| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The availability of instream flows for fishes is a serious concern to resource managers, and conservation of water flows in existing streams has been identified as a potential compensation strategy for streams lost due to impoundment. The Fisheries Branch of the Ministry of Environment, Kootenay Region initiated this project in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program – Columbia Basin, to begin to understand the current holding of regional Conservation Water Licences (CWLs) to protect fish and fish habitat. Similarly, they are interested in the degree of work that has been completed to date in obtaining CWLs on important fish streams, and to prioritize streams currently without CWLs. Conservation Water Licences do exist in the Kootenay Region, and are primarily found on streams with constructed kokanee spawning channels. Rationale for protecting streams flows for various fishes and life stages, developed by Ministry of Environment, at the Provincial level are presented. Several important fish streams in the Kootenay Region are identified and investigated for available stream flow data, and where possible, preliminary Mean Annual Discharge calculated. Recommendations are presented, intended to provide direction for next steps in the initiative of obtaining Conservation Water Licences in Kootenay Region. |
