Progress Reporting

Progress Reporting

This WCRP was initiated in 2021. Since then, the passability of 86 structures has been assessed, and further habitat assessments were completed at 47 of these. Fish passage has been rehabilitated at 3 barriers: a collapsed bridge was removed from Robert Hatch Creek on Hatch Creek Ranch; a culvert was replaced with a clearspan bridge on McDowell Creek at Woodmere Nursery, and a culvert under Highway 16 on Taman Creek was upgraded to a larger, embedded culvert, resulting in improved or restored access to 9.65 km of spawning habitat and 31.64 km of rearing habitat for focal species. Designs for 8 additional barriers have been either completed or are underway in the watershed.

Rehabilitated Barriers

Table 12: Pacific salmon and steelhead barriers in the Bulkley River watershed that have been addressed (either through removal, replacement, or modification to improve passage) as of May 2026. Habitat gain represents the amount (km) of upstream habitat that was reconnected by these projects.

Barrier ID

Site Name

Watershed Name

Crossing Type

Type of Rehabilitation

next_steps

reason

notes

supporting_links

197912

Robert Hatch Cr @ Private (197912)

BULK

Stream crossing - OBS

Removal/decommissioned

Post-rehabilitation monitoring

Easy fix

https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/downloads/pdf/2021-2022-Projects-Technical-Briefing.pdf

197967

Taman Cr @ Hwy 16 (197967)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Replacement - CBS

N/A - project complete (rehabilitated structures only)

Structure upgraded to embedded CBS 2024.

58159

McDowell Cr @ Private (58159)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Replacement - OBS

N/A - project complete (rehabilitated structures only)

Direct trib to Bulkley River, important off-channel habitat

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---58159---mcdowell-creek.html

Priority Barriers

Table 13: Structures in the Bulkley River watershed that are confirmed as barriers to fish passage for Pacific salmon and steelhead with confirmed habitat upstream, as of May 2026. Barriers known to be partially passable are indicated by “yes”, with further details provided in the adjacent column. Habitat gain represents the amount (km) of habitat upstream of that barrier to the next structure that will be reconnected if that barrier is addressed. The number of structures in a set represents the number of structures that must be addressed concurrently to maximize habitat connectivity.

Barrier ID

Site Name

Watershed Name

Crossing Type

Assessment Type Completed

Next Steps

Reason

Notes

Supporting Links

123377

Thompson Cr @ Walcott Rd (123377)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Commission engineering designs

MOTI already designing new structure

Preliminary designs completed but under review for improved design by MOTI

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_skeena_2021_reporting/thompson-creek---198066-123377-123375---appendix.html

123445

Tyhee Cr @ Hwy 16 (123445)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Commission engineering designs

Important connector to Tyhee Lake

Preliminary designs complete and include habitat restoration compoents. Designs require internal review by MOTI to finalize

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---123445-123446---tyhee-creek.html

124420

Station Cr @ Hwy 16 (124420)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

Very important salmon stream historically for Hagwilget. Legacy barrier has resulted in major salmon declines in watershed

Several preliminary designs completed but no political will to move this project forward from MOTI's side

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_skeena_2021_reporting/station-creek---124420-124421-124422---appendix.html

124421

Trib to Waterfall Cr @ 11th Ave (124421)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with partners

"low hanging fruit" upstream of hgihway

Slow moving almost wetland like stream. Deep glides throughout. Moderate to high stagnant water often smelling of sulfur. Lots of healthy riparian veeg. Apperas to have v. unstable flows.

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_skeena_2021_reporting/station-creek---124420-124421-124422---appendix.html

124487

Porphry Cr @ Hwy 16 (124487)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Engineering design

Rehabilitation

Complete barrier to fish passage

Scheduled for replacement by MOTI in next 2-3 years

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---124487---porphyryr-creek.html

124500

Helps Cr @ Lawson Rd (124500)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Commission engineering designs

Relatively easy fix for a MOTI road

Preliminary designs complete, require internal review by MOTI to finalize. Passable to most adult fish but may be a low flow barrier. Passability for juvenile fish unknown.

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---124500---helps-creek.html

195288

Gibson Cr @ Schnider Rd (195288)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

Considered important migration corridor with moderate juvenile rearing potential

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---195290-195288---gibson-creek.html

195290

Gibson Cr @ Hwy 16 (195290)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

Likely a full barrier to passage. Good habitat upstream, Coho captured downstream but not upstream.

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---195290-195288---gibson-creek.html

195943

Stock Cr @ Barrett Stn Rd (195943)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

Important migration corridor with suitable spawning habitat and moderate rearing potential.

recommend advancing to priority barriers list.

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2022_reporting/stock-creek---195943-195944---appendix.html

195944

Stock Cr @ Hwy 16 (195944)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

Perched culvert under deep fill. Medium quality habitat. Recommend as non-actionable

Heavily trampled by cattle. Suitable overwintering and rearing habitat with occasional spawning habitat. 0.65 m rock drop 365 m upstream likely barrier for juveniles but not adults. Dogwood Enviro Consultants looking at ways to exclude cattle from riparian. Some low flow issues. Historic sightings of adult Coho and Steelhead between 195943 and here. No modeled key habitat upstream

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2022_reporting/stock-creek---195943-195944---appendix.html

197640

Trib to Buck Cr @ Buck Flats Rd (197640)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Commission engineering designs

Relatively easy fix for a MOTI road

Preliminary designs complete, require internal review by MOTI to finalize.

