GMSMON-17 WILLISTON RESERVOIR TRIBUTARY - BC Hydro

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May 22, 2012 Report No. 1114920016-R-Rev0-2000 2 GMSMON-17 WILLISTON RESERVOIR TRIBUTARY HABITAT REVIEW addition to the first year (2011). As enhanced fish access could have an influence on amphibians (i.e., via predation), the monitoring program also includes an amphibian monitoring component. Field activities for the 2011 season are summarized in Table 1. As discussed in the Terms of Reference (TOR), information from this monitoring program will be used along with other monitoring projects to determine if changes to present operating elevations (e.g., lowering drawdown levels) would be beneficial for both fish and wildlife in Williston Reservoir (BC Hydro 2010). The primary objectives of this report are to: � � � address management questions identified in the “Scope and Objectives” Section 1.1; discuss findings of baseline data collection (2011) for fish, amphibian, bird and vegetation surveys; and, provide recommendations for future years of the monitoring program. Table 1: 2011 Field Program Summary. Period Field location Activity 9 to 14 May 14 to 18 May 7 to 8 June 8 to 12 Aug 13 to 18 Aug Six Mile Creek, Lamonti Creek Ole Creek, Factor Ross Creek Six Mile Creek, Lamonti Creek Six Mile Creek, Lamonti Creek Ole Creek, Factor Ross Creek fish habitat delineation, breeding bird point counts, time constrained amphibian searches, reconnaissance snorkel and angling fish surveys fish habitat delineation, breeding bird point counts, time constrained amphibian searches, reconnaissance snorkel and angling fish surveys breeding bird point counts, kick net sampling for fish eggs, fish spawning survey removal depletion fish surveys, vegetation monitoring, area constrain amphibian searches removal depletion fish surveys, vegetation monitoring, area constrain amphibian searches 1.1 Scope, Objectives, Management Questions and Hypotheses According the BC Hydro TOR for GMSMON-17, the objective of the monitoring program is to address the management questions identified in the following sections. The study area will include the tributaries selected for enhancement (selected as part of Trial Tributaries implementation project). The monitoring program will occur annually during the 10-year Williston Tributary Access Management Plan. At least one year of baseline data will be collected prior to the commencement of any enhancement activities. Data collection, data analyses, and reporting will be completed annually over the study period and a final study report will be produced in Year 10 that summarizes the results of the entire monitoring program and the conclusions that can be drawn pertaining to the management questions and hypotheses. According to the TOR, the general approach to the monitoring program is a before-after-impact study that will consist of annual fish surveys, fish habitat assessment, riparian vegetation assessment, songbird survey, as well as amphibian and amphibian-habitat inventory assessments.
1.1.1 Fish Surveys May 22, 2012 Report No. 1114920016-R-Rev0-2000 3 GMSMON-17 WILLISTON RESERVOIR TRIBUTARY HABITAT REVIEW Species deemed most suitable as receptors of the trial tributary enhancement monitoring program due to their social value, ecology, and life history characteristics include Arctic Grayling, Rainbow Trout, and Bull Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). All of these species are expected to be, at least in part, adfluvial (i.e., migrate between river and lake habitats and spawn in rivers) within the Williston system. Further, Bull Trout are blue-listed in BC, a designation given to species considered to be particularly sensitive or vulnerable to human activities and stochastic events (BC CDC 2011). Table 2 shows the approximate life history stages of these species from McPhail (2007). Table 2: Approximate annual life history stages of selected species from McPhail (2007). Arctic Grayling most commonly display a riverine life history; however, adfluvial and lacustrine populations also occur. This species is known for complex migrations between spawning, feeding, and overwintering habitats. In the Williston Reservoir, Arctic Grayling are known to overwinter in embayments and migrate into streams shortly after ice-out for spawning. They typically spawn at water temperatures of approximately 4°C. Spawning sites are selected in flowing water over coarse (2 to 4 cm) gravel and cobble substrate, in modest current (0.5 to 1.0 m/s) in shallow (10 to 40 cm) glide or run habitat. Incubation is typically one to three weeks. Fry are weak swimmers and take refuge along the shallow margin of streams. (McPhail 2007) Bull Trout are typically adfluvial though resident stream populations are also known. They spawn in the fall at water temps below 10°C. In the upper Peace system, Bull Trout typically select spawning sites with large gravel substrate (~4 cm) in water 30 to 40 cm deep with a velocity of 0.2 to 0.6 m/s, usually in areas of groundwater upwelling. Incubation periods are temperature dependant and may range from approximately two to four months. Fry typically emerge in early June and may rear in the stream for two to four years. (McPhail 2007) Rainbow Trout are typically adfluvial, though a few introduced populations are known to spawn over gravel substrates along lake shores. Rainbow Trout spawn in the spring and migration into spawning stream is triggered by water temperatures (5°C) and rising water level. Spawning sites are typically selected over gravelly substrate in variable water depths (15 cm to 2.5 m is typical) with water velocities of 0.3 to 0.9 m/s. Areas with subgravel flow seem to be preferred. Incubation is temperature dependent and ranges from approximately two weeks to two months, alevins remain in the gravel and emerge 32 to 42 days after hatching. Fry of lacustrine populations may migrate back into the lake after their first summer or may overwinter in the stream and migrate the following spring. (McPhail 2007) The key management question relating to fisheries within the Tributary Habitat Review monitoring program is: does fish abundance and diversity in tributaries increase as a result of enhancement? Another key management question related to fish is: is the area and quality of fish habitat created by the tributary enhancement maintained over time? The primary sampling objective of the riparian vegetation task is to address the management question posed above by collecting data necessary to draw inferences and to test the following null hypotheses: � Ho: Fish abundance and diversity in tributaries does not increase as a result of tributary enhancement; and
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GMSMON-17 WILLISTON RESERVOIR TRIBUTARY - BC Hydro

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