Cowichan Tribes, BC Conservation Foundation, and Pacific Salmon Foundation year six study results demonstrate need for more to be done to save salmon populations.

DUNCAN, BC – Today, Cowichan Tribes, in collaboration with the BC Conservation Foundation (BCCF) and the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF), released a Year Six Report, outlining the detrimental impacts of log boom storage on wild Pacific salmon populations in the Cowichan-Koksilah Estuary. The report, part of a joint eight-year study, emphasizes the need for best practices to be implemented to support the survival and recovery of Chinook salmon and estuary ecosystems.

More than 100 years of log boom handling operations in the Cowichan-Koksilah Estuary have littered the sea bed with anoxic zones of cut logs, bark, and sticks, causing widespread damage to salmon dependant eelgrass beds and forage fish populations. This multi-year study clearly indicates that the booms’ current positioning in crucial salmon migration corridors facilitates seal predation, which is one of the key factors in the correlation between declining Pacific salmon populations and burgeoning harbour seal density.

“Stseelhtun (salmon) are an integral part of our spiritual and cultural identity and they have been hit hard by the loss of marsh habitat, climate change, logging, and log boom operations in our territory,” said Cowichan Tribes Chief Cindy Daniels (Sulsulxumaat). “I commend our Luxumexun (Lands and Self Governance) department, BC Conservation Foundation and Pacific Salmon Foundation for their long- term commitment to this study which has delivered concrete data demonstrating the level of crisis our relatives, the salmon, are experiencing. With these results, we look forward to working with government, industry, and partners to take actions to reverse these impacts before it is too late,” added Daniels.

Results from the study indicate that the presence of log booms has a statistically significant negative impact on adult Chinook terminal survival. The mechanism is altering predator-prey dynamics between harbour seals and salmon by enhancing predation efficiency. Further, this impact is exacerbated by low flows, preventing adult Chinook from migrating into the river and away from predation pressures in the lower river and estuary. As climate impacts become more severe, the negative impacts of log booms in key migration corridors and low river flows will increase.

Based on the study results, BCCF has developed a series of best management practices specific to the Cowichan-Koksilah Estuary designed to limit, restrict, and offset damage to fish and fish habitat. Such listed strategies include: situating the booms in deeper water where ocean-going ships already anchor and onshore log limbing and cleaning practices.

“Indigenous knowledge and Western science both indicate that the current log booming operations in the Cowichan-Koksilah Estuary are degrading the estuarine environment physically, chemically,

biologically, and ecologically,” said Jamieson Atkinson, Program Manager, Aquatic Research and Restoration Centre, BC Conservation Foundation. “With climate forecasts calling for increasing drought periods, this study’s findings highlight the urgent need for effective management strategies to ensure the survival and recovery of wild Pacific salmon stocks.”

“Pacific salmon need us to take actions within our control to support their recovery. This study, led by Cowichan Tribes and BC Conservation Foundation, presents us with a clear path forward to collaborate with industry and crown government to update log boom storage practices. The recommendations set out in this report will have immediate and long-term benefits for recovery and resilience of Pacific salmon who depend on healthy estuaries during their migration,” says Michael Meneer, President and CEO, Pacific Salmon Foundation.

Additional Information:

• Year 6 Report: Understanding the impact of Anthropogenic and Environmental Conditions on Adult Chinook Salmon
• Technical Backgrounder (Attached)

Media Contacts:

Tara Zwaan, Communications Manager Cowichan Tribes
(250) 732-7502 | Public.Relations@cowichantribes.com

Jamieson Atkinson, R.P. Bio, Program Manager, ARRC BC Conservation Foundation
(250) 390-2525, ext. 103 | jatkinson@bccf.com

Oscar Beardmore-Gray, Communications Coordinator Pacific Salmon Foundation
(778) 522-4413 | obeardmore-gray@psf.ca

Technical Analysis of Year Six Report Findings – Log Boom Operations in the Cowichan Estuary Date: June 11, 2024

This project, led by Cowichan Tribes together with the BC Conservation Foundation (BCCF), the University of Victoria (UVic), and the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF), involves assessing how industrial and environmental factors affect the survival of adult Chinook salmon in Cowichan Bay, its estuary, and the lower river.

