Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 806 |
|---|---|
| Citation | Hartman, G. and Miles, M. 2001. Assessment of techniques for rainbow trout transplanting and habitat management in British Columbia. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2562: x + 135 p. |
| Organization | DFO |
| URL | http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/ffip/Hartman_G2001_pt1.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | This study investigated the effectiveness of compensation measures used to recreate rainbow trout habitat or increase stocks in the interior of British Columbia. Identified compensation techniques included stock transplanting, manipulating lake levels and throughflow, creating spawning/rearing channels and constructing ﾓfish friendlyﾔ diversion channels. Our analyses indicate that rainbow trout are amenable to transplanting and have been stocked in about 2,430 B.C. lakes. Aeration projects were found to perform reliably in locations which are readily accessible and have a reliable power supply. Manipulation of lake levels, flow augmentation and the creation of new lakes have all been successfully used to increase fish production or provide recreational fisheries. Augmenting both lake level and throughflow or creating new lakes appeared to be slightly more successful than simply raising the level of an existing lake. The evolving performance as lakes age is generally unknown. Less than half of the channels that have been constructed or enhanced to provide spawning or rearing habitat have been successful, and many successful sites require pumping, gravel clearing or other maintenance activities on an annual basis. Diversion channels around pits, rock dumps and settling or tailings ponds have proved to be difficult to construct in a manner which provides successful habitat. Projects undertaken to develop or provide compensatory habitat for rainbow trout need to be designed on the basis of the best available science. The design team should be aware of how well similar projects have previously performed and what factors influenced success or failure. The approval process should include a requirement that monitoring, maintenance and proper evaluation be undertaken regularly over the design life of the project. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | All |
| Sub-watershed if known | |
| Aquifer # | |
| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
| Contact Name | |
| Contact Email |