Cheakamus River Water License Requirements ... - BC Hydro

Cheakamus River Water License Requirements 

Cheakamus River Benthic Community 

Monitoring 

Reference: CMSMON#7 

Cheakamus River Water License Requirements Monitoring 

Program: 

Cheakamus River Benthic Community Monitoring, 

Progress Report 

Study Period: 2008-09 

Author: 

Chris Perrin, Limnotek Research and Dev. Inc., Vancouver, B.C. 

November 19, 2009

CHEAKAMUS RIVER BENTHIC COMMUNITY MONITORING 

AND MODEL DEVELOPMENT: 

Final Progress Report 

November 19, 2009

Cheakamus River Benthic Community Monitoring, Progress Report 

CHEAKAMUS RIVER BENTHIC COMMUNITY MONITORING 

AND MODEL DEVELOPMENT: 

Final Progress Report 

Submitted to 

BC Hydro 

Victoria, B.C. 

Prepared by 

C.J. Perrin 

Limnotek Research and Development Inc., 

Vancouver, BC 

November 19, 2009 

i Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


Citation: Perrin, C.J. 2009. Cheakamus River benthic community monitoring and model 

development: progress report. Report prepared by Limnotek Research and 

Development Inc. for BC Hydro. 24p. 

Cover photo: Sampling crew at CH5 in the Cheakamus River, August 2008. Photo by Chris 

Perrin. 

© 2009 BC Hydro. 

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any 

form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without 

prior permission from BC Hydro. 

ii Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

A project was started May 12, 2008 to monitor periphyton, benthic invertebrates, 

and associated habitat attributes in the Cheakamus River during each of 4 seasons over 

the period of 2008 - 2010. Objectives are to increase sample size for a range of 

biological assemblages and habitat attributes for which measurements were started in 

past projects. The updated data will contribute to a model used to examine effects of 

variation in flow on various indices of river condition. These objectives meet the Terms of 

Reference for water monitoring that is required as part of the water license issued to BC 

Hydro for power production on the Cheakamus River (BC Hydro 2007). The area of 

interest includes the main channel of the Cheakamus River extending from the Daisy 

Dam downstream to the confluence with the Squamish River. Field and laboratory 

methods follow those from similar Cheakamus River projects in 1996, 2000, and 2005. 

The new data will be used to: 

1. Simplify and improve an existing model for use in determining the importance of 

flow on biological assemblages that indicate health of the river. New data will 

contribute to this process by increasing sample size for statistical analysis. 

2. Compare biological assemblages among sampling periods in different reaches 

before and after change in flow regime at Daisy Dam. 

3. Identify habitat attributes that best explain biological assemblages or values of 

benthic invertebrate endpoints in the Cheakamus River. 

4. Determine the importance of flow and flow - related variables relative to other 

habitat attributes in determining biological assemblages in the Cheakamus River. 

5. Determine the importance of benthic organisms that are produced in the 

Cheakamus River as food for fish rearing in the river. 

Progress to date is summarized in the following table. Task numbers and task 

descriptions in the table are the same as those listed in the contract between BC Hydro 

and Limnotek (contract number 00034983 dated July 4, 2008). 

Task 

number 

1 Project 

management 

Description Progress Completion dates 

• Ongoing by Chris Perrin. 

• Tasks include budget 

management, organization of 

logistics, scheduling, preparation 

and execution of a health and 

safety plan, technical review, data 

organization, liaison with 

laboratories, direction of database 

development, client liaison, and 

communication with regulatory 

agencies as needed. 

• Ongoing. 

iii Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


Task 

number 


2 Scoping 

meeting, review 

of safety 

procedures, 

safety training 

3 Field 

preparation 

• Project remains on schedule and 

on budget 

• BC Hydro is aware of management 

activities through email and 

telephone communications. 

• Scoping meeting completed June 

3, 2008. Decisions were made to 

accept the sampling and modeling 

design as described in the 

Limnotek proposal dated April 23, 

2008. 

• The scoping meeting was followed 

with preparation of a health and 

safety plan that was submitted and 

accepted by BC Hydro on June 10, 

2008. 

• Lockout training (WPP Categories 

A and B) was completed by all 

team members by the end of July 

2008 and local component training 

was completed on the first 

sampling day in August 2008. 

• Periphyton plates, invertebrate 

baskets, and associated hardware 

and materials were prepared in 

August 2008 for use in each 

sampling episode. 

• Field instruments and other 

sampling materials were prepared 

for use in August 2008. They are 

checked and serviced at the start 

and finish of each sampling 

episode. 

• Custom field sheets for weekly and 

end-of-series measurement of 

habitat attributes and task check-off 

was prepared in August 2008 and 

is edited as needed following 

sampling episodes. 

• Field safety forms (tailboard and 

daily trip and check-in log) were 

prepared in August 2008 and 

• Completed June through 

August 2008. 

• All gear assembled in 

August 2008 and 

checked before each 


iv Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


Task 

number 


4 Field Sampling 

and analysis in 

laboratories 

continue to be edited as needed to 

make them easy to use. 

• Summer sampling series 

completed in August – September 

2008. 

• Chemical analysis of water 

samples and analysis of 

chlorophyll-a concentration from 

periphyton samples from the 

summer sampling is complete and 

data are in spreadsheets awaiting 

upload to the database. 

• With one exception, data of habitat 

attributes from the summer 

sampling is in spreadsheets 

awaiting upload to the database. 

The exception is site-specific flow 

data that will be provided by 

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants 

(NHC). NHC is waiting for higher 

spring flows to complete rating 

curves that will be used to calculate 

site-specific flows from gauge 

readings. 

• Summer benthic invertebrate 

enumerations and biomass 

measurements are complete. Data 

are presently being appended to 

similar data from 1996, 2000 and 

2005. QAQC for appending of data 

is complex because the count and 

biomass for each taxon must be 

matched with the same taxon from 

earlier years. Some nomenclature 

has changed over time so matching 

of taxa requires linking different 

names or combinations of names. 

Data from more than 170 taxa has 

to be matched and checked for 

accuracy. 

• Summer periphyton identifications 

and cell enumerations are 

complete. Data are being 

• Summer series complete. 

• Winter series complete. 

• Spring series to be done 

in May – June 2009. 

• Fall series to be done in 

October – December 

2009. 

v Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


Task 

number 


5 Fish stomach 

content analysis 

6 Data analysis 

and modeling 

appended to that from 1996 and 

2000 and QAQC is being applied 

as described above for benthic 

invertebrates. 

• Winter sampling series was 

completed in February – March 

2009. 

• Analysis of winter water samples is 

in process. 

• Compilation of other winter habitat 

data is in process 

• Winter invertebrate and periphyton 

enumerations are queued for June 

and July 2009. 

• Samples of rainbow trout stomachs 

were acquired from Golder 

Associates from their sampling 

between the canyon and Daisy 

Dam in November 2008. Contents 

of those samples have been 

identified and enumerated and 

await upload to the database. 

• A second set of samples will be 

supplied by Josh Korman from his 

sampling of coho and steelhead fry 

and parr that is presently ongoing 

in reaches downstream of the 

canyon. 

