Al Irvine
New Graph Environment Ltd.
al@newgraphenvironment
250-777-1518
Date Original: 2025-07-25
Date Revised: 2025-07-28
Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
and
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Re: Scientific Fish Collection Permit Application
Please note that permitting to Fisheries and Oceans Canada is requested for inventory purposes only. PIT tagging is NOT proposed for salmon species. PIT tagging is proposed to the Provincial Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS) for provincial jurisdiction species only to monitor fish movement and growth over multiple years.
A summary of sites proposed for assessment, including historic fish presence records from FISS, is provided in Tables 2 to 3. Fish species known to occur within each watershed are summarized in Table 4. An overview map showing potential sample locations is presented in Figure 1. A KML file (google earth) and GPX file (for garmin gps devices) of all sites is attached to the application with latest versions downloadable here or here. The KML includes detailed site-specific information accessible by clicking on each location in google earth, with brief summaries of background reports where available.
Brief description of project/activities
This work is a multi-year collaboration of many groups and an initiative of the Society for Ecosystem Restoration Northern BC. Funding for the project is through the Habitat Trust Conservation Foundation, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the Provincial Fish Passage Technical Working Group. Al Irvine, R.P.Bio from New Graph Environment Ltd. is leading the fieldwork with field and office collaboration with teams from the Office of Wet’suwet’en (contact Julia Onderwater - Julia.Onderwater@wetsuweten.com or Dave Dewit - david.dewit@wetsuweten.com), Gitskan Watershed Authorities (contact Alicia Fernando - afernando@gitksanwatershed.com ) and Gitsxan Environmental Services (contact Chaz Ware - chaz.ware@gitxsanbusiness.com ). Previous reports are provided below:
- https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/
- https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_skeena_2021_reporting/
- https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2022_reporting/
- https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_skeena_2022_reporting/
- https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_skeena_2023_reporting/
- https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_skeena_2024_reporting/
Rationale for sampling
Rationale for sampling is to inform fish presence/absence, species composition/density, abundance estimates, movement, growth, and survival as part of habitat confirmations and effectiveness monitoring related to fish passage restoration at barrier culverts. Habitat confirmation methodology information can be referenced in the above reports which builds on the Fish Passage Technical Working Group Phase 2 protocol. Presence/absence of fish, species composition/abundance, distribution limits and fish movement can be useful for prioritizing which crossings are a best fit for fish passage restoration and inform baseline as well as follow up effectiveness monitoring.
Methodologies
Sampling methodologies will be dependent on the site, fish species suspected, type of habitat encountered, risks to aquatic organisms potentially present (Table 1) and ongoing communications. Sampling methods may include minnowtrapping, electrofishing, and dip netting upstream and downstream of current and past barrier culvert locations.
Sampling is proposed at streams included in Tables 2 - 3 where we will be performing habitat confirmation assessments and follow up site visits related to past habitat confirmations/fish passage remediations.
PIT Tagging
As part of this permit application we are proposing tagging for provincial jurisdiction species only. PIT tagging is not proposed for salmon species. When time allows and tagging is expected to improve knowledge of a system, our study plan is to electrofish small sites both upstream and downstream of priority culvert “barrier” sites and implant Biomark APT12 PIT tags in the abdominal cavity of select fish over 60mm in fork length. To anesthetize fish prior to PIT tagging, we use a clove oil solution at 0.1mL/L (1:10,000), which provides effective sedation with minimal residual effects (Fernandes et al. 2017). The solution is prepared by dissolving clove oil in ethyl alcohol at a 1:9 ratio before mixing into water (Fernandes et al. 2017). Site location (UTM), fish length and weight will also be collected. In addition to providing information on abundance upstream and downstream of potential culvert restoration sites, the study will also provide information for monitoring programs to document fish movement, growth and survival at sites over multi-year time frames. Main objectives are to:
- Determine if fish are moving into restored areas
- Determine if before any remediation is conducted - fish are moving through sites where stream crossing structures (culverts) likely cause connectivity issues
- Evaluate if productivity of the systems are increasing following bridge installation and/or if fish are moving upstream/downstream of where replaced/removed structures are located
Dependent on how relevant tracking information would be to inform restoration actions, we may wish to tag select fish over 60mm in each site sampled. We would like to apply for a permit allowing a maximum of 600 fish tagged with a maximum of 150 fish/stream. Although we are requesting a maximum of 150 fish/stream, we have listed 150 fish of each species per stream because we will not know the species composition of the sites until the sampling occurs. In general, only salmonid and burbot species will be tagged with likely species present being rainbow trout, cutthrout trout, and dolly varden. Based on past assessments in the same and similiar systems in the region, the number of fish tagged per stream are very likely to be much less than 150, however we are requesting the maximum number of fish to be tagged to facilitate permit application procedures and allow for flexibility in the field based on actual sampling results.
