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Columbia River Project Water Use Plan Lower Columbia River Fish Management Plan Reference: CLBMON#42

Lower Columbia River Fish Stranding Assessment (Year 2)

Study Period: April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009

Golder Associates Ltd.

May 6, 2009

TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM


201 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada V1N 1A8 Tel: +1 (250) 365 0344 Fax: +1 (250) 365 0988 www.golder.com

Golder Associates: Operations in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America and South America

Introduction

Hugh L. Keenleyside Dam (HLK), located approximately 10 km upstream of Castlegar, BC, is owned

and operated by BC Hydro. HLK along with Arrow Lakes Generating Station (ALGS), owned by

Columbia Power Corporation, regulates flows from Arrow Lakes Reservoir (ALR) into the lower

Columbia River primarily in response to requests from downstream stakeholders in the United States for

the purposes of flood control and power generation as stipulated under the Columbia River Treaty. BC

Hydro, as the Canadian Treaty entity, also has developed non-power agreements with the US to address

fish and other interests in the Canadian portion of the basin. To address flow reduction effects on fish

stranding below HLK, BC Hydro in cooperation with Columbia Operations Fisheries Advisory

Committee (COFAC), has developed a strategy for managing flow related fisheries impacts. The fish

stranding information used to develop this strategy was based on fish stranding assessment data

collected between 1995 and 2002. Five annual reviews of the strategy have been conducted (1st: 1

January 2003 to 30 April 2004, 2nd: 1 May 2004 to 30 April 2005, 3rd: 1 May 2005 to 30 April 2006,

4th: 1 May 2006 to 30 April 2007, and 5th: 1 May 2007 to 31 March 2008). The purpose of this document

is to assess and summarize the results from the flow reduction events during the sixth review period

(from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009).

DATE 06 May 2009 PROJECT NO. 08-1480-0055

TO David DeRosa, BC Hydro

CC Dana Schmidt, Golder Associates

FROM Krista Watts EMAIL [email protected]

LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER FISH STRANDING SUMMARY

(APRIL 1, 2008 TO MARCH 31, 2009)

David DeRosa 08-1480-0055

BC Hydro

2/11

Summary

From 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, the Columbia River mean daily discharge below HLK ranged

from a minimum of 16 kcfs (31 March 2009) to a maximum of 63 kcfs (6 July to 9 July 2007). During

this period, there were 16 operational flow reduction events (REs) from HLK affecting the lower

Columbia River (Figure 1.0). The various flow changing scenarios have been classified based on the

relative risks of stranding and were originally categorized by: moderate risk period (with water

temperatures ascending from 10°C to 15°C), high risk period (with water temperatures ascending >15°

through the summer, and until the water temperatures decrease below 10°C), moderate risk period

(with descending water temperatures from 10°C to 5°C), and a low risk period (when water

temperatures are <5°C increasing to 10°C). Of the 16 REs, six occurred during the high risk period,

eight occurred during the low risk period, two occurred during the moderate risk period with ascending

water temperature and no events occurred during the moderate risk period with descending water

temperatures. Fish stranding assessments occurred during 15 of the reduction events between 1 April

2008 and 31 March 2009.

In total, a maximum of 23 sites were surveyed during the 2008/2009 stranding assessment period. Some

sites were assessed on multiple occasions, dependent on the stranding risk associated with each

reduction as defined by the stranding database. A total of 18 stranding survey sample days were

performed by either Golder or BC Hydro personnel and a total of 13 093 fish were sampled (Table 1.0).

Most fish were encountered from pools located at the Genelle Mainland left upstream (as viewed facing

upstream) bank site (50.7%) and the Lion’s Head right upstream bank (21.0%), upstream of Norn’s Fan.

The remainder of the fish were found at Gyro Boat Launch site (9.7%), Tin Cup Rapids site (4.8%),

Norn’s Creek Fan site (3.6%), CPR Island site (3.0%), Fort Sheppard Launch site (2.3%), Zuckerberg

Island site (1.3%), and Kootenay River sites (1.3% right upstream bank and 1.1% left upstream bank).

