Kwikwetlem Sockeye Restoration Project

(KSRP)

A Summary of who we are and the work done to date

KSRP – Outline

1. Introduction2. Location 3. Low Level Outlet (LLO) Gatehouse

• smolt output

4. Sockeye Adult Trap • adult returns

5. Challenge6. Studies

• work done to date• Water quality panel

KSRP – Introduction

Who:A group stakeholders who have an interest in the Coquitlam watershed that are working with Kwikwetlem FN to restore an extirpated run of sockeye salmon.

Problem:Construction of Coquitlam dam blocked migratory route of historical sockeye run in 1914.

Landlocked juveniles forced into a freshwater-only life history (i.e., as kokanee)

25 generations of reservoir existence may have altered the stock’s morphology and behavior

KSRP – Introduction

ObjectiveRestore the extirpated run of sockeye salmon

1. Short term: 1. Establish a sustainable run of sockeye salmon 2. Learn about Kwikwetlem sockeye ecology

2. Long term: 1. Restore the sockeye run given prevailing conditions (i.e.,

revert landlocked sockeye back to primarily a sea run population)

KSRP – Location

KSRP – Location (3d view)

Red line marks elevation of historical lake

Coquitlam Dam and forebay

KSRP – Location (Air photo view)

Coquitlam Dam and Forebay

KSRP – Location (Dam and Forebay)

LLO Gatehouse

KSRP – LLO Gatehouse

KSRP – LLO Gatehouse

Typical range of reservoir elevations during smolt out migration

Movement of smolts

KSRP – LLO Gatehouse

KSRP – LLO Gatehouse

KSRP – smolt output

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Estim

ated

Sm

olt O

utpu

t

< 50

First year of monitoring

KSRP – smolt output

Possible reasons for dwindling counts:1. Structure itself (small opening at depth)2. Flow too low to attract smolts3. Reservoir levels too high – LLO too deep4. Reservoir levels too low – forebay too shallow5. Diversion tunnel - intercepts smolts6. Predation7. Too few smolts in reservoir – no incentive to leave8. Drive to emigrate lost - natural selection favors ‘stayers’9. ???

KSRP – Sockeye Adult Trap

Adult trap box

KSRP – Sockeye Adult Trap

KSRP – Sockeye Adult Trap

KSRP – Sockeye Adult Trap

KSRP – Sockeye Adult Returns

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Adu

lt R

etur

ns

?

No adults expected for 1st

2 years

1st year of Adult trap operation

KSRP – Sockeye Adult Returns

• Possible reasons for low adult counts• Low smolt output (Smolt to adult survival is usually

about 1 in 100)• Trap functional only since 2008• Error in smolt estimates (unlikely)

• From similar work in Alouette Lake Reservoir• Adults survive transport• Appear to successfully spawn

KSRP – Challenge

Short term KSRP objective:1. Establish a sustainable population

• Target numbers not yet established

• Using Sakinaw Lake sockeye as example:– DFO target minimum: 250 adults– Assuming 1% survival: 25,000 smolts

2. Learn Kwikwetlem sockeye ecology

• Study work underway since 2004

KSRP – Study work