McCall Flats Groundwater Channel

Objectives

Restoration objectives were to provide improved rearing habitat for salmonids, particularly Coho and Cutthroat.

FRBC Region/ MELP Region/ MoF Region

Vancouver Island/Cariboo/Vancouver Island

Author

Michael Parker, MELP

Proponent

International Forest Products, Mid Coast Division, Hagensborg, BC

Watershed

Bella Coola River

Location

McCall Flats is a few kilometers downstream of where the Atnarko and Talchako Rivers join to form the Bella Coola River. The flats were an area approximately 55 km East of the community of Bella Coola that were logged many years ago and have re-grown with mature Cottonwood being the dominant species.

Introduction

McCall Flats Creek has a drainage area of approximately 1 km². The project activities are to focus on the lower 700 meters of this small channel, where the gradient is slightly less than 1%. Late winter dewatering of the shallow pools in the channel has created mortality of juvenile fish.

Assessments and Prescriptions

The area was included in an Overview and Level 1 Assessment completed by Summit Environmental in 1996. LGL Ltd. completed prescriptive work and Level 2 Assessment of McCall Flats Creek in the fall of 1998.

Rehabilitation Work

SOD was removed for the lower 500 meters of the system to promote flow and scour. Past logging debris and SOD from the regenerated Cottonwood stand had clogged the channel and promoted catchment of sediment and in-filling of habitat features. This work was completed by hand.

Prescriptions call for the excavation of a groundwater channel along the toe of a hillslope for approximately 180 meters above the top of the existing channel. It is expected that additional groundwater will be picked up through the lower alluvial fan to stabilize year round flows. As well, five alcove ponds have been prescribed to provide refuge in low flow conditions. Rock riffles near the outlet of these alcoves will maintain a minimum water depth of 0.7 meters.

Cost Summary

*These costs are estimate as work was not completed at time of writing.

For Further Information contact:

Niel Oborne
International Forest Products
P.O. Box 50
Hagensborg, BC
V0T 1H0
WRP Coordinator
Ph.982-3226