Millennium Park, Millennium Bridge left upstream bank, Beaver Creek right upstream bank, and

Blueberry Creek were the remaining sites where 1.3% of the fish were sampled. Fish were not observed

at the REA side channel (just downstream of HLK), Casino Road Bridge (upstream and downstream),

Rock Island, Bear Creek, Trail Bridge (downstream), Beaver Creek (left upstream bank), Fort Shepherd

(left upstream bank) and Genelle Upper Cobble Island (mid) during this review period (1 April 2008 to

31 March 2009).


BC Hydro

3/11

Between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009, approximately 13 093 fish were found isolated during

stranding assessments, an increase from the previous review period, where 3 174 fish were found

isolated. The total number of fish observed and/or captured for each flow reduction event ranged from 0

to 6 101 (Table 2.0). There was one flow reduction event (200812)1 where approximately 6 000 Young-

of-the-Year Cyprinids were found isolated at the Genelle site. Only 300 of these fish were salvaged as a

result of the shallowness of the pool, large cobble substrate and small size of the fish. A memo was

written on 24 July 2008, describing the details of the event (Golder, 2008). Another flow reduction

event with a significant number of fish observed and/or captured (approximately 2 219 fish) occurred

during the 7 and 9 Mar 2008 flow reduction event (200908). This reduction occurred during the low risk

period and the vast majority of the fish were salvaged from a single pool at the Lion’s Head site.

During the 20 Dec 2008 flows reduction event (200821), two mountain whitefish eggs were exposed to

freezing temperatures from between -12 °C and -16 °C for approximately 90 minutes at the Millennium

Park site. The eggs were not frozen at the time of sampling and were released into the Columbia River

mainstem.

The provincially “Red-listed” species (Table 1.0), Umatilla dace, was collected at Kootenay River (right

upstream bank) and (left upstream bank), Fort Sheppard Launch (right upstream bank) and Gyro Boat

Launch. The Columbia sculpin, classified as a species of “Special Concern” by the Species at Risk Act

and the Committee on the status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, was found at Norn’s Creek Fan

(RUB).

1. The reduction event numbering system includes the year in which the reduction took place (e.g. 2006) followed by the reduction number in sequential

order from the beginning of the calendar year (e.g., 01 to 99)


BC Hydro

4/11

Table 1.0 Summary of fish sampled or observed during lower Columbia River fish stranding assessments associated with flow reductions from HLK, 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.

Species

Total Observed and/or Captured

Percent of Total

Observed and/or

Captured (%)

Mortalities Salvaged

Species Classification

SARA COSEWIC CDC

Sportfish Rainbow Trout 447 3 32 345 N/A N/A Yellow Mountain Whitefish 7 <1 0 2 N/A N/A Yellow Kokanee 1 <1 1 0 N/A N/A N/A

Non‐Sportfish

Minnow spp. 6000 46 0 300 N/A N/A N/A Sucker spp. 3010 23 107 2603 N/A N/A N/A Northern Pike Minnow 1531 12 19 1489 N/A N/A Yellow Unidentified 986 8 103 167 N/A N/A N/A Redside Shiner 614 5 9 605 N/A N/A N/A Longnose Dace 267 2 56 211 N/A N/A Yellow Torrent Sculpin 100 1 13 87 N/A N/A Yellow

Umatilla Dace 56 <1 4 52 Special Concern

Special Concern Red

Sculpin spp. 44 <1 0 44 N/A N/A N/A Peamouth 17 <1 2 11 N/A N/A Yellow Smallmouth Bass 7 <1 1 6 N/A N/A N/A

Prickly Sculpin 4 <1 2 2 N/A N/A N/A

Columbia Sculpin 2 <1 0 2 Special Concern

Special Concern N/A

Totals 13093 100 349 5926 a Includes all fish sampled (live or dead) and visual estimates of observed fish. b Species at Risk Act c Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada d Conservation Data Center e Require further identification to assess risk classification. f Not identified to species due to larval or young-of –the-year life stages or observed but not captured.


