Key Ecological Attributes and Connectivity Status Results

Current Connectivity Status

The Planning Team identified two Key Ecological Attributes (KEAs) to assess the current connectivity status of the watershed for each focal species: available spawning habitat and available rearing habitat (Table 8). KEAs are the key aspects of anadromous salmon habitat that are being targeted by this WCRP. For each KEA, an associated indicator was assigned to measure the status of that KEA. The connectivity status indicators were used to establish goals to improve key habitat connectivity over time and is the baseline against which progress is tracked over time.

In the Bulkley River watershed, 1175.42 km of Pacific salmon and steelhead spawning habitat are currently connected to the ocean and 154.09 km are disconnected from it. This means that 88.4% of the 1329.5 km of total spawning habitat is connected. In the Bulkley River watershed, 1620.86 km of Pacific salmon and steelhead rearing habitat are currently connected to the ocean and 571.41 km are disconnected from it. This means that 73.9% of the 2192.28 km of total rearing habitat is connected.

Table 8: Connectivity status assessment for spawning (a) and rearing (b) habitat in the Bulkley River watershed. The two KEAs - Accessible Spawning Habitat and Accessible Rearing Habitat - are evaluated by dividing the length of linear habitat (of each type) that is currently accessible to focal species by the total length of all linear habitat (of each type) in the watershed. a Comments: Indicator rating definitions are based on the consensus decisions of the Planning Team. The current status is based on the connectivity model output, which is current as of May 2026.

b

Comments: Indicator rating definitions are based on the consensus decisions of the Planning Team. The current status is based on the connectivity model output, which is current as of May 2026.

Goals

Table 9: Goals to improve spawning (1) and rearing (2) habitat connectivity for focal species in the Bulkley River watershed over the lifespan of the WCRP (2021-2031). The goals were established in 2021 through discussions with the Planning Team and represent the resulting desired state of connectivity in the watershed. The goals differ from the current connectivity status due to closing of knowledge gaps from field investigations and rehabilitation of barriers in the watershed since that time. Goals are subject to change as more information and data are collected over the course of the plan timeline (e.g., the current connectivity status is updated based on barrier field assessments).

Structure Count

In the Bulkley River watershed, 61 structures potentially disconnect focal species spawning habitat, and 393 structures potentially disconnect focal species rearing habitat. Of these, 20 are identified as barriers in need of rehabilitation (priority barriers), 8 are identified as barriers that do not warrant rehabilitation (non-actionable), and 366 require further field assessment.

Maps

Figure 1: Map of Pacific salmon and steelhead spawning habitat and structures that are confirmed or potential barriers to fish passage in the Bulkley River watershed as of May 2026. Structure data were obtained from BCFishPass and the Canadian Aquatic Barriers Database (aquaticbarriers.ca). The accessibility model represents areas of the watershed that one or more Pacific salmon and steelhead could access naturally in the absence of anthropogenic barriers. The habitat model represents the subset of accessible waterbodies that may be used by one or more Pacific salmon and steelhead for spawning. Available local knowledge and data were incorporated and overruled habitat model results. Thick red lines represent habitat considered to be fully disconnected (upstream of barriers or unassessed structures). Barriers that were rehabilitated through implementation of this plan are shown, but other excluded structures (e.g., those found to be passable) are not.

Figure 2: Map of Pacific salmon and steelhead rearing habitat and structures that are confirmed or potential barriers to fish passage in the Bulkley River watershed as May 2026. Structure data were obtained from BCFishPass and the Canadian Aquatic Barriers Database (aquaticbarriers.ca). The accessibility model represents areas of the watershed that one or more Pacific salmon and steelhead could access naturally in the absence of anthropogenic barriers. The habitat model represents the subset of accessible waterbodies that may be used by one or more Pacific salmon and steelhead for rearing. Available local knowledge and data were incorporated and overruled habitat model results. Thick red lines represent habitat considered to be fully disconnected (upstream of barriers or unassessed structures). Barriers that were rehabilitated through implementation of this plan are shown, but other excluded structures (e.g., those found to be passable) are not.

