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Report: White Sturgeon Populations in the BC Hydro Dam Footprint Impacts Area
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If you have any questions on the information presented, or require additional report data or attachments, please contact the Report Contact
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Sturgeon productivity in both the Columbia and Kootenay rivers has declined due to the construction of dams within the basin. The construction of dams has played a large role in the loss and degradation of critical white sturgeon habitat, which has resulted in decreased productive habitat capacity and ultimately to population decline.
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Author: Louise Porto; AMEC Earth & Environmental
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Old Reference System: Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program - Columbia
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Date Published: Sep 2008
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Report ID: 65110
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Audience: Government and Public
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It has been recognized that white sturgeon are prone to changes in the environment since they are long-lived, mature at a late age (i.e., approximately 22 to 26 years for females and 16 years for males), and have longer spawning intervals (2 to 11 years for females) than most other freshwater fishes (e.g. Ptolemy and Vennesland 2003, BC Ecosystem Explorer 2008). Further concern occurred when white sturgeon populations in the Columbia River and Kootenay River began experiencing recruitment failure. Initially fishing regulations were changed, but when it was obvious that population levels were critically low, fisheries were closed, and recovery actions and legislative measures were undertaken to conserve this species. Both the Columbia River (i.e., lower Columbia River in Canada) and Kootenay River white sturgeon populations are listed under as Endangered under Schedule 1 of the Federal Species At Risk Act (SARA; 2002; c.29). In the United States, the Kootenay River white sturgeon population is also federally listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Recovery programs, that include conservation aquaculture and flow manipulations (presently only in Idaho, US from Libby Dam), are in place to address the lack of recruitment and overall population decline.
This report will discuss BC Hydro footprint impacts (see Appendix A) on white sturgeon populations within the Columbia Basin, as well as provide compensation options for these impacts that may be required by the regulatory agencies.
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Report Type
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Fish and Aquatic Habitat Information |
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Subject
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Fish Species - White Sturgeon - Acipenser transmontanus |
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Region - Kootenay |
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Fish and Fish Habitat - Impact Assessment |
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Fish and Fish Habitat - Management |
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Fish and Fish Habitat - Stock Assessment |
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Watershed Groups - 300 - Columbia |
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Watershed Groups - 340 - Lower Kootenay |
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Program Specific Area - FWCP |
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