Sunday, August 2, 2009

Saturday 1 August 2009

Today was another day salvaging Wild Coho Salmon from Bonnel Creek. We had been in the highway pool on Tuesday morning and their remained lots of water in the last pools beneath the bridge. We had cleaned out most of the fry and some Rainbow Trout / Steel-head and with the amount of water thought we would have another go today. To our surprise and disappointment the pools had drop down to two small pools barley able to hold the remaining fish. We know we had a rather large Trout ? remaining in the big pool that we had been unable to catch last Tuesday, but alas it was not their today. Racoons/ Heron or ? had a nice meal. We were able to get around 1000 Wild Coho fry along with Sticklebacks and sculpins from the remaining pools before rushing off to the Beaver pond to release them. This has been a exceptionally hot year as everyone knows and we usually do not have to do any more on Bonnel after we get above the highway but this year we will continue all the way upstream until we are sure that the flow will be adequate for the remaining Wild Coho to survive until we get some Rain I have almost forgot what that is. We checked our erosion control project on Nanoose Creek just above the highway where we had built a willow fence at the base of the slide and some Cedar and Fir trees were planted behind. All were doing good , the willow had all sprouted and the trees were all doing well. With lots of flow in the creek the fry should be safe for awhile. We will do a walk next week up the lower reaches to check on any stranded fish in isolated pools and either take them to the pond or into some nearby wetted habitat. We have moved around 10,000 wild Coho fry so far to wetted habitat this year. Any remaining fish are soon eaten by the Herons who seem to be very bold this year, instead of flying away at first sight they just stand and watch as we salvage fish and only move when we get too close. Lots of Racoon Tracks around the pools indicating that they get their share too. Along the banks we have found some tunnels which we think must be Beaver dens during periods when the entrance is below water levels. Keep cool and watch for rain.