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KoocanusaReservoirSensitiveHabitatInventoryMapping–Phase1FinalReportMarch2016

ProjectNumber

UF-F16-110

PreparedFor

FishandWildlifeCompensationProgram

PreparedBy

HeatherLeschied,ProgramManager,withcontentfromBruceMacDonald,fieldteamlead

ReportingPeriod

April1,2015toMarch31,2016PreparedwithfinancialsupportoftheFishandWildlifeCompensationProgramonbehalfofitsprogrampartnersBCHydro,theProvinceofBC,FisheriesandOceansCanada,FirstNationsandpublicstakeholders.

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ExecutiveSummaryTheEastKootenayIntegratedLakeManagementPartnership(EKILMP)hasworkedtogethersince2006toaddresstheintensificationofshorelinedevelopmentpressuresonlakesintheKootenayRegion.ThePartnershipismadeupoffederal,provincial,regional,municipalandFirstNationsgovernments,communityrepresentativesaswellasnon-governmentorganizations.ThiscollaborativeadoptedFisheriesandOceansCanada'smethodologyforSensitiveHabitatInventoryMapping(SHIM).SHIMhelpstodevelopandimplementguidelinesforshorelinedevelopmentthatprotectsexistingfishandwildlifevaluesandconservesecosystemsandspeciesofconservationconcern.Todate,EKILMPhascompletedprojectsforWindermereLake,ColumbiaLake,WasaLake,MoyieLake,MonroeLake,TieLake,RosenLake,St.Mary’sLake,andJimsmithLake.Thereportscanbeviewedatekilmp.com.In2015,EKILMPinitiatedSensitiveHabitatInventoryMappingprojectsfortheCanadianportionofLakeKoocanusa.ForeshoreInventoryandMapping,andFishandWildlifeHabitatAssessmentwerecompletedduringJulyandSeptember.TheForeshoreInventoryandMapping(FIM)identifiedthelanduse,shoretype,existingripariancondition,andanthropogenicalterationsalongtheforeshoreofLakeKoocanusa.ThefieldteamusedaTrimbleGPSunittomapapproximately160kmofshorelineanddocumentmodifications.Basedonthisdata,theshorelinewasbrokeninto57segments.TheFIMservesasabenchmarkforregulatoryagenciesbydocumentingcurrentforeshoreconditionandstructuressuchasdocksandmooringbuoys.TheFishandWildlifeHabitatAssessmentidentified17samplingsitesspanningavarietyofshoretypes,includinglowrockyshore,sandybeach,cliff/bluff,andcreekmouth.Fish,birdandwildlifehabitatandoccurrenceandaquaticinvertebratepresence/absencedatawascollectedinJulyandSeptembertocapturefishandwildlifevariousbreeding,rearingandmigrationtimeframes.Someobservationsofnoteincluded:thepresenceofjuvenileyellowperchinthereservoir;thehighvaluehabitatandcoldsourcewaterprovidedbythelimitednumberoftributaries;and,theextensiveOffRoadVehicleuseinthedrawdownzone.Criticalnestinghabitatforthelong-billedcurlewwasalsoidentified.Whileprovincialgovernmentagencieshavepreviouslyidentifiedlong-billedcurlewhabitat,andimplementedprotectionmechanismsbydesignatingthelandsasWildlifeHabitatAreas,newnestinglocationswererecentlyidentifiedbytheEastKootenayIntegratedLakeManagementPartnership.

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ThenextstepforLakeKoocanusawillbetoconductthelow-poolsurvey,andconductthedataassessmenttocompletetheAquaticHabitatIndexandcorrespondingShorelineManagementGuidelinesforLakeKoocanusa.Theindexwillidentifyhabitatvaluesandlevelofriskassociatedwithshorelinemodifications.EKILMPlooksforwardtosharinganddiscussingtheresultswiththelakecommunities,andreceivingfeedback.