BC Hydro

5/11

Date

Apr-08 May-08 Jun-08 Jul-08 Aug-08 Sep-08 Oct-08 Nov-08 Dec-08 Jan-09 Feb-09 Mar-09 Apr-09

Dis

char

ge (

kcfs

)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

RE 200904

RE 200905

RE 200812

RE 200815

RE 200816

RE 200901

RE 200902

RE 200903

RE 200811

RE 200810

RE 200809

RE 200821

RE 200818

RE 200907

Arrow Reservior Discharge

Birchbank Discharge

RE 200908

RE 200909

Figure 1.0 Mean hourly discharge of the Columbia River below Arrow Reservoir (thick blue line), and at Birchbank (dotted red line) from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. The solid vertical lines indicate the date of Reduction Events (REs) occurring at HLK. The dashed vertical lines indicate the date of REs occurring at both HLK and BRD.


BC Hydro

6/11

Table 2.0 Summary of flow reduction events from Hugh L. Keenleyside Dam and Brilliant Dam/ Brilliant Expansion (BRD/X), 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.

Reduction Event No.

Reduction Date

Category of Concern

Assessment Crew

Dispatched?

Birchbank BRD/X HLK Dam BRD/X + HLK

Interstitial stranding

Pools Formed

Fish Isolated

Comments Mean Daily Water

Temp (°C)

Maximum Q (kcfs)

Minimum Q (kcfs)

Magnitude of

Reduction (kcfs)

Maximum Q (kcfs)

Minimum Q (kcfs)

Magnitude of

Reduction (kcfs)

Prev Q (kcfs)

Resulting Q (kcfs)

Overall Magnitude of Reduction

(kcfs)

No. Ramped Flow

Reductions

Average Ramping Change (kcfs)

200809 19‐Jun‐08 Moderate Ascending

Yes 12.0 98.8 91.8 7.0 66.0 66.0 0.0 28.0 22.0 6.0 2 3.0 No Yes 8 On 18 June 2008 BRD/X discharge was decreased from 74 to 63 kcfs and HLK discharge was reduced from 30 to 28 kcfs.

200810 09‐Jul‐08 High Yes 15.7 121.7 112.2 9.5 57.4 54.7 2.7 63.0 58.0 8.0 3 2.4 No Yes 100 Operational flow reductions. BRD/X discharge decreased from 58.4 to 48.4 kcfs from 9 to 12 July 2008.

200811

11‐Jul‐08 High Yes 16.0 110.5 99.2 11.3 51.0 51.0 0.0 58.0 50.0 8.0 3 2.7 No Yes 33 Operational flow reductions. BRD/X discharge decreased from 58.4 to 48.4 kcfs from 9 to 12 July 2008.

12‐Jul‐08 High Yes 16.0 100.8 93.4 7.4 48.0 48.0 0.0 50.0 44.0 13.0 2 3.0 No Yes 996 Operational flow reductions. BRD/X discharge decreased from 58.4 to 48.4 kcfs from 9 to 12 July 2008.

200812 19‐Jul‐08 High Yes 16.3 84.7 79.9 4.8 39.0 39.0 0.0 44.0 38.8 5.2 1 5.2 No Yes 6101 Operational flow reduction.

200815 06‐Sep‐08 High Yes 16.4 61.8 57.7 4.1 21.0 21.0 0.0 39.0 35.0 4.0 2 2.0 Yes Yes 319 Operational flow reductions. BRD/X loadshaping occurred during these reductions.

200816 15‐Sep‐08 High Yes 15.9 54.3 49.6 4.7 19.0 19.0 0.0 33.0 29.0 4.0 2 2.0 Yes Yes 799 Operational flow reductions. BRD/X loadshaping occurred during these reductions.

200818 02‐Oct‐08 High Yes 14.5 45.6 43.9 1.7 15.0 15.0 0.0 29.0 27.0 2.0 1 2.0 No Yes 932 Operational flow reduction. BRD/X loadshaping occurred during these reductions.

200821 20‐Dec‐08 Low Yes 4.9 89.7 72.8 16.9 18.0 18.0 0.0 62.0 52.7 9.3 2 4.7 No Yes 0 Operational flow reductions. BRD/X loadshaping occurred during these reductions.

200901 09‐Jan‐09 Low Yes 3.9 76.9 72.7 4.2 18.0 18.0 0.0 58.0 54.0 4.0 2 2.0 No Yes 0 On 8‐Jan‐09, HLK decreased from 60 to 58 kcfs. No stranding response was requested.

200902 17‐Jan‐09 Low Yes 4.0 72.8 68.9 3.9 18.0 18.0 0.0 54.0 50.0 4.0 1 4.0 No Yes 2 Operational flow reduction.

