wildmanyeah
Crew Member
I’m still waiting on the 2020 Fraser chinook exploration data by sector.
im sure it will be noted
Rock slide in Fraser River, B.C., may hinder salmon passage
- Thread starter wildmanyeah
- Start date
I’m still waiting on the 2020 Fraser chinook exploration data by sector.
im sure it will be noted
You won't hear that in 2022 even if it happens. They will say nothing, as usual just to avoid accountability.
High Time
Crew Member
If DFO doesn't take advantage of the low water levels on the upper Fraser in early 2022 before the freshet begins, to start building, there will not be a proper fish way in place by 2023 either. If we get a repeat of 2019 and 2020 flows there are now two more cycles on the chopping block. Lets face it, this government is NOT going to spend the money to save the upper Fraser runs. A nice new hydro dam above Lytton will make a much better investment....
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
November 1 2021On this page
- 2021 monitoring program wraps up at Big Bar
- First Nations partnerships support Big Bar enhancement program
- Enhancement planning underway for 2022 Fraser salmon migration season
- Current images of work being done at the landslide site
2021 monitoring program wraps up at Big Bar
With the tail end of the coho migration now passing through the upper Fraser River, the majority of the 2021 fish monitoring field work has successfully concluded.Radio tagging led by First Nations and DFO ended on October 15. In total, 363 Chinook, 601 sockeye, 212 pink and 156 coho were tagged at the Lillooet fish wheel. The sonar equipment installed near the Big Bar ferry (Alfalfa) and at Churn Creek were removed on October 19. At the same time, telemetry monitoring in the upper Fraser watershed by the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFFCA) will continue until the end of the migration period in November.
The monitoring team now begins its in-depth analysis of the large volumes of data collected from the radio telemetry and sonar programs. The group will process, interpret and compile the results to accurately measure species migration, delay, spawning success and distribution. The final data will provide a detailed evaluation of the passage conditions for the stocks that move through the Big Bar area.
First Nations partnerships support Big Bar enhancement program
In collaboration with DFO’s Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP), First Nations and other community partners are supporting the Big Bar enhancement program this season by incubating and rearing salmon fry. The milt and eggs were collected from brood stock captured at the Lillooet fish wheel and through the natal stream program. This work will contribute to the conservation and rebuilding of critical salmon stocks, and help refine future Big Bar enhancement plans.Hatchery programs are challenging as facility operations require careful planning, specifications, and the installation and testing of many critical components. A key part of the process is the constant monitoring and maintenance, including the quality of the water supply, waste management and discharge, and alarm systems.
DFO continues to work closely on enhancement planning and operations with the First Nations that were affected by the slide across the mid- and upper Fraser region.
Enhancement planning underway for 2022 Fraser salmon migration season
In addition to implementing the 2021 enhancement activities, the Big Bar response team has started planning for the 2022 program. Three technical groups have been reengaged. In addition to developing the 2022 enhancement plan, they will focus on designing release strategies for the 2021 Chinook and sockeye fry, manage fish health and organize crews.Each group consists of Indigenous fisheries experts from Takla First Nation, Nak'azdli Whut'en, the Tsilhqot'in National Government, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, and the UFFCA, as well as DFO staff from SEP, and the Stock Assessment and Resource Management branches. Participants are playing a key role in the conservation and recovery of impacted salmon populations.
The enhancement program remains a critical component of the landslide response as the team pursues a long-term solution for fish passage at Big Bar.
Current images of work being done at the landslide site
Late Stuart sockeye eggs were fertilized with milt (left) and are being held in incubation trays (right) at the Nak'azdli Whut'en hatchery Click to enlarge.Additional images of the work underway as part of our response efforts can be seen on the Government of BC’s Flickr channel.
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Fraser River – Big Bar Slide (Updated August 24, 2021)
On June 23, 2019, a significant landslide was reported in a remote, rugged canyon along the Fraser River near Big Bar Creek, north of Lillooet, British Columbia. Approximately 110,000 m3 of rock and substantial debris sheared off from a 125-metre cliff and crashed into the river, creating a five-metre waterfall. This barrier prevented migrating Pacific Fraser salmon from moving beyond the landslide to reach their spawning grounds, creating an immediate ecological crisis for the returning stocks and the ecosystem above the slide site.
Following an analysis in mid-2020, a permanent fishway was identified as the most certain and reliable option to restore natural fish passage in advance of the 2022 salmon migration season. However, between February and March 2021, a number of rock fall incidents and extreme weather impacted crew safety and halted work on the permanent fishway construction. The prime contractor, Peter Kiewit Sons ULC (Kiewit) immediately undertook further slope stability assessments, which determined that installation of a permanent fishway, as originally designed, was not possible by May 2022. A new design strategy was developed but it was deemed too complex with high had uncertainty regarding costs and delivery.
Therefore, DFO has suspended the installation of the permanent fishway and is concluding the contract with Kiewit. With the support of First Nations partners and the Province of British Columbia, DFO is
undertaking an analysis to explore alternatives and develop a suitable long‐term solution to address the complex challenge of safely restoring fish passage at Big Bar.
The analysis will allow DFO and its partners adequate time to study existing and incoming data, including input from First Nation partners and third-party consultants. Together with First Nations and the Province, DFO will continue to coordinate short-term enhancement, monitoring and fish transport programs while pursuing a long‐term solution.
The most significant long-term effects of the slide will be on the individual salmon populations that have or will experience two or more years of significant spawning failure due to the slide. Fish that migrate during high water, when the slide is hardest to navigate, are impacted the greatest. These fish are already under significant conservation threats due to underlying population declines and many are assessed as Threatened or Endangered by COSEWIC. Implementing a long-term solution will improve the survival of early migrating salmon stocks, which are particularly vulnerable and threatened with extirpation.
A third year of assisted fish passage at Big Bar for the 2021 migration season was implemented and may be required to continue until a long-term solution is in place. DFO, in collaboration with Indigenous groups and other experts, are also conducting another year of emergency enhancement for priority Sockeye and Chinook salmon populations.
From the onset of the response to the Big Bar landslide in 2019, First Nation governments, the Province of British Columbia and DFO have worked in partnership on this critical initiative. Together, we continue to take the necessary steps to reduce the landslide’s impact on future salmon stocks.
On June 23, 2019, a significant landslide was reported in a remote, rugged canyon along the Fraser River near Big Bar Creek, north of Lillooet, British Columbia. Approximately 110,000 m3 of rock and substantial debris sheared off from a 125-metre cliff and crashed into the river, creating a five-metre waterfall. This barrier prevented migrating Pacific Fraser salmon from moving beyond the landslide to reach their spawning grounds, creating an immediate ecological crisis for the returning stocks and the ecosystem above the slide site.
Following an analysis in mid-2020, a permanent fishway was identified as the most certain and reliable option to restore natural fish passage in advance of the 2022 salmon migration season. However, between February and March 2021, a number of rock fall incidents and extreme weather impacted crew safety and halted work on the permanent fishway construction. The prime contractor, Peter Kiewit Sons ULC (Kiewit) immediately undertook further slope stability assessments, which determined that installation of a permanent fishway, as originally designed, was not possible by May 2022. A new design strategy was developed but it was deemed too complex with high had uncertainty regarding costs and delivery.
Therefore, DFO has suspended the installation of the permanent fishway and is concluding the contract with Kiewit. With the support of First Nations partners and the Province of British Columbia, DFO is
undertaking an analysis to explore alternatives and develop a suitable long‐term solution to address the complex challenge of safely restoring fish passage at Big Bar.
The analysis will allow DFO and its partners adequate time to study existing and incoming data, including input from First Nation partners and third-party consultants. Together with First Nations and the Province, DFO will continue to coordinate short-term enhancement, monitoring and fish transport programs while pursuing a long‐term solution.
The most significant long-term effects of the slide will be on the individual salmon populations that have or will experience two or more years of significant spawning failure due to the slide. Fish that migrate during high water, when the slide is hardest to navigate, are impacted the greatest. These fish are already under significant conservation threats due to underlying population declines and many are assessed as Threatened or Endangered by COSEWIC. Implementing a long-term solution will improve the survival of early migrating salmon stocks, which are particularly vulnerable and threatened with extirpation.