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TableofContents

ExecutiveSummary....................................................................................................................2

Introduction.................................................................................................................................6

GoalsandObjectives..................................................................................................................9

StudyArea.................................................................................................................................10

Methods....................................................................................................................................11

ResultsandOutcomes.............................................................................................................13

Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................14

ConfirmationofFWCPRecognition......................................................................................15

References.................................................................................................................................15

Attachments.............................................................................................................................15

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ListofFigures

• Figure1:Mapofstudyarea• Figure2:KoocanusaForeshoreInventoryMappingmap

ListofTables

• Table1:LakeKoocanusaPriorityCriteria

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1. Introduction

KoocanusaLakeisareservoirformedbythecreationoftheLibbyDaminMontanain1973(Figure1).Sincethen,landusepressureshaveescalatedincludingoff-roadvehicleuse,informalcamping,shorelinedisturbance,andwaterqualityconcernsresultingfromupstreamminingactivity.SensitiveHabitatInventoryMapping(SHIM)isaprotocoldevelopedbyFisheriesandOceanCanada.Itprovidesdecision-makers,planners,developers,landownersandgovernmentagencieswiththetoolsrequiredtomakesustainableforeshorelandusedecisionsthattakeintoaccountcumulativeimpactstofishandwildlifehabitats.TheresultingShorelineManagementGuidelinesareusedasaninitialstepwhenreviewing,planningfor,orprescribingalterationsalongtheshoreline.Thisapproachprovidesascience-basedassessmentofareasofhighestnaturalvaluerequiringthehighestlevelofongoingprotection.ShorelineManagementGuidelinescanalsobeusedwhenassessingshorelinepropertyvaluesthroughBCAssessment.ProjectshavebeencompletedforninelakesacrosstheEastKootenay,andareunderwayfortwoadditionallakesintheWestKootenay.Guidelineshavebeenimplementedintolocalplanningpoliciesfortwolakes,andpartnershipcontinuestosupporttheimplementationoftheremainingguidelinesintopolicy.TheSensitiveHabitatInventoryMappingprogramhasthreestages:

1. ForeshoreInventoryMapping(FIM)2. FishandWildlifeHabitatAssessment3. ShorelineManagementGuidelines

FIMassistsinidentifyingthelanduse,shoretype,existingripariancondition,andanthropogenicalterationsalongtheforeshore.Basedonthisdata,theshorelineisbrokenintoanumberofsegments.TheFIMservesasabenchmarkforregulatoryagenciesbydocumentingcurrentforeshorecondition,andprovidesevidenceforregulatoryinvestigationsandwillassessobjectivessetoutinforeshoreprotectioninitiatives.TheFishandWildlifeHabitatAssessmentusesscientificanalysistoidentifyzonesofsensitivityandkeyhabitatfeatures,andrankshorelinesegmentsusingtheAquaticHabitatIndex(AHI).Fish,birdandwildlifehabitatandoccurrenceandaquaticinvertebratepresence/absencedataiscollectedduringthesummerandfalloveraone-yearperiod.TheAHIquantifiestheEcologicalValueforeachshorelinesegmentandidentifiesthepotentialifanthropogenicalterationsweretoberemoved.

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TheinformationanalysisandresultingShorelineManagementGuidelinesareusedasaninitialstepwhenreviewing,planningfor,orprescribingalterationsalongtheshoreline.Thisapproachprovidesascience-basedassessmentofareasofhighestnaturalvaluerequiringthehighestlevelofon-goingprotection.EKILMPbelievestheGuidelineswillhelpfocuswherenewdevelopmentcouldbelocatedonthelakewhilesustainingpricelessnaturalpublicassetsandmaintainingtheeconomicviabilityofthearea.SHIMhelpsbuildlocalexpertiseandallowscommunitiestotakeamoreactiveroleinplanningandmanagement.DuetooverwhelminginterestfromlakestewardshipgroupsacrosstheEastKootenaytohavetheSHIMprocesscompletedfortheirlakes,EKILMPdevelopedalistofcriteriatobeconsideredapriorityforSHIM.Thisincludes:heavydevelopmentpressures;landuseplanninginplaceorunderway;presenceofamotivatedlocalgroup;cooperativepartnerspresent;sourcewaterissues;and,highfish,wildlifeandarchaeologicalvalues.Koocanusahasbeenidentifiedasthenextprioritylakebythepartnership(seetable1).Lakescompleted:

