Rock slide in Fraser River, B.C., may hinder salmon passage

[wildmanyeah]

Haha, we said the same thing last year ... nothing changes, lol!

I hope the counts are better then last year lol

 

[GLG]

Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
November 13, 2020

November sees winter conditions at Big Bar
Early winter weather conditions have settled in at Big Bar with the site regularly experiencing rain and snow. River levels have also risen.

As coho migration through Big Bar concludes, the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) monitoring team is removing most of the telemetry stations on this part of the Fraser, though a few will be left at the slide site.

With the decommissioning and removal of fish transport equipment nearing completion, work onsite is now focused on additional rock fall protection measures in preparation for winter work.

Indigenous partnership at the heart of the Big Bar landslide response
The tripartite government-to-government-to government engagement structure and collaboration between the Indigenous, provincial and federal governments during the Big Bar landslide response has been unprecedented. This partnership continues to demonstrate the strong leadership and commitment of all parties towards the common goal of restoring natural fish passage as swiftly as possible to safeguard the survival of at-risk Fraser salmon stocks.

This year, as was the case during the emergency response in 2019, local Indigenous communities, organizations and leadership played crucial roles in onsite and off-site operations, planning, project implementation and communications. This work included project oversight by the Joint Executive Steering Committee as well as endorsement of key initiatives by the First Nations Leadership Panel.

The following partners were key to the successes achieved in the areas of enhancement, monitoring, communications and transportation in 2020: High Bar First Nation, Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, St’at’imc Nation ( Xwísten First Nation, St'át'imc Eco-Resources and Splitrock Environmental), Syilx Nation, the Gitksan Watershed Authorities, the Fraser Salmon Management Council and the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance.

Indigenous crews moved more than 1,500 salmon over the slide and captured approximately 90 per cent of early timed Chinook and Early Stuart sockeye utilized in the enhancement program. The expertise and passion demonstrated by the Indigenous fisheries technicians throughout the remediation efforts highlight the significance that salmon hold for their communities.

Facilities such as the University of Northern BC’s Quesnel River Research Centre, the Spruce City Wildlife Association’s hatchery in Prince George, the Freshwater Fisheries Society’s sturgeon hatchery in Vanderhoof and four DFO hatcheries supported enhancement activities in 2020. Their combined efforts have resulted in the incubation of 125,000 Early Stuart sockeye, 10,000 Bowron sockeye and 68,000 Chinook embryos. The juvenile salmon will then be reared at these various hatcheries until their planned release in 2021. While established as a direct response to Big Bar, this enhancement work further supports the recovery of the already struggling early-season sockeye and other vulnerable salmon stocks.

As the Big Bar team embarks on the next phase of the response, we acknowledge all of our partners, crews and volunteers who continue to support the restoration of sustainable fish passage at the slide site. We will build on the culture of transparency and knowledge sharing that is the foundation of the trilateral partnership as work continues on this very challenging yet rewarding endeavor.

A submersible pump used for the fish ladder being removed from the Fraser River.

Decommissioning and staging of water transport equipment for shipment off-site.

Flexible water piping awaiting shipment off-site.

Indigenous fisheries technicians led fish wheel operations this summer at Lillooet, BC.

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html

 

[Bryan Allen]

I appreciate that such a diverse number of FNs, DFO bios and techs and fish culturists, volunteer enhancement volunteers , private companies etc have worked their butts off to take on a daunting task in such a short period of time, but lets not kid ourselves. The task is a "work in progress" What has been accomplished so far in fish culture efforts (Facilities such as the University of Northern BC’s Quesnel River Research Centre, the Spruce City Wildlife Association’s hatchery in Prince George, the Freshwater Fisheries Society’s sturgeon hatchery in Vanderhoof and four DFO hatcheries supported enhancement activities in 2020. Their combined efforts have resulted in the incubation of 125,000 Early Stuart sockeye, 10,000 Bowron sockeye and 68,000 Chinook embryos.) is a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed just to keep these runs alive. Lets hope Covid 19 doesn't overshadow what is still urgently needed... more engineering and more fish culture.