Habitat Accumulation Curves

Figure 3: Habitat Accumulation Curve (HAC) showing structures in the Bulkley River watershed as of May 2026. Structures are ranked based on how much (km) spawning habitat for Pacific salmon and steelhead is upstream, then by amount (km) of rearing habitat is upstream. Habitat upstream of unassessed structures is considered disconnected until field assessments are completed. Structures that were excluded as passable are not shown; however, rehabilitated barriers are shown (where applicable) to demonstrate the connectivity gains achieved through implementation of this plan.

Figure 4: Habitat Accumulation Curve (HAC) showing structures in the Bulkley River watershed as of May 2026, zoomed in to the top 65 structures. Structures are ranked based on how much (km) spawning habitat for Pacific salmon and steelhead is upstream, then by amount (km) of rearing habitat is upstream. Dashed lines show how much habitat must be reconnected to reach connectivity goals set for the watershed (see Goals). Habitat upstream of unassessed structures is considered disconnected until field assessments are completed. Structures that were excluded as passable are not shown; however, rehabilitated barriers are shown (where applicable) to demonstrate the connectivity gains achieved through implementation of this plan.

Habitat Accumulation Summary Table

Table 10: Labelled structures in the Habitat Accumulation Curves (Figure 3 and Figure 4), their rank, and upstream habitat for Pacific salmon and steelhead spawning and rearing in the Bulkley River watershed. Habitat gain (averaged across sets) represents the amount (km) of habitat upstream of that structure to the next structure and depicts the potential gain in habitat if passage at that structure was restored. Three ranks are assigned based on the following scenarios: (1) spawning and rearing habitat combined per barrier or set of barriers, (2) spawning habitat per barrier or set of barriers, and (3) rearing habitat per barrier or set of barriers.

Barrier ID

Internal Name

Structure Status

UTM Zone

UTM Easting

UTM Northing

CWF Model Rank (Spawning Habitat)

CWF Model Rank (Rearing Habitat)

Average Spawning Habitat Upstream of Structure (km)

Actual Spawning Habitat Upstream of Structure (km)

Average Rearing Habitat Upstream of Structure (km)

Actual Rearing Habitat Upstream of Structure (km)

57944

Toboggan Cr @ Hwy 16 (57944)

Non-actionable barrier

9

607729

6089383

1

1

18.3200000

18.32

23.690000

23.69

1024756616

Sinclair Cr @ Telkwa R FSR (24756616)

9

596354

6053671

2

4

12.3400000

12.34

16.370000

16.37

123770

John Brown Cr @ Hwy 16 (123770)

Data-deficient barrier

9

606627

6097184

3

5

11.7600000

11.76

15.900000

15.90

197663

Johnny David Cr @ Hwy 16 (197663)

Data-deficient barrier

9

670241

6044772

4

3

10.2800000

10.28

18.320000

18.32

197960

Corya Cr @ Railway (197960)

Priority barrier

9

605806

6099877

5

10

9.0900000

9.09

12.360000

12.36

197976

Ailport Cr @ Hwy 16 (197976)

Data-deficient barrier

9

680645

6039756

6

6

4.8300000

0.40

9.620000

0.40

197975

Ailport Cr @ Private (197975)

Priority barrier

9

680831

6040045

6

6

4.8300000

9.26

9.620000

18.84

197662

Richfield Cr @ Hwy 16 (197662)

Priority barrier

9

672404

6044146

7

8

7.6600000

7.66

13.830000

13.83

197964

Bulkley R @ Railway (197964)

Data-deficient barrier

9

691208

6031460

8

2

6.2700000

7.38

18.595000

19.58

197967

Taman Cr @ Hwy 16 (197967)

Rehabilitated barrier

9

692434

6032341

8

2

6.2700000

5.16

18.595000

17.61

58242

Kathlyn Cr @ Hwy 16 (58242)

Data-deficient barrier

9

616947

6073197

9

14

3.5950000

3.22

4.310000

4.31

58271

Kathlyn Cr @ Henry Rd (58271)