• LakeWindermere• ColumbiaLake• WasaLake• MoyieLake• MonroeLake

• JimsmithLake• St.MaryLake• RosenLake• TieLake

InrecognitionofthesuccessoftheEastKootenayIntegratedLakeManagementPartnership,asimilarinitiativewascreatedintheWestKootenayin2011,tofocusoninventoryandmappingprojectsforWestKootenaylakes.ThisinitiativeiscalledtheKootenayLakePartnershipandleadingtheinitiativesforthetwoadditionallakes.Lakesunderway:

• KootenayLake• SlocanLake

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Table1:LakeKoocanusaPriorityCriteriaCriteria LakeKoocanusa

Heavydevelopmentpressure

Highnumberofseasonalvisitorsandday-usersincludingoff-roadvehicleuseandinformalcampingonCrownLand.

Landuseplanninginplaceorunderway.

BaynesLakeOfficialCommunityPlan2011.

SouthCountryZoningandFloodplainManagementBylaw.LakeKoocanusaOfficialCommunityPlan2013.WatershedActionPlanunderway.LakeKoocanusaLand-UseAreaAnalysisunderway.

Presenceofamotivatedlocalgroup.

TheLakeKoocanusaCommunityCouncilhasidentifiedstewardshipofthelakeasapriority.

Cooperativepartnerspresent.

TheRegionalDistrictofEastKootenayandprovincialgovernmentarerepresentedandinvolvedinEKILMP.

Sourcewaterissues.

Erosionpotentialofforeshorecanresultinincreasedsedimentload.Individualdrinkingwatersystemsarelocatedonthelake.

Highfishandwildlifevalues.

Encompassestrans-boundarymigratoryroutesandpartofthePacificFlyway.Surroundinglandsprovidewinterrangeforungulates,habitatforwildlifeandendangeredplantspeciesandprovinciallylistedredandbluemammalsandbirds.Lakeandtributariessupportanabundanceofsportfishandprovidespawning/rearinghabitatsforavarietyofspecies.

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FishValuesKoocanusacontainsaproductivefisheryforavarietyofspecies,thoughaprimarilypelagicfoodweb.Whilepopulationsofadfluvialsalmonids(bulltroutandkokanee)arerelativelywellstudiedinspawningandrearingstreams,thehabitatuseandshorelineassociationsoftheseandotherspeciesispoorlycharacterizedinKoocanusarelativetootherlargelakesandreservoirsintheKootenayregion.Focalspeciesthatareofconservationconcern,arehighlyexploitedbyrecreationalfisheriesandsignificantfortraditionalusebyFirstNationsincludekokanee,rainbowtrout,cutthroattrout,bulltroutandburbot.BurbotmaybeparticularlysensitivetoshorelinehabitatdisruptioninKoocanusaduetoreservoiroperationsduetospawninghabitatrequirementsandmigratorybehaviour.Spawningandassociatedmigrationsoccurduringthereservoirdrawdownperiodinlatewinter.Itispossiblethatoperationsmaycausedewateringofburbotspawningareasorreductioninsuitabilityofspawninghabitatforfishthatspawninshallowhabitats.Forfishthatascendstreamstospawnorspawninstreamconfluenceareas,operationsmayrestrictaccessorspawningsitesuitability.WhilesomedatahasbeencompiledonfishoccurrenceandabundanceonshorelineareasinKoocanusaandintributaries,theareaislargelydatadeficientandwillrequirefieldsamplingtodeterminespeciesoccurrenceandabundance.Inaddition,shorelinehabitatusemaychangedependingonreservoirelevationatdifferentperiodsoftheyear,andbedynamicallyresponsivetochanginghabitatconditionsasaresultofsedimenttransportandshorelineerosion.Fisheriesvalueswillhavetoaccommodatethedynamicnatureofsuchchanginghabitatconditionsinthereservoir.

WildlifeValuesAnabundanceofimportantwildlifehabitatsurroundsthereservoirandmanyspeciesutilizetheforeshoreforsomeoftheirliferequisites.Fiveungulatespeciesinhabittheareaandseveralthreatenedandendangeredspeciesoccurintheuplandhabitats.Onespeciesofconcern,thelong-billedcurlew,nestsalongtheshorelineofKoocanusa.Unfortunately,onecolonynestswithinthedrawdownzoneandtheirnestsareinundatedeachspringwhenthereservoirlevelincreases.Manyotherspeciessuchascavitynestingducksandraptors,andmammalssuchasgrizzlybeararedependentonshorelineattributesfoundalongtheshoresofthereservoir.

