Action | Lead | Support | Estimated Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Identify traditional use areas to help inform where to improve connectivity, as and when information is readily available | OW | CWF | April-June 2024 | |
Continue to work with OW to identify opportunities to expand WCRP planning within OW territory | CWF | OW | October-November 2024 | |
Engage with Wilp/House Groups for planned field work in territory/territories: provide yearly email to House Groups on planned activities, type of field work to be occurring and why, and provide opportunties for feedback. | OW | CWF | April-June 2024 | |
Obtain consent for pre-construction and construction activities in Wilp/House Group territories (Thompson, Trib to Buck, Gramophone) | OW | CWF, MOTI | July-August 2024 | |
CWF to work with OW to explore opportunities for developing objectives around fish passage and areas of fish passage restoration for the upper Bulkley and Morice as part of the Water Sustainability Act and long-term water sustainability plan. | OW | CWF | April-November 2024 | |
Review results of crossing assessments from 2022 and 2023, and updated connectivity model with WG partners, decide which structures to advance for further field investigation or rehabilitation | CWF | OW, Witset, Gitxsan, Skeena Watershed Coalition, SERNBC, SSAF/ESI | Apr-24 | |
Update model with all current information related to aquatic connectivity in the Bulkley watershed | CWF | SERNBC, OW, Witset | April-May 2024 | |
Update WCRP based on 2022-2023 field results and partner feedback | CWF | OW | April-May 2024 | |
schedule barrier assessment and habitat confirmations for sites flagged for follow up | CWF | OW, Witset, Gitxsan | Aug-Sep 2024 | |
Complete in-depth passage assessments on Ailport, Coffin (railway, highway), John Brown, Johnny David, McDowell Cr (highway), Toboggan Creek, Vallee Creek, Moan (*NEW), Trib to Buck 197646 (*NEW) | OW, Witset, Gitxsan? | CWF, Skeena Watershed Coalition | June, Aug-Oct 2024 | |
Engage with CN to determine if Cesford Creek crossing exists and current status of crossing | CWF | OW | May-June 2024 | |
Engage CN Rail re: plans for replacing Barren Creek culvert | CWF | OW | May-June 2024 | |
Engage with landowner at Ailport Creek; advance to design if landowner consents | CWF | OW | May-June 2024 | |
Finalize designs for Trib to Buck, Helps, Thompson, Gramophone, potentially advance 1 or more to construction. | MOTI | OW, CWF | April-November 2024 | |
Develop campaign to promote restoration of Mission Creek and its tributaries for salmon; work with barrier owners to address crossings. Includes 1 MOTI crossing, 1 CN Rail crossing, 3 New Hazelton crossings. | Skeena Watershed Coalition | CWF, Gitxsan | April-September 2024 | |
Review 2024 field results with program partners | CWF | Jan-Feb 2025 | ||
re-run connectivity models | CWF | Feb-25 | ||
Develop 2025-2026 work plan | CWF | Feb-25 | ||
Update WCRP based on 2024 field results and partner feedback | CWF | Mar-25 |
Annual Progress Update
One priority barrier for rehabilitation in the Bulkley River watershed was removed on McDowell Creek at Woodmere Nursery in summer 2023. This crossing was replaced with a clearspan bridge and opens up approximately 200 m of seasonal off-channel habitat for salmonids during periods of high flow. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been working with local partners to advance designs for barriers on Trib to Buck Creek, Helps Creek, Thompson Creek and Gramophone Creek. The Office of the Wet’suwet’en has hired a part-time staff to help with fish passage coordination in the Bulkley watershed. In addition, efforts have been made by CWF and local partners to build a campaign around Station Creek, to convince the BC government to invest in an appropriate crossing at Highway 16.
Annual Work Plan
Operational Plan
The operational plan represents a preliminary exercise undertaken by the planning team to identify the potential leads, potential participants, and estimated cost for the implementation of each action in the Bulkley River watershed. Table 2 summarizes individuals, groups, or organizations that the planning team felt could lead or participate in the implementation of the plan and should be interpreted as the first step in on-going planning and engagement to develop more detailed and sophisticated action plans for each entry in the table. The individuals, groups, and organizations listed under the “Lead(s)” or “Potential Participants” columns are those that provisionally expressed interest in participating in one of those roles or were suggested by the planning team for further engagement (denoted in bold), for those that are not members of the planning team. The leads, participants, and estimated costs in the operational plan are not binding nor an official commitment of resources, but rather provide a roadmap for future coordination and engagement during WCRP implementation.
Individual or Organization Name | Role and Primary Interest |
|---|---|
B.C. Fish Passage Technical Working Group | The provincial government of B.C. can assist with local knowledge, data, expertise and can help facilitate barrier remediation work. |
Cindy Verbeek/ A Rocha Canada, Upper Bulkley Streamkeepers | A Rocha educates and coordinates environmental stewardship activities for local people in the upper Bulkley watershed and can advise and support where needed. A Rocha Canada runs the Upper Bulkley River Streamkeepers project working with local environmental organizations, churches, schools, governments and citizens to ensure the watershed is healthy and flourishing. They have bio-inventory surveying data, water temperature data, and can help ensure that salmon reach their spawning ground. |
CN Rail | CN is a major proponent and barrier owner that can play a role in improving and replacing crossings in the valley bottom of the Bulkley River watershed. |
David Wilford – Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRO) | Dave Wilford is a hydrologist and researcher working in the watershed. |
Gitksan Watershed Authorities | Gitksan Watershed Authorities is a traditional and science-based body of fisheries professionals, biologists, field technicians, community leaders and support staff. This group is governed according to the traditional Gitksan house system. The GWA functions to represent the Gitksan for the management of fisheries on the Skeena and within the Gitksan territories. |
Jeff Anderson | Jeff Anderson is a hydrologist at Geomorphic Consulting working in the watershed. |
Skeena Knowledge Trust | The Skeena Knowledge Trust can help with data management. |
Ken Rabnett | Ken Rabnett is a researcher, field lead and an excellent source of local knowledge. |
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) | MOTI is a major proponent and barrier owner that can play a role in improving and replacing crossings in the valley bottom of the Bulkley River watershed. |
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development (FLNRORD) | FLNRORD can assist with engineering and design work for remediation projects. |
Environmental Stewardship Initiative – Skeena Sustainability Assessment Forum (ESI:SSAF) | ESI:SSAF is a forum that allows first Nations and the Province to Fully collaborate to enhance environmental sustainability, and to address First Nation’s long standing concerns with stewardship of the land and cumulative impacts in their traditional territories by creating meaningful space for traditional ecological knowledge alongside western science. ESI:SSAFF should be engaged to coordinate local implementation of the outcomes of the WCRP and support future planning updates. |
SkeenaWild Conservation Trust | SkeenaWild engages in applied scientific research on salmon ecosystems and can help provide data. |
Stu Barns/Skeena Fisheries Commission | The Skeena Fisheries Commission is an umbrella organization for First Nations and works directly with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en and the Gitxsan Watershed Authority. They can advise and support where needed. |