Some Q&A on fisheries in S.AB

[BrianR]

Just a heads up .We have a New contact For S AB fisheries. here's some of my questions  

Good Afternoon Mr.Rousch,

 

Thankyou for your inquiry and observations regarding a number of Southern Alberta stocked fisheries.   As Fisheries Manager for Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Branch South Region, I’ve been requested to reach out to you regarding your inquiry.   Since the early 1900s, fish have been stocked and transferred into Alberta’s waters to enhance populations, re-establish collapsed populations, provide new sportfishing opportunities and diversify angling experiences.  Alberta Environment and Protected Area’s (EPA) Recreational Trout Stocking program stocks approximately 2.1 million trout into over 240 waterbodies annually; for more information on this program and stocking records please visit: https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/fish-stocking/default.aspx.

 

Most of Alberta’s stocked trout waterbodies are managed as Put-and-Take trout fisheries with a daily 5 trout limit, and are stocked frequently with catchable-sized trout (~20cm). However, some stocked waterbodies are managed as Quality Stocked Fisheries using more restrictive regulations (i.e. minimum size limits, catch and release only, bait bans, closure periods), with the goal of creating larger sized trout and greater abundance, resulting in promoting a more diverse angling experience for Albertans. I can assure you that EPA is committed to providing Alberta anglers with a variety of angling opportunities.   To that end I am providing you an update on the waterbodies mentioned in your correspondence.

 

Police Lake:  In the 2020/21 season, EPA and the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) jointly decided to discontinue the aeration of Police (Outpost) Lake due to a number of factors.  In the last 30 years, Police Lake was aerated for 15 seasons, with two recorded partial winterkill events and two partial winterkills during years of no aeration.   This past winter marks the third partial winterkill event which occurred without aeration in place.    Mandatory safety mitigations required actions such as maintaining fencing around the open water section of the lake and signage at access points were not feasible due to high winds and chinook conditions.  In addition to challenges with signage, maintenance costs associated with of the aeration equipment in this remote area were significant. You’ll be pleased to know that the 2023 provincial fish stocking program is underway replenishing the opportunity at Police Lake for this season.  In order to speed up the return of this fishery to it’s Quality Stocked Fishery management objective; you’ll note that in this year’s stocking records that both a higher number of fish have been stocked as well as some larger sized fish.

 

Dipping Vat Lake:   EPA discontinued the stocking of Dipping Vat Lake in 2009 in response to erosion concerns raised from landowners with properties adjacent to reservoir.   Managing water levels to address concerns of bank erosion and property damage resulted in insufficient water levels to sustain a stocked fishery through both winter and summer.   Until these matters are addressed, Dipping Vat lake water levels are insufficient to support a stocked fishery.

 

Bullshead Reservoir:  In 2018, EPA began monitoring water quality at Bullshead Reservoir in response to both summer and winterkill events as well as reports received from anglers of poor catches.   Water quality testing was completed and determined that dissolved oxygen and ammonia levels would not support the survival of trout in this reservoir.   Unfortunately, ammonia levels are not typically improved by aeration.  EPA continues to monitor Bullshead reservoir water quality with the most recent water quality testing conducted in February 2023.  The result, ammonia levels were very high and dissolved oxygen levels were quite low – both at levels likely to be lethal to trout. If monitoring results demonstrate significant and sustained improvements in both ammonia and dissolved oxygen levels throughout the 2023 season, re-stocking of the reservoir would be considered.

 

EPA continues to work with partner groups such as the ACA to develop new and diverse angling opportunities throughout Alberta.     If you would like to discuss fisheries management issues or identify potential opportunities, please feel free to reach out to either myself or the South Region Fisheries team through the contact information provided below.

 

 

 

Stuart M. Nadeau | Fisheries Manager -  Southern Region

Resource Stewardship Division | Fish &Wildlife Stewardship Branch

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas

Ph.780.918.0757

https://www.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife.aspx

https://mywildalberta.ca/fishing/default.aspx

Regional Fisheries Contact Map

  

Get involved at www.alberta.ca/public-engagement.aspx 

 Answers . 

Hello  – Thank you for your comments, I can assure you that there is a commitment to resolve the issues that you raise.   I’d appreciate a discussion to expand further on your thoughts as well as to share with you in more detail progress on some the very issues you raise.  

This is after a couple of phone calls..You'll see that there is a F Book link,He mentioned to look here for updates.

Hi Brian -  Thankyou for making time to discuss a number of fisheries items.  It always a pleasure speaking to someone that’s been involved with Alberta’s fisheries for several decades. 

 

As discussed, from a communications standpoint, our MyWildAlberta Facebook site, with over 30,000 viewers is proving to be a very effective venue to share information.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Stuart

 

My thoughts:  Well he mentioned that he is committed to look into,some very long dated issues.Personally i'll give him a chance to walk the talk.   Tight lines Guys & Gals  

 Brian Rousch

 

I appreciate both your patience and commitment to Alberta’s fisheries resource.

 

Respectfully,

 

Stuart Nadeau

(780) 918 0757

 

Classification: Protected A

[SilverDoctor]

Thanks for posting

[Sparkplug]

 

Thanks Brian for taking the initiative with the Fisheries folks on these lakes.  On Dipping Vat, who controls the level in the lake?  One wonders whether "bank stability" issues could be addressed with some bank stabilization works, so that the water level could be restored.  This brings up the interesting issue as to whose jurisdiction the management of this waterbody falls under (including establishing/maintaining level), and to what extent shoreline landowners have say or control over matters such as water level.

[BrianR]

Sparkplug.  Some good comments.This fellow[Stuart Nadeau] is brand new in the position.I mentioned that ,they started back about 2009 to install riprap.I said that surely they have enough data,to show the soil erision has reduced in that area.The rip rap apparently was constructred by those doing community service ,for the justice people.Perhaps they F&W /ACA could continue.Water is controlled by a dike system that was built, .Then the buck for wildlife & a small group of flyfishers[Westwind Flyfishers ]of Calgary in 1984-85.It was upgrade in about 2009 ,so the farmer/ranchers .Could utilise some of the water.It just takes some one to occasionally ,turn the valve to allow filling of the lake.Who's job is that  ????????

[Sparkplug]

 

Thanks Brian, so if I understand correctly, certain riprap work has already been done, maybe enough to address the previous soil erosion issues.

If that is the case, then given the history at DV and its previous demonstrated capacity to support a QSF, one might think that if the matter was now just maintaining suitable lake level, Fisheries should certainly look into doing just that, restocking the lake and managing it as a new QSF.

Perhaps Mr. Nadeau or other Fisheries folks could at least do a current assessment and report on the status of DV and what still remains to be done to address the bank stabilization/water level issues, so that we could all be informed as to how far (or close) DV may be from/to being restored as a QSF.

 

 

[BrianR]

I haven't been there in awhile,but when i was last there.Approx.1/3 up the hill towards the stairs[if they're still there

[monger]

No money in the budget for these quality fisheries....need the $300,000 for the president Mr Z's salary