Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, 2011

Transcription

1 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, 2011 BCRP Project Number 11.CBR.05 Prepared for BC Hydro Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program 6911 Southpoint Drive Burnaby, BC V3N 4X8 Campbell River Salmon Foundation 920 Alder Street Campbell River, BC V9W 2P8 and Living Rivers Georgia Basin/ Vancouver Island # Princess Royal Avenue Nanaimo, BC V9S 3Z7 Prepared by K. Pellett Fisheries Biologist British Columbia Conservation Foundation # Princess Royal Avenue Nanaimo, BC V9S 3Z7 March 2012

2 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, 2011 Executive Summary Following construction of the John Hart dam on the upper Campbell River in 1953, natural recruitment of spawning substrates in the Elk Falls Canyon and the lower river was significantly reduced, leading to gravel poor habitat in those reaches (Burt 2003; BCRP Strategic Plan 2000). Increasing spawning habitat and egg to fry survival for the remnant population of summer and winter steelhead are important steps in the recovery of these stocks in the Campbell River watershed (Lill 2002). The Campbell s Chinook stock continues to be slow to recover, with a recent 5-year average of 739 (range 392 to 1,145), equal to 18% of DFO s target escapement for the mainstem. Preliminary Chinook escapement for 2010 is thought to be in the range of 600 fish, though data collected to date requires further analysis (D. Ewart 1, pers. comm.). Other salmon stocks have recently fared better, though spawning habitat continues to be a limiting factor. This project addressed a continuing limiting factor for fish production in the Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon by placing high quality spawning gravel in key locations with a heavy lift helicopter. A total of 98.9 m 3 of spawning gravel were placed in the Elk Falls Pool on July14, The addition of this spawning gravel compliments the existing 491 m 3 of gravel placed in the canyon reach since Funding for this project was secured from the BC Hydro Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), the Campbell River Salmon Foundation (CRSF) and the Living Rivers Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island (LR-GB/VI) program. The program was lead by British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF) Biologist Kevin Pellett, with support from BCCF Senior Biologist Craig Wightman, Ministry of Environment Biologist Mike McCulloch, along with BCCF technical staff and the A-Tlegay Fisheries Society. 1 Watershed Enhancement Manager, Quinsam Hatchery, DFO, Campbell River British Columbia Conservation Foundation ii

3 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES STUDY AREA METHODS RESULTS RECOMMENDATIONS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS REFERENCES... 8 British Columbia Conservation Foundation iii

4 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, 2011 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. A penstock diverts water from John Hart reservoir to the John Hart generating station on the mainstem Campbell River, effectively bypassing the 2.9 km Elk Falls Canyon reach LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Results of the Elk Falls Canyon gravel placement, July 29 and 30, LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX A... 8 Media Release... 8 APPENDIX B Photographic Record APPENDIX C Performance Measures/Actual Outcomes, Monitoring Results APPENDIX D Snorkel Survey Reports APPENDIX E Financial Statement British Columbia Conservation Foundation iv

5 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, INTRODUCTION Hydroelectric development in the Campbell River watershed began in 1945 and continued through The Campbell River supports the largest hydroelectric facility on Vancouver Island, with a combined generation capacity of MW (BCRP Strategic Plan 2000). The majority of the flow from John Hart Lake is routed through penstocks to a powerhouse on the Campbell River, bypassing 2.9 km of the Elk Falls Canyon reach, of which 1.8 km is anadromous (Burt 2003; Figure 1). With completion of the John Hart hydroelectric facilities, the canyon received only leakage flows from under the dam spill gate, or periodic spills when high local inflows or system maintenance occurred. Periodic water spills of more than 400 m 3 /s have been recorded through the canyon reach. The unreliability of flows in the canyon had a profound impact on its value as anadromous fish habitat. In June of 1996, provincial fisheries staff began a regular monitoring program of the Elk Falls Canyon to better determine its potential value to steelhead and other species, in relation to development of the Interim Flow Management Strategy 2. By the fall of 1998, an agreement between BC Hydro, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Ministry of Environment (MoE) resulted in a fisheries base flow of 3.5 m 3 /s through the canyon via a controlled release from the John Hart reservoir. Three primary impacts of hydroelectric development that have led to a reduction in the quantity and quality of spawning and rearing habitat and severely limited fish production in the canyon reach were identified by the BC Hydro Bridge Coastal Restoration Program (BCRP) Strategic Plan ( These include: 1. significantly reduced gravel and LWD recruitment to mainstem. 2. Penstock diversion (partly) dewatered ~2 km of spawning & rearing habitats below Elk Falls (flow is currently managed by interim agreement). 3. Mainstem carries augmented flood peaks from diversions that affect morphology of downstream channel. Both summer and winter steelhead stocks in the Campbell River are classified by the province as extreme conservation concerns. Declines in steelhead abundance have been caused by sharply reduced ocean survivals combined with impaired freshwater habitat capability. Wild stocks in most systems will not recover unless their freshwater productivity can be significantly increased to compensate for reductions in marine survival (Lill 2002). The ongoing efforts to improve habitat quality in the Elk Falls Canyon play a significant role in recovery strategies identified in the Vancouver Island Steelhead Recovery Plan (Wightman et al. 1998) and recently in the Campbell River Watershed Salmonid Action Plan (BCH, 2011). Previous restoration projects addressing spawning habitat constraints in the Elk Falls Canyon occurred in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005and 2008 when LGL Limited (1999) and BCCF were contracted to place 75, 94, 95,136, and 89 m 3 of washed and sized spawning gravel, respectively (McCulloch 2005, 2006, Pellett 2009). 2 Campbell River Hydro/Fisheries Advisory Committee Final Report Prepared for BC Hydro, Burnaby, BC. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 1

