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Watershed-based Fish Sustainability Planning

Watershed-based Fish Sustainability Planning. Case Study : Salmon River Watershed Roundtable. WFSP Reflects:. Federal & Provincial mandate Partnerships between gov’t. and other parties Co-ordinates w/ other fish habitat initiatives Incorporates adaptive implementation From: WFSP Guidebook.

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Watershed-based Fish Sustainability Planning

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  1. Watershed-based Fish Sustainability Planning Case Study: Salmon River Watershed Roundtable

  2. WFSP Reflects: • Federal & Provincial mandate • Partnerships between gov’t. and other parties • Co-ordinates w/ other fish habitat initiatives • Incorporates adaptive implementation From: WFSP Guidebook

  3. Federal & Provincial Mandate • DFO – Watershed Planning & Restoration • WLAP – Fisheries Section • MSRM – Planning Perspective • MAFF – Agricultural Mandate • CSRD – local government

  4. Co-operation and Partnerships • Province (SRM, WLAP, MAFF, LWBC) • 5 First Nations • Municipal Government (CSRD) • Federal (DFO) • Landowners, ranchers, agriculture • Water rights holders • TBFC, OUC, industry, etc.

  5. Co-ordinates w/ other fish habitat initiatives • Species at Risk Act (SARA) • Recovery Planning • Pacific Salmon Endowment Fund (PSEF)

  6. Incorporates adaptive implementation • Flexibility to the process • Achieve fisheries and habitat recovery • Focus on priority issues • A “means” – not an “end-product” • Incumbent on all levels and communities to implement • Considers other resource needs

  7. Common Element – Water as Salmon Habitat • How to bring all players to the table? • Ranchers, agricultural community • WFSP = adaptive process • Salmon River Watershed Roundtable

  8. Why the Roundtable Process? • Long term relationship and support • Historical successes • Proven track-record • Independent, autonomy -> Credibility • Intimate community connections • The ability to bring other players to the table • Other agencies, stakeholders, etc. • Consensus based approach

  9. Delivery Through Partnership • Delivered by Salmon River Watershed Roundtable together w/ DFO and a host of agencies and other partners

  10. Collaboration…

  11. WFSP - Watershed Perspective

  12. The “Process” • Many community meetings:-Mt. Ida. Hall-Silver Creek-Falkland-Westwold* • Led up to entire Watershed Roundtable meeting (Silver Creek) • ID issues – form working groups

  13. Community-based Input

  14. Consensus-based Issues • All participants collectively agreed on the major issues facing the watershed with respect to long-term sustainability • Fisheries resource a priority • As tied to water management

  15. 1. Identify off-stream water requirements and efficiency • Determine human use (especially irrigation) demand and irrigation efficiency opportunities

  16. 2. Determine aquatic habitat requirements • Determine river flow needed to sustain fish and aquatic life

  17. 3. Estimate surface and ground water availability • Determine water inventory

  18. 4. Estimate water available from modified forest harvest patterns • Determine the affect of forest harvest on the hydrograph

  19. 5. Identify storage opportunities • Determine potential for water storage

  20. 6. Identify water quality issues • Determine main water quality concerns

  21. 7. Collate existing information • Compile and distribute existing information to task teams

  22. 8. Community extension options • Develop plan for effective information sharing

  23. Technical Working Groups • “Task teams” to address issues • Multi-disciplinary representation • Involved all stakeholders • Timeframes for delivery • Bring back findings • Suggest recommendations and actions

  24. Identify and Address Issues: • Roundtable called in April 2003 • Main goals: • Actions • Recommendations • Grouped as “themes” (issues) • Examined and endorsed by entire Roundtable

  25. Immediate Actions Endorsed • Continue developing off-channel fish habitat (fish) • Continue water intake screening project (fish) • Develop and implement better fish access across delta during low flow periods • Continue riparian restoration (riparian) • Develop beaver management techniques (riparian)

  26. Restoration a Priority

  27. Successful Restoration

  28. Off-channel Habitat for coho

  29. Adopt Recommendations • 125 recommendations • Fish stock related (fish management) • Riparian management • Habitat enhancement • Water management recommendations • Field action!

  30. Best Estimate - Flows for Fish

  31. Water-based recommendations to conserve fisheries: • Buy back water licenses • Complete water use survey • Consider using water efficient crops • Consider programs such as watering on alternate days • Develop more efficient ways to irrigate

  32. Improved Irrigation Efficiency

  33. Streambank Restoration Sites

  34. Sound Fisheries Recommendations: • Increase awareness about the importance of salmon to First Nations and concepts such as terminal fisheries • Publicize fish returns • Ensure pool depths critical to fish and water intakes are maintained or improved • Adopt and test minimum low flow recommendations • Develop and implement better access across delta at low flow • Continue developing off-channel fish habitat

  35. Fisheries Recommendations (con’t.) • Continue water intake screening project • Do not clean drainage ditches when occupied by young Coho • Manage lakes and streams to obtain diversity in fish species • Improve understanding of juvenile rearing in Salmon river and tributaries • Review relationship between low flow and water temperature • Develop better understanding of forest harvesting impacts on water temperature

  36. Water as Element of WFSP • Limited Funding for this process • Water was major issue of concern to fisheries and landowners • Primary focus for this stage of WFSP • Full WFSP covers many other land use issues

  37. WFSP: A Step in the Process • WFSP for Salmon River • PSEF funding • PSEF “Recovery Plan” for salmon • Coho salmon • SARA -> Recovery Plans • Consistency between all plans • “Means to an end” – not “end product”

  38. Other WFSP Processes: • Coldwater River (PSF) • Morice River • Nimpkish River (Nimpkish Resource Management Board) • Rivers Inlet and Smith Inlet (DFO/River-Smith Inlet Recovery Group) • Salmon River (Salmon River Roundtable) • Taku River (First Nations/DFO) • Skeena Basin WFSP Stage I (Skeena Fisheries Commission)

  39. WFSP Planning Guidebook Link: http://www-heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/ publications/pdf/wfsp/wfsp_e.htm

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