9

615887

6074598

9

62

3.5950000

3.97

2.805000

2.31

197658

Byman Cr @ Hwy 16 (197658)

Priority barrier

9

666847

6044305

10

23

4.9900000

4.99

5.300000

5.30

123377

Thompson Cr @ Walcott Rd (123377)

Priority barrier

9

641633

6049398

11

26

1.7100000

1.71

2.188000

1.70

124487

Porphry Cr @ Hwy 16 (124487)

Priority barrier

9

603073

6113379

12

22

4.9900000

4.99

5.710000

5.71

198090

Cesford Cr @ Raiway (198090)

Data-deficient barrier

9

673247

6043223

13

21

2.3500000

2.35

2.450000

2.45

124420

Station Cr @ Hwy 16 (124420)

Priority barrier

9

586632

6122395

14

19

3.7100000

3.71

5.910000

5.91

197668

Coffin Cr @ Railway (197668)

Data-deficient barrier

9

634351

6054625

15

12

1.6033333

0.04

1.676667

0.05

124504

Coffin Cr @ Lawson Rd (124504)

Data-deficient barrier

9

634330

6054584

15

12

1.6033333

2.16

1.676667

2.15

195476

Coffin Cr @ Hydro ROW (195476)

9

634279

6052600

15

12

1.6033333

2.61

1.676667

2.83

58067

Gramophone Cr @ Telkwa High Rd (58067)

Priority barrier

9

609735

6092894

16

32

3.3600000

3.36

3.420000

3.42

57793

Vallee Cr @ Walcott Rd (57793)

Data-deficient barrier

9

641467

6044065

17

18

1.7800000

1.78

5.590000

5.59

58208

Schippers Cr @ Branch off of Kitsequecla Rd (58208)

9

603056

6089058

18

41

1.3900000

1.39

2.560000

2.56

58285

Wiggs Cr @ Private (58285)

9

609106

6093156

19

64

1.0350000

0.74

1.165000

0.74

58068

Trib to Gramophone CR @ Telkwa High Rd (58068)

9

609660

6093553

19

64

1.0350000

1.33

1.165000

1.59

3138

McQuarrie Cr @ North Rd (3138)

9

656523

6048132

20

16

1.1400000

1.14

7.870000

7.87

123375

Trib to Thompson Cr @ Hwy 16 (123375)

Non-actionable barrier

9

642498

6048199

21

26

1.5225000

0.49

2.188000

0.50

123380

Trib to Thompson Cr @ Private (123380)

9

642972

6048230

21

26

1.5225000

1.58

2.188000

1.58

1001802267

Thompson Cr @ unnamed (1802267)

9

644009

6047451

21

26

1.5225000

2.11

2.188000

2.10

123382

Trib to Thompson Cr @ McNeil Rd (123382)

9

644704

6045590

21

26

1.5225000

1.91

2.188000

5.06

195332

Trib to Bulkley R @ Unnamed (195332)

9

604923

6116233

22

96

1.1300000

1.13

1.130000

1.13

197640

Trib to Buck Cr @ Buck Flats Rd (197640)

Priority barrier

9

654312

6012383

23

20

1.1200000

1.12

6.150000

6.15

58158

McDowell Cr @ Hwy 16 (58158)

Data-deficient barrier

9

628037

6060541

24

47

0.5633333

0.30

0.978000

0.30

58159

McDowell Cr @ Private (58159)

Rehabilitated barrier

9

627642

6060449

24

47

0.5633333

0.45

0.978000

0.45

197912

Robert Hatch Cr @ Private (197912)

Rehabilitated barrier

9

670963

6046221

25

57

2.8000000

2.80

8.980000

8.98

198048

Cesford Cr @ Hwy 15 (198048)

Data-deficient barrier

9

674396

6043432

26

58

1.8250000

0.67

5.555000

0.68

198049

Cesford Cr @ Hwy 118 (198049)

