Fisheries Stewardship Project Charter

OCTOBER 28, 2021

Tahltan Stewardship Initiative | Fisheries Stewardship Project PROJECT CHARTER

1. Project Purpose The purpose of this project is to further the overall mission of the Tahltan Fisheries Department (TFD) which is: to protect fish and fish habitats based on the traditional and contemporary values of Tahltan.

The Fisheries Stewardship Project (FSP) brings Tahltan knowledge, world view and science together to ensure that we are safeguarding our fish and their habitat. In this regard, advancement thru the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) will largely be facilitated by the collection of key baseline fish and hydrology (water) data, new meeting forums, strategic planning and capacity development.

2. Background Transition of administration for TFD from the Band Councils to the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) began April 1st, 2020. This coincided with the start of TSI operational efforts, at which time workplans and budgets were developed accordingly.

The TFD is heavily laden with the planning and implementation of field projects (i.e.,a total of 26 in 2021). They also have extensive responsibilities in being involved with forums and matters that fall under purview of the Pacific Salmon Commission. In addition, TFD has now taken on the TSI program and environmental assessment duties relating to fisheries.

Box 69, Tatl'ah (Dease Lake), BC , Canada VOC 1LO

TEL

250 771 3274

FAX

250 771 3020

tahltan.org

3. Objectives or Goals 1.1 RELATED TSI STRATEGIES AND GOALS

The Fisheries Stewardship Project contributes to TSI Strategy 3: Ensure decisions are made based on Tahltan knowledge and worldview, local knowledge and science by meeting goal 3.2: Build our environmental database by studies and surveys.

The project is also building capacity for the Fisheries Department through the proposed drone training work which contributes to the overall capacity of the TCG linked to Strategy 2: Ensure the Tahltan Central Government has the internal capacity to support decision-making, manage operations and engage communities for land stewardship decisions, Goal 2.2: Expand the Fisheries Department and 2.4: Identify Tahltan stewardship training.

1.2 FISHERIES STEWARDSHIP GOALS 1.

To provide protection mechanisms for areas having significant cultural, ecological and sustenance values for Tahltans.

a.

Identify and assess the critical ecosystem processes for salmon and resident species to support the delineation of protected areas and design of management prescriptions.

2.

Provide a science-based approach to addressing climate change adaptation, species at risk concerns, and to protect the provision of ecosystem services across the Tahltan Territory.

a.

Already being aware of its vital importance, obtaining key hydrology data will be necessary for defining protected areas and management approaches.

3.

To reduce uncertainty for government agencies, industry, businesses, and resource partners while providing protection and conservation measures for areas outlined as having high cultural and ecological value.

a.

Identification and protection of highly important fisheries areas maintained by key ecosystem services will reduce uncertainty in water or fisheries management and Environmental Impact Assessment for current or future proposed industrial development in the watersheds.

4.

Optimize capacity development within the TCG including:

a.

Current staff training and professional advancement;

b.

Hiring of new staff;

c.

Creation of job descriptions and contracts; and,

d.

Purchase of key equipment to advance capabilities.

4. In Scope The 2021 Project Plan includes field programs in all the project areas established in 2020 and the addition of a departmental capacity development initiative.

Projects and activities for the 2021-22 fiscal year are outlined below.

•

Hackett River: o Assessment of both juvenile (rearing) fry and adult (spawning) salmon for age class composition, spatial distribution, relative abundance and run timing; o Examine potential fish access restrictions; o Delineate the feasibility of future weir deployment and other methods for monitoring; o Determine potential for / and improvement of crew mobility options; and, o Survey salmon habitat in Hatchau Lake including sediment quality sampling, bathymetric mapping, fish passage, juvenile capture and hydrology.

•

Little Tahltan River:

o

•

Conduct an overview watershed assessment of the Little Tahltan watershed to determine post-fire impacts; 1 day of overflight, gauging discharge, WQ samples and download the data logger at Hydrometric station.

Tahltan Lake: o Continued engagement with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) on the Tahltan Slide and Dacheeka Falls fish passage mitigation and the re-design of the Tahltan Lake dam (through the newly established working group); o Detailed spawning area surveys, additional bathymetric mapping, groundwater and surface water investigations and sampling; and, o Overflight of the Trib 2 and lower Johnny Tashoots creek to assess the presence of spawners.

•

Lower Iskut Salmon Enhancement: o Conduct a site visit in October with core TFD staff to refine the vision for the potential sockeye enhancement project; o Conduct an overflight of the Iskut mainstem to assess potential broodstock and smolt outplanting locations; o Take sediment quality samples from the lake for baseline environmental quality assessment and to determine where the lake spawning is occurring; and, o Download the hydrometric station and gauge the flow of Anchor Creek.

•

Scared Headwaters and the Klappan: o Conduct a rail grade inspection with an engineer to assess fish passage issues and develop reclamation prescriptions to restore fish passage where appropriate; o Re-sample the groundwater wells at Kluakaz strip, download data loggers and install additional temperature loggers and groundwater wells; o Conduct additional bathymetric mapping in Kluayaz Lake and the Tantan Lakes; o Assess juvenile salmon outmigration, presence and absence from the Kluatantan watershed; and, o Assess the fish habitat and fish passage into the Tantan watershed, conduct bathymetric surveys in Kluayaz and Tantan Lakes, lake chemical profiling, and sediment sampling.

•

Capacity Development: o New Aquatic Protection Officer Position (APO): Posting, hiring, jobdescription, orientation and mentoring; o Seeking to hire additional professional staff and/ or furthering education of existing staff; o Develop the capacity for drone assessments including: § drone costing, specifications and purchase; § training / licensing of a staff member; § conduct several pilot / test surveys at sites of key interest to direct future use and application. o Purchase of other key equipment to increase TFD capabilities and efficiencies.

5. Out of Scope The following activities would be considered out of scope for the FSP: •

Engagement, review and participation in Environmental Assessments regarding current industrial development proponents i.e. KSM, Red Chris, Alta Gas (Other than for the pending TFD APO position which is covered under TSI);

•

Work or expenses on TFD projects under the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy Program or the Stikine Salmon Studies Bio. contract. (Other than the opportunistic / in-kind use of existing camps and equipment for TSI field projects); and,

•

Meetings of other forums that TFD is affiliated with including Pacific Salmon Commission; Stikine River Salmon Management Advisory Committee; First Nations Fisheries Council; Tahltan / DFO Government-to-Government; and BC / Tahltan Fish and Wildlife Working Group.

6. Critical Success Factors •

• • • • •

The project activities proposed for 2021 are designed to meet the overarching objectives stated above and to address data gaps and uncertainties in the project areas to ensure that conservation area planning information needs are being met; Meeting human resource needs to complete work; Weather and other environmental factors are conducive to successful field work; Site access, specifically availability of helicopters and float planes; Ability to train and license a TCG drone operator; and, Field assistant availability.

7. Linkages and Dependencies The FSP has linkages to the following projects and activities: