cuttlefish
Well-Known Member
It’s encouraging to hear about the large numbers of jack Chinook and sockeye showing up.
Rock slide in Fraser River, B.C., may hinder salmon passage
- Thread starter wildmanyeah
- Start date
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Permanent fish-passage solutions considered at Big Bar landslide
https://www.bclocalnews.com/news/permanent-fish-passage-solutions-considered-at-big-bar-landslide-2/
https://www.bclocalnews.com/news/permanent-fish-passage-solutions-considered-at-big-bar-landslide-2/
GLG
Well-Known Member
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
October 2 2020
Coho are passing the slide site unassisted
Coho have been observed migrating past the Big Bar landslide site without any assistance this week as water levels returned to near seasonal averages in the Fraser River. To date, more than 152,000 salmon have been detected at Churn Creek, upstream of the slide.
Regular stock assessment activities are ongoing as fish from a number of populations, including the Summer and Early Summer sockeye, are still arriving at the spawning grounds. With the end of the salmon migration approaching, an in-depth scientific evaluation of fish passage, spawning and survival data is now underway.
Update on fish monitoring
The fish wheel operations, led by the Gitxsan Watershed Authorities and St’at’imc Eco Resources, has been essential to the success of the radio tagging program, especially for coho. The weekly tagging target for coho is between 50 and 70. As of September 30, all 189 coho tagged to date were collected using the fish wheel.
Additionally, 388 sockeye and 337 chinook have been radio tagged as part of the program. These fish have been collected using various methodologies, including the fish wheel, angling and seining.
A recent data analysis assessed the flow levels that salmon were able to successfully pass the slide site in 2020. Preliminary results indicate that sockeye were able to navigate the slide site unimpeded at approximately 2,800 cubic metres per second (cms) compared to 1,800 cms in 2019. Meanwhile, chinook were able to do the same at 3,000 cms in 2020 compared to 2,400 cms in 2019. Salmon passage at higher flow levels is directly related to successful in-river work in winter 2020.
Enhancement program update
The Upper Fraser natal stream brood collection program is now complete. Under the continued leadership of the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, these eggs are being incubated at the Quesnel River Research Centre (QRRC), a facility operated by the University of Northern BC. Most of the eggs will be moved to a DFO hatchery at a later date.
As a result of the unprecedented efforts by all involved, the 160,000 eggs collected from chinook this season have resulted in approximately 68,000 eggs containing an embryo (eyed eggs) following incubation at QRCC. These eggs have been sent to their respective facilities where they will be reared until ready for release in summer 2021.
The 240,000 eggs from Early Stuart sockeye and 19,500 from Bowron sockeye at the Cultus Lake Research Lab are currently being counted for eyed eggs before they are also moved to hatcheries.
Ongoing onsite operations
As summer turns to fall, storms and associated high winds are returning to the Big Bar landslide site. The inclement weather is once again challenging work at site, including helicopter operations, scaling and road upgrades.
Demobilization of the Whooshh Passage Portal™ is progressing. Slope stabilization also continues to ensure site safety.
Long-term planning underway
Over the last several months, the Big Bar Landslide Response team has been focused on the critical next steps for the 2021 migration season: to plan, evaluate and implement a permanent solution to restore fish passage at the slide site.
A key challenge to any work at the slide site is its remote location. The terrain is rough and conditions are further exacerbated by harsh weather, high winds, extreme temperatures and threats of flooding, wild fires and rock fall hazards. These conditions pose constant challenges to crews, as experienced by prime contractor Peter Kiewit Sons ULC (Kiewit), and First Nations and DFO crews earlier this year.
Despite these factors, extensive progress was made through the 2019-2020 winter construction season. Kiewit was successful in accessing the work site, clearing some of the debris, blasting boulders, widening the river channel, and constructing the “nature-like” fishway. This work has been instrumental in improving the flows through the canyon, allowing fish to move upstream at levels they were unable to navigate in 2019 and extending the migration windows during periods of high flows in 2020.
Following an analysis of the winter work results and preliminary 2020 migration data, there is now a better understanding of the scope of work required to implement sustainable passage for salmon at Big Bar.
