
Enhancement program update
The enhancement team is now conducting the upper Fraser natal stream brood collection program. Working in close partnership with the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, the fisheries team is made up of First Nations, DFO and volunteers. This enhancement work will take approximately 3 weeks to complete.
At the Cultus Lake Research Lab, the 400,000 eggs from Early Stuart sockeye and approximately 20,000 from Bowron sockeye are being incubated and screened for disease before they are moved to other hatcheries and reared over the winter to the fry stage.
These more than 160,000 eggs collected from chinook (previously held at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre) are safely at the incubation facilities at the Quesnel River Research Station, which is operated by the University of Northern BC. Most of the eggs will be moved to the DFO Chehalis hatchery, but approximately 15% will remain at Quesnel River and reared until ready for release in the summer of 2021. A small portion will also be moved to the Spruce City Wildlife Association community hatchery in Prince George.
Ongoing onsite operations
This week saw continued work on the installation of the Whooshh Passage Portal™ fish tube extension. Crews completed drilling for the north and south anchors, installed the new cables and tube, as well as fabricated an adjustable release mechanism that could adjust to changing water levels. Testing of the new tube extension occurred on Sept. 2 and 3.
In response to dropping water levels, crews lowered the Whooshh™ discharge tubes and their exit point. Water levels are approaching the lower design threshold for the concrete fish ladder, so crews are making modifications to the lower sections, as well as making adjustments to pump flows in order to keep the ladder operational.
As a ongoing commitment to enhancing site safety, work continued on the West Beach slope stabilization curtain. Additionally, this week marked the completion of scaling work above the number five hanger of the Whooshh™ discharge tubes.
Keystone Engineering technical briefing
On Tuesday, the Big Bar technical working group attended a virtual briefing hosted by Keystone Engineering. Discussion focused on the successes and challenges of the summer operations and the upcoming monitoring for the fall and early winter.
Stringing the new Whooshh Passage Portal™ tube extension.
An overview of the Big Bar Landslide site at the end of August, 2020.
A view of the completed Fishway extension.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
September 4 2020
Dropping water levels and natural fish passage
Sockeye and chinook continue to naturally migrate past the slide site. To date, over 127,424 salmon have been detected via the ARIS SONAR upstream of the slide at Churn Creek. As of September 3, the monitoring team has applied approximately 549 radio tags.
Enhancement program update
The enhancement team is now conducting the upper Fraser natal stream brood collection program. Working in close partnership with the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, the fisheries team is made up of First Nations, DFO and volunteers. This enhancement work will take approximately 3 weeks to complete.
At the Cultus Lake Research Lab, the 400,000 eggs from Early Stuart sockeye and approximately 20,000 from Bowron sockeye are being incubated and screened for disease before they are moved to other hatcheries and reared over the winter to the fry stage.
These more than 160,000 eggs collected from chinook (previously held at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre) are safely at the incubation facilities at the Quesnel River Research Station, which is operated by the University of Northern BC. Most of the eggs will be moved to the DFO Chehalis hatchery, but approximately 15% will remain at Quesnel River and reared until ready for release in the summer of 2021. A small portion will also be moved to the Spruce City Wildlife Association community hatchery in Prince George.
Ongoing onsite operations
This week saw continued work on the installation of the Whooshh Passage Portal™ fish tube extension. Crews completed drilling for the north and south anchors, installed the new cables and tube, as well as fabricated an adjustable release mechanism that could adjust to changing water levels. Testing of the new tube extension occurred on Sept. 2 and 3.
In response to dropping water levels, crews lowered the Whooshh™ discharge tubes and their exit point. Water levels are approaching the lower design threshold for the concrete fish ladder, so crews are making modifications to the lower sections, as well as making adjustments to pump flows in order to keep the ladder operational.
As a ongoing commitment to enhancing site safety, work continued on the West Beach slope stabilization curtain. Additionally, this week marked the completion of scaling work above the number five hanger of the Whooshh™ discharge tubes.
Keystone Engineering technical briefing
On Tuesday, the Big Bar technical working group attended a virtual briefing hosted by Keystone Engineering. Discussion focused on the successes and challenges of the summer operations and the upcoming monitoring for the fall and early winter.
Stringing the new Whooshh Passage Portal™ tube extension.
An overview of the Big Bar Landslide site at the end of August, 2020.
