West Fraser Mills Ltd.

Quesnel Division

P.O. Box 6000, Quesnel, B.C.

V2J 3J5

Ryan Sherman and Marc Donato

of

Bldg. 4 - 203 Harbour Road

Victoria, B.C.

V9A 3S2

April 1998

At the request of the West Fraser Mills Ltd. Quesnel Division and in conjunction with the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP), Cariboo Region, Williams Lake; Carmanah Research Ltd. conducted a Fish Passage – Culvert Inspection (FPCI) of West Creek and Antler Creek, sub-basins of the upper Bowron River watershed. The FPCI is a process which attempts to identify culverts at road crossings that may present barriers to fish passage.

The procedures used during this survey followed those outlined in the Fish Passage – Culvert Inspection Draft 2A (April 1997), prepared by MELP, Cariboo Region. Initial site locations were determined by selecting road crossings from the FHAP Overview Report of the Upper Bowron River watershed (Carmanah Research Ltd., 1997).

The upper Bowron River watershed comprises a study area of 846km², and is located in the Central Interior of British Columbia between the Quesnel Highlands and the Cariboo Mountains. Two sub-basins within the watershed were included in the initial FPCI assessment. In order of confluence with the mainstem upstream from the mouth, the sub-basins are West Creek and Antler Creek.

The main goal of the FPCI assessment was to identify culverts on fish-bearing streams that are barriers to fish passage and to suggest prescriptions to re-open these streams to fish. By removing these barriers, instantaneous and inexpensive increases in fish habitat may be attained. During the FPCI of the upper Bowron watershed 10 sites were assessed and then divided into high, moderate and low priority categories for rehabilitation. There were six high priority sites, two moderate priority sites, and two low priority sites. Priorities for rehabilitation were based on the presence of a barrier and the potential for the culvert to become a barrier (ex. beaver activity upstream of the culvert). Included with the descriptions of each site are remediation prescriptions and the length of stream habitat that can be gained by removing the barrier.

The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Cariboo Region, Williams Lake contracted the 1997 Fish Passage - Culvert Inspection of the Upper Bowron River watershed to Carmanah Research Ltd., with funding provided by Forest Renewal BC. Support and monitoring was provided by Watershed Restoration Program Specialist Michael Parker (MELP). M. Donato provided invaluable field support. Report preparation could not have been accomplished without the enthusiastic hard work of S. Luzzi. R. Pedersen gathered study area information. A. Dewey produced the maps for this report.

Report quality was assured by K. Brydges, T. Davies, and H. Liebe-McGinnis.

APPENDIX II Raw Data: Fish Passage - Culvert Inspection Forms

APPENDIX III Photodocumentation

2. INTRODUCTION

In 1997, West Fraser Mills Ltd., Quesnel Division, in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (MELP), Cariboo Region, initiated a Watershed Restoration Program (WRP) for the Upper Bowron River watershed, with funding provided by Forest Renewal British Columbia (FRBC). As an initial step in this process, a Fish Habitat Assessment Procedure (FHAP) was conducted (Carmanah Research Ltd., 1997). From this report, recommendations were made to conduct more detailed surveys in specific areas of the watershed.

One of the findings of the overview was that many culvert stream crossings were sediment sources and possible barriers to fish migration, limiting the use of fish habitat upstream. The overview report (Carmanah Research Ltd., 1997) recommended that the culverts within the watershed be assessed in the field to determine if they are sediment sources and/or barriers to fish. The purpose of the Fish Passage - Culvert Inspection (FPCI) was to identify culverts on potentially fish-bearing streams that are barriers to fish migration and to suggest prescriptions to regain access to these streams for fish. By removing these barriers relatively instantaneous and inexpensive increases in fish habitat may be attained.

The upper Bowron River watershed is located in the Central Interior of British Columbia dividing the Quesnel Highland from and the Cariboo Mountains (Figure 1). The drainage basin area is 846km². Two sub-basins within the watershed were included in the assessment. In order of confluence with the mainstem upstream from the mouth, the sub-basins are West Creek and Antler Creek.