An options analysis conducted earlier in the year recommended that a permanent fishway is the best long-term solution to provide certain and reliable fish passage at Big Bar in the shortest timeframe. A key consideration in this undertaking is that building a fishway at Big Bar is only possible during low water levels in the Fraser River – usually between November to March depending on the arrival of the freshet. This project is expected to take between two and three years to complete.
The Big Bar Landslide Response Joint Executive Steering Committee, the First Nations Leadership Panel and the technical response team jointly recognize the importance of this work to ensure the long-term survival of vulnerable fish populations, particularly the Early Stuart sockeye and Early Spring chinook. Resolving the blockage is a massive, extremely challenging undertaking and will take considerable resources to address adequately.
Due to the urgency to begin construction, DFO is working actively with Public Services and Procurement Canada to develop an approach for the upcoming winter work season and beyond, which includes planning, design work and contracting. Further information on these planning efforts will be available in future issues.
Fish wheel will be in use until late October, when the majority of coho are expected to have passed through Lillooet.
Crews are applying radio tags to coho collected using the fish wheel.
Demobilization of the Whooshh™ system is progressing; the fish transport tubes are being disconnected from the Accelerator component.
Aerial view of the Big Bar landslide site in late September, where the Whooshh™ is being demobilized.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
October 2 2020
Coho are passing the slide site unassisted
Coho have been observed migrating past the Big Bar landslide site without any assistance this week as water levels returned to near seasonal averages in the Fraser River. To date, more than 152,000 salmon have been detected at Churn Creek, upstream of the slide.
Regular stock assessment activities are ongoing as fish from a number of populations, including the Summer and Early Summer sockeye, are still arriving at the spawning grounds. With the end of the salmon migration approaching, an in-depth scientific evaluation of fish passage, spawning and survival data is now underway.
Update on fish monitoring
The fish wheel operations, led by the Gitxsan Watershed Authorities and St’at’imc Eco Resources, has been essential to the success of the radio tagging program, especially for coho. The weekly tagging target for coho is between 50 and 70. As of September 30, all 189 coho tagged to date were collected using the fish wheel.
Additionally, 388 sockeye and 337 chinook have been radio tagged as part of the program. These fish have been collected using various methodologies, including the fish wheel, angling and seining.
A recent data analysis assessed the flow levels that salmon were able to successfully pass the slide site in 2020. Preliminary results indicate that sockeye were able to navigate the slide site unimpeded at approximately 2,800 cubic metres per second (cms) compared to 1,800 cms in 2019. Meanwhile, chinook were able to do the same at 3,000 cms in 2020 compared to 2,400 cms in 2019. Salmon passage at higher flow levels is directly related to successful in-river work in winter 2020.
Enhancement program update
The Upper Fraser natal stream brood collection program is now complete. Under the continued leadership of the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, these eggs are being incubated at the Quesnel River Research Centre (QRRC), a facility operated by the University of Northern BC. Most of the eggs will be moved to a DFO hatchery at a later date.
As a result of the unprecedented efforts by all involved, the 160,000 eggs collected from chinook this season have resulted in approximately 68,000 eggs containing an embryo (eyed eggs) following incubation at QRCC. These eggs have been sent to their respective facilities where they will be reared until ready for release in summer 2021.
The 240,000 eggs from Early Stuart sockeye and 19,500 from Bowron sockeye at the Cultus Lake Research Lab are currently being counted for eyed eggs before they are also moved to hatcheries.
Ongoing onsite operations
As summer turns to fall, storms and associated high winds are returning to the Big Bar landslide site. The inclement weather is once again challenging work at site, including helicopter operations, scaling and road upgrades.
Demobilization of the Whooshh Passage Portal™ is progressing. Slope stabilization also continues to ensure site safety.
Long-term planning underway
Over the last several months, the Big Bar Landslide Response team has been focused on the critical next steps for the 2021 migration season: to plan, evaluate and implement a permanent solution to restore fish passage at the slide site.
A key challenge to any work at the slide site is its remote location. The terrain is rough and conditions are further exacerbated by harsh weather, high winds, extreme temperatures and threats of flooding, wild fires and rock fall hazards. These conditions pose constant challenges to crews, as experienced by prime contractor Peter Kiewit Sons ULC (Kiewit), and First Nations and DFO crews earlier this year.