6 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, 2011 Annual monitoring since 2002 has shown significant use of introduced spawning gravel by all salmon and trout species occurring in Campbell River. As expected, large rain events and subsequent water releases down the Elk Falls Canyon have displaced a significant portion of the placed gravel from preferred locations. As a result, periodic additions of spawning gravel through precise placements and/or bulk loading will likely be part of a long term rehabilitation and maintenance plan for the Campbell River. 2.0 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The primary goals and objectives of this project were to increase the quantity/quality of spawning gravel in the Elk Falls Canyon reach toward levels identified by Burt (2003), and ultimately increase the freshwater productivity of the system s remnant populations of summer and winter steelhead stocks (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as well as chinook (O. tshawytscha), coho (O. kisutch), and chum (O. keta) salmon. A long term goal of gravel placement projects is to increase abundance of gravel in Elk Falls Canyon to levels capable of supporting all salmonids species occurring in this reach. These levels do not appear to have been set, although ongoing work through the Water Use Plan (WUP) may lead to development of suitable targets. Bulk loading of spawning gravel by a land based system has been investigated but the heavy lift helicopter, although expensive, has nearly zero impact on the park and continues to be the most feasible option. 3.0 STUDY AREA The Campbell River, with a mainstem length 4.2 km (Burt 2003), flows east from Strathcona Park, entering Johnstone Strait at the town of Campbell River. Draining 1,744 km 2, the Campbell River is Vancouver Island s second largest watershed, having an average annual reservoir flow of 87 m 3 /s at John Hart Dam and 103 m 3 /s in the town of Campbell River. With a length of 41.5 km, the Quinsam River is the Campbell River s only major tributary (Burt 2003). British Columbia Conservation Foundation 2

7 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, 2011 Figure 1. A penstock diverts water from John Hart reservoir to the John Hart generating station on the mainstem Campbell River, effectively bypassing the 2.9 km Elk Falls Canyon reach. 4.0 METHODS Works occurred under a Parks Use Permit (PUP) submitted in April, A field safety plan was submitted with the PUP and approved by Parks and BC Hydro staff prior to the commencement of in-stream work. A notification under Section 9 of the Water Act for works in and about a stream was submitted to MoE on March 28, A road closure permit was obtained from the City of Campbell River to allow temporary closures on Brewster Lake Road. A public announcement identifying access restrictions and trail closures in Elk Falls Provincial Park was circulated as a media release on June 30 in anticipation of a July 6 placement. Mechanical difficulties with the helicopter resulted in a second media release on July 11 to inform the public the project would be taking place on July 14 instead (Appendix A). Three public service announcements were provided by the local radio station 3 leading up to the project date. Road closure permits for Brewster Lake Road were received from the City of Campbell River Engineering Department for the revised date. Senior Biologist Craig Wightman 4 participated in several snorkel surveys with MoE, BC Hydro 5 and BCCF staff prior to this project. These surveys investigated downstream movement of gravel in the Elk Falls Canyon reach pursuant to large spill events between 2003 and 2005, identified potential future gravel placement locations and feasibility, and quantified fm, The Eagle. 4 Craig Wightman, Former MoE Fisheries Biologist, now senior Biologist for BCCF, Nanaimo, BC. 5 Alistair McLean, Fisheries Biologist, Campbell River, BC. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 3

