LAKE SURVEY DATA DATE SURVEYED: Fish Samples. Stomach Analysis. Scale Reading. Habitation. Access. Oxygen Photography. Rehabilitation.

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1 LAKE SURVEY DATA /ts<m. #~ of -09 SURVEYED BY: MME: L "*.^yl DATE SURVEYED: MAP REF. CODE'NO. _ kmm DATA ON FILE: Physical Data Geography Chemical Flora Invertebrates Temperature Series Obstructions & Pollutions Stocking General Information Miscellaneous Fish Samples Stomach Analysis Scale Reading Resort & Campsite Habitation Access Oxygen Photography Rehabilitation Bench Mark Yz bvl date Year LOCATION; Latitude, Longitude *5-X& D' /X-7 o H-o Drainage, System Elevation PHYSICAL DATA: Surface Area t>~ -7 V Area, 20 ft. contour Maximum Depth Total Dissolved Solids -< t> Bench Mark Volume Shoreline Perimeter Mean Depth Shoreline Development Secchi Reading GEOGRAPHY Local Geography: Lake Drainage:

2 The following is an outline of a brief survey of lakes and streams in the immediate Ocean Palls area made in July, 1958< Waters examined included Link Lake, Twin Lakes and the Martin River* Wherever possible, fish collections were made since this area of the province has been totally unrepresented in the ever growing fisheries museum at the University of British Columbia* LINK LAKE This is a reservoir created by the damming of Link River by the Crown Zellerbach Company for the operation of their large paper manufacturing plant at Ocean Palls <> Since the southern extremity of the lake is adjacent to Ocean Palls, it provides an accessible recreational resource to the community in boating and fishingo Most regrettably, the reservoir was flooded before timber was removed, so that boating is hazardous, particularly in the shallower northern portion where there is a mass of decaying timber in the submerged, floating, and upright state# The dam on Link River at Ocean Palls prevents any fish from passing from the ocean into the lake Physical Characteristics Link Lake is sixteen miles long and in most instances approximately half a mile wide? its length extending in a northsouth directiono It has a surface area of 5,75 acres Virtually no permanent shoal areas exist; in most cases the drop off measured 50» from shore to greater than 200 feet* The shallower north end of the lake has only a temporary productive zone due to fluctuating water levels caused by drawing off water for the operation of the paper~mille A temperature series taken on July 15th 1958 at,00 p0mo on a sunny, clear day is shown below0 Depth (feet) Temperature (P )

3 > Surface temperature Atmospheric temperature 70 P 80 F Basically, then, this is an oligotrophic lake, its relatively unproductive nature limited by its physical character-* istics and increased by a fluctuating water levels Chemical Characteristics The Total Dissolved Solids content measured twenty five parts per million» Such a low mineral content in rapid flushing coastal lakes is not uncommono Pish Species A gill net set (July 16th 1958) produced four cutthroat troutc Three spined sticklebacks were observed in great numbers in the shallower north end of the lake Por the most part, these fish were dying or dead? possibly as a result of spawning* A large cutthroat caught on June 5th 1958 was examined and scale samples were taken Since that time, specimens of cutthroat and Kokanee caught in late August and September by members of the Ocean Palls Rod and Gun Club have been examinedo It should be mentioned that one of the cutthroat contained eneysted parasitic roundworms This specimen will be used for instructional purposes at the University Below is a list of the size and age of the various cutthroat examined from Link Lake* ^ 1 ^July 16th 1958 (gillnet) ^OT \ July 16th 1958 (sillnet) 1 )July 16th 1958 (gillnet) VJuly 16th 1958 (gillnet) 1 ^ \ cr et Date and Method of Capture _June 5th 1958 (angled ( August/saptember 1958 VAvigust/September,1958 Fork Length (inches) 8*0 7*4 7*7 1G>2 24«Q 11.i ,0 8*4 7*0 9*5 7*2 7*5 7*2 Age (years)

4 ^v _ ~ LINK LAKE INLET (BRABEN RIVER) Braden River is glacial in origin, and although excellent spawning gravel is abundant, the stream is relatively unproductive* The flow on July 15th 1958 was measured at 195 Cof«s«A spot poisoning of 400f of side channel produced the following speciess (Water temperature 57 P«) Number Species Common Name iniii!! ir i -i itimi ' «n i i inm» nil nr i ii - iii ii i Lampetra planeri Salvelinus malma Salmo clarki (fry) Cottus aleutious Cottus asper Brook Lamprey Dolly Varden Coastal Catthroat Aleutian Sculpin Prickly Sculpin TWIN LAKES These lakes are situated east and north of the outskirts of Ocean Palls» The lower lake (IKT) appears to be artificially created by the blocking off of the outlet of Upper Twin Lake (MOKST), No clearing was done, resulting in countless snaps throughout the lake in various stages of decay* Ikt lake has a surface area of 07 acres No fish samples were taken«upper TWIN LAKE (MOKST) This is separated from Ikt lake by a natural rock barrier approximately 10* high and 50* long, with an incline of 25 * Mokst is a natural lake with a surface area of 07 acres* Outlet No spawning facilities are available in the 100 yards of channel above the barrier The stream bed is composed of large boulders and its gradient is steep0 Three-spined sticklebacks were observed* Inlet The inlet to Mokst Lake is slow flowing and meandering* Por the main part the bottom is sandy with intermittent patches of very fine gravel*

5 4 «On July 16th 1958 the stream temperature was over 70 P which would prohibit it as a rearing area for trout Since adult cutthroat are present in the lake in large numbers it can only be assumed that spawning must occur in gravel shoal areas fed by under water currentso A spot poisoning in the inlet produced three-spined stocklebacks and prickly sculpins* Pour cutthroat trout were takenfrom the lake by angling* Their lengths and ages are given below* Pork Length in Inches Age (years) *5 + MARTIN RIVER The proximity of the stream to Ocean Palls makes it a valuable asset to the sport..fishing community* into the ocean within the western outskirts of the town* It empties directly On July 17th 1958 the flow was approximately 0 c«f<>s«the following fishes were collected at random following a poisoning 600' upstream from the mouth Number Species Common Name 1 Lampetra planeri Brook Lamprey 400 Cottus aleuticus Aleutian Sculpin 11 Cottus asper Prickly Sculpin 400+ Oncorhynchus kisutch (fry) Coho Salmon 40 Salvelinus malma Dolly Varden 40 Salmo clarki (mostly fry) Coastal Cutthroat 29 Salmo gairdneri (fry and juveniles) probably young Steelhead Trout 20 Gasterosteus aculeatus Three-spined Sticklebacks 1 Pholis laetus Bracketed Blenny SUMMARY Prom the viewpoint of obtaining excellent fish samples from a hitherto unrepresented area of the province, this investigation was invaluable Although there was not sufficient time for a detailed limnological study of the area, there is no indication that such an undertaking is warranted, from a practical standpoint Link Lake

6 affords a fishery for at least two speciess Kokanee and Cutthroats) Anglers' catches of Cutthroats showed variations in size from 7 to 24 inchese Upper Twin Lake (Mokst) on the other hand, according to all reports contains a large population of small Cutthroats«Martin River supports Dolly Vardens, Cutthroats, Steelheads and Cohoso The latter is the dominant sport fish of the stream and if exploited, should furnish excellent angling, provided that the fish are not too deteriorated when they enter the streamo It is my understanding that a choice seasonal marine sport fishery for salmon exists as well Accordingly, it would appear that the anglers of Ocean Palls have access to a variety of sport fish with respect to quality, quantity and species