Bessette Creek Streamflow Monitoring
To detect low streamflow in key salmon spawning locations, the project will maintain and monitor hydrometric stations on Bessette Creek, a tributary to the Shuswap River near Lumby.
In the past, low flow and drought conditions that could impact spawners were often not detected in a timely manner.
These monitoring stations have proven vital to decision-making during past drought and low-flow events.
Update: Project provides important insights for managing flows for salmon in drought conditions
Data from monitoring stations on Bessette Creek in the Shuswap River Watershed confirm impacts to streamflow and salmon during drought conditions.
The project confirmed:
- Salmonid migration and spawning face challenges at Bessette Creek at Whitevale Road due to low streamflow in August and September, with a 0.16-kilometre dried reach in October 2023, indicating a need for management.
- Suboptimal conditions at Bessette Creek at Horner Road in August and September require strategies to improve streamflow.
- Reduced water release from Nicklen Creek below Nicklen Lake Dam worsened drought conditions in Bessette Creek, highlighting the need for adaptive water management.
- Significant thermal variations were noted, with more hot days at Nicklen Creek.
Executive Summary
This project falls into two priority actions, including research and information acquisition,and monitoring and evaluation. Specifically, this project closely aligns with the priority action #10 “SHU.RLR.RI.10.01 Improve fish production & survival during low flow Middle SHU-P2” in FWCP’s Shuswap River Watershed Action Plan.
Bessette Creek, a vital tributary of the Shuswap River, covers 795 km 2, sustaining diverse fish populations including Chinook and Coho salmon, salmon, and rainbow trout. However, challenges such as water scarcity and declining fish populations necessitate conservation efforts, especially given the creek’s role in supporting endangered Coho salmon and Chinook salmon and rainbow trout spawning in the Shuswap Lake area.
This project aims to address these challenges and support conservation efforts through two primary objectives. Firstly, it seeks to enhance available streamflow data within the Bessette watershed for effective drought response and water management. This involves operating and maintaining hydrometric stations and analyzing data to provide continuous streamflow records in real-time. Secondly, the project aims to improve water quality and quantity to support Chinook and Coho salmon spawning and rearing in the Bessette watershed. This includes utilizing hydrometric data to respond effectively to drought conditions and monitoring water temperature to assess its impact on salmonids and aquatic habitat.
The methodology employed in this study comprehensively assessed surface water dynamics in Bessette Creek, focusing on streamflow and temperature monitoring at
strategically positioned hydrometric stations. Rigorous field visits ensured accurate data collection, and the AQUARIUS Time-Series platform facilitated efficient data management and timely publication of results.
These stations offer vital information for informed decision-making, especially considering Ministerial Order No. M239 under section 88 of the Water Sustainability Act. The analysis revealed persistent challenges for salmonid migration and spawning in Bessette Creek, particularly at certain stations where streamflows consistently fall below critical levels. The reduction in water release from Nicklen Creek exacerbates drought conditions in Bessette Creek, emphasizing the need for adaptive water management strategies. Additionally, significant variations in thermal conditions among stations underscore the complex interplay between water release patterns and temperature fluctuations.
To address these challenges effectively, it is crucial to maintain ongoing monitoring of these stations, prioritizing high-flow measurements to enhance the development of rating curves for the high-flow regime. This will subsequently improve the accuracy of LTmad predictions. Additionally, conducting a comprehensive assessment of water withdrawals for irrigation and dam operations is necessary. This entails thorough reviews, investigations, and reassessments of storage and release plans to mitigate challenges and maintain favorable conditions for salmonid habitats. Specifically, reevaluating water release plans from Nicklen Lake Dam and implementing careful water management practices are vital steps to ensure sufficient flow in Bessette Creek and mitigate the adverse impacts of elevated temperatures on aquatic ecosystems.
Click the provincial database link below to read the full final report for this project.