• 150 smolts / 20 adults (based on actual smolt counts)

Existing Habitat:
watershed area (km2):	80.8		Comments
mean annual discharge (m3/s):	1.8		Large marshy area above small lake provides excellent coho habitat, chronic low summer flows - conflict with local farmers over water withdrawals an ongoing problem. Present flows are regulated and efforts are being made to restore baseflows to 5% mad magnitude or 180 L/s (6 cfs). Habitat-flow surveys are being completed to better define conservation flow needs for steelhead and cutthroat trout. Baseflow alkalinity moderate at 43 mg/L and predicted capacity per steelhead size class is 240 g/Unit. Capacity may be higher with restored flows since SRP values are high at 12 µg/L due to agricultural inputs.
Summer Base Flow (%mad):	0
accessible length (km):	5
productivity:	Moderate

SPECIAL HABITAT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS:

• Conservation flow requirements a major issue - regulated base flows are zero for a minimum of 30 days in some years.

HABITAT RESTORATION TO DATE:

• Marsh 101 DFO storage development project in conjunction with Timber West Forest Ltd. and Ducks Unlimited (summer 2000) - appears to be successful based on 2002 coho smolt numbers at the counting fence.

STEELHEAD OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

• Identify key steelhead habitats and any restoration opportunities - particular emphasis on restoring summer base flows

NOTES: DFO coho index stream. Historically very productive for coho. DFO may have reached a settlement with some farmers who have irrigation rights on the system, but tend to exceed their licensed withdrawals. System is considered over-subscribed with water licenses.

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• 2500 smolts yielding 325 adults including tributaries (based on Ptolemy 2002)
• Conservation Concern Level @30% of capacity is 108 adults (combined wild stocks).

Existing Habitat:
watershed area (km2):	602.1		Comments
mean annual discharge (m3/s):	42		Long-standing BC Hydro project in watershed, chronic problems with low summer flows and high temperatures partially addressed by Interim Flow Order from Water Comptroller effectively doubling the base flow from 2.8 to 5.7 cms starting in 1998. It remains in effect until completion of current Water Use Plan. Seal predation in Courtenay and lower Puntledge Rivers is essentially resolved by cull program that started circa 1999. Baseflow alkalinity low at 16 mg/L and predicted capacity per steelhead size class is 145 g/Unit Cruickshank River 215.5 sq. km, Mean Annual Discharge 17.9 cu. m/s is the largest tributary to Comox Lake.
Summer Base Flow (%mad):	Reg 20
accessible length (km):	14
productivity:	low

HABITAT RESTORATION TO DATE

• Several restoration projects including two side-channels, small tributary complexing, salmon carcass distribution by federal hatchery staff and fishways at Stotan Falls, Nibs Falls, Browns River Falls and Comox Lake Dam.

SPECIAL HABITAT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS - Several issues around:

• BC Hydro's regulation of flows through the WUP process;
• Acid rock drainage from the headwaters of Tsolum River;
• Impacts from private forestry lands throughout the watershed; and
• Increasing urbanization of the lower Puntledge River basin including the estuary.

STEELHEAD OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

• Return stocks to approx. 200 -300 adult return capable of supporting a catch and release fishery over 10-km fishable water.
• Continue to improve river hydrograph to reflect pre-regulation conditions as closely as possible.
• Investigate feasibility of cold-water siphon from Comox Lake and other projects in WUP process.

IDENTIFIED RECOVERY OPTIONS

• Continue the current suite of activities through the BC Hydro Water Use Plan
• Reduce poaching and continue control programs on "problem" seals
• Continue/expand selective fishing methods in approach commercial net fisheries
• Initiate gravel recruitment projects d/s of BCH diversion dam (starting in 2002 under BCRP)

NOTES: Quantify what part of the bedrock reach between the point-of-diversion and the power house is suitable parr habitat and what means are available to enhance parr cover. Quantify and restore steelhead rearing capacity below power-house since regulated summer base flows are much higher than compared to natural regime. Seek appropriate compensation for lost habitat resulting from the head pond. Summer steelhead production comes from Cruickshank River and main Puntledge between Nibs Falls and diversion. The significant amount of poaching in this watershed could potentially undermine extensive salmon and steelhead recovery efforts.

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Over the last decade there have been a number of habitat improvement projects undertaken in the Puntledge watershed to increase wild salmon and trout production. These have included installation of Eicher fish screens in BC Hydro's diversion penstocks (restoration site 3 on watershed map), reconstruction of the fishway at Comox Lake dam, development of two spawning and rearing side-channels (restoration site 3 on watershed map), small tributary habitat complexing (e.g., Morrison and Arden creeks), fertilization of the Cruickshank River (1996 and 1997), dam removal on the Browns River (1989) and a fishway bypassing the Browns River Falls (2000) (restoration reach 1 on watershed map). More recently, fisheries agencies have obtained an Interim Water Order through the Comptroller of Water Rights which increases the river's minimum flow from 2.8 cms (100 cfs) to 5.7 cms (200 cfs) from June 10 to September 30, inclusive (flow also remains at 5.7 cms for the rest of the year). The reach affected is downstream of BC Hydro's diversion dam, which is now the most important steelhead producing water below Comox Lake. It is expected the current Puntledge Water Use Plan will consider all effects of BC Hydro's operational flows on fish.

Future fisheries mitigation projects could include a "cold water siphon" from Comox Lake, fish passage improvements, resumption of Cruickshank fertilization, and further side-channel developments. These and other candidate projects will be discussed in public forums associated with the WUP process.

