CLBMON-4. Kinbasket Reservoir: Kinbasket Reservoir Fish Stranding Assessment. Year 2 Annual Report – 2018
Author: S.M. Roias, R. Laubman, E. Plate, Sidney associates, B.C., Yucwmenlúcwu
The key objective was to qualitatively evaluate the extent of fish stranding caused by the annual drawdown of Kinbasket. The goal for Year 2 was to verify the spatially explicit risk assessment model prepared in Year 1 (Hanson and Nadeau. 2010).
Fishes were present in 78% (n=45) of sampled pools and distributed across the entire DDZ (within a range of 29 m in elevation). Fish presence and abundance did not vary between study area, fish stranding risk, or whether stranded pools had a channel connecting to the reservoir. Fish abundance was positively correlated with pool area and depth, indicating that larger and deeper pools contained more fishes. The average fish density for all pools sampled was 0.08 fish/m 2 +/- 0.03.
Most fishes (83%) were encountered in their juvenile life stage in all sampled pools containing fish. Adults and juveniles were observed in equal proportions for Peamouth Chub and Prickly Sculpin. The few salmonids observed (Bull Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Pygmy Whitefish) were juvenile.
Dead fish were present in 15 (26%) of the 45 isolated pools containing fish, and three of these pools also contained live fish. The abundance of dead fishes observed was negatively correlated with days of pool isolation, suggesting that as pools are isolated longer, they contain fewer dead fish. Seventy-six percent of dead fish could not be identified in the field due to deterioration but were likely sculpins, based on the fact that 99% of identifiable dead fish were sculpins. Most dead fish were observed in low elevation pools (below 735 mASL). Cause of mortality may be the result of pool freezing, since nine of the 10 stranded pools surveyed in February 2017 (first data logger trip for CLBMON-4) were completely frozen leaving no water in liquid form. Taxonomic diversity did not vary between reach, fish stranding risk or by elevation. The number of taxa observed per sampled pool ranged from 0 to 5, with most pools (58%) containing 1-2 taxa.
Fishes were present in 78% (n=45) of sampled pools and distributed across the entire DDZ (within a range of 29 m in elevation). Fish presence and abundance did not vary between study area, fish stranding risk, or whether stranded pools had a channel connecting to the reservoir. Fish abundance was positively correlated with pool area and depth, indicating that larger and deeper pools contained more fishes. The average fish density for all pools sampled was 0.08 fish/m 2 +/- 0.03.
Most fishes (83%) were encountered in their juvenile life stage in all sampled pools containing fish. Adults and juveniles were observed in equal proportions for Peamouth Chub and Prickly Sculpin. The few salmonids observed (Bull Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Pygmy Whitefish) were juvenile.
Dead fish were present in 15 (26%) of the 45 isolated pools containing fish, and three of these pools also contained live fish. The abundance of dead fishes observed was negatively correlated with days of pool isolation, suggesting that as pools are isolated longer, they contain fewer dead fish. Seventy-six percent of dead fish could not be identified in the field due to deterioration but were likely sculpins, based on the fact that 99% of identifiable dead fish were sculpins. Most dead fish were observed in low elevation pools (below 735 mASL). Cause of mortality may be the result of pool freezing, since nine of the 10 stranded pools surveyed in February 2017 (first data logger trip for CLBMON-4) were completely frozen leaving no water in liquid form. Taxonomic diversity did not vary between reach, fish stranding risk or by elevation. The number of taxa observed per sampled pool ranged from 0 to 5, with most pools (58%) containing 1-2 taxa.
Resources Data:
Name: CLBMON-4-YR2-2018-10-29
Format: PDF
URL: https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/documents/corporate/environment-sustainability/water-use-planning/southern-interior/clbmon-4-yr2-2018-10-29.pdf
Additional Info
Study Years: 2017, 2018
Published: 2018
CLBMON-4. Kinbasket Reservoir: Kinbasket Reservoir Fish Stranding Assessment. Year 2 Annual Report – 2018
Author: S.M. Roias, R. Laubman, E. Plate, Sidney associates, B.C., Yucwmenlúcwu
Tags: Bull Trout, Cyprinidae, Dewatering, Kinbasket Reservoir, Kokanee, Lake Chub, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Monitoring Recommendations, Peamouth Chub, Pool, Prickly Sculpin, Pygmy Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Risk Assessment, Stranding
The key objective was to qualitatively evaluate the extent of fish stranding caused by the annual drawdown of Kinbasket. The goal for Year 2 was to verify the spatially explicit risk assessment model prepared in Year 1 (Hanson and Nadeau. 2010).
Summary
Fishes were present in 78% (n=45) of sampled pools and distributed across the entire DDZ (within a range of 29 m in elevation). Fish presence and abundance did not vary between study area, fish stranding risk, or whether stranded pools had a channel connecting to the reservoir. Fish abundance was positively correlated with pool area and depth, indicating that larger and deeper pools contained more fishes. The average fish density for all pools sampled was 0.08 fish/m 2 +/- 0.03.
Most fishes (83%) were encountered in their juvenile life stage in all sampled pools containing fish. Adults and juveniles were observed in equal proportions for Peamouth Chub and Prickly Sculpin. The few salmonids observed (Bull Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Pygmy Whitefish) were juvenile.
Dead fish were present in 15 (26%) of the 45 isolated pools containing fish, and three of these pools also contained live fish. The abundance of dead fishes observed was negatively correlated with days of pool isolation, suggesting that as pools are isolated longer, they contain fewer dead fish. Seventy-six percent of dead fish could not be identified in the field due to deterioration but were likely sculpins, based on the fact that 99% of identifiable dead fish were sculpins. Most dead fish were observed in low elevation pools (below 735 mASL). Cause of mortality may be the result of pool freezing, since nine of the 10 stranded pools surveyed in February 2017 (first data logger trip for CLBMON-4) were completely frozen leaving no water in liquid form. Taxonomic diversity did not vary between reach, fish stranding risk or by elevation. The number of taxa observed per sampled pool ranged from 0 to 5, with most pools (58%) containing 1-2 taxa.