 

[searun]

I believe the preferred plan now is to construct a permanent Hell's Gate style fish ladder as opposed to more of the same. Some critical learnings this season was in extremely high water flows migration halts, and sockeye in particular are vulnerable. Very few early timed sockeye made it. The Whoosh system doesn't appear to me at least to be capable of moving sufficient volume of fish to achieve the long-term result.

 

[GLG]

Big Bar landslide response information bulletin​

November 27, 2020

Early Stuart and Bowron sockeye embryos have hatched​

The Early Stuart and Bowron sockeye eyed eggs that were incubated at Cultus Lake Research Laboratory and transferred to the Inch Creek Hatchery have now hatched and are growing as alevins at this facility. Alevin is the intermediate life stage of a salmon between an egg and a fry.

Hatchery technicians will soon commence thermal marking the 120,000 Early Stuart juvenile fish in early December. Thermal marking is expected to take up to two weeks to complete. This work will help scientists identify the hatchery-produced sockeye when they return to their natal streams in four years’ time.

These Early Stuart sockeye alevins will be reared alongside the 12,000 Bowron sockeye alevins at the hatchery until their expected release in 2021.

First batch of Chinook juveniles ponded​

At the Quesnel River Research Centre, hatchery technicians “ponded” the first group of 5,000 Chinook fry by moving them from the incubation trays to juvenile rearing containers known as “Cap troughs”. At this stage, the fish have not fully absorbed their yolk sacs nor started eating, but will be ready to start the feeding regimen soon. Three additional Chinook stocks are expected to be ponded in the coming weeks.

Onsite Operations​

The arrival of snow and cold weather has transformed Big Bar, with nearly 30cm of snow falling this week. Despite the continued challenges posed by the winter conditions, demobilization of the West Beach is complete and work is progressing with rock fall protection and archeological assessments. The West Pavilion Road continues to be maintained by Peter Kiewit Sons ULC and the Government of British Columbia to ensure that equipment can be safely transported to and from the site.

As of November 24, the remaining upper Fraser Watershed telemetry monitoring stations have been decommissioned.

A grader plows snow off the West Pavilion Road.

Demobilization of equipment at West Beach is complete.

Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance biologist Rick Holmes checking incubation trays at the Quesnel River Research Centre hatchery.

Newly hatched Early Stuart sockeye alevins will be thermally marked in the coming weeks.

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html

 

[Dave]

Well, it's a good thing there are 120,000 Early Stuart alevins being incubated as the spawning population for the entire Early Stuart complex (16 separate streams, I believe) was an estimated 30 fish. That's not a typo.

 

[GLG]

News release​

December 9, 2020
Vancouver, British Columbia - Pacific wild salmon are vital to the ecosystems, the economy, and to the social fabric of the province of British Columbia’s (BC) interior and coastal communities and they are a fundamental part of many First Nations cultures. As part of the continued efforts to remediate habitats and address stock health, Canada is taking further action to restore sustainable, natural fish passage at the Big Bar landslide site.
Today, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard (DFO), announced the contract award of $176.3 million to Peter Kiewit Sons ULC Burnaby B.C. (Kiewit) to design and construct a permanent fishway at the Big Bar landslide site. With work on the new fishway to begin in the winter of 2020, it is expected to be operational by the start of the 2022 Fraser salmon migration.
Extensive progress was made through the winter of 2019 and into 2020, despite the challenges posed by the remote work site, extreme weather conditions, natural hazards, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Kiewit successfully built access to the work site, cleared significant amounts of debris, blasted boulders, widened the river channel and constructed the “nature-like” fishway. This work was instrumental in improving the migration conditions through the canyon, allowing fish to move upstream at flow levels they were unable to navigate in 2019 and extending the period of in-river migration during high flows in 2020. Alternative fish passage systems supported fish movement until the mid-summer reduction in water flows allowed salmon to migrate past the slide site without assistance.
Despite these efforts, the record breaking high water levels of the Fraser River in 2020, coupled with the barrier posed by the landslide, impacted the migration of already struggling early season salmon. An analysis concluded in July 2020, determined that a fishway is the only long-term solution which can provide reliable fish passage at Big Bar. The new permanent fishway will support the long-term survival of at-risk fish populations.
Until this permanent solution is in place, DFO will continue emergency conservation enhancement efforts for at-risk upper Fraser salmon stocks, in collaboration with Indigenous groups, academics and other experts.

Quotes​

“From day one, the Big Bar response has been a remarkable, all hands-on deck effort. Together, Canada, BC and First Nations have overseen tremendous efforts to help ensure salmon have safe passage. We are thrilled that construction will soon begin on a permanent fishway. This is a long-term, sustainable solution that will not only protect, but help revive, our wild salmon populations in the Fraser River to their former abundance.”
The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard

“As we continue our work to address the Big Bar landslide, we are looking for sustainable, long-term solutions to improve Pacific salmon migration in the Fraser River. The permanent fishway is the scientific answer to ensure safe fish passage at Big Bar to support our at-risk fish populations. We look forward to seeing the fishway up and running, and together, our governments will continue to do everything we can to protect and restore our wild Pacific salmon stocks.”
Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

“Salmon hold a deep cultural significance for First Nation communities across British Columbia. As stewards of the land, we have a responsibility to protect and preserve these fish for future generations. Kiewit and First Nation crews, along with provincial and federal staff have made remarkable progress to support the 2020 migrating salmon. We are pleased that the federal government is now moving ahead with a permanent solution at Big Bar. Our hope is that once this pathway is completed, we will once again see salmon flow in our streams.”
Chief Roy Fletcher, High Bar First Nation

“The unrelenting dedication and response to the Big Bar landslide is inspiring. All hands remain on deck, working to restore passage, providing additional protection for those stocks most impacted by the slide and ensuring a collaborative tripartite process to achieve these objectives. First Nations have suffered constraints on their fisheries for a number of years due to conservation issues; the slide exasperated those issues and the decision to move forward with a permanent fishway at this time is essential to protecting those stocks most vulnerable and the cultural identity associated with salmon.”
Gordon Sterritt, Indigenous representative, Big Bar Joint Executive Steering Committee and Executive Director, Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance

“The B.C. government is dedicated to ensuring salmon successfully navigate past the Big Bar site on their own, and we will continue to collaborate with our partners to ensure we restore this important section of the Fraser River so salmon can thrive. All three levels of government have been collaborating to restore this site and the permanent fishway will be a significant addition to this ongoing work.”
Fin Donnelly, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Government of British Columbia

Quick facts​

• On June 23, 2019, DFO was notified of a landslide at Big Bar, a remote section of the Fraser River, 64 km north of Lillooet, BC.
• Approximately 110,000 m3 of debris fell into the river, or enough to fill 45 Olympic sized swimming pools.
• On Dec. 31, 2019, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of DFO, awarded a $17.6-million contract to Peter Kiewit Sons ULC Burnaby B.C. for remediation work on the site. This contract was amended to $70 million to include additional work onsite to support fish passage during the migration season and DFO fish transport operations.
• On April 14, 2020, PSPC awarded a US$4.45-million contract, on behalf of DFO, to Whooshh Innovations for the use of a pneumatic fish transport system at the slide site – the Whooshh Passage Portal™.
• Alternative fish passage systems implemented to support the 2020 Fraser salmon migration include the Whooshh™ system, a concrete fish ladder, a fish wheel and ‘truck and transport’.
• In 2020, more than 161,000 salmon, including, Chinook, Sockeye and Coho, migrated past the Big Bar landslide site. Approximately 8,200 were moved by the Whooshh™ system and 1,500 by ‘truck and transport’.
• From the outset, DFO has worked in partnership with First Nation governments and organizations, and the Government of British Columbia. As work progresses on this critical next phase of work, experts from the three orders of government, supported by stakeholders, non-profit organizations, and academia, will continue to take all steps necessary to reduce the impact of this landslide on future salmon stocks.

https://www.canada.ca/en/fisheries-...nvests-in-a-permanent-fishway-at-big-bar.html

 

[Dave]

Thanks for the update GKG.
I have a feeling this will cost more than 176M but in todays world, its just unprinted money.

 

[Derby]

: Permanent fishway to be built at Fraser River landslide: Fisheries and Oceans



I thought you would be interested in this story I found on MSN: Permanent fishway to be built at Fraser River landslide: Fisheries and Oceans http://a.msn.com/01/en-ca/BB1bN0Rc?ocid=se

 

[wildmanyeah]

I have a feeling this will cost more than 176M but in todays world, its just unprinted money.

Its almost a guarantee that extras will be added for in the contract. That said the company that won it is already mobed to the site and has considerable experience working on in for the past few years.

"Asked about the possibility of chinook and other Pacific wild salmon species being listed as endangered, Jordan said Ottawa makes decisions based on science and it's assessing the committee's recommendations."

She did lie tho listing decisions are not based on science they are based on economics but that wouldn't sound good in the media would it? lol

 

[GLG]

Big Bar landslide response information bulletin​

December 11, 2020

Permanent fishway to be built to support fish passage​

The Big Bar Landslide Response team marked a major milestone this week. On December 9, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced the award of a $176.3 million contract to Peter Kiewit Sons ULC Burnaby B.C. (Kiewit) to design and construct a permanent fishway at the slide site. Work on the new fishway begins this winter, and it is expected to be operational by the start of the 2022 Fraser salmon migration. The news release can be viewed here.

Despite incredible efforts in 2020, including blasting, river widening, construction of a “nature-like” fishway, as well as the use of alternate fish passage systems, more work is needed. An analysis completed in July 2020 determined that a permanent fishway is the only certain and reliable solution to restoring permanent fish passage at Big Bar.

The slide site is remote and unpredictable, with challenges posed by extreme weather conditions and natural hazards. In 2020, record-breaking water levels in the Fraser River posed unforeseen challenges to the remediation efforts.

Beginning construction of the fishway in winter 2020 is essential to protecting Pacific salmon stocks, which are a national good and hold ecological, economic, and cultural significance to First Nations and all Canadians. Completion of the fishway prior to the 2022 Fraser salmon migration season will improve the survival of early migrating salmon stocks, which are particularly vulnerable and are threatened with extirpation. Considering these factors, Kiewit is best positioned to lead this work.

Until this permanent solution is in place, DFO will continue emergency conservation enhancement efforts for at-risk upper Fraser salmon stocks, in collaboration with Indigenous groups, academics and other experts.

Progress update for First Nations Leadership Panel​

On December 7, Indigenous, Provincial and Federal representatives from the Big Bar Landslide Response Joint Executive Steering Committee, met with the First Nations Leadership Panel (FNLP) to provide a comprehensive update regarding the permanent fishway.

The FNLP were briefed on the various stages involved in advancing the fishway construction, as well as plans for fish passage mitigation measures, emergency conservation enhancement efforts, and monitoring activities for the 2021 Fraser salmon migration season.

Upcoming 2020/2021 winter work​

Following a successful demobilization effort of summer equipment at the site, Kiewit is now gearing up for an extensive winter work period. The focus will be on the following areas:

1. constructing the foundation for the pre-cast permanent fishway; and
2. ensuring worksite safety, including scaling and mesh installation on the rock face above the fishway site.

DFO is currently working with Kiewit to proactively identify and balance long-term construction activities with the seasonal fish passage requirements. Ensuring fish passage systems are in place before the 2021 migration season is a key consideration. Plans are also underway to enhance the worksite to support DFO’s summer 2021 trap-and-transport activities; the site elevation will be raised to handle 1-in-100-year flood levels.

The Province of British Columbia is significantly involved in the design and implementation of improvements to the road that runs from the West Beach to French Bar Creek. This area will be reinforced with rock and a sand bar to support the ‘truck and transport’ of fish as Indigenous and DFO crews work in partnership to release fish back into the Fraser River. The Province is also providing the appropriate authorizations for instream work, archaeological assessments and crown land occupation.