• Data will be used in 2010 to 

examine similarities between food 

produced in the river and food 

ingested by the valued fish 

populations. 

• All raw data from the summer and 

winter sampling is presently being 

acquired from labs or is awaiting 

upload to the Access database. 

• Exploratory data analysis may 

proceed before all sampling is 

complete and data is available. 

Final data analysis and modeling is 

• Rainbow trout samples 

from upstream of the 

canyon received and 

enumerated. 

• Salmonid stomach 

samples from sites 

downstream of the 

canyon are presently 

being collected. 

• Exploratory analyses 

ongoing once database 

downloads can start in 

June 2009. 

• Complete analyses to be 

finalized in February – 

April, 2010. 

vi Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


Task 

number 

7 Performance 

measure 

development 

8 Reporting and 

Database 

compilation 


expected to proceed in February – 

April, 2010. 

• Performance measures will be 

developed at the time of statistical 

analysis and modeling in February 

– April 2010. 

• Following submission of this 

progress report, a draft project 

report is expected to be submitted 

on May 31,2010 and a final report 

on July 31, 2010. 

• Database is under development 

and is expected to be ready for 

upload of new data by May 31, 

2009. It will be populated with new 

data upon availability. 

• Data uploads are being tested 

followed by adjustments and further 

tests using Cheakamus benthos 

and habitat data from 1996 and 

2000. 

• To be done in February – 

April, 2010. 

• Database structure to be 

complete by May 31, 

2009. 

• Uploads to the database 

to proceed as data 

becomes available. 

• Most downloads will 

occur in February – April, 

2010 during data analysis 

and modeling. 

• Draft report to be 

submitted May 31, 2010. 

• Final report to be 

submitted July 31, 2010. 

No change to project methods or approach is required. Safety procedures are 

working well and do not need to be changed. These procedures include work 

downstream of the Daisy Dam spillway for which dam lockout and safe work procedures 

have been developed by Limnotek, InStream, and BC Hydro. 

vii Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

Many people are thanked for past and ongoing contributions to this project. The 

work was completed under contract to BC Hydro. Brent Mossop and Ian Dodd (BC 

Hydro) were the contract managers. Both Brent and Ian are thanked for numerous 

discussions and input as the project proceeds. The author was assisted in the field by 

Caroline Melville, L.J. Wilson, Dani Ramos, Heath Zander, Jason Ladell, and Breanne 

Patterson, all of InStream Fisheries Research Ltd. Lockouts at Daisy Dam were required 

as a safety protocol for sampling close to the spillway. People assisting with lockout 

procedures included Sarah Wood, Dorothy Ong, Alexis Hall, and electrical staff, all of BC 

Hydro. Special thanks goes to the late Kiyo Masuda (Limnotek) who tirelessly organized 

logistics, provided liaison with labs, and compiled early data. Danusia Dolecki is working 

on benthic invertebrate enumerations and biomass measurements. John Stockner is 

completing the periphyton identifications and enumerations. Ongoing water lab services 

are being provided by the Pacific Environmental Science Centre and the Fisheries and 

Oceans Canada low level nutrients lab located at Cultus Lake. 

Fish stomach samples were collected by Randall Lewis (Squamish Nation) and 

Alan Kenney (Golder Associates Ltd.) from sampling in fall 2008 during fish salvage 

activities upstream of the Cheakamus canyon. Josh Korman is presently collecting fish 

stomach samples (steelhead and coho) from sites downstream of the Cheakamus 

canyon. 

viii Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................. III 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. VIII 

TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... IX 

LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ X 

LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. XI 

1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 

2 DESIGN REVIEW ...................................................................................................... 2 

3 TASK PROGRESS .................................................................................................... 7 

3.1 Task List ............................................................................................................. 7 

3.2 Project Management ......................................................................................... 11 

3.3 Scoping Meeting and Review of Safety Procedures ......................................... 12 

3.4 Preparation for Field Sampling ......................................................................... 12 

3.5 Field Sampling and Analysis in Laboratories .................................................... 14 

3.6 Fish Stomach Content Analysis ........................................................................ 18 

3.7 Data Analysis and Modeling ............................................................................. 19 

3.8 Performance Measure Development ................................................................ 20 

3.9 Reporting and Database Compilation ............................................................... 20 

4 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................ 22 

5 LIST OF REFERENCES .......................................................................................... 23 

ix Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


LIST OF FIGURES 

Page 

Figure 1: Cheakamus River monitoring locations as defined from previous 

sampling by Perrin (2001). ......................................................................................... 6 

Figure 2. Image of periphyton plate following the 50-day incubation in winter at 

CH6, 2009. ............................................................................................................... 14 

Figure 3. Wire basket filled with gravel used for sampling benthic invertebrates. ........... 14 

Figure 4. Example of relationships between benthic invertebrate count data and 

descriptive tables in the database under development. ........................................... 22 

x Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


LIST OF TABLES 

Page 

Table 1. Summary of progress by task. ............................................................................ 7 

xi Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009

Cheakamus River Benthic Community Monitoring, Progress Report 1 

1 0BINTRODUCTION 

A project was started May 12, 2008 to monitor periphyton, benthic invertebrates, 

and associated habitat attributes in the Cheakamus River during each of 4 seasons in 

2008 - 2010. Objectives are to increase sample size for a range of biological 

assemblages and habitat attributes for which measurements were started in past 

projects. The updated data will contribute to a model used to examine effects of variation 

in flow on various indices of river condition. These objectives meet the Terms of 

Reference for water monitoring that is required as part of the water license issued to BC 

Hydro for power production on the Cheakamus River (BC Hydro 2007). The area of 

interest includes the main channel of the Cheakamus River extending from the Daisy 

Dam downstream to the confluence with the Squamish River. Methods follow those used 

in development of the Cheakamus Benthos Model (CBM), a decision support tool for 

water use planning that was developed in 2001 (Perrin 2001). CBM consists of 

regression equations that can be used to predict benthic invertebrate biomass as a 

function of several habitat and biological attributes and show the most important habitat 

attributes that determine the invertebrate biomass. Data supporting CBM is from 

monitoring over all seasons in 1996 (Perrin 1998) and 1999-2000 (Perrin 2001). The 

model is not easy to use because it involves feedback loops between a periphyton 

biomass model and an invertebrate biomass model. The two models must be run 

together over a time series to look for equilibration of the feedbacks. No interface has 

been written for the model so it is awkward to use. New data from monitoring in 2008- 

2010 will be used to restructure and simplify the analysis and modeling. It will involve not 

just one endpoint as in the present CBM (invertebrate or periphyton biomass) but the 

complete assemblage of invertebrates. The approach will use multivariate techniques to 

show what habitat attributes are most important in determining assemblages of benthic 

invertebrates. The techniques will also identify taxa that are indicators of temporal and 

spatial variation in assemblages and thereby river health. A second step will use 

regression techniques to examine change in the biomass or abundance of indicator taxa 

as a function of habitat variables found to be important in discriminating between 

assemblages in the multivariate analyses. This two step process will show the 

importance of flow (as one of the habitat variables) in determining the assemblage of 

invertebrates that are indicators of river condition. If flow or flow metrics (e.g. coefficient 

of variation of flow, maximum or minimum flow during a sampling series, mean flow, etc.) 

are important, the model can be used to predict change in key biological indicators with 

variation in values of those flow metrics. There are five project objectives: 

1. Update CBM with additional data to increase sample size and simplify modeling 

approaches to link biological and habitat attributes, including flow. The modeling will 

be used to interpret changes in the health of the Cheakamus River that may result 

from different flows released from the Daisy Dam. 