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---197640---tributary-to-buck-creek.html

197658

Byman Cr @ Hwy 16 (197658)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Commission engineering designs

Culvert at end of life cycle and needs replacing.

Stream needs work downstream to prevent dewatering. DFO pursuing options with MOTI. Passable to most salmon and life stages but velocity barrier at high flows and may be too shallow for adults at low flows.

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---197658---byman-creek.html

197662

Richfield Cr @ Hwy 16 (197662)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

High quality habitat with high potential habitat gains

Major barrier, some flooding issues upstream also needs addressing. Aim for completion in next 5-10 years.

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---197662---richfield-creek.html

197664

Barren Cr @ Hwy 16 (197664)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

Very high quality habitat, current culvert affected by regular dredging and sediment buildup

Preliminary design was completed 2020 but no timeline for finalizing and completing upgrades

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---197665-197664-3042---barren-creek.html

197665

Barren Cr @ Railway (197665)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

Culvert at end of life and needs replacing. Very high quality habitat.

Preliminary designs complete but don't meet CN standards. Further conversations with CN required. Cost of replacement will depend on preferred structure/solution

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2020_reporting/appendix---197665-197664-3042---barren-creek.html

197960

Corya Cr @ Railway (197960)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

Discuss deferring to end of life cycle

Large culvert. Dolly Varden captured upstream and downstream. High quality habitat but glaciated and unlikely to support salmon.

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_skeena_2021_reporting/corya-creek---197960---appendix.html

197975

Ailport Cr @ Private (197975)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

Abundant fish present, non-highway barrier

Initial contact with landowner seemed open to replacement; however, landowner became unresponsive in 2021. Continue to work with landowner for potential solution

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_skeena_2021_reporting/ailport-creek---197976-197975---appendix.html

198049

Cesford Cr @ Hwy 118 (198049)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage with barrier owner

Need to determine status of CN Rail crossing downstream before proceeding to design

Fish observed in outlet pool

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_skeena_2021_reporting/cesford-creek---198048-198049---appendix.html

199447

Maish Cr @ Upper Fulton FSR (199447)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Barrier assessment

Engage with barrier owner

Industry barrier with Dolly Varden presence and spawning confirmed

See Triton 1996 report in supporting links

https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/acat/documents/r2651/2651-1_1520022508712_0021917326.pdf

199448

Trib to Klo Cr @ Klo Cr FSR (199448)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Barrier assessment

In-depth habitat investigation (data deficient structures only)

Fish observed but not clear on species

Complete fish sampling to determine species present before presenting to barrier owner.

199451

Trib to Klo Cr @ Foxy FSR (199451)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Barrier assessment

Engage with barrier owner

Industry barrier with fish observed downstream

58067

Gramophone Cr @ Telkwa High Rd (58067)

BULK

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Commission engineering designs

Canyon downstream acts as low flow barrier for steelhead and full barrier to Coho. Locally important to Witset and as a steelhead stream.

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2022_reporting/gramophone-creek---58067---appendix.html

198106

Trib to Waterfall Cr @ 13th Ave (198106/198115)

Stream crossing - CBS

Barrier assessment

Engage in public consultation

High quality habitat. Unmapped/incorrectly mapped stream in Freshwater Atlas

Abundant juveniles observed upstream

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2022_reporting/waterfall-creek---198116-198117-198115---appendix.html

198107

Trib to Waterfall Cr @ Hwy 16 (198107/198116)

Stream crossing - CBS

Habitat confirmation

Engage in public consultation

Currently passable to adult fish but could be barrier to some juveniles. Conditions could degrade over time. Stream unmapped/incorrectly mapped in Freshwater Atlas.

Excellent habitat up to impassable falls.

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2022_reporting/waterfall-creek---198116-198117-198115---appendix.html

198108

Trib to Waterfall Cr @ 9th Ave (198108/198117)

Stream crossing - CBS

Barrier assessment

Engage in public consultation

Barrier to fish passage. Currently a double culvert with blockages in one culvert. Stream unmapped/incorrectly mapped in Freshwater Atlas.

Coho spotted upstream

https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_bulkley_2022_reporting/waterfall-creek---198116-198117-198115---appendix.html

Annual Progress Report

Since April 2025, the following actions were completed: - Results of structures assessed from 2022-2024 were reviewed by the Office of the Wet-suwet’en and decisions made on next steps for each structure; - Training was provided to Office of the Wet’suwet’en field technicians in barrier assessments, habitat confirmations, and electrofisher use; - Owners were identified and contacted for 2 priority barriers;
- SSAF indicator ratings were incorporated into structure rankings, and - The connectivity models was updated based on the above actions, and outputs were incorporated into this WCRP.