The upper Bowron River watershed lies within the physiographic region of the Cariboo Mountains and the Quesnel Highlands. The topography of this area is quite variable. Rolling hills with drumlinized areas cover most of the highlands while the rugged Cariboo Mountains fringe the eastern extent of the watershed. The bedrock geology of the area is that of a flat-lying basalt along with the presence of phyllitic shales. Much of this is overlain by a thick layer of glacial till as a result of repeated glaciation in the Pleistocene era (Lord and Green, 1985).

The climate of the upper Bowron River watershed is heavily influenced by its location in the highlands and the Cariboo Mountains. Precipitation increases with elevation and also with proximity to the western side of the Cariboo Mountains. Average annual temperature is approximately 1.4° C, with average summer highs in July-August of 12.3° C and January winter lows averaging –9.8° C. Average annual precipitation is approximately 1149mm, with an estimated 60% being winter precipitation (Lord and Green, 1985).

Two biogeoclimatic zones dominate the study area. These zones are the Sub-Boreal Spruce Zone (SBS) and the Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir Zone (ESSF). The SBS Zone is found in the eastern extents of the Fraser Plateau and lower elevation portions of the Quesnel Highlands as well as in the main river valleys of the study area. It has a continental climate characterized by warm, moist summers with a moderate growing season and cool winters (Meidinger and Pojar, 1991). Mature forest containing white spruce, lodgepole pine and alpine fir covers much of the SBS landscape. The ESSF Zone occupies mainly the Quesnel Highlands and mountainous areas. It has similar but cooler climate than the SBS Zone. A distinctive feature of the ESSF landscape is the extensive young and maturing forests of subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce mixed with subalpine meadows. There is a small but significant Alpine Tundra Zone in the high elevations of the Cariboo Mountains (Meidinger and Pojar, 1991).

Water Survey Gauging Station No. OBKD007, located below Box Canyon between 1977 and 1990, provides the hydrological regime for Bowron River. Mean annual flow for Bowron River is 62.5m³/s. The 1996 hydrograph indicates that maximum flows take place during May through July while minimum flows occur December through March. Wintertime 7-day low flow is 15.6m³/s and occurs from December to March. Summertime 7-day low flow is 21.70m³/s and occurs in August and September (Rood and Hamilton, 1995). Summer low flow periods occur from the end of July until the beginning of September during dry summers. Low flows occur throughout the winter months between October and March. Rood and Hamilton (1995) noted that average low flows remain fairly constant. However they explained that due to episodic rainstorm events, low flows during August may be several times greater than average and approach high flow values recorded for June.

Low summer flows can affect fish habitat by increasing water temperatures, stranding juveniles and reducing rearing habitat. Low winter flows can dewater redds, which harms incubating eggs by increasing the possibility of freezing (Rood and Hamilton, 1995).

The commercial anadromous salmonid species in the upper Bowron River watershed are chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and sockeye salmon (O. nerka). However, Sockeye salmon have not been recorded in the two sub-basins reported here. Other game fish present are rainbow trout (O. mykiss), mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni), and bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) (FISS, 1994). Bull trout is classified as a rare fish species by the Conservation Data Centre (CDC).

Forestry and mining are the main resource industries in the upper Bowron River watershed. The watershed lies within the boundaries of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Cariboo Region, and also within the Quesnel Forest District. Forest harvesting has occurred in all sub-basins. The major operating timber licensee in the watershed is West Fraser Mills Ltd. Placer mining has been active in the watershed since the mid-1800's and has been identified as having extensive and significant visual impacts and may be a sediment source contributing negatively on the stream systems in the upper Bowron River watershed.

The procedures used during this survey were consistent with the procedures outlined in the Fish Passage – Culvert Inspection Draft 2A (April 1997), prepared by MELP. The water velocities through the culverts were measured using the floating object method (Fish Habitat Assessment Procedures, Technical Circular No. 8, Johnston and Slaney, 1996), rather than with a flow meter. A flow meter was not used to measure flow through the culverts because in the majority of cases the water in the culverts was too shallow to allow for its proper use.

Initial survey site locations were selected from crossings shown on the maps in the FHAP Overview report of the upper Bowron River watershed (Carmanah Research, 1997). Culverts that were recommended for further assessment in that report were also included in this initial site selection process. Upon site inspection, it was found that many of the sites initially chosen were either bridges or fords. In order to reduce the time and cost involved in assessing culverts, the survey included only those sites that crossed salmonid-bearing or suspected salmonid-bearing habitat at a 1:50 000 scale. Site selection was based on the map produced for the upper Bowron River FHAP Overview (1997).

A summary of the Fish Passage – Culvert Inspection of the upper Bowron River watershed is given in Table 1. The data were collected between October 23 and October 26 of 1997. All sites but one (site 03) that were visited had existing records of salmonid presence. It was determined that there were full barriers at 5 sites, partial barriers at 4 sites, and no barriers at the remaining 27.

Seventeen crossings were inspected and found to be bridges that did not act as barriers to fish passage (05, 07, 09, 10, 11, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34). There were also eight crossings that were found to be fords (sites 12, 20, 24, 27, 29, 30, 35 and 36). At Site 08 the road ended before any actual stream crossing was found. No assessment was conducted at this site.

Table 1. Summary of the Fish Passage – Culvert Inspection performed in the Upper Bowron River watershed from October 23, to October 26 of 1997. Barrier types include full (F), partial (P), and none (N).

* - Interim Locational Points (ILP's) used by Carmanah Research Ltd. in the 1996 Fish and Fish Habitat Inventories of the upper Bowron River watershed.

The Fish Passage – Culvert Inspection (FPCI) Forms completed in the field for each site can be found in Appendix I.

A complete list of fish species abbreviations can be found in Fish Habitat Assessment Procedures, Watershed Restoration Technical Circular No. 8, April 1996, Appendix D.

After the culvert inspection in the Upper Bowron watershed, the priority level for rehabilitation was divided into three categories: high, moderate, and low. Priority levels were based on the presence or absence of a barrier to juvenile salmonids, or the potential for a culvert to become a barrier. All of the sites were in reaches that were known to sustain fish populations (except site 03). The length of habitat to be gained upstream of the barrier is important to consider in assessing the priority level for a site. The site descriptions for each barrier include the length of stream above the culvert, but it is also important to consider the quality of habitat upstream of a crossing, which was beyond the scope of the FPCI.

The design and choice of a suitable structure for all crossings where the bankfull width was greater than 2m has been left undetermined. This is a decision that should be made by an engineer or other qualified person based on the technical and economic feasibility, as well as other environmental objectives (Poulin and Argent, 1997). Some of the options available in such cases include bridges, bottomless culverts, log culverts, embedded pipe arch or round culverts, non-embedded culverts and baffled culverts. It should also be noted that none of the culverts that were assessed conformed to the minimum culvert width standards set for culverts by the Forest Practices Code in the Stream Crossing Guidebook for Fish Streams, A Working Draft for 1997/1998 (Poulin and Argent, 1997).

For this report, the evaluation of a culvert was limited to an assessment of culvert water velocity, incline, length and drop, as specified in section 4.1 of the Fish Passage Culvert Inspection Completion Procedures Draft 2A April 1997 (MELP - Cariboo Region). The potential for a culvert to be a barrier to fish passage was based on the values for juvenile salmonids, as juvenile passage is said to be crucial in most systems (MELP, 1997). In determining whether culvert velocity or culvert drop was a barrier to fish, tables 1 and 2 of the Fish Passage - Culvert Inspection Completion Procedures Draft 2A April 1997 (MELP Cariboo Region) were used. In determining if incline was a barrier to fish, the Fish Passage - Culvert Inspection Completion Procedures Draft 2A April 1997 (MELP Cariboo Region) state that for a culvert less than 24m long with no baffles, the incline should not exceed 1%, and for a culvert more than 24m long, the incline should not exceed 0.5%. Due to the inaccuracies involved during field measurement, values of 1.5% and 1% or greater were used, respectively. None of the culverts sampled in the upper Bowron River watershed had baffles. Culvert length was considered a factor when determining if incline was the cause of a barrier.