Limnotek/InStream 

November 2009


2. Compare biological assemblages among sampling periods in different reaches 

before and after change in flow regime at Daisy Dam. 

3. Identify habitat attributes that best explain biological assemblages or values of 

benthic invertebrate endpoints in the Cheakamus River. 

4. Determine the importance of flow and flow - related variables relative to other habitat 

attributes in determining biological assemblages in the Cheakamus River. 

5. Determine the importance of benthic organisms that are produced in the Cheakamus 

River as food for fish rearing in the river. 

2 1BDESIGN REVIEW 

The Cheakamus River Water Use Plan (WUP, Marmorek and Parnell 2002) 

resulted in a minimum water release from the Daisy Dam of 3 m 3 /s in November through 

December, 5 m 3 /s in January through March, and 7 m 3 /s in April through October. It 

requires the release of supplemental flows to achieve flows at Brackendale (downstream 

end of the Cheakamus River) of 15 m 3 /s in November through March, 20 m 3 /s in April 

through June, 38 m 3 /s in July through August 15, 20 m 3 /s in August 16 – 31 unless 

directed to maintain a flow of 38 m 3 /s by the Water Comptroller, and 20 m 3 /s in 

September through October. These flow criteria were favoured by most members of the 

WUP Consultative Committee (CC) and they were implemented as a water license 

requirement (WLR) by the Water Comptroller on February 17, 2006. Due to conflicting 

views and opinions about benefits of different flows on overall health of the Cheakamus 

River, all members of the CC agreed that ecological monitoring was required to fill in 

data gaps, reduce scientific uncertainty, and provide information to better inform CC 

members about the effect of variation in flow on biological assemblages for the next 

Water Use Plan. 

The CC recognised importance of the benthic community as an indicator of 

ecosystem function and endorsed a plan to build on earlier monitoring of benthic 

invertebrates and model development by Perrin (2001). Biological and habitat data 

collected in 1996 (Perrin 1998) and in 1999-2000 (Perrin, 2001) was used to examine the 

importance and effect of several habitat variables, including flow, on benthic invertebrate 

endpoints as indicators of “river health”. The CBM was developed as part of this process. 

The present monitoring will contribute to further development of the CBM to 

improve insight into the importance of flow and other habitat attributes in determining 

benthic invertebrate and periphyton assemblages and biomass. The work will increase 

sample size for modeling trials. It involves sampling of benthic invertebrates, periphyton, 

and habitat attributes, including flow, at several locations in the lower Cheakamus River 

over wide ranging physical conditions found throughout the year. The biological samples 

are being collected from periphyton plates and invertebrate baskets that have the same 

design as those used in 1996 and 2000 (Perrin 2001). Five stations that were 


November 2009


established in those years are again being sampled in 2008-2010. They include CH4 

(Daisy Dam), CH5 (adjacent to highway sand sheds), CH6 (upstream of the Culliton 

Creek confluence), CH7 (downstream of the Culliton Creek confluence), and CH8 

(downstream of the Cheekye Creek confluence) as shown in Figure 1. This approach of 

using consistent methods and the same layout in the field will ensure no confounding by 

method among years. Compiled data from past projects consists of benthic invertebrate 

and periphyton counts and biomass, assemblage metrics, and associated independent 

variables measured from: 

1. 3 invertebrate baskets and 3 periphyton plates at 5 stations over 4 seasons in 

1996 (60 observations of each invertebrate and periphyton variable), 

2. 3 baskets and 3 plates at 7 stations over 4 seasons in 2000 (84 observations of 

each invertebrate and periphyton variable), 

3. 4 baskets at 4 stations over the fall season in 2005 (16 invertebrate observations 

as part of an assessment of a spill of caustic soda from a train derailment in 

August 2005). 

Habitat measurements include those reported by Perrin (2001) in the preliminary 

CBM and others of potential importance including: 

• Reach-specific mean, maximum, and minimum water flow during the period of 

sampler incubation. 

• Mean, maximum, and minimum water depth over substrata during the period of 

sampler incubation, 

• Mean, maximum, and minimum water temperature at each substrata site during the 

period of sampler incubation, 

• Mean, maximum, and minimum water velocity over substrata during the period of 

sampler incubation, 

• Coefficients of variation of flow, water depth over substrata, water temperature, and 

water velocity during the period of sampler incubation, 

• Average photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) at the substrata relative to that at 

the water surface during the period of sampler incubation, 

• Percent composition of major particle sizes comprising substrata (percent sand, 

gravel, cobble, boulder, bedrock according to the Wentworth scale (Wentworth 1922)) 

• Distance from dam. A dam can limit or eliminate downstream recruitment of 

invertebrates to downstream reaches. The result can be interception of river 

connectivity. A gradient of benthic community development may be present 

downstream of the dam that can be detected in modeling using distance downstream 

as an independent variable. Distance will be measured using GIS data layers. 

• Distance from closest tributary inflow influencing the site. Tributary inflows can 

introduce drift into the mainstem and re-establish connectivity that can be interrupted 

by a dam. 


November 2009


• Concentration of macronutrients (SRP, TDP, TP, NO3-N, NH4-N, TN), 

• Concentration of electrochemical analytes (TDS, conductivity, DO, pH), 

• Categorical description of river habitat present at the site (riffle, run, pool, etc.), 

• Coding describing riparian cover, 

• Coding defining the amount of embeddedness, 

• Bankfull width, 

• Wetted width, 

• Turbidity, 

• Total suspended solids, 

• Alkalinity, 

• True colour. 

There can be some question of independence of observations when identical 

measurements of some of the habitat variables are applied to replicate measurements of 

benthos endpoints at any given location. For example, the same value for flow, 

temperature, and phosphorus concentration will be applied to each observation of 

invertebrate biomass in any year, season, and location combination. From a practical 

point of view it is reasonable to use this approach given that an animal in a given basket 

is exposed to the same P concentration (as an example) as an animal in another basket 

at the same location at the same time. From a statistical point of view those observations 

may not be regarded as being truly independent because the same value was used on 

different observations of benthos biomass. To resolve this problem, Perrin (2001) 

calculated the mean of each dependent and independent variable for each combination 

of year, season, and location. The result reduced the number of observations from 144 

to 48 for use in modelling trials involving data from 1996 and 2000. That sample size is 

at the low end of what is desirable for regressions in the CBM. Increased sample size is 

also needed to explore the new modeling approach that is outlined in Section 1. 

Sampling in 2008-2010 will add 80 new benthic invertebrate observations (4 

baskets x 5 locations x 4 seasons) and 60 new periphyton observations (3 plates x 5 

locations x 4 seasons). These new data can be compared to those from the same 

seasons before change in flow to test for a time effect, by reach or station, in which flow 

may contribute to change in values of observations. If the same approach is used to 

consolidate observations over concern of independence for regression-based modeling, 

20 statistically independent benthic invertebrate observations will be added for a total of 

68 statistically independent observations (44 from 1996 and 2000, 4 from 2005, 20 from 

2008-2010). Slightly fewer new periphyton biomass observations will be added because 

periphyton was not measured in 2005. Supplementary sampling of fish stomach 

contents is being done to increase sample size for analysis of links between benthos 

and food that fish ingest in the Cheakamus River. 

Present sampling is occurring over two years (2008 and 2009). Summer samples 

were collected in July - September 2008. Winter samples were collected in January – 


November 2009


March, 2009. Spring and fall samples will be collected later in 2009. The resulting data 

will be appended to existing physical, chemical, and biological data from 1996, 2000, 

and 2005. All data is being compiled into an Access database for storage and retrieval 

as needed. The final statistical analyses and modeling will be completed in 2010. 


November 2009


Figure 1: Cheakamus River monitoring locations as defined from previous sampling by 

Perrin (2001). 


November 2009


3 2BTASK PROGRESS 

3.1 5BTask List 

A series of 8 tasks were laid out at the start of the project in 2008 and they have 

not changed. They include: 

1. Project management, 

2. Scoping meeting to approve the project design, review safety procedures, safety 

training, 

3. Preparation of samplers, 

4. Field sampling and analysis of samples in laboratories, 

5. Access fish stomach samples from crews working on fish assessment projects in the 

Cheakamus River and complete the enumeration of contents identified at the lowest 

reliable taxonomic level, 

6. Data analysis and modeling, 

7. Performance measure development, 

8. Reporting and database compilation. 

Progress on each task is outlined in the following sections and it is summarized in Table 

1. 

Table 1. Summary of progress by task. 

Task 

number 

1 Project 

management 


• Ongoing by Chris Perrin. 

• Tasks include budget 

management, organization of 

logistics, scheduling, preparation 

and execution of a health and 

safety plan, technical review, data 

organization, liaison with 

laboratories, direction of database 

development, client liaison, and 

communication with regulatory 

agencies as needed. 

• Project remains on schedule and 

on budget 

• BC Hydro is aware of management 

activities through email and 

telephone communications. 

• Ongoing. 


November 2009


Task 

number 


2 Scoping 

meeting, review 

of safety 

procedures, 

safety training 

3 Field 

preparation 

• Scoping meeting completed June 

3, 2008. Decisions were made to 

accept the sampling and modeling 

design as described in the 

Limnotek proposal dated April 23, 

2008. 

• The scoping meeting was followed 

with preparation of a health and 

safety plan that was submitted and 

accepted by BC Hydro on June 10, 

2008. 

• Lockout training (WPP Categories 

A and B) was completed by all 

team members by the end of July 

2008 and local component training 

was completed on the first 

sampling day in August 2008. 

• Periphyton plates, invertebrate 

baskets, and associated hardware 

and materials were prepared in 

August 2008 for use in each 


• Field instruments and other 

sampling materials were prepared 

for use in August 2008. They are 

checked and serviced at the start 

and finish of each sampling 

episode. 

• Custom field sheets for weekly and 

end-of-series measurement of 

habitat attributes and task check-off 

was prepared in August 2008 and 

is edited as needed following 

sampling episodes. 

• Field safety forms (tailboard and 

daily trip and check-in log) were 

prepared in August 2008 and 

continue to be edited as needed to 

make them easy to use. 

• Completed June through 

August 2008. 

• All gear assembled in 

August 2008 and 

checked before each 



November 2009


Task 

number 


4 Field Sampling 

and analysis in 

laboratories 

• Summer sampling series 

completed in August – September 

2008. 

• Chemical analysis of water 

samples and analysis of 

chlorophyll-a concentration from 

periphyton samples from the 

summer sampling is complete and 

data are in spreadsheets awaiting 

upload to the database. 

• With one exception, data of habitat 

attributes from the summer 

sampling is in spreadsheets 

awaiting upload to the database. 

The exception is site-specific flow 

data that will be provided by 

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants 

(NHC). NHC is waiting for higher 

spring flows to complete rating 

curves that will be used to calculate 

site-specific flows from gauge 

readings. 

• Summer benthic invertebrate 

enumerations and biomass 

measurements are complete. Data 

are presently being appended to 

similar data from 1996, 2000 and 

2005. QAQC for appending of data 

is complex because the count and 

biomass for each taxon must be 

matched with the same taxon from 

earlier years. Some nomenclature 

has changed over time so matching 

of taxa requires linking different 

names or combinations of names. 

Data from more than 170 taxa has 

to be matched and checked for 

accuracy. 

• Summer periphyton identifications 

and cell enumerations are 

complete. Data are being 

appended to that from 1996 and 

2000 and QAQC is being applied 

as described above for benthic 

invertebrates. 

• Summer series complete. 

• Winter series complete. 

• Spring series to be done 

in May – June 2009. 

• Fall series to be done in 

October – December 

2009. 


November 2009


Task 

number 


5 Fish stomach 

content analysis 

6 Data analysis 

and modeling 

• Winter sampling series was 

completed in February – March 

2009. 

• Analysis of winter water samples is 

in process. 

• Compilation of other winter habitat 

data is in process 

• Winter invertebrate and periphyton 

enumerations are queued for June 

and July 2009. 

• Samples of rainbow trout stomachs 

were acquired from Golder 

Associates from their sampling 

between the canyon and Daisy 

Dam in November 2008. Contents 

of those samples have been 

identified and enumerated and 

await upload to the database. 

• A second set of samples will be 

supplied by Josh Korman from his 

sampling of coho and steelhead fry 

and parr that is presently ongoing 

in reaches downstream of the 

canyon. 

• Data will be used in 2010 to 

examine similarities between food 

produced in the river and food 

ingested by the valued fish 

populations. 

• All raw data from the summer and 

winter sampling is presently being 

acquired from labs or is awaiting 

upload to the Access database. 

• Exploratory data analysis may 

proceed before all sampling is 

complete and data is available. 

Final data analysis and modeling is 

expected to proceed in February – 

April, 2010. 

• Rainbow trout samples 

from upstream of the 

canyon received and 

enumerated. 

• Salmonid stomach 

samples from sites 

downstream of the 

canyon are presently 

being collected. 

• Exploratory analyses 

ongoing once database 

downloads can start in 

June 2009. 

• Complete analyses to be 

finalized in February – 

April, 2010. 


November 2009


Task 

number 

7 Performance 

measure 

development 

8 Reporting and 

Database 

compilation 


3.2 6BProject Management 

• Performance measures will be 

developed at the time of statistical 

analysis and modeling in February 

– April 2010. 

• Following submission of this 

progress report, a draft project 

report is expected to be submitted 

on May 31,2010 and a final report 

on July 31, 2010. 

• Database is under development 

and is expected to be ready for 

upload of new data by May 31, 

2009. It will be populated with new 

data upon availability. 

• Data uploads are being tested 

followed by adjustments and further 

tests using Cheakamus benthos 

and habitat data from 1996 and 

2000. 

• To be done in February – 

April, 2010. 

• Database structure to be 

complete by May 31, 

2009. 

