Agree it would be nice to know the numbers.
Rock slide in Fraser River, B.C., may hinder salmon passage
- Thread starter wildmanyeah
- Start date
Here is the snowpack data for BC. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/air-land-water/water/river-forecast/2022_may1.pdf
Im sure the sonar will go up in halfway through June and DFO will completely throw out any data on the true early timed Chinook stating there has been no passage.
The sonar should be up as soon as the ice flows have broken up.
Its truly sad some of the fisheries technicians and biologists dont have more power to implement their ideas to help the upper Fraser Chinook and sockeye.
Im sure the sonar will go up in halfway through June and DFO will completely throw out any data on the true early timed Chinook stating there has been no passage.
The sonar should be up as soon as the ice flows have broken up.
Its truly sad some of the fisheries technicians and biologists dont have more power to implement their ideas to help the upper Fraser Chinook and sockeye.
Are we still experiencing low flow conditions allowing passage for early run salmon? Are the ice floes broken up allowing for acoustic monitoring to be set up at this time?
Is there anything new at the slide site good or bad?
donnie d
Well-Known Member
still looks reasonable for Chinook passage? My guess is that will spike hard in the next week or two.
Ice flows have been gone for a while.
Fraser is still very low at this time. Only 5.9 in Hope. Freshet has basically not even started yet. McBride has not even started to spike.
The last two months have been perfect conditions for the early spring run.
Heard nothing in regards to when the sonar will be set up. I question the accuracy of the sonar at Churn creek. To say that springs didnt show up above Big bar till after June 11 last year is inaccurate to say the least.
Fraser is still very low at this time. Only 5.9 in Hope. Freshet has basically not even started yet. McBride has not even started to spike.
The last two months have been perfect conditions for the early spring run.
Heard nothing in regards to when the sonar will be set up. I question the accuracy of the sonar at Churn creek. To say that springs didnt show up above Big bar till after June 11 last year is inaccurate to say the least.
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Big Green Machine
Well-Known Member
The cooler Spring we’ve had has helped move a lot of Salmon in a lot of systems upstream.
More openings directly targetting the most endangered Chinook salmon stocks on the coast.
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
The counts are up https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacif...e-eboulement/smon-count-denombrement-eng.html
make what you want of it,
Flows at hope look like it will start to get challenging to migrate
make what you want of it,
Flows at hope look like it will start to get challenging to migrate
Am I reading correctly that no sonar units have been detected but six fish have been counted?
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
June 10 2022On this page
- Delayed spring snow melt and the impact on operations at Big Bar
- Current images of work being done at the landslide site
Delayed spring snow melt and the impact on operations at Big Bar
Snowpack update
Throughout May, cool, rainy weather has descended on the Upper Fraser, significantly delaying the usual snow melt in this region. This unusual spring weather increases the probability of a larger freshet on the Fraser River. As a result, there is a potential for delayed migration of early spring Chinook and Early Stuart sockeye. It is possible that other early summer sockeye such as Bowron, Nadina and Taseko could be adversely impacted as well.As of June 8th, key areas causing freshet at Big Bar are the watersheds of the Upper Fraser East at 185% of normal snowpack and Middle Fraser at 188% of normal. Weather conditions through June and July will determine the timing, magnitude, and rate of snowmelt and heavy rainfall events can exacerbate the situation
Based on healthy brood years and near normal ocean conditions over the past two years, strong returns of sockeye and Chinook are predicted throughout the Fraser River watershed. Early season forecasts are expected in the coming weeks as salmon approach the mouth of the lower Fraser. In response to potential large run sizes and possible migration delays, all the Big Bar mitigation programs are preparing for summer operations, including trap and transport, conservation enhancement and monitoring.
Crews will carefully monitor reports from the British Columbia River Forecast Centre and DFO's Fraser River Environmental Watch reports (EWATCH) to anticipate conditions at the slide site. The reports will contribute to program decisions throughout the migration season.
