China Creek Culvert Access

The China Ck. Project was initiated to address the lack of fish passage into and beyond the hwy 3 culvert on China Ck. Prior to the construction and upgrading of hwy 3, Salmonids of the Columbia River had access to approximately 30km of this very important spawning creek. Rainbow trout (RT) fry density escapement have been measured from the culvert to the mainstem Columbia River to be Approx. 80,000 (CBFWCP). The densities of fry indicate that the creek is extremely important to the production of salmonids in the Columbia River. By insuring passage through the culvert the system will be further utilized and the mainstem fish numbers will be supplemented naturally.

This site is the location of a .75-1.0m elevation drop (this is dependant on time of year and flows) from the hwy culvert to the top of the plunge pool water level. The preliminary plan indicates that the tailwater (bottom of the plunge pool) area elevation needs to be increased. This construction and coordination with a series of “step pools” will potentially ensure fish passage beyond the culvert. The Ministry of Transportation & Highways (MoTH) has constructed “in-pipe structures” to aid in fish movement within the culvert. These structures involve cementing large rock into a grid network of rebar in the culvert. The grouted rock will provide refuge for salmonids during high flows and aid in their quest for upstream spawning areas. This exciting project involves Moth, CKFRP, Selkirk College, CBFWCP, Klohn Crippen, West Kootenay Fly Club and Teck Cominco.

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