Project Aims To Restore Hidden Lake

[McLeod]

Project aims to restore Hidden Lake

 

Project aims to restore Hidden Lake

By Larissa Barlow

Posted 1 day ago

In a small glacial lake in the Skoki Valley, a big problem has been brewing.

 

A non-native fish, the brook trout, have taken over Hidden Lake and the upper reaches of Hidden Creek and Corral Creek. They've pushed out the fish that's historically occupied the waters, the westslope cutthroat trout, and that native fish is at risk.

 

No one is quite sure how this has happened. While Banff National Park had stocked certain lakes in the 1960s with brook trout to populate them for anglers, stocking records from the time show only cutthroat trout were added to Hidden Lake. But sometime in the 60s, brook trout were introduced to the lake, likely by accident, and today they're the dominant trout. That is, until this summer.

 

Much like the lengthy Devon Lakes project, that saw Parks Canada crews and aquatic specialists combing the water with nets and electrofishing devices used to remove invading trout, Parks Canada is about to embark on another very similar project.

 

An environmental assessment is underway for a plan to remove brook trout from the 9.3 hectares of lake and the associated creeks, while replacing them with westslope cutthroat trout that will be well suited to survive in their historic habitat. The plan, should it receive approval at the assessment stage, is to take cutthroat trout already thriving at lower parts of the creeks and relocate them to Hidden Lake after the brook trout have been removed. Parks staff plan to work with geneticist from the University of Calgary to choose the best trout with the highest chance of survival.

 

The project could take anywhere from three to five years to complete, but at the end will add a restored lake to the park.

 

"If we don't do something, things are just going to get worse," said Shelley Humphries, an aquatics specialist for Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks.

 

"Even though we stopped stocking a long time ago, the brook trout are still spreading.

 

"We need to do some interventions."

 

Humphries said they'll be using the work done at the remote Devon Lakes as a template because both projects are so similar, with similar sized lakes and methods being used. One of the big differences making this project much easier, though, is it's far more accessible than Devon Lakes. While that project saw crews setting up a work camp and living at the site, with helicopters having to bring in supplies, workers at Hidden Lake will be able to hike in and work, or put off travelling to the lake on days when poor weather prevents any progress being made.

 

That accessibility also leaves the door open for greater involvement from a visitor experience angle. Humphries said as the project gets underway, there could be opportunities for people to learn about fish restoration in national parks.

 

 

"Because it's relatively accessible and it's on a major trail network, I think we'll have an opportunity to involve and educate residents and visitors more than we have been with other projects," she said. "As this project unfolds over the next few years people should look out for that because we're definitely going to be working with our visitor experience department on that."

 

Humphries said if all goes well, the project could begin this summer, though as of last Friday, Hidden Lake was still half frozen, so there's no rush to begin right away.

 

Gill netting and angling will likely be used in the lake itself, while electrofishing will be done in streams.

 

"Hopefully when we complete this project we'll have added a secure lake and four kilometres of secure habitat," Humphries said.

 

"We will never be able to have cutthroat trout occupying the waters of the Bow River out to Calgary like they did historically, but with projects like this, we can put more conservation eggs in our basket."

 

Once the environmental assessment is complete, it will be open to public comment before any project approvals are granted.

 

Larissa@thecrag.ca

 

 

 

While I have some questions concerning costs , this is a project I would support. It is not just a lets " kill all the Brookies "but a plan that in the end has trout living in our mountain lakes.

I will give Parks two thumps up on this one !

 

 

[Guest 420FLYFISHIN]

GREAT!!! i was lucky to get out there last year and SLAMMED brookies! I took out my limit/day. If you start at the falls you can just sight fish them out, they LOOOVE anything skating across the water. I did not get a single one on the upstream cast.......Amazing hike to get into skoki and everything around there should be a national treasure.

 

P.S. have fun with Deception Pass but if you really want to see something extra do Packers Pass