For more information on recent snowpack levels visit the River Forecast Centre website.
Fry release update
Operations to release salmon fry from the 2021 Big Bar enhancement program are well underway. Depending on the release location, the team will employ either trucks and tanks or helicopter drops. Eleven of the fourteen planned Chinook releases have occurred; the final three will be completed by mid-June. Additionally, three sockeye releases have been completed with three more slated for mid-June, and a fall parr release scheduled for mid-September. The releases have been successful with all fish safely released into their respective tributaries. Due to the late spring, some releases were rescheduled due to access issues, later than normal freshets, cold water temperatures or slow fish growth in some populations. A number of releases have been planned to coincide with local community events and ceremonies, illustrating the significance of these conservation-based enhancement efforts. The two tables below outline the schedule of the Big Bar fry releases. Due to the delayed snow melt details on future releases may be adjusted.Chinook fry release summary table
| Stock | Facility Expediting Release | Number of fish in release | Release Type | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon | QRRC | 4323 | Truck | 26-Apr |
| Bowron | SCWA | 25155 | Truck | 7-May |
| Upper Chilcotin | QRRC | 13956 | Helicopter | 9-May |
| McGregor Fontiniko | QRRC | 20907 | Helicopter | 10-May |
| Torpy West | QRRC | 17989 | Helicopter | 10-May |
| Torpy Walker | QRRC | 20071 | Helicopter | 12-May |
| Swift | SCWA | 16392 | Truck | 15-May |
| Tete Jaune | QRRC | 21853 | Truck | 17-May |
| Willow | QRRC | 8485 | Truck | 19-May |
| Upper Cariboo | QRRC | 59678 | Helicopter | 27-May |
| West Road/Blackwater | QRRC | 24518 | Truck | 31-May |
| Endako | QRRC | 2648 | Truck | 9-Jun |
| Slim | QRRC | 43880 | Truck | 14-Jun |
| Horsefly | QRRC | 16628 | Truck | 16-Jun |
| McGregor Seebach | Chehalis | 27649 | Truck | 21-Jun |
Sockeye fry release summary table
| Stock | Facility expediting release | Number of fish in release | Release type | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowron | Shuswap | 19775 | Helicopter | 19-May |
| Taseko | Shuswap | 20000 | Helicopter | 24-May |
| Late Stuart | Nak'azdli | 67830 | Truck | 8-Jun |
| Early Stuart | Shuswap | 108000 | Truck | 10-May |
| Inch | 257385 | Truck | 15-Jun | |
| Inch | 180970 | Truck | 20-Sep | |
| Takla | 37500 | Truck | 16-Jun |
Salmon Count
Data on DFO's salmon count webpage will begin this month. Once salmon start entering the Big Bar landslide site area, the table will be updated.Current images of work being done at the landslide site
20,000 Taseko sockeye fry released by helicopter in Taseko Lake, May 24, 2022. Click to enlarge.
Blackwater river 24,500 Chinook fry release with Nazko First Nation near Quesnel, May 31 2022. Click to enlarge.
60,000 Chinook fry flown from Barkerville to the Upper Cariboo River, May 27, 2022. Click to enlarge.Too bad they don’t give any update on migration numbers from sonar readings the cool spring and delayed freshet must have helped early run chinook get past the slide area a bit.Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
June 10 2022
On this page
- Delayed spring snow melt and the impact on operations at Big Bar
- Current images of work being done at the landslide site
Delayed spring snow melt and the impact on operations at Big Bar
Snowpack update
Throughout May, cool, rainy weather has descended on the Upper Fraser, significantly delaying the usual snow melt in this region. This unusual spring weather increases the probability of a larger freshet on the Fraser River. As a result, there is a potential for delayed migration of early spring Chinook and Early Stuart sockeye. It is possible that other early summer sockeye such as Bowron, Nadina and Taseko could be adversely impacted as well.