Priority barrier

9

674875

6043782

26

58

1.8250000

2.98

5.555000

10.43

197664

Barren Cr @ Hwy 16 (197664)

Priority barrier

9

660455

6037919

28

88

2.6700000

2.67

2.670000

2.67

124500

Helps Cr @ Lawson Rd (124500)

Priority barrier

9

627541

6058702

32

9

0.8400000

0.84

9.980000

9.98

197665

Barren Cr @ Railway (197665)

Priority barrier

9

660628

6037843

34

147

0.2700000

0.27

0.260000

0.26

1f365462-063c-491e-9fb3-bfac004d9183

Coffin Cr Dam

Data-deficient barrier

9

634763

6051171

36

12

0.9000000

0.90

4.017500

11.04

1001800865

Trib to Sunsets Cr @ Unnamed (1800865)

9

606787

6038690

38

7

0.3700000

0.37

15.100000

15.10

58245

Simpson Cr @ Lake Kathlyn Rd (58245)

Data-deficient barrier

9

615328

6075075

43

171

0.2916667

0.04

0.320000

0.04

203126

Simpson Cr @ Private (203126)

Data-deficient barrier

9

615299

6075101

43

171

0.2916667

0.39

0.320000

0.39

203122

Simpson Cr @ Railway (203122)

Data-deficient barrier

9

614948

6075227

43

171

0.2916667

0.72

0.320000

0.90

197974

Watson Cr @ Hwy 16 (197974)

Data-deficient barrier

9

680390

6040069

11

0.0000000

0.00

7.040000

1.96

198065

Watson Cr @ Montgomery Rd (198065)

Data-deficient barrier

9

680197

6041646

11

0.0000000

0.00

7.040000

12.12

123445

Tyhee Cr @ Hwy 16 (123445)

Priority barrier

9

627236

6061461

13

0.0000000

0.00

5.925000

0.49

123446

Tyhee Cr @ Tyhee Ld Rd (123446)

Non-actionable barrier

9

627516

6061772

13

0.0000000

0.00

5.925000

11.36

197653

Perow Cr @ Perow Loop Rd (197653)

Data-deficient barrier

9

665518

6044200

17

0.0000000

0.00

7.380000

7.38

195943

Stock Cr @ Barrett Stn Rd (195943)

Priority barrier

9

645444

6035049

24

0.0000000

0.00

2.640000

0.76

195944

Stock Cr @ Hwy 16 (195944)

Priority barrier

9

645982

6035606

24

0.0000000

0.00

2.640000

7.11

3139

Trib to McQuarrie @ North Rd (3139)

Data-deficient barrier

9

656651

6048543

25

0.0000000

0.00

5.050000

5.05

195290

Gibson Cr @ Hwy 16 (195290)

Priority barrier

9

640022

6051682

29

0.0000000

0.00

2.260000

1.24

195288

Gibson Cr @ Schnider Rd (195288)

Priority barrier

9

640930

6051567

29

0.0000000

0.00

2.260000

3.28

123777

Graphite Cr @ Campbell Rd (123777)

Data-deficient barrier

9

607136

6101121

46

0.0000000

0.00

1.097500

0.02

199463

Graphite Cr @ Campbell Rd (199463)

Data-deficient barrier

9

607116

6101128

46

0.0000000

0.00

1.097500

0.06

123775

Witset Cr @ Hwy 16 (123775)

Non-actionable barrier

9

606445

6099726

49

0.0000000

0.00

1.210000

1.21

197646

Trib to Buck Cr @ Spur off Parrot FSR (197646)

Data-deficient barrier

9

672023

6005200

77

0.0000000

0.00

1.330000

1.33

3054

Johnny David Cr @ North Rd FSR (3054)

Data-deficient barrier

9

664884

6052690

80

0.0000000

0.00

2.020000

1.04

199457

Glass Cr @ Private (199457)

Data-deficient barrier

9

613248

6081291

81

0.0000000

0.00

1.035000

0.06

199458

Glass Cr @ Private (199458)