To house the considerable work force required to maintain the steady pace of progress on this project, Kiewit will establish a camp in the vicinity. This camp will not only minimize the impact on the environment, it will minimize potential risks posed by COVID-19.

Archaeological and environmental monitoring will continue as a top priority throughout the construction of the fishway and summer operations. The project team will work with archeologists and the local Indigenous communities to ensure that cultural artifacts are appropriately identified, respected and conserved.

2020 Big Bar quick facts​

• Over 161,000 salmon were recorded migrating past the Big Bar landslide site during the 2020 migration season.
• Nearly 8,200 salmon were moved by the Whooshh Passage Portal™.
• Indigenous crews transported more than 1,500 salmon over the slide site during fish wheel operations.
• The fish wheel operations captured about 90 per cent of the early arriving chinook and Early Stuart sockeye to support the Emergency Conservation Enhancement Program.
• In summer 2020, approximately 20,000 Early Stuart sockeye fry from the 2019 enhancement program were released.
• Currently 120,000 Early Stuart and 12,000 Bowron sockeye, and 99,000 juvenile Chinook are being reared at various hatcheries for release in 2021.

View from below the razorback after demobilization of the fish transport equipment from the summer.

Heavy equipment in Lillooet awaiting transport to KM96.

Tension on the brow mesh anchor pins is being tested.

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html

 

[Bryan Allen]

Thanks Gil--Please keep updating

 

[GLG]

Big Bar landslide response information bulletin​

January 8, 2021

Work onsite progresses as river levels decline​

Construction is progressing on a number of fronts at the Big Bar landslide site as Kiewit crews and contractors work into the night to get ahead. This past week saw the blasting, excavation and separation of rock required for the permanent fishway foundation.

Crews also blasted and stockpiled base material for future road upgrades being overseen by the Provinceof British Columbia. These improvements are vital for the 2021 “trap and transport” program, co-led by Indigenous partners.

Work on rock fall mitigation continues following a delay due to high winds and freezing weather. Crews removed scaling debris caught in the protection canopy and assembled rolls of metal mesh that will be airlifted into place to blanket the cliff face. Another team scanned the main cliff face with LiDAR to measure differential movement and slope stability.

Surveyors were also on site, reviewing private land boundaries and the park boundary.

Planning underway for 2021 Big Bar emergency conservation enhancement operations​

In preparation for the 2021 enhancement program, the response team conducted a thorough review of the 2019 and 2020 operations. Building on these previous efforts, the plans for the 2021 program are being refined in advance of the salmon migration season.

This year’s program has four distinct components, each led by a dedicated task group:

• The Enhancement Planning team provides overall direction and coordination of operations;
• The Enhancement Facilities team reviews hatchery facilities to ensure they are able to support the 2021 program with or without further upgrades;
• The Downstream Adult Brood Capture and Transportation team designs the fish capture system, determines the location and transport mechanisms required to safely capture priority salmon stocks near Big Bar and transport them either for release above the slide site or to a hatchery facility; and,
• The Natal Stream Capture team identifies options for the collection of broodstock from those populations most impacted by the slide to augment enhancement efforts. Considerations in identifying the most at-risk stocks include biological concerns, conservation status and logistics, such as transportation and facility capacity.

Each task group consists of Indigenous technical experts from High Bar First Nation, Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, Takla First Nation, Nak'azdli Whut'en First Nations, Lheidli T'enneh First Nation, Tŝilhqot'in Nation, the Secwepemc Fisheries Commission and the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, plus DFO staff, many of whom have supported the landslide response since 2019. Their roles include monitoring and assessments, planning release strategies, managing fish health, organizing crews and overseeing equipment.

The emergency enhancement program remains acritical aspect of the Big Bar landslide response. It supports the conservation and recovery of impacted salmon populations, and each task group will play a key part within the overall strategy.