• Uploads to the database 

to proceed as data 

becomes available. 

• Most downloads will 

occur in February – April, 

2010 during data analysis 

and modeling. 

• Draft report to be 

submitted May 31, 2010. 

• Final report to be 

submitted July 31, 2010. 

The project is being managed by Chris Perrin, senior systems ecologist at 

Limnotek. Tasks include budget management to ensure costs stay in line with budget 

limits, organization of logistics, scheduling, preparation and execution of a health and 

safety plan, technical review, data organization, lab liaison, team organization, and client 

liaison. Chris Perrin is also communicating with regulatory agencies as necessary. This 

situation has occurred once to date. During the winter sampling series algal biomass at 

upstream stations was very high and possibly exceeded Provincial water quality 

guidelines. As part of due diligence, Ministry of Environment personnel were informed of 

the observations following discussion with Brent Mossop, one of the BC Hydro contract 

authorities. 

A change to personnel was made in early 2009. The death of Kiyo Masuda, crew 

chief from Limnotek, required a shift in team responsibilities for the remainder of the 

project. The project manager, Chris Perrin, is now participating more in field activities, 

taking on responsibilities previously done by Kiyo as well as project management tasks. 

This change is proving to be a benefit with fewer levels of communication among team 

members and more direct observation in the field by Chris Perrin than was possible 


November 2009


earlier in the project. These changes will improve the eventual interpretation of modeling 

outcomes by Chris Perrin. There is no change to the project budget from these changes 

in personnel. 

The project remains on schedule and on budget. As part of project management 

activities, the budget is reviewed monthly and its status is reported to the project 

authority at BC Hydro. The last status report for February 28, 2009 showed expected 

costs to date and expected budget remaining. 

3.3 7BScoping Meeting and Review of Safety Procedures 

A scoping meeting was held June 3, 2008 in Vancouver between senior team 

members (Chris Perrin and Kiyo Masuda) and the project authorities (Ian Dodd and 

Brent Mossop). The proposed work plan was approved in its entirety. Work will include 

consideration of different modeling approaches as well as the CBM for use in 

determining the importance of variation in flow for river health. The meeting was 

followed with preparation of a project – specific health and safety plan that was 

submitted to BC Hydro on June 10, 2008. No changes to this plan were required. This 

plan contained details and procedures that were discussed and approved during the 

scoping meeting. We were informed that lockout procedures at Daisy Dam were 

required for sampling at CH4, which is located immediately downstream of the Daisy 

spillway. Consequently, all team members completed the work place practice safety 

course at BC Hydro in July 2008, before field work commenced. On the first day of field 

work, the team received local component training at Daisy Dam to become familiar with 

all lockout procedures at the dam. These procedures were followed on each day of 

sampling at CH4 during both the summer 2008 and winter 2009 sampling that is now 

complete and they will continue to be followed for the remaining sampling in spring and 

fall 2009. During the scoping meeting, we were provided with names of people to contact 

to make arrangements for routine lockouts during the sampling periods. 

3.4 8BPreparation for Field Sampling 

Artificial substrata described by Perrin (2001) are being used for all 

measurements of periphyton and benthic invertebrate composition, abundance, and 

biomass. Each periphyton sampling surface is a 30 x 30 x 0.64 cm sheet of open celled 

Styrofoam (Floracraft Corp. Pomona Corp. CA) attached to a waterproofed plywood 

plate and bolted to a concrete block (Figure 2). Benthic invertebrates are being collected 

using a chicken barbecue basket (30 cm long x 14 cm wide x 14 cm deep; surface area of 

0.042 m 2 ) filled with gravel having a standard diameter of 2.5 - 3.5 cm (Figure 3). All 

samplers were pre-fabricated and assembled in August before the summer sampling 

series started later that month. In addition, a temperature logger (StowAway 


November 2009


temperature logger, Onset Computer Corp. Pocasset, MA) was assigned for attachment 

to a periphyton plate at each site during each sampling series. Similarly, field 

instruments, miscellaneous sampling hardware, and other supplies were prepared in 

August 2008 for later use. All equipment is checked that it is in good working order and 

supplies are acquired before each sampling series and it is re-checked and stored for 

next use as part of demobilization procedures following the completion of each sampling 

episode. 

A custom field data sheet was prepared in August 2008 for weekly 

measurements of water quality, irradiance, velocity, and depth at each sampler. The 

sheet provides a check list to ensure that all necessary tasks and measurements are 

completed at each site. The sheet was modified during the summer 2008 and winter 

2009 as necessary to make it easy to use. 

Another field sheet was prepared in August 2008 for recording a wide range of 

habitat attributes at each site. These attributes are relatively static (e.g. particle size 

distribution, composition of riparian vegetation, cover, etc.) and do not need to be 

measured more than once during each series. This form is filled out at the end of each 

sampling series. 

Field forms were also prepared as part of safety procedures and they continue to 

be used. One is a standard tailboard form that is filled out at the start of each field day to 

review safety concerns and procedures. The other is a daily trip and check-in log that 

provides information on crew members, vehicle type, and daily schedule that is left with 

a contact person based in Squamish during each field day. 


November 2009


Figure 2. Image of periphyton plate following the 50-day incubation in winter at CH6, 

2009. 

Figure 3. Wire basket filled with gravel used for sampling benthic invertebrates. 

3.5 9BField Sampling and Analysis in Laboratories 

Benthic invertebrates and periphyton are being sampled from the artificial 

substrata submerged over a time series of 40-50 days at each location in each of four 

seasons, conforming to methods used in past sampling (Perrin 2001). Four benthos 

samplers and three periphyton samplers are being installed and sampled at each of the 

five locations. Sampling in summer (August – September 2008) and winter (February – 

March 2009) was successfully completed. Spring and fall sampling will be completed 

later in 2009. 

Algal accrual on a plate is a function of cell settlement during a colonisation 

phase, actual growth, and losses associated with insect grazing, scour from suspended 

particulates and sloughing. Colonisation largely determines biomass in the first week of 

accrual but thereafter colonisation is insignificant relative to growth. In this project, 

periphyton biomass is of particular interest because it is biomass that is available to 

higher trophic levels. Peak biomass (PB) during the accrual series is a function of actual 

growth and can be used in place of growth for spatial and temporal comparisons 

(Bothwell 1989). PB is the highest concentration of chlorophyll-a attained on a given 

substrate during an accrual series, which typically occurs within the last half of the 

incubation period. To capture PB, chlorophyll-a concentrations are being measured on 

periphyton samples collected from the last 4 weekly sampling dates from all substrates 


November 2009


and all locations during each time series. For the summer series, a description of the 

accrual curve is being recorded by analysing samples from the complete time series at 

CH4 and CH5, where extremes in biomass were found (low biomass at CH4 and high 

biomass at CH5). These analyses are not part of project budgeting but are being done 

with anticipation of cost savings elsewhere in the budget. Similar descriptions of accrual 

curves will be acquired for the other seasons as budget permits. 

