SHEEMAHANT WATERSHED

SHEEMAHANT WATERSHED

LEVEL I FISH HABITAT ASSESSMENT
VOLUME II - DATA APPENDICES

JULY, 1998

Prepared by

Judy E. Hillabyand Ardice Neudorf

under contract to

Western Forest Products

#118 - 1334 Island Highway

Campbell River, B.C.

V9W 8C9

for submission to

Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks,

680 Borland Street,

Williams Lake, B.C.

V2G 4T1

A program conducted through the auspices of Forest Renewal B.C.,

Contract # CCA - 856

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION

FISH DISTRIBUTION DATA FORM

Codes

Sheemahant Study Area - Fish Distribution Criteria

Fish Distribution Data Forms

HABITAT DIAGNOSIS SUMMARY FORM

Data Qualifications

Habitat Diagnosis Summary Forms

FISH CAPTURES

Capture Summary

Capture Operations

FIELD DATA

DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION

This report contains appendix field data from the Sheemahant Watershed Level I Fish Habitat Assessment, FRBC Contract # CCA - 856. Deliverables from this contract include:

Volume II (this document) - detailing field data for the project
Photo library (archived separately)
Forms 5 and 6 (contained in this document), which are linked to the GIS map product for each tributary with a watershed code
Fish capture summary (contained in this document).
Volume I (separate document) - summarizing field data and outlining proposed sites and strategies for fish habitat restoration
GIS map product, outlining field sites visited, fish collection sites, proposed restoration sites and overall fish distribution (provided separately)

Field crews were requested to gather information in a number of formats, including photo records, quantitative Habitat Survey Data Form (Form 4), a field log of features and points of note, and sketch diagrams of the areas surveyed. This document has bundled the different data types together, so that the results from each team’s survey is contained together. Where data forms are lacking, or easily misinterpreted, the reader is referred to the subjective information for further explanation. Data is bundled by field code, which is then electronically mapped.

Table 1: Summary of stream survey data gathered.

Field Reference	Proposed Restoration Site	Area Photos	FHAP Form 4	FHAP Form 5	FHAP Form 6	Site Diagram	Field Log	Walked and Mapped	Comments
BR-16	SM-8	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Short section of lower creek crossing west of main road. Bounded in the upstream end by falls above road crossing
BR-17	SM-9	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Creek crossing East main road at 13.2km. Lower end has sockeye spawning at Sheemahant confluence.
BR-18	SM-14	N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Creek crossing east main at 24km. Box culvert draining 23km wetland. This data refers to Creek #1
BR-19		N	Y	N	Y	Y	N	Y	Creek crossing east main at 22.4km. Box culvert draining 23km wetland. This data refers to Creek #2
BR-20		N	Y	N	Y	Y	N	Y	Creek crossing east main at 22.3km wetland. Box culvert. This data refers to Creek #3
BR-21		N	Y	N	Y	Y	N	Y	Creek crossing east main at 22.1km. box culvert This data refers to Creek #4
BR-22	SM-26	Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	23km wetland. Surveyed periphery, looking for tributary inflows/outflows.. See also HP-12
BR-23		Y	Y	N	Y	N	N	Y	Stream feeding 25km wetland.
BR-24	SM-13	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Surveyed edge of 25km wetland, between the wetland and the toe of the slope, looking for inlet and outlet streams. Stream data refers to short outlet stream.
BR-25	SM-11	Y	N	N	N	Y	N	Y	Surveyed west main road, and adjacent Sheemahant mainstem, looking for tributaries
BR-26		Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Tributary crossing west main road, in Reach 6-1
GB-41		Y	Y	N	Y	N	N	Y	Surveyed stream crossing west main road, Reach 5-3. Data refers to tributary #1.
GB-42		Y	Y	N	Y	N	N	Y	Surveyed stream crossing west main road, Reach 5-3. Data refers to trib. #2.
GB-43	SM-10	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Surveyed steam crossing west main road, Reach 5-3 Data refers to trib.#7 (includes subjective notes on nearby areas, sidechannel connections).
GB-44	SM-23	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Alder Creek, crossing Sheemahant east main road at 14.5km Stream/wetland area with complex fish habitat. Best described in photos.
GB-45		Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Blue Hawk Creek, crossing Sheemahant east main road at 16.5km Stream/wetland area with complex fish habitat. Data refers to trib. #1. See detail sketch.
GB-46		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Blue Hawk Creek, crossing Sheemahant east main road at 16.5km Stream/wetland area with complex fish habitat. Data refers to Blue Hawk Creek mainstem. See detail sketch
GB-47	SM-24	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Blue Hawk Creek, crossing Sheemahant east main road at 16.5km Stream/wetland area with complex fish habitat. Data refers to branch 2 of trib. #1. See detail sketch.
GB-48	SM-27	Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	29km wetland. Surveyed periphery, looking for tributary inflows/outflows
GB-49		Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	27km wetland. Surveyed periphery, looking for tributary inflows/outflows
GB-50, 51,52,53		Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Mainstem Sheemahant right bank, Reach 1-1 with associated backchannels and off-channel habitats near camp.
HP-10		Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Tributary streams at 20 km. Diagram and notes refer to inlet trib. #1
HP-11		Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Tributary streams at 20 km and inlet trib #2
HP-12		Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	23km wetland. Surveyed periphery, looking for tributary inflows/outflows. See also BR-22
HP-13		Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	26km wetland. surveyed periphery, looking for tributary inflows/outflows. data describes outlet stream, below beaver pond.
HP-14		Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	26km wetland. surveyed periphery, looking for tributary inflows/outflows. Contains subjective notes and diagrams on inlet stream.
HP-15		Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Hyclamus Creek outlet, near 26km wetland. Subjective notes and diagrams.
HP-16		Y	N	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Tributary/wetland area between Sheemahant mainstem and mainline road, Reach 1-4, right bank.
HP-17	SM-4, 22	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Sidechannel on right bank at Reach 2-4, affected by west main road. Data refers to sidechannel #1/Trib. #8
HP-19		Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Mainstem Sheemahant right bank Reach 3-2. Data refers to Trib. #9
HP-8		Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Small tributary to the Sheemahant, Reach 1-5, right bank.
HP-9	SM-25	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Wetland and tributary streams at 20km. data refers to outlet creek
OC-41	SM-5	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Kull Creek, right branch, below bridge crossing.
OC-42		N	N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Short stream surveyed downstream of road crossing (5km, Sheemahant east mainstem).
OC-43		Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Includes notes on 5 km wetland and 6 km flood plain.
OC-44	SM-7	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Kull Creek, left branch, short survey.
OC-45		Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Short creek at 9 km marker, Sheemahant east main. Includes notes on 7 km wetland.
OC-46		N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Short creek approximately 600m, up the road from Kull Creek road crossing. Includes notes on wetland above the road, and outlet stream below the road.
OC-47		Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Outlet stream for 21 km wetland
OC-48		Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Short stream adjacent (west) of 21km wetland.
OC-49		Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Short stream feeding 21 km wetland, at base of slide track.
OC-50		Y	N	N	N	Y	N	Y	Three short creeks draining 25km wetland. See also BR-23. See detail sketch

