Bull Trout Spawning News In Knp

[ÜberFly]

http://www.thecragandcanyon.ca/2016/12/20/highway-construction-in-kootenay-park-leads-to-new-spawning-waters-for-bull-trout

 

New habitat for bull trout to spawn in the Vermilion River in Kootenay National Park has been created by Parks Canada staff partly as a result of work being done on Highway 93 South.

 

The project was part of aquatic ecosystems improvements in the portion of the Vermilion River which runs adjacent to Highway 93S near the Stanley Glacier trailhead.

 

Its really great to have the opportunity to not only improve things for people but to improve things for wildlife at the same time, said Michael den Otter, environmental assessment specialist with Parks Canada, speaking on the project.

 

The highway work, which involved lane widening, road stabilization and improving sight lines, is part of a $49.3 million investment by the federal government to update Kootenay National Parks road infrastructure.

 

Bull trout, listed as a Species At Risk in Alberta but not in B.C., populate the Vermilion River but the stretch which runs beside the highway has poor fish habitat due to a lack of vegetation, no place for the fish to rest and highway debris falling into the water. Therefore, bull trout normally pass through that area of river rather than stopping to spawn.

 

Leading up this, it was already fairly poor fish habitat ... it was a stretch of water that was unproductive for them in terms of spawning, den Otter said.

 

To reinforce the river banks near the highway and ensure the road stays intact, contractors placed large boulders along the river below the high water mark. This impacted the fish habitat but also gave Parks staff the opportunity to create new spawning habitat for the bull trout.

 

When fish are spawning, they need little pools ... to rest in, and then they need clean gravel to spawn in, and for the stretch of river we had there the water is moving very quick and theres not many features in the water so theres not the little nooks and crannies where fish like to stop and spawn and lay their eggs, said den Otter.

 

When we had to impact the side of the stream, we were on the bank of the water, we saw some opportunity to create new spots for fish to have those quiet areas to stop and spawn.

 

Feature diversity within a river system is beneficial for overall aquatic health as other fish species in the river can also utilize them for spawning. The first bull trout to spawn in the newly created habitat were spotted in September.

 

Lesley Peterson, biologist with Trout Unlimited Canada, says she is encouraged by Parks Canadas efforts to improve the outlook for bull trout.

 

Creation and restoration of habitat is pretty important, she said. When you have an opportunity like that to do a little extra to benefit the local fish population, it is a positive.

 

Westslope cutthroat trout, which are a Species At Risk in both B.C. and Alberta, live in lower elevation sections of the Vermilion River and thus are not impacted by the newly created fish habitat.

 

Den Otter says this project shows that ecosystems can be improved at the same time that infrastructure can be upgraded.

 

For a very small part of a project that has a major impact for improving the highway, we can use just some resources to be able to really improve fish habitat along here, and then to see bull trout spawning in the newly created features, for us its really exciting, he said.

 

DKatz@postmedia.com

[SilverDoctor]

This is excellent to see.

[BowLurker]

Thanks @überfly and @silverdoctor it's a great thought. When the tourists poach all the yearlings and mini Bullies, will there be another round? I've driven this highway for over 20yrs, and witnessed everything from idiot wolf/bear baiters to people fishing off season. Sigh. It's great that they will put the Bull Trout back, but will they last?