Risks associated with project/activities and associated mitigation
| Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| High Voltage Injuries | Use the minimum effective voltage. Avoid contacting fish with the anode. Avoid electrofishing directly adjacent to metal culverts. |
| Disruption of Spawning | Avoid electrofishing during highest risk periods in likely spawning habitat. |
| Physical Stress on Fish | Quick/gentle handling and release of captured fish. Use of clove oil to anesthetize fish. |
| Injury from PIT Tagging Surgeries | Shallow insertion of tags and use of fresh sterile syringes every approximately 10 surgeries |
| Mortality in traps due to predation and starvation | Ensure all traps set are retrieved within 24 hours. |
Please note that the sampling will be completed before October 31 (end of August till early October) however the end-date of the sampling period is listed as Dec 31 on the application to allow time outside of the busy field season for the data to be processed, QA’d and organized so that required reporting can be as informative as possible when submitted. An example of how we have been presenting results and methodologies from past assessments can be referenced in reports above.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need more information or have any questions or concerns.
Al Irvine, R.P.Bio
Figure 1: Location of potential sample sites.
| Site ID | Stream Name | Watershed Code | UTM Zone | UTM Easting | UTM Northing | Watershed Group Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 123377 | Thompson Creek | 460-517700-00000-00000-0000-0000-000-000-000-000-000-000 | 9 | 641633 | 6049398 | BULK |
| 197640 | Tributary To Buck Creek | 460-636000-36664-00000-0000-0000-000-000-000-000-000-000 | 9 | 654312 | 6012383 | BULK |
| 197960 | Corya Creek | 460-185400-00000-00000-0000-0000-000-000-000-000-000-000 | 9 | 605786 | 6099884 | BULK |
| 197962 | Peacock Creek | 460-600600-07100-00000-0000-0000-000-000-000-000-000-000 | 9 | 643460 | 6025890 | MORR |
| 198064 | Tributary To Lamprey Creek | 460-600600-36400-26300-0000-0000-000-000-000-000-000-000 | 9 | 623369 | 6000283 | MORR |
| 198217 | Sik-E-Dakh | 400-448500-00000-00000-0000-0000-000-000-000-000-000-000 | 9 | 582874 | 6130541 | KISP |
| Site ID | Stream Name | Species Upstream | # Fish Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 123377 | Thompson Creek | CT;DV;RB | 150 |
| 197640 | Tributary To Buck Creek | RB | 150 |
| 197960 | Corya Creek | DV;RB | 150 |
| 197962 | Peacock Creek | – | 150 |
| 198064 | Tributary To Lamprey Creek | DV | 150 |
| 198217 | Sik-E-Dakh | – | 150 |
| Scientific Name | Species Name | BC List | COSEWIC | Bulkley | Kispiox | Kalum | Morice | Zymoetz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catostomus catostomus | Longnose Sucker | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes |
| Catostomus commersonii | White Sucker | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Catostomus macrocheilus | Largescale Sucker | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chrosomus eos | Northern Redbelly Dace | Yellow | – | Yes | – | – | – | – |
| Coregonus clupeaformis | Lake Whitefish | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | – |
| Coregonus sardinella | Least Cisco | Blue | – | – | – | Yes | – | – |
| Cottus aleuticus | Coastrange Sculpin (formerly Aleutian Sculpin) | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Cottus asper | Prickly Sculpin | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cottus cognatus | Slimy Sculpin | Yellow | – | – | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| Couesius plumbeus | Lake Chub | Yellow | DD | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| Entosphenus tridentatus | Pacific Lamprey | Yellow | – | Yes | – | Yes | Yes | – |
| Gasterosteus aculeatus | Threespine Stickleback | Yellow | – | – | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| Hybognathus hankinsoni | Brassy Minnow | No Status | – | Yes | – | – | – | – |