FISH DISTRIBUTION DATA FORM

Codes:

As per Technical Circular # 8, the following codes were used to describe fish distribution:

H = historically present

U = unknown whether or not this species exists here

K = presence known

N = not present

S = suspected presence

The following codes were used to describe the survey method for determining fish distribution:

VO = visual observation

MT = minnow traps

Sheemahant Study Area - Fish Distribution Criteria:

Sockeye are known to be present in the mainstem to the cascades near the Reach 6/7 break, at the Lemolo Creek confluence. No sockeye spawners were seen above this point. No sockeye juveniles were recovered anywhere in the study area.
Coho are known to be present throughout the mainstem Sheemahant and have access to the glacial headwaters. Juveniles have been able to penetrate into the wetlands adjacent to the mainstem to varying degrees.
Chinook are known to be present throughout the study area. Although they have not been recovered above the Reach 6/7 cascades, juveniles may be present at certain times well upstream into the headwaters. In both mainstem and off-channel habitats, juveniles are suspected to be present throughout these reaches; however, the length of stream residence is variable and they may have been absent during the October field survey.
Steelhead are not recorded in the Sheemahant system and no information was found to the contrary in this study. They are listed as not present.
Chum salmon are not found in this system and were also listed as not present.
Pink salmon are known to be present in the lower reaches but are not recorded beyond the cascades at the Reach 6/7 break. The very silty water prohibits any further look for these spawners in the mainstem. They are not recorded further up in this case, and are listed as not present above the cascades. The juveniles are listed as not present throughout the system, as any found are present only briefly, as outmigrating fry.
Dolly Varden have been found in mainstem and in the lower portions of some of the tributaries. In this study, they were not found inside the wetlands. Their presence is suspected in the tributary areas.
Cutthroat trout are recorded in various locations in the Sheemahant. Anadromous cutthroat populations are known in Oweekeno lake tributaries and they are listed as known to the anadromous barrier, even though suitable in-stream habitat may be limited to adjacent sloughs, backchannels and sidechannels.
Rainbow trout are not recorded in this system; however, they are found in many other areas in the Owikeno Lake drainage

Fish Distribution Data Forms:

All of the streams surveyed were very short and often were a part of wetland or road network complexes. Those tributaries with existing watershed codes were given a separate Form 5: Fish Distribution Data Form that identifies the length of the lower reach that provided accessible fish habitat. Due to TRIM map base inaccuracies in the lower sections of many of the creeks, it was not appropriate to develop the computer links that would electronically display the information. the species mix was assumed to be similar to that present in the mainstem at that point.
Fish distribution in the other tributaries (those as a part of wetland complexes, or too small and ephemeral to have watershed codes) are described subjectively in are diagrams and map notations that refer to specific areas.

