Project Title: Upper Kispiox Watershed Assessment

Project Category: Resource Inventory and Watershed Stewardship

Amount of Funding Requested: $100,000 (see Budget)

Introduction/Background

The Kispiox River drains an estimated 2,082 km2 (208,200 ha.) (Nortec et. al.1995) providing habitat for the five species of Pacific salmon, kokanee, rainbow trout, steelhead, cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden char, bull trout, Rocky Mountain whitefish, and Pacific lamprey (Nortec Consulting 1997). Intensive forest harvesting began in the 1960s and 70s and by 1998 roads and cutblocks have extended for 75% of the length of the mainstem Kispiox and proceeded up the tributaries as well (Figure 1). Future plans for harvesting within the upper watershed include the Sweetin River and up the mainstem Kispiox past the Nangeese River up adjacent to the Swan Lake Wilderness Area. An ongoing Watershed Restoration Project (WRP) has identified numerous impacts due to "increased sediment inputs off roads and cutblocks, and loss of riparian vegetation." (Nortec Consulting 1997). Recent work has also indicated significant changes in flow regime within the Kispiox River since intensive logging began (Nortec Consulting 1998).

However, as is often the case in environmental studies, there is little to compare these impacts with as there is limited baseline data with which to compare impacts and so to evaluate effects. Without more intensive sampling and characterization of the aquatic and riparian systems in a ‘natural’ (i.e. pre-harvesting) state, linking these forestry related impacts with effects on the aquatic system are open to criticism.

This proposal is to provide the necessary baseline data on the upper Kispiox River and selected tributaries to evaluate changes brought about by future forestry related impacts. This study will also provide an inventory/census of the aquatic and riparian systems as they currently exist, information which will be valuable in determining distribution of fish (resident and anadromous) and wildlife species (possibly red/blue listed species) and evaluating biodiversity of the area.

Rationale

The lower extent of the Kispiox River has been intensively harvested and there is great concern expressed by First Nations and local residents over proposed harvesting of the upper reaches. Effects on streams due to forest harvesting impacts [to stream edge] include changes in solar radiation, water temperature, forest canopy and streambank vegetation, stream bank stability, suspended solids, fine woody debris, coarse woody debris, channel morphology, substrate sediments, streambed stability, nutrient supply, and stream flows (Slaney and Martin 1997). Under the Forest Practices Code (FPC) logging to stream edges is permitted along non fish-bearing streams and fish bearing streams with an average channel width of less than 1.5 m (Riparian Management Area Guidebook 1995). As flowing water transports materials downhill, impacts to these small streams not protected under the FPC are also carried downstream into larger fish bearing stream (personal observation).

Significant declines in coho salmon stocks throughout the province, and the reliance of coho on small streams for spawning and rearing, require that the effect of forest harvesting on these small streams be assessed. The rearing coho fry are subjected to numerous variables during their growth (i.e. water temperature, sediment load, fluctuating flows, seasonal availability of food sources, etc.) and in order to evaluate forestry induced effects, a knowledge of the functioning of the ‘natural’ system is required.

The present time provides a unique and valuable time to conduct a large scale assessment of the upper Kispiox watershed to gather baseline data and evaluate these systems prior to timber harvesting. Based on 25 years of observation (G.Wadley, Nortec Consulting) it is estimated that the Kispiox River above the Nangeese river confluence is responsible for at least 40% of the chinook and steelhead spawning, 50% of the remaining coho stock in the river and 95% of the sockeye spawning and rearing. Several cutblocks are proposed for harvesting by Skeena Cellulose Inc. (Repap) in the years 2000 and 2001 yet public support for the protection of the upper area of the Kispiox is strong (see Partnerships). In this environment, it is critical to conduct an inventory/census of the upper Kispiox to determine current conditions from which significant changes may be measured.

Goals

The goals of the proposed work are to:

Partnerships

Drafts of this proposal have been reviewed and the work is supported by:

These partners bring with them support in the form of: