| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
During the low flow period in September and October 1994, a detailed field assessment was conducted to determine fish habitat, fish distribution and existing and potential salmonid production in the Barriere River drainage. Results were based on intensive field sampling and analytical methodologies established by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Electrofishing of juvenile rearing habitat at a total of 31 different locations resulted in the capture of four different salmonid species. Rainbow trout had the highest frequency of occurrence followed by bull trout, coho salmon and chinook salmon. Based on Ptolemy's model (1993), rainbow trout/chinook salmon fry, parr and coho salmon fry densities in the Barriere River, reaches 1-3, East Barriere River and Haggard Creek were found to be lower then theoretical capacities. Rainbow trout/chinook salmon 1+ and coho salmon O+ were found to be above theoretical capacity in reach 4 of the Barriere River while rainbow trout/chinook salmon 0+ of the same reach were below capacity. The theoretical fry rearing capacity in the Barriere River, below North Barriere Lake, was estimated to be 215,707. The actual estimated fry population size in the river was 31,994. Population estimates lower than theoretical fry rearing capacity could result from sport fishing pressure on adult rainbow trout populations or fish collection techniques which did not sufficiently represented fish distributions in the river. |