8 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, 2011 the use by species of previously placed spawning gravel. Two locations were consistently identified for gravel placement in the canyon reach including the tailout of the Elk Falls plunge pool (Appendix B, Photo 1) and Site 2 located 500 m downstream where natural gravel has accumulated (Appendix B, Photo 2). An estimated m 3 of gravel (six inch minus/medium drain rock mix) remained near the John Hart Dam from previous spawning gravel placement projects. An additional 100 m 3 of screened and washed gravel was purchased 6 by the Campbell River Salmon Foundation and stockpiled at the impoundment dam. This new material comprised of 80% ( cm) six inch minus mixed with 20% (10-15 cm) medium drain rock (Appendix B, Photo 3). A Kobelco 150 excavator 5 was staged at the gravel pile the night before in preparation for the following morning. On the evening of July 13 all trails leading into the flight corridor were posted with signs identifying the closure time and date as well as appropriate contact information. At 7:00 am on July 14, all trails in the flight corridor were officially closed with a combination of signage and caution tape. Members from the A-Tlegay First Nations helped to secure trails throughout BC Parks grounds within the flight corridor by staging at each entrance to the trail network as well as by conducting sweeps of the trails prior to the helicopter arriving on site. Traffic control on Brewster Road was conducted by Campbell River Traffic Controllers who directed vehicular traffic when the helicopter was in the vicinity of Brewster Lake Road. Lock out of the John Hart Dam was completed by the project leader with a BC Hydro representative prior to the helicopter arriving on site each day in order to prevent an unplanned flow release. At 09:00, the tailboard (safety) meeting was completed with all BCCF, MoE, Helifor, A-Tlegay and traffic control personnel present. Helicopter pilots and ground crew confirmed flight corridors, identified potential flight hazards as well as gravel placement procedures. Staff roles, lines of communication and safety protocols were also discussed and all present signed off. A project safety plan was also circulated for reference in case of an emergency. Helifor Canada Corp. was contracted to install the gravel using a Boeing Vertol 107 heavy lift helicopter, capable of lifting up to 4,500 kg (Appendix B, Photo 4). The helicopter used a remote release 300-foot long-line to place buckets of gravel (450 kg bucket containing up to 3,600 kg of material) in precise locations within the canyon. The MoE Biologist (involved in the previous gravel placement projects), stationed at the Elk Falls or canyon rim lookouts, directed gravel placements using a portable VHF radio. While one bucket was ferried into position, a second was filled with gravel at the staging area with an excavator (Appendix B, photo 5). Quick release attachments on the bucket allowed the pilots to precisely place each load and maximized efficiency of the operation. 5.0 RESULTS On July 14, 2011, 54 loads of high quality pre-washed spawning gravel were delivered to the Elk Falls pool in the canyon reach of the Campbell River (Table 1). A total of 98.9 m 3 was 6 Uplands Excavating Ltd., Campbell River, BC. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 4

