| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The Goat River bull trout investigations coupled with the results of past water quality studies indicate that the Goat River supports a very important and highly sensitive population of large fluvial bull trout. Sixteen of twenty-eight bull trout were radio-tagged and tracked during 2002/03. The mean length and weight of radio-tagged (mature) bull trout was 617.5 mm and 2613 grams respectively. There was no significant difference in length or weights between female and male bull trout, or between Goat River and Macleod Creek spawners. Seven bull trout spawned in the upper Goat River, six in Macleod Creek; three remained downstream. The mean emigration rate was 0.48 km/day (SD = 0.69). The post-spawning Emigration rate was 25.9 km/day (SD = 19.88). The mean spawning residence was 20.1 days (SD = 1.69). The average distance to over-winter sites for tracked fish was 457.3 km; up to 505 km. In 2003, redd counts for Macleod Creek and Goat River were 90 and 73 respectively; approximately 326 bull trout. Bull trout spawning distributions were found to be highly aggregated (k = 0.45) and associated with low gradient transitional zones, an abundance of large woody debris, cover and suitable spawning gravel. Evidence of visually suitable spawning habitat being vacant over the duration of the study suggests that groundwater plays a key role in spawning site selection. Recommendations for the Goat River include protecting important bull trout spawning habitat and hydrological features through ‘Wildlife Habitat Areas’, and or ‘Significant Fisheries Watershed’ designations, monitoring water quality consistent with provincial standards, long-term monitoring of redds, and collecting micro satellite DNA and otolith micro-chemistry to determine and understand upper Fraser River bull trout stock structure and movement patterns. |