Data-deficient barrier

9

613283

6081246

81

0.0000000

0.00

1.035000

1.62

197656

Trib to Bulkley R @ Hwy 16 (197656)

Data-deficient barrier

9

663328

6042066

87

0.0000000

0.00

0.850000

0.04

199455

Trib to Old Woman Cr @ Conrad Lk FSR (199455)

Data-deficient barrier

9

688086

6037493

90

0.0000000

0.00

2.620000

2.62

199452

Taman Cr @ Taman Cr FSR (199452)

Data-deficient barrier

9

691405

6036231

102

0.0000000

0.00

1.275000

2.18

199448

Trib to Klo Cr @ Klo Cr FSR (199448)

Priority barrier

9

668634

6021387

109

0.0000000

0.00

0.930000

0.93

198044

Trib to Toboggan Cr @ Railway (198044)

Data-deficient barrier

9

610393

6084973

114

0.0000000

0.00

0.925000

0.13

124424

Trib to Waterfall Cr @ Railway (124424)

Data-deficient barrier

9

589483

6122989

185

0.0000000

0.00

0.347500

0.05

124421

Trib to Waterfall Cr @ 11th Ave (124421)

Priority barrier

9

589467

6123041

185

0.0000000

0.00

0.347500

0.13

124422

Trib to Waterfall Cr @ Hwy 16/10th Ave (124422)

Data-deficient barrier

9

589500

6123161

185

0.0000000

0.00

0.347500

0.31

199450

Trib to Klo Cr @ Equity Mine FSR (199450)

Data-deficient barrier

9

666891

6019033

243

0.0000000

0.00

0.020000

0.02

123778

Graphite Cr @ Hwy 16 (123778)

Data-deficient barrier

9

605388

6103278

265

0.0000000

0.00

0.080000

0.08

Weighted Ranks based on Stream Habitat Features

Model ranks vary widely when weighted in favor of either more degraded habitats or relatively intact habitats, relative to the standard CWF ranking structure that takes into consideration only amount (km) of spawning and rearing habitat upstream of a structure. For example, the top 3 structures in the standard CWF ranks for amount of upstream spawning and rearing habitat combined are Toboggan Creek at Highway 16, Bulkley River at rail crossing 197964 and Taman Creek at Highway 16 (paired as rank 2), and Johnny David Creek at Highway 16. When ranks are weighted in favor of relatively disturbed habitats, Toboggan Creek remains the number 1 ranked structure, but Bulkley River and Taman Creek become rank 23. When ranks are weighted towards less disturbed habitats, Toboggan Creek becomes rank 102, with the number 1 ranked structure being Sinclair Creek at Telkwa River Forest Service Road. The top 30 ranked structures using the standard CWF model ranks and their associated spawning, rearing, and weighted ranks are shown in Table 11.

Table 11: Top 30 ranked structures potentially blocking the most spawning habitat for Pacific salmon and steelhead in the Bulkley River watershed. Three ranks are assigned based on the following scenarios: (1) most spawning and rearing habitat combined upstream per barrier or set of barriers, (2) most spawning and rearing habitat combined upstream per barrier or set of barriers, weighted in favor of structures located in subwatersheds that are relatively intact, and (3) most spawning and rearing habitat combined upstream per barrier or set of barriers, weighted in favor of structures located in subwatersheds that are relatively degraded. Weightings are based on indicator ratings assigned to each subwatershed by the Skeena Sustainability Assessment Forum (SSAF) (SSAF 2021; Eclipse Geomatics 2021).

