Helping to Restore Alberta’s Bull Trout-Tay River 2021 Summary By Angela Ten-Junior Fisheries Biologist
The Tay River is a tributary to the Clearwater River. Historically, this watershed supported a robust population of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus), but the population is now at high risk of disappearing. Bull Trout are a sensitive species that require cold, clean, complex, and connected waters. To help protect and restore Alberta’s provincial fish in the Clearwater River watershed, TUC has been working with Alberta Environment and Parks Fisheries Management (AEP) and Cows and Fish to identify and address threats to Bull Trout in the Tay River since 2019.
Previous work in the watershed
Electrofishing surveys have been conducted throughout the watershed since 2019, to identify places where Bull Trout may be present and the University of Calgary has conducted eDNA (environmental DNA) surveys in 2020 and 2021, to once again identify Bull Trout presence in the watershed. We also collaborated with AEP to run a fish trap in 2020, to enumerate and tag Bull Trout with Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT tags) for future studies. Finally, in 2019 and 2020, TUC, AEP, and consultants hired by TUC conducted almost 300 site assessments while inventorying recreational off-highway vehicle (OHV) use in the watershed. These data were used to inform further data collection and reclamation priorities in 2021.
Monitoring and Assessment Activities
To follow up on the 2020 tagging effort, three PIT tag arrays were deployed throughout the Tay River watershed. The arrays are sensors that scan the PIT tags implanted in fish and record when they pass by the sensors. This allows us to study the movement patterns of the fish. The arrays were set up between August and October, for a sampling period of approximately two months, to align with the timing of Bull Trout spawning.
Only the lowest array on the watershed had detections during the sampling period. Two Bull Trout from the 2020 tagging effort were detected on this array between September 5th and 29th, and both fish were detected multiple times.
TUC and Aquality Environmental Consultant staff standing in front of a PIT tag array.
Additional angling sampling days were also conducted in 2021, to supplement the 2020 tagging effort. Three volunteer angling days were conducted in September, and one Brook Trout was captured and tagged, but no Bull Trout were captured.
Two electrofishing surveys were conducted to assess the presence of Bull Trout in previously unsampled, coldwater tributaries of the Tay River. Only one Brook Trout was captured during these surveys.
Finally, TUC and AEP performed redd surveys along the Tay River over four days in late September and early October. The first two surveys were completed by TUC staff, while the last survey was completed with students from Olds College. Approximately 5km of the Tay River was surveyed, but no Bull Trout or Bull Trout redds were observed.
Students at Tay River for Olds College. Photo Credit: Sergei Belski
Reclamation Activities
Based on the results of the site surveys from 2019 and 2020, TUC prioritized several sites for reclamation in 2021. Restoration activities began in mid-June, where bioengineering treatments were applied to the first set of sites. Live willow, dogwood, and poplar stakes were planted and incorporated into wattle fences. Small sections of the approaching trail were decommissioned using hand tools to make the site “rough and loose”, and woody debris was distributed throughout the sites. These activities closed several redundant crossings on tributaries of the Tay River. TUC then placed signs to redirect OHV users to other trails.
TUC returned in late August with heavy machinery to decommission trails leading up to several sites using the rough and loose technique. An excavator dug holes in a lattice-like pattern to de-compact the soil and create microhabitats to expedite natural recovery while also preventing vehicle access. Approximately 1.7km of redundant and/or unsustainable trails were decommissioned using this technique.
Before (left) and after (right) utilizing the rough and loose technique to reclaim a redundant OHV trail.
In early September, TUC, Cows and Fish, and Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) held a group ride and workday with the Rocky ATV Society. The Rocky ATV Society spent the morning with TUC to reclaim a crossing using bioengineering techniques and spent the afternoon going on a ride with Cows and Fish and AEP to perform watercourse crossing inspections. In the afternoon, TUC also held a volunteer workday to continue the work that the Rocky ATV Society had started in the morning. Approximately 300 willow and poplar stakes were planted and built into wattle fences thanks to everyone’s contributions.
Volunteers from the Rocky ATV Society planted willow stakes and built wattle fences.
In late September, students from Olds College volunteered to help reclaim a crossing near the Tay River campground. Thanks to their hard work, over 200 willow and poplar stakes were incorporated in live staking and wattle fences to reclaim the crossing.
Students from Olds College collect debris to distribute over the reclamation area. Photo credit: Sergei Belski.
Finally, in October, TUC retrofitted an old, derelict OHV bridge in the upper end of the watershed. The bridge was widened and re-decked on site, and the rutted trails leading up to the site were decommissioned using bioengineering techniques. Signs were also placed to redirect riders to the repaired bridge.
Before (left) and after (right) retrofitting and re-decking the bridge.
Summary
Despite what may look like a lack of success in finding Bull Trout and Bull Trout redds through our various electrofishing, angling, and redd surveys, we are encouraged that the PIT tag/array project has confirmed some Bull Trout do appear to migrate into the Tay River from the Clearwater River. These individuals could provide an important “rescue effect”. Likewise, several anglers have reported catching Bull Trout in the Tay River and eDNA sampling has detected the presence of Bull Trout in various locations along the Tay River. It appears Bull Trout occur in relatively low densities and if they haven’t given up on the Tay River, neither have we!
Acknowledgments
Thank you to our partners at AEP for working with us on all aspects of the project; to Cows and Fish for organizing the Ride and Work Day and their broader work throughout the watershed; to Aquality Environmental Consultants, the University of Calgary, and Clearwater County for their in-kind support; and to Alberta Environment and Parks’ Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program, the Alberta Conservation Association’s Conservation, Community, and Education Grant, and the Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk for funding this project. Thank you also to TC Energy for supporting TUC’s work.
And of course, thank you to the Rocky ATV Society, Olds College’s Land and Water Program, members of TUC’s Central Alberta Chapter, and everyone else who volunteered to make this year’s work on the Tay River possible. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Comments