Despite these factors, extensive progress was made through the 2019-2020 winter construction season. Kiewit was successful in accessing the work site, clearing some of the debris, blasting boulders, widening the river channel, and constructing the “nature-like” fishway. This work has been instrumental in improving the flows through the canyon, allowing fish to move upstream at levels they were unable to navigate in 2019 and extending the migration windows during periods of high flows in 2020.
Following an analysis of the winter work results and preliminary 2020 migration data, there is now a better understanding of the scope of work required to implement sustainable passage for salmon at Big Bar.
An options analysis conducted earlier in the year recommended that a permanent fishway is the best long-term solution to provide certain and reliable fish passage at Big Bar in the shortest timeframe. A key consideration in this undertaking is that building a fishway at Big Bar is only possible during low water levels in the Fraser River – usually between November to March depending on the arrival of the freshet. This project is expected to take between two and three years to complete.
The Big Bar Landslide Response Joint Executive Steering Committee, the First Nations Leadership Panel and the technical response team jointly recognize the importance of this work to ensure the long-term survival of vulnerable fish populations, particularly the Early Stuart sockeye and Early Spring chinook. Resolving the blockage is a massive, extremely challenging undertaking and will take considerable resources to address adequately.
Due to the urgency to begin construction, DFO is working actively with Public Services and Procurement Canada to develop an approach for the upcoming winter work season and beyond, which includes planning, design work and contracting. Further information on these planning efforts will be available in future issues.
Fish wheel will be in use until late October, when the majority of coho are expected to have passed through Lillooet.
Crews are applying radio tags to coho collected using the fish wheel.
Demobilization of the Whooshh™ system is progressing; the fish transport tubes are being disconnected from the Accelerator component.
Aerial view of the Big Bar landslide site in late September, where the Whooshh™ is being demobilized.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
Bryan Allen
Well-Known Member
the 160,000 eggs collected from chinook this season have resulted in approximately 68,000 eggs containing an embryo (eyed eggs) following incubation at QRCC. These eggs have been sent to their respective facilities where they will be reared until ready for release in summer 2021.
Only 68,000 eyed eggs ??? That is a hell of a mortality .. what happened ?
Only 68,000 eyed eggs ??? That is a hell of a mortality .. what happened ?
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Fish were highly stressed as they got beat to death at hells gate this year.
perhaps that’s the reason
perhaps that’s the reason
Can’t wait to see final inriver counts of the upper tribs.
Yes..this year was such an anomily with high water and freshet. If we didn’t have the big freshet, then we would be blaming high water temps for the **** returns.
Hopefully a lot more work will be done this winter, it’s a start in the right direction. Hopefully it ain’t to late. We have already seen almost a complete extinction of two age groups now on the Upper Fraser.
Wildmanyeah, with what you have seen at Hells gate during the high water. What do you think can be improved for that choke point? Do you think 6 mile rapids are as much of a problem as Big bar or Hells gate? Truck and transfer maybe at these places?
Big shout out to the spruce river wildlife association for getting some brood on Nechako/ Endako. These guys need all the funding and help they can get!
Dave, do you think the large numbers of jacks seen this year could possibly be south thompson jacks that strayed as they have in years past?
Yes..this year was such an anomily with high water and freshet. If we didn’t have the big freshet, then we would be blaming high water temps for the **** returns.
Hopefully a lot more work will be done this winter, it’s a start in the right direction. Hopefully it ain’t to late. We have already seen almost a complete extinction of two age groups now on the Upper Fraser.
Wildmanyeah, with what you have seen at Hells gate during the high water. What do you think can be improved for that choke point? Do you think 6 mile rapids are as much of a problem as Big bar or Hells gate? Truck and transfer maybe at these places?
Big shout out to the spruce river wildlife association for getting some brood on Nechako/ Endako. These guys need all the funding and help they can get!
Dave, do you think the large numbers of jacks seen this year could possibly be south thompson jacks that strayed as they have in years past?
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I have spent a lot of time at Hells Gate, and I’m no engineer, but IMO there is not a lot more that can be done at the Gate regarding fish passage – it is designed for nearly all water levels. The problem is at high flows, fish have a difficult time swimming upstream of Lady Franklin Rock. Fish are consequently delayed, burning energy waiting for water to recede enough to get to the Gate. Passage through is difficult at the best of times … adding another barrier at Big Bar compounds the problem and energy depletion.