Each periphyton sampler is submerged in water depths of 8 – 50 cm in riffle or 

run habitat at each site. Once per week for at least 6 weeks, a 2 cm diameter core of 

the styrofoam and the adhered biomass is removed using the open end of a 7 dram 

plastic vial and analysed for chlorophyll-a concentration using fluorometric procedures 

reported by Holm-Hansen et al (1965) and Nusch (1980). These analyses are being run at 

the Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Cultus Lake lab. 

On the final sampling day of each series, one additional core is removed from 

each substrate and preserved in Lugol's solution for taxonomic identification and 

enumeration. The composition of the periphyton communities is determined from cell 

counts, by species, made at 500x magnification after settlement in Utermohl chambers. 

Only cells containing cytoplasm are being enumerated. A minimum of 100 individuals of 

the most abundant species and a minimum of 300 cells in total are counted. Cells of 

filamentous taxa are separated from counts of unicellular taxa. Cell counts are 

extrapolated to biovolume based on known volumes of algal taxa. 

The invertebrate baskets are installed at each location at the same time that the 

periphyton substrata are installed. They are placed in riffles or runs in water depths of 15 

- 50 cm. The baskets are embedded with the top surface flush with the top of the natural 

gravel or they are lodged between larger cobble and boulders where ambient substrate 

particle sizes are large. On the day of final periphyton sampling, the baskets are 

retrieved. A 250 μm mesh Nitex dip net is placed behind the basket. The complete net 

and basket assembly is lifted out of the water and the basket is placed into a collection 

bucket. This retrieval method prevents loss of animals. In the collection bucket, the 

baskets are opened; the invertebrates are brushed from the gravel and preserved in 

10% formalin. In the laboratory, each sample is washed through a 1 mm and 250 μm 

mesh sieve to yield a macrobenthos fraction (>1 mm) and a microbenthos fraction (250 um). In this process, all animals are picked from twigs, grasses, clumps of 

algae, and other debris and returned to the top sieve. Microbenthos is split into 4 to 16 

subsamples using a large plankton splitter with the number of splits increasing with 

animal abundance. Sub-samples of microbenthos are enumerated until 200 animals are 

counted. If a count of 200 animals is reached part way through the sorting of a subsample, 

that entire sub-sample is counted. The complete macrobenthos fraction is 

enumerated. Total sample count is the microbenthos subsample count multiplied by the 

number of subsample splits plus the count of macrobenthos. The animals are identified 


November 2009


to lowest reliable taxonomic level using keys in Edmundson (1959), Merritt and 

1 

Cummins (1996), and Pennak (1978) by a taxonomist who is NABS certifiedF F. 

A description of QAQC prepared by Glozier et al. (2002) is followed as a 

laboratory protocol. QAQC tests include sorting efficiency, sub-sampling precision, and 

sub-sampling accuracy. A basic rule is that 10% of all samples will be resorted. A target 

for acceptable sorting is that >90% of the sample must be enumerated on the first sort. 

If this 90% efficiency is found, the animals that are found on a second sort will not be 

included in the sample count. If the efficiency is 10% of the total count is 

found on a second sort), then all samples in the group of samples to which the test 

applied will require resorting. Based on the review by Glozier et al. (2002), acceptable 

accuracy and precision will be defined as ±80%. 

After enumeration, invertebrate biomass is determined for each sample using a 

digitizing program, called Zoobbiom Version 1.3, developed by Hopcroft (1991). The 

digitizing system includes a dissecting microscope, drawing tube, digitizing 

SummaSketch III tablet with a cross-hair mouse equipped with a diode, and the digitizing 

program used to process the data. The software has been customized for selected 

families and consequently specific measurements are required for each taxon. Biomass 

is determined from single endpoints for measurements of individuals with straightshaped 

bodies while multiple measurements are made along a curve for organisms with 

bent bodies. The drawing tube transfers a point of light emitted by a diode on the mouse 

and makes it appear on the image that is being viewed through the microscope. When 

the images of the diode and the organism being measured overlap, the cursor button on 

the mouse is pushed. Coordinates from the digitizing tablet are sent to the computer to 

convert data to length. An invertebrate length-to-weight regression is used to estimate 

biomass of each individual (Benke et al. 1999, Smock 1980). Up to 25 random length 

measurements per taxa are taken and the final biomass is expressed in mg/sample. 

One water sample is collected from each location at the start and finish of each 

sampler submergence period. All water samples are analysed in the lab for a suite of 

analytes including SRP, TDP, TP, NO3-N, NH4-N, TN, TDS, total suspended solids, 

alkalinity, and true colour. The N:P ratio is determined from molar concentrations of DIN 

(NO3-N plus NH4-N) and SRP, which are the forms of N and P that are considered 

biologically available and are detectable in the Cheakamus River. All samples for analysis 

of dissolved fractions will be filtered within a few hours of collection through 0.45 μm preashed 

glass fibre filters. The filtered water is dispensed to two 125 ml poly bottles and 

frozen for later analysis of SRP, NO3-N, and NH4-N and to one pyrex test tube that is 

kept cold for later analysis of TDP. Another pyrex test tube is filled in the field for 

analysis of TP. These nutrient samples are delivered to the DFO lab at Cultus Lake for 

analysis. Samples for the TP and TDP analysis are digested and analysed using Menzel 

1 Taxonomic certification by the North American Benthological Society (NABS) is considered 

evidence of excellence in the identification of benthic invertebrates in North American waters. 

Certification is achieved by passing examinations in the identification of preserved specimens. 


November 2009


and Corwin’s (1965) potassium persulfate method. SRP is analysed using the 

molybdenum blue method (Murphy and Riley 1962). NH4-N and NO3-N are analysed 

using a Technicon autoanalyzer (Stainton et al. 1977). The sum of NH4-N and NO3-N is 

called dissolved inorganic N (DIN). QAQC procedures include tests of field blanks and 

duplicates. All analyses not run at the Cultus lab are run at the Pacific Environmental 

Science Centre (North Vancouver, B.C.). A 1 L poly bottle is submitted for analysis of 

these analytes. All analyses at PESC are run using standard methods (APHA 2007). 

Other habitat attributes that will be used as predictor variables in modeling are 

measured at the start and/or finish of each sampling series. Digital photographs are 

taken at the end of the sampling series to provide a visual record of site conditions and 

the appearance of the artificial samplers. A visual estimate is made of the percent of the 

stream reach that is comprised of pool, a combination of glide and run, riffle, and 

cascades. Measurements of the wetted and bankfull width is taken from three well 

spaced locations at each site using an Opti-Logic (Tullahoma, TN) rangefinder. A visual 

ranking (1=none to 4=abundant) of the wetted surface area that contains each of the 

following cover types: woody debris, boulders, undercut banks, deep pools, and 

overhanging vegetation is made. A ranking is applied to each cover type. Dominant 

riparian vegetation is identified where 1=barren, 2=grass/herb, 3=shrub, 4=deciduous 

tree, 5=conifer, 6=mixed forest, 7=mixed shrub and forest. A ranking of the structural 

stage of forest is made where 1=non-vegetated or initial stage following disturbance with 


measured at each sampler using a Swoffer Instruments (Seattle, WA) velocity sensor 

and meter stick respectively. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is measured at 

the water surface and at the sampler depth using an irradiance meter that specifically 

measures PAR and is equipped with an underwater quantum sensor. Other weekly 

measurements include conductivity, total dissolved solids, DO, pH, and turbidity that are 

measured in-situ using a YSI 6920 multiparameter Sonde that is calibrated on the day of 

measurement. The average value of these weekly measurements for each variable will 

be used in subsequent statistical analysis and modeling. This means that loss of some 

measurements perhaps due to adverse site conditions that prevents sampling due to 

safety concerns or unexpected instrument error will not cause problems with the ultimate 

data used for later analyses. It only means the average values that make up single 

observations for modeling will be based on different numbers of measurements during a 

sampling time series. Difference in sample size for these weekly habitat measurements 

is not a problem for later statistical analyses. 

