jpinkster Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Alright here we go on the closures:1) NOTICE: Effective Aug. 11, 2015 the following waters have been closed to all fishing due to high water temperatures until further notice:2) Belly River and tributaries downstream of Secondary Road 800,Bow River and tributaries from Bearspaw Dam to Bassano Dam,3) Elbow River and tributaries below Glenmore Reservoir, Gorge Creek and tributaries,Highwood River and tributaries,4) Sheep River and tributaries,St. Mary River and tributaries below St. Mary Reservoir,Threepoint Creek and tributaries. Maybe more to follow. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurningChrome Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Do you have a link to an official announcement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpinkster Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Do you have a link to an official announcement? I suspect this was a leek that Alberta Outdoorsmen jumped on. They were putting all of this information on Twitter. Awaiting verification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurningChrome Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 I suspect this was a leek that Alberta Outdoorsmen jumped on. They were putting all of this information on Twitter. Awaiting verification. Like I said in the other thread, maybe consider deleting until there's something official from AWA or SRD to link to. Until then that may not be a comprehensive list and is rumour/conjecture. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBeard Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 http://www.albertaregulations.ca/fishingregs/ Visit the regs for closures 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcubed Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Ouch. I feel terrible for the Oldman and tribs...Crowsnest was 20 degrees last week... yikes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdo Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Good to hear! Where you getting this info from jpinkster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurningChrome Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Ouch. I feel terrible for the Oldman and tribs...Crowsnest was 20 degrees last week... yikes The Oldman is gonna end up looking like that combat fishing video Don posted the other day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpinkster Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Good to hear! Where you getting this info from jpinkster? AB Outdoorsmen leaked it, looks like it is official now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdo Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 N/m by the time I had wrote my msg answer was posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverDoctor Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Thanks for posting this you beat me to it, I'm sure it will expand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpinkster Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Thanks for posting this you beat me to it, I'm sure it will expand. Because I'm terrible, there is also a second post on this in the S Alberta space. Can you either close that one down or amalgamate the two? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfry Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 wow that sucks for all the guides who make a living on the bow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpinkster Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 I have a brilliant money making scheme for all of us here: Let's float the Bow armed with cell phones and cameras. We can call in everyone who is ignoring the closure and cash in huge. Who's in?! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurningChrome Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Ok, so like I said in the other thread, the water temps are directly related to the low flows this year. If there's so little water then why hasn't the city imposed any sort of water restrictions? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfry Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Hey Jp im in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpinkster Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Newstalk 770: http://www.newstalk770.com/2015/08/11/72234/?sc_ref=twitter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somereddeerguy Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 as much as it sucks its about time! now its time to head further north to central ab with these bans 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dryfly Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Press release http://alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=3839827F257BB-C76D-22BB-FD7D842C472EB896 Email ... From: "Shane Petry" <shane.petry@gov.ab.ca>To: _____________Subject: Fisheries Closures and AdvisoriesHello everyone, fisheries managers in the South Saskatchewan Region want to provide you with some up to date information relating to our ongoing concerns for fisheries in our streams and rivers in southern Alberta. In early July, fisheries managers issued general fisheries advisories for safe fish handling in streams and rivers in southern Alberta due to concerns about high water temperatures and low flows in many of our waterbodies. A subsequent advisory was issued on Friday July 31, that detailed the growing concerns of fisheries managers at specific watercourses with regard to increasing stress to fish resulting from high water temperatures and low flows in many of our watercourses. As you may well know, stress to fish from high water temperatures can be exacerbated by