2. GoalsandObjectives

ThegoaloftheLakeKoocanusaSensitiveHabitatInventoryMappingprojectistocompleteacomprehensiveaquaticmonitoringstrategythatwillguideforeshoredevelopmentinamannerthatprotectstheecologicalandculturalhealthofthelake.

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Theobjectivesoftheprojectare:• Greatlyimproveinformationaboutthefish,wildlifeandarchaeologicalvaluesofLake

Koocanusa;• Developscience-basedcoordinatedmanagementguidanceforlandandwateruses

associatedwithLakeKoocanusa,andpromotetheapplicationofthisguidanceindecision-makingbyalllevelsofgovernmentincludingFirstNations,developers,planners,andallotherinterests;

• Liaisewithrelatedinitiativestoenableaquaticandterrestrialecosystemmonitoringtoeffectivelycontributetoacumulativeeffectsassessmentandanimprovedunderstandingoftheoverallhealthofthelakeecosystem;and,

• Facilitateinformationsharingandencouragescollaborationamongstthecommunitytoefficientlyandeffectivelycoordinateandintegratelandusedecision-making.

3. StudyArea

Figure1:Mapofstudyareaoutlined

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4. Methods

TheForeshoreInventoryandMappingmethodologyisbaseduponmappingstandardsdevelopedforSensitiveHabitatInventoryMapping(SHIM)(MasonandKnight,2001).FieldworkwasconductedduringJuly,2015(atreservoirelevationlevel2,444ft),andSeptember,2015(atreservoirelevationlevel2,459ft).TheForeshoreInventoryandMapping(FIM)identifiedthelanduse,shoretype,substrate,existingripariancondition,andanthropogenicalterationsalongtheforeshoreofLakeKoocanusa.Thefieldteamtravelledthelengthoftheshorelineviahouseboat,andusedaTrimbleGPSunittomapapproximately160kmofshorelineanddocumentmodifications.Basedonthisdata,theshorelinewasbrokeninto57segments(seeFigure2).TheFIMservesasabenchmarkforregulatoryagenciesbydocumentingcurrentforeshorecondition,andprovidesevidenceforregulatoryinvestigationsandwillassessobjectivessetoutinforeshoreprotectioninitiatives.TheFishandWildlifeHabitatAssessmentidentified17samplingsites(seeFigure2)spanningavarietyofshoretypes,includinglowrockyshore,sandybeach,cliff/bluff,andcreekmouth.Fish,birdandwildlifehabitatandoccurrenceandaquaticinvertebratepresence/absencedatawascollectedinJulyandSeptembertocapturefishandwildlifevariousbreeding,rearingandmigrationtimeframes.Fishsamplingwasconductedusingsnorkel,beachseine,andgee-trapprotocols,macro-invertebratesweresampledusingPacificStreamkeepersFederationprotocols,andwildlifesamplingwasconductedusingobservationtechniques.Thefollowingadditionalinformationwascollectedduringfieldsurveys:

• Biophysicalo Shoretypeo Substrateo Percentagenaturalo Aquaticvegetationo Overhangingvegetationo Largewoodydebriso Pocketbeach

• Fisherieso Juvenilerearingo Migrationcorridoro Stagingarea

• Terrestrialo Veterantreeso Snagso Wildlifecorridor

• Modificationso Retainingwallso Dockso Groyneso Boatlauncheso Staircaseso Marinaso Mooringbuoyso Swimmingplatformso Breakwaterso Pillingso Unorganizedcampingo Cattleaccesso Livestockfencingo EvidenceofORVuse

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Figure2:KoocanusaForeshoreInventoryMappingmap