| Lampetra ayresii | River Lamprey | Yellow | – | – | – | Yes | – | – |
| Lota lota | Burbot | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mylocheilus caurinus | Peamouth Chub | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus clarkii | Cutthroat Trout | No Status | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus clarkii | Cutthroat Trout (Anadromous) | No Status | – | Yes | Yes | – | – | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii | Coastal Cutthroat Trout | Blue | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi | Westslope (Yellowstone) Cutthroat Trout | Blue | SC (Nov 2016) | – | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| Oncorhynchus gorbuscha | Pink Salmon | Not Reviewed | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus keta | Chum Salmon | Not Reviewed | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus kisutch | Coho Salmon | Not Reviewed | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus mykiss | Rainbow Trout | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus mykiss | Steelhead | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus mykiss | Steelhead (Summer-run) | Yellow | – | Yes | – | – | Yes | – |
| Oncorhynchus mykiss | Steelhead (Winter-run) | Yellow | – | – | Yes | – | – | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus nerka | Kokanee | Not Reviewed | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus nerka | Sockeye Salmon | Not Reviewed | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oncorhynchus tshawytscha | Chinook Salmon | Not Reviewed | E/T/SC/DD/NAR (Nov 2020) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Prosopium coulterii | Pygmy Whitefish | Yellow | NAR (Nov 2016) | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | – |
| Prosopium coulterii pop. 3 | Giant Pygmy Whitefish | Yellow | NAR (Nov 2016) | Yes | – | – | – | – |
| Prosopium cylindraceum | Round Whitefish | Yellow | – | – | – | Yes | – | – |
| Prosopium williamsoni | Mountain Whitefish | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ptychocheilus oregonensis | Northern Pikeminnow | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes |
| Pungitius pungitius | Ninespine Stickleback | Unknown | – | Yes | – | – | – | – |
| Rhinichthys cataractae | Longnose Dace | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rhinichthys falcatus | Leopard Dace | Yellow | NAR (May 1990) | – | – | – | Yes | – |
| Richardsonius balteatus | Redside Shiner | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Salvelinus confluentus | Bull Trout | Blue | SC (Nov 2012) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Salvelinus fontinalis | Brook Trout | Exotic | – | Yes | – | – | Yes | – |
| Salvelinus malma | Dolly Varden | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Salvelinus namaycush | Lake Trout | Yellow | – | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | – |
| – | All Salmon | – | – | – | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| – | Arctic Char | – | – | – | – | – | Yes | – |
| – | Chub (General) | – | – | – | Yes | – | – | – |
| – | Cutthroat/Rainbow cross | – | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| – | Dace (General) | – | – | – | – | – | Yes | – |
| – | Lamprey (General) | – | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
| – | Minnow (General) | – | – | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | – |
| – | Mottled Sculpin | – | – | Yes | – | – | – | – |
| – | Salmon (General) | – | – | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | Yes |
| – | Sculpin (General) | – | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| – | Squanga | – | – | – | Yes | – | – | – |
| – | Stickleback (General) | – | – | – | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| – | Sucker (General) | – | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| – | Verified DV BT hybrid | – | – | – | – | Yes | – | – |
| – | Whitefish (General) | – | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |