| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The purpose of the 2009 KSM (Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell) Fish and Fish Habitat Baseline Program was to provide baseline information on fish and fish habitat, within the Project area, that may be impacted by the proposed mine and infrastructure development. This report describes sampling procedures and results of the KSM Fish and Fish Habitat Baseline Program conducted in 2009. Baseline data collection took place within study area boundaries, and includes tributaries of Teigen Creek, Treaty Creek, and the Unuk River. The results presented in this report are a continuation of the 2008 Fisheries Baseline Report. Access Roads: Stream classifications, along the proposed access roads, were determined using various habitat criteria including: channel width, gradient, and fish presence. Of the 106 sites classified as streams, the majority of sites (92 sites, 54%) were considered non-fish bearing due to habitat limiting conditions; such as high channel gradient (>30%), natural barriers, and poor quality fish habitat present to support the various fish life history stages. There were a total of 24 fish bearing crossings along the proposed access road routes. Seven of these crossings were fisheries sensitive zones and the remaining crossings were streams. Tailing Management Facility and Plant Site: Within South Teigen Watershed, a total of 15.4 km/6.8 ha of stream fish habitat was mapped and assessed within the footprint of the proposed tailing management facility (TMF), of which 7.6 km/4.9 ha was the mainstem and 7.8 km/1.9 ha was tributaries. A total of 5.0 km/6.0 ha of South Teigen Creek was mapped and assessed downstream of the TMF to the confluence with Teigen Creek. Within North Treaty Watershed, a total of 8.3 km/2.4 ha of stream fish habitat was mapped and assessed within the TMF, of which 2.8 km/1.7 ha was the mainstem and 5.5 km/0.7 ha was tributaries. A total of 1.2 km/0.9 ha of North Treaty Creek was mapped and assessed downstream of the TMF to the confluence with a large tributary from the eastern hillslope. Within South Teigen and North Treaty watersheds, a total 0.2 ha and 0.9 ha of wetland fish habitat was mapped and assessed within the TMF, respectively. Dolly Varden was the only species present in North Treaty and South Teigen creeks within the TMF. Dolly Varden, bull trout, mountain whitefish, and rainbow trout were present in South Teigen Creek downstream of a 2.5 m falls and outside of the TMF. No salmon species are present within South Teigen Creek based upon sampling data, spawning surveys, and habitat assessments. Fair or better Dolly Varden rearing habitat quality was observed at a high percentage of South Teigen and North Treaty watersheds. North Treaty Watershed possessed higher quality rearing habitat because of greater habitat diversity and fish habitat cover compared to South Teigen Watershed. Mean Dolly Varden population densities were higher in North Treaty Creek compared to South Teigen Creek. Mean Dolly Varden population densities were higher in North Treaty tributaries compared to South Teigen tributaries. South Teigen tributaries provide the majority of Dolly Varden fry and parr rearing habitat within South Teigen Watershed. North Treaty Creek provides suitable rearing habitat for Dolly Varden fry and parr. South Teigen Creek provided none to poor suitable spawning habitat. The high composition of glacial fine substrates and high flows during the spawning season do not provide suitable spawning habitat for Dolly Varden. South Teigen tributaries provided suitable spawning habitat. North Treaty Creek and tributaries provided good and abundant Dolly Varden spawning habitat due to suitable substrate and habitat characteristics, suitable flow, and good water quality. All reaches of South Teigen and North Treaty creeks provide good over-wintering habitat for Dolly Varden. The tributaries of these creeks provide over-wintering in certain stream reaches. All reaches of South Teigen and North Treaty creeks provided important fish habitat for Dolly Varden. Important habitat quality was observed at 68 % for South Teigen tributaries and 59 % for North Treaty tributaries. Stream 1010, above a series of cascades, was classified as non-fish bearing because sufficient sampling effort demonstrated no fish present. Therefore, all streams above the cascades and in the location on the proposed plant site were classified as non-fish bearing. Receiving Environment – Stream and Wetland Habitat: Teigen, Treaty and Unuk