angling and cause increased mortality rates even when great care is taken to minimize handling of fish and to release them as quickly as possible. Over the past several weeks fisheries managers have been monitoring water temperatures at a number of locations in our streams and rivers in southern Alberta and we have considered these data in the context of the ability of cold water fish species to tolerate certain temperatures. Today we have issued variation orders to close a number of southern Alberta streams and rivers to anglers and we have updated our advisories to include additional rivers for which we have concern due to high temperatures and low flows.The purpose of these closures is to ensure the long-term sustainably of our fishery resources in the South Saskatchewan River basin that are at high risk due to intolerable water temperatures, lows flows and higher risk of mortality to fishStream closures are currently being applied to rivers and streams where our fisheries management objectives are for cold water fisheries and the species present cannot tolerate elevated temperatures. At this time, the species of concern include, Bull Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. Stream sections where daily maximum temperature is routinely exceeding 220 Celsius © and or where the daily average temperature (over multiple days) is exceeding either 180 C (Mountain Whitefish) or 150 C (Bull Trout) will be temporarily closed. Information may be found at the following link:http://alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=3839827F257BB-C76D-22BB-FD7D842C472EB896Based on high water temperatures and a forecast of continued hot weather, temporary angling closures as of today (August 11, 2015) are implemented to safeguard fish populations until cooler water temperatures return at the following locations:§ Sheep River from the headwaters to the Highwood River (including Gorge Creek and tributaries)§ Threepoint Creek and tributaries§ Highwood River from the headwaters to the Bow River§ St. Mary River downstream of the St. Mary Reservoir & tributaries§ Belly River downstream of Sec. Rd. 800- River only§ Bow River from Bearspaw Reservoir to the Western Headworks Diversion (W.H.D. Weir)§ Bow River from W.H.D Weir to the Carseland Weir§ Bow River from the Carseland Weir to Hwy 24 Bridge(downstream side)§ Bow River from Hwy 24 bridge downstream to Bassano Dam§ Elbow River from Glenmore Reservoir to the Bow River confluenceGovernment of Alberta staff will be placing signs at angling locations to inform the public of these closures and using many other forms of communication through websites, social media etc. to provide information to the public. If conditions moderate and water temperatures recover to normal levels, angling closures will be rescinded.It is expected that once closures are made, they will generally remain in place for a minimum period of one week. This will allow time for data collection, retrieval and analysis. Weekly analysis will also provide adequate time to determine if temperatures are trending sufficiently downward to warrant re-opening.Please disseminate this information to your fishing friends and colleagues.If you have questions or concerns please contact the Alberta Environment and Parks information center at:Call Toll Free Alberta: 310-ESRD (3773)Toll Free: 1-877-944-0313Email: ESRD.Info-Centre@gov.ab.caTechnical Questions may be sent to:Paul Christensen Senior Fisheries Biologist – Bow District (Bow River and Tributaries)Paul.Christensen@gov.ab.ca or 1-403-851-2149Mike Bryski Senior Fisheries Biologist – Crowsnest District (upper Oldman, Crowsnest, Castle, Belly Waterton rivers) Mike.bryski@gov.ab.ca or 1-403-562-3373Shane Petry Senior Fisheries Biologist – Grasslands District (Oldman, east hwy 2, lower Belly, St Mary rivers) Shane.Petry@gov.ab.ca or 1-403-382-4362Regards,Shane PetrySenior Fisheries BiologistGrasslands District, South Saskatchewan RegionAlberta Environment and Parks2nd Floor, 530 - 8 St. SouthLethbridge, AB, T1J 2J8T: 403-382-4362F: 403-381-5723Email: Shane.Petry@gov.ab.ca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurningChrome Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Let's see if I get a reply... https://twitter.com/AB_Spey/status/631156235585261568 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpinkster Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Let's see if I get a reply... https://twitter.com/AB_Spey/status/631156235585261568 I sent out some info on the closure from Councillor Keating's FB page earlier. Nenshi is away for all of August, so I highly doubt he has his finger on the pulse. If I see his Chief of Staff in the hallway I'll ask him about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpinkster Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Press release http://alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=3839827F257BB-C76D-22BB-FD7D842C472EB896 Email ... From: "Shane Petry" <shane.petry@gov.ab.ca> To: _____________ Subject: Fisheries Closures and Advisories Hello everyone, fisheries managers in the South Saskatchewan Region want to provide you with some up to date information relating to our ongoing concerns for fisheries in our streams and rivers in southern Alberta. In early July, fisheries managers issued general fisheries advisories for safe fish handling in streams and rivers in southern Alberta due to concerns about high water temperatures and low flows in many of our waterbodies. A subsequent advisory was issued on Friday July 31, that detailed the growing concerns of fisheries managers at specific watercourses with regard to increasing stress to fish resulting from high water temperatures and