120,000 Early Stuart sockeye fry ponded in December 2020​

On December 21, DFO fisheries technicians “ponded” approximately 120,000 of the 2020 brood year Early Stuart sockeye fry at the Inch Creek Hatchery. Technicians moved the fry from incubation trays to larger rearing tubs, where they will continue to grow in the coming months. In late spring, half will be released into their natal streams as fed fry; the other half will be released as fall fry. The brood collection of Early Stuart sockeye last year is a key step towards ensuring the long-term survival of vulnerable fish populations.

Current images of work being done at the landslide site​

Rip rap material being loaded onto haul trucks to extend and improve the temporary road beds.

Rip rap material being placed to build a temporary embankment on West Beach.

Two excavators drilling and breaking up large boulders into rip rap material for use along the access route.

Larger boulders were blasted and broken up into manageable rip rap material for placement.

An excavator removing existing rip rap material from West Beach during a night shift operation.

A sample of Early Stuart sockeye fry were weighed and counted to calculate the required amount of feed.

Early Stuart sockeye fry were transferred from an incubation tray to a basin.

Water flows in the tubs were lowered for the young fry but will be increased as the fish grow and require greater levels of dissolved oxygen.

Early Stuart sockeye fry were transferred to an outdoor rearing tub until ready for release later in 2021.

Early Stuart sockeye fry.

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/index-eng.html

 

[wildmanyeah]

thanks GLG for keeping us updated i have been ignoring the slide stuff of late because it's a pretty sad state of affairs. We have pretty must lost now 2 years in a row all the early stuart run. This one wild run of sockeye will now have two years that are basically made up of hatchery stock.

No food fish for years to come will mean a great pressure on other runs and down the latter cancellations to access for all users for other stocks as a result.

Certainly the worst fraser sockeye disaster of my life time.

 

[GLG]

Big Bar landslide response information bulletin​

January 25, 2021

Winter work in full swing at Big Bar​

Winter work is in full swing at the Big Bar landslide in multiple areas, as momentum builds for the construction of the permanent fishway. Over the past two weeks, as river levels continue to recede, crews have made strong progress, working through high winds and heavy rainfall.

At the Razorback area, crews are removing the topsoil following the completion of an archeology assessment in advance of upcoming rock blasting. These reviews are completed by professional archeologists and assistants from local Indigenous communities before work is authorized to proceed at Big Bar, thus ensuring that all artifacts are appropriately identified and preserved. The resulting rock from this area will be used as the base of the concrete fishway. The mid and upper benches of the Razorback rock are being fragmented into shot rock or riprap which will be incorporated into additional components of the project.

Work continues on preparing the riverbed where the fishway foundation will be built in the coming months. Crews are able to access this area with heavy machinery as low winter water levels have exposed the river bed, which is submerged during the rest of the year.

A large drilling rig that will be used to install piles has been delivered to KM96. Once assembled, this heavy equipment will be “walked”13 km to the work site. Due to the very slow movement of the rig, it will take four days for the machine to reach its destination at West Beach.

A new office site and maintenance area is being established at Beach One to accommodate the nearly 70-person crew engaged at Big Bar each day. The prime contractor Peter Kiewit Sons ULC continues to take all necessary health and safety precautions throughout the evolving COVID-19 situation, including tightening site access to limit the risk to workers.

Upcoming work will include:

• loading, hauling and placement of riprap;
• minor blasting of rock along the canyon wall to clear the way for constructing the fishway base upstream; and,
• further rock stabilization to complement the vertical mesh installation along the cliff face that is already in place.

Offsite, the design of the permanent fishway continues and a series of key drawings are either complete or nearing completion, including those required for positioning the foundation and exit of the fishway.

Planning underway for 2021 “trap and transport” operations​

As work on the permanent fishway continues, an in-river “nature-like” fishway will also be installed for the 2021 Fraser salmon migration season to provide a pathway for fish during moderate flows. It will be built on top of the permanent fishway base and then removed before the construction of the concrete structure. The “nature-like” fishway will be built using large boulders and is similar to the one constructed for the 2020 migration season, which proved successful at moderate flows.