Barrier ID

Internal Name

Structure Status

CWF Model Rank (Spawning)

CWF Model Rank (Rearing)

CWF Model Rank (Spawning & Rearing Combined)

SSAF Rank (Weighted in Favor of Disturbed Habitats)

SSAF Rank (Weighted in Favor of Unisturbed Habitats)

57944

Toboggan Cr @ Hwy 16 (57944)

Non-actionable barrier

1

1

1

1

102

197964

Bulkley R @ Railway (197964)

Data-deficient barrier

8

2

2

23

37

197967

Taman Cr @ Hwy 16 (197967)

Rehabilitated barrier

8

2

2

23

37

197663

Johnny David Cr @ Hwy 16 (197663)

Data-deficient barrier

4

3

3

12

58

1024756616

Sinclair Cr @ Telkwa R FSR (24756616)

2

4

4

117

1

123770

John Brown Cr @ Hwy 16 (123770)

Data-deficient barrier

3

5

5

118

2

197976

Ailport Cr @ Hwy 16 (197976)

Data-deficient barrier

6

6

6

82

7

197975

Ailport Cr @ Private (197975)

Priority barrier

6

6

6

82

7

1001800865

Trib to Sunsets Cr @ Unnamed (1800865)

38

7

7

102

6

197662

Richfield Cr @ Hwy 16 (197662)

Priority barrier

7

8

8

34

33

124500

Helps Cr @ Lawson Rd (124500)

Priority barrier

32

9

9

73

12

197960

Corya Cr @ Railway (197960)

Priority barrier

5

10

10

86

8

197974

Watson Cr @ Hwy 16 (197974)

Data-deficient barrier

11

11

87

9

198065

Watson Cr @ Montgomery Rd (198065)

Data-deficient barrier

11

11

87

9

58242

Kathlyn Cr @ Hwy 16 (58242)

Data-deficient barrier

9

14

12

2

104

197668

Coffin Cr @ Railway (197668)

Data-deficient barrier

15

12

13

60

20

124504

Coffin Cr @ Lawson Rd (124504)

Data-deficient barrier

15

12

13

60

20

195476

Coffin Cr @ Hydro ROW (195476)

15

12

13

60

20

1f365462-063c-491e-9fb3-bfac004d9183

Coffin Cr Dam

Data-deficient barrier

36

12

13

60

20

123445

Tyhee Cr @ Hwy 16 (123445)

Priority barrier

13

14

7

74

123446

Tyhee Cr @ Tyhee Ld Rd (123446)

Non-actionable barrier

13

14

7

74

1001801328

40

15

15

8

75

3138

McQuarrie Cr @ North Rd (3138)

20

16

16

115

4

124420

Station Cr @ Hwy 16 (124420)

Priority barrier

14

19

17

63

21

197653

Perow Cr @ Perow Loop Rd (197653)

Data-deficient barrier

17

18

93

10

57793

Vallee Cr @ Walcott Rd (57793)

Data-deficient barrier

17

18

19

5

96

197640

Trib to Buck Cr @ Buck Flats Rd (197640)

Priority barrier

23

20

20

13

64

198090

Cesford Cr @ Raiway (198090)

Data-deficient barrier

13

21

21

3

108

124487

Porphry Cr @ Hwy 16 (124487)

Priority barrier

12

22

22

119

3

197658

Byman Cr @ Hwy 16 (197658)

Priority barrier

10

23

23

96

11

195943

Stock Cr @ Barrett Stn Rd (195943)

Priority barrier

24

24

28

41

1001801055

24

24

28

41

195944

Stock Cr @ Hwy 16 (195944)

Priority barrier

24

24

28

41

3139

Trib to McQuarrie @ North Rd (3139)

Data-deficient barrier

25

25

116

5

123377

Thompson Cr @ Walcott Rd (123377)

Priority barrier

11

26

26

11

82

123375

Trib to Thompson Cr @ Hwy 16 (123375)

Non-actionable barrier

21

26

26

11

82

123380

Trib to Thompson Cr @ Private (123380)

21

26

26

11

82

1001802267

Thompson Cr @ unnamed (1802267)

21

26

26

11

82

123382

Trib to Thompson Cr @ McNeil Rd (123382)

21

26

26

11

82

3091

27

27

68

24

1001800403

28

28

15

68

195290

Gibson Cr @ Hwy 16 (195290)

Priority barrier

29

29

30

43

195288

Gibson Cr @ Schnider Rd (195288)

Priority barrier

29

29

30

43

1024748047

33

31

30

80

16