Salmo watershed bull trout telemetry study $12,375

This project will identify spawning sites and overwintering habitat of bull trout in the Salmo River watershed through radio telemetry. Radio telemetry has been utilized as a technique in previous studies in the Duncan River and the Slocan River to address management and habitat issues within the Kootenay Region, particularly in areas that have been affected by hydroelectric development. The Salmo watershed has been impacted by previous hydroelectric development in the past on the Columbia and Pend d'Oreille Rivers, and this has resulted in the extirpation of steelhead and chinook salmon populations and entrainment of bull trout and rainbow trout through the Seven Mile generating station. It has been suggested that the status of the bull trout population within the watershed may be at a level of concern. Despite this, critical habitat for the two remaining sportfish species in the river has not been fully documented. The primary objectives of this project will be to radio tag and monitor the migration movements of 25 bull trout in the Salmo River. Information on migration timing, overwintering habitat use, and spawning habitat use will be collected, and will allow for the conservation of critical habitat areas. The data will also be used to determine appropriate instream work windows within the watershed, and will provide added information for improved bull trout management.

Support for this project has also been provided by BC Hydro (Ric Olmsted and Dean den Biesen.)

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