Fish sampling was done at all of the assessed sites to verify presence or absence, as most sections of stream in the upper Bowron watershed are potentially fish bearing by gradient. At sites where fish were not found, it is important to sample for fish at other times of the year using various methods before fish absence is confirmed. Sediment input throughout the study area was minimal, however a note was made at sites where sediment was observed.

There were a total of six high priority sites; four high priority sites had culverts that were full barriers to fish passage and two partial barriers sites were high priority because of regionally rare fish species presence.

Site 01 was located on 24K Road in reach 1 of a tributary to Ketcham Creek. The stream had a wetted width of 1.0m and a bankfull width of 2.2m. The water and bankfull depths were 20cm and 25cm respectively. The stream gradient was 1.5% and the water velocity was 0.25m/s. There was low sediment input and no evidence of beaver activity. Records show that this reach supports bull trout, so it was consequently classified as S3.

There was a round corrugated steel culvert at this site, with a length of 28.5m and a diameter of 125cm. The slope of the culvert was 2.5%, the culvert water velocity was 0.57m/s and the water depth was 15cm. There was no culvert drop at the outlet, which flows directly into a small lake. There were springs downstream from the culvert as well. The photos for this site are Roll4, #24(inlet d/s), #25(outlet u/s). Although no drop was present and culvert water velocity was < 0.6m/s (0.57m/s), the current and high water marks were below 20 cm and therefore may represent a partial barrier to fish passage. Since this culvert is almost 30m long (28.5m) and bull trout, a blue listed species with the CDC, are present, it is recommended that this site be given a high priority. Fish will have access to a potential 2.4km of upstream habitat upon completion of crossing corrections.

Site 02 was located on 24K Road in reach 1 of a tributary (KELP-13) to Ketcham Creek. The stream had a wetted width of 1.0m and a bankfull width of 1.2m. The water and bankfull depths were 15cm and 30cm respectively. The stream gradient was 7% and the water velocity was 0.5m/s. There was low sediment input and no evidence of beaver activity in the vicinity of this site. Records show that this reach supports rainbow trout and bull trout and was consequently classified as S3.

Site 15 was located on 3100 Road in reach 1 of a tributary to Pleasant Valley Creek. The stream had a wetted width of 8.3m and a bankfull width of 8.6m. The water and bankfull depths were 55cm and 75cm respectively. The stream gradient was 5.5% and the water velocity was 0.44m/s. There was low input of sediment and no beaver activity. Records indicated that this reach supported rainbow trout and was consequently classified as S3.

There was a round corrugated steel culvert at this site, with a length of 16m and a diameter of 65cm. A slope measurement for the culvert could not be obtained as the culvert was half buried in sediment and plugged up by much debris. The culvert water velocity and the water depth also could not be measured for this reason. There was no culvert drop and the pool at the outfall was 5cm deep. The culvert was filled with sediment and partially plugged with debris which presents a barrier to fish passage. The recommendation for this site is to replace the culvert with a crossing structure of suitable size and type for the stream. By removing this barrier fish will have access to a potential 0.9km of habitat. The photos for this site are Roll5, #8(inlet u/s), #9(inlet d/s), #10(outlet u/s) and #11(outlet d/s).

Site 17 was located on 3100 Road in reach 1 of a tributary to Pleasant Valley Creek. The stream had a wetted width of 2.2m and a bankfull width of 2.2m. The water and bankfull depths were 10cm and 20cm respectively. The stream gradient was 2.8% and the water velocity was 0.82m/s. There was low sediment input and no beaver activity. Records show that this reach supports rainbow trout so it was classified as S3.

There was a round corrugated steel culvert at this site, with a length of 18m and a diameter of 120cm. The slope of the culvert was 2.5%, the culvert water velocity was 1.2m/s and the water depth was 10cm. There was a culvert drop of 30cm into a pool, which was 30cm deep. The culvert water velocity and outfall drop both exceed FPC draft specifications for effective fish passage. The recommendation for this site is to replace the culvert with a crossing structure of suitable size and type for the stream. By removing this barrier fish will have access to a potential 1.1km of habitat. The photos for this site are Roll5, #16(inlet u/s), #17(inlet d/s), #18(outlet u/s) and #19(outlet d/s).

Site 18 was located on 1600 Road in reach 4 of a tributary to Antler Creek. The stream had a wetted width of 1.5m and a bankfull width of 2.7m. The water and bankfull depths were 10cm and 20cm respectively. The stream gradient was 3.8% and the water velocity was 0.56m/s. There was low sediment input. There was some woody debris present in the culvert that was attributed to beaver activity. Records indicated that this reach supported rainbow trout and was therefore classified as S3.

There was a round corrugated steel culvert at this site, with a length of 11.5m and a diameter of 80cm. The slope of the culvert was 3.5%, and the culvert water velocity was not measurable due to the culvert being plugged with woody debris. The water depth in the culvert was 10cm. There was a 15cm culvert drop at the outfall into a pool that was 20cm deep. The culvert was plugged with woody debris most likely put there by beaver. The recommendation for this site is to replace the culvert with a crossing structure of suitable size and type for the stream. By removing this barrier fish will have access to a potential 0.8km of habitat. The photos for this site are Roll5, #20(inlet u/s), #21(inlet d/s), #22(outlet u/s) and #23(outlet d/s).

Site 19 was located off of 2900 Road in reach 1 of a tributary to Antler Creek. The stream had a wetted width of 2.3m and a bankfull width of 2.8m. The water and bankfull depths were 20cm and 30cm respectively. The stream gradient was 3.3% and the water velocity was 0.3m/s. There was low sediment input and no beaver activity. Records show that this reach supports rainbow trout, so it was classified as S3.

There was a round corrugated steel culvert at this site, with a length of 20m and a diameter of 130cm. The slope of the culvert was 4%, and the culvert water velocity was 0.65m/s. The water depth was 5cm. There was no culvert outfall drop and the pool depth at the outlet was 90cm. Due to culvert slope, velocity and water depth this culvert may be acting as a partial barrier to fish passage. Recommendations are to replace this culvert with a crossing of suitable size and type in order to accommodate juvenile fish passage. Correction of this crossing will give fish access to at least an additional 2.5km of stream and access to Atan and Chisel Lakes. Eight species of fish have been recorded in these lakes (combined) including bull trout (FISS 1994). Therefore this crossing should be given high priority for correction. The photos for this site are Roll5, #28(inlet u/s), #29(inlet d/s), #30(outlet u/s) and #31 and #32(outlet d/s).

2. MODERATE PRIORITY

There were two culvert sites which were classified as moderate priority because of partial barriers to fish passage.

Site 06 was located on 2300 Road in reach 5 of West Creek. The stream had a wetted width of 11.5m and a bankfull width of 11.5m. The water and bankfull depths were 70cm and 75cm respectively. The stream gradient was 2% and the water velocity was 0.38m/s. There was low sediment input. There was an active beaver dam upstream of the culvert. Records show that this reach supports rainbow trout, so it was classified as S3.

There was a round corrugated steel culvert at this site, with a length of 9.5m and a diameter of 130cm. The slope of the culvert was 3%, the culvert water velocity was 0.72m/s and the water depth was 15cm. There was no culvert outfall drop and the pool at the outlet was 45cm deep. A beaver dam was located 5m upstream of the culvert and this will influence the appropriate size of culvert for this site. Recommendations are to replace the culvert with a crossing structure of suitable size and type in order to reduce culvert velocities and to accommodate potential flooding because of beaver activity. Upon completion of crossing prescriptions fish will have access to a potential 1.3km of habitat. The photos for this site are Roll5, #4(inlet u/s), #5(inlet d/s), #6(outlet u/s) and #7(outlet d/s).

Site 16 was located on 3100 Road in reach 1 of a tributary to Pleasant Valley Creek. The stream had a wetted width of 7.5m and a bankfull width of 9.6m. The water and bankfull depths were 15cm and 25cm respectively. The stream gradient was 4.5% and the water velocity was 1.1m/s. There was low sediment input and no beaver activity. Records show that this reach supports rainbow trout, so it was classified as S3.

