| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd. (Ecoscape), in association with GauTech Environmental Consulting (GauTech), was retained by Tolko Industries Ltd. (Tolko) to complete Fish Passage Assessments of Closed Bottom Structures within Tolko's Merritt Timber Supply Area (Contract 5044001). To address the issue of fish passage at stream crossings with closed bottom structures (CBS), a systematic watershed-based approach has been developed which is intended to prioritize, identify and restore fish passage at culverted stream crossings (BC MOE 2008a). The Fish Passage Working Group - including members from the British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range, Ministry of Environment, Integrated Land Management Bureau, and Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans - was developed to address the issue of maintaining and restoring fish passage at culverted road crossings on resource roads (Anonymous 2008; Forest Practices Board 2009). It has been estimated that over 550,000 km of resource roads occur in BC, with approximately 76,000 closed bottom structures occurring over known fish streams (Anonymous 2008; Forest Practices Board 2009). Limitations to fish passage associated with closed bottom structures potentially contributes to significant fish habitat losses province-wide (BC MOE 2008 a and b). Within Tolko's Merritt TSA, the Tulameen and Pike Mountain / Myren Creek watersheds were selected as priority for 2008 and 2009 by Tolko based on review of Watershed Atlas polygons, fisheries values, and local priorities. Ecoscape completed fish passage assessments within these key areas following the new process protocol. Works completed and data collection and analysis results are presented in Section 3.0. salmonid, aquatic habitat, connectivity, fish passage |
