OldBlackDog
Well-Known Member
Steelhead Voices
1 hr ·
Hot off the press from the contractor working on behalf of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (aka the steelhead management agency for the Province of BC). Lots of questions to be asked but, in the meantime:
o Gold River Winter-run sport fishery has remained closed.
o Heber River summer run fishery - status quo
· Snorkel Surveys
o Peak count during 2019 Steelhead Winter-run season was 4 adult steelhead with in the Standard index section ~8km in the lower river between the Main bridge in town down to the Ucona Confluence (Garbage Dump).
o Latest Count in 2020 (Feb 20, 2020) Zero fish observed in the Standard Index Section.
o Heber River summer runs in 2018 count was 259 (right at long term average) and in 2019 count was 77, well below long term average.
· Standing Stock Fry Abundances in summer 2019
o showed Very Low fry densities (Below 25% of estimated capacity) in the Lower Gold
o showed Low fry densities (Below 50% of estimated capacity) in the Upper Gold
o Heber River showed good fry densities (near 50-100% of estimated capacity)
· Predator monitoring, occurring over 10 days in March and April 2019
o Seals observed on three separate occasions in the “lake Pool”
o Seals, up to 6, observed in and around the estuary on 9 out of 10 visits
o No Seals/predators observed in other River Locations (Big Bend, Pumphouse, Helicopter run, Ucona confluence etc.)
The debate around the influence of seals will be endless unless and until there is solid evidence of their conservation impact. Gold River affords a perfect opportunity to do the research. Confined area, long history of baseline data, predators easily detectable and can only ascend the river to a limited extent, First Nations likely wholly on board..... Just do it government!