Fisheries Department – TSI Project Updates

FISHERIES DEPARTMENT

TSI Project Updates

Through TSI, several subprojects are occurring led by the Fisheries Department. During the busy summer and fall season, the Fisheries Department operated a number of TSI field projects in the focused fisheries areas of interest as listed below:

Below: Klappan rail grade survey.

Sheslay

HATCHAU LAKE

(located at the headwaters of the Hackett River)

July 5–15. Surveys of salmon habitat were done including sediment quality sampling, bathymetric (lake depth) mapping, fish passage, and hydrology. Patrick Hudson and John Nole staffed this project.

HACKETT RIVER

July 16–August 13 and October 1–21. Focus here was on the assessment of both juvenile (rearing) fry and adult (spawning) salmon for age class composition, spatial distribution, and relative abundance. We also did additional hydrology work, looked for potential fish access restrictions and sought to improve field crew mobility options. Richard Erhardt, Drew Inkster and Sheldon Dennis worked on this project.

Klappan Sacred Headwaters

RAIL GRADE SURVEY

August 10–20. Conducted a rail grade inspection with an engineer to assess fish passage issues and develop reclamation prescriptions to restore fish passage where appropriate. Also, re-sampled the groundwater wells at Kluakaz strip, downloaded data loggers and installed additional temperature loggers and groundwater wells. Patrick Hudson, Fabian Vance and Roy Keery staffed this project.

KLUATANTAN & KLUAYAZ LAKES

May 17–24 – Kluatantan Smolts. Spring field work to test juvenile capture methods, and a site recon. Kerry Carlick, Sheldon Dennis, and Kyle Inkster contributed to this project.

September 26–October 4. Performed new or additional bathymetric mapping in the Lakes. Assessed for fish presence / spawning, habitat conditions and passage in Kluatantan Lake, along with water chemical profiling and sediment sampling. Patrick Hudson and Peter Carlick-Beck worked on this project.

Little Tahltan Watershed

August 24–27. Conducted an overview watershed assessment to determine post-fire impacts. This included a day of overflight flown by Patrick Hudson, gauging of river discharge, water quality sampling and downloading a data logger at the Hydrometric station.

Tahltan Lake

September 9–15. Accomplished detailed spawning area surveys, additional bathymetric mapping, groundwater / surface water investigations and sampling. Also did an overflight of the Trib 2 and lower Johnny Tashoots Creek to assess for the presence of spawners. Patrick Hudson, Drew Inkster, Ayce Dennis, Ken Izzard assisted with this project.

Capacity Building

In addition, as part of our ongoing capacity building strategy, this season we continued to develop the means to conduct drone surveys. This included the purchase of an initial drone unit, training and Remotely Piloted Aircraft System licensing of staff member Drew Inkster, and the implementation of pilot / test surveys at sites of key interest to direct future use and application. These included Tahltan Lake spawning grounds, Tahltan River slide, Hackett River main spawning area at Pyrrhotite Creek. The drone surveys will be used to estimate/track changes at the slide, analyze Tahltan Lake spawning depth estimates to support the dam redesign, and to pilot test using the drone to estimate spawner numbers at the Pyrrhotite Creek spawning area.

Fisheries Guardian

June 15 – August 6. Margaret Asp patrolled the food fishery, relayed fisheries information to members, and reported any infractions.

Right: Fisheries technician Sheldon Dennis with Hackett River Coho.