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5. ResultsandOutcomes

TheEastKootenayIntegratedLakeManagementPartnershiphasachievedsignificantsuccesseswithPhase1oftheKoocanusaReservoirSensitiveHabitatInventoryMappingProject.ThepartnershipcompletedtheForeshoreInventoryMappingcomponentandthemid-andhigh-poolsurveysandFishandWildlifeHabitatAssessments.Someobservationsofnoteincluded:thepresenceofjuvenileyellowperchinthereservoir;thehighvaluehabitatandcoldsourcewaterprovidedbythelimitednumberoftributaries;and,theextensiveOffRoadVehicleuseinthedrawdownzone.Criticalnestinghabitatforthelong-billedcurlewwasalsoidentified.Whileprovincialgovernmentagencieshavepreviouslyidentifiedafewparcelsoflong-billedcurlewhabitat,andprotectedthembydesignatingthelandsasWildlifeHabitatAreas,newnestinglocationswererecentlyidentifiedbytheEastKootenayIntegratedLakeManagementPartnership.Long-billedcurlewareBlue-ListedinBritishColumbia,andfederallylistedasaSpeciesofSpecialConcern.Urbanization,forestencroachmentduetofiresuppression,noxiousweeds,conversionofnativegrasslandstoagriculturalcrops,andsoilerosionandrecreationaldisturbancesallthreatentheseshorebirdsthatareprotectedundertheprovincialWildlifeActandfederalMigratoryBirdsConventionAct.BothEKILMPandthecommunitiessurroundingLakeKoocanusahaveanopportunitytofurtherprotectthelong-billedcurlewbyidentifyingthesehabitatsasconservationzoneswithintheShorelineManagementGuidelines.InpartnershipwiththeLakeKoocanusaCommunityCouncil,EKILMPhostedapublicopenhouse,BBQanddialoguewithcommunitymembersduringtheJulyfieldsamplingevent.Approximately25individualsattendedtolearnabouttheprojectandviewmapsofthereservoirprovidedbyEKILMP.Attendeesaskedthoughtfulandpertinentquestionsregardingtheprojectandoutcomes,andalsodiscussedrelevantissuessurroundingthereservoir,suchasOffRoadVehicleuse,reservoirlevelsandtiming,andland-useanddevelopment.Anewsletterwascreatedandcirculatedtothecommunity,andwasalsomadeavailabletocommunitymembersduringthefieldevents.Stopsweremadeatvariouscommunitiestowelcomemembersofthepubliconboardthefieldcrew’sboattotalkaboutissuessurroundingthereservoirandlearnmoreaboutthegoalsandobjectivesoftheSHIMproject.

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6. Acknowledgements

ThefollowingpartiescarriedoutfieldworkforPhase1oftheproject:BruceMacDonald, FishHabitatBiologist, Fisheries andOceansCanada (retired), TerraLimnicConsultingPeterHolmes,MinistryofForests,LandsandNaturalResourceOperationsHeatherLeschied,EastKootenayIntegratedLakeManagementPartnershipCoordinatorWalterKehler,LakeKoocanusaCommunityCouncilFundingandorinkinddonationsforthisProjectwereprovidedbythefollowingdifferentagenciesorparties:FishandWildlifeCompensationProgramRegionalDistrictofEastKootenayMinistryofForests,LandsandNaturalResourceOperationsWildsightLivingLakesCanadaLakeKoocanusaCommunityCouncilSunshineHouseboatsLtd.

7. References

Mason, B. and R. Knight. 2001. SensitiveHabitat Inventory andMapping. CommunityMappingNetwork,Vancouver,BritishColumbia.315pp+viii.M.Johannes,Editor.

8. ConfirmationofFWCPRecognition

RecognitionofFWCP’ssupporthasbeengivenwhereapplicableincluding:

• KoocanusaSensitiveHabitatInventoryMappingOpenHouse.Newgate,BritishColumbia.July10,2015.

• EastKootenayIntegratedLakeManagementPartnershipSummer2015newsletter.

• “LakeManagementPlanningUsingtheSensitiveHabitatInventoryMappingApproachintheEastKootenayRegionofBritishColumbia”.NorthAmericanLakeManagementSocietyAnnualConference,SaratogaSprings,NewYork.November2015.

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• “TheStoryofaOnceWildRiver;CollectingDataonLakeKoocanusa”,FisheriesandOceansCanadanewsletter.StreamTalk.Volume23,Number1.Spring2016.

• www.ekilmp.com

Attachments Thefollowingdocumentsareattachedtothisreport:

• StatementofAccountsandsupportingdocuments• FisheriesandOceansCanadaStreamTalknewsletter• EKILMPSummer2015newsletter