low flows in many of our watercourses. As you may well know, stress to fish from high water temperatures can be exacerbated by angling and cause increased mortality rates even when great care is taken to minimize handling of fish and to release them as quickly as possible. Over the past several weeks fisheries managers have been monitoring water temperatures at a number of locations in our streams and rivers in southern Alberta and we have considered these data in the context of the ability of cold water fish species to tolerate certain temperatures. Today we have issued variation orders to close a number of southern Alberta streams and rivers to anglers and we have updated our advisories to include additional rivers for which we have concern due to high temperatures and low flows. The purpose of these closures is to ensure the long-term sustainably of our fishery resources in the South Saskatchewan River basin that are at high risk due to intolerable water temperatures, lows flows and higher risk of mortality to fish Stream closures are currently being applied to rivers and streams where our fisheries management objectives are for cold water fisheries and the species present cannot tolerate elevated temperatures. At this time, the species of concern include, Bull Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. Stream sections where daily maximum temperature is routinely exceeding 220 Celsius © and or where the daily average temperature (over multiple days) is exceeding either 180 C (Mountain Whitefish) or 150 C (Bull Trout) will be temporarily closed. Information may be found at the following link: http://alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=3839827F257BB-C76D-22BB-FD7D842C472EB896 Based on high water temperatures and a forecast of continued hot weather, temporary angling closures as of today (August 11, 2015) are implemented to safeguard fish populations until cooler water temperatures return at the following locations: § Sheep River from the headwaters to the Highwood River (including Gorge Creek and tributaries) § Threepoint Creek and tributaries § Highwood River from the headwaters to the Bow River § St. Mary River downstream of the St. Mary Reservoir & tributaries § Belly River downstream of Sec. Rd. 800- River only § Bow River from Bearspaw Reservoir to the Western Headworks Diversion (W.H.D. Weir) § Bow River from W.H.D Weir to the Carseland Weir § Bow River from the Carseland Weir to Hwy 24 Bridge(downstream side) § Bow River from Hwy 24 bridge downstream to Bassano Dam § Elbow River from Glenmore Reservoir to the Bow River confluence Government of Alberta staff will be placing signs at angling locations to inform the public of these closures and using many other forms of communication through websites, social media etc. to provide information to the public. If conditions moderate and water temperatures recover to normal levels, angling closures will be rescinded. It is expected that once closures are made, they will generally remain in place for a minimum period of one week. This will allow time for data collection, retrieval and analysis. Weekly analysis will also provide adequate time to determine if temperatures are trending sufficiently downward to warrant re-opening. Please disseminate this information to your fishing friends and colleagues. If you have questions or concerns please contact the Alberta Environment and Parks information center at: Call Toll Free Alberta: 310-ESRD (3773) Toll Free: 1-877-944-0313 Email: ESRD.Info-Centre@gov.ab.ca Technical Questions may be sent to: Paul Christensen Senior Fisheries Biologist – Bow District (Bow River and Tributaries) Paul.Christensen@gov.ab.ca or 1-403-851-2149 Mike Bryski Senior Fisheries Biologist – Crowsnest District (upper Oldman, Crowsnest, Castle, Belly Waterton rivers) Mike.bryski@gov.ab.ca or 1-403-562-3373 Shane Petry Senior Fisheries Biologist – Grasslands District (Oldman, east hwy 2, lower Belly, St Mary rivers) Shane.Petry@gov.ab.ca or 1-403-382-4362 Regards, Shane Petry Senior Fisheries Biologist Grasslands District, South Saskatchewan Region Alberta Environment and Parks 2nd Floor, 530 - 8 St. South Lethbridge, AB, T1J 2J8 T: 403-382-4362 F: 403-381-5723 Email: Shane.Petry@gov.ab.ca This entire email frustrates me. "We are going to put up some cute little signs and hope that people follow the rules on their own". Regulations don't matter if you do not have the ability to enforce them!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgib01 Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 As much as I hate to say it, I wonder if a region-wide closure may have been a better tactic. Additional pressure on Upper Oldman area and Crow can't be a good thing. Based on the email, it looks like they may be taking a week-to-week approach with this, so might not see anything further until next Monday/Tuesday. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfry Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 don't need water restrictions, how am I gonna wash my car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcubed Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 As much as I hate to say it, I wonder if a region-wide closure may have been a better tactic. Additional pressure on Upper Oldman area and Crow can't be a good thing. Based on the email, it looks like they may be taking a week-to-week approach with this, so might not see anything further until next Monday/Tuesday. Absolutely. Should have closed all flowing water in ES1 and ES2, and make exceptions to it if needed (as the way BC has done it). 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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