A fishway designed for all water level flows at Big Bar will be very expensive (remember, Hells Gate was partially funded by the US) and take years to complete. I don’t have much hope for early run sockeye and chinook, and hatchery intervention is the only way these fish will avoid extirpation. Broodstock capture and fish cultural techniques will have to be fine-tuned but even then some stocks are finished. Again, IMO
A fishway designed for all water level flows at Big Bar will be very expensive (remember, Hells Gate was partially funded by the US) and take years to complete. I don’t have much hope for early run sockeye and chinook, and hatchery intervention is the only way these fish will avoid extirpation. Broodstock capture and fish cultural techniques will have to be fine-tuned but even then some stocks are finished. Again, IMO
Great to hear people actually tied in to these fisheries or with past history actually responding.
Great response Dave.
Dave, I couldn't agree more with you in the fact about hatcheries are the only hope for these upper stocks. I think that unless major brood is taken this up coming year these stocks are about as likely to come back as the thompson steelhead.
As per Lady Franklin Rock it seems like the flow has become a lot softer on the backchannel than in years past which hopefully has been having some benefit to migrating stocks in high water. There was hardly any staged/ stuck fish in the areas that they have stacked up in years past.
Hopefully the upriver FN bands can put enough pressure on our government to get funding and help that is needed. There is options if the $ is there.
Great response Dave.
Dave, I couldn't agree more with you in the fact about hatcheries are the only hope for these upper stocks. I think that unless major brood is taken this up coming year these stocks are about as likely to come back as the thompson steelhead.
As per Lady Franklin Rock it seems like the flow has become a lot softer on the backchannel than in years past which hopefully has been having some benefit to migrating stocks in high water. There was hardly any staged/ stuck fish in the areas that they have stacked up in years past.
Hopefully the upriver FN bands can put enough pressure on our government to get funding and help that is needed. There is options if the $ is there.
GLG
Well-Known Member
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
October 16 2020
First Nations and DFO release 20,000 Early Stuart sockeye fry from 2019
On October 6, First Nations and DFO staff participated in the release of 20,000 Early Stuart sockeye fry into Gluske Creek near Fort St. James and into Hudson Bay Creek near Takla Landing. The fry were reared from eggs collected from adult salmon that arrived at the Big Bar landslide site during the 2019 migration season.
The release marks another significant milestone for the Big Bar response as the conservation enhancement efforts undertaken during the 2019 emergency response have come to fruition.
As an emergency measure, 177 adult Early Stuart sockeye were collected from the Fraser River below the slide site in 2019. The adults were transported to the Fraser Valley, where they were held until they matured and eggs and milt could be collected. Following a few weeks of egg incubation at Cultus Lake Research Laboratory, the eggs were moved to Inch Creek Hatchery where they were reared until early October 2020. The fry that have just been released will now imprint on creeks, streams and lakes in the Stuart-Takla basin. In spring 2021, they will make the 1,200-kilometre journey to the ocean as sockeye smolts. After two or three years in the Pacific, they will return to the Fraser River and migrate back to the Stuart River watershed, thus completing their life cycle.
Planning for this release was a year in the making and included the collaboration of the Nak’azdli Whut’en, Tl’azt’en Nation, Takla Nation, the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance and DFO. Members of the Nak' azdli Whut'en and Takla Nation performed a blessing ceremony for the survival and safe return of these salmon to their natal spawning grounds.
Some of the lowest returns of the Fraser River sockeye salmon population on record were in 2019 and 2020. A number of factors have impacted these early migrating Fraser River salmon.
In 2019, fish were stalled for a significant amount of time at the slide area while trying to pass the river constriction. They suffered injuries and burned energy reserves. Even the earlier fish that were transported past the slide site had lower survival rates due to their overall poor health condition. In 2020, the unusually high water levels on the Fraser River coupled with the barrier posed by the landslide further impacted the migration of the already struggling early-season sockeye.
The emergency enhancement efforts undertaken in 2019 and in 2020 as part of the Big Bar landslide response are a step towards supporting the long-term survival of vulnerable salmon populations. DFO and Indigenous partners will evaluate the results of these efforts when the adults return to spawn in 2023 and 2024.
