Fish Passage Culvert Inspection (FPCI) Nicklen Creek Watershed FPCI Sites funded by FIA Prepared for: Tolko Industries Ltd., Okanagan Regional Woodlands & British Columbia Timber Sales, Okanagan-Shuswap Business Unit Prepared by: Bruce Baxter, RPBio, Fisheries/Aquatic Biologist Report submitted: February 13, 2007 Forestry Environmental Sciences Mapping P.O. BOX 1030, SALMON ARM, B.C., Canada V1E 4P2 {courier: 670-11 th Street NE} Telephone (250) 832-7360 Fax (250) 832-1939 e-mail: silva@silvatech.ca
Table of Contents 1.0 Overview map of the Nicklen (N) watershed study area... 1 2.0 Map of the Nicklen watershed showing where full FPCI assessments were completed... 2 3.0 Map of the Nicklen watershed showing the location of bridge structures and culvert sites where no FPCI assessment was completed 1... 3 4.0 Nicklen watershed, FPCI score and rank by site... 4 4.1 Site N3: Nicklen Creek, Goat Lake FSR...5 5.0 Non-priority sites where an FPCI was not completed... 6 Page i
1.0 Overview map of the Nicklen (N) watershed study area 1
2.0 Map of the Nicklen watershed showing where full FPCI assessments were completed Culvert/stream status Not a barrier to fish passage Partial barrier to fish passage Full barrier to fish passage Fish passage not assessed because the FPCI score is not near the 39 point threshold Fish passage is not required. The crossing occurs on a confirmed non fish-stream N3-Partial barrier to fish passagecontrolled system-see Section 4.0 2
3.0 Map of the Nicklen watershed showing the location of bridge structures and culvert sites where no FPCI assessment was completed 1 Culvert/stream status Bridge: A site label denotes an assessment by SCL Culvert: Not a barrier to fish passage Non-priority FPCI site: FPCI not completed (see table for rationale) or FPCI completed but score is <39 points. Crossing structure removed Fish passage is not required. The crossing occurs on a confirmed non fish-stream N15 N14 N13 N1-Wood bridge collapsing N12 N11 N17 N18 N2 N5 N10 N4-Outlet Dam to Nicklen Lake N8 N16 N6 N7 N9 1 Please see Section 5.0 for the Table of Sites. 3
4.0 Nicklen watershed, FPCI score and rank by site Site 1 Stream name Stream class 2 Crossing structure Fish species Habitat value Barrier 3 Habitat to be gained (m) 4 % Stream barred 5 Add l sites 6 upstream N3 Nicklen Creek S3 800mm CMP RB (6) Mod (6) Partial (6) 500<1,000 (6) <50 (3) No (0) 27 3 Score 7 Rank 8 Note: Although this site does not score 39 points it is recommended that the culvert be replaced since it is a partial barrier to fish passage, is 552% undersized for Q 100 flows and presents a potential road-flooding hazard. 1 Site Number - culvert assessment site number from Form A Site Number. 2 The stream class is for information purposes only, therefore, no score is added. When shown in brackets, the presence/absence of fish has not been confirmed. 3 Barrier - degree of culvert barrier from Form A Barrier. 4 Habitat to be gained - the number of meters of mainstem stream length to be gained by replacing the barrier culvert as measured with a map wheel. 5 Percent of Stream Barred total distance of the mainstem (fish-bearing) divided by the mainstem distance obstructed. 6 Add l sites upstream - should be scored if there is another culvert upstream that has also been assessed as a full, partial or undetermined barrier. 7 Score - numeric score based on the sum of all Table 2 scoring classes. 8 Priority Rank 1 (>42 pts.); Priority Rank 2 (39-42 pts.); Priority Rank 3 (less than 39 pts.). 4