At its peak, log boom operations in the Cowichan Estuary occupied 49% of the area. While the current License of Occupation for Cowichan Bay covers just 5.9% of the estuary, the Year Six Report highlights the need for changes in industrial practices and legislation to restore a healthy ecosystem and mitigate the effects of more than a century of log booming operations.

Methodology

Since 2017, researchers from Cowichan Tribes, BCCF, and UVic have been tagging adult Chinook salmon in Cowichan Bay with Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) to monitor survival to return rates. Adult Chinook are deemed a ‘survivor’ if detected on the mainstem PIT array at river kilometre 7. In 2019, 2020, and 2022, a subset of Chinook was also tagged with acoustic devices to track their location, depth, and acceleration. PIT antennas and acoustic listening receivers were installed extensively throughout the Cowichan River, the estuary, and Cowichan Bay. Using PIT and acoustic tags informs the research team about Chinook behaviours in the bay and lower river environments in relation to human-caused disturbances such as log booms and underwater boat noise – including daytime and nighttime behaviours, staging depths, and potential predation events.

Findings

In short, log booms in the Cowichan Bay reduce Cowichan Chinook survival (see graph below). Log booms were present for five of the six study years (log booms were absent in 2019). Survival was highly variable between study years, ranging from 24% in 2023 to 65% in 2021. Results from the study indicate that log booms have a statistically significant negative impact on adult Chinook terminal survival. The mechanism (i.e. log booms) alters the predator-prey dynamics between harbour seals and salmon by enhancing predation efficiency through log booms. Prolonged staging time in estuaries makes salmon more vulnerable to predation from seals, who rest on booms and prey on the salmon that have to migrate past or underneath them to enter the river.

Further, this impact is exacerbated by low flows, preventing adult Chinook from migrating into the river and away from predation pressures in the lower river and estuary. The study results suggest that climate  change will likely exacerbate poor survival rates. Low flows in the Cowichan River result in longer staging in the lower river and estuary, as Chinook wait for the opportune time to journey upstream to spawn.

As the frequency of summer drought periods increases, the terminal survival of Chinook will likely decrease. Removing barriers to survival, such as log booms, will help facilitate safer migration corridors for salmonids. With the increasing frequency of summer droughts, it is likely that the survival rate of Chinook salmon will decline. By eliminating obstacles to survival, such as log booms, we can help create safer migration pathways for salmon species.

This bar graph represents Chinook terminal survival in high, average, and low river discharge levels. It depicts survival when log booms are present in blue and are absent in gold. The black lines represent the 95% confidence interval bars. They cover a range of values that we are 95% certain contain the true mean of the population.

Next Steps

Cowichan Tribes is working with BCCF to propose alternative log boom operations in the Cowichan Bay region based on current estuarine literature and study data.

Suggestions include:

• Using dryland sorting
• Moving existing log booms to deeper
• Expanding log boom operations to other locations with less critical habitat for

Surrey BC – British Columbia Conservation Foundation’s Board of Directors announced five successful recipients for the Community Conservation Fund totaling $37,979.

Numerous applications were submitted from around the province in an array of initiatives that focus on community-based environmental education, collaboration and habitat conservation.

“We congratulate the successful recipients, and look forward to seeing our next set of applications, and the exciting conservation projects they represent,” stated Board Chair, John Shepherd.

Successful proposals include the following:

1) Aquatic Research and Restoration Centre – Little Qualicum River Estuary Regional Conservation Area Interpretative Signage

The Little Qualicum River Estuary Regional Conservation Area (LQRERCA) is one of three undeveloped estuarine sand spits along the east coast of Vancouver Island. Although public access is restricted to protect the area, it is frequently accessed by passersby. The spit has had extensive revegetation efforts undertaken to stabilize substrate, create forage and refuge opportunities, and improve water quality, all critical to salmonid habitat. The Foundation and LQRERCA stakeholders propose the installation of interpretative signage tot educate the public. Signage will highlight: the significance of the spit and its protected status; the ongoing restoration efforts and their role in supporting and enhancing salmon habitat; and why public access to the property should be avoided.