200903 31‐Jan‐09 Low Yes 3.0 71.1 60.3 10.8 18.0 18.0 0.0 54.0 41.0 13.0 4 3.3 Yes Yes 26 On 30 January 2009, at 1500 hrs, HLK discharge was decreased from 54 to 52 kcfs. Stranding crew was not dispatched.

200904 21‐Feb‐09 Low Yes 2.4 62.0 57.6 4.4 18.0 18.0 0.0 42.3 39.0 3.3 2 1.6 Yes Yes 69 Operational flow reductions.

200905 27‐Feb‐09 Low No 3.0 38.9 36.4 2.5 23.0 23.0 0.0 38.5 36.5 2.0 1 2.0 N/A N/A N/A Operational Flow Reductions. Stranding Crew was not dispatched.

200907 03‐Mar‐09 Low Yes 3.5 49.5 46.8 2.7 13.0 13.0 0.0 36.5 33.0 3.5 1 3.0 No Yes 35 Operational flow reduction.

200908 07‐Mar‐09 Low Yes 2.9 46.6 43.5 3.1 13.0 13.0 0.0 33.0 29.0 4.0 1 4.0 No Yes 1538 Operational flow reduction.

09‐Mar‐09 Low Yes 2.9 43.6 37.9 5.7 13.0 13.0 0.0 29.0 25.0 4.0 1 4.0 No Yes 681 Operational flow reduction.

200909 30‐Mar‐09 Low Yes 4.0 43.6 38.9 4.7 16.0 16.0 0.0 28.0 23.0 5.0 2 2.5 Yes Yes 960 Operational flow reductions.

31‐Mar‐09 Low Yes 4.0 39.7 33.0 6.7 16.0 14.0 2.0 23.0 18.0 5.0 3 2.4 Yes Yes 494 Operational flow reductions.


BC Hydro

7/11

Summary of Effects Table

The effects and corresponding responses for fish stranding assessments that were conducted

between January 2000 and March 2009 have been summarized in Table 3.0. When comparing

the previous table created for the 2007/2008 annual stranding review with Table 3.0 for the

2008/2009 review period the most apparent difference is the decreased number of fields (29%)

designated as having no data or insufficient data (no fill). The primary reason for this is a 22%

increase in fields designated as experiencing an effect from a reduction. A site with effects is

defined in the protocol document as a site that has been previously surveyed, isolated pools were

observed, and an average of 10 fish or more per survey have been previously stranded under

similar conditions (minimum of 5 surveys during the risk period). That means that sites that have

had a large number of fish stranded but over a small number of surveys are given the designation

of recon sites. To assist in directing fish salvage efforts to sites most likely to be stranding fish,

any site that has previously stranded 10 fish or more under similar conditions is designated as an

effect site regardless of the number of site visits. A secondary reason for the decreased number

of fields designated as having no data or insufficient data (no fill) is an 18% increase in fields

designated as no pools as a result of increased reconnaissance data.

The highest number of effects (highlighted in red in Table 3.0) was noted once again in the low

risk period as more pools tend to form when discharge levels at Birchbank are below 40 kcfs.

Therefore more pool stranding can occur. During the low risk period, no effects were noted when

overall discharge at Birchbank in the Columbia River was >70 kcfs. During the high risk period,

the number of sites assigned the effects designation is slightly less than during the low risk period

(17 and 19, respectively). During the high risk period, 88% of the effects were noted when the

overall discharge at Birchbank in the Columbia River was <70 kcfs. The effects that were noted

are likely related to the Columbia River flows tending to be lower during the winter months than

during the summer months and that more pools are forming at these lower river elevations.

There was a 55% increase in the number of effects during the high risk period in comparison to

the summary table prepared for the 2007/2008 annual stranding review. The increase in effects is

supported by the increase in the number of fish stranded during the 2008/2009 stranding period

(2007/2008 total observed/captured fish = 3 174 versus 2008/2009 total observed/captured fish =


BC Hydro

8/11

13 093). As a result, the previous designations of no data or insufficient data (no fill) were

changed to effects.