As of June 8th, key areas causing freshet at Big Bar are the watersheds of the Upper Fraser East at 185% of normal snowpack and Middle Fraser at 188% of normal. Weather conditions through June and July will determine the timing, magnitude, and rate of snowmelt and heavy rainfall events can exacerbate the situation
Based on healthy brood years and near normal ocean conditions over the past two years, strong returns of sockeye and Chinook are predicted throughout the Fraser River watershed. Early season forecasts are expected in the coming weeks as salmon approach the mouth of the lower Fraser. In response to potential large run sizes and possible migration delays, all the Big Bar mitigation programs are preparing for summer operations, including trap and transport, conservation enhancement and monitoring.
Crews will carefully monitor reports from the British Columbia River Forecast Centre and DFO's Fraser River Environmental Watch reports (EWATCH) to anticipate conditions at the slide site. The reports will contribute to program decisions throughout the migration season.
For more information on recent snowpack levels visit the River Forecast Centre website.
Fry release update
Operations to release salmon fry from the 2021 Big Bar enhancement program are well underway. Depending on the release location, the team will employ either trucks and tanks or helicopter drops. Eleven of the fourteen planned Chinook releases have occurred; the final three will be completed by mid-June. Additionally, three sockeye releases have been completed with three more slated for mid-June, and a fall parr release scheduled for mid-September. The releases have been successful with all fish safely released into their respective tributaries. Due to the late spring, some releases were rescheduled due to access issues, later than normal freshets, cold water temperatures or slow fish growth in some populations. A number of releases have been planned to coincide with local community events and ceremonies, illustrating the significance of these conservation-based enhancement efforts. The two tables below outline the schedule of the Big Bar fry releases. Due to the delayed snow melt details on future releases may be adjusted.
Chinook fry release summary table
Stock Facility Expediting Release Number of fish in release Release Type Release Date Salmon QRRC 4323 Truck 26-Apr Bowron SCWA 25155 Truck 7-May Upper Chilcotin QRRC 13956 Helicopter 9-May McGregor Fontiniko QRRC 20907 Helicopter 10-May Torpy West QRRC 17989 Helicopter 10-May Torpy Walker QRRC 20071 Helicopter 12-May Swift SCWA 16392 Truck 15-May Tete Jaune QRRC 21853 Truck 17-May Willow QRRC 8485 Truck 19-May Upper Cariboo QRRC 59678 Helicopter 27-May West Road/Blackwater QRRC 24518 Truck 31-May Endako QRRC 2648 Truck 9-Jun Slim QRRC 43880 Truck 14-Jun Horsefly QRRC 16628 Truck 16-Jun McGregor Seebach Chehalis 27649 Truck 21-Jun Sockeye fry release summary table
Stock Facility expediting release Number of fish in release Release type Release date Bowron Shuswap 19775 Helicopter 19-May Taseko Shuswap 20000 Helicopter 24-May Late Stuart Nak'azdli 67830 Truck 8-Jun Early Stuart Shuswap 108000 Truck 10-May Inch 257385 Truck 15-Jun Inch 180970 Truck 20-Sep Takla 37500 Truck 16-Jun Salmon Count
Data on DFO's salmon count webpage will begin this month. Once salmon start entering the Big Bar landslide site area, the table will be updated.
Current images of work being done at the landslide site
20,000 Taseko sockeye fry released by helicopter in Taseko Lake, May 24, 2022. Click to enlarge.
Blackwater river 24,500 Chinook fry release with Nazko First Nation near Quesnel, May 31 2022. Click to enlarge.
60,000 Chinook fry flown from Barkerville to the Upper Cariboo River, May 27, 2022. Click to enlarge.
The PR spin which is all that this report contains is just lowering our expectations for good outcomes but overall they have done very little to clear the blockages this winter.
They spend money everywhere but here we just go on a hope and prayer.