There was a round corrugated steel culvert at this site, with a length of 17m and a diameter of 105cm. The slope of the culvert was 3%, the culvert water velocity was 1.1m/s and the water depth was 35cm. There was no culvert outfall drop and the pool at the outlet was 40cm deep. Data indicates that these culverts may be partial velocity barriers to juvenile salmonids. Recommendations are to implement an appropriate method to reduce culvert velocity (eg. Addition of rip rap (d90), baffles, or backwater the culvert). Fish will have access to a potential 2.5km when this crossing is corrected. The photos for this site are Roll5, #12(inlet u/s), #13(inlet d/s), #14(outlet u/s) and #15(outlet d/s).

There were two culvert sites which were classified as low priority because they presented no barriers to fish passage.

Site 03 was located on 24K Road in reach 1 of a tributary to Ketcham Creek. The stream had a wetted width of 1.2m and a bankfull width of 1.2m. The water and bankfull depths were 20cm and 40cm respectively. The stream gradient was 7% and the water velocity was 0.57m/s. There was low input of sediment and no beaver activity. There were no fish found in this tributary so it was classified as S6.

There was a round corrugated steel culvert at this site, with a length of 14m and a diameter of 90cm. The slope of the culvert was 4.5%, the culvert water velocity was 1.56m/s and the water depth was 10cm. The culvert dropped 10cm into a pool that was 60cm deep. The culvert water velocity and outfall drop would be a barrier to fish passage if there were fish present in this creek. There are no recommendations for this site. The photos for this site are Roll4, #30(inlet d/s), #31(outlet u/s).

Site 04 was located on 24K Road in reach 1 of a tributary to Ketcham Creek. The stream had a wetted width of 10.0m and a bankfull width of 15.0m. The water and bankfull depths were 10cm and 20cm respectively. The stream gradient was 1.5% and the water velocity was 0.44m/s. There was low sediment input and no evidence of beaver activity. Records show that this reach supports rainbow trout and bull trout, so based on its width and fish status, it was classified as S1.

There were two embedded round corrugated steel culvert at this site with stream bed substrate present within them, and each had a length of 14.5m and a diameter of 130cm. The slope of the culverts was 1%, the culvert water velocity was 0.7m/s and the water depth was 25cm. There was no culvert outfall drop and no pool at the outlet of the culvert; it was a straight glide. The main flows went through the west culvert. Both culverts appeared in good repair and from the data, these culverts seemed not to be a barrier to fish passage. The photos for this site are Roll4, #32(inlet d/s), #33(outlet u/s).

A summary of the recommended remediation prescriptions for each of the culvert crossings inspected during the FPCI of the upper Bowron River watershed can be seen in Table 2.

Table 2. Summary of the recommended remediation prescriptions for each culvert crossing inspected in the upper Bowron watershed.

Carmanah Research Ltd. Thorburn, G. and R.V. Pedersen. 1997. Draft Overview Report Fish Habitat Assessment Procedure of the Upper Bowron River watershed. Prepared for West Fraser Mills Ltd., Quesnel, BC.

Ministry of Environment, Lands & Parks, Cariboo Region. 1997. Fish Passage – Culvert Inspection Completion Procedures Draft 2A April 1997. British Columbia Fisheries Branch, Williams Lake. 25 pp.

Johnston, N.T. and P.A. Slaney. 1996. Fish Habitat Assessment Procedures. Watershed Restoration Technical Circular No. 8. Watershed Restoration Program. Ministry of Environment, Lands & Parks and Ministry of Forests. 97 pp.

Lord, T.M. and A.J. Green, 1985. Soils of the Barkerville area, British Columbia. Report no. 40 of the British Columbia Soil Survey. Agriculture Canada, Research Branch. 80 pp.

Meidinger, D. and J. Pojar. 1991. Ecosystems of British Columbia. Ministry of Forests. British Columbia. 330 pp.

Rood, K.M., and R.E. Hamilton. 1995. Hydrology and water use for salmon streams in the Quesnel Habitat Management Area, British Columbia. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2294: 138 pp.

Digital Fish Passage - Culvert Inspection Forms

Raw Data: Fish Passage - Culvert Inspection Forms