Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | G3 Consulting Ltd. 2014. Lower Coquitlam River substrate quality assessment, Annual Report Year 1 (2012/13). Prepared for BC Hydro. |
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| Organization | BC Hydro |
| URL | https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/documents/corporate/environment-sustainability/water-use-planning/lower-mainland/coqmon-8-yr6-2014-01-01.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | G3 Consulting Ltd. (G3) was retained by BC Hydro to complete the Lower Coquitlam River Substrate Quality Assessment in salmonid spawning and rearing habitat in the Lower Coquitlam River from 2012 to 2017. A primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of flushing flow provisions intended to increase fish productivity through improved substrate quality in the Lower Coquitlam River. As part of the Coquitlam River Water Use Plan (WUP), eight (8) separate monitoring programs have been implemented with the objectives and monitoring indicators reported to BC’s Comptroller of Water Rights. The Lower Coquitlam River Substrate Quality Assessment is the focus of this report and one of the eight monitoring programs. The following is the first annual data report that provides an update on the project activities and results of three (3) surveys undertaken October 2012, January 2013 and May 2013. Data reporting on substrate quality performance measures is conducted annually, while analysis of effectiveness of flushing flows will be done in the third year and again at the end of the review period. Substrate quality at six (6) sampling sites in the Lower Coquitlam River was assessed by measuring percent (%) particle size distribution for surficial and subsurface (<10.0 mm) samples. Subsurface sample material >10.0 mm also underwent pebble counts (not yet available at the time of this reporting). Surficial sediments consisted of higher percentages (%) of clay and silt in October 2012 and January 2013, coinciding with high discharge periods in the Lower Coquitlam River. Particle sizes in subsurface sediments collected October 2012 and January 2013 were highest in percentage (%) sand and gravel and lowest in May 2013. No flushing flows occurred in 2012 or 2013. Suitable substrates for spawning and rearing were observed at the sampling sites; however, given this was the first year of sampling there was limited data from which to draw conclusions as to whether flushing flows were effective at mobilizing sediments and whether sediment particle size profiles at each site are a reflection of discharge or other environmental factors. Analysis of substrate quality results will require several years of data to develop robust correlations between substrate quality results and fish productivity |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Lower Fraser |
| Sub-watershed if known | Coquitlam River |
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| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
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