9 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, 2011 placed over 4.3 hours of flight time. With an average payload weight of 3,478 kg 7, 187,818 kg of gravel was transported into the canyon. A total of 4.3 hours of helicopter time was required, with actual turn times averaging 4-5 minutes. An additional 0.6 hours of helicopter time was required for mobilization from another work site. The final result of the one day effort was approximately 400 m 2 of additional and/or enhanced spawning area in the Falls Pool. Project costs, including preparation, implementation, monitoring and reporting were $62, This was funded by FWCP, CRSF and LR GB/VI. Table 1. Results of the Elk Falls Canyon gravel placement, July 29 and 30, Falls Pool Lower Site Totals Trips Average Weight (kg) 3, ,478 Total Weight (kg) 187, ,818 Volume (m 3 ) % of Total BCCF Biologists Kevin Pellett and Shane Johnson completed a snorkel survey of the Elk Falls Canyon on October 19, 2011 to document the distribution, spawning suitability and use of gravel by salmon. Key results are summarized below while the full report can be found in Appendix D. Gravel was redistributed throughout the canyon reach following high flows in winter 2009/10, which moved over 90% of the falls pool pad downstream. A follow up survey conducted on August 18, 2010 documented the extent of the movement and a proposal to re-apply gravel to the falls pool was submitted by BCCF to FWCP Coastal in November Flows in the canyon exceeded 100 m 3 /sec during testing performed by Hydro staff between July 29 and October 19. Several orange painted rocks were observed in the tailout of the falls pool from bed load transport studies suggesting gravel movement was restricted to the falls pool. The area of the pad was measured by Ecofish Research staff on July , to be 162 m 2. A second measurement was conducted on October 19 by BCCF staff and the area was found to have increased to ~400 m 2 as a result of redistribution from high flows. Fish usage of new and existing gravel was excellent with many redds and actively spawning CN noted at several locations. The highest level of activity was noted at the falls pool pad followed by the dog leg pool, both gravel loading sites. Since 1999, a total of 590 m 3 of gravel has been placed in Elk Falls canyon. It appears that the quantity of gravel within the canyon is reaching a level at which recruitment to highly suitable spawning locations is beginning to happen. Small patches of this newly recruited gravel were noted throughout the canyon and CN were observed actively spawning at three sites. Habitat in both sections appeared relatively stable, two new pieces of LWD were noted in the tailout of the dog leg pool. 7 Estimated at 1,900 kg/m 3 British Columbia Conservation Foundation 5

10 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, 2011 Seven adult summer steelhead were evenly distributed throughout the survey reach. Four of the fish were of hatchery origin and likely progeny of captive brood from the Tsitika River transplant program. Overall, usage and condition of the gravel by CN exceeded expectations. The Chinook count was the highest on record, while steelhead abundance was above average. The gradation of the gravel applied in 2011 appeared to be highly usable by adults and stable at canyon flows up to 100 m 3 /sec. A second survey was completed on March 15, 2012 to document the use of gravel pads by spawning steelhead as well as to investigate movements relative to fall/winter flow events. Key results are summarized below while the full report can be found in Appendix D. Several orange painted rocks remained in the tailout of the falls pool from bed load transport studies in fall 2011 suggesting limited gravel movement has occurred over the winter. There appeared to be limited usage of the new or existing gravel by adult Steelhead. No obvious redds were noted in the tailout of the plunge pool but algal growth was absent in the high velocity areas preferred by steelhead. It is possible two to three redds may have been excavated deep in the tailout but could not be confirmed. The low density of adults suggests few redds would have been constructed in the entire canyon reach. Since 1999, a total of 590 m 3 of gravel has been placed in Elk Falls canyon. It appears that the quantity of gravel within the canyon is reaching a level at which recruitment to highly suitable spawning locations is beginning to happen. Small patches of this newly recruited gravel were noted throughout the canyon. Several new pieces of wood from recent storms were located throughout the canyon reach. Small slope failures were also noted, mainly on the north side of the canyon. The largest slump included two smaller trees and approximately yards of material. 6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 1) For the Elk Falls Canyon reach, spawning area targets should be developed for each species. Such targets need to consider current and/or potential flow regimes and the unique channel morphology of this reach. 2) A strategy of precision helicopter gravel placements in conjunction with bulk gravel loading (as per Burt 2004) should continue to be developed and implemented. Precision placements in ideal habitats that can be immediately used by all species should continue until quantities introduced through bulk loading are recruited and sufficiently occupy these preferred sites. 3) Continued monitoring of spawning habitat, salmonid abundance and distribution, and spawning location preferences should help to optimize future placements. Snorkel surveys will also aid in determining when future placements should occur based on the condition of spawning pads as compared to 2011/12 monitoring results. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 6

11 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks are extended to Craig Wightman who developed the project and acted as the scientific authority. Chris Carswell of Helifor coordinated helicopter activities prior to the project and directed the ground crew. Brent Blackmun of BC Parks facilitated the Parks Use Permit and helped to develop a safe, low impact strategy for securing trails and facilities in Elk Falls Provincial Park. BCCF ground crew included Michelle Kehler, Shawn Stenhouse, Shane Johnson, Kirsti Brennan and Mike McCulloch (MFLNRO Anandromous Fisheries Specialist). A-Tlegay Fisheries Society provided staff to secure the trail network surrounding the project site. Funding for this project was provided by BC Hydro FWCP, Campbell River Salmon Foundation and Living Rivers Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island programs. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 7