HABITAT DIAGNOSIS SUMMARY FORM
Data Qualifications:

The Habitat Diagnosis Summary Form is limited in this data set to the first reach of the small tributaries that drain into the Sheemahant River. The mainstem Sheemahant itself was not surveyed: its general habitat condition is outlined in the Overview Fish Habitat Assessment only.

The reader is reminded that judgments are in general categories, rather than precise calculations from individual data sets. Several forms of data were used to arrive at these judgments, including field data measurements, subjective field notes and sketches, as well as ground and aerial photos. Refer to the field data section for further details on specific areas.

Reach 1 is defined as the limit of the survey, which is usually also the limit of the fish habitat. Reach 2 of most systems referred to either wetland habitats that are described subjectively, or a very steep slope that has no fisheries value. As this was a study to assess the impacts of forest development on fish habitat, the point where the slope changed was usually the limit of the study area.

The figures for % pools and pool frequency are affected by the fact that water levels in the Sheemahant River varied considerably. During this study, there was relatively more pool habitat apparent in the lower sections of the tributaries, as the mainstem was flooding into backwater areas. Refer to the field data notes and diagrams that explain this factor more completely.

LWD pieces per channel width and wood cover was consistently low in the tributaries, as beaver dams and culverts upstream had a tendency to "snag" LWD. The exception to this is in areas where upstream flooding (upstream in the tributary, or in the mainstem) created a deposition zone.

Dominant substrates described mostly the degree of energy of the system. Some tributaries have been subjected to significant slide or washout events, which is indicated by a prevalence of boulder and cobble. Wherever spawning sockeye were seen, or appreciable quantities of spawning gravel was noticed, these are described more completely in the field data.

Off-channel habitat is usually noted as poor, as the tributaries themselves are off-channel habitat. Holding pools were usually in the poor category; however, due to the short length of these tributaries and the fact that many of them are associated with beaver dams, holding areas for spawners should not be considered limiting.

Habitat Diagnosis Summary Forms:
FISH CAPTURES

FIELD DATA

BR - 16

BR - 17

BR - 18

BR - 19

BR - 20

BR - 21

BR - 22

BR - 23, 24

OC-50

BR - 25

BR - 26

GB - 41

GB - 42

GB - 43

GB - 44

GB - 45, 46, 47

GB - 48

GB - 49

GB - 50, 51, 52, 53

HP - 8

HP - 9, 10, 11

HP - 12

HP - 13, 14, 15

HP - 16

HP - 17, 18

HP - 19

OC - 41

OC - 42

OC - 43

OC - 44

OC - 45

OC - 46

OC - 47, 48, 49

FORM 5 - FISH DISTRIBUTION DATA FORM

Notes on Form 5:

The following codes were used to describe fish distribution:

H = historically present

U = unknown whether or not this species exists here

K = presence known

N = not present

S = suspected presence

Note that if fish are known to spawn in a given area, then it should be expected that the pre-spawning adults and juveniles should also be there, and downstream. While, for example, juvenile sockeye would not normally inhabit further up the mainstem, they would briefly be present prior to migrating downstream to Oweekeno Lake as emergent fry.

The following codes were used to describe the survey method for determining fish distribution:

DFO = DFO annual spawner surveys for salmon

CS = current study, where juvenile and adult fish were captured or seen, or carcasses found.

Habitat Type column was left blank, as this is all the mainstem habitat of a large river.

FORM 6 - HABITAT DIAGNOSIS SUMMARY FORM
Notes on Form 6:

Reach 1 (sections 1,2, and 3) were judged from limited field data, due to concentrations of grizzly bears. Some traverses were made, but the data taken was sparse.
The water level in this system rose and fell significantly during the study, according to rainfall patterns (see Hydrology section). The effect of this during the study is that pool habitat was sometimes obscured in high water, as pools and glides merged together. While it was recognized that pool habitats were significantly limited through most of the Sheemahant, for habitat evaluation purposes, they were sometimes judged to be non-limiting in cases where glide habitats may be very similar to pools (especially, re: rearing fish).
LWD data is subject to great interpretation by individual reviewers, especially so in rivers where large fluctuations in flow cause LWD to be high up on the bankfull area, or in large jams, so that its functionality and stability is questionable. To arrive at the habitat condition judgments in this case, photo records were used extensively.
Tech. Circular #8 does not provide habitat evaluation standards for streams with 30 - 100m channel widths, as the Sheemahant is. The small stream standards were used, with modifications for pool habitats.
The reader is reminded that judgments are in general categories, rather than precise calculations from individual data sets. Several forms of data were used to arrive at these judgments, including field data measurements, subjective field notes and sketches, as well as ground and aerial photos. Refer to the appendix document for further details on specific areas.

FISH CAPTURES