While the conservation enhancement efforts are consistent between years, the team has refined and improved its approach based on information gathered through last year's response. For instance, as a result of infrastructure upgrades at the Cultus Lake Research Laboratory, 410 sockeye, including 360 Early Stuart and 44 Bowron were held in 2020 compared to 177 Early Stuart in 2019. Upgrades to hatcheries in Vanderhoof, Prince George, Likely, and the Lower Mainland, expanded the program’s capacity to include chinook salmon.
With the end of the 2020 migration season approaching, planning is currently underway for the 2021 emergency conservation enhancement program.
Update on fish monitoring
Fish are continuing to migrate past the slide site in smaller numbers. as river flows increased from 1,400 cubic metres per second (m3/s) to 2,500 m3/s this past week. As of October 12, 99 of the 122 radio-tagged coho that arrived at Big Bar have passed through the slide. To date, over 161,000 salmon have been detected by the Churn Creek sonar located 40 km upstream of Big Bar.
Ongoing onsite operations
The return of autumn rains is resulting in poor driving conditions at the Big Bar landslide site. Regardless, crews managed to transport components of the Whooshh Passage Portal equipment, along with other machinery no longer required for operations to Lillooet.
Additional work this week also included slope monitoring and rainfall management for site safety.
On October 6, 20,000 Early Stuart sockeye fry were released into the Stuart-Takla basin following a blessing ceremony by First Nations. The fry were reared from eggs collected from adult salmon that arrived at the slide site in 2019.
The Early Stuart sockeye fry that have just been released will now imprint on creeks, streams and lakes in the Stuart-Takla basin before they journey to the ocean in spring 2021.
View of West Beach in early October, as the Whooshh Passage Portal™ components are being demobilized.
Components of the Whooshh Passage Portal™ being packed for transportation to Lillooet.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
October 16 2020
First Nations and DFO release 20,000 Early Stuart sockeye fry from 2019
On October 6, First Nations and DFO staff participated in the release of 20,000 Early Stuart sockeye fry into Gluske Creek near Fort St. James and into Hudson Bay Creek near Takla Landing. The fry were reared from eggs collected from adult salmon that arrived at the Big Bar landslide site during the 2019 migration season.
The release marks another significant milestone for the Big Bar response as the conservation enhancement efforts undertaken during the 2019 emergency response have come to fruition.
As an emergency measure, 177 adult Early Stuart sockeye were collected from the Fraser River below the slide site in 2019. The adults were transported to the Fraser Valley, where they were held until they matured and eggs and milt could be collected. Following a few weeks of egg incubation at Cultus Lake Research Laboratory, the eggs were moved to Inch Creek Hatchery where they were reared until early October 2020. The fry that have just been released will now imprint on creeks, streams and lakes in the Stuart-Takla basin. In spring 2021, they will make the 1,200-kilometre journey to the ocean as sockeye smolts. After two or three years in the Pacific, they will return to the Fraser River and migrate back to the Stuart River watershed, thus completing their life cycle.
Planning for this release was a year in the making and included the collaboration of the Nak’azdli Whut’en, Tl’azt’en Nation, Takla Nation, the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance and DFO. Members of the Nak' azdli Whut'en and Takla Nation performed a blessing ceremony for the survival and safe return of these salmon to their natal spawning grounds.
Some of the lowest returns of the Fraser River sockeye salmon population on record were in 2019 and 2020. A number of factors have impacted these early migrating Fraser River salmon.
In 2019, fish were stalled for a significant amount of time at the slide area while trying to pass the river constriction. They suffered injuries and burned energy reserves. Even the earlier fish that were transported past the slide site had lower survival rates due to their overall poor health condition. In 2020, the unusually high water levels on the Fraser River coupled with the barrier posed by the landslide further impacted the migration of the already struggling early-season sockeye.
The emergency enhancement efforts undertaken in 2019 and in 2020 as part of the Big Bar landslide response are a step towards supporting the long-term survival of vulnerable salmon populations. DFO and Indigenous partners will evaluate the results of these efforts when the adults return to spawn in 2023 and 2024.