12 Campbell River (Elk Falls) Canyon Spawning Gravel Placement, REFERENCES Burt, D.W A 5-year restoration plan for the Lower Campbell River. Prepared for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection and the Campbell River Gravel Committee. 54 pp plus appendices. Lill, A.F Greater Georgia Basin steelhead recovery action plan. Prepared for Pacific Salmon Foundation, Vancouver, BC. and the Province of British Columbia. 107 pp. McCulloch, M.P Campbell River (Elk Falls) canyon spawning gravel placement, Prepared for Ministry of Transportation, Victoria, B.C. and the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, Nanaimo, BC. 24 pp plus appendices. McCulloch, M.P Campbell River (Elk Falls) canyon spawning gravel placement, Prepared for BC Hydro Bridge Coastal Restoration Program Burnaby, BC, and the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, Victoria, BC. 24 pp plus appendices. Pellett, K Campbell River (Elk Falls) canyon spawning gravel placement, Prepared for BC Hydro Bridge Coastal Restoration Program Burnaby, BC, and Living Rivers - Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island. 20 pp. Wightman, J.C., B.R. Ward, R.A. Ptolemy and F.N. Axford Draft: A recovery plan for east coast Vancouver Island steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Nanaimo, BC. pp 131 plus appendices. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 8

13 APPENDIX A Media Release British Columbia Conservation Foundation 8

14 For Immediate Release 2011LR-GB/VI-0025 July 11, 2011 High Quality Salmon and Steelhead Spawning Gravel to be Placed by Helicopter in Elk Falls Canyon of the Campbell River CAMPBELL RIVER, BC: The BC Conservation Foundation (BCCF) will continue work this summer on a fish habitat restoration project in the Elk Falls Canyon of the Campbell River that first began in Under supervision of BCCF and the Ministry of Environment, approximately 100 cubic meters of high quality gravel will be placed by Helifor Canada Corp. at two selected sites in the upper canyon on Thursday, July 14. Since the mid 1990s, winter steelhead returns to the Campbell/Quinsam system have been at or near record lows. The Campbell s salmon stocks have recently fared better (particularly pink and chum), although mainstem Chinook numbers have remained between 10 and 20% of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) target escapement. For decades, DFO considered the 2 km long canyon reach gravel poor following construction of BC Hydro s John Hart Dam in the late 1940 s, limiting Chinook and other salmon spawning potential. Rejuvenation of the canyon s fish habitat began in 1998, when Hydro agreed to release improved conservation flows from John Hart Lake. This single measure effectively increased the river's accessible length to salmon and steelhead by 40%. The addition of gravel and improved flows to the canyon is part of a joint strategy to significantly restore the river s spawning capability. Since July 1999, BCCF and its key funding partners (BC Hydro - Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Living Rivers-Georgia Basin/Vancouver Island) have introduced more than 500 hundred cubic meters of high quality gravel to the upper canyon to enhance the production of wild salmon and steelhead. The process of artificially adding gravel to the canyon simulates a natural river process that will lead to gravel recruitment into downstream habitats, similar to what occurred before the dam was built more than six decades ago, said Kevin Pellett, Fisheries Biologist for BCCF. In time, this should lead to substantial increases in juvenile fish production and adult salmon and steelhead returns, he added. Similar to spawning gravel placements completed in previous years, this project will see the addition of cubic meters of washed and screened gravel, precisely installed in predetermined locations in the upper canyon using Helifor s heavy-lift helicopter. Due to safety concerns, public access to areas of Elk Falls Provincial Park will be restricted from 8 am to 5:30 pm. on July 14. Pellett added, An extreme rock fall hazard related to construction activities will exist during this window and the public is asked to refrain from using the Upper and Lower Elk Falls day use area, Millennium Trail from the lower day use parking lot to the Canyon View Trail, and the Dean Martin Trail (off Brewster Lake Road on the north side of John Hart Dam). This closure does not affect the Canyon View trail or trails adjacent to the Elk Falls campsites on the Quinsam River. Traffic control will also be present on Brewster Lake Road near John Hart Dam. Short delays will occur when the helicopter is in the immediate gravel loading area. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 9