4.1 Site N3: Nicklen Creek, Goat Lake FSR Culvert status Not a barrier to fish passage Partial barrier to fish passage Full barrier to fish passage Goat Lake FSR Site N3, Score 27, Rank 3 Nicklen Lake Site UTM: 356220E, 5556357N, Zone 11 Why is this culvert a partial barrier? The 800mm culvert is a partial barrier to fish passage due to excessive flow volumes at certain periods of the year. A dam located at Nicklen Lake controls water flows downstream. Water velocities in excess of 1.4m/s were observed at the time of the survey (Photo 1). Refer to the FPCI field form and additional site photos on the site photo/fpci form disk. Fish presence/absence: Nicklen Lake is stocked with Rainbow trout and previous surveys have found Rainbow trout above and below this crossing. Electrofishing was conducted during the FPCI with no fish captured. Recommendations/Comments: This is a controlled system and a dam is located at the outlet of Nicklen Lake. The outlet dam prevents spawning rainbow adults and fry from returning to Nicklen Lake. It is recommended that this culvert be replaced with a larger pipe, bridge structure, and/or an overflow pipe. Note: The 800mm culvert is 552% undersized to meet Q 100 flows. Photo 1: Site N3. This culvert is a partial barrier to fish passage due to high water velocities at certain periods of the year. Recommend installing an overflow pipe, and/or replacing culvert, as road flooding may occur. 5
5.0 Non-priority sites where an FPCI was not completed Site N1 N2 N4 N5 N6 N7 N8 N9 N10 N11 N12 N13 N14 N15 Comments/tasks to finalize recommendations Wood bridge over Nicklen Creek (photos N1). This bridge is not a barrier to fish passage at this point. Maintenance issues- wood bridge is starting to fail, recommend replacement of bridge structure. Utm zone 11/356377E/5561202N Herb Lake outlet stream. No fish information is known for Herb Lake. A previous FFHI report (Columbia Environmental Consulting Ltd, 2001) identified 2 falls and 3 cascade barriers located approximately 700 m downstream of the confluence of the outlet stream to Herb Lake and Nicklen Creek. The culvert inlet is buried and an obstruction to fish passage into Herb Lake-See Form C. Stream goes through marsh area for approximately 453m before entering Nicklen Creek. did not complete a FPCI as fish presence could not be confirmed at the crossing. Recommend follow-up fish sampling during the spring. Utm zone11/355898e/5556679n. Nicklen Lake outlet dam. This is a man made structure that is an impassable barrier to fish migration. Utm zone11/356018e/5556014n. Dry undefined channel. No fish habitat values. did not complete a FPCI as this is a non-fish stream at the crossing. No GPS location taken. Dry undefined channel. No fish habitat values. did not complete a FPCI as this is a non-fish stream at the crossing. No GPS location taken. Dry undefined channel. No fish habitat values. did not complete a FPCI as this is a non-fish stream at the crossing. No GPS location taken. Seasonally dry channel. Evidence of water pooling within culvert. No outfall drop on culvert. Poor fish habitat values upstream of culvert crossing. Silvatech Consulting Ltd. did not complete a FPCI as fish presence could not be confirmed at the crossing. No GPS location taken. Wood bridge. Some stagnant standing water in channel. Evidence of cattle use in watercourse. No maintenance issues with the bridge. No GPS location taken. Dry channel. Low value stream, very few gravels and rock, heavily impacted by cattle. did not complete a FPCI as fish presence could not be confirmed at the crossing. No GPS location taken. Dry channel. Low value stream, very few gravels and rock. No issues with culvert. No GPS location taken. Dry channel. Low value stream, very few gravels and rock. Follows along Beetle Main road. No issues with culvert. No GPS location taken. Dry channel. No issues with culvert. Utm zone11/357629e/5558778n. Dry channel. No issues with culvert. Utm zone11/357710e/5558188n. Deactivated site. Utm zone11/355443e/5559256n. 6
Site N16 N17 N18 Comments/tasks to finalize recommendations No issues with culvert. No GPS location taken. No issues with culvert. No GPS location taken. No water flow in channel. 600 mm CMP appears to be undersized as high water mark within the culvert is 33 cm. did not complete a FPCI as fish presence could not be confirmed at the crossing. Utm zone11/353397e/5556570n. 7