While the conservation enhancement efforts are consistent between years, the team has refined and improved its approach based on information gathered through last year's response. For instance, as a result of infrastructure upgrades at the Cultus Lake Research Laboratory, 410 sockeye, including 360 Early Stuart and 44 Bowron were held in 2020 compared to 177 Early Stuart in 2019. Upgrades to hatcheries in Vanderhoof, Prince George, Likely, and the Lower Mainland, expanded the program’s capacity to include chinook salmon.
With the end of the 2020 migration season approaching, planning is currently underway for the 2021 emergency conservation enhancement program.
Update on fish monitoring
Fish are continuing to migrate past the slide site in smaller numbers. as river flows increased from 1,400 cubic metres per second (m3/s) to 2,500 m3/s this past week. As of October 12, 99 of the 122 radio-tagged coho that arrived at Big Bar have passed through the slide. To date, over 161,000 salmon have been detected by the Churn Creek sonar located 40 km upstream of Big Bar.
Ongoing onsite operations
The return of autumn rains is resulting in poor driving conditions at the Big Bar landslide site. Regardless, crews managed to transport components of the Whooshh Passage Portal equipment, along with other machinery no longer required for operations to Lillooet.
Additional work this week also included slope monitoring and rainfall management for site safety.
On October 6, 20,000 Early Stuart sockeye fry were released into the Stuart-Takla basin following a blessing ceremony by First Nations. The fry were reared from eggs collected from adult salmon that arrived at the slide site in 2019.
The Early Stuart sockeye fry that have just been released will now imprint on creeks, streams and lakes in the Stuart-Takla basin before they journey to the ocean in spring 2021.
View of West Beach in early October, as the Whooshh Passage Portal™ components are being demobilized.
Components of the Whooshh Passage Portal™ being packed for transportation to Lillooet.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
GLG
Well-Known Member
Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
October 30 2020
135,000 embryos from Early Stuart and Bowron sockeye expected to hatch this November
Following incubation at the Cultus Lake Research Laboratory, the 240,000 Early Stuart sockeye eggs and 19,500 Bowron sockeye eggs have resulted in the survival of 125,000 and 10,000 embryos respectively. These eyed eggs have been transferred to the Inch Creek Hatchery where they will remain until their release in summer 2021. The eggs, weighing a mere 0.07 gram each, are expected to begin hatching in early November.
At the alevin stage of their life cycle, fish biologists will use the well-established Otolith thermal marking method to mass-mark the juvenile fish. Otoliths, or ear stones, are found in the head of most fish and grow over time, leaving distinct rings similar to tree rings. Short-term temperature fluctuations create distinctive structural marks onto the otoliths of incubating fish. These marks will help biologists identify the hatchery-produced sockeye when they return to their natal streams in four years, and better understand their life cycle from fry to adulthood.
Update on fish monitoring
The numbers of coho arriving at the slide site is dropping significantly as the end of the migration season fast approaches. The monitoring program has concluded its onsite operations and radio tagging activities ended on October 21. To date, 349 chinook, 280 coho and 422 sockeye have been tagged. The Alfalfa and Churn Creek sonars ceased operations by October 24. Upper watershed telemetry monitoring will continue, weather permitting.
The monitoring team will now shift its focus to completing a thorough post-season evaluation to determine how many of each species migrated to, past and beyond the slide site.
Ongoing onsite operations
Wet fall weather and river conditions continue to create transport challenges for crews. The work site had its first snow on the weekend. Nevertheless, work continues to decommission the site of equipment used for summer fish transport operations.
The West Beach, following a recent heavy rainfall.
The Big Bar Ferry saw its first snow this past weekend.
Early Stuart sockeye eggs containing embryos are expected to begin hatching in the coming weeks. These eggs were collected from fish migrating through the Big Bar landslide site in 2020. The resulting fry will be released in summer 2021.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
October 30 2020
135,000 embryos from Early Stuart and Bowron sockeye expected to hatch this November
Following incubation at the Cultus Lake Research Laboratory, the 240,000 Early Stuart sockeye eggs and 19,500 Bowron sockeye eggs have resulted in the survival of 125,000 and 10,000 embryos respectively. These eyed eggs have been transferred to the Inch Creek Hatchery where they will remain until their release in summer 2021. The eggs, weighing a mere 0.07 gram each, are expected to begin hatching in early November.