15 APPENDIX B Photographic Record British Columbia Conservation Foundation 10

16 Photo 1. Elk Falls plunge pool prior to gravel placements, July 14, 2011 Photo 2. View of gravel pad following gravel placements, July 14, Photo 3. Gravel pad on October 19, 2011, following redistribution of gravel by 100 m 3 /s spill. Photo T excavator atop of 100 m 3 of gravel prior to placements. Boeing Vertol 107 in background. Photo 5. A-Channel news provided media coverage of the project. Photo 6. Accurate placement of gravel into tailout of Elk Falls plunge pool was possible by using a remote release. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 11

17 APPENDIX C Performance Measures/Actual Outcomes, Monitoring Results British Columbia Conservation Foundation 13

18 Performance Measures Performance Measures - Target Outcomes Habitat (m 2 ) Project Type Primary Habitat Benefit Targeted of Project (m 2 ) Primary Target Species Estuarine In-Stream Habitat - Mainstream In-Stream Habitat - Tributary Riparian Reservoir Shoreline Complexes Riverine Lowland Deciduous Lowland Coniferous Upland Wetland Impact Mitigation Fish passage technologies Area target species Habitat Drawdown zone revegetation / stabilization Area turned into productive habitat Wildlife migration improvement Area of habitat made available to target species Prevention of drowning of nests, nestlings Area of wetland habitat created outside expected flood level (1:10 year) Habitat Conservation Habitat conserved general Functional habitat conserved/replaced through acquisition and mgmt Functional habitat conserved by other measures (e.g. riprapping) Designated rare/special habitat Rare/special habitat protected Maintain or Restore Habitat forming process Artificial gravel recruitment Area of stream habitat improved by gravel plcmt ST, CO, CH, CM 400 Artificial wood debris recruitment Area of stream habitat improved by LWD plcmt Small-scale complexing in existing habitats Area increase in functional habitat through complexing Prescribed burns or other upland habitat enhancement for wildlife Functional area of habitat improved Habitat Development New habitat created Functional area created British Columbia Conservation Foundation 14

19 APPENDIX D Snorkel Survey Reports British Columbia Conservation Foundation 15

20 FILE NOTE Date: Oct. 19, 2011 File: /SNORK xf: /CAMP SNORKEL SURVEY REPORT Campbell River DATE: October 19, 2011 WEATHER: Overcast WATER TEMP.( o C): 12:50 hrs DISCHARGE (m 3 /s): 3.5 cms (as per spillway lockout) VISIBILITY (m): 6.5 (estimated) PERSONNEL: K. Pellett, S. Johnson AREA: Elk Falls plunge pool to BC Hydro s powerhouse Total distance: 1.75 km 1. Fish Observed: Adults Adult salmon were evenly distributed throughout the canyon reach with the largest concentrations in the falls pool and 500 m below (both gravel placement locations (Table 1). A large mixed group of approximately 700 salmon was observed just upstream of BC Hydro s powerhouse. In the tailout of the Elk Falls pool several adult Chinook (CN) were observed actively spawning (Photos 1-3, 6-8). The majority of CN were mid to post spawn condition and approximately 20% of the males were over 14 kg with one adipose fin clip (AFC) noted. The condition of Coho (CO) ranged from new (bright) to slightly colored but no active spawning was observed. Chum (CM) were pre to mid spawn condition with several bright fish noted in the lower canyon. In addition, seven sockeye were observed in the middle of the leg as well as seven steelhead (4 AFC, 3 wild) throughout the survey (Table 2). This year s count of 171 CN (97.7 fish/km) is the highest on record for this reach (Figure 1). Table 1: Summary of adult salmon observations by section and species. SECTION SO SO Jack CO CO jack PK CM CN CN jack Elk Falls Pool (75 m) Elk Falls to Dog Leg Pool (500 m) Dog Leg Pool to Powerhouse (1.2 km) Total Table 2: Summary of Steelhead observations. Condition Male - 2H 1W - - Female 1W 2H,1W *Note: 1 (bright), 2 (moderately coloured), 3 (mid spawn), 4 (post spawn), 5 (undetermined) **Note: H (hatchery origin); W (wild origin) British Columbia Conservation Foundation 16