There was also a 6% increase in fields designated as experiencing a minimal effect from a

reduction. A minimal effect site is defined as a site that has been previously surveyed, and

isolated pools were observed, however, an average of less than 10 fish per survey have been

observed in previous stranding surveys under similar conditions (minimum of 5 surveys during

the risk period). A stranding response is not required if the site is designated as a minimal effect.

The Kootenay River RUB site has been identified as a location of concern due to incidents of

fish stranding and reports of such from the public. Table 3.0 shows that effects at that site have

only been noted below a combined Columbia/Kootenay River discharge of 70 kcfs. Above this

flow, some pools may form but large instances of fish stranding have not been noted during the

Columbia River reduction events.

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

# of

fish

# of

visits

≤30 1 0 2 2 2 0 1

30-40 63 0 5376 1276 11 5376 27 1 3 232 14 453 17 122 14 24 12 3045 11 3 4 0 5 1 7 200 8 12 4 38 7 0 1 0 1 824 16 286 12 1316 25

40-50 25 0 1777 1777 13 267 14 50 6 24 9 46 6 92 12 207 9 27 3 4 2 4 6 0 3 36 6 221 13 451 21

50-60 6 0 322 322 8 114 9 60 5 33 11 81 11 49 8 9 4 20 2 0 1 1 5 10 10 16 16

60-70 8 0 513 8 8 31 10 11 9 0 8 110 13 0 1 11 15 1 3 0 2 4 2 1 7 0 7 0 3 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 7 8 13 513 13

70-80 0 0 7 0 5 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 1 7 4 0 2 0 3 3 6 0 3 0 5 0 2 0 4

80-90 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 1 3 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 2

90-100 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1

100-110

110-120

>120 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

≤30

30-40

40-50

50-60

60-70 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1

70-80 7 6 8 6 1 8 1

80-90 0 0 2 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 2

90-100 1 0 8 0 1 0 1 8 2 0 1 0 1

100-110

110-120

>120

≤30

30-40 850 0 13500 13500 2 620 4 195 1 0 1 7700 3 50 1 0 2 13 5

40-50 287 0 14302 21 7 336 4 447 5 57 7 0 3 463 5 0 1 14302 4 1138 5 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 47 4 1902 9

50-60 32 0 1663 471 8 45 9 0 2 94 12 14 3 1 9 1663 9 0 3 0 4 2 6 21 5 0 5 0 1 0 3 89 7 150 10 683 10

60-70 17 0 1980 20 7 506 13 0 3 280 13 0 6 58 15 0 2 1980 17 1 1 20 1 0 4 0 4 0 6 0 2 1 3 0 1 33 9 12 18 3 17

70-80 94 0 7656 42 6 28 11 4 7 0 5 48 8 53 5 7656 11 54 2 0 3 0 3 0 3 8 2 0 2 5 8

80-90 4 0 131 0 4 88 9 35 9 8 10 0 2 131 10 3 7 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 2 0 2 6 7 12 4

90-100 40 0 656 5 5 493 8 0 4 656 8 20 2 0 2

100-110 1621 0 10307 2 2 10307 3 7521 3 0 2 0 1

110-120 100 200 200 200 2

>120

≤30 79 0 2051 18 4 0 2 34 4 0 2 56 4 601 2 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 2051 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 434 4

30-40 0 0 0 0 1

40-50 23 0 334 0 3 50 4 32 2 55 3 202 4 0 2 13 5 334 8

50-60 14 0 400 3 4 4 2 2 5 0 5 0 6 400 4 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 21 3 0 1 0 1 0 3 200 5 16 7

60-70 1 0 35 35 6 0 6 0 7 5 6 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 4 4 7 1 10

70-80 2 0 79 0 2 79 7 0 4 0 8 0 6 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 5

80-90 0 0 0 0 1

90-100

100-110

110-120

>120

Code

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No Pools

No PoolsNo PoolsNo Pools

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No PoolsNo PoolsNo Pools No Pools

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No Pools

No Pools

Site has been previously surveyed, and isolated pools were observed, but an average of less than 10 fish per survey have been previously stranded under similar conditions (minimum 5 visits during the relevant period of concern). No Response

Site has been previously surveyed, but pools were not observed at or near these flows. No Response

No Pools

No Pools No Pools

No Pools

No Pools

No Pools

No Pools

Tin Cup

Rapids

No Pools

Millenium

Park

Kootenay

River

(LUB)

