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Location: Thompson, Thompson Project Summary
Overview This is the third year of a study to confirm juvenile IFR coho salmon usage of groundwater upwelling areas as thermal refuge from lethal summer water temperatures in mainstem channels. This third year will confirm the importance of these habitats and the need for their protection. NTA and SFC, in collaboration with DFO, will continue to locate and identify new groundwater upwelling areas and monitor both fish behavior and water temperatures through the duration of 2009/10. Locating and monitoring new groundwater upwelling sites will be a primary focus for this third year of the study for the NTA. Previously identified sites will continue to be monitored to improve the time series of data. SFC will continue to focus on monitoring fish presence/absence and associated behaviors in previously identified groundwater upwelling sites. Our results will establish a foundational understanding of juvenile IFR coho groundwater associated habitat requirements and will inform improved groundwater management and protection strategies by substantiating the linkage between groundwater upwelling habitat and the conservation of Endangered IFR coho. Objectives Methods Objective 1: A total of 20 people days has been allotted for the purpose of locating and identifying new groundwater upwelling sites on both the Coldwater and Nicola Rivers. Crews will survey the rivers using a thermocouple probe unit to monitor water temperatures. New sites will be identified with GPS coordinates. When a new upwelling site is identified, the crew will survey the surrounding area for potential groundwater sources. New groundwater upwelling sites will be added to the project study area for investigation per Objective 2. Objective 2: Data loggers will be installed at upwelling and nearby control sites to monitor water temperatures on an hourly basis from June until late September. Two-person survey crews will conduct standardized snorkel surveys of upwelling and control sites at three different times during the study: before mainstem temperatures reach their peak; during the season of peak mainstem temperatures; and after peak mainstem temperatures have declined. Snorkeling/fish behaviour monitoring will be done during both daytime and night-time hours. Survey crews will be identifying and tallying juvenile salmonids and other indigenous fish species observed in both the groundwater upwelling and control sites. Fish behavior will also be documented. Baseline habitat assessment data and photos will be collected at each of the survey sites (upwelling and control). Objective 3: A third year of data will be used to support the premise that groundwater upwelling is critical refuge habitat for IFR coho juveniles, requiring such sites to be considered for future protection. Objective 4: A planning meeting between NTA, SFC, and DFO will be held prior to project start-up to confirm detailed study design and implementation. DFO will provide biological support/oversight as well as a technician to assist First Nation partners with field sampling routines as appropriate.
Final Results The final report for the study is posted in the orange resource box to the upper right.
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