Fall 2016 Update: Meadow Creek Spawning Channel

The spawning channel is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily during spawning season.  Public access may be restricted at any time for safety reasons due to bear activity. The spawning channel is located 4kms west of Meadow Creek at the north end of Kootenay Lake. Follow Highway 31 from Kaslo to Meadow Creek. For more information call 250-354-6333.

Kokanee spawner returns in the channel as of Sept. 22, 2016: 11,113
Kokanee spawner returns below the channel as of Sept. 22, 2016: 4,500
Average eggs per female: 700

 

 Meadow Creek Spawning Channel

BC Hydro built the Meadow Creek spawning channel in 1967 to compensate for lost natural Kokanee habitat due to the construction of Duncan Dam. The spawning channel sustains Kootenay Lake Kokanee, which are the primary prey species for both Bull Trout and Gerrard Rainbow Trout. Kokanee carcass decomposition also benefits the natural nutrient levels in the lake and river, in addition to providing seasonal forage for other aquatic, terrestrial and avian predators. The spawning channel  is recognized for its wildlife-viewing potential and has also operated as the provincial source of Kokanee eggs for the Freshwater Fish Society of B.C. Annual operational tasks and facility maintenance include gravel scarification and settling pond cleaning.

Output targets are: egg-to-fry survival rate better than 35% with annual production of 15 to 20 million Kokanee fry annually (note: this target will not be achieved for 2016 due to low spawner returns in fall 2015); and annual deposition of 35 million eggs in the spawning channel. There will also be the scarification (cleaning of spawning gravel) and emptying of sediment from settling ponds, and fish salvage and drying period to kill the IHN virus in gravel.