Temperature is logged in hourly intervals over the complete sampling time series 

each season using a StowAway submersible temperature logger (Onset Computer 

Corp. Pocasset, MA) attached to a basket or plate at each of the five sites. 

Reach-specific flows are being acquired from Northwest Hydraulic Consultants 

(NHC) Ltd. as part of data sharing among consultants working on the Cheakamus water 

use plan. NHC is presently constructing site specific rating curves for locations close to 

those sampled in this project. Once complete, those rating curves will be used to 

determine daily mean flow at each sampling site using measurements of flow released 

from Daisy Dam and gauged flow at Brackendale. Limnotek is presently waiting for flow 

data dating back to the start of the project in August 2008. 

Laboratory analyses and compilation of biological and habitat data are in different 

stages of completion from the sampling in summer 2008 and winter 2009 (Table 1). All 

lab work on biological and chemical samples collected in summer is complete and 

resulting data is presently being appended to data from the earlier projects. It will then 

be uploaded to an Access database that is under development. Data describing other 

habitat attributes from the summer is compiled in spreadsheets awaiting upload to the 

database. An exception is the flow data described above, which will be compiled and 

uploaded to the database once it is received from NHC. Laboratory analyses are 

underway on samples collected in winter. This lab work is expected to be completed in 

July 2009. It will be followed by compilation of the resulting data into the database in late 

summer or fall 2009. 

3.6 10BFish Stomach Content Analysis 

Two batches of fish stomach samples are being supplied by people working on 

other Cheakamus WLR projects. Rainbow trout stomachs have been received from 


November 2009


Golder Associates who, with people of the Squamish Nation, are working on stranding 

studies downstream of Daisy Dam (Golder 2009). Guts from fish that were caught during 

electrofishing in November 2008 and died during processing were removed from the 

body cavity, sliced open, and preserved in 10% formalin in sealed Whirlpack plastic 

bags. In the lab, bag contents and organisms in the gut and stomach were washed into a 

microscope tray. Under a dissecting microscope, biological material was identified to the 

lowest reliable taxon and counted. Head counts were used for the enumeration of partly 

digested animals. These data are presently in spreadsheets awaiting upload to the 

database. A second set of samples consisting of coho and steelhead fry and parr is 

presently being collected by Josh Korman as part of electroshocking for estimates of 

juvenile salmonid population size in reaches downstream of the canyon. Once received, 

those samples will be cued for enumeration. No further stomach samples will be 

accessed under terms of the present contract for benthic community monitoring. 

Later in 2009 and as part of final analyses in 2010, the stomach content data will 

be compared to benthic invertebrate assemblages to determine similarities between food 

produced in the Cheakamus River and organisms ingested by salmonid populations. 

3.7 11BData Analysis and Modeling 

All raw data acquired from the summer and winter sampling is awaiting upload to 

an Access database that is presently under development (see Section 3.9). Once all 

data from the present field and lab work and past data are uploaded, standard queries 

will be used to access specific data for statistical analysis and modeling. Exploratory 

data analyses may proceed before all data is compiled but final data analysis and 

modeling is expected to proceed in February – April 2010. 

Statistical analysis and modeling as outlined in Section 1 is expected to proceed 

in two steps with some modification depending on findings along the way. Cluster 

analysis and ordination techniques (i.e. multidimensional scaling (MDS)) will be used to 

identify groups of samples based on the Bray Curtis measure of similarity. These 

groups may correspond to gradients downstream of the dam, time course change in 

composition and abundance of invertebrates, or both. A subsequent analysis called 

SIMPER, in Primer software (Clarke and Gorley 2006), will reveal what taxa are most 

important in defining similarities within sample groups and dissimilarities among sample 

groups. Those taxa will be considered key indicators of change in habitat attributes, 

including flow, in the Cheakamus River. The indicators may include single taxa or 

combinations of taxa (e.g. all mayflies or mayflies plus stoneflies plus caddisflies). 

Discriminant function analysis (DFA) run in Systat v11 (Systat 2004) or BEST run in 

Primer will then be used to examine what habitat attributes are most important in 

discriminating the sample groups defined by clustering and ordination. DFA produces a 

model that can be used to determine what assemblage of organisms would be expected 


November 2009


for a given set of habitat attributes. BEST finds correlations between a sample matrix of 

biological data and a matrix of habitat attributes to identify most important habitat 

variables that are correlated with variation in biological assemblages. If flow or some 

metric of flow (e.g. coefficient of variation of flow, maximum or minimum flow during a 

sampling series, mean flow, etc.) is one of the discriminating variables, the second 

modeling step will proceed. A regression model will be produced to show change in 

abundance or biomass of a biological indicator as a function of discriminating variables 

found from the DFA or BEST analyses. In this way the modeling will allow exploration of 

shifts in the complete invertebrate assemblage and thus river health with amendment of 

flow and related attributes and it will support analysis of relative change in key biotic 

indicators or performance measures (an invertebrate metric) as a function of flow or 

related attributes. Most importantly, the analyses will indicate the relative importance of 

flow in determining river health as indicated by benthic invertebrate assemblages. 

At present, periphyton biomass and composition is expected to be used for 

descriptive purposes. Because periphyton is responsive to nutrient fluxes in the river, 

those data will be used to examine temporal and spatial shifts in trophic state. 

Assessment of trophic state in combination with the invertebrate modeling will be an 

ideal combination for describing health of the Cheakamus River. 

3.8 12BPerformance Measure Development 

Performance measures are defined as biological indicators of river condition. 

These indicators will be assemblages or individual taxa of benthic invertebrates that are 

known to reflect change in river health. Sometimes these indicators are called “metrics” 

(Karr and Chu 1999). We will call them performance measures (PM) to maintain 

consistency with WLR terminology. PMs will be developed using the statistical 

procedures outlined in Section 3.7. Briefly, SIMPER (Clarke and Gorley 2006) will reveal 

what taxa are most important in defining similarities within sample groups and 

dissimilarities among sample groups that are defined by clustering and ordination. Those 

taxa will be considered PMs. They will be key indicators of change in habitat attributes, 

including flow in the Cheakamus River. 

PM development will occur at the time of final statistical analyses in February – 

April 2010. 

3.9 13BReporting and Database Compilation 

Following submission of this progress report, a draft project report is expected to 

be submitted on May 31, 2010 and a final report on July 31, 2010. In the interim, short 

progress notes distributed by email will be used to inform contract authorities that key 


November 2009


tasks have been completed. These communications will provide information on new and 

novel findings that arise from field sampling, ongoing analyses, and data compilations. 

