DDMMON-16 Lower Duncan River fish stranding impact monitoring: Year 9 Report
Author: Golder Associates Ltd
This report presents results from Years 1 to 9 of the LDR fish stranding impact monitoring program (FSIMP). In conjunction with other assessment tools being developed during the monitoring period, the FSIMP assesses Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) population level impacts associated with dam operations during the review period. Separate abundance estimates were conducted for Mountain Whitefish and Rainbow Trout juveniles. Hierarchical Bayesian Models (HBMs) were used to estimate total abundance. A fish stranding assessment followed the methodology developed for the Duncan River in 2004 [Strategy for Managing Fish Stranding Impacts in the lower Duncan River Associated with Flow Reductions at Duncan Dam (BC Hydro 2004)].
Based on the current state of knowledge, the flow reduction measures implemented under the Water Use Plan (water use plan) are effective at reducing fish stranding. Based on collected data and the life history of species present in the system, DDM operations can increase the risk of stranding in certain seasons and during periods of longer wetted histories. Based on the data collected up to April 2017, documented stranding rates of juvenile Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) are very low and are not believed to result in population level effects, while the current interstitial stranding estimates for juvenile Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are too uncertain to inform a confident total stranding estimate.
Based on the current state of knowledge, the flow reduction measures implemented under the Water Use Plan (water use plan) are effective at reducing fish stranding. Based on collected data and the life history of species present in the system, DDM operations can increase the risk of stranding in certain seasons and during periods of longer wetted histories. Based on the data collected up to April 2017, documented stranding rates of juvenile Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) are very low and are not believed to result in population level effects, while the current interstitial stranding estimates for juvenile Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are too uncertain to inform a confident total stranding estimate.
Resources Data:
Name: DDMMON-16-YR9-2018-12-05
Format: PDF
URL: https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/documents/corporate/environment-sustainability/water-use-planning/southern-interior/ddmmon-16-yr9-2018-12-05.pdf
Additional Info
Study Years: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
Published: 2018
Topics
Tags: Adaptive Stranding Development Program ASDP, DDMMON16, Discharge, Duncan Dam, Fish Stranding, Flow, Flow Ramping, Flow Reduction, Juvenile, Lardeau River, Lower Duncan River, Mountain Whitefish, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Operational Recommendations, Population, Prosopium Williamsoni, Rainbow Trout, Stranding Mechanism, WLRDDMMON-16 Lower Duncan River fish stranding impact monitoring: Year 9 Report
Author: Golder Associates Ltd
Tags: Adaptive Stranding Development Program ASDP, DDMMON16, Discharge, Duncan Dam, Fish Stranding, Flow, Flow Ramping, Flow Reduction, Juvenile, Lardeau River, Lower Duncan River, Mountain Whitefish, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Operational Recommendations, Population, Prosopium Williamsoni, Rainbow Trout, Stranding Mechanism, WLR
This report presents results from Years 1 to 9 of the LDR fish stranding impact monitoring program (FSIMP). In conjunction with other assessment tools being developed during the monitoring period, the FSIMP assesses Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) population level impacts associated with dam operations during the review period. Separate abundance estimates were conducted for Mountain Whitefish and Rainbow Trout juveniles. Hierarchical Bayesian Models (HBMs) were used to estimate total abundance. A fish stranding assessment followed the methodology developed for the Duncan River in 2004 [Strategy for Managing Fish Stranding Impacts in the lower Duncan River Associated with Flow Reductions at Duncan Dam (BC Hydro 2004)].
Summary
Based on the current state of knowledge, the flow reduction measures implemented under the Water Use Plan (water use plan) are effective at reducing fish stranding. Based on collected data and the life history of species present in the system, DDM operations can increase the risk of stranding in certain seasons and during periods of longer wetted histories. Based on the data collected up to April 2017, documented stranding rates of juvenile Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) are very low and are not believed to result in population level effects, while the current interstitial stranding estimates for juvenile Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are too uncertain to inform a confident total stranding estimate.