The very least they could have put a better system in place for accurate readings and share with the public.
" Based on healthy brood years and near normal ocean conditions over the past two years, strong returns of sockeye and Chinook are predicted throughout the Fraser River watershed".
When have we had healthy brood years for the upper Fraser Chinook? This sounds like a playbook from the liberals...lol. Complete PR spin and deflection not adressing whats actually happening. No fishway, apparent poor passage judging by the counts as well as a Freshet that will likely be the biggest we have seen in over a decade.
Thats encouraging that we have some hatchery production......but this is a small drop in the bucket for whats actually needed. Most systems need 10 fold what are actually being released.
Its time we get hatchery production on these upper systems like the Columbia River upper tribs. Snake, Clearwater all these rivers were basically dead and their hatchery programs brought the fish back as well as fisheries. Am I saying that hatcheries are an answer? No! But at this point there is nothing meaningful being done at all.
When have we had healthy brood years for the upper Fraser Chinook? This sounds like a playbook from the liberals...lol. Complete PR spin and deflection not adressing whats actually happening. No fishway, apparent poor passage judging by the counts as well as a Freshet that will likely be the biggest we have seen in over a decade.
Thats encouraging that we have some hatchery production......but this is a small drop in the bucket for whats actually needed. Most systems need 10 fold what are actually being released.
Its time we get hatchery production on these upper systems like the Columbia River upper tribs. Snake, Clearwater all these rivers were basically dead and their hatchery programs brought the fish back as well as fisheries. Am I saying that hatcheries are an answer? No! But at this point there is nothing meaningful being done at all.
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wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Big Bar Monitoring and Response
Big Bar Landslide Update (June 14, 2022)
• The sonars downstream of the Big Bar ferry and at Churn Creek were installed June 1, 2022. At total of six Chinook have been observed at both Alfalfa and Churn sonars.
• All telemetry stations were installed and fully functional as of May 31, 2022.
• Fourteen chinook have been tagged at the Lower Fraser fish wheel located at Matsqui (as of June 13). Sockeye
tagging at Matsqui will begin June 27 and continue until Early Stuart migration is complete.
• Radio tagging via angling started on May 31 at Lillooet but has since been delayed until Bridge River turbidity
levels decrease.
• Radio tagging via the fish wheel will start June 13 at Lillooet and upstream of Big Bar ferry by June 24,
2021.
The Fraser River Salmon Management Council (FSMC) circulates information and updates to First Nations contacts. If you would like to be added to their distribution list, please contact Allison James at: communications@frasersalmon.ca
Link to the Salmon Counts at Big Bar website:
Salmon counts at the Big Bar landslide site | Pacific Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)
Big Bar Landslide Update (June 14, 2022)
• The sonars downstream of the Big Bar ferry and at Churn Creek were installed June 1, 2022. At total of six Chinook have been observed at both Alfalfa and Churn sonars.
• All telemetry stations were installed and fully functional as of May 31, 2022.
• Fourteen chinook have been tagged at the Lower Fraser fish wheel located at Matsqui (as of June 13). Sockeye
tagging at Matsqui will begin June 27 and continue until Early Stuart migration is complete.
• Radio tagging via angling started on May 31 at Lillooet but has since been delayed until Bridge River turbidity
levels decrease.
• Radio tagging via the fish wheel will start June 13 at Lillooet and upstream of Big Bar ferry by June 24,
2021.
The Fraser River Salmon Management Council (FSMC) circulates information and updates to First Nations contacts. If you would like to be added to their distribution list, please contact Allison James at: communications@frasersalmon.ca
Link to the Salmon Counts at Big Bar website:
Salmon counts at the Big Bar landslide site | Pacific Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Looks like early Stuart’s may have an okay return compared to recent years. These fish just can’t catch a break tho with these high flows.
Are they stacking up at the Slide site?
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
I doubt it it will be like the other year when they stacked up be low Hell gate
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