At the alevin stage of their life cycle, fish biologists will use the well-established Otolith thermal marking method to mass-mark the juvenile fish. Otoliths, or ear stones, are found in the head of most fish and grow over time, leaving distinct rings similar to tree rings. Short-term temperature fluctuations create distinctive structural marks onto the otoliths of incubating fish. These marks will help biologists identify the hatchery-produced sockeye when they return to their natal streams in four years, and better understand their life cycle from fry to adulthood.
Update on fish monitoring
The numbers of coho arriving at the slide site is dropping significantly as the end of the migration season fast approaches. The monitoring program has concluded its onsite operations and radio tagging activities ended on October 21. To date, 349 chinook, 280 coho and 422 sockeye have been tagged. The Alfalfa and Churn Creek sonars ceased operations by October 24. Upper watershed telemetry monitoring will continue, weather permitting.
The monitoring team will now shift its focus to completing a thorough post-season evaluation to determine how many of each species migrated to, past and beyond the slide site.
Ongoing onsite operations
Wet fall weather and river conditions continue to create transport challenges for crews. The work site had its first snow on the weekend. Nevertheless, work continues to decommission the site of equipment used for summer fish transport operations.
The West Beach, following a recent heavy rainfall.
The Big Bar Ferry saw its first snow this past weekend.
Early Stuart sockeye eggs containing embryos are expected to begin hatching in the coming weeks. These eggs were collected from fish migrating through the Big Bar landslide site in 2020. The resulting fry will be released in summer 2021.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
Thanks for the update
Anything new on the permanent fish ladder contemplated for next year That was mentioned in an earlier post?Big Bar landslide response information bulletin
October 30 2020
135,000 embryos from Early Stuart and Bowron sockeye expected to hatch this November
Following incubation at the Cultus Lake Research Laboratory, the 240,000 Early Stuart sockeye eggs and 19,500 Bowron sockeye eggs have resulted in the survival of 125,000 and 10,000 embryos respectively. These eyed eggs have been transferred to the Inch Creek Hatchery where they will remain until their release in summer 2021. The eggs, weighing a mere 0.07 gram each, are expected to begin hatching in early November.
At the alevin stage of their life cycle, fish biologists will use the well-established Otolith thermal marking method to mass-mark the juvenile fish. Otoliths, or ear stones, are found in the head of most fish and grow over time, leaving distinct rings similar to tree rings. Short-term temperature fluctuations create distinctive structural marks onto the otoliths of incubating fish. These marks will help biologists identify the hatchery-produced sockeye when they return to their natal streams in four years, and better understand their life cycle from fry to adulthood.
Update on fish monitoring
The numbers of coho arriving at the slide site is dropping significantly as the end of the migration season fast approaches. The monitoring program has concluded its onsite operations and radio tagging activities ended on October 21. To date, 349 chinook, 280 coho and 422 sockeye have been tagged. The Alfalfa and Churn Creek sonars ceased operations by October 24. Upper watershed telemetry monitoring will continue, weather permitting.
The monitoring team will now shift its focus to completing a thorough post-season evaluation to determine how many of each species migrated to, past and beyond the slide site.
Ongoing onsite operations
Wet fall weather and river conditions continue to create transport challenges for crews. The work site had its first snow on the weekend. Nevertheless, work continues to decommission the site of equipment used for summer fish transport operations.
The West Beach, following a recent heavy rainfall.
The Big Bar Ferry saw its first snow this past weekend.
Early Stuart sockeye eggs containing embryos are expected to begin hatching in the coming weeks. These eggs were collected from fish migrating through the Big Bar landslide site in 2020. The resulting fry will be released in summer 2021.
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html
GLG
Well-Known Member
Your welcome and thanks for pointing out the disappointing egg survival, I missed that on the first pass.
GLG
Well-Known Member
I'm not in a position to know but I sure hope so.
Winter is pretty much the only time to do extensive work here, when the water is lowest but I doubt this could be completed to a fully functional fishway in one season. Money shouldn't be an issue but Covid and freezing weather will play a factor in this work. The sooner it starts the better.
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
I think I read that they expect a fishway build to take 2-3 years. Also I'm sure i read they are planning to put it out to tender soon.
Haha, we said the same thing last year ... nothing changes, lol!
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