Alternative fish passage systems or “trap and transport” systems, including fish wheels, are also being incorporated into this year’s operations to help move fish past the slide when flows exceed the upper threshold of the “nature-like” fishway. Four task groups have been established to advance the development of a comprehensive “trap and transport” strategy this summer. Each task group, led by a facilitator, comprises Indigenous technical experts from the Gitksan Watershed Authorities, Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, High Bar First Nation and Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation, as well as contractors and DFO staff.

Each group is responsible for planning and designing one of four key areas of the “trap and transport” operations: West Beach, fish wheel, trucking and the French Bar release site. The primary goal of the 2021 “trap and transport” program is to minimize fish handling to avoid injury and stress, which reduces migration and spawning success. Some of the measures to support this goal include:

• facilitating water-to-water transfer using upgraded lifting, loading and unloading systems;
• using larger vehicles with increased holding capacity; and,
• improving road conditions.

The “trap and transport” operations will be key to supporting the passage of early-timed Chinook and sockeye through Big Bar as they make their way upstream to their natal spawning grounds.

Crews and equipment at the site of archeological work on the Razorback.

Equipment sorting shot rock and riprap material at the Razorback, which will be used to create temporary access and the embankment for the permanent fishway.

Crews preparing the riverbed where the concrete fishway foundation will be installed. This area is regularly under 6m or more of water in the spring and summer.

The fish wheel will be critical to this year’s “trap and transport” operations, which will support both monitoring and emergency enhancement efforts.

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html

 

[wildmanyeah]

No more salmon cannon?

 

[shuswap]

No more salmon cannon?

benched

 

[onefish]

https://frafs.ca/sites/default/files2/Stuart%20Sockeye%20in%20Upper%20Fraser.pdf

Historical perspective on the struggles of early stuart sockeye

 

[onefish]

A telling table from the study above showing factors restricting run size.


Explanation......................and likelihood

In-River Mortality....................................highly likely
Pollution.....................................................unlikely
Logging.......................................................unlikely
Competition with kokanee..................unlikely
In-lake Conditions..................................unlikely
Egg Incubation Conditions.................unlikely
Overharvesting.........................................unlikely

The early stuart sockeye run has been on ongoing issue for decades. Here are some recommendations from more than 10 years ago

What can be done?
• Maintain minimal fisheries exploitation on Early Stuarts
• Study of juvenile sockeye and kokanee ecology in lakes
• Discuss with DFO possibility of fertilizing Takla Lake in 2010
• Import food fish from Babine Lake or elsewhere
• COSEWIC listing

Of course, all the measures above were before "the big slide". They all still apply and now the slide is added to the list.

Plus, eggs from only 30 or 40 females are being used to try and save the run.

 

[High Time]

The death knell for the Early Stuart sockeye was sounded in 1952. "In 1952, the Kenney Dam was constructed on the Nechako River to service the new Alcan aluminum smelter at Kitimat, resulting in the creation of the Nechako Reservoir and the relocation of over 75 families. The damming also linked the rivers and lakes of Ootsa, Intata, Whitesail, Chelaslie, Tetachuk, Tahtsa and Natalkuz into the reservoir with a surface area of over 90,000 hectares". The Nechako River was the most important upper Fraser tributary because it was glacial fed and provided the critical cold water runoff that the Stuart sockeye and all the other lower Fraser sockeye depended on to moderate the river temperatures during the middle of the Summer when main stem Fraser temperatures reached their peak. The Kenney Dam was supposed to have a cold water release built into the dam at it's base to help offset the loss of the glacial flow but apparently, to reduce the cost of construction, this was not done. Warm water from the surface of the reservoir was released which if anything made the problem worse. Since then the Early Stuart sockeye have continued to struggle and with our current global warming their eventual fate, obviously exacerbated by the slide, was pretty much sealed. It is assumed that the early upriver Chinook runs have also be affected negatively by the warmer water from the Nechako. Just another example of our west coast salmon heritage and environment, being written off by human greed and politics.