A view of the completed Fishway extension.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
GLG
Well-Known Member
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
September 18 2020
Coho salmon expected to arrive at Big Bar landslide site
This past week marked the arrival of coho, the last of the migrating salmon, at Lillooet on their way upstream. With water levels remaining low along the Fraser River, coho are expected to migrate past the slide site on their own.
The concrete fish ladder that attracts fish to an elevated holding pool will remain on standby for the remainder of the coho migration season. If river levels rise drastically, crews will assist the passage of coho via ‘truck and transport’.
Over the last several weeks, monitoring teams have confirmed that fish are migrating past the slide site without any assistance. As a result, Whooshh Passage Portal™ operations concluded as of September 8 and preparations are underway to disassemble the system.
Update on fish monitoring
In the past two weeks, the fish wheel operation led by the Gitxsan Watershed Authorities in collaboration with St’at’imc Eco Resources has been relocated from the slide site to Lillooet and positioned approximately 5 km downstream. It is now being used to capture fish for the radio tagging program.
Fish wheel operation began on September 8 and, to date, 44 chinook, 133 sockeye and 46 coho have been radio tagged. All tagged salmon appear in good condition and a few larger than expected chinook were also tagged this past week. The fish wheel will be in use until late October, when the majority of coho are expected to have passed through Lillooet.
In recent weeks, hydro acoustic monitoring indicates a decrease in the number of fish moving past the slide site as the chinook and sockeye migration upstream slows between now and late September. As of September 16, over 145,000 salmon have been observed at the Churn Creek sonar site. In the last week, Jack chinook and sockeye have been detected in large numbers at both sonar sites. These are male salmon that mature and return one year early. Jack chinook have been observed throughout August at the Lillooet seining site and at the fish wheel this past week.
Coho – Big Bar’s last migrating salmon
Coho, the last of the salmon species expected through the Big Bar landslide site this season, are finally making the long journey up the Fraser River towards their natal streams.
They migrate up the Fraser each year between mid-September and early November where they spawn until early winter, right behind their “cousins” – the chinook, sockeye and, in alternating years, pink stocks. Of all the coho spawners on the Fraser and Thompson rivers, only 10 to 15 percent migrate through the Big Bar area. The majority are found throughout the Thompson River, the largest watershed in the Fraser River system. Tsilhqot'in National Government and Northern Shuswap Tribal Council, in partnership with DFO, are undertaking work in the Chilcotin and Quesnel basins to improve coho monitoring.
When fry emerge from the gravel in the spring, juveniles rear in side-channels, stream margins and occasionally lakes. They remain in freshwater for a year and then migrate downstream as smolts, spending time in the Fraser estuaries before swimming towards the ocean. Interior Fraser coho spend 18 months at sea before returning to freshwater in the autumn, completing their three-year life cycle.
Fraser River coho salmon are known to migrate extensively in the Pacific and have been caught in Alaska and California. However, the majority are found near the coast of southern BC and Washington state, and in the Salish Sea. Since 1994, Interior Fraser coho productivity and survival rates have seen steep declines which may be due to a variety of factors such as changing marine conditions and changes in freshwater habitats due to land use and climate change.
The Committee on Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed many of the Fraser salmon populations and has designated the Interior Fraser coho as threatened. The work being done at Big Bar to restore natural fish passage is key to ensuring the long term survival of these stocks.
Adult coho weigh approximately 2-5 kg and measure 45-70 cm, rivalling their sockeye “cousins” in size despite being the younger of the two. They are known fighters and given the current low water levels along the Fraser, coho are largely expected to migrate past the slide site without the support of alternative fish passage systems.
They may be the last to arrive, but coho, like all salmon, play a life-sustaining role within the ecosystem in British Columbia. Coho in particular serve as the last source of critical nutrients for the rivers and the wildlife that rely on them before winter begins. Together with our First Nations and provincial partners, we remain committed to protecting these iconic species.
The concrete fish ladder will remain in place to support ‘truck and transport’ operations, if required, throughout the coho migration season.
With the majority of fish swimming past the slide site on their own, the Whooshh Passage Portal™ is now being disassembled. Here, a crew member disconnects the flex hose that supplied water to the Whooshh™ and concrete fish ladder.
Radio tagged chinook released back into the Fraser River.
All monitoring data over the last several weeks confirm that fish are migrating past the slide site without any assistance.