Watersheds: For the purposes of data analysis and comparison, three watersheds were selected for detailed fish and fish habitat analysis. The three watersheds were Teigen Creek, Treaty Creek, and the Unuk River. Dolly Varden was the most widely distributed species within Teigen, Treaty and Unuk watershed reaches. Dolly Varden and bull trout coexist in Teigen Creek. Teigen and Treaty creeks support summer run populations of steelhead. Pacific salmon species, such as coho and Chinook are present in Treaty and Teigen creeks. Sockeye salmon are only present in Teigen Creek. Salmon species are present in the Unuk River, with the majority of salmon spawning and rearing occurring in the lower 39 km of the Alaska section. Chinook and coho salmon are known to extend as far upstream as Storie Creek, which is approximately 15 km east of Sulphurets Creek confluence with the Unuk River. Only Dolly Varden was captured, in this study and others, within the Unuk River upstream of Storie Creek. In Teigen Creek, Chinook salmon fry were the most abundant and rainbow trout/steelhead fry were the second most abundant species present. Chinook parr were not present in Teigen Creek Watershed. Rainbow trout/steelhead fry had a high abundance in the upper watershed on Teigen Creek, upstream of Hodkin Creek confluence. Rainbow trout/steelhead parr were distributed throughout the mainstem. Dolly Varden parr and adults were present throughout the mainstem, although the species abundance was less compared to Treaty Creek and the Unuk River. Bull Trout parr and adults were more abundant in the mainstem compared to Dolly Varden. Coho salmon fry and parr were most abundant species present within side channels and off channel wetlands of Teigen watershed. Dolly Varden fry, parr and adults also occupied the side channels and off channel wetlands. In Treaty Creek, Dolly Varden parr and adults were the most abundant and present throughout the mainstem. Rainbow trout/steelhead parr were the second most abundant species present; however the species distribution was restricted to downstream of the Todedada Creek confluence. Mountain whitefish were present downstream of the Todedada Creek confluence. Dolly Varden fry, parr and adults were most abundant species present within side channels and off channel wetlands throughout Treaty watershed. Based upon previous fisheries assessments, coho salmon fry and parr also occupied the side channels and off channel wetlands, downstream of Todedada Creek confluence. In the Unuk River, Dolly Varden parr and adults were the most abundant species and present throughout the mainstem. Coho fry were the second most abundant species present in the mainstem downstream of the Storie Creek confluence. Sockeye fry were present in the mainstem downstream of the Harymel Creek confluence. Other Watersheds: A number of other watersheds, within the study area, were assessed for fish and fish habitat values. These other watersheds were: Bowser, South Unuk and Bell-Irving rivers, Oweegee, Snowbank, West Teigen, Sulphurets, and Coulter creeks. There are a number of fish species present in the Bell-Irving River, Oweegee and Snowbank creeks. There are a number of fish species present in the Bowser River; however only Dolly Varden were present in the glacial headwaters at site BR1 in the upper reaches of the Bowser River. Only Dolly Varden were present in West Teigen Creek and were significantly longer and heavier compared to populations in other watersheds. Dolly Varden were present in Sulphurets Creek below a 200 m cascade, which was approximately 300 m upstream from the Unuk River. Sulphurets Creek, above the cascade, was classified as non-fish bearing because sufficient sampling effort demonstrated no fish present. Therefore, all streams above the cascades were classified as non-fish bearing. Dolly Varden and coho salmon were present below a large falls in Coulter Creek. Coulter Creek, above the falls, was classified as non-fish bearing because sufficient sampling effort demonstrated no fish present. Therefore, all streams above the falls were classified as non-fish bearing. Receiving Environment – Lake Habitat: The three assessed lakes were: West Teigen Lake, Sulphurets Lake, and Todedada Lake. Dolly Varden was caught in West Teigen Lake. Dolly Varden and rainbow trout were caught in Todedada Lake. No fish were caught in Sulphurets Lake for a total of 45 hrs gillnetting effort and 235 hrs minnow trap effort. Sulphurets Lake was sampled in 2008 and no fish were caught, therefore Sulphurets Lake was classified as non-fish bearing. |