21 Steelhead Chinook Count Nov 01 4 Nov 02 6 Nov 03 4 Oct Oct Oct Oct 11 Figure 1. Summary of Steelhead and Chinook observations during October and November surveys of Elk Falls Canyon, (2009 & 2010 were not surveyed). Juveniles Juvenile trout densities were low to moderate in both sections with concentrations of parr noted at the head and tailout of the falls pool. Fry densities were moderate with fish noted in marginal habitats, while parr densities were moderate near riffle entry points. Dolly Varden parr were observed at the base of Elk Falls and 400 m below. Coho fry densities were low to moderate although fish were regularly encountered in preferred habitats such as woody debris. Trout Trout observed were approximately 70% rainbow (RBT) and 30% cutthroat (CTT). All RBT were of wild origin while half of the medium sized (20-30 cm) CTT were of hatchery origin. The four large (>30 cm) CTT observed were all of wild origin as were the balance of trout observations. Concentrations of trout were noted in the tailout of the falls pool and in close proximity to spawning CN. It was difficult to differentiate between large parr and small resident trout so a tally of small trout was not kept. Abundance of all size classes was similar to previous surveys and estimated to be fish total. Notes Gravel was redistributed throughout the canyon reach following high flows in winter 2009/10, which moved over 90% of the falls pool pad downstream. A follow up survey conducted on August 18, 2010 documented the extent of the movement and a proposal to re-apply gravel to the falls pool was submitted by BCCF to FWCP Coastal in November This survey was intended to investigate the distribution and usage of spawning gravel (100 m 3 ) that was placed via helicopter at the tailout of the falls pool on July 14, No gravel was placed at the dog leg in 2011 as a significant quantity still remained from previous projects (Photo 7). FWCP Coastal provided the majority of project funding, while the Campbell River Salmon Foundation contributed funds to purchase gravel. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 17

22 Flows in the canyon exceeded 100 m 3 /sec during testing performed by Hydro staff between July 29 and October 19. Several orange painted rocks were observed in the tailout of the falls pool from bed load transport studies suggesting gravel movement was restricted to the falls pool (Photo 2). The area of the pad was measured by Ecofish Research staff on July , to be 162 m 2. A second measurement was conducted on October 19 by BCCF staff and the area was found to have increased to ~400 m 2 as a result of redistribution from high flows (Photos 1,2,6). Fish usage of new and existing gravel was excellent with many redds and actively spawning CN noted at several locations (Photos 3 & 4). The highest level of activity was noted at the falls pool pad followed by the dog leg pool, both gravel loading sites. Since 1999, a total of 590 m 3 of gravel has been placed in Elk Falls canyon. It appears that the quantity of gravel within the canyon is reaching a level at which recruitment to highly suitable spawning locations is beginning to happen. Small patches of this newly recruited gravel were noted throughout the canyon and CN were observed actively spawning at three sites. Habitat in both sections appeared relatively stable, two new pieces of LWD were noted in the tailout of the dog leg pool. Seven adult summer steelhead were evenly distributed throughout the survey reach. Four of the fish were of hatchery origin and likely progeny of captive brood from the Tsitika River transplant program. Overall, usage and condition of the gravel by CN exceeded expectations. The Chinook count was the highest on record, while steelhead abundance was above average (Figure 1). The gradation of the gravel applied in 2011 appeared to be highly usable by adults and stable at canyon flows up to 100 m 3 /sec. Refer to Table 3 for gravel specifications. A follow up survey is planned in the spring to evaluate the distribution and usage of the gravel by adult steelhead. Table 3. Gradation of material placed in the Elk Falls pool on July 14, Size cm inches % Shane Johnson Fisheries Biologist BC Conservation Foundation cc: British Columbia Conservation Foundation 18

23 PHOTOS Photo 1. Looking upstream from left bank at the Elk Falls tailout on July 29, 2011 (Ecofish Research). British Columbia Conservation Foundation 19

24 Photo 2. Looking accross from left bank at the tailout of the gravel pad. The large rock in the top right corner of the frame is the same in the previous photo. Note the gravel recruitment behind the rock as well as the painted orange rocks. Photo 3. Underwater view of CN activity at the Elk Falls pool. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 20

25 Photo 4. Adult CN (mid-spawn) holding over newly recruited gravel in the middle of the canyon reach. Photo 5. Example of gravel recruitment in the tailout of the dog leg pool 600 m downstream of Elk Falls. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 21

26 Photo 6. Looking from left bank to right bank at the extent of the gravel placement at the falls pool. Note swimmer on right bank and CN in foreground for scale. Photo 7. Spawning CN using the gravel pad located at the dog leg pool. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 22

27 Photo 8. Example of a fresh CN redd in the tailout of the Elk Falls Pool. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 23

28 FILE NOTE Date: Mar. 15, 2012 File: /SNORK xf: /CAMP Campbell River SNORKEL SURVEY REPORT DATE: March 15, 2012 WEATHER: Overcast WATER TEMP.( o C): 13:30 hrs DISCHARGE (m 3 /s): 3.5 cms (as per spillway lockout) VISIBILITY (m): 5-6 (estimated) in the upper portion, 2-4 downstream of the dog leg pool PERSONNEL: K. Pellett, S. Johnson AREA: Elk Falls plunge pool to BC Hydro s powerhouse Total distance: 1.75 km 1. Fish Observed: Adults In total 5 adult Steelhead were observed throughout the reach for a density of 2.9 fish/km. No adult Steelhead were observed in the tailout of the Elk Falls pool or the dog leg pool where gravel has recently been placed. This year s count of 5 ST (2.86 fish/km) is typical for this reach (Figure 1). Table 1: Summary of Steelhead observations. Condition Male Female *Note: 1 (bright), 2 (moderately coloured), 3 (mid spawn), 4 (post spawn), 5 (undetermined) **Note: H (hatchery origin); W (wild origin) British Columbia Conservation Foundation 24

29 6 5 5 Steelhead Count Apr Feb Mar Mar 12 Figure 1. Summary of Steelhead observations during spring surveys of Elk Falls Canyon, Juveniles Eight small rainbow trout were observed in fast water habitats in the lower canyon. Based on the long slender appearance these fish are suspected to be steelhead smolts in the early stages of their downstream migration. Trout Two small (20-25 cm) and one large (45 cm+) rainbow trout were observed, all of wild origin. Notes This survey was intended to investigate the distribution and usage of spawning gravel (100 m 3 ) that was placed via helicopter at the tailout of the falls pool on July 14, No gravel was placed at the dog leg in 2011 as a significant quantity still remained from previous projects. FWCP Coastal provided the majority of project funding, while the Campbell River Salmon Foundation contributed funds to purchase gravel. Several orange painted rocks remained in the tailout of the falls pool from bed load transport studies in fall 2011 suggesting limited gravel movement has occurred over the winter. There appeared to be limited usage of the new or existing gravel by adult Steelhead. No obvious redds were noted in the tailout of the plunge pool but algal growth was absent in the high velocity areas preferred by steelhead. It is possible two to three redds may have been excavated deep in the tailout but could not be confirmed. The low density of adults suggests few redds would have been constructed in the entire canyon reach. Since 1999, a total of 590 m 3 of gravel has been placed in Elk Falls canyon. It appears that the quantity of gravel within the canyon is reaching a level at which recruitment to highly suitable spawning locations is beginning to happen. Small patches of this newly recruited gravel were noted throughout the canyon. Several new pieces of wood from recent storms were located throughout the canyon reach. Small slope failures were also noted, mainly on the north side of the canyon. The largest slump included two smaller trees and approximately yards of material. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 25

30 Shane Johnson Fisheries Biologist BC Conservation Foundation cc: British Columbia Conservation Foundation 26

31 PHOTOS Photo 1. Looking upstream from left bank at the Elk Falls tailout on July 29, 2011 (Ecofish Research). Photo 2. Looking accross from left bank at the tailout of the gravel pad on Oct. 11, The large rock in the top right corner of the frame is the same in the previous photo. Note the gravel recruitment behind the rock as well as the painted orange rocks. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 27

32 Photo 3. Looking across from left bank at the tailout of the gravel pad on March 15, Note the gravel recruitment behind the rock as well as the painted orange rocks. British Columbia Conservation Foundation 28

33 APPENDIX E Financial Statement British Columbia Conservation Foundation 19

34 Financial Statement Form Project # 11.CBR.05 BUDGET ACTUAL BCRP Other BCRP Other INCOME Total Income by Source 52, , , , Grand Total Income (BCRP + other) 59, , EXPENSES Project Personnel Wages 6, , , , A-Tlegay Fisheries Society , Traffic Control Training/Safety Per Diem Materials and Equipment Heavy Lift Helicopter 34, , Gravel and hauling 1, , , , Excavator and mob. 1, , Truck Rental Fuel Administration BCCF 10% 4, , Tax credit (50% HST) -1, Total Expenses 52, , , , Grand Total Expenses (BCRP+other) 59, , BALANCE (Grand Total Income - Grand Total Expenses) British Columbia Conservation Foundation 20