Award $3,000

2) Bulkley Valley Research Centre – Restoring Endangered Whitebark Pine Ecosystems to Enhance Subalpine Bear Habitat

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a keystone species in subalpine forests of western North America, which serve as a vital food source for various wildlife, including grizzly and black bears, red squirrels, and Clark’s nutcrackers. Whitebark pine is endangered from extensive mortality caused by an invasive pathogen (white pine blister rust), outbreaks of the mountain pine beetle, catastrophic wildfire, and climate change.

The Bulkley Valley Research Centre’s whitebark pine program is a multi-partnership research and restoration program that aims to restore whitebark pine ecosystems for bear habitat in the Skeena Region. The program has been restoring whitebark pine since 2007, and this year our goal is to collect seed from rust resistant trees, launch our first wildlife monitoring project after a small pilot season, and serve as a hub for whitebark pine information and action in northern BC.

Award – $10,000

3) Friends of West Kootenay Parks – Kokanee Salmon School Program 2024

The Kokanee Salmon School Program provides education to youth, residents, and visitors, fostering understanding and appreciation of our Kokanee Salmon in Kootenay Lake. The fish spawn annually from August to October in tributaries, spawning channels and shorelines on Kootenay Lake. They have evolved in Kootenay Lake for over 9,000 years when ocean-going Sockeye Salmon became landlocked by massive waterfalls along the Kootenay River.

As thousands of salmon return to the spawning channel at Kokanee Creek, program participants can witness the spectacle of the redfish with first-hand learning opportunities. The program inspires informed decisions related to fisheries management, healthy ecosystems and care for our environment.

Award $5,000

4) Living Lakes Canada – Collaboratively Protecting Foreshore Values on Priority Okanagan Lakes

In the Okanagan, lake shorelines are experiencing unparalleled development pressures, resulting in reductions and impairments to shoreline habitat function and diversity. Given 90% of biodiversity depends on the shoreline, and 87% of freshwater species have disappeared since the 1970’s, protecting the freshwater environments has never been more important than it is today.

Foreshore Integrated Management Planning (FIMP) is a cumulative impact assessment tool that offers a solution for addressing these issues. The FIMP project on Kalamalka Lake and Wood Lake, re-survey the lakes for the first time since 2009/2010. Kalmalka and Wood Lake are extremely important and are integral to the communities that surround them. The lakes act as a drinking water source, are critical habitat for numerous fish and wildlife species and are a focal point for lakeshore communities.

Award $10,000

5) Okanagan Nation Alliance – Syilx Herbarium for Preservation of Ethnobotany

This project is intended to educate Syilx communities and the public about ethnobotanical knowledge within the Syilx Okanagan Territory and protect the traditional ecological knowledge of culturally important plants by collecting live plants to press and preserve them in the Syilx herbarium for generations. Collecting plant specimens and learning about them while spending time in the outdoors help reconnect people to the tmxwulaxw (Land) they live on.

This is also an important step for healing, not just for the Syilx people, but also the non- Indigenous people. To bring everyone together to appreciate tmxwulaxw more – a step towards reconciliation and showing more respects to the environment. Plant specimens are accessible for all Syilx people, and En’owkin Centre visitors. The collection is on display in various community outreach events.

Award-$9,979

Media Contact:
David Hendrickson
Executive Director
604-576-1433 x 315
dhendrickson@bccf.com
Website: www.bccf.com

About the BC Conservation Foundation: Incorporated in 1969, the BC Conservation Foundation promotes thriving fish and wildlife populations throughout BC and supports fish and wildlife through education, collaboration and habitat conservation. We do this by managing projects and initiatives on behalf of key stakeholders and running our own signature programs, such as the Community Conservation Fund. For more information, please visit www.bccf.com.