A third year of assisted fish passage at Big Bar for the 2021 migration season was implemented and may be required to continue until a long-term solution is in place. DFO, in collaboration with Indigenous groups and other experts, are also conducting another year of emergency enhancement for priority Sockeye and Chinook salmon populations.
From the onset of the response to the Big Bar landslide in 2019, First Nation governments, the Province of British Columbia and DFO have worked in partnership on this critical initiative. Together, we continue to take the necessary steps to reduce the landslide’s impact on future salmon stocks.
Bryan Allen
Well-Known Member
I guess that the mods will not let me call Bu!! **** on the press release ?
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
yeah it’s sad, would be nice to hear the full story.
High Time
Crew Member
So all work on a permanent fishway solution has been halted and we are going to take a long, long, long, hard look at how this can be done, on the cheap, because a new design strategy was developed but it was deemed too complex and would cost too much money.... So we now know that DFO has deemed that the upriver salmon stocks are expendable and just not worth the cost. So they will keep all their "partners" busy with short term enhancement projects on the remaining remnants of the stocks and more studies, while they continue taking a long hard look at a long term solution. I am very comforted by the last paragraph of their news release. " From the onset of the response to the Big Bar landslide in 2019, First Nation governments, the Province of British Columbia and DFO have worked in partnership on this critical initiative. Together, we continue to take the necessary steps to reduce the landslide’s impact on future salmon stocks." What a crock...
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
I asked DFO at our SFAC meeting about this. They cant talk about what's going on other then what's been posted in the updates but there will be more to come.
not a satisfying answer i know
not a satisfying answer i know
Derby
Crew Member
Area 29 was last night.
Here is a link to where the schedule of the local meetings are:
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/consultation/smon/sfab-ccps/loc-south-sud-eng.html
Here is a link to where the schedule of the local meetings are:
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/consultation/smon/sfab-ccps/loc-south-sud-eng.html
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wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
December 6 2021On this page
Big Bar operation recovers from recent storms
The Big Bar landslide response team continues to assess the impacts of the severe weather experienced in November.As the significant rainfall and resulting high water levels occurred south of Big Bar, there was little increase in river flows at the slide site. However, the floodwaters displaced the Big Bar equipment stored at DFO’s Spius Creek hatchery near Merritt. All of the large pieces of gear have been located, and plans for its recovery are underway by DFO’s Salmonid Enhancement Program and engineering staff, in collaboration with First Nations partners. Any additional activities undertaken by the response team will be shared through future information bulletins.
The Chinook and sockeye eggs being held for enhancement at various First Nations, community partners and DFO facilities have not been impacted by the floods and remain in good health.
Long-term planning update
The Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFFCA), on behalf of the Big Bar Joint Executive Steering Committee, is in the process of hiring a third-party consultant to lead the first phase of the structured analysis approach.To better understand the fish passage challenges at Big Bar, the consultant will focus on:
- drawing from existing studies, reports and analyses
- incorporating new incoming data
- identifying additional information for collection
- seeking expert views, opinions and advice from subject matter experts, including Indigenous partners and stakeholders
In the short term, technical working groups have reconvened to review the 2021 Big Bar operations and develop plans for the 2022 “trap and transport”, monitoring and enhancement activities. Members of these groups include DFO and Indigenous technical experts.
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Anybody heard anything at all about recent happenings regarding this huge problem?
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
the last time I talked to DFO about it they said “there is more comming but we have nothing more to share at this time”
Guess it's safe to say there will be no improvements to the fishway this season as now is the only time to work on it.
This means early and possibly summer run sockeye and chinook stocks will have a 3rd straight year of dismal returns if water conditions are not optimal, meaning low water. The snow pack may well give us clues how this will work out.
Why are there not more people concerned and speaking up about this seeming lack of leadership by DFO?
Are the 2021 return numbers in?
I thought it was a low flow year with optimal passage opportunities.
It was optimum for late run fish only.
It was optimum for later run fish; early stocks took a **** kicking.
Brian Klassen
Member
Actually Dave, Early Stuarts did better than the preseason estimate.
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