Bull trout studied

Page 17

A study to assess the migration and spawning patterns of the bull trout, as well as sizes and population of the fish in the upper and lower Duncan River system and Kootenay Lake, is half complete.

The Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, along with the BC Environment and B.C. Hydro, began their joint study in the summer of 1995. One of the study's objectives is to discover if the operation of B.C. Hydro's Duncan Dam is having any negative effects on the bull trout.

There were 462 bull trout tagged, and 47 of those were implanted with radio transmitters in order to better track them.

So far, most of the fish have ascended Duncan Dam to spawn in the upper Duncan River system, and have subsequently returned to Duncan Reservoir. Others have moved to tributaries of the lower Duncan River to spawn or have returned to Kootenay Lake. Quite a few fish were still in Duncan Lake near the dam's forebay in December, and some are deep in Kootenay Lake, a press release states.

Half of the 47 radio-tagged fish have been located. Five radio-tagged fish were caught and four of the five killed. Of the total 462 fish tagged, 15 have been caught.

David O'Brien, a biologist with the project, said "It is critical that anglers return recovered spaghetti tags and related catch information" to BC Environment in Nelson. He stresses that anyone catching a fish with a radio tag should make note of catch information, including the tag number, report it and release the fish.

Robert Louie, a spokesman for 165-member Lower Kootenay First Nation, near Creston, B.C., in the study zone, said he is "caught in a half-and-half situation" with respect to the study.

Band Elders are not in favor of tampering with natural events in the river, Louie states, and he said he agrees with them. On the other hand, he said the study might be a good way to help the young people learn more about the history of the river and conservation, and it might lead to further studies on water quality and protection of the resource.

Elders were not consulted for the information they might have been able to provide regarding the fish in the study area, he added.

Even so, Louie said that, generally, relations are "pretty good" between his First Nation and the parties involved.

He says his band received an "informative announcement by letter" that the study was being undertaken. The band was told it would receive mid-term and final reports of the results.

The Duncan river system "is north of us two hours by road," Louie said, adding that waters affected by the study go through not only his reserve, but through traditional-use areas for which land title negotiations are being pursued.

"That's were we go to get our traditional healing waters," Louie said.