Report:

East Coast Vancouver Island Salmon Carcass Retention/Distribution Program - Seed Project. Summary Report, Craig & Wright (2003) (1.1MB PDF, opens in new browser window).

East Coast Vancouver Island Salmon Carcass Program Implementation, Wright (2004) (1.5MB PDF, opens in new browser window)

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There are several key habitat protection issues in the Puntledge River watershed. The first involves long-term impacts from BC Hydro's regulation of river flows. These include gross alteration of the natural hydrograph, possible temperature loading of the river below Comox Lake, lack of reliable fish passage (adults and smolts), and flooding of historic spawning areas (i.e., Comox Lake outlet). It is hoped that many of these problems can be resolved during development of the Puntledge WUP.

A second major habitat concern is related to acid rock drainage from an abandoned copper mine on Mount Washington in the Tsolum River's headwaters. Over the last 10 years, this site has been subject to continuing efforts by both senior governments to reduce heavy metal loading of spring meltwater draining piles of mine waste rock. Presence of high concentrations of dissolved copper has been implicated in dramatic declines of salmon and steelhead in the Tsolum River, downstream of Murex Creek (Kangasniemi and Erickson 1986; Erickson and Deniseger 1987). A range of mine reclamation methods have been used including glacial fill "caps" of the waste rock, as well as diversion of meltwater away from the Murex Creek watershed. In the spring of 1998 it appeared that some success was finally achieved, with field measurements indicating no major pulses of dissolved copper and with average concentrations down about 50% at the established sampling locations (L. Erickson, Head, Environmental Section, Pollution Prevention, pers. comm.). The possibility of new remediation funds from the federal government and mine site leaseholder (i.e., CP Rail Ltd.), could result in further improvements to this chronic water quality problem. In addition, TimberWest Forest Ltd. is now working closely with senior governments investigating the potential for a seasonal diversion of upper Pyrrhotite Creek, to reduce the level of dissolved copper reaching Murex Creek and the Tsolum River mainstem.

A third habitat concern is focussed on privately-owned forest land throughout the Puntledge watershed, and particularly that bordering tributaries to Comox Lake. There are no government regulations controlling logging practices in these areas, so forest companies are directly responsible for fish habitat protection. Given the high public profile of fish conservation issues in the Puntledge, MWLAP and Ministry of Forests staff should regularly monitor forest company performance, particularly in the Cruickshank and upper Puntledge River systems.

A fourth habitat concern is related to increasing urbanization of the lower Puntledge River basin. Expansion of residential and commercial uses of this land could have further impacts on fish habitat, particularly in small tributaries and critical wetlands. Fisheries stewardship initiatives like the province's Urban Salmon Habitat Program and DFO's "Project Watershed" must continue to increase public and local government awareness of these important habitat values. This will become even more significant if forest companies sell small parcels of private land to developers once second-growth stands are harvested.

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Snorkel survey counts should only be treated as a relative index of stock abundance.

Snorkel survey counts should only be treated as a relative index of stock abundance.

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• Trent: 1,650 smolts / 215 adults
• Tsable: 1,400 smolts / 182 adults (both based on actual smolt counts)
• Conservation Concern Level @30% of capacity: Trent 64 adults, Tsable 55 adults

Trent River Existing Habitat:
watershed area (km2):	82		Comments
mean annual discharge (m3/s):	3		Logging, urbanization. Loss of LWD and pool habitat is a concern. Baseflows are far below optimum and headwater storage is an option. Baseflow alkalinity moderate at 29 mg/L and predicted capacity per steelhead size class is 195 g/Unit. Artificially enriched by Cumberland STP.
Summer Base Flow (%mad):	2
accessible length (km):	7.7
productivity:	Moderate

Tsable River Existing Habitat:
watershed area (km2):	113		Comments
mean annual discharge (m3/s):	7.99		Logging, historic coal mining, urbanization Loss of LWD and pool habitat is a concern. Baseflows are below optimum and headwater storage is an option. Baseflow alkalinity moderate at 29 mg/L and predicted capacity per steelhead size class is 195 g/Unit.
Summer Base Flow (%mad):	2
accessible length (km):	6.3
productivity:	Moderate

HABITAT RESTORATION TO DATE

• Small side channel in lower Tsable built by Fisheries and Oceans with community stewardship program.

SPECIAL HABITAT PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS:

• Urban development requires adequate protection setbacks.
• Any potential for acid rock drainage on the Tsable needs to be reviewed.
• Any impacts from independent power proposal for the Tsable River need to be addressed.
• Private land logging is an ongoing concern that needs to be resolved.

STEELHEAD OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

• Create fishing opportunities in these systems where native stocks appear to have been extirpated - first adult returns would be in 2004/05 if stocked with smolts in spring of 2003 using 10,000 Puntledge captive brood winter run per system. Give Trent preference if insufficient smolts are available to stock both systems.
• Address any serious habitat problems to ensure fish can successfully utilize these systems.

NOTES: Prior to any stocking, a basic bio-physical assessment should be made of these watersheds to determine habitat capabilities and whether any remnant wild stocks remain. Updated water quality information is particularly required if acid rock drainage is suspected. Perhaps a local community group or groups might be able to contribute assistance and local knowledge in this regard. Juvenile electrofishing was done in 2001 and one snorkel survey was also done in each system last winter.

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