Brilliant Expansion Post-Project Monitoring – Fisheries Assessment of Brilliant Dam Tailwater 2010
Author: Golder Associates Ltd
The objective of this study was to assess the incremental effects of the Project on downstream fish resources in the Brilliant tailwater area. This report provides results and discussion based on the following: - seasonal fish species composition, relative abundance, life history, and fish use patterns; - habitat availability, suitability, and usage by fish; - discharge rates and water temperature; and, - comparisons between results of the 2000/2001 and 2010 studies and, where differences were identified, a discussion of possible reasons for those differences.
The pre- and post-Project comparisons of relative abundance, percentage composition in the catch, and catch-rate did not indicate any change in these metrics that could be attributed to incremental effects of Project operations. Any differences observed were within the normal seasonal or annual variations in these metrics that have been recorded during other studies on fish populations in the lower Kootenay River (Golder 2010). Examination of life history data collected did not reveal any substantive differences in the size of fish that would indicate a size, age, or maturity related shift in use patterns between the pre- and post-Project studies. Results of the angling survey also did not indicate any substantive changes in species availability or capture success.
The data clearly indicated that there are no substantive differences between pre- and post-Project fish use patterns in the Brilliant tailwater area and by extrapolation, that the habitat availability and suitability within the area have not been detrimentally affected by the Project. These results support the predictions in the Brilliant Expansion Project EACA of no net detrimental effects of Project construction and operation on fish or fish habitat in the Brilliant tailwater area.
The pre- and post-Project comparisons of relative abundance, percentage composition in the catch, and catch-rate did not indicate any change in these metrics that could be attributed to incremental effects of Project operations. Any differences observed were within the normal seasonal or annual variations in these metrics that have been recorded during other studies on fish populations in the lower Kootenay River (Golder 2010). Examination of life history data collected did not reveal any substantive differences in the size of fish that would indicate a size, age, or maturity related shift in use patterns between the pre- and post-Project studies. Results of the angling survey also did not indicate any substantive changes in species availability or capture success.
The data clearly indicated that there are no substantive differences between pre- and post-Project fish use patterns in the Brilliant tailwater area and by extrapolation, that the habitat availability and suitability within the area have not been detrimentally affected by the Project. These results support the predictions in the Brilliant Expansion Project EACA of no net detrimental effects of Project construction and operation on fish or fish habitat in the Brilliant tailwater area.
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Additional Info
Study Years: 2010, 2001, 2000
Published: 2011
Topics
Tags: Acipenser Transmontanus, Angler Surveys, Brilliant DamExpansion, Coregonus Clupeaformis, Discharge, Easter Brook Trout, Electrofishing, Fish Abundance, Fish Distribution, Fish Habitat, Flow, Kokanee, Kootenay River, Lake Whitefish, Monitoring, Mountain Whitefish, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Oncorhynchus Nerka, Population Assessment, Prosopium Williamsoni, Rainbow Trout, Salvelinus Fontinalus, Sander Vitreum, Walleye, Water Temperature, White SturgeonBrilliant Expansion Post-Project Monitoring – Fisheries Assessment of Brilliant Dam Tailwater 2010
Author: Golder Associates Ltd
Tags: Acipenser Transmontanus, Angler Surveys, Brilliant DamExpansion, Coregonus Clupeaformis, Discharge, Easter Brook Trout, Electrofishing, Fish Abundance, Fish Distribution, Fish Habitat, Flow, Kokanee, Kootenay River, Lake Whitefish, Monitoring, Mountain Whitefish, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Oncorhynchus Nerka, Population Assessment, Prosopium Williamsoni, Rainbow Trout, Salvelinus Fontinalus, Sander Vitreum, Walleye, Water Temperature, White Sturgeon
The objective of this study was to assess the incremental effects of the Project on downstream fish resources in the Brilliant tailwater area. This report provides results and discussion based on the following:
- seasonal fish species composition, relative abundance, life history, and fish use patterns;
- habitat availability, suitability, and usage by fish;
- discharge rates and water temperature; and,
- comparisons between results of the 2000/2001 and 2010 studies and, where differences were identified, a discussion of possible reasons for those differences.
Summary
The pre- and post-Project comparisons of relative abundance, percentage composition in the catch, and catch-rate did not indicate any change in these metrics that could be attributed to incremental effects of Project operations. Any differences observed were within the normal seasonal or annual variations in these metrics that have been recorded during other studies on fish populations in the lower Kootenay River (Golder 2010). Examination of life history data collected did not reveal any substantive differences in the size of fish that would indicate a size, age, or maturity related shift in use patterns between the pre- and post-Project studies. Results of the angling survey also did not indicate any substantive changes in species availability or capture success.
The data clearly indicated that there are no substantive differences between pre- and post-Project fish use patterns in the Brilliant tailwater area and by extrapolation, that the habitat availability and suitability within the area have not been detrimentally affected by the Project. These results support the predictions in the Brilliant Expansion Project EACA of no net detrimental effects of Project construction and operation on fish or fish habitat in the Brilliant tailwater area.