FRASER BASIN COUNCIL SOCIETY<\/h3>\nTeaming up to Conserve Steelhead through Improved Forest Management<\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>Monitoring Water Temperatures and Flows for Steelhead in Relation to Forest Management Practices<\/p>\n
Why this project matters<\/p>\n
Steelhead are an endangered species in many parts of North America and they are at risk of becoming endangered in the Fraser Basin in British Columbia. Steelhead trout (aka steelhead salmon) are an iconic symbol of the Thompson River and region in British Columbia. Having long sustained Indigenous people, steelhead are also central to the region\u2019s world-class recreational fishery. Unfortunately, this species is in decline, and today Thompson steelhead are classified a species of extreme conservation concern by the provincial government.<\/p>\n
How the project helps steelhead conservation<\/p>\n
In order to build understanding of the relationship between steelhead and forest management practices, the project will monitor water temperature in portions of the Thompson watershed, where steelhead spawn and rear. This will ultimately help identify areas of groundwater influence, allowing researchers to compare and contrast the relative need for different forest management retention practices around small, upper elevation streams. These findings will complement work underway in the Deadman and Nicola watershed. Outcomes will help forest managers adjust activities in locations that may provide the greatest aid to steelhead habitat, and to manage flows and temperatures for steelhead.<\/p>\n
This work will also address climate change adaptation through the identification of habitat enhancement or restoration opportunities in small, lower-order, upper-elevation streams, which could improve habitat for fish and other aquatic life experiencing changes to water temperatures. These ecosystems now receive less precipitation as snow and more as rain, increasing the need for sustained water flows during longer lasting summer droughts.<\/p>\n
SFI\u2019s contribution<\/p>\n
This project represents a continuation of SFI engagement in steelhead conservation, building on a past grant from the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program in support of the Thompson Steelhead Working Group. This multi-governmental collaborative initiative formed in 2014 to bring together representatives of the Nlaka\u2019pamux and Secwepemc First Nations, the Province of BC and the Government of Canada to develop a recovery and management plan for Thompson steelhead. The working group also hopes to gain wider community commitments for steelhead recovery, and to return wild steelhead populations to levels that produce sustainable ecological, social, and economic benefits for all.<\/p>\n
How the project helps forest managers<\/p>\n
The project will quantify the impact of SFI Program Participant activities relative to improving stream habitat and water quality by comparing water temperatures between areas of greater and less retention, and between areas with and without underground flows. The project will evaluate the hypothesis that more regular flows and cooler water temperatures may be expected in forests with a diversity of age classes, structure and, most importantly, retention around wetlands. Because steelhead are an indicator of the biodiversity values within a watershed, analysis of these metrics will help build understanding regarding the contribution of sustainable forest management to conserving species at risk.<\/p>\n
Partners<\/p>\n
This partnership includes academics, conservationists, researchers, Indigenous peoples and SFI Program Participants.<\/p>\n
Project lead: Fraser Basin Council Society
\nSustainable Forestry Initiative
\nWest Fraser (SFI Program Participant)
\nBritish Columbia Timber Sales (SFI Program Participant)
\nSecwepemc Fisheries Commission
\nSimon Fraser University
\nBC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development<\/p>\n
Related information<\/p>\n
SFI Is Bringing Indigenous Peoples, Sport Fishing Enthusiasts and Forest Managers Together to Help Thompson Steelhead: The Thompson Steelhead Community Collaboration Initiative<\/a>.
\nThere\u2019s something fishy going on in the Fraser Basin (TreeHugger article<\/a>).
\nThe Thompson Steelhead Working Group<\/a> (TSWG).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Fraser](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27300%27%20height%3D%27300%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20300%20300%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27300%27%20height%3D%27300%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" "\\"Grant")
<\/span><\/div>About the Fraser Basin Council Society<\/p>\n
Monitoring Water Temperatures and Flows for Steelhead in Relation to Forest Management Practices<\/p>\n
Why this project matters<\/p>\n
Steelhead are an endangered species in many parts of North America and they are at risk of becoming endangered in the Fraser Basin in British Columbia. Steelhead trout (aka steelhead salmon) are an iconic symbol of the Thompson River and region in British Columbia. Having long sustained Indigenous people, steelhead are also central to the region\u2019s world-class recreational fishery. Unfortunately, this species is in decline, and today Thompson steelhead are classified a species of extreme conservation concern by the provincial government.<\/p>\n
How the project helps steelhead conservation<\/p>\n
In order to build understanding of the relationship between steelhead and forest management practices, the project will monitor water temperature in portions of the Thompson watershed, where steelhead spawn and rear. This will ultimately help identify areas of groundwater influence, allowing researchers to compare and contrast the relative need for different forest management retention practices around small, upper elevation streams. These findings will complement work underway in the Deadman and Nicola watershed. Outcomes will help forest managers adjust activities in locations that may provide the greatest aid to steelhead habitat, and to manage flows and temperatures for steelhead.<\/p>\n
This work will also address climate change adaptation through the identification of habitat enhancement or restoration opportunities in small, lower-order, upper-elevation streams, which could improve habitat for fish and other aquatic life experiencing changes to water temperatures. These ecosystems now receive less precipitation as snow and more as rain, increasing the need for sustained water flows during longer lasting summer droughts.<\/p>\n
SFI\u2019s contribution<\/p>\n
This project represents a continuation of SFI engagement in steelhead conservation, building on a past grant from the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program in support of the Thompson Steelhead Working Group. This multi-governmental collaborative initiative formed in 2014 to bring together representatives of the Nlaka\u2019pamux and Secwepemc First Nations, the Province of BC and the Government of Canada to develop a recovery and management plan for Thompson steelhead. The working group also hopes to gain wider community commitments for steelhead recovery, and to return wild steelhead populations to levels that produce sustainable ecological, social, and economic benefits for all.<\/p>\n
How the project helps forest managers<\/p>\n
The project will quantify the impact of SFI Program Participant activities relative to improving stream habitat and water quality by comparing water temperatures between areas of greater and less retention, and between areas with and without underground flows. The project will evaluate the hypothesis that more regular flows and cooler water temperatures may be expected in forests with a diversity of age classes, structure and, most importantly, retention around wetlands. Because steelhead are an indicator of the biodiversity values within a watershed, analysis of these metrics will help build understanding regarding the contribution of sustainable forest management to conserving species at risk.<\/p>\n
Partners<\/p>\n
This partnership includes academics, conservationists, researchers, Indigenous peoples and SFI Program Participants.<\/p>\n
Project lead: Fraser Basin Council Society
\nSustainable Forestry Initiative
\nWest Fraser (SFI Program Participant)
\nBritish Columbia Timber Sales (SFI Program Participant)
\nSecwepemc Fisheries Commission
\nSimon Fraser University
\nBC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development<\/p>\n
Related information<\/p>\n
SFI Is Bringing Indigenous Peoples, Sport Fishing Enthusiasts and Forest Managers Together to Help Thompson Steelhead: The Thompson Steelhead Community Collaboration Initiative<\/a>. About the Fraser Basin Council Society<\/p>\n
\nThere\u2019s something fishy going on in the Fraser Basin (TreeHugger article<\/a>).
\nThe Thompson Steelhead Working Group<\/a> (TSWG).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Fraser](\"https:\/\/forests.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grant-logos-_0041_FBC.jpg\" "\\"Grant")
![](\"https:\/\/forests.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/SFI_Conservation_Grant_Explainer_Fraser_Basin_Cover.png\")
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