Beaver

Creek

(RUB)

Kinnaird

Rapids

REA Side

ChannelCPR Island

No Pools

No Pools

No Pools

No Pools

No Pools

Genelle

Upper

Cobble

Island

Genelle

Mainland

Blueberry

Creek

Beaver

Creek

(LUB)

Zuckerberg

Island

Average

Number of

Fish per

Site

Observed

Genelle

Lower

Cobble

Island

Observed Effect

Kootenay River

Maximum

Number of

Fish per Site

Observed

Minimum

Number of

Fish per Site

Observed

Rock Island

Casino

Road

Bridge,

Trail (d/s)

Casino

Road

Bridge,

Trail (u/s)

Trail

Bridge

Low

Gyro Boat

Launch

No Pools

No Pools

Moderate

Ascending

Moderate

Descending

Resultant

Birchbank

Discharge

(kcfs)

Risk

Period

High

Site has not been previously surveyed five times at or near these flows. Reconnaisance Survey

Kootenay

River (RUB)

Fort

Shepherd

Launch

Columbia River

Lions Head

Fort

Shepherd

Eddy

Norns Creek

FanBear Creek

Table 3.0 Summary of effects and corresponding responses for fish stranding on the lower Columbia River from flow reductions at Hugh L. Keenleyside Dam and Brilliant Dam sorted by concern category. (Based on data collected between 2000 and 2009)

Unlikely Discharge Range Birchbank discharge has not been recorded at these levels during the specific risk periods (based on discharge and temperature data collected between 2000 and 2006)

Effect

Description

Minimal Effect

No Pools

No Data or Insufficient Data

Definition and Response

Site has been previously surveyed, and isolated pools were observed, and an average of more than 10 fish per survey have been previously stranded under similar conditions (minimum 5 visits during the relevant period of concern). Stranding Survey

No Pools

No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools

No Pools

No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools

No Pools

No Pools No Pools No Pools No Pools

No PoolsNo Pools No Pools No Pools

No Pools

No Pools


No Pools

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No PoolsNo Pools

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BC Hydro

10/11

Effectiveness of Communication

Communication between Golder Associates Ltd. and BC Hydro has remained effective over the

study period and has improved with regard to lead time for anticipated flow reductions and the

details of each flow reduction event.

Recommendations

1. When a large number of fish are observed in a pool and the species identification is not

possible due to field conditions and restraints (i.e. pool is too large to effectively sample), a

voucher sample should be taken. This would assist in the effort to reduce the amount of

unidentified species entered into the database.

2. There are a number of sites which should be removed from the current list of sites assessed

during fish stranding assessments:

a. REA side channel – this site has been assessed adequately to conclude that pools are not

isolated at this site during flow reductions.

b. Upper Cobble Island – accessible only by boat.

c. Lower Cobble Island – accessible only by boat.

d. Rock Island – a gate and no trespassing signs now block access to a pool that is deep and

creek fed. While it does isolate, it doesn’t dewater.

3. One site near Waterloo Eddy has been identified by BC Hydro personnel as having potential

to strand fish and should be added to the list.

4. Recontour Kootenay RUB site to assist in the draining of Kootenay Oxbow. This would help

reduce stranding at a very public and logistically difficult place to salvage fish (very large,

shallow pools).

5. Conduct further recontouring at the Genelle mainland site to reduce incidents of fish stranding

1) to improve drainage between the access road and the Whispering Pines Trailer Park; 2) to

make improvements to previously recontoured area to remove a berm created by the deposition

of fines.


BC Hydro

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6. Recontour the Lion’s Head site to reduce incidents of fish stranding. The site has numerous

manmade depressions that are prone to fish stranding.

7. Recontour the Gyro Park Launch site to reduce incidents of fish stranding. The site has a large

manmade depression that is prone to fish stranding.

8. Conduct further recontouring at the Norn’s Creek Fan site. There is an increase in the

formation of pools and stranding and requires ongoing maintenance.

Please feel to contact me if you have any questions or require more information.

Sincerely,


Reviewed by:

Krista Watts B.Sc. Dana Schmidt, R.P. Bio. Biologist Associate, Senior Fisheries Biologist/Limnologist Golder Associates Ltd. Golder Associates Ltd.

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