A fish technician applying a radio tag to a large chinook.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
September 18 2020
Coho salmon expected to arrive at Big Bar landslide site
This past week marked the arrival of coho, the last of the migrating salmon, at Lillooet on their way upstream. With water levels remaining low along the Fraser River, coho are expected to migrate past the slide site on their own.
The concrete fish ladder that attracts fish to an elevated holding pool will remain on standby for the remainder of the coho migration season. If river levels rise drastically, crews will assist the passage of coho via ‘truck and transport’.
Over the last several weeks, monitoring teams have confirmed that fish are migrating past the slide site without any assistance. As a result, Whooshh Passage Portal™ operations concluded as of September 8 and preparations are underway to disassemble the system.
Update on fish monitoring
In the past two weeks, the fish wheel operation led by the Gitxsan Watershed Authorities in collaboration with St’at’imc Eco Resources has been relocated from the slide site to Lillooet and positioned approximately 5 km downstream. It is now being used to capture fish for the radio tagging program.
Fish wheel operation began on September 8 and, to date, 44 chinook, 133 sockeye and 46 coho have been radio tagged. All tagged salmon appear in good condition and a few larger than expected chinook were also tagged this past week. The fish wheel will be in use until late October, when the majority of coho are expected to have passed through Lillooet.
In recent weeks, hydro acoustic monitoring indicates a decrease in the number of fish moving past the slide site as the chinook and sockeye migration upstream slows between now and late September. As of September 16, over 145,000 salmon have been observed at the Churn Creek sonar site. In the last week, Jack chinook and sockeye have been detected in large numbers at both sonar sites. These are male salmon that mature and return one year early. Jack chinook have been observed throughout August at the Lillooet seining site and at the fish wheel this past week.
Coho – Big Bar’s last migrating salmon
Coho, the last of the salmon species expected through the Big Bar landslide site this season, are finally making the long journey up the Fraser River towards their natal streams.
They migrate up the Fraser each year between mid-September and early November where they spawn until early winter, right behind their “cousins” – the chinook, sockeye and, in alternating years, pink stocks. Of all the coho spawners on the Fraser and Thompson rivers, only 10 to 15 percent migrate through the Big Bar area. The majority are found throughout the Thompson River, the largest watershed in the Fraser River system. Tsilhqot'in National Government and Northern Shuswap Tribal Council, in partnership with DFO, are undertaking work in the Chilcotin and Quesnel basins to improve coho monitoring.
When fry emerge from the gravel in the spring, juveniles rear in side-channels, stream margins and occasionally lakes. They remain in freshwater for a year and then migrate downstream as smolts, spending time in the Fraser estuaries before swimming towards the ocean. Interior Fraser coho spend 18 months at sea before returning to freshwater in the autumn, completing their three-year life cycle.
Fraser River coho salmon are known to migrate extensively in the Pacific and have been caught in Alaska and California. However, the majority are found near the coast of southern BC and Washington state, and in the Salish Sea. Since 1994, Interior Fraser coho productivity and survival rates have seen steep declines which may be due to a variety of factors such as changing marine conditions and changes in freshwater habitats due to land use and climate change.
The Committee on Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed many of the Fraser salmon populations and has designated the Interior Fraser coho as threatened. The work being done at Big Bar to restore natural fish passage is key to ensuring the long term survival of these stocks.
Adult coho weigh approximately 2-5 kg and measure 45-70 cm, rivalling their sockeye “cousins” in size despite being the younger of the two. They are known fighters and given the current low water levels along the Fraser, coho are largely expected to migrate past the slide site without the support of alternative fish passage systems.
They may be the last to arrive, but coho, like all salmon, play a life-sustaining role within the ecosystem in British Columbia. Coho in particular serve as the last source of critical nutrients for the rivers and the wildlife that rely on them before winter begins. Together with our First Nations and provincial partners, we remain committed to protecting these iconic species.
The concrete fish ladder will remain in place to support ‘truck and transport’ operations, if required, throughout the coho migration season.
With the majority of fish swimming past the slide site on their own, the Whooshh Passage Portal™ is now being disassembled. Here, a crew member disconnects the flex hose that supplied water to the Whooshh™ and concrete fish ladder.
Radio tagged chinook released back into the Fraser River.
All monitoring data over the last several weeks confirm that fish are migrating past the slide site without any assistance.
A fish technician applying a radio tag to a large chinook.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
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