The database will allow us to create queries for specific parts of the multifaceted 

dataset for various analyses with relative ease. The database will also be part of final 

deliverables. 

The database is under development. All information is structured around a 

‘sampling event’ that is defined as an episode when data is collected or recorded in the 

field. Each sampling event is linked to a ‘Sites’ and an ‘Events’ table that provides a way 

to connect the data to when and where it was collected. For import into the database, 

data are compiled in Excel spreadsheets by ‘sample type’ (e.g. periphyton accrual, 

periphyton taxonomy, invertebrate counts, invertebrate biomass, water quality analytes). 

Figure 4 shows the relationship between core database tables and one of the sample 

types, in this case benthic invertebrate counts. The ‘Sites’ table contains fixed location 

information including the station (site name) and replicate number (sub area). The 

‘Events’ table describes the date and time the event started and ended, along with the 

sample type, season, and any comments. Some types of sampling events are also 

linked to a ‘Site_Attributes’ table that contains habitat data measured at the time of a 

sampling event. Attributes can include wetted width, water depth over sampler, 

instantaneous temperature, turbidity, the number of days since installation, water 

velocity at the sampler, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). For tracking and 

administrative purposes, each record in the database is linked to an ‘Import’ table where 

metadata such as the date of import, type of data imported, and name of the original 

excel file are recorded. The benthic invertebrate and periphyton data (counts and 

biomass or biovolume) are also linked to a ‘Taxonomic groups’ table. In the benthic 

invertebrate example, this table is undergoing modifications to allow the data to be 

imported at the lowest taxonomic level (e.g. genus) and exported at taxonomic levels 

defined by the user (e.g. common name, groups defined by the user, or family level). 

Benthos and habitat data from 1996, 1999-2000, and 2005 is being used to test 

upload and download scripts. This testing results in modifications that lead to further 

testing until scripts are found to be error free. Testing is expected to be complete by May 

31 2009, ready for upload of available data at that time. Other adjustments are also in 

progress to add variables to existing tables. All measurements recorded during each 

sampling series including water chemistry analytes, benthic invertebrate counts and 

biomass, periphyton counts and biomass, and other habitat attributes listed in Section 2 

will be included in the database tables by May 31, 2009. The database will be populated 

with new data as it becomes available. 


November 2009


Figure 4. Example of relationships between benthic invertebrate count data and 

descriptive tables in the database under development. 

4 3BRECOMMENDATIONS 

No change to project methods or approach is required. The field and lab methods 

are well established and they must be maintained as standard procedures to avoid 

confounding of results by variation in method between datasets. No new procedures or 

measurements are required and none should be deleted. 

Safety procedures are working well and do not need to be changed. During the 

summer sampling, some delays were encountered in sampling CH4 due to unavailability 

of a person in charge (BC Hydro electrician) for lockout at Daisy Dam. This difficulty has 

been resolved with improved scheduling of personnel by BC Hydro, which resulted in no 

delays during the winter sampling. With all people now familiar with the sampling 

activities and lockout procedures, delays are not expected to arise during the spring and 

fall sampling. 


November 2009


5 4BLIST OF REFERENCES 

APHA. 2007. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20th ed. 

American Public Health Association, Washington, DC. 

BC Hydro. 2007. Cheakamus Project Water Use Plan: Monitoring program terms of 

reference. BC Hydro. Burnaby, B.C. 125p. 

Benke, A. C., A., A. D. Huryn, L. A. Smock, and J. B. Wallace. 1999. Length-mass 

relationships for freshwater macroinvertebrates in North America with particular 

reference to the southeastern United States. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 18:308-343. 

Bothwell, M.L. 1989. Phosphorus-limited growth dynamics of lotic periphyton diatom 

communities: areal biomass and cellular growth rate responses. Can. J. Fish. 

Aquat. Sci. 46:1293-1301. 

Clarke, K.R. and R.N. Gorley. 2006. PRIMER v6: User Manual/Tutorial. PRIMER-E: 

Plymouth. UK. 

Edmondson, W.T. 1959. Fresh water biology. 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 

1248 pp. 

Glozier, N.E., J.M. Culp, and D. Halliwell. 2002. Revised guidance for sample sorting 

and sub-sampling protocols for EEM benthic invertebrate community surveys. 

National Water Research Institute. Environment Canada. Saskatoon Sask. 

Golder. 2009. Cheakamus River water use plan: Monitoring stranding downstream of 

Daisy Lake Dam. Report prepared by Golder Associates Ltd. and Squamish 

Nation for BC Hydro. 22p plus appendices. 

Holm-Hansen, O., C.J. Lorenzen, R.W. Holmes, and J.D.H. Strickland. 1965. Fluorometric 

determination of chlorophyll. J. Cons. Perm. Int. Explor. Mer. 30:3-15. 

Hopcroft, R. 1991. Zooplankton biomass digitizing program. Version 1.3.Zoology Dep. 

Guelph University. 

Karr, J.R. and E.W. Chu. 1999. Restoring Life in Running Waters: Better Biological 

Monitoring. Island Press, Washington, DC. 

Marmorek, D. R. and I. Parnell. 2002. Cheakamus River water use plan: report of the 

Consultative Committee. BC Hydro. Burnaby, B.C. 235p. 

Menzel, D.W. and N. Corwin. 1965. The measurement of total phosphorus in seawater 

based on liberation of organically bound fractions by persulfate oxidation. Limnol. 

Oceanogr. 10: 280-282. 

Merritt, R.W. and K.W. Cummins, eds. 1996. An introduction to the aquatic insects of 

North America, 3rd ed. Kendall/Hunt, Dubuque, Iowa. 862 pp. 


November 2009


Murphy, J.A. and J.P. Riley. 1962. A modified single solution method for the 

determination of inorganic phosphate in natural waters. Anal. Chim. Acta. 27: 31- 

36. 

Nusch, E.A. 1980. A comparison of different methods for chlorophyll and pheopigment 

analysis. Ergebn. Limnol. 14: 14-36. 

Pennak, R.W. 1978. Fresh water invertebrates of the United States, 2nd ed. John Wiley 

& Sons, New York. 803 pp. 

Perrin, C.J. 2001. Trophic structure and function in the Cheakamus River for water use 

planning. Report prepared by Limnotek Research and Development Inc. for BC 

Hydro and Resort Municipality of Whistler. 67p. 

Perrin, C.J. 1998. Phosphorus transport and periphyton accrual in the Cheakamus River. 

Report prepared by Limnotek Research and Development Inc. for Resort 

Municipality of Whistler and BC Hydro.126p. 

Smock, L. A. 1980. Relationship between body size and biomass of aquatic insects. 

Freshwater Biology 10:375-383. 

Stainton, M.P., M.J. Chapel, and F.A. Armstrong. 1977. The chemical analysis of 

freshwater. 2nd. ed. Fish. Environ. Can. Misc. Spec. Publ. 25. 

SYSTAT 11 Software, Inc. 2004. SYSTAT 11 Statistics 1. Richmond, CA. 

Wentworth, C.K. 1922. A scale of grade and class terms for clastic sediments. Journal of 

Geology 30:377-392. 


November 2009

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