Kinbasket Reservoir White Sturgeon Inventory and Habitat Use Assessment

Author: Angela Prince

In total, 882 setlines were deployed for a total of 188 480 hook hours. While several burbot (n=297) and pikeminnow (n=41) were captured, sturgeon were not encountered during the sample sessions. Thus, it appears unlikely that sturgeon currently occupy the study area (Primary Management Question and Objective 1).

There is some interest in focusing on Kinbasket Reservoir as a potential recovery area. The term recovery refers to a population level that ensures the persistence and viability of naturally producing populations of white sturgeon and provides opportunities for beneficial use if feasible (BC Hydro 2008). A significant amount of effort was spent to assess the various reaches and habitats available within Kinbasket Reservoir. Based on these surveys, the best available spawning and larval rearing habitats appear to be in the upper Columbia River downstream of Nicholson (Objective 2). This region offers access to extensive lacustrine foraging habitat (Kinbasket Reservoir), an unregulated hydrograph and thermal regime, and suitable substrate for the potential establishment of a self-sustaining population of white sturgeon. Thus, additional and detailed habitat measurements (e.g., velocity profiles, water quality and contaminants analysis, food availability, and temperature) should be collected in the Columbia River downstream of Nicholson to determine if water conditions are acceptable for spawning and early life stages (CLBMON-26).

In total, 882 setlines were deployed for a total of 188 480 hook hours. While several burbot (n=297) and pikeminnow (n=41) were captured, sturgeon were not encountered during the sample sessions. Thus, it appears unlikely that sturgeon currently occupy the study area (Primary Management Question and Objective 1).

There is some interest in focusing on Kinbasket Reservoir as a potential recovery area. The term recovery refers to a population level that ensures the persistence and viability of naturally producing populations of white sturgeon and provides opportunities for beneficial use if feasible (BC Hydro 2008). A significant amount of effort was spent to assess the various reaches and habitats available within Kinbasket Reservoir. Based on these surveys, the best available spawning and larval rearing habitats appear to be in the upper Columbia River downstream of Nicholson (Objective 2). This region offers access to extensive lacustrine foraging habitat (Kinbasket Reservoir), an unregulated hydrograph and thermal regime, and suitable substrate for the potential establishment of a self-sustaining population of white sturgeon. Thus, additional and detailed habitat measurements (e.g., velocity profiles, water quality and contaminants analysis, food availability, and temperature) should be collected in the Columbia River downstream of Nicholson to determine if water conditions are acceptable for spawning and early life stages (CLBMON-26).